Aren't you glad?

"If you treat a man as he is, he will stay as he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become the bigger and better man." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Aren't you glad God treats us like the children He designed us to be and not the ones we have been?

What kind of person do I want to be?...and impulse shopping.

Shelley Hendrix and I were talking one day last summer about what kind of mom and wife we want to be and don't want to be. I really love Shelley because she is down to earth. I can not see her for six months and feel that we can pick up right where we left off. I never leave her presence without being encouraged. God has made Shelley wise beyond her years. I truly believe she is this generations next Beth Moore. And I also love that she can find cool clothes from the thrift store that looks like she is the one setting the trend. (I love your $2 striped pants-you go girl!). Back to the point....

Shelley told me that a wise woman once told her. What you focus on is what you will become. For instance, if you continually focus on what you don't want to be, then you will take on the traits of what you really do not want. However if you focus on what you do want to be, then you will take on those traits.

So before this starts to sound like a self help writing, I will let you know that I turned to the Bible to see what God's views on a good model for a woman are. The first thing that I turned to is Proverbs 31:10-31. So now I am working on memorizing those verses. I want to understand those verses better and have them written on my heart. Right now I am at vs. 19 and feel like my brain is at it's capacity. :)

One of the verses I am completely in awe of is the one that says: "She considers a field and buys it, with her profits she plants a vineyard". Wow this verse says a lot. This woman first of all, is not an impulse shopper. She does not do what is right just because it seems like a good thing to do but really thinks about it before she acts. I have really been convicted and failed some tests over the years of jumping at opportunities because they seemed like the right thing to do, however I did not stop to seek if they were God's will for my life. We won't go down the rabbit trails that that kind of thinking has taken me on. I still jump at great things sometimes, but am a lot slower to do so and prayerfully consider my steps before doing so. One other cool point I found in just pondering this verse is that she did not go into debt to make money eventually, she managed her money well and expanded based on her profits. She did not put her family in jeopardy by unwisely investing. I say this could be applied not only to money but time and energy.

Origin of Halloween and Halloween Costumes

Griffin asked me about why we celebrate Halloween and dress up in costumes. I did not know the answer so I looked on the internet. The following information comes from http://www.wilstar.com/holidays/hallown.htm.

Halloween is an annual celebration, but just what is it actually a celebration of? And how did this peculiar custom originate? Is it, as some claim, a kind of demon worship? Or is it just a harmless vestige of some ancient pagan ritual?

The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic
day of observance in honor of saints. But, in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en), the Celtic New year.

One story says that, on that day, the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. The Celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living.

Naturally, the still-living did not want to be possessed. So on the night of October 31, villagers would extinguish the fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then dress up in all manner of ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess.

Probably a better explanation of why the Celts extinguished their fires was not to discourage spirit possession, but so that all the Celtic tribes could relight their fires from a common source, the Druidic fire that was kept burning in the Middle of Ireland, at Usinach.

Some accounts tell of how the Celts would burn someone at the stake who was thought to have already been possessed, as sort of a lesson to the spirits. Other accounts of Celtic history debunk these stories as myth.

The Romans adopted the Celtic practices as their own. But in the first century AD, Samhain was assimilated into celebrations of some of the other Roman traditions that took place in October, such as their day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, which might explain the origin of our modern tradition of bobbing for apples on Halloween.

The thrust of the practices also changed over time to become more ritualized. As belief in spirit possession waned, the practice of dressing up like hobgoblins, ghosts, and witches took on a more ceremonial role.

The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840's by Irish immigrants fleeing their country's potato famine.

Smelly Stuff-House Fragrance

What an interesting topic from the Creech Family! We won't go there...
in homeschool this week with Griffin we have been talking about the 5 senses. The sense of smell is the one sense that is strongest in bringing back memories. Whenever I smell coffee and bacon cooking, it instantly takes me back to Aunt Jane's house. Oh she can cook so good!!!!

I walked to my friend, Debbie Johnson's house and was invited by the cozy, holiday smell of warm cinnamon. We started talking about how plug in fragrances are not as strong after they have been in a while. I know that from working on the hog farm-not a good smell-that after smelling something for a while you become accustom to it and don't smell it or at least not the intensity of it anymore. Anyway, plug-ins are expensive and not as effective as I think they used to be. I asked Debbie what she used, she said she just boiled cinnamon on the stove. It was cheap and smelled so good.

Ludie is out this moning so I have boiled some cinnamon and cloves. We'll see what he says when he walks in.

PS. Look on the Hispanic (Mexican) Aisle of the grocery store for spices. You can find many of the same spices (i.e Cinnamon) at a cheaper price.

Not yet

It hasn't happened yet. The house is still for lease. We got a call this morning saying that they were not going to go through with the lease. Keep praying and if anyone wants to lease the house, call us or email us!!!!

God's Blessings

I cannot tell you why we did not leave for Ireland on our intended date, put I do know our steps are ordered by the Lord. As my dear friend Trina says, if our steps are ordered by the Lord then our stops are too. I do know that our stop has enabled several blessings.

Some more blessings from this week, are that we got to travel to Parris Island to see my brother-in-law, Claude graduate from Marine boot camp and is now a Marine. I am so proud of him. He had every opportunity to make bad choices in his life and yet he chose one of honor, an answer to prayer.

We also got to participate in the Love Loud project at our church. In this project our Sunday School Class (Davis) went to the Little River Mobile Home Park and had a yard sale to the people of the park (free sale), while there they had the opportunity to get lunch, have free hair cuts, face painting, a puppet show, pick up school supplies, music from Seth Condrey in Spanish, clowns for the kids, and a Spanish presentation of the gospel. The thing is we went to help them, and to my embarrassment, I came with preconceived judgment and expectations. It was there that while talking with the people there I realized they only took what they needed, and probably not enough. They were not taking the food that we had for them to take home, but realized if I handed it out they would take it. While handing out the bread I felt God talking to my heart reminding me that we are not there just to hand out bread but to be the hand of God, and through that love giving the bread of life. I teared up overwhelmed that
God would allow me to do that even when I came with a dark heart, He still chose to use me, and in the process changed my heart. There are many other blessings but I am just thankful to have God work in my heart.

The song playing when you log on is my favorite song to listen to in the morning when I wake up. I cannot live on yesterday's close walk with God. That was yesterday. Today I need him, and if I do not seek Him, I fail to grow and stay at the same spot of spiritual growth. In my devotions, God showed me that those who succeeded at being close to the Lord and therefore successful in following Him were those that set their minds to seek Him.

Today we celebrated our son's 6th birthday. He is such a blessing. Yesterday was his birthday, and we gave him some cheap but fun gifts yesterday just so he would get something on his birthday, and give him his main gift today at his party. Would you believed he loved those gifts? Never once complained, never once expressed disappointment that he wanted anything else, and was so excited to get them. He also astounded me at the mobile home park when we went to work with the families there. I thought he would just run around and play. He asked how he could help. He wanted to help sort the toys (did not ask for one on his birthday), he wanted to help blow up balloons and even asked how else he could help. It is only by the grace of God to have a son so thoughtful. It is not after his mama because I tend to naturally think of only myself and how to protect what I have. God is slowly showing me how to live with my hands open and not closed. Like our pastor says, He cannot bless us if we are not living with our hands open to give back to Him what He so graciously gave to us, if our hands are closed grasping onto our blessings and not trusting Him with them.

Someone came by the house today and is interested in leasing based on the terms we set forth. If all goes well then we should be out by the end of the week. I pray that if this is God's will He will allow it to happen and if it is not, that the door will slam shut. Thank you for your prayers.

I called to tell my best friend the good news but burst out crying as the phone was ringing. I don't think I will ever be ready to say goodbye.

I know this is all a lot of news and jumping from subject to subject but there is a lot going on right now. A lot of great stuff that only God could do and opportunities that only He could create.

Lots Going On.-Matthew Miller-Love Loud.

Well it has been a busy past two weeks. I have not been going to bed before midnight-which is late for me. I prefer 9 hours sleep. HA! I really just find it hard getting organized and keeping the house and family running. I know that this is just a different time in our lives. It is not a normal season, but we have been living in this season of transition in our lives for so long it is starting to feel like normal.

I have to admit I have been indulging in some Barbara time and reading a book that a friend gave me a year ago. Why did I wait so long to read it? It is Wild Heatherby Catherine Palmer. The first two chapters were a little dry but after that I could not put it down. I even locked myself in the bathroom for 10 minutes of uninterrupted reading-a mommy trick that I hear is very common.

The biggest news that happened is that Griffin prayed with Ludie. On September 28th, 2008 Griffin. I really feel that God has used his memory verses from the SPARKS program at church to work on his heart. On is James 2:10 "For whoever shall keep the whole law, And yet stumble in one point, He is guilty of all." Another big verse God has used in his life is Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ, and you will be saved." He believes on the Lord Jesus (not just in-even the demons believe in Him, but on is to trust in Him) and repented (turned from wanting to do as he pleases and surrendering to do what God wants him to-turning away from sin and to God). Ludie got to baptize him. I don't think there is anything more precious than seeing your children saved. It is something I have wanted for him for so long, but I cannot do it for him. It is a work God must do in his heart and he choses to accept it or not.

We are waiting for our house to sell or lease. If you know of anyone interested in either please send them our way! Click on the link to the right to view our house. I have to admit, since we neutralized the walls it has taken our own personal touch out. I have had the overwhelming urge to decorate and create a home. God has had to redefine my definition of making a home. I have had to go from a house that looks like a Southern Living Magazine to one that is filled with love and laughter. I knew that before but there is a difference of a conception and carrying that out when you are in a setting that you would not normally be. Does that make sense or am I just rambling since it is after 10pm?

I cannot tell you why we are still here. Only God can answer that. I know beyond a doubt that we are called to Ireland, but only God knows the timing and why. He has been gracious to show us benefits and give us blessings of being here as well as remove some dross too.

One blessing is extra time to be with our wonderful family and friends. We got to spend a couple days with my 91 year old grandmother. What a treasure! To talk to a godly woman. Find out what her wishes for future generations are, what her favorite Bible verse is, her views on life and to hear her wisdom. I am so grateful for a husband that asks her such wonderful questions when I was paralyzed with the thought that this may be the last chance I get to see her this side of heaven since we are planning on God answering our prayers about leaving for Ireland soon. She is in great health, but she is also 91 (92 on Nov 15th). It was so amazing that I know God really did bless that time.

Another blessing is that it has been a blessing to be a blessing. I say this only because there is no good in me. The only good in me is that which comes from God. Recently a friend that has grown dear to me has lost one of her precious twins. We have had 5 miscarriages but none to term. Each person's road is different but I cannot imagine going through what this family has gone through. It is amazing to see God's grace at work in the good but even moreso in the hard. A dear lady I admire, a widow and mother of 8 once said, "God is good, even when we don't understand what good is." Due to the sustaining hand of God and ability to heal and restore my heart through the our children going to be with the Lord, God has given me a heart to reach out to women that are hurting through the grief of the loss of their children. This past week we have been approved to establish a Matthew Miller fund. Below is part of a proposal that was approved by our church to reach out to hurting moms in the church and in the community.

God’s word says in Isaiah 61 (Jesus’ mission statement):
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me, To preach good tidings to the poor; H has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, …To comfort all who mourn …To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

In our church/community playground there is a bench facing the cross on the worship center with plaques to show that this bench is dedicated to the glory of God, a place to honor the healing of our hearts as moms that have lost children through the healing touch of Jesus Christ. We are now going to plant perennials around the bench to give it some small privacy and also be a beautiful reflection place.

The Matthew Miller Fund (in honor of John and Andrea Miller's son) is being established through the MomCare ministry of our church to have bricks engraved with the names of babies and the dates they were born into the presence of their Savior.
This could also lead the women that are going through a grieving process to the opportunity to be loved on by the MomCare ladies.

We have also been approved to write a devotional regarding Gods healing through such circumstances. These would be available to anyone in the church to give to anyone that is going through a time such as this in their life in the church or in the community.

The bench would be an outreach to the community. We could work through the Sunday School classes to let their neighborhoods know that the bench is at the church playground, and have this as an outreach to the community.

Therefore...anyone interested in writing a devotion and emailing it to me I would appreciate it. Or if you would like to donate money to the Matthew Miller Fund to have a reserve for bricks, just make your check payable to the church and then ear mark it Matthew Miller Fund and put it in the offering plate. Any Home Depot gift certificates or Pikes gift certificates would be welcome. I don't think it will cost over $100 to plant around the bench.