But God

Right now, Lisa & I are in High Point, NC. To those of you who know us from AL, you are all aware that we spent the first three to five years in B'ham trying to get back to this town. Obviously, God had a different plan in mind. This wonderful place was only home to us for four years, but we lived alot in those short years and made lifelong relationships! Before this trip, we discussed that visiting High Point had been bitter-sweet in the past. As much as God had bonded our hearts and planted us in Birmingham, we mourned the years that we had lost with our friends here. But God...

This trip has been such a healing time for us. Even on the drive here, we wondered what this trip would hold. We have connected so beautifully with Lisa's 'girls', Lindsey and Courtney Newton. We've known them since they were babies and they were our parents 'first' grandchildren. Lindsey is in college and Courtney is a senior in high school, but they are still those delightful personalities that we fell in love with eighteen years ago. I do miss being a daily part of their growing up years but God... who knit our hearts together back then, has made sure that our hearts are still knit together!

The soul tie that I had to break these last few years has been healed, or maybe its been stretched to allow for the miles to Alabama. I don't know, but God... Somehow He can restore those things that seem to be lost when we choose to follow His plath for us.

Tomorrow, we'll be heading up to Lynchburg, VA to see Lisa's best friend, Julie. The years away from her have also been hard, but God...

Sorry to sound so random, just wanted to let you know that no matter the circumstance, but God...

Easter

I hope your Easter was a beautiful one! What a privilege it is to be able to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord!!!! There are specific Easters of my past that I remember. As a little girl, I remember getting new clothes, and not just a pretty dress. A new slip, shoes, stockings, and even hair accessories. I seem to remember one year getting a hat and white gloves. I remember the last year that I hunted for Easter eggs. As the youngest, Lisa and Richard had lost interest in hunting them years before. But this particular year, it was raining and Richard hid them throughout the house for me. We always had the same basket, year after year. I can remember, as a child. waking up on Easter morning with that basket full of candy and presents. I remember the summer I came back from Japan, when Lisa opened the freezer and pulled out the Reece's peanut butter eggs that she had saved for me.

What do these memories have to do with the resurrection of the Christ? Honestly, nothing except that they happened on Easter. But I never confused my Lord with the Easter Bunny. Somehow, my parents made us aware of the true meaning of the day in an age-appropriate way.

As an adult, my memories are more of His death and what His defeat of death means. I remember the year that Dr. Paul Perry taught me and his other employees the physician's perspective of the crucifixion. I remember watching the movie The Passion, and how it moved (and still moves) me. I remember the year that Liberty Church, Birmingham showed the Impact Production movie, The Resurrection. And how the Lord rekindled my passion for drama and story-telling.

I don't get an Easter basket anymore, and I try to stay away from all the candy. Although Reece's eggs don't make that easy. Bruce Terry, my pastor, always asks for a dramatic vignette to celebrate and remind the church of that soul saving event. My traditions have changed from my childhood, but the celebration has remained the same for over 2,000 years.

• He came.


• He died.


• He beat death and the grave.


• He rose again.


• He broke the chains of sin.


• He ascended to Heaven.


• He is, even now, interceding on my behalf.

All in all, not bad reasons to celebrate!

No Dumping!

My sister called me on a particular difficult day last week. I know, I know, they all seem difficult, don't they? Any-hoo, the day before had been a tough one for Lisa. She said that she seemed to wake up irritated with the world. Each encounter she had just made it worse. So, when she called me, it was to confess that she had been an awful person. Then she asked me about how I was doing. It was not a good question,or a good time to ask. I dumped. Dumped my concerns, worries and woes on her. She listened patiently and offered her advise. But, to be honest, it didn't help much. Then she called back.

"Boy, you're just a beam of joy today, aren't you?"

Before you take offence, you must know that I died laughing. That one statement lifted me up so that I could look over those cares. You need to know that she called me again yesterday with the same statement. She had read yesterday's blog. Didn't make me laugh, but then it didn't her either. But we did 'hold fast' and made it through the pain or level.

I just wanted to post this today and let you know that the sun did come up this morning. I have been able to see the progress today. That level looks alot smaller today. It didn't go away, but I do feel as if I'm on the other side. Yesterday's blog was from a dark place but then our lives are all a combination of dark and light. Day and night. Through it all, we must remember that no matter how long one seems, it will always precede the other. And no matter how long we've been holding on, He is still coming!

Lara

What do you do?

What do you do when it keeps on hurting? What do you do when someone you love keeps making the same mistake, over and over? How can you 'forgive and forget' and move on when the offence is still ongoing? Several years ago, Lisa and I had a beautiful prayer time with some old friends. Bobby and Debbie Lepinay, along with Jacob and Jennifer Head. They are from Harvest Outreach in Pensacola, FL. I've mentioned Bobby's blog in the past. The church website is http://www.harvestpensacola.com/ & if you're ever in Pensacola, be sure and visit, it's a great ministry. Anyway, Bobby prayed over Lisa and asked the Holy Spirit to remove the sword of offence. To heal her wound with the salve of His comforting presence. It was an amazing thing to hear prayed! Unfortunately, this is just how I feel today. That sword just keeps swinging back and there's no where to run and hide.

And what about suvivors? Those who live daily with scars, internal and external. I know one who went to her pastor and asked him why she was struggling again, she thought she had overcome the old pain. He explained that she had dealt with it, but that she was working through another level of it. In dispair she asked him just how many levels there were. Wisely, he cried with her that he didn't know.

I don't know either. I honestly don't know the answers to any of these questions I posted. Because I'm there, too. I was walking along, just whining to my co-workers about how much I hate daylight savings time, when BAM!!!! I run into another level. Or I found out something new about an old pain. Or I see the cause of that pain. Or the enemy pushes it back into my face.

What do you do? The ringer on my new phone is the Mercy Me song 'Hold Fast'. Sometimes that's all I can do.

The one thing greater than my strife
is Your grasp.

Hold fast!

Hold fast, dear friends.

Lara