the "something, terrible, awful"

Our God...yes, our God. Is that enough? Is it enough to proclaim? What more do we have to offer Him other than our words...you are my God? My God has several meanings...these are just a few: You are my God, in whom I trust. You are my God, my Rock, my Refuge, my Strength. 


When the "something, terrible, awful" happens in our lives...how do we respond? I find myself in the midst of the "something, terrible, awful"....yet, even in the midst of this thing...God has shown so much of His glory. But I will be honest with you, there is a little bit of that wants to hide this under a bushel and hope it all goes away. And tonight, I heard God remind me: Because I am Sovereign, nothing can happen that hasn't already been sifted through My hands first. In the midst of this thing - we recognize that God has a plan and sometimes that plan can get a little twisted... because God allows those bends/twists in the road we journey on. Embrace where He is leading, trust where He is leading, and encourage the person that is experiencing this more as they walk through this journey. Isn't that what we are called to do? Don't give them words they want to hear, give them words of wisdom..praying for God to season them with grace and the words that would only be what He has ordained and placed on our lips. 


The greatest lessons we learn come when we don't harbor a bitter root and don't root in the pigsty...and understand this: God is who He says He is. God will do what He says He will do. I am who God says I am. I can do all things through Christ. God's Word is alive and active in me. (Beth Moore)


So what do we offer Him? Our undivided hearts. Is my God enough??? He is more than enough! Praise Him for who He is...he King of Kings, the LORD of Lords.


Amen, and Amen!

The Help, The Blessing....

Pearl....Annie Pearl Harris. She is the one who hugged me, she is the one who taught me how to make a bed, even it was with a switch in her hand! Pearl could make an apple pie like nobody's business. I have tried and tried to duplicate it...tried to get her recipe but there was no recipe, just a hand full of this, a pinch of that...and magic was created! The magic was in her hands of love. I really don't know where I would be today if she had not been such a large part of my life. She gave me something my mother couldn't...real affection that came through her discipline, her hugs, her apple pies and all the time she spent with me. I can remember the time my friend came over and talked me into pouring finger nail polish all over the mattress! Yep, my butt was sore for a few days!!! And Pearl taught me a lesson I never forgot...don't follow bad decisions...do what is right. She taught me much about life...and boy did she love her Cincinnati Reds!! She would watch her baseball and iron at the same time. She was spirited! And she loved some nasty Falstaff Beer! But drank it with control...something I had never seen before. 

Today...she passed away. Today....she was on my mind. Several months ago, I felt an urging to see her, but I didn't act upon it. No regrets...can't go there, it would be too painful. Life is so short...life gets too busy and time slips away. I know this all too well, but how easy it is to fall back into that trap. I can trust that Pearl knew how much she meant to me as I have told her so many times. But I wish I could've had one more of her great hugs and hear her say my name like nobody else could. 

So tonight, my heart is sad....and very thankful for the blessing He brought in my life through my Pearl...He truly does give us food at the proper time. 

The LORD upholds all who fall 

   and lifts up all who are bowed down. 

The eyes of all look to you, 

   and you give them their food at the proper time. 

You open your hand 

   and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Psalm 145:14-16 (NIV)

Snips & Snails & Puppy Dogs Tails!!

November 13, 1980...5am...we are on our way to the hospital. 11:46am...we welcomed a beautiful baby boy in our lives, Joshua Bryan Blount. He was a crier!...no, a screamer!!! He wailed....he was red faced...he was beautiful...I was a little scared! November 18....this beautiful baby boy was coming home...weighing 5 lbs. 11 oz...he was a tiny little thing...and make such a big noise when he was not happy!!! I was excited to have this beautiful baby boy come into our lives... we were committed to raising him to love the Lord his God with all his heart, mind, soul. We stood on this scripture: Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up Deuteronomy 14: 18-19. We took this very seriously...we talked about the Lord everyday...in every way. Josh grew...slow, but he grew. He was a tiny little guy....yet very opinionated...we saw his strong spirit to never give up before he turned one. He was a joy, even in the midst of his strong-willed spirit! Brother, Jacob, came along in 1983...he wanted us to take him back to the hospital!! They are very close today and for this I am very thankful!! They are two different kind of guys who respect each other....encourage each other. 


Fast forward 30 years....May 22, 2011. This beautiful baby boy is now a good-looking man. Where did life take him to this point? He has grown in his faith...he has struggled in his faith...he loves ministry. He loves discipleship. He comes alive in ministry. God is moving him to Fairhope, Alabama to being ministry with the youth at Fairhope UMC. We are excited for Josh...and know that each day will continue to grow him - Our prayer is that his life will continue to grow deeper in faith....his wisdom would come from God and God alone...he would have discernment in leading these youth....these youth would come to love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind and soul. Which takes me to my next thought: how we live our life has an eternal impact. What kind of life am I living now that will continue impacting the world for Jesus Christ? My job as a parent is not over....my job as a believer is ever-continuing. How intentional I am I in my faith? What am I doing that grows my faith? They say that wisdom comes with experience...and yes, age (ouch, that hurt)! I know my life has experienced much pain..and much joy. Through each one of these, I do believe my life is richer and has made me who I am. It has been what helped me become the mother that I am. 

Welcome to 2011

Today started out with a bang!! And I am not talking about firecrackers, although I was frustrated enough to set a few off! Woke up at 4:15 am listening to Buddy rummage around his nightstand...with a flashlight. "what are you doing, buddy?"...he was trying to find his keys to open the gym. So, nice wife I am...I get up to help him. Well that hunt took me on a cold and awkward ride! No keys...he rides to the gym to inform his early risers that the gym will not be open until mid-morning. Then I get a call from him, asking me to check my car to see if he left them there. I headed out the door and realized how cold it was..so I mosey back in to get a coat and decided to put on shoes as well....but still in my pj's. I grab my car key and head out to my car, shutting the door behind me. Yep, you guessed it! I locked myself out of the house! Not one door was unlocked! My cell phone begins to ring....and it's sitting on the baker's rack inside the kitchen. Alot of help that does me!!! So, I am waiting to see if Buddy comes back home. In the meantime, I fetch a hammer and a metal mallet....I'm gonna bust the window out in my kitchen door. I thought again, and decided I would go to the gym to find Buddy. Well..guess what?? He wasn't there! Here I am, in my pj's wondering what in the heck am I going to do. We could be riding back and forth never crossing each other....Ahhh, Daylight Donuts is across the street! CLOSED and no money to buy me a donut!! Walmart to the rescue...off I go and enter the building looking for someone to ask if I could use the phone! They probably thought I was a vagabond!! Thankfully I had my flannel, plaid pj's on and real shoes! Get Bud on the phone..tell him where I'm at....head back to the house. Well....guess what??? He doesn't have a key to the house!! He pulls out his credit card and walla....in we go. We spent the next hour pulling every key out of drawers, nooks, crannies to see which one fits. Now, you would think we would have one key for all the doors..but somehow, that important fact was overlooked. By the time we tried the 20th key..BINGO...we found one. And eventually found one for each are of the house. But, we ended up with a container full of about 30 keys that we don't have a clue what they go to!

Moral of this story: get yer life in order, sister!!!! Clean out those closets, declutter the garage, get rid of all this stuff and make your life Simple! Interesting...that is our theme at Cornerstone this year: Simple Church....and our sermon series is: how do we use our time. My time will be used more effectively this year. I am going to be intentional in what I do. I'll keep you posted!

Long day....tired...yet I am reminded of God's goodness. How He keeps his hand on each of us...He gives us nuggets of love - like a phone call or message from a friend who truly cares and loves me...just as I am:), encouraging me to "just think about it"...and that "think about it"..is a good thing... to think about:) And just like another friend said, our book is already written. He sees me, he knows my next step. I find myself thanking Him for providing employment for our oldest son, Josh. That each "quiet" moment Josh has been resting in, has been a time of reflection and trusting. Thanking God for opening doors in our youngest son, Jake's life....giving him the opportunity to use his gifts and "do" what he loves to do: music....having a conversation with Jake that is all about God's hand doing His thing and trusting Him in that. And looking on the table across the room and seeing the beautiful, red roses Buddy picked off our tree outside, put in a vase, gave to me..just because. These roses brighten the room in many ways..they are a reflection of a man who gives selflessly...finds quiet ways to encourage and love me; the color red is a happy color and truly helps me rest in the end of a busy day. Thank you Father for loving me even more than all of these.

Greater things are yet to come....

My hometown is Montgomery...and although I have been gone for eleven years, I love this place, it's history and the people. Just reminded again tonight, that God is not finished yet...there is still more to come. There is a revival brewing...God is trying to wake the dead....He desires freedom, forgiveness and joy in the hearts of all people...I love this video footage created by Paul Bryant for Christ City Church in Birmingham (lyrics/music by Blue Tree). This song is relevant for Montgomery, for Auburn, for Birmingham, for Belfast...because He is the King of the nations!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3w5WVlFBZM

Doing Life Together

Doing life together means you look at the clock and it's 2 am..you wonder where did the time go and do you have to go home now?
Doing life together means you have a crisis that involves a "sad cake" and your friend says they are the best cakes ever.
Doing life together is when you have a real crisis and your friend is there for you with a hug, a "I'm in this for the long haul", speaks the truth in love because they know it's best for you, love you no matter how ugly you get in that crisis, and know that words just don't work...but a look of compassion and prayer does.
Doing life together means giving all you got for the benefit of the other and it sometimes means sacrifice that you do with a smile because you love them like a sister or brother.
Doing life together means you are all about being the hands and feet of Christ.
And last but certainly not least.....doing life together is bringing your friend chocolate even when they don't need it but just because.