Can I just tell you how much I enjoyed my ride into work this morning? It's all because I was so enjoying my new CD by Kelly Minter, Loss, Love & Legacy. I'm just saying, go to LifeWay.com/livingroomseries or your nearest LifeWay Christian Store and pick yourself one up along with the new Ruth Bible study. This is the type of study that I love because it's about hanging out with girlfriends, eating a great meal together and digging into God's Word. I'll be posting more about the study and music so stay in touch with us. If you purchase the CD, tell us what your favorite song is and why . . .
Thanksgiving 2009 is over, and I have to confess that I was a little sad to see it go. We had such a fun time with friends and family over the course of the long weekend; in fact, my husband told me yesterday that he thought this year's T'giving was pretty much perfect. I am prone to agree.
Like so many of you, I'm trying to wade my way into Monday - all the real-life stuff that I put off for a few days is breathing down my neck a little bit - but I'm tickled that I have a very fun something on the horizon in just a few days: Deeper Still Oklahoma City.
I know I'm probably not supposed to have favorites - because every LifeWay Women event I've attended has been wonderful - but Deeper Still is extra special to me. God did some incredible things in my heart and in my life through Deeper Still Nashville back in 2007 - it was a real watershed moment for me in my walk with Him. So to be able to go to OKC and sit under the teaching of Kay, Beth and Priscilla all over again - well, it makes my heart smile. And it makes me really, really excited for the women (and men) who may be attending Deeper Still for the first time this weekend. They are going to be blessed beyond measure.
And we're going to do our best to chronicle some of those blessings for you right here at AllAccess.
Who got up at the crack of midnight to line up outside a store for a polar fleece or a motorized hamster?
It's okay. You don't REALLY have to tell us. The Lord knows, and that is all that matters.
(I kid because I love, by the way. And because I may or not have been awake at 2:30 this morning and actively contemplating whether or not a trip to Target was worth it.)
(Anyway.)
Yesterday morning while I was cooking I had a great phone conversation with a sweet friend of ours (that we actually met through BLOGGING, OF ALL THINGS), and after we finished talking, I had a little moment with God. He is always in the business of finding new and creative ways to remind me that PEOPLE MATTER MOST, and I just had the best time standing in my kitchen and thinking about how gracious He has been to all of us through this little thing with call the INTERWEB.
There's no question that real-life relationships matter most. But I am so grateful that God - in His sovereignty - has allowed us so many of us to make online connections that have developed into real-life friendships. And I'm not just talking about the kind of friendships where you say "hi" in the grocery store and keep moving - I'm talking about friendships of the heart.
So today, I just want to say this all official-like and for-real: WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR YOU PEOPLE. I am so thankful that all of our paths have crossed - even if our paths are just a bunch of bytes and bits and IP addresses. And I can't wait to see how God continues to use these connections for our good and His great glory.
If y'all are like me, you can spend most of Thanksgiving running around like a chicken with its head cut off. We get so busy with the cleaning and the prepping and cooking and the serving that we forget to do the thanking.
So when I heard this song yesterday, it hit me between the eyes a little bit. In the best possible way, of course. And I thought I'd share it. Hope it encourages you.
I spent the weekend out of town with my best friend's family. While we were there, we decided to take the kids to go visit her grandfather who is in a small, private nursing facility suffering from Alzheimers disease.
He was having a good day and glad to see the kids. In fact, he seemed to rise to the occasion and even pretended that he knew who everyone was, though I'm not sure he really did.
But what broke my heart was one of his fellow patients in the common living room area. She is sixty-two years old and has advanced Alzheimers. As she watched the kids play and laugh, she said, "I used to have a family like this a long time ago". It took everything in me not to fall apart on the spot. And it made me glad that God is merciful and doesn't wring my ungrateful neck for all the times I take my blessings for granted.
This life can be hard. He tells us in John 16:33 that "in this world you will have trouble", but he also tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.
If that's not something to be grateful for today and every day, then I don't know what is.
"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:11-12
We'd love to hear what you're grateful for this Thanksgiving season.
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris