He holds me in the darkness

He holds me in the darkness
He never lets me go,
I do not see the future prize
Nor have the need to know.

When life gives me a beating,
Why would I lift my hand?
To share in all His sufferings,
I know this is His plan.

He never has forgotten,
I'm always on His mind.
So in the darkness I do rest.
I know that He is kind.

Suffering for a moment
Is nothing in the end,
'cause vindication always comes
To those who trust in Him.


cjb

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
Romans 8:17-18

I love you more!

She says, she loves me "bigger than all the stars"
and goes to sleep pleased with her declaration, content...
that in this "love game", she has won.
But as she sleeps,
I watch and love her more.

Psalm 121:3-5a

" He will not let your foot slip-

He who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you..."

To blog or not to blog

To blog or not to blog that is the question!
A soap box for some, for others connection.
For me it has been a time of reflection.
Yet, should I blog on? That is my question.

Is it a good way to spend some of my time?
Is it inefficient to reason or wasteful to rhyme?
How does it change this world we live in?
Too many questions, where to begin?

If I cease to blog will the earth stop it’s spin?
If I continue to blog will change rise within?
It’s not my computer nor is time all my own.
Yet through this blogging, I think I have grown.

Through Larry’s questions (even those that make some groan!)
Through Drew’s observations that I’ll never bemoan.
The links that connect me are more than a few
But each one takes me to someone's point of view.

To blog or not to blog?
It’s under review…..

CJB


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Mountains of Meteora

This is not so much a poem as a reaction, words to the experience I had while visiting the mountains of Meteora. You can see this site in the pictures Alastair has taken above or in the Movie “For Your Eyes Only”, staring Roger Moore.

This was one of the places on our educational tour in Greece where Apostle Paul did not go. However…007 did!



The Rocks cry out

Mountains
Rising up like fingers
Like ships run aground
Rocks crying out
How awesome is our God!

Monasteries precariously
Clinging to the cliffs edge
Men seeking a higher place
Seeking God
Who formed the very rocks
they balance on

Each rock formation
Standing on its own.
Isolated
like the monks
Who live in their caves
Yet, standing together
like a great wall.

A wide expanse of mountains
Contrasted with a small
dark rooms of incense.
Incense too think to breathe freely

saints painted on walls
speaking loudly
voices
voices
voices
of the past
no rest for my spirit
simplicity lost.

Icons with closed lips
Their lives have testified
all has been said
“asleep but not dead”

Wake up!
Wake up and step outside
See the Rock on which you
Have built your shelter.
The rock from which you were cut

Breath in the
Fresh mountain air
Hear creation testifying
He Lives
He lives
He Lives!

Leave the small dark rooms
Leave your caves
See the Light of day
See the Glory of the Lord
It’s outside your window
For the whosoever
For you
For me
For the whole world to see.

I’ve heard the rocks cry out!
How awesome is our God!

cjb

Greece

First few hours in Greece, with jet lag.
Sitting under the olive trees in Athens across from Mars Hill.
(R to L or L to R - Carole, Sue, Sue and Carol)

Click here for slideshow

Believe

Believe that the seed planted will grow.
Believe that the word given he will bestow.
Believe that he rewards those who seek him.
BELIEVE and he'll bless you beyond reason!

cjb

This day is His

I will not worry
what this day will bring
Because I know,
I’m in step with my King

He holds my hand
He leads the way
This day is His,
Come what may.

Remain in me and I will remain in you
Great wonders you will see
As my Spirit comes alive in thee,
Remain in me.

The miracle is this;
That God’s character could be
Contained in THIS jar of clay.

Remain in me and I will remain in you
Great wonders you will see
As my Spirit comes alive in thee
Remain in me.

What do I want?
Fruit to be seen.
Fruit that you are alive
and living in me,
Remain in me.

He holds my hand
He leads the way
This day is His,
Come what may.

cjb

Ruth's song

You send me home
With arms of grain
It is more than I deserve
Yes, more than I deserve
My arms are full

You cover me,
You hide my shame
It is more than I deserve
Yes, more than I deserve
I am your own

At the city gates on my behalf,
Before the elders you speak for me.
You are more than I deserve
Yes, more than I deserve

To be your bride
To take your name
You redeem my life
I am not the same
It’s more than I deserve

Now I’m no longer called a servant
Now I am called your wife
Your household bows before me
You have redeemed my life

A future, I now have
Inheritance is mine
It is all by your own hand
This new full life of mine.

It’s more than I deserve
Yes, more than I deserve
my inheritance is secure
It’s all by your own hand

Your loving kindness
Your mercy and grace
Your love divine is all mine,
You’ve removed all my disgrace

It is more than I deserve
Yes, more than I deserve
Your love, your son
You’re more than I deserve
My kinsman redeemer.

Slideshows from the last few weeks

TAM 07

SLMC 07

Atlanta 07

M-M-M-My Schwannoma!

They removed my schwannoma because it was getting on my nerves!

What is a schwannoma? In short it is a tumor/outgrowth on a nerve.
I found out about three months ago that I had some mass growing in me about the size of a ping-pong ball. The doctors all agreed it needed to be removed. They could not tell from the MRI and ultra-sounds if it was attached to anything important and at the time they were unsure as to what it was exactly.
So, feeling completely fine, I checked into the hospital last week and had surgery to remove this “ping-pong” sized enigma.
Abdominal surgery, even laparoscopic, has a way of making a healthy person feel sick. After one night in the hospital they told me the ping-pong was removed, everything looks great and the next day I could go *home.
Six days later at my check up the Doctor says, “So the punch line is this…you had a schwannoma and it was resting on a nerve. Do you feel any different with it gone?”
Actually, I did feel different. I felt like someone ran over me with a truck, like I could sleep for a week and when I walked I looked like my grandmother in her 90’s.
However this is not what I told the Doctor. I just told him my left knee (that has bothered me for years) when I sit for long periods didn’t hurt anymore. Could it have been a pinched nerve that now was no longer pinched?
He just raised an eyebrow and said, “Sure, I’ll take credit for that!”

So my schwannoma is gone.
( I kinda like saying that word… SCHWANNOMA!)
Strangely enough my knee which is no where near my abdomen :) …. feels better and I am in recovery from the surgery.
God is good.
You see, I didn’t even know there was anything wrong but the Lord knew and through a series of seemingly random events he made it clear to me and to the physicians. Those who knew how to help me, who were trained for this kind of work did what they had to do to remove it. As a result, I feel pain for awhile because of the surgery but in the long run I am healthier.

What’s getting on your nerves? Is it affecting your walk with God?

How often do we have something resting on our “last nerve” slowly growing with in us and we don’t realize how it is affecting our walk with the Lord, our relationship with others.

The removal process can be painful but the end results are health for the whole body.

Hebrews 12:10-13
“Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.”

* Thank you to my parents for coming to stay with us, helping with the house and the kids!

A Battle Cry

I stand before the throne of God interceding. God is high and lifted up on his throne. I am on the right and there is one who opposes on the left. I face the Lord making my request known to him. As I speak with the Lord, the one who opposes my every word becomes louder and louder. I turn and face him. He is angry, yelling at me but when I look at him his words are sharpened with a mocking tone. I see those standing behind him jeering and cheering him on. In this moment of discouragement I turn my head to look at the throne of God and I see the Lord tilting his head with a smile as if to say “look behind you”. I looked behind me and there standing with me was a great multitude of people. An ocean of people as far as the eye can see. Some of them look right at me and I knew them. They were those who had gone before me. My grandparents, great-grandparents on both sides of my family and my husband’s ancestors as well. I also saw ancestors of soldiers and officers in the Army. Most were people who I had never met before but who had invested in the Kingdom of God; people who had been faithful. They were standing there cheering me on and claiming with me God’s promise to be faithful to the generations of those who have loved him and obeyed His Word. I knew they respresented our heritage standing before the throne of grace warring for us, warring with us.

Suddenly, standing there looking at this great cloud of witnesses, a wave of encouragement and strength in the spirit overwhelmed me. At that moment I turned to look my accuser in the eye. As I turned my eyes locked with my mocker and I saw the fear in his eyes. Those behind him fled before I even opened my mouth and when I spoke, I directed my words right at him.

However, they were not so much words….
What does one say in a moment like that?
One screams! One shouts! A battle cry!

Picture it like the scene of the last battle in the movie Braveheart. The shout of William Wallace echoed by all who stood with him….. the battle cry! Each time they shouted, they became louder and more in unison. They were ready to fight to the death. This is the position I now took before my accuser standing with the great cloud of witnesses before the throne of God. Our shouts of victory, our battles cries of past and present bled into one voice.

In that moment, the mocker, the accuser, the one who opposes was reminded of the truth that is ours…….We have already won! The Battle is the Lords! The victory is ours! There are more for us than against us and those who oppose God will be broken. Truth like that has a way of making the enemy slither away. His only hope is to keep us ignorant of this reality, to keep us discouraged and fearful of him. Once we know the truth, once he sees in our eyes that we KNOW the TRUTH….what else can he do but flee?

Do you believe it?
Sound the battle cry!
There is victory in Jesus!
We have already won.

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Intercede

‘This far and no further!’ says Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings. He is standing on a thin bridge, his words directed at a flying fire-breathing dragon. He holds his ground and emphasizes his words by slamming down his staff. The bridge breaks and Gandalf falls wrestling with the dragon to unseen depths.

I keep hearing these words, the words of Gandalf. “This far and no further!”
These are the words of my own soul when I intercede before the Lord.
Satan has had his time. He has wreaked havoc long enough. It is time to claim back the land that belongs to our King, to recapture the hearts and minds of his people, those dedicated to and for His purposes.

This is where it stops! We can stand with Gandalf on the bridge and say to satan, “This far and no further!” You have stolen our sons and daughters; you have made a mockery out of our attempts to follow God. You have found pleasure in our weaknesses and have stolen ground that was never yours to take.

We are at fault too. We have sinned against God and our ancestors; we have not kept the vows of our youth and have let the enemy enter our promised land through the open doors of hypocrisy, apathy and ignorance. The gates to our cities have not been guarded, the enemy has had his time but we can say, “This far and no further!”

This is a call to intercessors for such a time as this. As it was with Nehemiah a time has come for a re-building of our city walls and a time has come for the ancient gates to lift up their heads. Nehemiah appointed families to build up and guard the walls and gates from the threats of the surrounding enemy. As intercessors we must take our appointed places, guard our gates, re-build our city walls. We need people to take a stand for what is rightfully ours. We need people who will go forth to claim back that which was stolen from us. We need men and women to stand against the enemy and say defiantly “This far and no further!”

The Battle is the Lords.

1 John 3:8b “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.”

FUN at O.O.B.

View slideshow

'The Angel of Amsterdam'

6 July 2007 10:31 AM GDT

The Netherlands Says Goodbye to 'The Angel of Amsterdam'

Author: International News

The Netherlands Says Goodbye to 'The Angel of Amsterdam'

A PEACEFUL and almost holy atmosphere descended on the red light district of Amsterdam on Saturday 30 June as the funeral procession of Lieut-Colonel Alida M. Bosshardt OF passed through. Church bells rang and people applauded as 'Major Bosshardt', as she was known, made her last visit to the district where she had worked for almost 50 years.....

(click on link above to read the full article)

Lieut-Colonel Bosshardt's slogan was: 'To serve God is to serve people and to serve people is to serve God.'

Even through her death Lieut-Colonel Alida Margaretha Bosshardt was able to touch the hearts of thousands of people who applauded her in the streets or who watched the funeral service on television. 'If there were more people like you,' wrote one person on the condolences web site, 'the world would be a better place.'
Report by Ruud Tinga

NJ music camp

Slideshow

Blood and Fire

Underneath the Blood and Fire
My soul will find it's rest
As I fight beside my Master
This war’s not over yet!

Covered with the blood of Christ
Saved by grace -grace alone
Baptized by Holy Spirit’s fire
Righteousness not my own.

The Savior’s blood poured out for me
But not for me alone,
I must speak forth the gospel truth
I must make Jesus known.

Fire that comes and burns away
All traces of my sin;
Immerse the world in God's own WORD
Baptize with fire for Him.

A victor’s life to win the war
Needs only these two things:
The blood of Jesus -saves our souls,
The Fire that makes us clean.

cjb

Graduating class of 2007!

This year we had two graduations in our family.

Our oldest graduated from Middle School and ....



our youngest graduated from Pre-School.

I guess that is what happens with a 10 year span between the oldest and the youngest!

Next year we will also have two graduations. One from Elementary School and the other from Middle School.

Mile markers in life. We are so proud of all of them.

" All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be their peace."

Isaiah 54:13 (NIV)

As promised- Anniversary before and after photos!

Alastair proposed to me on Torn mountain at Star Lake camp. ('88)




Married at Hempstead Corps June 16th, 1990



At the Eastern Europe Territory's congress in St. Petersburg, Russia ( '06)


Our Wedding Song
written for us by Darryl and Faith Collier

From the start and through all my life
I have been searching trying hard to find
the one who might touch my heart
Yes, The Lord he knows my heart's desires
and He knew you would come into my life.
How you compliment my individuality,
He willed us to be man and wife.

Now together we belong
and I have no doubt that it is true,
because The Spirit gave me confirmation
to share my love and give my life to you.

When I prayed to God for a glimpse of His love
I could not envision a union like ours.
Love responds to dreams growing closer,
everyday joins us in the bond of love.
I now belong to you and yes, you now belong to me.
Hand in hand for life, death us do part.

Now together we belong
and I have no doubt that it is true,
because The Spirit gave me confirmation
to share my love and give my life to you.

Yes! Together we belong
and I have no doubt that it is true,
because The Spirit gave me confirmation
to share my love and give my life to you.

New Pictures

Alastair got a new camera for Father's Day/our Anniversary so there are a lot of new photos that I have just uploaded to my flicker account.

You'll be surprised how many we've taken in such a short time.
He is very happy with this new toy and the girls have taken quite a few pictures too.
Check out the different "sets" of photos to see our oldest graduating from Middle School, new family and friend photos, Father's day at the corps, a concert at the park and the corps band's recording day.
It's been a busy weekend!!
The nature and flowers sets are mostly photo's taken by our oldest two daughters.
I was impressed- with them and the camera!
Blessings-

17th Anniversary - June 16, 1990

This is the "After" pic -I'm going to scan the "before" when I get a chance!

He is faithful to His word

The Lord has spoken
He is faithful to His word
The Lord never fails
He is with me in this world

When all the pressures come
I will not be crushed
When all earthly reasons gone
I will not loose my hope!

When evil says “all in vain!”
Efforts I have made
When doubt whispers to my heart
I’ll call upon His name!

If all I’ve hoped for is gone
Some may call me fool
Even still I will look up
I know I’ll rise with Him!

cjb

God of the floodgates

God of the floodgates
Open your skies
Rain down upon us
Changing our lives

God of the harvest
Plant within me
Seeds of your word
Rooted in thee

God of the ocean
Lord of the seas
Depth of devotion
Submersed in thee

Start the revival
Lord in my heart
Spread it like fire
Your will impart

cjb

This is why I'm saved

Sharing in the master’s work
Sacrifices come
Every loss will be my gain
When this war is won

Sharing in your suffering
Giving as you gave
Living out your life in me
This is why I’m saved

Giving all I have for you
What more can I do?
Your love is extravagant
Make me more like you

Living every day in full
Life abundantly
God’s great goodness and His grace
Brings me to my knees

Fighting in the war for souls
This is why I’m saved!
Battles raging all around
Efforts not in vain


cjb

Hearing God through nature

We went camping this past weekend with friends. It was wonderful weather, good food and great fellowship. Our campsite was in the woods of northern New Hampshire and had no phone signal. When I asked the women at the desk if there was somewhere I could go on site to get a signal she told me I would have to drive six miles off the campsite. LOL! So we were really in the middle of nowhere. No signal but a nice pool. The pirate ship on the edge of the pool had slides of all sizes and this entertained all the kids for hours.

Sometimes God speaks to me through nature and this weekend was one of those times. Every where we went there was a sweet smell of lilacs. Every road and pathway had lilac bushes in full bloom. God has used these simple bushes to speak to me in the past. Also there was one yellow butterfly that seemed to like me a whole lot. At least twice a day I would find it flying past me or over me. God has often used this symbolism to speak to me on many different levels.

All this to say, on my arrival home these words came to me. I hope they are a blessing to some as I play with words and images the has Lord placed before me.

picture by walksinthewoods

Violet lilacs
Golden butterflies
Fragrances of gratitude
Transformation flies
Thankfulness smells
Sweet as spring
Hope can lift us
Like those wings
No longer crawling
On a wall
But soaring high
Above it all
No longer smelling
Excrement
But breathing in
Heaven’s scent
An atmosphere of
Metamorphosis
Faith is why
We believe all this!
Cocoons bound
Holding in night
Breakthroughs come
Releasing light
Change that sends
Worms to flight
Transformation!
Prodigals lost
Now are found!
Sons feeding pigs
Now wear crowns!
Sweeter fragrance
We cannot breathe in
Than a life transformed
Surrendered to him.

cjb

A full boil

My Grandmother Voisey always liked a hot cup of tea. She insisted that the kettle not only come to a full boil but she would let it boil for 3 minutes before she would steep her tea.
It always amazed me, at restaurants, when she would be given her tea and she could tell on the first sip if the water had come to a FULL boil. Often she would politely send it back. On many occasions, I have waited for a kettle to come to full boil. Hovering, watching, wondering and sometimes taking it off too soon because of an impulse that says, "it's hot enough!" I'm usually in a hurry when this happens. I have also been bright enough to leave a kettle on the fire too long. I have ruined at least two kettles this way. Usually, when this happens I have become too busy with other things and forget I even put the kettle on the fire. The water has evaporated and the kettle is left with a scar.
There is an art to making a good cup of tea. An art that for the most part is completely lost here in the States. Maybe it is my grandmother's influence but I can tell the difference between a cup of tea that has been brewed "properly" and a cup that has been brewed with water that has not been given time to come to a full boil.
I wish I had this same discernment when it came to spiritual things. I am praying for it, asking God to give me this kind of discernment! To know the difference between divine pressure to move or speak and my human impulses. I do not want to take any kettle off the fire before it has reached a full boil. I do not want to serve up a lukewarm cup of anything! I also do not want to miss the moment and scar the kettle.

How does one know for sure the difference between human impulse and divine pressure?

A need to know

I’m struggling with questions. Why do I have so few questions? It makes me wonder am I just simple. It isn’t that I don’t care. I read the debates and I know I have an opinion. I also am keenly aware when I don’t have answers for some of the questions and sadly I’m alright with this.
I feel like I am on a “need to know” basis with God. When I need to know….then he fills me in. The rest of the time I just try and live out what I already know. I don’t think it is wrong to question. I actually think it can spur on great discussions and sharpen our beliefs. I admire those who can ask the cutting edge questions. I just realize- I don’t have that in me. I’m not cutting edge material. (At least not on the internet.) I like the debates and discussions but I think one thing that holds me back is not having the conversations face to face. I am uneasy when I can not see the whole language of a person (words and body language) being spoken before me. The other reason is my fear of just not being smart enough or well read enough to participate. Sad, I know…but this is true and holds me back.

I also am overwhelmed with the amount of need in our world for God to intervene in and through us in tangible ways…

Human trafficking
The blasphemy site (which I just learned about from Rob Reardon’s site)
The links on the blasphemy site- They make me cringe!
The apathy and self centeredness of society
The list goes on and on.
I am very aware of these things and yet sit here with absolutely no idea of how to even begin to turn the tide. My game plan….seems weak at best. I’m trying to live out Christ where I am. This isn’t a self- righteous statement…I actually feel like living out Christ where I am doesn’t address any of these needs…at least not in a tide changing way. But it is all I can do at the moment so it is what I do. Again…I guess it is a need to know kind of thing. When the Lord want me to do something more….He will tell me and give me creative ways to participate. Until then, I just do what I already know to do.

In my life recently, God has poured out upon me a real sense of how he has blessed me. To tell you the truth he has gone out of his way to romance me. I am undeserving to say the least and yet I know it is my responsibility to receive this from him wholeheartedly. This isn’t as easy as it should be. This I question! Go figure!?
I have also been made aware recently of areas where I may have failed him and as Moses….. I have been given permission to look at the “promise land” from a distance but not be there. My heart breaks over this one and I’m not even sure where I went wrong. Now for this situation, I have many questions for the Lord but they are just between us.
Any questions??

Blessed-beyond reason

God’s capacity to express his love to me far out weighs my capacity to contain it.

Blessed-beyond reason
Loved-in every season
Sacrifices-fall too short
As does -my admiration.
Every time I give to God
I’m blessed-again!
Blessed- beyond reason.

cjb

Old friend - New site

If you are interested in:

missions

great photography

The Republic of Georgia

or just reading yet another Blog!

This is the site for you.

Our friend Tony who we first met in St. Petersburg in 1994 and then later in The Republic of Georgia has a blog. I know many of you will love what he has to say and his pictures are out of this world.
Drop by and see what he is doing for God and say a prayer for his ministry while you visit his site.
Blessings to you Tony!

A cross in the sky

My youngest yelled out in the car, "LOOK! A cross in the sky!"
She showed me her discovery with excitement. The day was bright and beautiful.
She is too young to know that the pattern was made by planes flying in and out of Newark Airport.
Enjoying her excitement, I just agreed.
"And it's right over my sister's school."
"Yes, it is."
"You know Mommy, when it is sunny like today, Jesus is in the sky but when it is dark, he is in our hearts."
"Emma, he is always close by us isn't he?"
" Yup."
"You know what Emma? Maybe the sun on our skin is God giving us hugs and kisses? What do you think?"
Her little girl giggle told me she agreed.

Singing in the Rain

Get thee behind me satan!
My efforts are not in vain.
My God loves me!
So, WATCH CLOSE! 'cause
I'll be singin' in the rain.

Moon over Manhattan

Moon over Manhattan
Round, bright, full
I can’t stop staring at it
It takes my attention from the city lights
Overshadowing the man made with its purity
Capturing my eye, stealing my breath
Against the dark turquoise sky
Clear of clouds and too bright for stars
I feel everything in me gravitating towards it
As strong as the forces of attraction
It tugs the waters of the earth and my heart
Pulling me, distracting me and I understand
Why some howl when the moon is full
The romance of it all is intoxicating!

cjb

Skipping Stones

Skipping stones
Across the lake
Two- three- four- plop!
Small, round, flat, smooth
Cast them out!
Some go far
Some drop hard
Some skim the top layer of water
Bouncing, flying, gliding
PLOP!
Again and again
We search for the perfect stone
To toss, to skip
Competing against ourselves
And the last stone tossed.
Hunting for the next with purpose
Excited, hopeful when it’s found
Will it soar?
Skip more?
Go the distance?
We choose carefully
Aim intently
Casting the perfect
Casting the chosen
Out of our hands
Propelling it into the distance
Loosing
What we earnestly sought
Tossing
What we once had found
Holding nothing back
Two- three- four-five
PLOP!
We start the search again
Hoping-
The next one will skip more
Believing-
it will go the distance.
Praying-
it will stay a little longer above water
Before it sinks
Like a rock

CJB

Worthy of mention

This whole week my girls have been off school. Alastair and I did not have vacation time so my parents offered to take all four girls to Atlanta, Georgia for a visit. They have had so much fun! They have been to a water park, they've been shopping, catching sun rays on my parents back deck and mining for precious stones at a local gold mine.
I am so grateful to my parents. The girls are having a great time.
More pictures on Flickr!!

Words of Faith

I'm a Beth Moore groupie. I don't belong to a fan club but if there was one I would sign up. Beth Moore is a bible teacher who has inspired many women to dig deeper into the word of God. She by example with a gift of transparency, encourages everday women to apply scriptures to their lives, to live out what they say they believe.
On her blog recently I read something that spoke to my heart directly. At one of her recent weekend ministry events the women stood and spoke out these words to each other and over themselves. I found them very helpful, I've recieved them as a word of comfort and strength for myself and wanted to share them.
Here they are:

Count it a joy,
Dear One
When life gets hard.
God is doing something huge!
He is also proving
That you are NOT a fake.
Be brave, Mighty Warrior.
Your God is with you!
When waves are crashing,
Stand to your feet,
Throw your head back
And feel the wind of the Spirit!
God is painting a masterpiece
With multi-colored trials.
Go forth and display
Divine special effects
To the great glory of God.
YOU CAN DO IT!

Hope you are blessed by them.
Speak them out!

James 1:2-4 (NIV)
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

NJ - Youth Councils 07

Just got back from the weekend. God's Spirit moved ! Praise HIM!
I may write more about that later but right now I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine who has just started blogging.
He has posted something new while at Youth Councils and I think there are people out there who would have some comments to throw his way.

His name is Charles Kelly aka "CHIP"

Here Chip is with my husband behind bars.
We should have left them there!

Check his blog out and leave a comment!

The newest Sr. Soldiers of Montclair

Ronnie Williams,Courtney Scheibner,Karin Tillsely,Heather Bate (my daughter),Stephen Johnson

Don't they look great!!

What can I say? It was a great Easter Sunday!!

The enrollment was going smoothly until I looked at my firstborn standing before me in a uniform under the flags. I was overwhelmed and almost unable to speak. It was a "Mom moment". Snap shots flooded my mind of her dedication under the Army flag when she was a baby, then flashed to the future and all the Lord has planned for her. Unfortunately for the rest of the congregation, I was officiating the ceremony when this emotion caught me off guard!

I choked back the tears and carried on as best I could.

As I look at each of these young adults I imagine all that the Lord has for them and all they have to give to the Lord. My prayer for them is that God will sanctify them through and through. That their whole spirit, soul and body will be kept blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls them is faithful and He will do it!!

I believe it!

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

Rock of Ages 1987 NYSB

The Salvation Army's New York Staff Band sings William Bearchell's arrangement of "Rock of Ages", led by band chorus leader Major Thomas Mack in this 1987 broadcast.

My Dad is in this!!

Thanks Stephen for sharing this on facebook!

A night of 10,000 Smiles

A funny thing happened to me in our first year serving in St.Petersburg, Russia. It happened a year before I was able to butcher the Russian language with some form of fluency. I had just left my language lesson with Vera. Sandra Ryan who also took Russian language lessons from this woman once told me “Jeff and I think she is KGB”!
Now, Vera was known for making her students cry and asked so many personal questions it often caused me to rethink my initial thought that Sandra may have been joking.
I was driving home in our LADA, a little white car with a big red Army shield on both the drivers side door and the passenger’s door that said in Russian “Armeeya Spaceenia” ( The Salvation Army). I approached the red traffic light and was drilling myself on some of the vocabulary words that Vera insisted I should already know. When at the red light I looked to my left and saw a man in his little blue LADA waving to me and signaling me to roll down my window. I think it was instinct because logically it was already stupid of me to roll down a window when I could hardly say , “Hello my name is..” However it was already too late. I rolled the window down and he asked me in Russian “ Sto Eta takoi Armeeya Spaceenia?” Excited that THIS question was the very lesson Vera had just drilled me on and that I actually understood, I attempted to answer quickly before the light would turn green.
“What is the Salvation Army?”
“ETA Cirk!” I shouted clearly!
As soon as I said it I knew what I had said. I tried to signal that my answer was wrong but the light turned green and the man just looked pathetically at me and nodded saying… “Don’t worry, I understand.”
As I drove away my heart sank. I failed Vera once again.
Eta Cirk! No…..wrong answer.
I should have said “eta Cirkoff” (it’s a church)
But instead I said, “It’s a circus!”

All this to say, yesterday evening was the GNY night of 10,000 smiles with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. It was at Madison Square Gardens and the New Jersey Division was invited to join the celebration.

It was a fun night with the kids at the circus…..hmmm!

* for those of you who noticed one of my girls is missing.... she went to LION KING on Broadway for a school trip. ;)

The ministry of being is never inactive.

“I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

“You did not choose me, but I choose you and appointed you to go bear fruit-fruit that will last.” John 15:16

My beloved is mine, and I am His.

This pendant says in Hebrew

" I am to my beloved as my beloved is to me."

He pours out His mercy
-all around me
He lavishes me with His love
-abundantly
He overwhelms me with His grace
–unconditional
I can never out give my Lord.

He is magnificent,
He is wonderful
He is compassionate,
He is kind
He is creator,
He is counselor
I am His and He is mine

cjb

" My beloved is mine, and I am his."

Song of Solomon 2:16a

Luke 19:1-9

In my study for my sermon on Zacchaeus, I looked up his name in Hebrew and found out that it means: PURE. I never knew this before and I was so excited to learn something new about such a familiar passage.
I kept thinking of how Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus so badly that he climbed into a tree just to see Jesus pass by.
Jesus not only noticed Zacchaeus but called him by name and went into his home to fellowship with him. Everyone in Jericho knew Zacchaeus and called him a sinner….Jesus knew Zacchaeus and called him PURE! For it was the name his parents gave him as a child. Zacchaeus come down for I’m going to your house today!
Matt. 5:8 says “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”
Zacchaeus desired to see God and he did, but much more was given to him.
He climbed that tree to get a glimpse of Jesus and God called him by name, came into his home and broke bread with him.
On that day, when Jesus called him PURE he was made pure. His response was to give back all he had taken. Jesus said “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what is lost.”
Salvation, acceptance into the family of God….a life found that was once lost!
Zacchaeus received more than he could ever imagine.
Now he could now live up to his name.

One of the songs we sang in the meeting today from the songbook was song #506
by John Copley Winslow (1882-1974)

This verse really stood out to me:

2.Lord of all power, I give you my will,
In joyful obedience your tasks to fulfill.
Your bondage is freedom, your service is song,
And, held in your keeping, my weakness is strong.

I’ve highlighted the part that caught my attention the most.
I love the poetry and the truth of: “Your bondage is freedom.”

Starbucks- "The way I see it"

You can sometimes find me in Starbucks.

( I can hear you laughing Caryn and Mhairi!)

Anyway, I don't always read my cup. But yesterday I did and I found it interesting. Maybe it was interesting because of what I am studying for my sermon this Sunday. We are in a series called " Holding on and Letting go" from Luke. My husband spoke on the rich young ruler last week and this week I am speaking on Zacchaeus. I love trying to find a new angle to a story that is so familiar. But I digress...

Back to my Starbucks cup.
This is what I read yesterday:

"It's tragic that extremist co-opt the notion of God, and that hipsters and artist reject spirituality out of hand. I don't have a fixed idea of God. But I feel that it's us- the messed-up, the half-crazy, the burning, the questing- that need God, a lot more than the goody- two shoes do."
Mike Doughty - Musician


How do you see it?

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

How fun is this?!

Turning 40!

I had the best Birthday ever! My husband really went all out and just showered me with love. He had a party for me at our house. We had close to 80 people at one point!
He made all the food himself and was cooking all weekend. ( It was all delicious!!)
He set up, cooked and cleaned up the whole house before and after the party was over. (The girls helped too! )
There was a 1967 quiz and a WHO WANTS TO BE CAROLE"S FRIEND game set up with questions and pictures of me that was played like WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE.
My daughter Lydia also put together a slide show ....some pictures were very embarrassing!
She had the Van Morrison song: "Brown Eyed Girl" playing in the back ground and the Martina song: " She's a butterfly". She did a great job!
Everyone was kind....well, some were kind others had a lot of fun at my expense. :)
I am truly blessed!
40 is going to be a good decade!


Opening presents and sharing memories.

Just one of the rooms with all the food!

The living room crowd

The cake.

If you could read my buttons the red one would say:

I would rather be 40 than pregnant! ( so TRUE!!)

and the little black one: 40 is not old if you are a tree!

Birthday girl....up close! too close!!

Alastair's gift to me...for those who may not know the butterfly is actually my initials.

CjB with the "v" for my maiden name Voisey. I could not have thought of a better gift from the man I love! Does he know me or what!??

God has blessed me with so many gifts.

Family, friends, a great corps, a wonderful ministry in the Army and a life full of experiences both wonderful and challenging that have drawn me closer to HIM.

To all my friends and family who live across this country or the other side of the world....I miss you and love you very much.

I wish you ALL could have been with us!!