Atlanta and Steven Curtis Chapman equals God speaking!

We (Love89) took a road trip with staff and listeners yesterday to Atlanta for a Braves game and a concert with Steven Curtis Chapman... which would have been great all in itself. But God decided to bless me, us, with a show of His power that had I not anticipated.
The game was a hot and humid one for sure, and I should have realized that might mean a late afternoon early evening pop up shower. But I was genuinely surprised when I saw the dark clouds over the Northwest rim of the stadium appearing. And then not until I saw the lightening and felt the cool blast of air did it dawn on me that He was there. It's funny how you go through your day to day activities and think that He shows up. Hmmm. Totally forgetting that He is always there - everywhere - in everything.
The wind picked up and trash left over in the stands from all the hotdogs, nachos, and cokes began blowing around. My heart quickened - listening. Was this important?They announced that we would retreat under the canopies until it blew over.
And when a huge blast of lightening appeared to be a close as the parking lot, retreat we did!
As we stood chatting together with a young couple of our listeners celebrating their one year anniversary of dating I began to think, feel Him. I suppose I may have seemed at some point disengaged from the conversation for a moment but I begin thinking... He's here, He's here... and we're here... and He's up to something.
As the rain poured down we waited. The lightening flashed, the thunder clapped. He was speaking. "See Me, He was saying, See Me - then worship Me".
When it slowed to almost a complete stop we begin filling the seats again. Then they said it was too wet for anything but an acoustic show with Steven - no band.
Ahhhh, there it is. God desired it to be more intimate, quieter. The sky turned into a beautiful orange and gray mix that was breathtaking. Then it truly sank in, the power He had just displayed with that summer storm was the real beginning of the worship last night! He spoke then, in that way in the storm, because we first needed to see Him, hear Him, feel Him before we begin to worship.
He displayed Himself so that when that unplanned (by man anyway) intimate time with Steven happened it was a truer intimate time with my Father. So that when His whispers in my heart and mind began, they were part of a conversation we were already having even if I didn't realize it!
I had wondered earlier in the day why the trip itself was quieter than I had anticipated. The staff was more low key than usual. The winners and their guests were quieter that I had anticipated.
My mood was not bad in anyway yesterday at all - but I had questioned myself as to why I felt like I was waiting for something, and why was I so quiet but with no feeling like I needed to be otherwise?
I sit here on the Sunday morning after. I did not go to church today. When I woke up this morning I thought to myself, that as crazy as it sounded to me, that I needed to stay home... why? We are called to gather together in corporate fellowship, to be fed, and to simply worship. But also I know that as Steven sang last night - God is God - and when He speaks I am to listen. I don't always you know. Not nearly always.
But I am grateful that I did today. He wanted me alone with Him. I loved my time with Him last night.
In the storm, in listening to Steven Curtis Chapman, and even when He spoke to me afterwards on the bus ride home through the dvd we watched - The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe... I still see and hear things in that movie that are new every time I watch it! Isn't if awesome how it was Lucy and Susan (the women) that were the last with Aslan when he had died? The first to see Him when he returned? Just like the precious account of our Savior - incredible!
I have loved my time with my Father this morning.
He has blessed me, talked with me through His Word and more.
"Yes, as the rain and snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do"(Is 55:10-11).
His rain did not return void in me, His Word did not, now I have shared what He has given me and it will not return void because it is from His mouth to my heart. I hope your heart is blessed today.
He's already here, just see Him.

p.s.
When I had wrapped up my time with God this morning I went to search for something on the Internet. My initial browser search listed this item first. Please take a look at what God did after a storm 4 years ago and led me to today through this link

What a Week... Whew!

It's already August 1st, my son just turned 22 yesterday, and my daughter turns 21 in 2 days...
Life is moving way fast!
But God is good - so sweet - and so attentive.
My friend Lisa is pregnant and I got to see her today for the first time in a week. She is having a miracle baby. God has created life where doctors said there could be none!
I have a friend Carla whose Dad is dying. Carla's heart is breaking some days. I'm sure there will be times when she doesn't feel her heart is fully alive or ever will be again. But God brings life where there seems to be none.
If we wander through this life without Christ we are not truly alive - but when we know Him, I mean truly know Him, He brings Life, and makes all things new.
What a sweet God and creator of life we have, what a gentle comforter His Holy Spirit is, and what a giver of new life and mercies eternal our Savior Jesus brings... what a miracle we all are!

Busy Saturday...

Today I woke up to rain. That really makes we want to stay in bed, you? The distant thunder, rain on the roof and pattering against the window, Mr Pickles my mini-daschund curled up against the back of my knees... hmm-m-m-m-m-m... but wait, coffee would be great too... ok coffee, yeah.
So I got up being very quite so I wouldn't wake Todd my hubby, let Pickles out for his morning "you know", and while the coffee was brewing and the house was still so quite I stood at the window and thought about all I had to do today, West Knoxville, Sevierville, stops to make, things to do, alot to do...
But wait, look, the rain, it's still falling. Wow, it's really so soothing. So beautiful. Look at the drops sliding down the window. It flows so steadily... like His love. I thought about Him - my lovong Father - all of the sudden... about how steadily He loves us. Yes, times get tough and things so wrong, money isn't stretching as far right now, my heart gets heavy sometimes, even breaks. Things happen to those around me I wish I could make better. People that are so good have things happen that seem so confusing. But see, then the rain keeps falling this morning, the quiet sinks in, and my heart quickens as I hear my God whisper "See, I'm renewing the day. Life. I'm providing water that will flow and bring more life, and more beauty, for you to enjoy. I am also weeping, weeping over those in my world that are hurting. I am sustaining life with my tears, I am listening in this quite morning for your voice too my child - waiting for you to tell me the things you desire, the things you are afraid of, the things that you need Me to hold and carry for you today, to hear about the things you realized I did just for you yesterday - that sunset, those flowers, that friend who blessed you that I placed in your life for such a time as this. I want to hear you say how glad you are for your family, for your very life... and I love you, more than anything"...
Good morning God. Thank you for your new mercies and grace. I do love my family. I do see you moving around me becuase I'm watching for you. Show me your hand. Thank you for all I have, for being a God who wants to spend time with me, and for loving me today. And God, thank you for talking with me this morning. I love you too.

My Anniversary!

Last Thursday was my 15th Wedding Anniversary and my sweet husband went all out!
I guess it seems Todd still has some surprises left in him :o)
First he hand delivered a vase of my favorite flowers - Daisey's - around lunch time.
That would have been plenty!
Little did I know that he had been planning this for quite some time and had also devised a scheme so I would not suspect a thing.
Now, this is highly unusual since he is normally the kind of person who gives you your birthday present a week early because he can't stand the excitement... I once got a Christmas gift right after Thanksgiving :o)
Anyway - I thought I was going to a business meeting/lunch with Lisa because she emailed me a week before about it.
Little did I know that was a cleverly planned ruse so he could surprise me when I "walked him to his car" with a long white stretch limousine... OMG!!!
I honestly thought it was for someone at the business across the street and was still trying to get to the station van so Lisa and I could make our "luncheon"... it was truly hilarious!
He finally broke through and convinced me the limo was for me. He then whisked me away to a reserved booth at Naples where we dined on delicious food and great conversation - and held hands like we were 16!
We wrote our anniversary note and dropped it inside one of the empty wine bottles that line the inside of the booth that couples sign, date and fill with love letters(the whole message in a bottle idea which I think is very romantic).
Afterwards we drove back to the station, and as he walked me back to my office he informed me that we both had the rest of the day off (which he had also arranged ahead of time)and took me anywhere and everywhere I wanted to go... we hit the Farmers Market, went shoe shopping (we both needed a pair), and he even took me out to dinner so I didn't have to cook at all - OMG!!!
I learned that I do indeed have a wonderful husband. Not because of what he spent or bought, but because he actually thought about me - planned things specifically with me in mind - took the time to wonder, ponder, what would she like? What would she enjoy? What would make my wife feel special?
Know what the best thing about all that is? That I was literally in his thought! To pull this off he was THINKING ABOUT ME!
My mind pictures him sitting at his desk at work, pencil in hand, jotting down notes, scanning the Internet for options, asking friends their opinions - THAT is the BEST!!!!!
Isn't that something we all desire? To be in the thoughts of the person who loves us?
now THAT is romance ;o)

Ok - I Cried...

I saw a prescreening for the new movie coming out in September called "Fireproof" last night... Sherwood Baptist Church is releasing their third movie - makers of Flywheel and Facing the Giants... If you are married, have been married, are ever entertaining the idea of ever being married SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!
Kirk Cameron is a firefighter (Caleb) married to Katherine. He's got things he is struggling with - big things. He's a hero to everyone but her. She's forgotten what it means to validate him as a man. Their marriage needs a hero. Their marriage is in shambles. They want to give up. They argue, fight, dislike even being together anymore - they have let the stuff of life beat them and their relationship down. All seems lost. Until God steps in through Caleb's dad and a little book called "The Love Dare"...
I won't ruin it for you, check out www.fireproofthemovie.com for yourself (and Fireproof Your Marriage too) and make plans to see it when it comes to Sept 26th. Love89 will host a listener screening on Sept 16th so starting the first of September be listening for your chance to see it for free with us - but if you do, understand you will the be a part of a major grass roots promotional movement... you must tell everyone you know to see this movie!
In fact - just tell everyone anyway...
This is a movie that could be the beginning of healing for a whole lot of couples, and a warning for other couples as they travel the journey together through the years to make sure you don't let the flames burn out of control.
Oh, and bring the kleenex guys. This means you too men, you'll need them as much as the ladies will, my husband did... and he loved it.

A Quirky Question...

I would like to now why when I'm driving down the road and I come across a shoe in the road there's always only one... they come in pairs... where is the other one? Can you lose one off your foot and not know it? Would someone actually take off one of their shoes and throw it out the window but keep the other one? Maybe they aren't wearing their shoes but what would make a shoe (only one of them from the pair) go flying out of a vehicle by itself? Say you have your pair of shoes in the back of your pick-up truck... why does only one fly out?
Just something I ponder.

Vacation in Charleston

Just got back and boy was it beautiful! Not enough time alone though with my hubby Todd since it was a working vacation for him, but great none the less... Charleston is a wonderful historical old town that has a ton of great and fun stuff to offer. A new friend Janet and I spent a lot of time walking the downtown area looking in neat shops, appreciating the architecture, we toured the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, we all did a 1 1/2 hours harbour tour on a boat with a narrator filling us in on the forts/attacks/homes/light houses, etc that was extremely interesting and beautiful. We also ate at some delicious restaurants of course - fresh seafood!
Janet and I ran into a couple from Maryville just walking down the street... he used to work for Mayfields in fact! We all took a drive around the barrier islands of Sullivan and Isle of Palm to check out all the scenery and saw people para sailing, kite surfing, and boogie boarding. Todd and I picked out one of the public beach access areas to return to the following day and had a blast when we did, but Todd got so sun burnt he had to drive all the way home the next day without a shirt on - he looked like a cooked lobster :o(
Its Sunday now and he still can hardly move well.
Why is it men don't listen to their wives when it comes to things like directions, or wearing sunscreen and the like?
Anyway, the day we went to the beach I was laying on a towel near the umbrella we planted in the sand reading a new book I picked up and i got sleepy. I dozed for a few minutes and when I woke up I was on my stomach facing away from the water. As I lay there just getting my wits about me before I went down the water to cool off I realized that as I gazed across to the black softside cooler we had that I could see many grains of sand blowing past me - between me and the cooler. As the wind speed ebbed and flowed the amounts did too. I turned my face towards the water after a few seconds and there was no sand blowing.
As I lay there I contemplated how this was so like us. I was literally laying on the line. The line between where the highest tides go and where they don't go - where the sand is flat, and where it begins to take shape. We walk this line sometimes in life.
We can find ourselves letting the waves and "stuff" beat us down to the point where we are flat, ungiving, unyielding. Todd tried to first plant the beach umbrella there but the hard sand would not cooperate... packed down so tightly that nothing can take root or even give support to something that was made to protect us.
Or we can let God carry us gently where he wants us like those grains of sand I watched flitter by, but not aimlessly. The sand was being purposefully carried along to help shape the dunes farther to my left. Where beautiful things grew like the flowers and sea grasses I took pictures of... We can be a place that yields and holds His beauty for all to see.
I woke up from a restful nap to see God's Glory revealed... that was a good day.
Marisa

Fathers Day

Since my Dad died 3 years ago I miss talking with him, especially around Fathers Day. He had Ahlzheimers for 9 years before he died but I still pick up my cell phone to dial the phone number to a house that no longer exists anymore - wasn't even his phone number for 9 years anyway... strange. Strange.
I was a Daddy's girl. Plain and simple. He took care of me, drove my girlscout troop to camp in the summer, taught me to bat, fish, and he loved the Lord. He hardly ever raised a hand to me, was a fantastic preacher, a proud Veteran and Marine, loved being an electrician too, and simply liked helping others. He liked being productive. He was not a "needy" person but relished being called upon and being able to help someone in need. To know he was providing something of value and was adding something to a persons daily life really mattered to him.
He was funny and was just ne of those people you're positive made God laugh as much as anyone else too!
I miss my Daddy... not just now but all the time. Every day.

Jammin' at Grassy Valley

Today Todd - the hubby - played with his band at Grassy Valley Baptist Church for the childrens/youth ministry event... a great time! The folks there were so nice!
Thanks to them for such a warm welcome and for being such good hosts - a real blessing!

Todd and I Took a Drive on the Cherohala Skyway

Ok, we were looking for something different to do and today we definitely fit a lot in a short amount of time. We started by driving down to Concord Park near The Cove and checked out the Concord Sailing and Yacht Club (we have a friend with a sailboat there). I must admit, very very cool, makes me want one!
Then we headed toward Sweetwater after a delicious meal at Back Yard Burgers and ended up on the Cherohala Skyway which runs from Tellico Plains to almost Robbins NC (check out the visitors center as you get on - the ladies that work there were so friendly!). When it ended about 52 miles later we ate in Robbinsville at the Smoey Mountain Restaurant (yum) then headed up 129 through The Dragon (Fontana Dam area)towards the back side of Maryville. The Dragon being a famous place for motorcycle riding never disappoints even when you're in a car. There were many great bikes, and watching people ride there is pretty darn exciting.
But I have to tell you - the Cherohala Skyway was gorgeous! In places it was if the mountains went farther than the eye could see once we were at some of the highest overlooks... just rows after rows of mounatins. Dead silence but for the wind blowing, sweet smells of blooms on the blackberry briars nearby, the mountain laurel, and things we couldn't even see... it was such a clean fragrance wafting on the breeze...
There is the Joyce Kilmer Forest (trees almost as big as redwoods if you hike a special trail there), Bald River Falls (150 foot drop) that you can literally drive by and see without having to even get out of your car, campgrounds, picnic areas, and more.
The best thing? Just talking, laughing, and seeing Gods wonderful creation!
Take a drive every now and then...
Here's a picuture below from the drive - just click here to be taken to my Love89 page where you can see a flipbook photo album of all of them!