Higher Up and Deeper In

The Lord is calling us to go to a higher place in Him. Higher up where we can soar with Him...where we can see things from His perspective...where we can be above the storm in Him. But at the same time, he is calling us deeper in... into Him... into a deeper relationship with Him...into a deeper love life with Him...into a deeper understanding of his sacrifical love for us and those He loves.

Did you ever read that book (maybe 20 or more years ago) that told the story of a whole town that started living as if Jesus were right there with them?

For the past 6 months or so, I've been "seeing" that we need to get to a point where we speak only words that are His words. It sounded like a good idea... but then, to think...how can I live my life, my whole life-in-the-work-a-day world speaking JUST HIS WORDS... He's challenging me... to consider what words and ideas I allow into my head and heart... but more than that, what words and conversation (lifestyle) comes from me. Is it possible to live each day and speak only the word of God so that He might be glorified? Is it possible to poke so much of His word into my own earthly self to the point that it starts being the bread of life that I live by and all the world might be affected? Can He do that through me? Will I allow Him to? What will it cost? How does it look? Is it possible?

Lord, break me

and

take me

and

make me

into a vessel that can truly be used by You.

My spirit longs for You.

My soul sings out for You.

In this dry and thirsty land,

my only hope is in You.

Pour into me what I need.

Lord, give me hands to take the dipper from Your deep well and draw out what You have prepared and given graciously to me.

Soul! sip and swallow!

Sing and shout!

Declare and share!

A water that will quench all thirsts

(The Water that will quench all thirsts!)

to that dry and thirsty land.

Whose Viewpoint?

These pictures were taken from high above a city in the United States. We enjoyed a very nice
meal and each other's company as we looked down on a changing view as the restaurant
slowly revolved. The view changed moment by moment, and there was always something
new to observe. Just like in our lives with God, we need to open our eyes and truly look at life
from His perspective, not our ones from down among the earthly. We need to see our world from His point of view, not our lowly view. How does he see our children? What would He do with His time at this very moment? How would he get the dishes done or the laundry folded? Would he worry about not enough money? Would He try to climb the ladder of success or become a servant so that others would see His love? Would He focus on material things? Would He spend much of His time entertaining Himself with what the world has to offer? How does He see the people who work right next to us, or our next-door neighbors? Does He see them as nuisances or enemies, or as the hurting and lonely soul that they are? Step up and see the world as God sees it. Enjoy a flight with Him and look out over His creation and feel His heart as He sees into each and every thing He created, and feels joy at the beauty, and a longing of when all things become new.

TOPIC OF THE DAY

God is Good

Back after Hurricane Katrina, then when Rita was headed out way, I told the story of how we helped that elderly couple one night, who had been stranded out in the middle of nowhere...

After that, a friend sent me some money, and told me to use it as I felt the Lord would direct, to bless someone in need from the hurricane...someone from New Orleans. Well, that was over a year and a half ago!

I did give some to an effort to provide clothes and shoes to a large group here in the area, but didn't feel peace about giving too much of the money entrusted to me.

Then, several months later, I asked the Lord to show me who to give the money to. The next day, I saw a woman, and knew in my spirit that I was to offer the money to her. We started talking, then she told me she was from New Orleans... but, when I offered her money, she told me that she didn't need it! But, that what she needed was friendship and emotional support. So, I called her several times, and emailed her. We've gone our separate ways now...

So, I've kept the amount of money in my bank account, waiting for the Lord to show me WHO!...

Several days ago, I remembered again that it was there and available. So, I gently mentioned in a quiet prayer in my spirit that I would like the Lord to show me WHO to give it to. Yesterday, as I was leaving my job, I walked behind a person who was singing! I couldn't hear her song, but I shouted out a greeting...and she turned....and we walked the distance to our cars... and she was just full of praise and truth. A joy to be around. After we talked a bit, I knew in my spirit that she was the one... and found out that she had been displaced from New Orleans, and was attempting to start over in Houston...and had just recently gotten a job at the clinic at the hospital complex. I told her that I had an amount of money that the Lord had me holding just for her...and that I would have it for her tomorrow.

So, we exchanged phone numbers, and I told her to meet me today (Friday)...and then, today, at lunch, I handed her the cash... She was making a trip today back to New Orleans...to see family...for the Easter weekend.

I don't know much else about her. Except that the Lord opened my eyes and hands. May the giver of the gift originally be blessed...and all the ones prior to that giving... until there is just one big circle of love and giving that explodes into a joyful celebration.... God is Good and His Kindnesses Extend to all generations!!!

Can you imagine that once upon a time, an original person gave a gift... then, because of being blessed by that gift, the receiver gives a gift...and then that recipient feels blessed and then gives a gift...until it cycles around and around....and the Lord is freshly blessed each time His gifts make it to new levels! It all started with the original gift giver!

Good night

Since our trip home from Thailand, even that very night, I found it hard to go to sleep. It felt to me as if when I'd relax, something terrible might happen. Maybe on the flight home, I pushed myself to stay awake a lot to take care of the rest of the group....because they all were falling asleep and missing their meals and flight attendant's offers of water, and they were all miserable (as was I). I forced myself to stay awake most of those 24 hours of airports/airplanes back to USA. But, I'm recognizing it tonight. Almost like a fear. A spirit of fear. I haven't totally realized it until now. I've found myself AFRAID to go to sleep! What a strange thing!

I hope to be able to go to sleep and truly sleep tonight. I've attempted to stay away from caffeine since this morning. I've not taken any naps. I've been quietly reading the past few hours.

Lord, please help me rest in You. Heal and hold me. Help me to rest in Your arms of peace. Don't let me continue to feel fear, because I know that fear is not of You. Help me to breathe out anxiety and to breathe in Your sweet sleep.

Selah, Pam.... Selah

together, at home and abroad...

It's been 3 months since I last blogged...and the past few weeks have been a blur.

We just got back (a week ago) from a mission trip to Thailand and I'm still finding myself trying to re-adjust. Going to the other side of the world causes one to stop and think about life the way it is. Why do we do what we do. What is important. Shouldn't we stop our busyness and spend time doing what is truly important?

While in Thailand, we spent a lot of time with family and with friends...fellowshipping and not worrying about work, not worrying about housework, not worrying about laundry, not worrying about meals.... We ate together 3 times a day and laughed a lot with one another. We taught others what we know. We were busy. John worked hard, but still seemed to be resting. We prayed for each other day in and day out. We basked in His love shared freely among His people...even though we didn't speak the same language. We enjoyed our children, each other. There wasn't a lot of time spent on the road. We stayed only a few miles from the church so most of our time was "together".

One day, when we are in our glorified bodies, we will be able to spend more quality time together like this... or, if we want to, we can listen carefully, and God will show us how to have more glorious times together on this earth in these earthen bodies. Bodies of dust.

Lord, take my earthen vessel - my jar of clay
Make me a minister in Your house
Your house in my house
Your house in my neighborhood
Your house in my town
Lord, somehow take what we have learned as we spent time in Thailand
and turn it around so that You will be glorified here in our town, in our church, in our home.

Your children on missions at home.

A missionary - one who is on a mission.

Lord, I am listening for the next assignment.

Open my ears with your gentle anointed swabs.

I will listen. I will obey.

Thank You Father, for what you will accomplish with the seeds we sowed in Thailand.
We have nothing except that it comes from Your Hand.
Blow the breath of Life on those seeds...
Blow the breath of Life on me

In this dry time
I call to You
and I know that You will answer

Touch my tears
Embrace my fears
Hold my heart
And never let me go

Take my jar
My empty bottle
My earthen vase
And fill me up and spill over onto those around me

My Guys

I love my two men...

They sit right now at the kitchen table, eating bean soup and cornbread...and talk and laugh. This brings such joy to my heart.

I love it when my people are happy...

Christmas Banquet 2006

Mama PC Well, another year has rolled around and another Christmas program is under our belts...

We've probably done greater than 20 Christmas Musicals together, John and I...

I look a little worse for wear... he always looks great! I think my man gets better lookin' every year!

We've done big huge musicals - with as many as 50 singers...with huge lofts, real live animals, billowing clouds, full-sized manger scenes, dry-ice smoke...to these more recent, much simpler mini-musicals with ensembles...

All I can say is that as we mature and learn to work together, and learn to not sweat the small stuff nor try to do the "other person's job" the work becomes more enjoyable... maybe not as "perfect" or "wowwing" as other productions, but just as effective spiritually for the participants, audience, as well as us...

John used to do things that I now do... and I used to try to do what he does better... we were both frustrated... Now, I do more administration...and he does more of designing and sculpturing what I dream of and produce...

The Lord is perfecting us in love...

Our first Christmas together (before we were married) John and I played "Topper and Ruth" in A Christmas Carol... the Scrooge story done at our church. We spent time together in rehearsal and grew to love each other more as we rehearsed our lines, and waltzed out onto the stage together as a couple... That was in 1980... I wish I had a picture of us back then...

But, now... 26 years later... we are still arm-in-arm and still waltzing through life...rehearsing lines, smiling face to face...working out plans and facing the world together...

Me and My Man

Nannaw and The Gingerbread House

Mama PC

Nannaw is 86 years old and had never built a house out of gingerbread before. Her eyes lit up when we talked about building them...and she seemed to enjoy it more than the younger adults.

When Christmas gets near, I have a game I play with my Nannaw where I'll sneak out at night and put some little trinket or toy on a fence post by her chicken pen....so that, early the next morning, as she comes out to let the chickens out, she'll find it. Once, I put a toy mouse. Another time, a plastic frog.. I haven't done any surprises like that for a while, so I'd better go find something soon... It's fun to hear her reply the next afternoon when we talk...

It's fun to bring excitement into a lonely lady's heart. You should try it sometime!

We never know how much time we have left with our loved ones... Spend as much time enjoying each other as you can... Even a cup of hot cocoa with a widow, or a small box of cookies brings smiles to those who are lonely. Take a little time today to send a note in the mail to someone who's "shut in"... or to email someone that rarely hears from you.... or drive by and drop a surprise gift on their front porch...

Little things are big things to people in need.

HANNAH'S GINGERBREAD CHURCH

Mama PC

Hannah and Meme made the Gingerbread Church. It was the biggest of the houses we made. They put the walls together and started to put the roof on, but then realized that they needed to put people in FIRST or it just wouldn't be right.

So, they put some gingerbread men inside. The preacher kept falling down... being slain in the spirit... They made "pews" out of graham crackers...

Churches... they are not buildings but groups of people... so that, even if there were not a building, there would still be the Church.... we are the Church... we are the Body of Christ.... we are the Bride... fitly joined together.....

Here's Hannah's gingerbread house church...

GINGERBREAD HOUSES

Mama PC

Lindsey's Birthday (24) and Gingerbread

Mama PC

Lindsey and Hannah and Meme have been wanting to make gingerbread houses this year.... so, for Lindsey's bday, we got together and made a few! It took hours of prep time for Meme, but when it was all said and done, we all had a great time. Lindsey's friend Caren came and made the most perfect little house. Brian and Lindsey both made houses...but, Lindsey's beautiful, colorful, entertaining house fell flat with all the weight of the icing and candies... so, she ended up transferring her porch over to Brian's stable house. Hannah and Meme made the church, complete with windows, steeple and manger scene in the front. Janice made a house that would not fall, and Nannaw and I joined together to make the most colorful one. Oh, and Jeremiah and Aubri put together a very nice house, but because they added so many decorations, cookies and candies too quickly, the whole thing fell within minutes... there must be a lesson here...

It's good to have family close-by. None of us had ever made gingerbread houses before... and none of us think we will do it again...

But, at least if one day my grandkids ask me to make them with them, I'll know a bit more about the sacrifice.

Building a house and a home take time, wisdom and Godly endurance. Start with a good foundation, and it won't fall. Make sure the glue that keeps the house together is given enough time to solidify. Add love and it will keep the house secure. Place candies and gumdrops and licorice sticks that will keep the place exciting. Build your house with someone you love and that loves you. Sprinkle with smiles and dust with love and your house will last a lifetime.

My Man and Me

Mama PC

Well. What can I say. I love this man. More and more each day.

Yes, at times I get frustrated with him, or impatient with his ways... but, when I settle down and take a deeper look, the problem is most-times with me.

He is always kind toward me. Always tender. Always sweet. He's never made fun of me nor spoken disrespectfully to me. Yes, he's been angry with me before, but most times the anger was provoked. Once riled up, it takes him a while to simmer down, but even in his anger, he's careful how he treats me.

My heart knew that he was a man that could be trusted. I had seen him for many years before we married...watched him in the ways he handled himself, others, and situations. He was a constant type of guy. He was kind. He was gentle. He was a true friend. And he always strived to do the best he could with what he had. He wanted to make sure everything made sense and lined up with God's word. These things were what drew me to him.

I knew I'd be safe with John. My heart would be safe. And it has been. And it is. And it will be.

LINDEN TREE BY FLOWING BROOK

Mama PC

Lindsey is a blessing to me... she's my sweetest eldest dott...

intimacy with God

Mama PC

What is God doing?

If when we're walking in intimacy with God, we go through PAIN.. Luis Janeiro states that this, the time when we feel so much pain, is when God is sharing His heart with his friend.

God HURTS for his children, for the loss of his friends and his children. He longs for them to be reconciled to himself - to be raised up - to live!

New Pics

Mama PC

FEAST OF TABERNACLES CELEBRATED WITH MY TRIBE 10/07/06

Mama PC

Some of my favorite people...

OLD FRIENDS IS BEST

Mama PC

The Bellons knew us before we were married. And we've known them since they were very young indeed. So we've seen a lot of water go under the bridge. Sometimes we've seen water go OVER the bridge... yet we are still friends...and try to see each other at least every other year or so.

It's good to have people in your life who knew you back when...