2013 Year in Review

As I have been looking back over 2013 I am AMAZED at what God has allowed us to accomplish as we have worked together for His glory.  Below are those things that I have come up with but I bet you can add to the list!

·        We filmed 24 introduction/comedy segments at Anita Renfro’s home.

 

·        We taught Be Amazing to about 300 ladies at a retreat held at Calloway Garden.

 

·        Ms. Miller worked with us for four months to administer our database.

 

·        We filmed twenty-four testimonies for Be Amazing.

 

·        We filmed 24 segments of Be Amazing in four days at Buchholz’s home.

 

·        We completed the translation of all eleven of The Amazing Collection workbooks into Chinese.

 

·        The Spanish edition of The Pentateuch was printed and shipped to warehouse.

   

·        We filmed several skits for the temperaments.

 

·        The Be Amazing Workbook was completed and 2500 copies printed.

 

·        Hired Traci Martin to handle the social media and technology development as well as addressing all web and technology issues.

 

·        The Pentateuch was completed in the French language.

 

·        CNLTV in Russian picked up the Be Amazing Study for broadcasting. They will translate all DVDs into both the Russian and Ukraine language.

 

·        The barn was completed giving us more than 400 square feet of usable heated storage space.

 

·        We have boxed, packed, shipped, assembled and shrink-wrapped:

               5706 DVDs

               24,006 workbooks

               39 CDs

·        Greatly upgraded the fulfillment center with new packing tables.

 

·        Upgraded telephone system from one handset to five handsets.

 

And through it all, I think we have brought glory to God and have aided thousands in better understanding the Word of God and now also their roles as Christian women.

 

All I can say to you all is “Well done good and faithful servant.”

I appreciate you more than words can say.

 

Love and hugs

Pat

 

 

A God-Fashioned Barn Raisin'

A God-Fashioned Barn Raisin'

The call came from Rosemary our warehouse manager. “We have no more room in the warehouse!” This was not good news as we were expecting a large shipment of workbooks and DVDs for our new Bible Study, “Be Amazing!” At that point I had no idea what we would do but as always God had gone before us and He had a plan.

The following weekend, I was at a large home improvement store with my Beloved and there in the parking lot was a series of “barns” in different sizes. A sign nailed to the side of the largest structure announced “Barn Sale”. So of course I was intrigued and after we had spent some time looking at all of them I was convinced this was what Big Dream needed to fix the storage problem.

Later that evening, Beloved and I discussed the situation and we decided the price was right and so we ordered one of the larger ones to be delivered and built on our property within the following month.  But during that month other expenses emerged. We would need a permit from the city. We would need architectural drawings (who knew!) in order to get the permit. We would need cement posts drilled into the ground and a cement block “foundation”. Before we knew it an additional $1500 had been added to the mix. It was now veering out of our price range.

The following week my car was totaled. No one was hurt but all thoughts of a barn evaporated now that we needed to buy a car. So Beloved called the store and canceled the order. And then what can only be called a “God-incident” occurred.  The store called back and said they would pay for the permit and drawings and foundation. Now this is unheard of and so usual we thought God might be up to something. And He was…far more that we could have ever dreamed. That afternoon, one of our ministry donors called. “I have been praying for the ministry and felt like the Lord was telling me that you have a financial need! I would like to help!” 

And because of a faithful friend of the ministry and a faithful God who provides abundantly more than we could ever hope or think we now have a barn. The last nail will go in this afternoon and it is perfect! In His great kindness He has once again met all of our needs!  To Him be the glory!

One Road Trip Never to be Forgotten

Undone

We were heading back from Ludington, Michigan last month and traveling along a fairly deserted four lane highway divided by a large medium.  A pickup truck pulling a large camper-trailer was in front of us.  As Beloved began to pull up along the left-hand side of the camper in order to pass, the camper began to sway a little bit. Beloved quickly slowed down leaving space between the two vehicles as we watched the camper sway more and more.  And then in a split-second, the camper pulled the truck off the road and both violently flipped over and over as if they were just plastic toys.  The camper blew apart coming totally undone, clothes, flooring, aluminum, sink, table, and bedding  flying in every direction as if a bomb had just exploded inside of it.  The truck finally came to a stop on the other side of the medium and the sight was terrifying.  The top of the truck was squashed in and the sides and front were bashed.  Smoke rose from the front hood and out of the driver’s side broken window hung a bloody arm. From a small opening a head protruded, soaked in blood. Nothing moved. Beloved bolted from the car and I grabbed the cell phone and dialed 911.  I quickly left instructions… “send fire trucks, ambulances, police and jaws of life as soon as you can get here.”

As I was leaping out of the car I heard a scream that did not stop. Running across the medium from our side of the road was a hysterical woman. Beloved grabbed her and held on as she continued screaming and crying, garbled words that began to paint a picture. Her husband was in the truck. She had been in the car just ahead of him.

By now a couple of other cars had stopped and we saw that the man in the truck was able to talk a little. A fire extinguisher was retrieved from one of the cars. Someone found a piece of aluminum from the camper and held it up to shield sun from the trapped man. And I just hung on to the sobbing and terrified woman.

As from instinct I began to pray with all of my heart, soul and mind. “Save him! Save him!” were all the words that came forth.  At that time another car stopped and a young woman came running to the scene. “I am a doctor,” she said. And then a man came by my side and quietly asked if we could pray. We held hands, my other arm securely around the crying woman, and we prayed together. We asked the Lord to rescue the man and save him from injury. We asked that the lady would be comforted. We asked that the rescue crew would arrive soon. And then he walked away

The entire rescue crew had arrived within twenty-five minutes, the jaws-of-life being the last and most critical to get to the scene.  The team of ten first responders worked for at least twenty-five minutes trying to free the entrapped man.  Finally the door was cut off and the roof disengaged. Ten arms carefully pulled him from the wreckage and loaded him into the awaiting ambulance.  The woman went with one of the policemen and we continued our travels, shaken and yet thankful for all of the people who had been there to help. We continued to pray throughout the day for the family not knowing for sure if the man had survived or not.

The next morning I called the Shelby Sheriff’s department and inquired about the man.  “Oh he is just fine!”, the officer said, “They are all just fine!”

I wish I had the eyes of Elisha who could see the armies of heaven gathered around.  I would like to see what was REALLY going on during that whole time, I mean what was going on in heaven, and what were the spiritual forces taking place on earth. How did a man survive such a horrific ordeal with no permanent damage? Was it just blind luck or were there angels protecting him for some reason?  And what part does prayer play in such a case, any part or perhaps all parts? Were we there for such a time as this? I do not know the answer to these questions, but I do ponder.  And yet in it all we both feel like we witnessed a miracle and are more grateful than words can say for the power of God to save a man.

2 Kings 6: 17

Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord I pray open his eyes that he might see. And the Lord opened the servants eyes and he saw and behold the mountain was full of horses and the chariots of fire all around.”

 

 

Big Love

Big Love

Lily, my eleven year old granddaughter, sent me a text message last night. It included a piece of art she had created. It was lovely and so for the next five minutes, we texted back and forth. The conversation went like this:

Lily: Hi Mimi, this is Lily I made this (picture was included)

Me: How did you do this?  It is beautiful!

Lily: There is an app were you take a picture and you get to write on it and put stuff all over it.

Me: WOW! You are Princess Lily, the creative royalty!

Lily: Thanks QM (Queen Mother) you are amazing!

Me: I love you more bunches than you can imagine.

Lily: I love u too QM!

Me: But I love you more….always!

Lily: And I know you do!

Me: Good night Sweet Girl

Lily: Good night QM!

Did you notice those words “And I know you do!” When I read those I was simply over come with her absolute assurance of it all.  SHE KNOWS her QM loves her. And she KNOWs her QM loves her better than she could ever love me. She is absolutely confident in that love and she knows it will be there for always.

I am reading John Piper’s wonderful book “What Jesus Demands of the World”.  Jesus really does command us to abide in His love.  It has a staying power, that we are to stay, continue in, be in the love of Christ.  It is a radical idea for an adult although I do believe children grasp it better than we older ones do.  Of course one of the reasons He calls us to such a dramatic, life changing command is so that His love will pour though us not only back to Him but on to others. And in so many ways all throughout Scripture He is saying “I love you better.” Nothing proves this more than the cross, nothing. And yet as I truly delight in the fact that Lily knows I love her best,  I so often find God calling me to understand that He really DOES love me best, far more than I could ever love Him or anyone else. Paul says it well:

“Who can separate us from the love of Christ? … For I am convinced  that neither death, nor life, nor angels,  nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 8: 35, 38-9

 

Who’s the Boss

“You are not the boss of me!” I heard those words some months ago coming from the mouth of a small child who was having a temper tantrum. She was saying this to her mother…who really WAS the boss of her! Since then I have heard those words used often usually in jest and yet I find them sobering and thought provoking. Who IS the boss of me?

Jenna, my oldest daughter, stopped by recently with her two boys, Colter (age 11) and Eli (age 8). Eli asked his mom if he could have a Pepsi, knowing that Mimi always has them in her refrigerator. The answer was “no”. Then Colter, thinking he might have more influence, being the older, asked the same question. Again Jenna said “no”. Then he turned to me and asked if perhaps he could PLEASE have a Pepsi. I replied that his mother had said no and so I must abide with her decision. “But” he replied, “YOU are the boss of her!!” I had to laugh. Colter did not realize that as a parent, I had given up my “boss” role when his mother stepped out on her own and indeed the day will come when he will no longer look to mom to be the boss of him.

But who is the boss? For all of you Christians I know you will immediately respond that, of course, it is Jesus Christ. But I can look at my life and see there were times when I boldly said to the Creator of the universe “You aren’t the boss of me!” My feelings were hurt and I wanted to stay mad. Jesus said, “Pat, I want you to forgive”. And though I would NEVER voice my thoughts out loud, I do by my actions. “You aren’t the boss of me!” And as ridiculous as it seemed to me listening to a small child tell her mother “you aren’t the boss..’, it is far more ridiculous to hear an adult (me) say those words to the all powerful, all present, all knowing and yes all merciful and loving GOD”.

One thing I have learned is that I am NOT a good “boss of me”. I want to stay mad and not forgive. So who gets hurt? Me! I want to spend more money than I have. Who gets hurt? Me. I want to use people and love things instead of using things and loving people and who gets hurt? You know the answer. I want to take and not give, talk and not listen, sit and not serve, play and not work and all of that leads to a place I really do not want to be. No, one thing is for sure…I am not a good “boss of me”.

But then there IS a good boss, no, He is the best Boss. He calls Himself the Good Shepherd. A shepherd leads and guides and protects and provides. Above all He can be trusted because He is truth personified. And in so many ways He calls to us, “Let Me be the Boss of you. I will lead you to green pastures; I will lead you beside still waters. I will give you rest and peace and if you will but listen and obey, I will give you abundant life. Let Me be the Boss of you.”

Is life not working for you? Perhaps you just might need a new “Boss of you”.

Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

Flat Tires and Faithful Service

It is not that I get excited about Camp Mimi each year but I do start planning three months in advance! This year an added benefit was having Sydney (the oldest) take the role of Junior Camp Counselor. She is thirteen and a whiz on the computer and full of more creative ideas than I have had in my entire life. It was going to be a great camp!

But on Monday, Colter was imitating Evil Knieivel on his bike and crashed, thus requiring nine stitches. Tuesday, Syd got new braces (ouch) and then that evening I was rear-ended on the expressway thus totaling my car and stressing my back. Camp was to begin the next day at 8:00 AM.

When I went to the rental car dealer at 8:00 on Wednesday I decided to ask for a car that held 7 passengers. I got one that held nine…a huge luxury extended-cab Suburban (truck!) with every bell and whistle imaginable!! It was the perfect way to travel with five children! So I picked the kids up and we took off for Rock City in Chattanooga. Three hours later, full of great memories we headed for Lake Lanier and our “home” for the next three days. As we were coming across the mountains of North Georgia, on back roads far from what appeared to me civilization, I had a flat tire. I mean FLAT! The lights that came on first said “tire low” and then immediately the car began shaking and making an incredibly loud noise. So what does a girl do in that situation? She prays like crazy and keeps on moving. About a mile down the road we found a Marathon Station. I must say I was greatly relieved, so I pulled in, thanking God all the way. I called the AAA number for that area but got no answer. I went back to the car to try to decide what to do next and there standing by the car was an older gentleman. He was thin and had on work clothes. He hardly said a word, but just climbed under the car, then came out again and lifted the hood and then asked for the car manual.

After reading for a couple of minutes, he got busy. We helped him empty the back of the car that was full of fishing poles, suitcases, bags and boxes and backpacks. He found the tire jack compartment crawled back under the car and for the next forty-five minutes worked in virtual silence, although the kids and I kept thanking him.

Now when I took Drivers Ed in high school (yes, they DID have cars then) I was taught how to change a tire. It was not rocket science. But because of our great innovations and progress now it really DOES take a rocket scientist to change a tire! I simply marveled at the complexity of it all and also the persistence and endurance of the gentleman who pressed on to finish the job. It was back breaking, complicated and difficult. And yet he never showed signs of walking away but just kept on working.

At last the new tire was on, the old tire was in the back and all the bags and poles and suitcases were on top. As we were putting the last of the bags in, the man simply disappeared. I found him back in the gas station paying for some items and again thanked him and told him I did not have cash on me but would so like to send him money for his time, skill and expertise. His reply startled me. “It was the least I could do, Ma’am. No payment necessary.” And with that he walked away.

As I serve Christ, I so want to have that same attitude. When I serve others I want that same attitude. When I serve my family I want that same attitude. Because in essence, when I serve I am doing it in obedience and out of love for Christ and to Him I say, “No payment necessary. It is the least I can do”.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:16-18

Our “In Spite Of” God

It was a disappointment for sure. Our family looks forward all year to the Fourth of July. We belong to a small community of old trailers (like ours) and new homes that is called the Athen’s Boat Club. It sits on Lake Lanier and every Fourth of July we all celebrate big time. There is a fishing tournament for the kids. There is a golf cart parade and we all see how we can out-do each other by decorating our carts with the most crepe paper and American flags. We hang flags and banners on the cottage porches and pavilion. We feast on barbeque and beans, slaw, cornbread, pies and cakes together and then of course the day concludes with a massive fireworks display which is enjoyed from the myriad of boats. It is a big deal and a whole lot of fun.

The grandkids are old enough now to really take part, in fact take over. They come prepared with banners and hats and more flags and streamers for the cart. The Hughes clan came from Alabama two days early so they could help us “get ready” and enjoy some lake and boat time.

But then the weather forecast began to look ominous, and as the day drew closer we knew there was no way our traditional Fourth would take place. The rain began on Monday and it poured. Tuesday was the same. Wednesday there was a small break and so the Hughes and Harleys optimistically packed a picnic lunch and took off in the boat to explore the northern tip of Lake Lanier, some five miles away. As we approached our destination the temperature dropped significantly and then the rain hit us with great force. This was not your average rain, but gale force torrents. We flew home as fast as the boat could go and arrived drenched and freezing.

The Cavins joined us for an early breakfast on the morning of the Fourth. This year Sydney (age 13) had her outfit picked out four weeks in advance and had designed each granddaughter’s hair style for the parade, so she arrived with her curling iron in hand. All the boys brought their fishing poles and plenty of fishing gear. But then news spread that the parade was canceled and there would be no fishing tournament that day. So we watched the rain. Then we ate barbeque in the rain (some things just have to go on no matter what!). And then we spent the afternoon running outside when there was a break and running inside when the rain started up again. And then the fireworks were canceled. No, nothing was the same and I was so disappointed.

Later that evening when the day was over, the Cavins packed up their clan to drive back to their home and beds. It was at this point that Sydney wrapped her arms around me and said, “You know Mimi, it wasn’t what we expected but in spite of the rain it was a fabulous day!”

I have thought about those three small words since then. These past few weeks we have had to proof the twenty- four teaching DVDs for the new Be Amazing Bible Study and Practical Guide. There is not one teacher who is satisfied with her presentation. Oh, it is not just that we don’t like our hair or shoes, or the way we stand or sit. No, we can often be disappointed in ourselves or when things are not what we expected, nor as perfect as we wished. Each one of us is critical of our own work. But then there are those three words…“in spite of”… and they make all the difference.

So in spite of our weakness, in spite of our imperfections, in spite of our lack of ability, in spite of our clothes or looks or demeanor or inflections, or gestures…in spite of …there is GOD! And we have found through filming The Amazing Collection and Invincible Love/Invisible War, that God can use our small efforts “in spite of” all that may disappoint us in ways that we could not have imagined. He can take those small loaves and can multiply them for His glory and His glory alone...“in spite of”!

Matthew 14:17 “We have here only five loaves and two fishes.”

Matthew 14:20 “And they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces,

twelve full baskets.”