The Bible has my answer!

If my husband has said it once, he's said it a thousand times in the two years we've been pastoring here: "Christians need to read their Bible everyday." As most of you know, I have a two 1/2 year old and a 10 month old, and I get very little sleep or time to myself right now. (One of these days, I'm going to visit my library - alone!) I may not get to do any scrapbooking, shopping or reading, but I do however, fight for my daily Bible time. I try to get up around 5:30 or 6 so I can beat my children up and have my quiet time with the Lord. Sometimes, I get breakfast late for the kids because the Bible is important to me. I once heard a preacher (maybe it was my brother! I can't remember.) say that we won't do that which we do not plan to do. I change the sheets every Friday. I buy groceries on Mondays usually, I make lesson plans for school...why wouldn't I plan on meeting with the Lord? I plan everything else. Oh, sure, there are lots of days when I am reading my Bible at 11:59pm because the day has been so terribly hectic -illness, accidents, and the like can interfere with our best made plans. But still, I do the best I can.
When I get up and head to "my spot", I always find Him waiting there for me, like a good friend does when you plan to meet somewhere. He listens to me thank Him, and then gripe, and then thank Him, then gripe, well you get the picture. Then, He speaks back to me from His Word.
I was struggling with a problem recently and I would like to put the blame on someone else. But, through my Proverbs reading for the day, He showed me that, yep, it's my fault. He had to scold me. Boy I felt bad about it. I said "Yes, Lord, I see what You mean. I'm sorry." Then, I went over and read a little from the NT - and He encouraged me. My reading for that day was Phil. 3:13-14 ..."but this one thing I do. forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Coincidence? No. I know He was telling me "You messed up, again, Valerie. But I forgive you, now get up and go forward." Isn't He good to us? He saves us and keeps us saved forever! That's eternity!! Then, He gives us His word, His Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us, He gives us friends, and He promises that He will always be there for us. When we are grieving, He's there. He has a great shoulder to cry on, by the way. I've used it often. My family and friends cannot possibly fathom some of the sorrow that I have faced, but He can. My Mom cannot fix all my problems, but He can! My husband could not fully understand my grief when I lost my Dad, but He did! He has stood right beside me through everything, and His word has guided me.
The Bible tells me:
How to be a good wife, daughter, sister, mother, friend
How to pray
How to think
How to talk
How to love others
What to do when people revile me, persecute me and speak all manner of evil against me.
How to share the gospel
How to be a good guest
How handle my money
How to do things in my daily life (decently and in order)
What to do when I'm afraid, and just Whom I should fear.
What to do when I'm heartbroken
How to raise my children
How to love my husband
How to deal with angry people, foolish people, wise people, scornful people, critical people
What to do when I've been betrayed
How to dress
How to serve
How to eat
How to be a good employee....

AND THE LIST COULD GO ON FOREVER!

The Bible has the answer for all of life's situations. Thank you, Lord, for giving me the Bible! Thank you for being faithful to me even when I'm so unfaithful to You!

News from God's Country ~

I wanted to update you all on the exciting news down here in God's Country. :o) Terry delivers our local phone books once a year, and he is finally done for this year! He delivered around a thousand or so this year. It was a blessing as it provides us with some extra money without lots of time spent. Here he is, after finishing bagging the last of the phone books. He thought he'd be really funny and make a face just before the picture snapped! I get the last laugh though, and now you do too!

Here's the right photo!
Last Saturday was our monthly ladies fellowship. We made swags to hang above our nine windows in the auditorium. We love the light streaming through our lace curtains, but we needed a splash of color. The swags turned out really well. None of us is a florist, so they aren't perfect. If you are a florist, forgive us! We had a good time making them. Here is a sample:
Here are the ladies who showed up to work. We didn't have the turn out that I had hoped, but we had good fellowship. We also had two homemade pies from the local favorite, Bluebonnet Cafe! Yum!!

Thank you, Kathy, Doris and Caroline for your hard work! You all are a blessing!
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Graphics By Diane ~

I wanted to share these great graphics that my friend, Diane in West Virgina, made! I wasnt' sure how to use them on my blog yet, but I wanted to go ahead and share them with you this way. They are great!
Also, if anyone has any favorite sites to get graphics from, please comment. There are so many, and I don't know where to begin. Your help could save me a lot of "surfing" time!
Enjoy the graphics!

Thank you, Diane!!

Through Him, I can do it.

I read today in Phil.4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Verse 12 says I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound... I think that is my biggest struggle: contentment. I believe we all struggle with this, but especially in the ministry. So many pastors and preachers judge each other's churches by the attendance, or the missions program, or the offerings, or, well you see what I mean. Therefore, if the attendance is low, or the offering is low, or the number out soul winning is low, etc. we feel as though there is something wrong with us. This leads to dissatisfaction and discontentment. I wrote in an earlier post about "the grass is greener syndrome" as I call it. It's whene I look over somewhere else and think life would be better over there. Well, for me, feeling that the grass is greener elsewhere usually begins with dissatisfaction with our church - either the people or the actual number of people! Shame on me. The Bible says in II Cor. 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. The Bible says it's wrong to compare ourselves with ourselves. I mean, we are all imperfect, so of course, I might be better than another sinner, for a moment! But I'll never look to Jesus and say "Yep. I'm like Him alright." At least, not if I'm honest!!It's so easy to compare ourselves with another pastor, or pastor's wife and so forth. I'll tell you the truth, I fight it. I fight wanting to build myself up by saying to myself "I'm better than Mrs. So and So, and my husband is better than Pastor so and so." The Bible says that's wrong. Those that "commend themselves" as the verse says, are only proud of what they do because they have the wrong standard to measure to. If we are all honest with ourselves, and look to Jesus as our standard, then of course, we fall short. He is who we need to measure up to! That will take a lifetime of work, and even then, we won't be perfect like Jesus. However, we'll come closer than if we don't try at all.
Sometimes I get unhappy or discontented, but it's only when I look at others. When I look to Jesus, He reminds me of the many blessings He's given me. And as the song says: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth (like attendance, people's weaknesses, money) will grow strangely dim, in the light of His wonderful face." That does it. When I look to Him, nothing else matters.
I may never be in a "large" church. I may never have any extra money. But that's OK. I cannot say with Paul that" I have learned to be content". I'll have to say " I am learning to be content". In the same chapter of Philippians, Paul says in verse 13 "I can do all things through Christ which strentheneth me." Through Him, I can learn to be content. So I'll look to Him as my standard of living, and I'll look to Him to help me look to Him!

My Not-So-Grand Experiment

I felt worn out, sick and tired last Wednesday. One of the major benefits of homeschooling is flexibiltiy! We can do school inside or outside, we can do it early or late (though I prefer early! You never know what can pop up late in the day, especially as a Pastor.) We can dress up, or be casual, and if necessary, we can have a day off! Last Wednesday I felt bad - not debilitated, but just "blah". My husband said "Take a day off" my aching head said "Take a day off" and my children enthusiastically cheered "Let's take a day off!" We took a day off.
I rested. I read 100 pages of a book that I have been trying to read for the last, I don't know, 9 years?? Ok, I exaggerate, but it's been a while. I also did some quiet little "one on one" projects with Leslie. I feel like I neglect her and Laci since I don't officially "homeschool" them. But, when it came time to finish the day, I felt like a ZERO. I didn't feel like I had done anything, and even though I rested, as in "not doing any work", I didn't sleep. So I was as tired as always. I found in my little experiment that work gives you a good feeling. The next time I feel "blah" and not really "sick" I am going ahead with my usual schedule. I think I'll feel better in the long run. I hope I won't feel like a big ZERO!
And I can't end a post on work and not quote one of my faves, Andy Griffith, from an episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" (or "TAGS") called "Opie and the Spoiled Kid." If you ever have the chance to watch it, you won't be sorry. It's a great show, every episode teaches a great lesson and is funny.

Andy to Opie: "You do feel good after workin', don't you?
Opie: "Uh huh. Good and tired."
Andy: "Well, as you grow the work will get bigger and that good feelin' will get bigger. You understand?"
Opie: "Yeah. The older I get, the tireder I get."

And, boy, is that the truth! Speaking of work, I better go get busy!

My Dad ~

My Dad, and "partner", Ron Courtney.

Terry's cousin Misty was kind enough to email me this photo of my Dad that she saved off of the funeral home's website. I didn't even know it was possible to do that at the time of my Dad's death, and didn't think of doing it now! I've also been blessed with a great family from my husband's side as well. I'll have to devote my next post to the Bashams!

Thanks again, Misty! You made my day!!

Tribute to a Great Family:

My Wonderful Family!!!

Me (and Laci), Kevin, Mom and Melanie at our home at 2811 Karen Drive!

July 30, 2007

In my last post, I shared a little bit of my childhood with you. Thank you for the kind comments that some of you left me. I mentioned my wonderful Mom and Dad, but I didn't tell you about the great brother and sister God gave me! My brother, Kevin, Pastors First Baptist Church of Ocoee, Florida - right outside of Orlando. He has four great kids and a sweet wife, Kathy. I had the blessing of having Kevin as my school Principal when I was in 5th -7th grade in the Christian school I attended. Every morning from 8:30 to 8:45ish he held devotions for the whole school. Only in Heaven will he know how those devotions impacted me. I remember several of them vividly! Though I wasn't saved then, I was trying to live the Christian life, mostly because I wanted to be like Kevin and Melanie.

Speaking of Melanie.... she was 9 when I was born and has loved me unconditionally since the day she heard "It's a girl". She prayed for a little sister and God answered her prayer -she just forgot to ask for a little sister who wouldn't be a stinker!! :-) She lives in beautiful North Carolina now with her three precious boys. I asked the Lord to put us in a church in NC, but I was asking so I could "consume it upon my own lust" so the Lord didn't answer! It would be great to be physically close to a sister who seems only a whisper away to my heart. We have remained very close over the years, despite the thousand plus miles that separate us.

Kevin and Melanie are both extremely good...and it comes so naturally! I have to really work at things like thoughtfulness, compassion, willingness to help others, saying the right thing, and on and on and on!! It all comes so easily to them. They have, and always will be, an example of sincere Christians. What you see on Sunday with Kevin and Melanie, is what you'll see any day of the week if you dropped in on them at their homes. They are genuine people. I don't know why God placed someone like me in such a wonderful home. Though not perfect, they are always giving me a goal to reach up to in my Christian life. As a child I thought I was adopted! As a teen I thought I was "switched at birth". As an adult I realize that God just decided to have mercy on me.

On the third anniversary of my Dad's homegoing, my mom flew all of us kids home to be together for four days. The photos here are from that brief, but wonderful, trip home. I'm sorry I don't have a photo of my Dad to show you. I only had my digital camera a short time before he died, so I didn't get any of him on it. My brother -in-law may be able to e mail me some photos from his camera(Thanks, Walter!), if so, I'll be posting them later. So stay tuned!

Me (and Laci), Kevin, Melanie, and Mom enjoying the food and fellowship of my aunts and uncles in Batesville, AR