Sweet Caroline

Sorry it has taken me longer than I thought to post... I forgot what 'babyville' is like! I've lost all track of time and of anything else happening in the world, except this... waiting, hearing, praising, loving, thanking, rejoicing!!

Miss Caroline Girard, born September 28, 2010, 1:06 PM, 7 lbs 8 oz, 19.5 inches - a gift from God!

Anne Graham Lotz Announces Worldwide Simulcast

Ordered Joel Rosenberg's Epicenter today after reading this:


"Wake Up Call for the Church" Simulcast

Worldwide Simulcast Scheduled for 9/11’s Ten-Year Anniversary:
A Wake-Up Call to the Church with Anne Graham Lotz and Joel Rosenberg
September 11, 2011

Raleigh, NC – AnGeL Ministries, the ministry of Anne Graham Lotz, today announced plans for a worldwide simulcast to be offered for broadcast into church sanctuaries and homes on September 11, 2011-–the ten-year anniversary of the attack on America.

“This 9/11, one small church in Florida is capturing the world’s attention with its controversial Qur'an-burning plans,” says Anne Graham Lotz. “Instead, what if this time next year, churches all across America marked this anniversary – not by looking around, but by looking up and getting right with God?”

The planned simulcast, offered as “A Wake-Up Call to the Church” will include teaching messages from Anne Graham Lotz, Bible teacher and award-winning author, and Joel Rosenberg, New York Times best-selling author of The Epicenter and Inside the Revolution, and an authority on Bible prophecy.

“Sunday, September 11, 2011, will mark the tenth anniversary of the attack on America. I have long felt the original 9/11 attack was allowed by God as a wake-up call for His people – a time to look up and get right with Him,” says Lotz. “But did we sleep through the alarm? My prayer is that this simulcast, held on such an historic anniversary, would serve to gather the church and reissue the wake-up call to the hearts of Christians everywhere. It is my prayer that it would refocus us on Jesus as our Hope for the future and re-ignite such an intense longing for His return, that we live the rest of our lives with no regrets.”

The program will be broadcast into churches and on the Internet for individual viewing from 6:00-9:00 pm EST and PST, Sunday, September 11, 2011. The simulcast will originate from an historic venue once described by evangelist Dwight L. Moody as the “Pulpit of America,” Tremont Temple Baptist Church, located in downtown central Boston, the same city in which the terrorists boarded the fateful flights ten years ago.

The simulcast will be followed by an 8-week Bible study held in the simulcast host churches. The study is designed to reinforce the wake-up call.

“Prior to 9/11/11, I will be leading those who wish to participate in daily prayer for our homes, churches and nation. If churches or individuals commit now to spend the next year leading up to Sunday, September 11, 2011, praying for God’s people to humble themselves, seek His face, and turn from sin, I believe He will hear us, forgive us and heal us,” added Lotz. “The alarm has gone off. It’s time to wake up. It’s time to get right with God.”

Becoming a Host Site
Details are still being finalized for host church registrations. To receive information on becoming a host church as details come available, email your contact information to angelmin.info@angelministries.org or phone AnGeL Ministries at 919-787-6606.

About Anne Graham Lotz
Founder of AnGeL Ministries, Anne Graham Lotz has proclaimed God’s Word worldwide for over thirty years. Referred to by her father, Billy Graham, as "the best preacher in the family," Anne has inspired listeners in arenas and prison cells, stadiums and sanctuaries, the United Nations and Amsterdam 2000. Anne launched Just Give Me Jesus revivals in the year 2000, which have been held in more than 30 cities in 12 countries. She is an award-winning, best-selling author. Her eleven books include Just Give Me Jesus and The Magnificent Obsession.

About Joel Rosenberg
Joel C. Rosenberg is the New York Times best-selling author of five novels and two nonfiction books, with some 2 million total copies in print. He is also the founder of The Joshua Fund, a nonprofit educational and charitable organization to mobilize Christians to “bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus” with food, clothing, medical supplies and other humanitarian relief. As a communications advisor, Joel has worked with a number of U.S. and Israeli leaders, including Steve Forbes, Natan Sharansky, and Benjamin Netanyahu. The son of a Jewish father and a Gentile mother, Joel is an evangelical Christian with a passion to make disciples of all nations and teach Bible prophecy. For more information on Joel’s ministry, visit www.joelrosenberg.com.

What's everybody reading?

One of my favorite questions... and one asked several times yesterday at Book Club.

A red letter day six times a year is when I get to have lunch with these girls and discuss books. We have a delicious lunch - this time an artichoke and sausage soup - (in Beyond Parsley if you have that cookbook) with corn muffins, and for dessert, meringues with lemon curd and blueberries. Thank you, Anne! Yum!
We just finished reading Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart - a light, easy, whimsical true story of two girls who spent a summer in NYC working at Tiffany. For November we're reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy and I'm sure we will mention the upcoming movie. November's meeting is at my house, so I need to dig into my cookbooks. Anybody else take cookbooks to bed with you, as I do?
So, what are you reading? Forgotten God by Francis Chan is on my bedside and it's good! I'm sorry to say this summer spoiled me when we did a blog read together. I'm not listening and hearing and doing as I did in our summer study. Next in line is Radical by David Platt.

I need a good book to take to Molly's for a few rare free moments in between taking care of Anna, the new baby, and my baby... Mol.

Yes, we're a week away and on baby watch. I'll do a post the day the baby is born if at all possible. Love to all you blog friends!

A Sweet Hello From Molly!

(A guest post from Molly... Suzanne's Daughter)

Hey Everyone-

Mom asked me to do a little guest post today. I hope that is okay with y'all.
Especially since this post will more than likely be a brain-dump/photo-spill of our summer.. =)




I just can't believe summer is over and "school" has started... (especially since it's still 100 degrees outside).

Anna LOVED her summer!



And now we are (not so patiently) waiting on the arrival of her little brother or sister!

I have eight more days until the scheduled section.. but I'm sort of hoping he/she will come before then.

=)

I hope you all had a great summer full of little fun adventures too. I'm sure mom will be letting you know next week when the "new baby" arrives!

Thanks for having me "over".

I love a good discussion...

Lesson 3, The Truth Project, brought great discussion amongst the Wednesday girls... Where did evil come from?

Here is some excellent additional commentary by Ravi Zacharias.

Family Traditions

Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Psalm 37: 3

Welcome to Ben's annual dove shoot! It is one of our most fun family times. This year the opening day of dove season was Saturday. We had the incredible blessing of all the fam with us except Molly, who is great with child. Nate offered his cabin for lunch on the grounds and Houston barbecued chicken all morning, served with his famous white sauce. God blessed us with a gorgeous day, plenty of birds and wonderful friends!

Anna with Daddy Ben, both in camo...

Nate & Courtney, just engaged ( notice her ring)...

Sarah & Sean... Sean's first dove shoot & he got his limit!

Houston & Lacey...

Berry Allen & Sarah Wickwire...

site of the party, Nate's cabin...

lots of hunters...

Nate and Houston conferring over the barbecued chicken... fabulous!

Anna & Lacey...

Alice Martin & Liz Grant...

Maggie & Sarah...

Going Caving

I have a couple of questions for you, fellow cave-dwellers. What I mean is… those of you who go into the ‘cave’ to study, ponder, fast, reflect, prepare, heal, and get right with God. Before I teach, while I’m preparing, while I teach, and sometimes for no reason at all other than I miss God, I pull away and go into the ‘cave’. Some of you will know exactly what I’m talking about.

With my fall schedule, I entered the cave a week or so ago. It is a place of serenity and calm, prayer and preparation. Just like a real cave, of which I understand we have lots in our area… in fact, as we drive down 565, I understand we’re traveling on top of some pretty massive caves. I digress… just like a real cave, it is very quiet. My husband loves it when I go in the cave because I’m quiet and at home a lot. My friends, one in particular, hate it because I put off returning calls and say no a lot to lunches and movies and out of town trips… ‘cause I’m exploring around in the cave.

What do I find there? Riches untold! There are God’s jewels to be found no where else and no way else. But it takes so much discipline! I buck it every time.

Here’s what I want to know…
- What are the disciplines you use when you go underground? I mean, do you turn off the phone and email… what else?
- How do you handle adjusting to times of solitude for a couple of days and then coming out into civilization?
- Do you find it to be lonesome in the cave? Any advice on handling that?
- And lastly, how do you keep from shouting from the rooftops when a particular jewel is discovered? I find it very easy to get sidetracked.

I know I’m not making sense to everyone. But for those of you who are writing and teaching and leading and listening, let me hear about your cave experiences.

Taking Time to Say...

thank you! Thank you for reading this blog and keeping up and commenting and sharing your heart and just plain checkin' in! I so appreciate you and I never say so. I want to say so now. Thank you and bless you today! You are a blessing to me.

I've been doing this lately:

Anna has been here for a week, Molly too, and Casey over the weekend. I wouldn't trade a minute. Every morning, no matter how exhausted the night before, we woke up to a happy little voice saying "Cout, Miles, eat". That translates, "Scout (our 13 year old lab) and Miles (our 17 year old cat) need to eat." Our early morning routine is that Daddy Ben takes Anna to the garage to feed the animals. She never forgets and LOVES her chore. We had a 'gulp' moment when Molly mentioned to us that when Scout and Miles go to dog and cat heaven, Daddy Ben and Zannie will have to get a whole new round of animals for their grandchildren... gulp!

I'll be back soon with a few more things on my heart... love, love!

Dr. Dell Tackett

Each lesson of The Truth Project is called a 'tour'. Our tour guide is Dr. Tackett.

Worldview

What is a worldview? It really helps to know what it is, before we start taking it apart and putting it back together again.

The Truth Project One Week Away

Dear Wednesday Girls -
If I would not miss precious time with my granddaughter, Anna, I'd want to fast forward time to next Wednesday. My emotions are just about overflowing in anticipation of what God will teach you, me, us, through this incredible class. Take the time to watch this trailer (7 minutes) and prepare your heart for the study of Truth. I will post a few other things in the next few days. I've missed you so much this summer...

Fall Studies and Schedules

Fall! This heat has hurried up my desire for fall. Usually I’m longing for lengthy and lazy last days of summer, but not this year. Doesn’t this look heavenly?





Just so you know, the blog continues on. Exactly how the Lord will use it, I don’t know; but I love to see how the Lord leads and to be a part of how the Lord leads. This fall I will be blogging about two fall studies, a new grandbaby, and the launching of my website…

Two fall studies – I’m facilitating The Truth Project for the Wednesday Girls. I’ve been a Truth Project student this summer and can hardly wait to share this incredible class from Focus on the Family. More on this leading up our start date: September 25. On Thursdays I’ll be teaching Crossings: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua to ladies at Southwood Pres. I am thrilled to pieces over both classes!

Molly’s new baby – September 28th is the due date for either Caroline Girard or William Thomas. We are beside ourselves!

Website – hopefully launching the end of August, just in time to house all the Crossings lessons for the Southwood study…

Stay tuned!

Lack of Self Control, Envy, Jealousy and Amen

A few years ago I ran across all my report cards from Burton School, Nashville, Tennessee, grades 1 - 8. Almost every one had multiple check marks (not a good thing) next to “Practices Self Control.” I was one to talk in class, ask erroneous questions, pass notes, read a book hidden under my textbook, and not pay attention. The chapter on Lack of Self Control brought back spot-on examples of falling daily to desires, cravings, impulses, emotions and passions of the moment. I may not have thought Mr. Bridges chose the best examples of judgmentalism, but he nailed self control!

With his story about the ice cream, I really liked how Mr. Bridges just said “no” to himself for the sheer purpose of keeping that desire under control. Have you ever done that? Recently? And over what? Let’s do it this week as homework and say “no” just because we can to a Starbucks, or the book we just have to have, or relaying a juicy bit of gossip that we know first, or a new top, or having the last word or the latest gadget. And let’s hear some final feedback as we read these last chapters and seek to end well. Lesley, we’ve missed your comments the last two weeks and hope to hear some final words from you when you get home. Thanks to Madelyn, Annewhite, Shay, Michelle, Kristi, Sylvia, Anne, Linda, Pam, Lee, Sydna, and others out there who have stayed with us till the end. I know you have been blessed by God's tender care.

It seems in every chapter Mr. Bridges gives us new thoughts and solid examples. Yet, as a solution he consistently turns our repentant hearts toward a stronger trust in the sovereignty of God and a deeper reliance on work of the Holy Spirit. Bit by bit, I’ve surrendered some of my own thoughts, opinions, actions, and attitudes. Have you? With what?

And here’s something I’ve learned… I think I’ve had judgmentalism mixed up with envy all long. It took going back to the exact definitions of each to get it straight. My thinking has been inaccurate resulting in blurred lines between envy, judgmentalism, and jealousy. What I thought was one, actually was the other, and what I thought was the other, wasn’t. Sorry, it makes sense to me. I praise God and thank Jerry Bridges for setting me straight. Not that I haven’t been judgmental – I have. It’s just that in some key situations where I’ve labeled myself as judging, I’ve actually been outright envious. Especially, as Mr. Bridges puts it, with whom I most closely identify and in areas I value most. Whew!

A few more questions for you… if you had to say the one “respectable sin” that sent you reeling this summer, what would it be? I told you from the first that I’m a bottom-line girl. In June I just knew it would be judgmentalism, but clearly nothing has blindsided, burned, convicted, and humbled me like the sin of discontent. That is my take-away. On page 75 when he talks about disappointments handled by resignation done grudgingly – well, I saw myself so clearly it hurt. It still hurts and could bring me to tears, but, thankfully, also to my knees.

Are you glad you read Respectable Sins? Why or why not? I am. I’m so grateful to all of you for reading it with me. Admittedly, half way through I was overwhelmed and sin-sick. But through Jerry Bridges’ patient and loving reminders of the nature of God, I felt God’s hand guiding me through each of my individual subtle sins to the acknowledgment, the confession, the repentance, the hope. I call it the summer of my discontent, meaning the summer I saw and dealt with the sin of discontent. But, I have ended the summer in content.

We make it our aim to please Him. II Cor. 5: 9

Dear Book Club bloggers, I will miss you as August fades into September and we return to our commitments. It has been a joy to pull away with you. Please check in from time to time and let me hear what God is doing in your lives.

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. I Thessalonians 2: 8

Book Club at Madison Starbucks

Just a reminder that our blog Book Club will meet at Starbucks on 72 in Madison Wednesday at 11:00 AM. Bring your book and your final thoughts. We will try to recap all our take-aways. It has been a amazing, wonderful study! Hope to see you there!