6/2010

It's summertime again!  (Didn't we just celebrate Christmas!?)

Time does speed by, and the older we get the faster it seems to go!  Remember the summers of long ago when the days were long and lazy?  Summer seemed to go on forever!

You can make this a summer to remember with some very simple ideas from Emilie Barnes.  Even if you aren't able to take a vacation this year, take a few hours each week, or each month for some mini-vacations.  

Emilie loves her mini-vacations with friends and family - a picnic, or a walk by a quiet ...

As Nancy Leigh DeMoss shares on today's Revive Our Hearts^™ program . . .

Some of you may be familiar with the children's book called We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen.  On their trip, the family encounters hard times: long, wavy grass; a deep, cold river; thick, oozy mud; a big, dark forest, and a whirling, swirling snowstorm.  Each time, they realize, "We can't go over it. We can't go under it. Oh, no, we have to go through it."

I saw that, and I thought, "What a picture of life."  Encounter hard times: cancer ...

Just admit it.  You hate going to the dentist.  My experiences have told me that the dentist office is a loud and scary place that haunts me in my darkest dreams!  Recently, however, I had no choice but to go to the dentist several times to get some major dental work done.  Although the very thought of a high speed drill inside my mouth made me feel nauseous, I was thankful for the end result.  My teeth and gums were healthier, allowing me to actually chew on my food on both sides of my mouth.  No longer did I have ...

Glory and honor.  This is what awaits those who win the World Cup.  Pride and bragging rights are what the winning country earns.

How long, however, will it last?  Who really remembers who won the 2006 and 2002 world cups, let alone the world cups from 20-30 years ago?  Don't get me wrong.  I love watching the games and cheered like crazy during the 2002 world cup game where South Korea sadly lost against Turkey and ended up in 4th place.  Nonetheless, these games don't bring about any lasting changes.

Who are the real heroes in your life ...

If you've been keeping up with life in the Garlow's household, you'll know that these past several days have had moments of incredible celebration...and other moments of profound sobriety. For a full re-cap, visit Jim Garlow's facebook page and read his notes.  But here's the abbreviated version.

The youngest two Garlows, Josie and Jake, graduated high school this year. A time traditionally packed with festivities and family, the Garlows' celebration held a different tone.  The recent news of Carol's cancer returning and the ensuing measure to fight it led to Carol being scheduled ...

Just home from church . . . one of my weekly highlights because after 20 years at Church of the Open Door, Sunday mornings are like going home to me.  It's when I know I'll see my church family and have a few moments to unwind and most importantly, enjoy sweet time of focus on God.  

And soon I'll have another reason to look forward to Sunday mornings - our pastor's wife, who leads our Sunday School Class, has selected Anne Graham Lotz's Into the Word for our next Bible Study curriculum!

Our Sunday School Class, "His Alone," is ...