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It’s Good to Be in Maine Again

 I love the unique beauty of this northeastern state.

We’re off to Boston this morning for Christian Book Distributors warehouse sale. 

Remember:  God loves each of us as though there was only one of us!

My Flight

On the flight from Harrisburg to Washington DC, I had an aisle seat next to a young businessman.  It was relaxing to arrive in DC ten minutes ahead of schedule – and I didn’t have to look for the nearest Starbucks.  It was next to my departure gate.  How great is that!

I loved my flight to Maine.  I had a window seat on the ocean side of the plane – and there was nobody in the seat next to me!  I saw shoreline and ocean from Philadelphia to Portland!  Below are some of the scenes outside my window. 

I did a bit of research and concluded that this is Fort Gorges.  [Funding for the fort was approved by Congress in 1857, and construction began the next year. With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, work was speeded up. By 1864, the fort was well on its way to completion and twenty-six guns had been mounted while construction continued. By 1865, work was completed according to the original plan, and it was named in honor of Sir Ferninando Gorges, colonial proprietor of Maine.]

An hour and a half after leaving DC, just before touch-down, we were close enough to the ground to see the plane’s shadow.  Thank you, Lord, for a safe trip.

Preparations are complete; I have food in the freezer for Cerwin; now it’s time to finish packing my suitcase and leave for Harrisburg Airport.  I can’t wait to see our daughter Diane’s family (later this morning) in Portland, and spend the next week at their home near Brunswick, ME.

Pray for traveling mercies.

Happy 7th Birthday Jana

Thursday, March 30

Last night we celebrated another birthday.  This was Jana’s day!

Happy 11th Birthday Jenna

Friday, March 31, 2006

Last night we celebrated our granddaughter, Jenna’s upcoming 11th birthday (Friday).  Her cake of choice this year was a cowgirl boot. 

The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;   Psalm 103:17 KJV 

God Gives Beauty for Ashes – If We Let Him

I don’t usually attend Women’s Fellowship at our church, White Oak Church of the Brethren, due to my schedule with Transport For Christ, but didn’t want to miss yesterday’s program, as our daughter-in-law, Chris was the speaker. 

Marcy Baum (above) divided the group into two sections to sing a song in rounds while Jen Martin (right) waits to lead her half of the audience.

Chris shared her story of growing up in a home without a father.  Her dad left the family when she was four, and to this day remains estranged from them, choosing rather to live in another area of the country.

Though I had previously heard most of Chris’ story, it was painful to hear her tell about the void that is left in a little girl and adult woman’s life when a father chooses to be absent.  But, it was wonderful to hear how God changed her scars and pain into beauty and strength.

She used the example of a small tree that was scarred by a vine that had wrapped itself around it so tightly that it threatened to strangle the life out of the tree (right).  Then she displayed a similar tree that had also been strangled by a vine, but her husband (our son Jeff) saw beauty in it, and turned it into a beautiful walking stick.  The scars remain, but they have been changed into a thing of beauty and uniqueness.

…to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.  Isaiah 61:3 KJV 

This style of photo/poster is something I print at the end of every month to be sent to TFC’s Leadership Team and Northeast Region staff, along with the NE Region chapel schedule for the upcoming month (dates and locations where staff will be serving). 

Compiling and mailing a monthly schedule for TFC’s eight chapels in the Northeast is one of my duties.  I began the practice of including a poster in 1996 when TFC was going through a rough time and we needed to keep God’s Word “in our face”. 

I never found a reason to discontinue keeping God’s Word “in our face”, so have continued the practice of mailing a poster each month.

One Pretty Daffodil Blooming in Our yard

Yesterday, after getting home from church, I noticed this single flower in our memory garden, so took a few pictures.  In the afternoon – while relaxing on our La-Z-Boy, laptop on lap, and watching bull riding on TV – I “played” with the best picture.  This is the results:

That was fun, but the original is still the prettiest! 

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.  Galatians 6:7 & 8  NKJV

You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself!  You will harvest what you plant.  If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit you will harvest eternal life.  Galatians 6:7 & 8  CEV

A Blessed Evening!

Last night we had opportunity to share the ministry of Transport For Christ with 569 people at TFC’s Lancaster, PA, Dinner Concert.

Our Family’s Table – Notice six grandchildren in the foreground.  You can see our projector light is on for the photo presentation of the June 2005 Truck Rally we had running as people arrived and during the dinner.  Later we used PowerPoint to update the audience on Transport For Christ.

 Yoder’s (New Holland, PA) staff of waitresses did a super job of serving us.

Jake Wise shared how God called him to become a volunteer chaplain at one of TFC’s  chapels, the experience of fighting God’s call for several months, and the peace and power he received after surrendering to the Lord.

The highlight of the evening was the awesome harmony and testimonies of Garment of Praise.

He’s My Buddy!

Grandsons Ian and Jared are brothers and good friends.  After this picture Ian (left) said, “He’s my buddy.”

When we love others, we know that we belong to the truth, and we feel at ease in the presence of God.  1 John 3:19 CEV