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

What makes God smile?

Yesterday, my 4 year old got into our minivan after pre-school. I buckled her into her car seat, shut the side door, climbed into the driver seat and as the engine started Emma said “Can we listen to my favorite song?” I agreed and put the music on. (This has become our ritual.)

She begins by humming the intro and then singing the words with all her might. When she gets to the following words she is at full volume: “I surrender my dreams to the plans you have for me, Thank you for showing me the emptiness of all I held onto…I surrender my all, I surrender my everything to you.” (Keeping in tune and up to pace for the most part!)
The first time I heard her singing these words, I smiled and thought ….she has no idea the depth of what she is singing. Immediately, God said to my heart “Who really does?”
I tried to record her sweet little voice to share it with all of you but I am not technically savvy enough.
I am however savvy enough to know that the sound of her little voice singing those words with such passion makes God happy. I can sense Him smiling with me.
This ritual never ceases to bless me and I pray that as she gets older, the words will always ring true in her heart.

My heart was in that jar

I broke my alabaster jar
At the feet of Jesus
The fragrance of my offering
Filled the room.

My tears mixed with rich perfume,
Poured out upon His feet.
I wept and bowed
in gratitude.

My heart
Was in that jar
All my hopes
All my dreams
My future was sealed
In my small vessel
My offering

Broken and poured out
I freely worshiped
Broken and poured out
By my own hands.
Driven by the Holy Spirit’s
Prompting.
Giving all,
To the Son of Man.

My heart
Was in that jar
All my hopes.
All my dreams
My future was sealed
In my small vessel,
My offering

Only One is worthy,
Only One is Holy,
He gave His all for me.
Sacrificial living,
At the feet of Jesus.
Broken,
yet freely offered
To the One who set me free!

My heart
Was in that jar
All of my hopes.
And all my dreams
My future was sealed
In that small vessel.
My offering

cjb

Transparency

He sees right through me,
I’m transparent.
There is nothing
I 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

Women's camp in New Jersey 2006

I just returned from women’s camp at Camp Tecumseh. It rained on Friday and most of Saturday but Sunday’s weather was beautiful.
More importantly the Spirit was moving at women’s camp. He moved in the worship songs, he moved in the prayers of the women, he moved in the testimonies and the sermons.
In one of our moments of worship, I had a vision of all of us standing before the cross worshiping. A thought came to me…here we all stand, women of different languages, different cultures, different social backgrounds, different generations and we are all standing together worshiping one Savior.
In that moment, I was moved by the thought that it was women who were the last to leave the cross and the first at the tomb. I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I was now worshipping with women who represent those same women of the cross and the tomb. Women, who have been set free from demons in their past and who’ve been healed by His touch. Women, who have been forgiven by Jesus, even when others were ready to “cast the first stone”. We all stood together before him.
As the music continued my vision moved from the cross to the empty tomb. I was blessed to be standing amongst them, to be standing in a crowd of women who truly poured out their hearts before God this weekend. Their praises were like a broken alabaster jar at the feet of Jesus. The sweetness of His presence in the room pushed the dark clouds away and opened the blue skies above us.

Mhairi, Carole and Karen

Mhairi, Carole and Karen
Originally uploaded by Browneyedgirl2006.

Rally day for the Montclair corps was last Saturday.
We had a great day at Star Lake.
For a slideshow of the day click on...RALLY DAY 2006!

The Battle Cry

Joan of Ark
Standing, staring
Hearing, knowing
There is a battle cry!

Mother Teresa
Kneeling, bending
Serving, praying
There is a battle cry!

Amy Carmichael
Protecting, paying
Loving, saving
There is a battle cry!

Catherine Booth
Preaching, teaching
Leading, speaking
There is a battle cry!

What do you hear?
The battle cry goes on!
What is he calling you to?
The work he’d have you do?

Hearing, knowing?
Serving, praying?
Loving, saving?
Leading, speaking?

There is a battle cry!
Women of God arise!
There is a battle cry!
Arise!
Oh, Warrior of God
Arise!

cjb

Our Slideshow of Russia

Click on Our SlideShow to see our pictures!

Back from Russia

We are back- we are safe- we are blessed!
This trip to Russia was one of the highlights of our lives. I will try and get a slide show up and running on this site soon. Our girls start school tomorrow, so life is busy today.
Once we have processed it all, I am sure there will be stories to share.
Blessings and grace,
Carole Jeanne