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!!

Money in a fish's mouth

Isaiah 45:3 “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

Isaiah 60:5 " Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you....."


When I was young we used to play
We looked for treasures on the way
We checked for change in old pay phones
But now I’m older and my faith has grown

You’ve heard the story of Apostle Peter?
Before he became a great church leader.
His problem? Taxes as the story goes ...
In a fish mouth he found some gold

I've often wondered when hearing this
From that point on, did he check each fish?
Just like I checked those old pay phones?
‘Cause Peter’s faith must have grown

I found it once,It can be done!
Growing faith is the best income.
So try to hear all our Lord might say.
Look for treasures hidden in each day.

cjb


I wrote this poem and then recently read the following:

FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE – BY JOHN LEHTI
MONEY IN A FISH’S MOUTH!

Aramaic, the language which Jesus spoke, is still used in parts of Syria today in its original form with the same idiomatic phrases and slang.
One old expression is “you can find a shekel in the mouth of a fish.” Meaning: If you catch a good fish you can always sell it easily at the market.......
.......When Jesus was in Capernaum and the Roman tax-collector asked for the head tax everyone paid to Rome (two silver coins, worth a shekel), Jesus told Peter, who was a fisherman, to go- catch a fish which would have a piece of money in it’s mouth (Matt.17:27) Many authorities are agreed he was using the slang of the day- in other words, to catch a fish good enough to sell on the market for a shekel and thus pay their tax. During the 1st century A.D., when the Greeks were translating the Gospels into their own language, they had no understanding of the true meaning of these Aramaic expressions and so the story came out as though Peter actually caught a fish swimming around with a piece of money in its mouth- which doesn’t mean Jesus COULDN’T work a miracle in this case, for he raised the dead and healed many who were blind and lame, but it is interesting to note he never performed miracles for his own comfort and benefit!


I found this article interesting. I don’t like when people explain away the miracles of God but this one is different for me. I like the fact that he says, “it doesn’t mean Jesus couldn’t work a miracle in this case.”
This explanation makes sense to me especially after learning another language and a different culture’s slang. Since Peter was a fisherman that makes sense too. I think Jesus was practical as well as miraculous!
What do you think?

More of You!

More of you Lord

More of you Lord
More of your Spirit
More of your Son
More of your will
in me be done.

Less of me Lord
Less of self
Less of pride
Remain in me
As, I in you abide

All I have and all I know of you
Is just a drop in oceans vast.
You are all consuming fire and
Every thought, each desire
Burns quickly like a match
I offer dross, you give me gold
I offer clay, longing Glory to behold.


More of you Lord
More of your Spirit
More of your Son
More of your will
in me be done.

Less of me Lord
Less of self
Less of pride
Remain in me
As, I in you abide

If I drink the waters of this earth
Could they quench my thirst for you?
Let your light shine through my earthly rags?
Clothe me in your righteousness
Drink until I thirst no more.
Let your light shine through.
Give me more!

More of you Lord
More of Your Spirit
More of your Son
More of your will
in me be done.

Less of me Lord
Less of self
Less of pride
Remain in me
May, I in you abide

I’ve heard I can have all of you that I desire.
Yet, how can this be true?
Who can contain all there is of you?
Can I breathe the entire atmosphere?
Hold a galaxy in these human lungs?
If yes! Then let me breathe you in!
Give me more of you!

More of you Lord
More of your Spirit
More of your son
More of your will
in me be done.

Less of me Lord
Less of self
Less of pride
Remain in me
As, I in you abide

cjb

“We are able to have as much of God as we want”
Alexander MacLaren

Last week my wise husband gave me a day of solitude. On this day I rested, worshiped, painted, wrote this poem and studied the Word. It was a great day. I hadn't painted in 7 years. I enjoyed the process and tried not to worry about the end result. I love the fact that we have worked this day of solitude into our marriage and ministry plan. It's a gift we try to give each other at least twice a year. Good for the marriage, good for the ministry and good for the soul!

When things are left undone

Yesterday, I went to visit a retired officer at her new assisted living apartment. I saw the sign in the lobby that read: Sunday Service 3:30 Baptist minister.
Since it was 3:00 on my arrival I thought I would walk her down and we could attend the service together. She greeted me warmly, seemed pleased for the company and the idea of going to the service together. So at 3:20 we walked down to the Grande room. It was beautiful! The building is only two years old. We found our seats near the piano and waited. We waited until 3:50 when the director came into the room to announce she had called the Baptist minister and he was unaware of the scheduling.
She came over to me and said, “It is too bad your husband wasn’t here, maybe he could have done the service for us.”
Wanting to be helpful I replied, “I’ve done this before maybe I can help?”
Next thing I know I am leading a worship service for around 40 people. We sang hymns, prayed and someone found a Bible for me from the library. I read and even shared a devotional thought.
When we were done Mrs. Churchill and I had a good giggle that I came to visit and ended up as the guest speaker. Everyone greeted us both in the hallway as I later walked her to the dinning room. In the dinning room one man took my hand and said a kind thank you. I asked him if he was a retired minister. Something about him, his face, and his eyes told me he knew the Lord well.
His reply, “No, but I read through the Bible 4 times every year. I wish my memory was better so I could recite the verses that I love. My only fear is that I will get to heaven and Christ will say I did not do enough.”
I said to him, “it is quite possible Jesus will say, well done, my good and faithful servant.” He just laughed as if that was a nice thought from a young girl.
I drove home thinking of his words….
“That Christ would say I did not do enough.”
I wondered is it possible to ever do enough for one who has given us everything.
I pray that gentleman receives the grace of our Lord and hears the words well done! I plan on doing all I can and yet still needing the same grace for all that’s left undone.
Keep us faithful Lord but when we fail, may we fall into your grace.

Monday was a SNOW DAY!

Monday was a snow day. The girls went out to play in the snow and I watched them from the window. I am sure it was the Spirit of God who said to my heart " They are only young once! Get out there and play with them in the snow!"

So, I did.

We had a snowball fight and there isn't one of us who has a "good" aim! LOL!

Words that have caused me to stop and ponder this week

The following may or may not have anything to do with each other.

“We are able to have as much of God as we want” Alexander MacLaren

Song 523, verse 3

SA songbook

“Give me more power, that sinners around
May feel that thou in me dost live;
Let my light shine that souls who are bound
May say: To thee Lord now myself I give.”

Chorus:
Lord with my all I part
Closer to thee I’ll cling
All earthly things that bind my heart
Dear Lord to thy feet I bring

John 10:40-42
“Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true.” And in that place many believed in Jesus.”

How awesome is this?! John the Baptist never performed a miraculous sign. Yet, the testimony about him was that all he had said about Jesus was true and the result??? Many believed in Jesus!! May I always speak the truth about Jesus. If I can do nothing else, may it be said about me that I have done this!

Matt. 17:20 “ Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Thomas Merton “New Seeds of Contemplation”
Pg. 123 “Hell is where no one has anything in common with anybody else except the fact that they all hate one another and cannot get away from another and from themselves.”

Pg. 112
“ It is not only our hatred of others that is dangerous but also and above all our hatred of ourselves: particularly that hatred of ourselves which is too deep and too powerful to be consciously faced for it is this which makes us see our own evil in others and unable to see it in ourselves.”

Poem - found it in my old Bible this week. I have no idea when I wrote it.

Sacred moments

Nothing is by chance
Every life has a dance
There is a rhythm
There is a rhyme
People come
People go
All of them
precious souls
God desires everyone
Are we open to the call?
Take his hand
Let Him lead
Dance with me
Dance with me
Your Providential God.

-cjb

God is always speaking. How do you hear him?

an angry head cold

I have had a head cold
It’s been ‘bout seven days
It ruined my disposition
Taken all my energy away

The things I like to do
I struggled even to care
Coughing and sneezing
I resembled a grizzly bear

“Approach with caution!”
That’s what my family said
I guess I need a bit more work
On holiness while sick in bed!

cjb

Romance in the Scriptures from the King Of Kings

“Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away.
If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love,
it would be utterly scorned.”
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (NIV)

“Hang my locket around your neck,
wear my ring on your finger.
Love is invincible facing danger and death.
Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can't drown love,
torrents of rain can't put it out.
Love can't be bought, love can't be sold—
it's not to be found in the marketplace.”
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (MSG)

“Wear me as a signet ring on your heart,
as a ring on your hand.
Love is as overpowering as death.
Devotion is as unyielding as the grave.
Love's flames are flames of fire,
flames that come from the Lord.
Raging water cannot extinguish love,
and rivers will never wash it away.
If a man exchanged all his family's wealth for love,
people would utterly despise him.”
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (GW)

________________________________________

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse,
whose rider is called Faithful and True.
With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire,
and on his head are many crowns.
He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,
and his name is the Word of God.
The armies of heaven were following him,
riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.
"He will rule them with an iron scepter."
He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
Revelation 19 :11-16 (NIV)

There is only ONE in scripture who is atributed with everlasting love. Our acts of love and devotion to Him and to others are but a poor reflection. His love can never be quenched. He is called Faithful and True. Are you in love with the One who has eyes "like a blazing fire"? His passion and love for you is "as strong as death"....even death on a cross.

Gone Skiing!

Corps Ski Trip 2007

Heather's poem

Photo by Caryn Scheibner

My oldest daughter Heather wrote a poem in her creative writing class.

She gave me permission to put it up on my site.

I think it is wonderful....but hey I'm her Mom! :)

The Yellow Rose

I am a yellow rose in a red poppy field
for I do not feel I fit in.
I can not talk to other people
unless they have accepted me as one of their own.

I am a little caterpillar compared to a beautiful butterfly.
I will bloom someday but when that day comes will I be accepted?

You cannot change me though because I am happy with who I am.
So do you see me as a friend or do you see me as that
yellow rose in that red poppy field.

by Heather Bate
2/2007- age 14

I guess the Bate women are thinking about poppy fields recently!

My husband is WAY smarter than the cable guy!

We had a visit from Les the cable guy. I had very little to do with his visit. Alastair was home so he met Les at the door and stayed next to him during the whole visit. Les started getting on Alastair’s good side by walking across our cream colored carpet with muddy wet boots. Les was promptly sent out to his van to find shoe coverings before he could enter again. From that point on I imagined as I was cooking that everything was going well. However, when I heard the cable guy getting ready to leave I went to the door. I had one question to ask the man who was meant to have the intellect to fix our phones, internet and television.
As I approached the two men at the door, I missed the warning look from my husband’s eyes. Later, I realized Al was actually yelling at me frantically through his eyes to warn me. I asked my little question and Les…..well, Les couldn’t have given less of an answer. A lot of hand motions, rolling of eyes, thoughts of what it could be, all within a matter of seconds and all from Les. Alastair looked at me with eyes that said, “Curse you woman! You have prolonged his visit!” When the door shut behind Les….I laughed. I thought, he annoyed me and I could tell he had no idea what he was doing within seconds of our meeting. Then it dawned on me…..poor Alastair! It was once said about Alastair that all he had to do was walk by something electronic and it would immediately begin working! So, not only is Alastair very good with all electronic things but he just spent at least 45 minutes with this guy!!
Lucky for Al, Les comes back for one more visit but unfortunately, it will be scheduled on a day when Alastair won’t be around.

Exalted Opinions

Exalted Opinions
Our personal views
Our own estimations
Of how I see you.

A general assessment
A judgment or two
All drawn together
By our “expert” view

A second opinion
If you dare disagree
But most of the body
Agrees with me.

Look for yourself
Add up the facts!
Our opinions matters
Try denying that!

Exalted opinions
Have they become gods?
Is it all about me?
Our thoughts the cogs?

Wonder what God thinks?
Does He have a thought?
What is His will?
Is it all for naught?

Our world and our culture
Exalt many things.
But lately our opinions
Are Rulers and Kings.


cjb

Transparency

Transparency seems to be a hot topic lately. Check out Larry Ashcraft’s blog and Doug Burr.
The peom below, I wrote and posted awhile ago but thought I would stick it up again.
I understand transparency when it comes to how I choose to live. I have always seen God honor transparency in my life and in the lives of others.
What does corporate transparency look like?? A body of believers who together are intentional about being transparent?
Transparency to me is just letting TRUTH out in all I do and say. (Easier said than done sometimes.)

There are risk but no one whose hope is in God will be put to shame!
Just some thoughts…. cjb

He sees right through me,

I’m transparent.

There is nothingI can hide.

Do not mistake

My transparency,

For lack of substance.

Or lack of depth.

Emptiness …

Gives us space

To be filled.

Clarity …

Gives us confidence

And vision.

Look on through!

There is nothing

To hide.

This is His plan

For me,and

For you,

Transparency.

To be transparent

In all we say

And all we do.

To see though

Or look past,

To catch a glimpse

Of something…

Something other

Than me.

To catch a glimpse

Of Him.

He sees right,

He sees right through.

Transparency.

cjb

A Valley

A valley covered
In a blanket of red.
Come lie with me here
And lose all your cares.
As the wind gently caresses.
Watch with me as the poppies
Dance above our heads.
Feel the cool ground on your back.
Taste the grass between your teeth.
Get lost under the crimson canopy.
Fall asleep next to me and pull the blanket over
Rest, laugh, roll, love in the sublime.
High on the opium of life not yet
Destroyed or extracted by the hand of man.
A valley on fire, a valley of blood
A valley of forgiveness, a valley of love
A valley created by the brush strokes of a Master Artist.
Lie with me here in this Monet-like painting
Lose all your cares as the wind gently caresses.
Watch with me as the poppies
Dance above our heads.

cjb

George Scott Railton

I intend carefully to instruct my children that if at any time they see The Salvation Army a wealthy, respectable concern, the majority of whose “soldiers” simply go where they please to attend its’ “ministrations,” leaving the godless undisturbed to perish; and if they see another set of people, however they may be clothed or despised, who really give up all to go and save the lost, then they must not for a moment hesitate to leave the concern their poor old dad helped to make, and go out amongst those who most faithfully carry out what the founder of the Army laid down in his writings and acts, may God preserve them from such a day by keeping the Army free from the love of money and ease – George Scott Railton, An Autobiography, Full Salvation, Jan. 1, 1894.

_______________________

Are we wealthy with..

“respectable concern”?
Do we leave the…
“Godless undisturbed”?

Children, follow not
Your father’s cause,
If it strays…..
From the will of God.

Better to leave …
The comfort, the cash
To go to Hell’s kitchen,
To claim souls back!

Serve the Living Water,
To a world that thirsts
Get your hands dirty,
Go for the worst!

This is our call!
This is our mission!
Self preservation,
Is not our commission.

Fight as a soldier!
Soldiers of the cross!
Fight for the perishing,
The despised and lost.


The Love of money
The Love of ease…
Lord, Keep our Army
Free from these!

cjb

A-B-C

Emma : Mommy what starts with the letter "A"??
Mommy: Apple, airplane.....Alastair!
Emma: (giggle) -- That's daddy's name!
Emma: "B"!
Mommy: Baby, boy, balloon. Give the baby boy a balloon!
Emma: The girl gets a balloon too!
Emma: How 'bout "C" ??
Mommy: Cat and Carole! (pause) Carole is my name! (big smile)
Emma: (Laugh) NO mommy! You're silly! Your name ISN'T Carole it's MOMMY!!

Sugar coated sin

It is all a lie that we drink in
Like poisoned Kool-Aid from Pastor Jim
The friendship and the love we share
With earthy charms and worldly cares.

Disguised as if it will not harm
Is sin that sets off no alarm
Dressed not with red pitch fork in hand
But dressed to please the eye of man

Why do we drink it down with ease?
Are we that blinded by a need to please?
Driven to satisfy, to seek our own will,
We believe the lies that it won’t kill.

Sugar coated or dark desperation
Sin brings death and a separation
It defiantly kills, it aims to destroy
Its purpose, its goal, to steal our joy

So check your glass and train your hearts
He who deceives, who shoots his darts
Will find his pleasure in all that is lost
Will laugh at what our choices cost.

Death has no sting! Christ died for the lost.
The victory is ours! Over sin by the cross.
Be not deceived, give deception no ground!
For we who are free should never live bound!


cjb

Holiness will be my gain

Why do I hold on so tightly?
To the perishable and tangible
To the things that pass away?
I’m distracted by the visible

Give me eyes to see.

Give me eyes to see your face
To know you more each day
That this may be-- my reality
My focus, come what may

Give me more of Thee.

Teach me to walk with you
Immerse me in your Spirit
Hearing the heartbeat of my Lord
Finding my pace within it.

Draw me closer Lord, I pray.

My efforts are not in vain
Empower me to follow through
Your holiness will be my gain
When I let go of ALL… but YOU.


cjb

Advocate

This past week I had an advocate.

My advocate went with me into a meeting and sat next to me.
My advocate knew my rights and spoke up on my behalf to defend those rights. When those who were opposing my best interest spoke half truths to me, hoping to deceive me, my advocate jumped in and exposed the erroneous information.
My advocate enabled me to speak up with confidence.

I was somewhat like a small dog on a leash. I could bark and defend because I knew I was not alone. It didn’t matter how big the other dog was, as long as I was on the leash. If the advocate had left me on my own, I would have cowered before the bigger dog.

I left that meeting thinking of the advocate we have in Christ Jesus.
He is always with me.
He defends me and knows my rights as a child of the King.
He exposes half truths and deception so that I will not be deceived.
He enables me to speak up with confidence before man and at the throne of God.
As long as I am bound to Him, I can “do all things” and even witness the fall of the enemy before me. It doesn’t matter how big the problem is, when we have one who intercedes on our behalf.

He does not restrain me with a leash but with His undying, passionate love.


1 John 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (KJV)

Hebrews 7:24-25 “…because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (NIV)

Romans 8: 26-27 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.” (NIV)

Intercede for me Lord!
Be my advocate
Come before my
doubts and fears
Put them all to rest.

Intercede for me Lord!
Be my advocate
Deception comes
Distorted truths
Stand up in my defense.

Intercede for me Lord!
Build my confidence
So I may conquer every foe
Then claim your righteousness.

cjb

We think no one knows

We think no one knows
We think no one sees
But these are the lies
That trap you and me

He who made eyes,
He who made ears
Can see all we do
And Oh! He hears!

He reads our minds
He knows our hearts,
Deceit is not in him
He’s pure from the start.

Do we think He’s silent,
So we can sin more?
No! He weeps, standing,
At our heart’s door.

Repent?
Who needs that!?
It’s such an old word.
What have we done?
What have you heard?

Judge me no more
I’m better than most!
These are the words,
Some dark hearts boast

Pray for a breakthrough!
Do more than coast!
Bring on conviction
Dear Holy Ghost!

cjb

unusual request

Has God ever asked you to do something unusual?
I’ve been thinking about God asking the Israelites to walk in silence around the wall of Jericho. It’s an unusual request, an odd plan for bringing down a city.
What about Ruth risking her reputation and lying at the feet of Boaz? Strange advice! Advice given by her mother-in- law but blessed by the Lord.
Think about Moses being told to go to the Pharaoh and ask for the freedom of the Israelites, Noah being asked to prepare for rain when rain had never been seen before and the list goes on.
Even the cross is considered foolishness to those who are perishing. God took the most despised and shameful way of death to glorify His Son.
So I am thinking if this is how our God works, if He has been known in the past to make unusual request of his people to accomplish His will here on Earth, than shouldn’t we expect him to ask unusual things of us?
Has God ever asked you to take a step of faith that seemed to the human eye crazy or at the very least…unusual?

Happy New Year!

How do I enter this New Year?
Living for my Lord.
Never leave me or forsake me.
Every day is yours.

How will I know success?
Living for my Lord.
Nothing will deter me
Endurance is the word.

Hope is ours in Christ.
Living just for Him.
Noble thoughts surrendered
Endearing love begins

Help me Lord, to be like you
Living day by day
Noting all your blessings
Encouraging on the way.


In an attempt to break free from my writer’s block, I wrote this poem by beginning each line with the first letter from my daughter’s names in the order of their births.

Heather
Lydia
Natasha
Emma

Four girls, four verses! :)

Not overly inspiring and forced but I figure writing something is better than writing nothing.

Have a Happy New Year!

Writer's block

Ever have writer's block???

Official Nativity Story Birth of Jesus Christ New Christmas Movie Trailers Keisha Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac, Ciaran Hinds

The Nativity Story upcoming new Christmas movie trailers about Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus Christ with Keisha Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac, Ciaran Hinds, Alexander Siddig, and Shohreh Aghdashloo. We went to see this with the corps. I really enjoyed it.

Let it be Sung

Jack Johnson

" You gotta touch the bottom before you can come back up..."

Isaiah 59:19-20

From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord,
and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.
For he will come like a pent-up flood
that the breath of the Lord drives along.*

“The Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”
declares the Lord.

Footnotes:59:19 Or When the enemy comes in like a flood

Battles in the garden

Battles in the garden.
Healing the ear of Malchus


A word from the Lord
Spoken, uttered
A double edged sword
Piercing and healing
The Living word……

Sword of the Spirit,
Let me not,

Use you in haste.
As Peter in the garden

Of Gethsemane.
His intention

Was to protect,

To defend Jesus.
But Jesus healed,

The one wounded

By Peter’s sword.
“No more of this!” Jesus said
He touched the man’s ear

and healed him.

In haste Lord,
Your word is used like
A sword from our mouths
Our intentions vary:
Defending our Lord,
Rebuking someone,

Without love or in haste.
People’s ears are cut off!
Cut off or now deaf
Because of a sword
Quickly drawn.

Lord, come!

Heal again!
Heal our ears!

Heal their ears!
So that we may hear you
So that we may know you
So that we may experience

The miracle of being whole,

Restored.
Heal those wounded

by our swords.

A sword in the heart,
A word wisely spoken,
Spoken in love,

Can still hurt.
Can still pierce the soul.
Yet, healing comes,
When the word of the Lord
Is used with skill and care.
By a warrior who is fighting
The Lord’s battle,

Not his own.

Lord,
How often is our zeal misplaced?
How often do we wound instead of heal?
How often are our intentions pure?
Only to see the look in our your eyes..
As Peter did in the garden that night.
We’ve missed the point again.

Thank you Lord,
For forgiving.

Forgiving our mistakes,
Our haste.
Thank you Lord,
For healing.
For healing the ear of Malchus.

cjb

Luke 22:36-38, 47-51, John 18:10-11

Dwelling

Streams in the Desert
by L.B. Cowman

Part of the devotional thought for November 30th:
( yes, sigh...I know it's December)

"The Savior endured an especially difficult test in the wilderness while in the presence of Satan for forty days and nights, His human nature was weakened by the need for food and rest. The three Hebrew young men were kept for a time in the flames of "the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual" ( Dan. 3:19). In spite of being forced to endure the tyrant's last method of torture, they remained calm and composed as they waited for their time of deliverance to come. And after surviving an entire night sitting among the lions, "when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God."
They were able to endure in the presence of their enemies because they dwelt in the presence of their God. (The bold is mine-This is my favorite part!!)

Jumping board

For those of you who like to use this site for a "jumping board" to other sites, have I got good news for you!
I've added some more sites to the link list!
Some long lost friends and some new friends who I know you will enjoy meeting.
If you are not on the link list and want to be for whatever reason, drop me a note and I'll see what I can do! ;)
I actually use Bloglines to save time but for those of you who don't I welcome the traffic
Have fun.

Carole

Bookends

Anyone see any resemblance??

Heather at the age of 4 in 1996
(1st child)

Emma at the age of 4 in 2006
(Last child)

Pretty sad when the Mother’s eyes

need to adjust to know which child she is looking at in the photo!!
For those of you who don’t know; in-between these bookends

are two more beautiful blonde Bate girls!

Music worth listening to!

Download this, it's free and it's all for God's glory!

now available online @ any of the following websites:

www.phillaeger.com

www.saytunes.com/bands/phillaeger

www.myspace.com/laeger

www.purevolume.com/phillaeger

Transformation

Picture is of a butterfly in Georgia. Taken while my brother and his wife were visiting my parents.

My friend Mhairi mailed us a butterfly kit.


I have to say; watching these caterpillars with my girls has caused many interesting reactions.
The first phase when these tiny worm like creatures arrived was kind of gross.
They live in the little bottle with food on the bottom. They do everything in this bottle and eat the food or yellow muck off the ground. Over several days these tiny worms grow fat and hairy. We had five of them in our jar. The bigger they got the more they pooped and ate from the yellow muck the more I wanted to gag.
Then the day came when each of them made their way to the top of the jar and attached themselves there. They hung themselves upside down, each finding a spot. Hours later they were in cocoons. These hard like shells seemed to appear out of no where and we waited and waited. We checked every morning. Mhairi came over twice and was afraid that they had died…Why was it taking them so long? Why were the cocoons turning black? As we were searching the internet for the answers to these questions, one of the girls noticed our first butterfly had emerged. As it came out of the cocoon, it splattered red blood like liquid all over the pavilion. When it opened its wings it was a beautiful orange painted butterfly. It no longer looked like a worm or ate like a worm. Now, instead of the yellow muck on the bottom of the jar, we were instructed to feed them sugar water, flowers and fruit.
I think I understand transformation. I mean anyone who is old enough to remember me before Christ would think I understood the power of transformation! Yet, watching God’s own illustration of transformation through these little creatures was mind boggling.
Words like “I am nothing but a worm” or “He rescued me from the miry clay!” kept coming into my mind as I watched them.
How about the red liquid that comes out from the cocoon as the butterfly is set free into a new life? “I am washed in the blood!”
Then to see them now flying, beautiful and eating only sweet things…
Reminded me again that there is a land of milk and honey waiting for us.
Philippians 3:20-21 “ Our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body!”
Truth be told….I haven’t even got a clue about transformation! My experience and my understanding is more like the yellow muck on the bottom of the dish.
1 Corinthians 13:12 “for now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
All five butterflies are alive! They all have experienced the transformation that God has planned for them. They each have survived the cocoon phase.
Do they sense the change? Do they feel or understand what has happened to them? Do they remember what they once were?
Do they marvel at what they have become?
Four little girls, their Mom and Mhairi….stand in awe!
We marvel at the work of God, in our lives and in His creation.

My God is so Big

My thoughts are like a drop in the ocean
Your thoughts are deeper than then the oceans depth
My knowledge is nothing more than a firefly in August
Your knowledge shines brightly beyond our galaxy
My wisdom is a brief moment, a breath in time
Your wisdom is all eternity
How do you share your self with me?
It’s like filling up a cracked jar.
You are always pouring in
to overflowing
And I leak.
Never able to contain enough
Never able to get enough
Yet, always full.
You graciously flow
Never ending
Living water
Into
My Life.

How
Does someone
So small,
Contain
Such
A
Big God?
How is it
That You
Can live
In
Me?


cjb

Swinging

I have a confession....I like to swing. Before anyone gets the wrong idea let me explain!
Swings are my favorite thing at the playground. As a kid, I would try and swing high enough to go over the bar. I did always have a little fear in the back of my mind that I would fly over the bar. But, those who competed against me would be sure to win if they were gutsy enough to push just that little bit more.
I have pushed my kids on swings hearing them shout "higher Mommy!" and I remember as a child making the same demands. To swing high enough to touch the leaf of a tree, tag a branch or even reach the clouds. It's an awesome feeling to swing at night too, especially if the sky is dark and the stars bright.
I guess I imagine myself flying but what I enjoy most about swinging now is that child like feeling of freedom, excitement and the possibility of actually reaching the stars.
So if you ever see me swinging....shake your head and walk on by with all your thoughts of growing up or come and swing with me...
Yes....I still make snow angels too! (and sometimes with the kids);)

Sitting next to Moses

Being in three airports these past few days has made me think of all the airport stories I have never written down. Not stories I have heard but my own stories.
I was sitting in the Newark before boarding the plane and had some time to people watch when all of a sudden I thought to myself; who am I going to be sitting next to? Will I be between the two Harley biker guys who sat across from me in the lobby? One of them had a black leather vest on and his arms were bare except for the tattoos that covered every inch of skin like a shirt. His friend wasn’t as colorful but seemed a bit shadier in his eyes. I imagined me sitting in the middle seat between them. I looked around; it’s Newark so almost every nationality was represented. I ended up sitting with a Hasidic Jew on my right and a Russian behind me.
This situation made me think of another time when we were flying to Colorado to visit my brother. The whole family was with me and in our experience they always sit the children as close to the back of the plane as possible. We had the last row on both sides up against the bathrooms. This didn’t concern me because with little kids sitting near the bathroom can be a big help. I got three of my kids comfortable, seated and settled. We survived the standard fight over who gets to sit near the window. (This was between our two middle girls) I sat with the baby on my lap. (Emma was 18 months at the time) Across the aisle Alastair sat between our oldest and a poor single man who looked alarmed at his seating arrangements. Everyone was seated on the plane when the airline Stewardess came to us and said we needed to change our seats. I was so annoyed. The baby’s bag was under the seat, all toys and activity books had already been taken out, sippy cups were an arm reach away and I wondered if they had any clue how long it took us to settle. I was not moving! So I said “I have 2 children in this small space and a baby on my lap…I’m not moving.” To which she said “well, either the people on the right of this aisle need to move or the left…someone needs to move.” I looked across at Alastair, the stranger and Heather then said calmly to the stewardess, “Move them.”
So, up they got with all their things and they moved closer to the front of the plane. I felt victorious…I protected my little spot. Next thing I know, I see Alastair stop in the aisle…he lets three men squeezed past him, Alastair catches my eye and looks at me with a mischievous grin. I look back at him “what?” I reply with my eyes and he laughs…almost out loud. Then I saw what amused him so greatly!
Coming down the aisle towards us were three men. The first was a little white balding man with a briefcase handcuffed to his arm. He sat across from us, in the window seat. Next, came a man dressed in orange jumpsuit with shackles on his feet and handcuffs on his hands. He scooted into the middle seat. The third man was the biggest man I had ever seen. Bald, African American, strong man who barely fit into his aisle seat. Alastair now sitting in his new seat (up front) is straining to watch my reaction….grinning the whole time. I process the situation and realize they are transporting a convict who obviously needs these two other men as well as chains. The only thing separating him from me and my little wide eyed, overly interested girls was a small aisle and the big guy. I later learned that the big, strong guy’s name was Moses. The name seemed to fit him.
So, I humbly sat in my protected little spot that I fought so hard to keep. Thinking of all the movies I have seen where they transport convicts. I just prayed he didn’t have to go to the bathroom for the whole trip. (They always find a way out in the bathroom….at least in the movies I’ve seen.) :)
I never figured out who the convict was or his story but I spent most of the trip trying to answer the girls’ questions. We got off the plane and all had a good laugh at mommy trying to keep her “special seat”.
Mostly, it was Alastair laughing! ;)
We all arrived safely and yes, he did go to the restroom. Moses stood out side the door the whole time.
Guess they won’t make a movie out of this one!

Stop the merry-go-round I want off!

We are moving house this week. The moving truck came yesterday. The house is just down a couple streets from where we live. We are moving for more living space. Pray for us please!
Now, I have two messy houses, 4 kids with lots of school work, one hairy dog and a partridge in a pear tree! (That's me getting ready for the kettle season which is sneaking up quickly behind us.)
If I mentioned all that has happened this week you would want off the merry-go-round too!
Houses, family, corps activities, plumber (don’t ask!) and the irony of it all is I am teaching at continuing education next week. The title of my class? Juggling 101. It's about balancing life and ministry. Hmmm. It always gets this crazy before I teach this class. Anyone thinking what I am thinking??
Prayers for sanity would be welcomed!

Happy Birthday Heather

Cell Phone Photo by Heather

14 years ago today, I became someone, I became a mother.
Heather made sure that I was afraid from the very start. Seconds after they placed her in my arms she turned her head and stared into my soul. She was probably focusing her eyes to this new light but knowing her now…I think my gut reaction was right. She looked into my eyes as if to say…”Ok, Let me get a good look at you, are you capable of this…So, huh?! You’re my mother!”, “Let, me put a face to that voice I’ve been hearing and just so you know, I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”
Each of her sisters entered this world with their own first looks at life but Heather seemed to be keenly observant and full of questions from the start.
She makes me so proud and she has grown into such a discerning, beautiful and talented young woman.

Photo by Heather

I can’t believe I am old enough for this and the adventure is just beginning… so they tell me! ;)

Living up to your name

My friend Mhairi looked up the meaning of names recently for a devotional. You know….God calls us, knows us by our names and He will give us a new name.
She found a lot of the names meanings on this site.
In our Bible study in Daniel we have studied about how the king changed the names of the young Hebrew men to represent his gods. Later, in the story we see how they all live up to their God given names.
So I went and looked up my name which I have always heard means “song” or “hymn” and that is what it says at first…
But then it also says my name was originally a masculine name (oh, well!) but I followed the link anyway to find....
That my name was derived from Carolus …so I looked that up.
Carolus is a Latin form of Charles…so I followed that link.
This is what I found:

CHARLES
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English, French
Pronounced: CHAHR-ulz (English), SHARL (French) [key]
From the Germanic name Karl, which was derived from a Germanic word which meant "man". However, an alternative theory states that the name is derived from the common Germanic element heri meaning "army, warrior".

I always thought it kind of ironic that my name would mean “hymn” or “song” since I could never really sing or even read music.
But, I really like the alternative theory of my name’s original meaning!
“Army, Warrior” now that actually means something to me. It’s a name I would like to live up to!
What does your name mean?
Are you living up to it?

What I do instead of watching TV

John Singer Sargent

The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit,

(1882, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)

School projects all due within the same week:

• 8th grade book report model (must show effort)
• 8th grade Animal cell compared to an airport model (must be creative)
• 4th grade book report on display board (due on the same day as the Solar System mobile)
• 4th grade Solar System mobile ( must use foam balls)

My short stay at The Boston Museum of Fine Arts Institute is finally paying off!

Beauty is fleeting

In our Bible study we have been looking at the book of Daniel. In the study Beth Moore suggest that we should think of Babylon not as a place but as a mindset. The best of the best were taken into captivity to Babylon and in the 1 Chapter they define the “best” in verses 3- 4,
“Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility- 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.”
So today, similar to a Babylonian world mindset, those who are exalted over others, those the world seems to choose are:

Those of good social status and wealth
The young (stay young forever- or at least try and look young forever!)
The Physically fit
The intelligent
The well informed
Those who are quick to “catch on”

I woke up this morning and looked at the silly, harmless “My celebrity profile” that I uploaded last night. Don’t get me wrong…it was fun and amusing. But as I thought about it in comparison to my Bible Study, I was challenged. If I look at it in light of what I have been studying in the Word of God, like my friend Crafty Lady (who is also in the same Bible study) I find myself looking at things differently.
I, in no way want anyone to feel guilt ridden over trying out the celebrity look a-like profile. That is not really what this is about. But it did challenge me this morning to ask myself…What is this all about? Other than a mindless, waste of time that amused me and caught my attention for awhile, what is it about? Why did it amuse me? Why did it catch my attention?

What do you think?? Am I taking this too far?
I’m hearing Proverbs 31:30 in my inner ear as I type this.
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

I must confess, I not only did my own celebrity profile but also my husbands, all four of my children, and Bernie and Marty cause they happened to be in a photo with me! The results were interesting to say the least, one of them came up looking like Ozzy Osborn and I won't tell you which one. :)

My Celebrity Look-alikes

I blame this silliness on on Caryn! LOL!

Not very deep, but addictive. :)

Go to My Heritage for your own

Comedy night was great!

For a Slide show of a few of the highlights you need to go to Caryn's Ficker!

Some highlights from the evening:

• We had 100 in attendance.
• We had Great fun with our own funny guys and Christine.
• The Funny and lovable Major Bob Green was with us and his famous side kick... Commissioner Knaggs made an apperance via a video greeting from down under. This was a crowd pleaser and his lovely wife said hello too!
• Major Phil who's face was on the poster, was very funny with his song about eating everything.
• Also, one of the songs Gavin sang was the Veggie Tale song, " You are my Cheeseburger"
• We raised money and all had a good laugh!

Ordinary days

photo of water worn rocks

Ordinary days, small moments
Water slowly dripping on a rock.
Waves ebbing and crashing across the coastline.
Rocks becoming soft stones after days and years
Of being passed over, washed, covered and exposed
Now smooth because of the persistence of
Flowing, active, living water.
Deserts carved with canyons.
Because of the cleansing flow of the stream
That moves the dirt along and makes a way
To something bigger, deeper and

more powerful than itself
Carving and pressing through the hardest stone

Persistence makes a way

like water confronted with a hard place.
It will find a crack to go through,
Or it will rise and flow over
Or it will divide and

move around the hard place.
Leaving everything it touches,

everything in its path
Different…
Softer, wider, smooth to touch

or washed away completely
Every day, every choice

leaves an impression and takes us somewhere
Carving our lives and the lives of those around us.
The small persistent dripping days,
Can influence and change us more subtly over time
Yet, with the same power of a tsunami moment.

The Spirit moves…
Flowing, active, Living Water
From the very throne room of God.
Change my heart Lord,
No longer a heart of stone.
Soften and smooth away the rough edges of my life
Carve the way and make me like your Living Water
Flowing, active, persistent and always
Moving toward something bigger than myself
Not letting the hard places discourage or stop me
But persistently moving forward
Even on the dripping,

ordinary days.


cjb

Photo from Dave's Gallery

Pray for The OTHER Guy . . .

I

You may or may not have heard, that Cory Lidle, NY Yankee pitcher, died yesterday in a plane crash. It was a sad moment for Cory and his family and I would encourage you to keep them in your prayers.
However, at the same time, there was another man on the plane. The media never mentions his name and always calls him "The Other Guy" or "Another Passenger" or "Another Man".
The truth of the matter is, whether you are a famous baseball player or not, one deserves the same support and prayer as anyone else.

Visit this site

and pray for Tyler's family, the "other guy"

who died in the recent plane crash with Cory Lidle .

Shameless Advertising

This coming Saturday at 6:30 pm our corps is having a Comedy Night.
This is not some camp skit night……This is SERIOUS!

Check out the link for more information,

if you are in the area come on over

and

have a good laugh with us.

All are welcome..it won't cost you too much. :)

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Proverbs 17:22

(New International Version) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Autumn

Fall comes with autumn breezes.
It is cool, crisp, brisk.
Darkness is on its way...
A winter sleep,
A stillness,
A certain kind of death.

The leaves on the trees change and fall...
Dying with colors that brighten the grayest skies.
They die gracefully,
Drifting to the earth,
Covering the ground,
Leaving the tree bare until spring.
Seasons are short.
My life is like one of those leaves.

Lord,
No matter how short the season is...
May I die with colors
That are brilliant like the autumn trees.
May my death, my death to self,
Brighten the grayness of ordinary moments and days.

May I die to self, gracefully.
Gently dancing in the currents of Your Spirit
Like the leaf slowly falling,
Lifting, twirling,
Carried by the current of the wind.
Touching the earth and
Covering it with small,
Short seasoned sacrifices
For Your glory.

cjb - 1999