From Upsidedownbee

Cry :: don't do it enough

Stretch :: what I do not do before I exercise

Efficient :: often times is not as fun

Brunch :: second b'fast

Afro :: What I wore during a great Halloween in my past

Preheat :: 400 then put the pizzas in the oven

Delicious :: my homemade apple sauce

Global warming :: a crock

Actions :: Love in motion

Ride :: back and forth to school

Time Will Tell!

My official report on the meeting is that it was positive, a good start. I am relieved in many ways and hopeful for the future. Time will tell!

Thank you for praying and don't stop! There is much at stake.

Indelible Grace Hymn: "The Lord Will Provide"

Matthew Smith sings a Hymn on the Album "All I Owe" called "The Lord will Provide". Click here to listen to it.

Here are the Lyrics:

Though troubles assail and dangers affright, 
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite; 
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide, 
The scripture assures us, the Lord will provide.

The birds without barn or storehouse are fed, 
From them let us learn to trust for our bread: 
His saints, what is fitting, shall ne'er he denied, 
So long as it's written, the Lord will provide. 

We may, like the ships, by tempest be tossed 
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost. 
Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide, 
The promise engages, the Lord will provide. 

His call we obey like Abram of old, 
Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold; 
For though we are strangers we have a good Guide, 
And trust in all dangers, the Lord will provide. 

When Satan appears to stop up our path, 
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith; 
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried, 
This heart-cheering promise, the Lord will provide. 

He tells us we're weak, our hope is in vain, 
The good that we seek, we ne'er shall obtain, 
But when such suggestions our spirits have plied, 
This answers all questions- the Lord will provide. 

No strength of our own, or goodness we claim, 
Yet since we have known the Savior's great name; 
In this our strong tower for safety we hide, 
The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide. 

When life sinks apace and death is in view, 
This word of his grace shall comfort us through: 
No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side, 
We hope to die shouting, the Lord will provide. 

©2006 Detuned Radio Music. Words by John Newton, Music by Matthew S. Smith

A great encouragement today!

Long Awaited Meeting

Tomorrow I meet with a portion of the elders from my former church. Don't know how it will work out since we have not been face to face for 6 months. We are meeting in a neutral location, Ellerbe. So pray for all concerned. Those that are there and those who chose not to attend. But most of all pray for the glory of God in the process.

This picture that I took reminds me that with God there is order and beauty, grace and hope, thorns and blooms - we can learn from the all!

God is On Our Side- From the McKenzies

God has really been looking after us since we arrived in Columbia. We have found a wonderful church where we are beginning to feel at home. ( check out the website at www.growingthroughfaith.com ) We have met a wonderful older couple who have just taken us under their wings.
Michael is loving school. He always has so much to talk about when he gets home of all the wonderful things he is learning. He doesn't have a negative thing to say about his professors. Keep him in prayer while he has to make this transition into school mode again. He is taking Greek 1, Old Testament 1, and Foundations of Spiritual Development. I have been falling asleep to funny sounding Greek words.
I am putting some pictures of our new very small apartment. We have been blessed here! We have a lake pretty much in our backyard, with a 1 mile trail around, which we have worn in quite well. We have everything we have ever needed around here in walking distance. We have definitely been getting our exercise because it is easier to walk places than drive.
Please keep up in your prayers as I am still looking for a job, but I know God will provide.
Miss you all. Here is our new address: 112 Paces Brook Ave. Apt 11215 Columbia, SC 29212

Valley of Vision Prayer for this Week

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Father of Mercies, Hear me for Jesus' sake. I am sinful even in my closest walk with thee; it is of thy mercy I died not long ago; Thy grace has given me in the cross by which thou hast reconciled thyself to me and me to thee, drawing me by thy great love, reckoning me as innocent in Christ though guilty in myself.

Giver of all graces, I look to thee for strength to maintain them in me, for it is hard to practise what I believe. Strengthen me against temptations. My heart is an unexhausted fountain of sin, a river of corruption since childhood days, flowing on in every pattern of behaviour; Thou hast disarmed me of the means in which I trusted, and I have no strength but in thee.

Thou alone canst hold back my evil ways, but without thy grace to sustain me I fall. Satan's darts quickly inflame me, and the shield that should quench them easily drops from my hand: Empower me against his wiles and assaults. Keep me sensible of my weakness, and of my dependence upon thy strength. Let every trial teach me more of thy peace, more of thy love.

Thy Holy Spirit is given to increase thy graces, and I cannot preserve or improve them unless he works continually in me. May he confirm my trust in thy promised help, and let me walk humbly in dependence upon thee, for Jesus' sake.

Valley of Vision is a collection of Puritian Prayers

Margaret Moving Out, Moving In

Thursday through Saturday we moved Margaret into Covenant College, Lookout Mt. Georgia. A mixture of emotions for her and the rest of the family. It doesn't get easier with the third one!

She has been planning for it for months but it seemed that it took her an 

extremely long time to pack. She seemed to put it off and then touch everything

 over and over again.

Her are a few pictures:

You will see that the doem room is about 8 feet wide. Thankfully her roommate Annie had already put her stuff in the roo

m. They will both learn how o compromis

e before it is all over - they were both nervous. I am eager to find out how

 her first few days went.

Her address is:

Margaret Cross

Covenant College

Box 520

14049 Scenic Highway

Lookout Mtn. GA 30750

Send her a love package - she loves 

mail!

We are BACK!

We planned and paid for this trip over a year ago with my older brother, long before we knew we would go through 6+ months of real turmoil - it was a relaxing time a way!

We have come home to a busy schedule. Our Jr. in High School starts in the morning at a new school. Thursday we leave for Covenant College to take another daughter. Our son is already at Wingate and our married daughter and her husband are in Columbia and he has started seminary - WOW!

I am way behind on my reading and every thing else - but today was a profitable day as I called churches and send e-mails raising support for the Church Plant: Advent Presbyterian.

Here are just a few of our pictures!

UP TO ALASKA

Today, Lynn and I had to go to Southern Pines to pick up a passport out of the safety deposit box so Lynn could go to Alaska with me. A year ago we planned and paid fo this vacation with my oldest brother and his dear wife to spend a couple of days in our favorite city of Vancouver, BC and then take a cruise up the coast. This was way before unexpected events happened that turned our lives upside down. But God has a way of moving and getting us where he wants us!

That was also evident today as we went by the hospital in Columbia, SC to visit an adopted Mom, Edna Lou Poole. We wanted to surprize her and we did - but if we had been 10 minutes later we would have missed her. God is good, all the time and at the right time. I black minister friend of mine says, "God has missed a lot of opportunties to be on my time schedule!" I am glad we are on HIS timetable.

So Lynn and are all packed - her suitcases are heavier because of all her books! 

I do not know if we will have internet on the ship but I will try to post some pictures of us in long sleaves for all of you in this 100 degree heat! Can't wait to see a whale, glacier and go salmon fishing!

Oliver's Triathalon Result

29th overall and 5th in his age group.

RESULTS

Great Day, Friday August 1

Today has been a great day except for the pain from the dentist that I still have in my mouth.

I went to Steele Creek, the area of Charlotte that we intend on planting a new church, met with Tim Taylor and a potential core group member who is considering moving to the area as a direct result of this church. He already works there.So he can be "green" by saving gas and be instrumental is the salvation of many! 

Tim and I then went to eat at Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q, a restaurant chain out of my native B'ham, Alabama. 

Real BBQ

 I love NC but have appreciated what they call BBQ here. When I was first serve NC BBQ in Lexington, NC with a ice cream scoop I honestly asked if this was BBQ. So today was a touch of down south tomato based home and in many ways I am begining to feel like I am going home - to a home God is fashioning for my family. Not in Birmingham but Steele Creek/Charlotte. The road there still has some significant obstacles: house selling, raising enough funds to move there, schooling issues for Karen and Rebekah .... But Steele Creek will be and is becoming home. Even Lynn and a dear friend went there this week while I was in the dentist chair and enjoyed house shopping. We are in not position to buy anything - but you understand, Lynn is ready to be there too!

After lunch, I could not eat it all and am learning not to try, we went to the Steele Creek library and had an extended staff meeting/work session/planning for the future and sweet prayer time! God even provided a conference room that allowed us privacy to pray, space to get our MAC's side by side and air conditioning to get out of the 100% humidity.

After returning home Rebekah just gave me a wonderful "fashion show" of all her new clothes for school. The 7th grade at South Stanly Middle School better watch out! The scary thing was Rebekah said because of the "no tax" weekend she and her Mom saved $400. I hope she exagerated!

Karen and Margaret are going to the beach today to have fun with some friends, Katie and Michael are on their way here, Oliver is coming home on Sunday night from his ministry time in Virginia Beach. So you have a glimpse of Cross Happenings!

Let me encourage you to read Psalm 37, it ministered to my soul today.