A Curious Sight

Many days while traveling to and from various destinations, I pass by this tree going and coming. My favorite view is approaching it from the bottom of the hill and not this view.
As you drive toward it, it stands a lone against the sky. In the winter you only notice that the one trunk is divided because both are bare and look just alike.

In the spring it's a very different story. As you can see, one side is green and full of life while the other side remains barren and lifeless.

Many days as I drive by, I wonder how similar my heart and my life are to this tree.

Half dead, half alive.

A couple of scriptures swirl around in my head regarding the the state of the tree... and my life.

Revelation 3:15-17... I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other! So, Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say I am rich and have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

James 3:11... Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

How thankful I am (we are) for grace and mercy that although we may be struggling within, God sees His children through the Blood of Christ and therefore... we are whole.

Thrills, Chills and Spills

This weekend I finally took time to refill my pots with new soil and some fresh flowers. For the first time I made sure I followed the “Thriller, chiller and spiller” formula for the perfect pot. It really sounds more like the description to a horror movie than suggestions for a beautiful summer showing.

It’s a method to select your flower and foliage plants for those dramatic flower-filled planters, pots, and containers that we’ve been seeing in catalogues and magazines all winter

“Thrillers are the tall plants that serve as the focal point or accent plant for the container.”

“Chillers are the flowers or foliage plants that fill our the top of the pot or planter.“

“Spillers are the trailing plants that carry the color theme down over the edge of the pot or container. Spillers are generally not visually strong plants—rather, they are like the extras in the movies. They are necessary to make the movie (or the flower planter) complete, but they are not the stars. “

This week God has really been showing out. In one of my prayer times this week feeling so awed by His sweetness this thought crossed my mind...

God the Father, Jesus the Son, along with the Holy Spirit are the thrillers and the chillers. Nothing else on earth delights a soul as does His presence. I know He has thrilled you, taken your breath or moved you to tears when you know He has called your name. He dresses you with chills as you speak of His work

We are the spillers when He have a fresh encounter with Him. We like Paul, are spilled out like a drink offering. Just like the plant “spillers” we are necessary in God’s plans and schemes, but we are not the stars.

To God be the Glory… great things He is doing. May we always feel the thrills and chills as we draw near. And may we always spill out from the overflow of His grace and work in our lives.

Happy planting!

Short and SWEET!

Not to presume that I would know what God will say or do in any given situation... but it sure does feel good when you are looking at a building that could possibly be given to Wellspring Living SC and here this come out of the donors mouth...

"It just feels like God is waving a big flag over these buildings that says - Jesus is Lord".

My prayer before the meeting... "regardless of the outcome Lord, may You be glorified."

Can I just say He answered my prayer because He was indeed getting some glory when those words were uttered. I should have gone prepared and had the flag with me!

How can you not believe in the providence of such a God that would delight your soul that way?

You know that you know that you know...

A P.S. has been added as a follow up


Several weeks ago Christine called and invited me to participate in the Prayer Walk / Rally at the Bi-Lo Center on Thursday before Just Give Me Jesus starts on Friday. She said bring your big white flag. My response was this... "let me pray about it... count me in!" Because if there is one thing I love it is praising Jesus and I love it even more when the flag is part of the praise.
My neighbors are probably glad I'm taking it out of the back yard on a field trip. Come to think of it, I bet Ray is too!

I guess it was one day last week I received an email blast from the JGMJ mailers and it too contained an invitation to attend the Thursday event. OMG! That meant that instead of a small intimate group of friends invited by Christine, there could possibly be thousands of women there.
My response was this... "well I'll go and pray and take a fresh bottle of oil." When I closed the email something caught my eye. It said in the subject line "BANNER Prayer Walk". Upon opening the email - there was nothing in the title about any banner. I knew it was referring to the title caption box that held content that I wasn't seeing. But there was that word BANNER.

So my response was this... "Lord. I will gladly wave my banner for you in front of who ever shows up. And if they think I'm crazy, then they will know I am crazy for you!"

And tonight is the night! I am so excited I can hardly wait. I have a fully loaded and charged IPod. I know it will be one of the sweetest dates I have been on in a long time. My beloved is waiting there for me and I am moved to tears.

There is however another side to this story. Many of you have heard of or participated in Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. One thing that you for sure walk away with from that study is "go to where you see God working and join Him there". Well it is more and more evident that God is working in the city of Greenville. So much so that the Greenville County Sheriff's Department is sending a group to Wellspring Living Atlanta on a fact finding mission. There are groups of women in Greenville ministering to the women who are working on the streets.

My oh my!

I learned years ago before a large white flag ever found its way into my hands that the flag is carried in front of the army as they go into battle. So Lord it is my honor to wave that flag and let the enemy know that YOU have claimed Greenville as your own. That what You are doing there is bigger than JGMJ. YOU and YOU alone know what all this represents.

YOU do Your thing Lord as only YOU can. And we your girlfriends who will be there tonight in answer to your call Love YOU and anticipate what YOU have prepared for us!

P.S. (Positively Sweet!)

When we arrived at the BLC for our prayer walk we were given instructions as to where we could and could not go. Of course where God had specifically instructed me to go was off limits. Center stage because of the work that was still underway.

That was fine for a while. I was quiet content to wave my banner at the main entrance and walk it through each section of seats and the main concourse. I guess I should say that I was the only one privy to the music that accompanied the movements of the flag/banner. I did get a few questioning looks here and there. But then as I finished the processional through the building Travis Cottrell started singing Jesus Saves. It seemed like I had no other course of action but to break the law! Thankfully my friend Ruth McWhite was very near the stage with some of the other main organizers of the event. "Ruth, Jesus needs me to step down there for just a bit." I knew what her reply would be... "Darling, you go right ahead".

I have never had the privilege of pouring out my worship as I did Thursday night. Ann's podium is a simple heavy wooden cross. That was where I was drawn to wave the flag, and thank God for the salvation the cross afforded us all. When the song ended, I threw down the flag and myself as well. Those men working construction probably thought I had died after such a display. My heart was pounding, I was all but gasping for breath. Well, I was gasping for breath! It was a sweet time of prayer to join God in what He has in store.

The true sweetness came during the night for me Thursday night as God awoke me around two to let me know how He saw my act of obedient worship.

More sweetness was added Friday night as JGMJ got underway. There were hundreds of women that came to the cross for salvation.

Thank You Lord, Thank You Lord, Thank You Lord... not only did you call me to the Cross, You met me there; as you did for all those who came last night. You have always and forever will meet any and all who come. Blessed be Your Holy Name... Jesus Christ.

Fill 'er up...

Do you ever feel like you are chasing your tail, running in circles?
Which of course leads to running nowhere as well as running out of gas.

Over the course of the last week, our focus as a board and staff has been to fall on our faces before the Lord. To seek Him with all of our hearts, minds, souls and strengths.

I'm going to stop right here and say... no matter what God has gifted you with, it is for His Glory and His ALONE. Maybe you are working a nine-to-five and feel like you have nothing to offer because your gift is not one mentioned... preaching, teaching, evangelism...
Can I just say - that my friend is a lie!

I had a meeting today with an old friend, Johnny R. I had heard he was the one I needed to sit down with (remember from my last post?) to help us get over all the hurdles that have pretty much immobilized us. A few simple questions, more hard questions. Some I had answers for, some I didn't. But now that I know what the questions are, now I can find the answers.

So maybe you have a gift of knowing what to ask, knowing how to fit a puzzle together, or something that seems so far off the beaten path from an evangelist, a prophet... put yourself out there, because if God created it in you - it is for Him. I pray that you will discover a few new possibilities beyond that nine-to-five!


So fill'er up, no more running around in circles, no more running on empty.

Yes, please fill'er up and I think I'll have the PREMIUM this time!

Battle Hymns of the day!

Open my eyes that i may see
glimpses of truth Thou hast for me.
Place in my hand the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee
Ready my God, Thy will to see
Open my eyes illumine me Spirit Divine!

Open my ears that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear.
And while the wave notes fall on my ear
Everything false will disappear.

Silently now I wait for Thee
Ready my God, Thy will to see
Open my ears illumine me Spirit Divine!

Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my heart, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Sometimes (OK, a lot of times) while getting bogged down in the trenches of trying to move this mountain, which seems like such a daunting task. A small, but forward step comes along and wouldn't you know it so then does a huge load of discouragement. Mostly the discouragement comes in my own mind. Probably because the only thing I usually see is what progress I, myself am making.

But then... (BUT GOD) out of nowhere I get an email or a phone call that sounds something like this...

"I recently had a call from the Greenville County Sheriff's Office wanting to know where they could send prostitutes when they want to get out of this lifestyle."

"We are going to come along side Wellspring this year because we believe in the mission. Our gift should be around $5,000."

"I would gladly open my home to you for luncheons, teas or whatever to help you get the word out."

"You should talk to so and so or such and such." (Just so happens that the so and so and such and such that was recommended to me by TWO different people is someone I already know... someone I have ministered with in the past, both here and in the Philippines)."

So, Mr. Doubt.... I have to BELIEVE! No matter how inadequate I feel, or how small my steps seem to be...I will continue to walk in the shadow of my MIGHTY BIG GOD! Basking in the rippling effect of His Glory and His alone.

Lead on, O King eternal,
The day of march has come
Henceforth in fields
of conquest
They tents shall be our home.

Through days of
preparation
Thy grace has made us strong,
And now, O King eternal,
We lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,
Till sin's
fierce war shall cease.
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet amen of
peace.

For not with swords loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring
drums,
With deeds of love and mercy,
The heavenly kingdom comes.

Lead on, O King eternal,
We follow, not with fears.
For gladness
breaks like morning
Where'er Thy face appears.

Thy cross is lifted
o'er us;
We journey in its light.
The crown awaits the conquest,
Lead on, O God of might.

Join in and sing our song! It may spur you on to victory as well.

(No music on MyPlaylist to accompany the two quoted here!!!)