Love Lifted Me

Walking up the country lane with the horses grazing in the nearby pasture we could see the people gathering for the 10 o'clock service at the Little Brown Church. Singing the old hymns lifts the spirit, but Henry and I did feel a little blue to think his mother had been with us last time we were up on Signal Mountain. Now she has graduated to heaven and we were missing her a lot.
Who sat down next to us was a cousin who kindly introduced herself, we see each other every summer but it's hard to keep all the cousins straight. She told us that when she was a young widow with 3 small children that Henry's mother, Jane, had encouraged and helped her through the first months alone since she had faced the same trial many years before. (Henry was only 7 years old when his father, Pat died.)
The collection was taken up and the dogs were acknowledged as they roamed up the center aisle of the old wooden church. As we sang the next hymn,"Love Lifted Me", I could sense the comfort of our Heavenly Father.
It was not an accident, but a providential appointment that we sat on the same row with this very special cousin who loved Aunt Jane like we did. Thank you, Lord for reminded us of the many that loved and missed Granny B.
"All my heart to Him I give,
Ever to Him I'll cling,
In His blessed presence live,
Ever His praises sing.
Love so mighty and so true
Merits my soul's best songs;
Faithful, loving service too,
To Him belongs.

Love lifted me! even me!
Love lifted me! even me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me.

Surprising Response

Standing at a reception the other night I met a new woman and introduced myself as an author. It was providential! The woman responded, "What did you write?" and "I READ IT!!!" when I responded "EMPTY ARMS".
Later on, my husband, Henry, was called to the hospital. I lingered, speaking to a friend about painting watercolors. As I was about to leave the woman approached me again, because now we were alone and not in a large group. "I'm so glad you haven't left, so I can tell you how much your book meant to me! A neighbor gave it to me to read and I read it in TWO hours! It really helped me to heal, because I had an abortion!"
Ann Caldwell and I dreamed of this day, when we would know the fruit of the Holy Spirit working through the Word of God and the many testimonies of those who regret their abortions. And this week I have had the privilege of meeting three such women. Ann and I rejoiced for the lives who have been set free from the burden of that guilt, now resting at the foot of the Cross.

What's for dinner?

Rejoicing in seeing the fruit of many prayers is better when shared with family.
We are so thankful to see Eric enjoying being a chef! He started in culinary school this spring at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He surprises us by cooking shrimp pasta or broiled scallops. So I'm the one asking what's for dinner? After feeding kids for 32 years, believe me, it is a great treat to have the tables turned and filled by our son!

Increase Your Wing Span

"They shall mount up with wings as eagles." Isaiah 40:31
A friend of mine has this title on her business card. In the devotional book, Streams in the Valley, Mrs. Charles Cowman writes of rising above the circumstances and having a bird's-eye view. We saw dozens of eagles soaring high above us over our raft on a river in Alaska.
"The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."Rom.8:18
Last night at the Riverbend Festival we met some divine appointments, people struggling with regrets after choosing an abortion, the suffering was manifest in many tears as they walked into our booth. But the purpose of our ministry at the Memorial for the Unborn is to proclaim the freedom that forgiveness in Jesus brings to those who are hurting and invite them to visit the Wall of Remembrance.
This devotional reminds us the eagle has a strong wing to fly high above the hurts and disappointments. And the Word of God reminds us in Isaiah that it is those who "wait upon the Lord, who will renew their strength".
Have mercy on us, O Lord, we are helpless and hurting without You. Amen.

Tonight at Riverbend Festival

Stephen Curtis Chapman is the featured performer tonight on the Cocoa-Cola stage. He and his wife, MaryBeth and family have faced an unspeakable tragedy with grace because of their trust in God's promise to give us strength in times of trouble. Besides their birth children, they adopted two little girls from China. The youngest one, Maria,age 5, was accidentally run over in their driveway by the oldest son. The hope of heaven is manifest as I heard the testimony of the family on the radio and that same grace has allowed Stephen to continue to sing of that truth.
It is the same hope we offer to men and women hurting after the regrets of an abortion decision set in and threaten to drown the individual as they relive the tragedy.
But from our Heavenly Father's words we hear another perspective of comfort.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15

Two Book Signings

The Chattanooga music festival, Riverbend is hosting Stephen Curtis Chapman in concert on Tuesday, June 9,2009. Our ministry is hosting a booth to introduce the public to The National Memorial for the Unborn. A youth group from Abba's House Church will be giving out brochures and I'll have an opportunity to meet the public and sign books.
Then on June 19 at 7 p.m. there will be an open house and book signing at the Wall on Vance Road as we host a Praise Night. Ann Caldwell and I are so thankful for the opportunity to share the message of our Savior's forgiveness through the book Empty Arms. But we did not realize God's vision when it was published. Not only has it been a voice to those who are hurting after an abortion but reminded young people not to choose a path that seems to be an easy escape but turns into years of regret. We are also very thankful that the book is in the 2nd printing and through the internet has touched lives in Belarus, Kenya, China and the Czech Republic. The impact of our book, Empty Arms, Remembering the Unborn is far beyond the limited scope we had as we were readying the manuscript for the publisher three years ago!
Lifting our voices together in worship to Jesus at all the healing that has taken place on the very spot where an abortion clinic once stood is the right response to His faithfulness.
Our director, Carol Martin has taken young couples who are considering an abortion to read the plaques placed on the Wall. To see the remorse and regret up close is a powerful reminder to slow down and remember this is a baby's life that you are considering ending.
"Save me from bloodguilt,
O God, the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness!"
Psalm 51:14

A Hymn for a Wedding

O Perfect Love

O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
lowly we kneel in prayer before the throne,
that theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
whom thou forevermore dost join as one.

Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife,
and to life's day the glorious unknown morrow
that dawns upon eternal love and life.

by Dorothy Guerney

Happy Anniversary to Kira and Peter