Scraps to Scrumptious

I have two friends who are avid quilters ----their dedication, their joy, and their skill delights me. As I was driving through Kentucky on the road to Iowa, I noticed a sign for the National Quilt Museum. I stopped to pay homage on behalf of my friends.
I once wrote about the Guilt Quilt I owned, wrapping myself in it and snuggling in the warmth of blame and shame. It had bits and pieces of bad decisions, sinful actions, missed opportunities - each contributing their own square. It took me years to understand Jesus came to trade my GuiltQuilt for His righteousness--- I no longer cowered beneath the enemy's recriminations for I was free.
Even though I don't quilt, I thoroughly appreciate the artistry and the love. The colorful patterns reflect the craftsmanship, creativity, and perseverace of the creator. I am so thankful His Righteousness is a cover of many colors, many blessings, and many rejoicings. I am thankful for Janet and Sue who are keeping this treasured handicraft alive and will pass their work down for generations. I am thankful His love endures forever and I am forever released to walk in His freedom.

Hey, Mom ---It's Cold

Will Horch is 5 weeks old and already working on his frequent flyer account with Delta. While Dad Jeff worked on his sermon, Mom Anne and I took the boys to the mall in Davenport,IA.

Life has been full for this dear little boy... he has come into a world full of movement. He takes it all in stride. What stories we will be able to tell him.

Old Man River

Sunrise through the fog on the Mississippi River is a grand experience. The Great River Road goes from Minnesota to Louisiana....American highway afficionados know this as the GRR ---a road with a roar.This is mile 497 according to the marker.
During this week I traveled beside the old man, crossed it back and forth, and remained reverent. This is a river of substance!
As I drove through river towns, I envisioned Mark Twain and his journeys. Growing up in Cincinnati on another fine river, I was used to seeing the Delta Queen docked on the Ohio. This lovely paddle boat ignited my desire to amble from headwaters to the mouth and the Mississippi delta. A friend from St. Paul, MN. tells me at the very genesis of the Mississippi you can cross it by foot. To imagine this magnificent riverway could ever be a quiet, almost trickle of a stream is unthinkable.
The signs on the road constantly reminded me I was on the GRR. I gave some thought to that word "great" as I passed along this delightful, intriguing byway. My mind wandered to the songs referring to our God as great.....and to His attributes. I hummed Great Are You, Lord and Great Is Thy Faithfulness. No matter how great that old man river is or the road clinging to its shoreline, it will never live up to the greatness of our God. I love that!

Jack the candidate's son

A little boy won the hearts of the congregation at EFree/Clinton. After running around the fellowship hall for an hour, his sweaty little head showed how much he enjoyed himself.

Jeff the candidate

Jeff is a candidate for the role of Associate Pastor at the Evangelical Free Church of Clinton, IA. He preached Sunday morning (powerfully, I must add) and attended the Sunday evening Thanksgiving service and fellowship dinner. I grabbed the senior pastor (Tom Loyola) and asked for a picture with Jeff. Tom is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and pastored there for years. He and his wife Sue Anne graciously and warmly hosted Jeff, Anne, Jack, and Will. It was such a blessing to be there with them as they experienced the love of Jesus through the people at EFree/Clinton.

He went "that-a-way"!

Clinton, IA. has a Children's Discovery Center ---- good thing to do on a chilly Friday when Mom, Dad, and brother Will were busy at a "get to know you" lunch.

Jack directs his world with his finger.....he absolutely manages everything and everyone through the masterful use of his pointer digit.

Amazing what power resides in that little 19 month old appendage. Clearly he has me wrapped around that finger.

I was thinking about fingers and the Sistine Chapel came to mind.....with the finger of Adam and the finger of God nearly touching. What an image. Of course, I believe if any touching occurs it is because God reached to us, not the other way around. We can point and point but until He extends His hand of love, mercy, and salvation, we point in vain.

These Feet Were Made For Walking

Jack Horch and I are good buddies this week in Clinton, IA. His Dad (and my son) is candidating for an associate pastor's position. The whole family has traveled to the heartland (Mom Anne, Jack, and 5 week old brother Will). I am here to be Jack's playmate for the week. What fun! He is 18 months old and absolutely full of amazement in all life experiences.
Yesterday we took an afternoon walk so Mom Anne could rest a bit. With his hand in mind we headed out across the parking lot. The whole time he talked and talked and talked.....in Jack talk. He was so animated and brought such delight to all who heard.
It made me think about the old Maranatha praise song expressing the hope that God is pleased with all He hears from us. Oh, that my words, my thoughts, and my actions would bring such pleasure to my God as Jack's words do to me.
Scripture talks a lot about walking.....Jack teaches me the practical lessons.

Feed My Sheep

While driving through Ontario, Canada, this summer I visited a yarn shop. The proprietress had a row of little sheep created with hand-woven wool and knitted features. This little one begged me to take him along on the road trip.....its colors matched, and its little eyes spoke wordless volumes.
I have never hung fuzzy dice from my mirror --- I don't even put stickers on my bumper, but this little one just had to ride along! He is now a permanent feature on my dashboard (nicely matching the Texas inspection sticker).
The original intent was to remind me that as God's lamb "I am His and He is mine." But friend Bob Cavinder expanded the message. "Brenda, as you travel your job is to feed His sheep. Don't ever forget that."
So, as I go, I try to get my heart into help mode and look the little sheep straight in the eye asking "Okay, what is our job today? Who are we to encourage? Where are we to say a word for Jesus?"
Joy for the journey in the face of a Canadian sheep.

Sister Miles and Smiles

I am most blessed! Mary Helen Noland is my friend, my traveling companion, and my connection to Fred and Mary Alice Smith.....

Our September trip ended with lunch on a lake in East Texas...we hated to see the time end. Lord willing, there will be many more excursions, conversations, and adventures.

Little did we know when we were adversarially sharing a room all through growing up years we would share someday with joy. God is good.

Summer of the Sun

Ooops, didn't mean for the pic to be so prominent, but -----

This summer I got tan....didn't mean to, but walking and swimming are more easily done outside and I thoroughly enjoyed the brightness of the days.

It became an interesting experience. People asked me about my activities....often wondering if I was frittering my summer away by "tanning." Then, they asled if I intended to get tan rather than maintain my year round paleness. I don't know how you can get accidentally tan, but....

Of course, spiritual principles occurred to me. Tanning is not something that just happens...it takes attention and timing. It also takes regular activity. Tans don't stay (as I am in the "fading" phase) - they must be worked on continuously. Isn't spiritual growth the same way? We can't do Bible reading once a week in church and expect the Son to shine and His reflection to be seen day after day. I found myself grabbing a few minutes here and there (even stopping at a McDonald's outside table while traveling) to soak up 10 minutes of Vitamin D. Wouldn't it be great if we stopped during our busy days to read a few verses of scripture, or just visit with God?

Would people start to comment on our spiritual glow if we purposed to bask in his Sonshine? What if we designed activities that took us into His world and into His light?

I loved the summer of the tan and it will probably not be repeated for many summer seasons, but I enjoy much more the reminder that a purposeful, intentional plan to Son year 'round gives no wrinkles and feeds my soul.

Official Tabulation

100K!

I promised a good friend a bottle of champagne when her income hit 100K....I figured the Cruiser wouldn't mind if I just stopped and said thank you for traveling these miles in safety and good humor.

6:00 on 10-1-10 the odometer read 100,001 when I pulled off Interstate 20 in Pelahatchie,MS. YAY and thanks to God for this wonderful little car!

Sister Miles

When Mary Helen and I shared the same room at 8525 Given Road, Indian Hill, Ohio we fought constantly. The five years of difference (she is definitely the younger one) rubbed us raw. "I can't wait 'til you leave for college and this room is all mine!" I heard that often during my senior year. Now, I am in my senior years and we happily share miles of travel together - thanks to the generosity of her dear husband who gave her up for a week.

As you can see, our first stop was Nashville. All roads used to lead to Rome, but now they lead to middle Tennessee and Jack Horch.

How I love this little boy. Being a Gram to all my grandkids is probably one of God's richest blessings in my life. "He puts the lonely in families" says the Psalmist. When I hit lonely moments I think about these wonderful 6 grandchildren (soon to be 7) and praise God for His mighty gifts.

Mary Helen is the perfect traveling companion ---- we love the same food, have bladders the same size, and love to fall asleep with the TV tuned to HGTV. What more could I ask?

We talk about whatever is on our mind and what is in our heart.....doesn't get much better. It is so nice to be known by someone so deeply.

Blogger, Where Art Thou?

I am "on the road" and fully expected to faithfully write each night. But, no ---- didn't happen. Therefore, I am at the end of the trip and trying to sit down to organize some thoughts to share.

Lest you think it was an uneventful journey, worry not because it has been fruitful, filled with good food,, and special time with sister Mary Helen. More on that later.

Reminds me of God's faithfulness. Even when we don't hear His voice, He is thinking about us and constantly caring for us. It is terrific when we have one of those "I've just seen Jesus" moments, but more of life fits into the "trust Me --- I am here even when you don't hear" category.

What are you doing under there?

Howard Hendricks, known as "Prof" to generations of Dallas Seminarians, once responded to a student who started his explanation with "Well, under the circumstances" by saying, "Son, what are you doing under there?"
My blog is billed as writing about the travels and travails of my life journey. I find it much easier to snap a pic, post it, and then see the spiritual applications. That is sheer joy. It is much harder to face the travails.
But, what kind of tour guide only shows you the movie set side of life?
This has been a tough year.... it has been the Dickens' "the best of times and the worst of times."
My grandsons are all growing. They ache all over as their bodies stretch. I, too, am growing and I ache, as well.
Remember the old Andy Williams' song, "Where is this place called Lonely Street?" I have the answer ---- it is in East Texas on West Holly Trail. The peace sometimes leaves me in pieces. I don't miss LBJ traffic, but I miss the movement of people in my life buzzing back and forth.
However, Dr. Hendricks is right ---- these are circumstances and I have taken my eye off the ball --- taken my eye off Jesus. The enemy of my soul has done one of those sleight of hand tricks --- distracting me to lead me astray. I am not "under the circumstances;" I am under the blood of Christ. My happiness is not dependent on the happenings; my joy is dependent on freedom in Jesus.
So, every now and then I am going to open my heart's door and share the darker side of the journey ---- only because there is true light along this route. Probably won't have as many pics, but who knows ---- I may surprise myself --- and you!

Signs of Truth

"Expect delays" ------"Expect extended delays" ------"Delays ahead"

I saw all of these often on the trip. Each time it was because construction was ahead or because accidental destruction occurred. The warnings made me do a giant "Oh, no...." then try to figure out an alternative route (which usually ended up taking longer than waiting out the delay, by the way).
Okay, you are way ahead of me on this application, aren't you? Let's jump in and do it together...when God has us under construction or when we have run off the road creating spiritual destruction, we see the flashing sign -----"Expect delays!"
The journey to the Celestial City wasn't straight, nor easy for Christian in Pilgrim's Progress. I find it just as challenging. My paternal grandfather was named for John Bunyan and carried with him the vision of this great Puritan.
I, on the other hand, struggle with these delays and push to find ways around them. I am impatient and often grumble when my forward progress is deterred. But, you know something? Some of the greatest growth comes in those delays. He told me to expect them --- and sure enough, they are there. He told me sometimes they would be extended--- and sometimes they feel like they will never end.
But they do! I look back and see why I needed to slow down. I see dangerous places in the road, see roadblocks, and am grateful for the warnings.
God's principles pop up in the everyday --- what fun!

Miss June's House

"You'll be staying in Miss June's house." Having read The Miracle on Caney Creek I knew this was the residence of Miss June Buchanan, co-founder of Alice Lloyd College and namesake for the K-12 June Buchanan School on the campus.

"This is the closest I will ever come to staying in the Lincoln Bedroom" was my response.

What was I doing in this honored place?

I was there because my Dad made a difference in the lives of many and I was coming to Pippa Passes, KY. to carry on his legacy. A tad overwhelming.

In April, 2011, a team of men and women influenced by Dad will be coming to the campus to participate in a Fred Smith, Sr. Leadership Symposium. I came to meet with Dr. Jim Stepp, Executive Vice President and brother of President Joe Stepp. All this was heady enough, but sleeping in Miss June's bed touched me.

As I sat in the early morning hours preparing for the breakfast meeting, the anachronistic nature of the scene hit me. I was wirelessly online as I sat on her porch ready to talk about Breakfast With Fred. Their hearts were for mountain leaders; one of Dad's favorite phrases was "Give me men to match my mountains." June, Alice, and Dad would have been a dynamite team.

Getting ready, I stood in Miss June's bathroom, looked into her mirror, and thought about her focused determination. "Brenda, to what is your life given?" was my question. I want to think the image in the mirror reflects the heart and life of her service looking to the Lord Jesus Christ for power and strength.

Faces of the Future

The pic with Alice Lloyd is crying out for a caption, don't you think? This tiny woman doggedly built a community to develop, educate, and inspire leaders for Appalachia. Her dedication is built into the DNA of this campus. "We are taking advantage of every opportunity we have in order to come back and lead in Appalachia."

The personal stories varied, but the personal devotion to the vision of Alice Lloyd remained consistent.

I am grateful to Kayla, Natalie, Janet, Tiffany, and Cody was making my visit meaningful.

By the way, the fireplace is in the business building. When originally built, it was used to heat the classroom. Now, it sits adjacent to all the latest electronic equipment which heats up the brains and futures of Alice Lloyd students.

One more thank you ---- to Alice Lloyd was seeing the majesty of the mountains and the magnificence of its people.

Floyd to Lloyd

Alice Lloyd came to Appalachia to find young men and women who would make a difference. She wrote back to her Boston friends, "The leaders are here." That was true in 1917 and especially true in 2010.

"Call me when you get lost.....and you will," said the President's assistant. The travel from Floyd, VA to Pippa Passes, KY. was full of oohs and ahhs as I motored deeper and deeper into the mountains of Eastern Kentucky.

The Miracle of Caney Creek is the book written about Mrs. Lloyd's dream. I thought I was prepared for this campus visit --- but there was no way to anticipate this emotional experience.

Over the bridge are the words "Bridge to the Future." As I looked up and saw the students standing over Caney Creek, I thought I saw Mrs. Lloyd smile.

Scripture tells us "without vision, the people perish." With purpose, plan, and perseverance people not only survive, but thrive for generations. A big part of my heart now lives in Pippa Passes!

Out of the Fog

"Don't enter in fog, snow, or ice." The boilerplate warning on the Welcome to the Blue Ridge Parkway sign caught my eye, but not much more on this beautiful August Monday morning.

I cheerfully drove along the curvy road listening to blue grass music and congratulating God on his good work. Suddenly the fog descended, blocking the breathtaking views and slowing my progress to a crawl.

Where was the sun when I needed its heat to burn off this smoky haze? Well, Brenda, you ARE in the Smoky Mountains!

By Blowing Rock, the sky was blue, the mountain vistas exhilarating, and my attitude much improved.

I laughed as I thought of those times of spiritual fog when I desperately needed the Son to burn off the haze. I remembered times when I missed the opportunities for spiritual sightseeing because my vision was limited. I quickly thanked the Lord for His fresh wind that blew away those foggy times in my spirit and left me with clarity of soul. Fog driving is difficult; fog living is disastrous.