Hello World, It’s Beth!

Many years ago, a book was written by Gary Chapman called “The Five Love Languages”. I remember when this book was published and how popular it was. If you haven’t read the book, I will give you a brief summary. There are five love languages and each of us have one that’s more dominant than the other four. When someone speaks your love language, it makes you feel valued and loved.

I am not sure if I ever really read this book. I vaguely remember getting a copy from someone and starting to read it. But it was way back before David and I had even met.

Several weeks back, David and I had a misunderstanding. After this happened, I was doing some praying and reflecting when I happened to remember this book. I googled the title and a link came up for a quiz. I have always enjoyed quizzes like the ones in the teen girl magazines that I used to read as a young girl so this made me so happy! I clicked the link, entered my email in order to take the quiz, and was soon on my way to finding out my love language. When I was done, I was not surprised to find out that my most dominant love language is words of affirmation. This was good to know but would be even better if the people in my house knew it and if I knew theirs.

I shared the link https://www.5lovelanguages.com/ and asked them to take the quiz and share their results. David’s love language is acts of service and both kids are more dominant in quality time. On an interesting note, Andrew’s second love language is acts of service, like his dad, and Lydia’s is words of affirmation, like mine.

It’s been a month since we’ve taken the quiz and I can tell that it has made me and David more aware of how to make the other feel loved. For years, I have been complimenting David and affirming him with my words. I was speaking to him in my love language but it was falling on deaf ears. Words do not make him feel loved. Now I know that doing things for him, like making his breakfast or getting the oil changed, make him feel loved. I encourage you to take the quiz and find out what fills up your cup.

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭13:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/114/1co.13.13.nkjv

Yesterday, I took off from work to get some things done. The first thing on my list was to get the oil changed in my vehicle. We usually take our vehicles to Walmart to get this taken care of. I shared my plan with David which made him very happy. He kept trying to arrange this but with his busy work schedule it just wasn’t lining up for him.

I got to the service center five minutes before they opened and was still fifth in line. Once everything was arranged, I went and grabbed a cart and took my time meandering through the aisles. Then I did our grocery shopping for the next week. After an hour and a half, I went and checked on my vehicle’s progress and was told they hadn’t even gotten started. So I went back and did some more “window shopping”.

Most people would think I wasted a day off from work but during all of this waiting I bumped into someone I hadn’t seen in a long time. Her and her husband attend our church but he has been sick so they haven’t been in awhile. During our short conversation, I mentioned that we missed seeing them at church. Her eyes twinkled when I said those three little words “we miss you”. She thanked me for saying that and said it was good to hear.

Have you ever been away for awhile and wondered if anyone noticed? Did anyone even care? Her and her husband need to be home right now for his health. Isolation can do a lot to our mental and emotional health. I’m not sure when they will be able to come back to church but during this time I pray that the Holy Spirit reminds her that she has a church family that loves her and her husband. Make sure to let those around you know when you’ve missed them. It does a heart good to know that someone cares. When I left Walmart three hours later, I left with a happy heart.

“A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/114/pro.15.23.nkjv

Last weekend was Labor Day weekend and we did just that…labored. We worked long and hard alongside several others getting our church ready for our first Sunday service. And we have continued our work all week long. Labor is not usually something that you look forward to. Labor is a four letter word…work.

I think it’s very ironic that childbirth is also known as labor. I’ve been an active participant in this type of labor twice. Both times were very different. I have friends that have experienced gaining a child through adoption. They also labored but it looked a little different than my experience.

As a church, we have been “pregnant” with dreams and visions of our new building. We have labored. The labor we have all done has looked a little different. It takes all types of people with different talents and strengths to pull off a project of this magnitude. It’s been sweaty, beautiful, backbreaking, and time consuming.

Out church motto is “a place of His presence”. If you do not have a church to attend please join us this Sunday September 8th at 10:30 at 3600 Hanson Road in Madisonville, Kentucky.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:58‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/111/1co.15.58.niv

It was a sunny afternoon in September 2003. Both kids were taking a nap and I was in my bedroom having some quiet time with the Lord. I remember walking to the bedroom window of the house we lived in at the time and looking out at the field behind our house. While I stood there seeing a song the Lord had given me about not being shaken, I heard the Lord speak to my heart and ask me this question, “What will you do if your mom dies soon?”

My mom had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure in February 2002. She had suffered damage to a heart valve as a kid and it had been a miracle that she had lived such a healthy life for her 70 plus years. She was one of my best friends. We spoke on the phone several times a week and David, the kids, and I made the hour drive to visit mom and dad almost every Saturday. God knew I would not allow myself to think about her dying.

As I heard His question in my heart, I told him I would praise Him and trust Him. I knew the Bible spoke about God being a strong tower the righteous run into for safety. God knew her time was drawing near. He loves us so much wants to prepare our hearts for times of struggle.

On December 5, 2003, we received the call that mom’s heart had stopped and paramedics had been called and regained her pulse. As she lay in her hospital bed in the intensive care unit, we took turns praying with her, holding her hand and spending those last few hours with her. That was a long, hard night. At one point, I went to the hospital chapel and prayed and asked God to heal her. He can do all things. As I sat there, I was reminded of that time in September. He had planted a seed in my heart to get ready. He gave me a song in September that would encourage me in December and many months after. If we listen to Him, He will whisper to our hearts. What is He whispering to you?

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/111/isa.43.19.niv

Our church has been on a journey the last few years. Four years ago, we had to move out of our church building due to building damage. We have been setting up and tearing down each service which has not been the most fun thing I have ever done.

Even though it has been a lot of work, it has been beautiful to see a group of people join in together to get the work done. Each Sunday, I would encourage myself by saying “we are one Sunday closer” while tearing down and packing equipment away for the next Sunday.

During the past year, we have been building our new church while anxiously anticipating our move in date. Last night, we started moving in. I can not tell you how excited we are to make this move. Our first Sunday in our new building is probably two Sundays away.

During all of the setting up and tearing down, I’ve often felt like an Israelite in the Old Testament of the Bible. They would set up and tear down the tabernacle per God’s instruction. When the Israelites moved into the promised land, they set up the tabernacle.

As we set up our modern day tabernacle in our promised land, I pray we never forget the journey that’s brought us to this moment. I pray we keep working together even though the work will be different in our new building. I pray that we not feel as if we’ve arrived and sit back on our laurels. I thank God for this journey and for this great group of people we get to do life with. I pray you are a part of a community that rolls up their sleeves and gets to work when life throws you a curve ball. If you are looking for a community to be a part of, please join us. It’s not too late to join this journey!

“Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭40:34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/114/exo.40.34.nkjv

As a child, I was often told to be still. I have always been a fidgety person. Even when I’m sitting, I will sway back and forth. I love sitting in rocking chairs and have loved swinging ever since I was a child.

But just because I know I struggle with being still doesn’t mean I should never practice it. If I never attempted a new task then I would never know what I might be missing out on.

On the flip side, if I were always still then it would be wise for me to practice moving. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone can be scary but it builds character.

I am learning that there is a beautiful balance in stillness. I read my Bible daily. I love God’s word. He speaks about being still. One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 46:10 that says, “Be still and know that I am God…”.

When I am worried about a situation, the Holy Spirit reminds me to “be still and know”. When doubt fills my mind “be still and know”. When I don’t have the answers “be still and know”. He is God. I am not. God is good. God is faithful. When all else fails “be still and know”.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/114/psa.46.10.nkjv

Photo credit: Pinterest

Dear Andrew, 21 years ago today, you came into this world and life has never been the same since. You didn’t like sleep much at first so we had to adapt. You were such a happy baby. You weren’t fussy, you just wanted to be awake and see what was going on.

You’ve always loved reading and have had such a vivid imagination. I remember when you were about 7 years old, you told me you knew you were a Jedi by the way the sun twinkled in your eyes as you looked at your reflection in the passenger side mirror as we drove home.

You have always been very opinionated and very talkative. You love discussing things. You look so much like your dad but act a lot like me. Your dad doesn’t care for our discussion style but I enjoy it. We could both argue with a fence post.

You have an awesome sense of humor. I will never forget the trip to Disney when you decided to pose as a lost or confused person for each photo. I think I remember fussing at you for doing it but looking back now it’s pretty funny.

I love the man you’ve become even though we both have different definitions of cleanliness. I’m so thankful that God allowed me to be your mom. As you go through this next stage of life, always remember that God has you in the palm of His hand. He is leading you and guiding you. Always trust Him.

“And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/114/mat.3.17.nkjv

Summertime brings so much fun. Schools are on break. The weather is hot. Kids and parents are looking for fun things to do.

As a kid in southern Indiana, I don’t remember the fair being a big deal. I do remember going to the 4 H County fair to see the country band Exile in concert with my good friend Kathy when we were teenagers. I did, however, look forward to the Westside Nutclub fall festival each October. The food and rides never disappointed.

The Hopkins county fair brings that same excitement to fair goers near and far. Every year for the past 23 years, our youth pastors, Shannon and Tracey, have had a fair booth at the fair as a fundraiser for youth trips throughout the year. The kids that help at the booth get a portion of the proceeds for any trip they participate in. Their parents can also help.

For several years now, David and I have worked alongside kids and their parents. We have learned lots of skills along the way. We have also made several friends at the fair booth.

Tonight and tomorrow are the last two nights of the Hopkins County fair. Come to our booth in the midway building for delicious deep fried buffalo chicken dip and pepperoni puffs, yummy walking tacos, scrumptious hot fudge cake and much more.

Have you ever made plans that included someone else that didn’t turn out as you expected? I have and I bet you have too. It can be very upsetting. I think the main thing that upsets me is anticipating their reaction to something I’ve planned and not getting the reaction I was expecting.

As our kids have grown older, I have experienced this disappointment more than once. I will try to help them out with something only to be told they are very capable to do things for themselves. Or David and I will plan a surprise weekend getaway for the four of us only to be told they would rather stay at home.

I think I remember Joyce Meyer sharing about expectations and how we set ourselves up for failure when we have them. The example I like to use is spending someone else’s money on something they didn’t ask for and then handing them the bill for what they owe me. Most of us would never spend someone else’s money without permission! But we often do things expecting others to give us our desired response only to be left disappointed. I’m trying to learn to have no expectations of others so that I don’t create disappointment in my heart towards them.

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭62:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/114/psa.62.5.nkjv

All moms do it. You have a baby and so does a friend, coworker or neighbor. You want to make sure little junior is achieving each milestone with crawling, walking and sleeping through the night. With each pediatrician visit, you hear the percentile rank for height and weight. As your child grows older and enters school, the comparisons can really ramp up.

As parents, David and I both hoped we could share our passions with our kids. David has always loved sports. His favorite is football but he also enjoys basketball and baseball. When our son, Andrew, was born, we bought all kinds of balls for him to play with. But we soon found out he had no interest whatsoever in sports. He has always had a big imagination and would rather build with legos, play with his Star Wars action figures or write. Andrew has been making up his own stories since he was a little kid. One of his favorite things we would do at bedtime was make up our own story. We made up our own characters and would continue the story the next night. (I wish I would have written these down.) David has loved Star Wars since he was a kid so this became their common ground. They both also enjoy super hero movies and have gone to most of them together. As Andrew has gotten older, he has learned to talk sports with his dad. It’s sweet to see them both reach out to each other in order to have a close relationship.

When Andrew was young, we had several people tell us how odd it was that Andrew didn’t play sports like their kid. We even had some share that if Andrew was their child that they would make him play a sport. We did make him try a couple of things. But he was miserable. And so were we. He has been very active in church and youth group. He has played his bass guitar at church for several years now. We drove to Evansville every Saturday for two years and sat at H&H music while he took bass guitar lessons. He has grown into a responsible, fun-loving young man who we couldn’t be more proud of.

As parents, David and I have questioned whether we have made the right choices in raising our kids. Should we have pushed more. Should we have demanded certain things like joining a team. Being a part of a team can teach kids good lessons. If your kid is a part of a team and enjoys it then be their biggest fan. If your kid doesn’t enjoy it then take notice of other interests they have. If God has given you the precious gift of a child whether by birth or adoption then celebrate who they are as a person even if they are different than the rest. Each of us has something to offer. We shouldn’t force our kids to do things because other kids their age are doing them. We all have different interests and so do our kids.

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭127:3‬ ‭NASB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/100/psa.127.3.nasb