Lifelong Friends

I have to say - I am blessed beyond measure! I have so many dear and wonderful friends literally around the world and they ALL mean so much to me! However, I truly believe that throughout our lifetime - there are only a very few that you KNOW will be there forever - like talking til you are old and gray forever! For us - Dani and Tony Vaughn and their four children are THOSE type of friends....I know I have blogged before about Dani and how she was the answer to a prayer I prayed for 15 YEARS!!!! Seriously - I prayed not just for a "girl" friend but I prayed for a friend that would understand and grasp the ins and outs of life in ministry, someone I could TRULY open up to and be honest with...

Dani GETS it because she grew up in it, married a man who grew up in it, and is STILL involved very much in ministry life!!! God blessed the Arrington family BIG when He brought us the Vaughns!!!! Not only do Dani and I click, ok we are more like two of a kind of the same mold BUT bigger still - our husbands are good friends too!!!! Better still....our kids ADORE each other, and us as adults too!!!

While in Colorado over Thanksgiving, Joel and I were able to go bowling with Dani and Tony Saturday night and then our two families along with another family very dear to us went out to lunch Sunday after church - LOVED it!!! With 6 adults, 1 college student, 2 high schoolers, 2 jr high schoolers, 4 elementary schoolers, and 3 preschoolers - it was loud, chaotic and FABULOUS!!!!! Thankful for the oneness we shared - the fact that it literally felt like we had just been gone a week or so instead of 4 months!!!!

Both Joel and I look forward to many more times of Vaughn/Arrington chaos!!! LOL.

A Day of GIVING!!!

This past Friday was perhaps the BEST day I have had in a really really long time!!! There were many things that needed to be done at home: laundry, cleaning, packing, typing an appraisal, garage, etc. There were some things I really wanted to do: read, watch a movie, scrapbook, etc. Yet, there was a few things that I KNEW God wanted me to do!!!

LIVING WATER MINISTRIES

One of the local ministries that our church supports is called Living Water Ministries. It is a benevolence ministry that reaches out to those in our community who are in need of food, clothes, finances and most importantly JESUS!!! Each Friday, Living Water passes out bags of groceries to about 100 to 120 families in the Borger area - it is truly an amazing operation!!! Since moving here, I have wanted to go on a Friday and volunteer but it has seemed like life had a way of just getting in the way; however this Friday, I was DETERMINED that God wanted me there to help with the Thanksgiving distribution!! At the beginning, I helped with crowd control at the door - then later, I became a CART PUSHER!!!

I can't tell you how much fun I had visiting with the people as I helped them get the groceries for their Thanksgiving meal to their cars. They were truly precious beyond words!!!

After I finished at Living Water, the world would say that this mom needed to get home and get to all those things listed above - yet once again I KNEW God had a different plan!! Our Sunday School class had decided to have an Operation Christmas Child packing party with the goal of packing 100 boxes - this in addition to the boxes that had already been donated by individual families. The packing party was to be Friday night and although I couldn't go to that due to taking a certain 12 yr old to the movie for her birthday - I wanted to help get the last minute items they needed to complete the boxes! We are limited in stores here in Borger so Joel and I headed off to Pampa for bouncy balls (had already scoured Borger for them), toothpaste, and more shoe boxes.

The end result - our Sunday School Class packed an additional 128 boxes making a GRAND TOTAL OF 211 boxes for Operation Christmas Child!!!

We loved including the kids of ALL ages!!!

The end result!

While in Pampa, I was also able to do some additional shopping for a special little girl! A couple in our Sunday School class who doesn't have children of their own, had the opportunity to welcome their neice (who has been in CPS for several years) to their home on a permanent basis. So, just as we would do with ANY new parents, we threw them a shower - only for a 7 yr old instead of new born!!! I just love shopping for girls!!!

The result of my Friday - a VERY MERRY HEART!!! I had a wonderful day of just GIVING to others...I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING in the world!!! There is no amount of money, no vacation, no shopping trip, no big house, no nice car that compares to the joy of giving of yourself for others!!!

My most favorite time of year!!!

I have to admit...I LOVE when November comes because to me November means one thing - IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS! Ha ha! Now, I know there are those that say "one holiday at a time" and don't rush over Thanksgiving...NO WAY! Thanksgiving in a lot of ways is just a pre-lim to Christmas. I get to reflect on all the MANY blessings that God has given me as I look toward celebrating the GREATEST blessing of all - JESUS!

However, another thing that I love about November and December is simply this: FAMILY. I grew up celebrating the holidays with extended family and love it!!! I love the house full of people, kids laughing and running through the house, the smell of yummy pies and goodies, playing games all day, the men watching football, etc - I absolutely love every part of it...I ESPECIALLY like that my mom and I have this wonderful agreement: She cooks and I clean up! Ha ha!

In light of all this - only 14 days til we leave to Colorado for THANKSGIVING!!! Can't wait!!! I am looking forward to:

* Games with my parents

* Soaking in the Hot Tub out in the snow (I hope)

* Relaxing with my hubby

* Playing outside with the kids

* Hanging out with some of our best friends the Vaughns

* Sleeping in

*Watching Tyler help Grandad with the Turkey

* Waking up to a fire in the fireplace

* BEING WITH FAMILY!

Beauty from Ashes

November 3, 1994:

Hard to believe that day was 17 years ago - a day that would forever change my life in so many ways. It started like any other day in the life of a college student, I got up and began to get ready for class...first class of the day was English...Ugh!

Entered the class with all my classmates and professor started teaching (ummm no can't remember the exact lesson - ha ha!) About half way through the class my brother-in-law Scott showed up at the door and called the teacher over - "Odd, but oh well" I thought. Until, they called me out of class and told me to take all my stuff with me. "This is not good..."

I remember Scott not really saying much except that there was a family emergency and they would tell me more at their apartment. Honestly I remember thinking that one of my Grandparents must have passed away - I could not have been more wrong....

Upon arriving at the apartment - I found my sister Michelle in tears and she just grabbed me. Scott then told me the words I will never forget "Ronnie - Sherri has died." Honestly, I remember only bits and pieces of those next few hours. I know I cried with Michelle, I know that my friends were there so quickly and I remember that Joel was there and he was so incredibly amazing through it all!

I do remember my friends Rachel and Sharon walking me back to my dorm room so that I could begin packing to go home to Colorado. I remember just going through the motions - so thankful they were there or who knows what I would have packed! Ha ha!

Even in the midst of our tragedy and sorrow - God is so good. The same day that was possibly the WORST day of my life - God in His wisdom orchestrated some important events that would also make it one of the BEST days of my life. Joel and I had been dating about 9 months - although we both had thought about marriage, it certainly wasn't something that we had talked about seriously. Joel had called his parents and let them know that my sister had passed away and that he was considering going to Colorado with me for the funeral and to just be there. His parents in no uncertain terms told him that they weren't in favor or supportive of this decision (granted I totally understand their thinking).

Joel made a decision that I will FOREVER remember - HE CHOSE ME! Joel chose to be there for me that day, he decided to miss classes and support me, he chose to be a solid rock for me. Not only did Joel go with me to Colorado - HE DROVE ME THERE! I don't know how to describe how much that meant to me. He decided to take me in his own car on an eight hour trip when I was an emotional wreck and shocked - HE CHOSE ME! Michelle and Scott took their car and Joel and I went in his.

In the middle of this tragic day - I knew one thing...Joel loved me enough to go against his parents and several friends and go with me to Colorado when my world was in turmoil. I knew that THIS was a man I wanted , no needed, to spend the rest of my life with - this was the man I would marry!

Yes, November 3, 1994 will for always be the day that my big sister Sherri went to be with Jesus; it will also forever be the day that I knew Joel was the man I would marry...

Each year on November 3 I take time to remember. I remember Sherri and how much I miss her and loved her. I remember the fun times, the happy times and even some of the hard times...This year I am choosing to remember that our God is SO amazing that he is able to make beauty from ashes. In the midst of my loss - God decided to show me what I had gained!

Note:

Many who are reading this may not have known that I lost a sister. Sherri was 23 when she went to be with Jesus. She had suffered from frequent migraines that would often keep her awake at night and sometimes caused her to pass out. This particular night, she had spent the night at some friend's home. She was sitting at the table late after not being able to sleep do to a migraine and passed out. When she fell, she fell between a door and a piece of furniture and sufficated- because of the fact that she didn't fall far, no one heard her fall - thus she wasn't found until the next morning. There is no definite medical reason for the migraines or her death - Jesus was just ready for her to come home to Him. For more about Sherri - feel free to read my Novemeber 2010 blog "Remembering Her".

Spirit Wind

Ezekiel stared down into the valley
Filled with dry bones baking in the sun
Remains that used to be a mighty army
To him, it looked like the fighting days were done

But driven by a calling on his life
He spoke God's words, the bones began to shake
He stared wide-eyed as the flesh began to form
And as he prophesied to the wind
The soldiers began to wake

And the Lord sent His wind into the valley
And breathed the breath of life into their souls
And raised them again a mighty army
For soon these arisen warriors will battle again
For they have been filled with the Spirit Wind

Woah, woah, woah...

A pastor stands before his congregation
Once a mighty army for the Lord
But now he stares into the lifeless eyes
Believers leading carnal lives
He wonders what they're fighting for

But driven by a calling on his life
He spoke God's word like he'd done a hundred times before
But this time he comes broken and weeping
With tears of a broken heart
And he cries out to the Lord

Oh Lord, send Your wind into this valley
And breathe the breath of life into their souls
And raise them again a mighty army
For soon these arisen warriors will battle again
For they have been filled with the Spirit Wind

Woah, woah, woah...

Holy Spirit, breathe on me
Breathe Your life in me
[x4]

Oh Lord, send Your wind into this valley
And breathe the breath of life into our souls
And raise us again a mighty army
For soon these arisen warriors will battle again
For we have been filled with the Spirit Wind

Woah, woah, woah...

Oh Lord, we need You now
Breathe Your life into us
Lord, we need You now
Our churches and our families
Oh Lord, we need You now
Breathe life into this dry and weary land
Raise us up again

This is an INCREDIBLE song and has been the topic of many conversations around our home the last few weeks. It has been so fun to see my oldest, Hannah, really get into this CD and particularly this song. The kids only vaguely remembered the story of the dry bones so it was fun to rediscover it!

Unfortunately, we can relate to the Pastor in this song. There have been some churches that we have served in and we could remember when they were FILLED with life and now they are dead like the dry bones. Wait! What am talking about? I CAN REMEMBER being filled with life and then all of the sudden realizing I am walking around like dry bones, dead!

In fact, it wasn't that long ago that I found myself in this exact spot. DRIED up! This past time - I was so dry that I really wasn't sure where "The Water" was. I was searching for Him and I couldn't seem to find Him...until, ONE DAY! I was literally weeping and crying out for new life to come over me - "God, if you are there, if you are listening, if you care - THEN BREATHE on me and restore LIFE to my body." Immediately, I turned a curve - I began to sense Jesus was there in the room with me, I felt renewed, and restored. No, I wasn't bouncing and energetic - but the LIFE began to come back into me and I could feel HIM there breathing on me once again.
All this happened in my life - before I heard this song, before I went to the Casting Crowns concert....God is so awesome like that!

When I heard this song - I wept because I knew that here was a song that not only described a church (confession: yes, I have a few specific ones in mind) but more importantly it described my own personal journey and the struggle I had in feeling the "Spirit Wind"....

Praise Jesus though! HE IS THE WELL~

City on a Hill

Ok, so here is the next Casting Crowns song that has really hit us hard.

Did you hear of the city on the hill?Said one old man to the other
It once shined bright and it would be shining still
But they all started turning on each other
You see, the poets thought the dancers were shallow
And the soldiers thought the poets were weak
And the elders saw the young ones as foolish
And the rich man never heard the poor man speak
And one by one, they ran away
With their made up minds, to leave it all behind
And the light began to fade, in the city on the hill
The city on the hill Each one thought that they knew better
That they were different by design
Instead of standing strong together
They let their differences divide
And one by one, they ran away
With their made up minds, to leave it all behind
And the light began to fade, in the city on the hill
The city on the hill And the world is searching still
But it was the rhythm of the dancers
That gave the poets life It was the spirit of the poets
That gave the soldiers strength to fight
It was the fire of the young ones
It was the wisdom of the old
It was the story of the poor man
That needed to be toldIt is the rhythm of the dancers
That gives the poets life
It is the spirit of the poets
That gives the soldiers strength to fight
It is the fire of the young ones
It is the wisdom of the old
It is the story of the poor man
That's needing to be toldOne by one, we'll be running away
With our made up minds to leave it all behind
As the light begins to fade, in the city on the hill
The city on the hillOne by one, we'll be running away
With our made up minds, to leave it all behind
As the light begins to fade, in the city on the hill
The city on the hillCome home
And the Father's calling still
Come homeTo the city on the hill
Come home

Having been in ministry for the past 16 years - it is heartbreaking to say that we have seen this scenerio in every ministry we have served in whether a church or other form of ministry. One group thinks that they have the answers, another thinks they know a better way, and so it goes on and on. There is so much disension, discord, and disunity within the church that the light of Jesus is dimmed by our arguing, complaining, finger pointing, etc that the World is searching for the real Jesus! Where is the love that is unconditional? Where is the church that is working toward unity and oneness? It has allowed the light to fade...

Now, I am going to probably step on some toes here but none more than my own. When I hear songs like this one it is SO easy to say "Exactly! That's what the problem is in our church" or "Wow, I know of a few people that need to listen to this song - then THEY would get a clue" but, here is the truth - when we are confronted or convicted about sin, we need to look AT OURSELVES first! What part of the problem belongs to us and better yet WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT? You see, songs like this aren't written for us to keep pointing the finger - they are written to show us where we are wrong and guide us to truth and restoration.

For me, this song has convicted me to no longer have ANY part of the complaining, finger pointing, judging, etc that has taken place within the church. I don't want to be the source of people going different ways and ultimately turning the world away - I want to be a part of the solution that values EACH AND EVERY member of the body because I know that they are all a part of God's plan for the church and we can't function unless all parts are working together....

Will YOU join me?

Casting Crowns - Come to the Well CD

I love worship music, I love contemporary Christian music and most of the time when I am down or distant from the Lord it is a song on the radio or CD that will pick me up and put my focus back on Jesus My King...

Among my favorite groups are Casting Crowns! I just think they are amazing - not necessarily because of their musical talent (although that is awesome) but more so because there is a clear and concise message in their songs that I can apply to my life in a very real and direct way; their newest CD - Come to the Well is no different, in fact I think it is the most powerful album yet. Over the next few days - I am going to share some of the lyrics to a few of the songs on the album that have really ministered or spoke to me throughout the last several days and weeks. So - bare with me, I will get back to the news of Arrington life, but I am sure you will find that intertwined in the lyrics of these beautiful songs - is a Mighty God speaking to a "regular mom" (thanks Nicole Cotts for that wording) about how He is involved in all the big and little things of my life and how He has it all in His hands!

With that, I am going to kick off with the song "Already there". By the way, if you haven't heard the songs you can find them all on You Tube along with Mark Hall of Casting Crowns sharing the story behind the songs - it's powerful!

"Already There"

From where I'm standing
Lord, it's so hard for me to see
Where this is going
And where You're leading me
I wish I knew how
All my fears and all my questions
Are gonna play out
In a world I can't control

Woah...Woah

When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
'Cause You're already there
You're already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You're already there
You're already there

Woah, Woah, Woah, Woah

From where You're standing
Lord, You see a grand design
That You imagined
When You breathed me into life
And all the chaos
Comes together in Your hands
Like a masterpiece
Of Your picture perfect plan

When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
'Cause You're already there
You're already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You're already there
You're already there

One day I'll stand before You
And look back on the life I've lived
I can't wait to enjoy the view
And see how all the pieces fit (2x)

One day I'll stand before You
And look back on the life I've lived
'Cause You're already there
You're already there
When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
'Cause You're already there
You're already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You're already there
You're already there...

You are already there

I listened to this song one day and I thought - so pretty...little did I know that just the past two weeks the Lord would bring this song to mind in a time where I was scared and uncertain and then again later when I was helping my oldest daughter rely on God.

About a week ago, I had a LONG overdue routine physical, one of those things that gets put off year after year when you don't have health insurance until you do, anyway I was very nervous in general terms just because it had been literally 10 years since I had gone for a physical. I praise the Lord for His protection of my health by the way because I have been blessed to be overall pretty healthy. Anyway, at the appointment the Dr. stated that she felt something "unusual" but not a lump and was recommending me for a mammogram - THAT DAY! What? I was just going for a routine physical - nothing was supposed to be wrong!!! I have several friends my age or younger that are facing cancer - so this was the first thing that came to my mind and I was terrified. A few hours later, after I had the mammogram I was laying in the exam room waiting on the Dr to come and discuss the results - I was scared, nervous, and really feeling alone (Joel was in the waiting room but had not come back with me). As I lay there, I started to cry. Why Lord? Why couldn't this be back in Colorado where I have my Mom with me? Where we have a strong support group? Why now? With tears coming down my face - the words spoke to my heart "Your already there" God was whispering to me "Ronnie, I already knew this was coming, I know the outcome, and I know the timing, it's okay" I can't describe to you the peace that came over me at that moment...I immediately was calm, collected and at peace. The Dr then came in and said the best words I could ever hear "Everything looks fine, your mammogram is normal and nothing to be concerned about - see you at 40!"
Isn't God so good? He was there before I knew I would be there!

Fast forward a few days, we are preparing for our annual Fall Festival, the previous week's Dr appointment is out of my mind. I get a call from the Doctor's office - your pap smear came back abnormal and you need to see a specialist for further testing. Again, fear, nervousness, anxiety, etc creep into my mind. What??? Lord, I thought I had crossed this bridge, we were past this, why is it coming up again? I get in my car, turn it on and this song is playing on the CD...oh how quickly I forget! He is ALREADY THERE! He knows the issues, He knows the outcome, He knows....and I just need to trust Him. I don't know the results or the outcome - I have another appointment next Thursday with an OBGYN to see what the problem is and yes the enemy still tries to make me nervous, but I am claiming this song - Your Already there - He sees the why, the when, the how, the where and He has it all under control.

Another a day or so passes - we realize that Hannah has official "try-outs" for basketball. She is nervous, we are nervous - small school districts don't necessarily cut Freshmen off the Freshman team but larger ones do...We get the prayer warriors going, we encourage her, pray for and with her...Wednesday night comes - Hannah has been cut from the team and will be the manager. Seriously God? Why? My honest attitude was "Lord, why can't SOMETHING go right for our family right now?" Again, this song comes to my mind. "From where I am standing it's hard to see where this is going....but Your already there." God already knows what lies ahead, what is around the next bend. He knows the future He has in mind for Hannah and He has it ALL UNDER CONTROL... By the way, Hannah had a GREAT attitude about it and was a fine example to her mom of how to just take what God gives and trust Him!

These are the "big" things that we have faced the past few weeks but there have been several other little things that piled together have been challenging to say the least - Yet, I can honestly say I have a peace that God is already there, He knows the big picture and I can hold his hand and trust Him to guide me through it! Satan tries to play mind games with me on a daily basis and I have to fight that...My Mom suggested on the day I was scared about going to a specialist that I read Psalm 91. It's SO POWERFUL! If you are facing uncertainty, insecurity, doubt, fear, failure, etc - read this Psalm and claim it for your life!

I do appreciate prayers for the upcoming Doctor's appointment, not something that I really talk about much with people but God calls us to pray for one another. So, if you think of it - say a prayer for the doctor to discern what, if anything, is the problem and for both Joel and I to have a peace that passes all understanding about it!