Summer Means Sun, Swimming, Picnics, Camping....and VBS!

God continues to amaze me!

Our new, little church hosted its very first VBS July 11-15.  As a new church, we do not have a building of our own, which makes it hard to schedule any activity other than Sunday morning worship. We decided to hold VBS at the Main Shelter in Buffalo Trace Park.  We decided on a morning schedule of 9am – 11am.  Of course there is not money in the budget to purchase a whole VBS program and materials from a publisher, so we came up with our own!

I was nervous to say the least.  I’ve never had to help put together so much material all at once.  I write lessons for Children’s Church and for homeschool, but this was different.  VBS needs to have a theme, lessons, music, crafts, games…most of it needs to tie together…for 5 days.  Out of the three of us working together on this, I was probably the only one worried!  Worried for nothing!  Oh, how the Lord provides!  Our different talents and ideas worked together to make a great unit study of the treasures of God.  We were able to find some great music to work with our theme, craft and game ideas and materials flowed, and excitement ensued!

I cannot describe in words how fun it is to teach kids about the things of God.  We had such a great group!  While we didn’t have scads of new kids running about the shelter, we had 10-14 smiling, happy, goofy, sweet, funny, sweaty, giggling faces from age 2 1/2 to 12 every day. They sang, did motions to songs, played hard, recorded their day in journals, ate snacks while fellowshipping, listened to the lessons, used their creative minds and hands, and had an all around good time!

They discovered 5 Treasures - Creation, Prayer, Each Other, Salvation, and Missions!

On the following Sunday RVBC kids and 2 visitors were able to perform a couple of songs for the congregation and we showed a slideshow of fun pics. 

Thank the Lord for such a fun week. It was a week I will never forget.  I pray that God uses it to impact and build His eternal Kingdom. Soli Deo Gloria!

Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Where you treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.  Matthew 6:20-21 NLT

Defining Ezra Rocks the Praises, Jason Preaches Up a Storm!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

2011 Marengo 4th of July Celebration

It is a hot, sunny day. A perfect day for July. The kind of day you remember when you reminisce about summer picnics and festivals.  It’s a great day! We enjoy hearing some other acts perform. The sweetest thing is when Sarah Wilson calls her daughter to the stage to perform “Sing, Sing, Sing” with her. Such endearing charm as her little lady sings and does motions she learned at VBS the prior week. Makes you smile.

Time to unload and set up! Out come the amps, guitar cases, fans, cases with cords and cables, pedal boards. Drums, drums, cymbals, drums, and more cymbals out of the van and on the ground. Up on the stage it goes to begin the “race” to get it all set up and in working order in a timely manner…there is an audience out there waiting after all.  Sound check…another sound check…then another…then another…

It is so hot Jason has a towel soaked in ice water around his neck - and is still hot! A cooler full of bottles of water is essential!  Not to mention praise the Lord the town of Marengo rented a tent for the crowd!

Speaking of the crowd, there is a great one today! We are so thankful and excited to see so many friends and family! It is fun and such a blessing to see familiar faces come to support our guys!  I even get to see my friend from 13 years ago! Tia Wilfong is down here with her kids and her YSB group raising funds for their Florida trip! They are working hard and super excited! How great it is to see her and hear about her busy life and important work as mama and youth worker! Then I turn around and there among our family members is Jeff and Shelly Minton from Clean Socks Hope! They are the last people I expect to see all the way out here in Marengo! What a blessing they always are!

Jay and Libby talk Martin’s wife, Corina, into taking them around the area to check out the games and moonwalks.  She is the sweetest lady and they love her dearly. I smile to see them walk away down the street with her, Libby’s hand in hers and, no doubt, chatting her ear off.  Grandma Jane buys them nachos.  Then they go find a seat on the top of the bleachers to wait for the show to start.

Set up done, sound checks done, box fans blowing, sun shining, sticks up, picks in hand, pedals on…it’s show time! “…Defining Ezra begins in 10, 9, 8, ……3, 2, 1!”  Cue the guitar intro to “We Shine”…I love that intro!

Martin, Jason, Ory, and Gabe knock it out of the park today with something like 8 songs.  A range of sounds, from Switchfoot to Fee to their own bluesy sound.  Rockin’ it out for the Lord of Lords. The crowd is fun and responsive.  Great set guys!

They take a 5 minute break and come back to lead 3 songs for the Community Worship Service to close out Faith Day of the festival.  We worship together in song and Jason steps up to the mic to bring the Word.

Boy does he bring it! I'm standing here wishing I had of recorded it!!!  My man is boldy proclaiming the Gospel in this town.  He leaves nothing to question. He speaks of sin and depravity. He tells it how it is. No sugarcoating for him! How I love it when he is passionate. He continues and reminds us of Who forgives and grants us salvation. He tells the crowd of grace and how without such grace we could never have saving faith!   Off in the very near distance storm clouds have formed and are making their presence known!  A very impressive wall cloud is making its way towards us when Jason gives an altar call and then closes the service.  A young lady, in the midst of the rising concern the clouds are causing, comes forward to pray for her husband.  Such a sweet spirit to think of him and ask for prayer when most everyone else is plotting their “escape” plans…lol

The moment Jason says, “Amen.” Every person is on their feet packing up and heading out! Sissy and I are putting the merch away. We are up on the stage breaking down instruments and equipment to get them to safety from the storm!  We put the kids in the van to keep them out of the weather.  Several people help us out and we get the guitars and other equipment put away and secured, but it has become evident that we don’t have enough time to get the drums all broken down and put away! Thankfully, Ory opens the overhead door on the building behind the stage and we are all carrying the drums and cymbal stands into there. Then there is the sound guy’s tent to see to. He is here alone and we notice that he is frantically trying to zip up the “walls” of his tent!  Some of us rush over to help him and the wind is trying its best to thwart our efforts!  Finally, right as it starts to pour and the thunder and lightning are getting loud, we get the last side zipped! Whew!

Now we make our way into the building to break down the drums and put them away.  Apparently, the tent zippers aren’t holding well and Martin, Corina, and Gabe are helping the sound guy keep the flaps pulled shut so he doesn’t lose thousands of dollars worth of equipment!

Finally, the worst of the storm blows through and we are able to load the van.  We are outta here!  It has been a wonderful afternoon and we won’t forget it! God is amazing and He greatly blessed us this day.  We couldn’t ask for anything more! We pray that the Lord be glorified and His gospel advanced through the music and preaching of His Word.  I am so proud of our guys and the way they shared their God-given talents today! I love the way God uses us all – musicians, wives, Mom, Dad, brother, friends, and kids alike – to make it happen!

Thank you Mona and the town of Marengo for having Defining Ezra today!!

Redeeming Vine Milestones

One of the aspects of being sold out to Jesus is doing things that a lot of people wouldn't.  God often wants us to step out and do something a little radical, different, even scary.  His plans don't always make sense to us, but they are always perfect.  The Sovereign God of the universe is in control and we only need to obey!

In case you don't know, we are among a handful of founding members of a church plant that began to develop around January of 2010. God called us together through the previous church that we served at.  We all became fast friends and the Lord brought us all through a terrible time and created in us the desire to start a church.  6 adults and 6 kids.  That's it. We began with meeting and studying Acts together.

Martin, Jason, and Gabe leading worship
 for RVBC's first service March 6, 2011

After several months we named our assembly. Redeeming Vine Baptist Church.  Then we began to move forward with finding a place to hold service, attaining incorporation, writing a constitution and doctrinal statement, seeking assistance from the Southern Baptist Convention, etc. Our friend, Todd Wells, is Senior/Preaching pastor.  My husband, Jason, is Associate/Counseling Pastor and most often plays drums for worship. Our friend, Martin that Jason plays in Defining Ezra with, joined us to lead worship. His son, Gabe, who is also in DE often plays bass as well. It has been the most amazing experience!  I'm so glad God called us to be part of this! 

Pastor Todd preaching the first
sermon ever for RVBC

On March 6, 2011 we held our very first service!  We were so blessed to have many friends and family visit for worship and support us on that day. It's so great to see all the kids help set up and tear down.  Jay and Libby are always so excited for church day.  I am so glad that my kids get to be part of this type of church and ministry.  I am so thankful for the worship we have, the sermons that are preached, the fellowship we share.  The building that we rent for service is the best deal ever!  We are learning and growing - and having a blast just following God day by day, week by week.


How truly amazing God is! That he would take a group of some 14 people from as many different walks of life and put us together to accomplish the goal of forming another assembly of the Body of Christ to advance His gospel in the land, and bring glory to His Name!

Victoria signing paperwork
at the bank when we
opened our account

Richard, Martin, and Gabe
leading acoustic worship
when the electric was out

RVBC's first picnic!

Martin practicing for worship

Cherishing Tea Time

God has blessed me with some awesome friends. I am eternally grateful for the things I have learned from them all, who they are, the incredible ways they help me, the laughs we share, the concerns we share, the prayers they have lifted up on my behalf, and the love that they give!


Among the people I consider my closest friends is my Mom.  I might need to explain! :) The way we live is, shall we say, not extremely common.  We live next door to my little sister.  My parents are next door to her.  So,  I live two doors down from my Mom.  We have lived next door to my parents 12 of the 13 years we have been married. I assure you, my husband has endured many raised eyebrows and mother-in-law jokes over the years when people learn this about us. :) Some may think we are crazy, but it works for us.  I won't even think of giving this up until God tells us that He wants us to move! Lol...

Having tea with Mom (that's her shoulder) using a tea set

 a dear friend gave me a few years ago

I am at my Mom's house just about everyday. Sometimes I'm there for 5 minutes, sometimes a half hour, sometimes a couple of hours.  We often do lunch together.  We go to the grocery together.  All these times and activities are precious to me.  I know a lot of people do not have this.  Some people don't want this!  But, others would love it and can't have it.  

I love it when, in the lull of the late afternoon, she comes over to bring stuff we left at her house or some other random reason and we just put on some water and have tea.  We don't have to make a date or anything, it just happens.  We shoo the kids out of the kitchen, sit and enjoy our tea and talk.  

Frequently it occurs to me this will not last forever.  God may some day call Jason and I to a church or ministry far away.  My parents are not getting younger and, God forbid, something may happen to one of them...or to me for that matter, we don't know. Life changes, it's a given.  For the time being, I truly cherish our relationship....and tea time. :) 

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV

April Showers Bring Many Wedding Blessings

April 18, 2011

I awoke to rain and gloomy skies.  My alarm was yelling at me that it was time to get up! Oh, I had so hoped that the weather would break and I would awake to a peak of sun!

April 16, 2011 was a friend's wedding day, where I assisted the caterer. She is a person who loves outdoors and flowers and beautiful scenery.  After all, she had planned an outdoor spring wedding and most of her flowers came from her own yard and yards of friends and family.  I could only imagine how she was looking forward to beautiful pics of her and her groom sitting, standing, and walking in all of Spring's glory!  Alas, it was not to happen on this wet and dreary day!

Indoors it would be!  How beautiful they had adorned the reception hall!  It did not look pretty and colorful outside, but it did inside.  Purple, yellow, green, white, pink. Wonderful scents perfumed the room.  The photographer was a genius and was able to capture a few impressive pics outdoors after the showers ceased.  The bride was of course beautiful in her mother's wedding dress, worn out of love for her and in memory of her.  I thought that was such a sweet sentiment.  The groom was handsome and full of smiles!

I will remember the simplicity of the event.  The sweet, unpretentious, air of the cermony impressed me.  There was no pomp and circumstance, no "look at me, I'm the bride today and everybody better look at me" attitude.  There was nothing completely unneccessary or extravegant.  It was pure and organic. Love between  man and his bride at its finest, an expression of respect and committment to each other and to the Lord Almighty.  It was a wedding that rain showers could not prevent from being a happy, joyous, lovely , blessed thing.  May the Lord truly bless and keep this couple for all of forever to come!

A big mouth is not always a bad thing...

April 3, 2011

My husband has a big mouth...sometimes...well, a lot of times. He will admit to it. It is his nature to speak up. He speaks to anyone. If you know him you have witnessed him do this, it's as if he knows no strangers. His parents will tell you he was like that as a kid, too. He just can't help it! Lol.... So it was no surprise to me when he came home from class one night in March and told me he had been walking to class and overheard a man's phone conversation about needing a band to play at a youth event.  I knew what was coming next.  He, of course, stopped and spoke to the man! The man was Kyle Fisher with Campbellsburg Christian Church.  He was indeed in need of a band to play at a youth event he was planning.  Jason gave him a card for Defining Ezra and thought that nothing would come of it, but he had tried. He thought if they weren't needed this time, maybe they could help some other time.  Well, lo and behold, Mr. Fisher called! How very cool does God work sometimes!  It turns out Mr. Fisher was having trouble getting in touch with the band that they had been directed to by a friend. At that very moment that Jason was coming down the hall, Kyle was on the phone trying to reach the contact person, and having no luck. He said he was becoming frustrated. And "out of nowhere" comes Jason.  So, the date was arranged and DE prepared a set for C3!

The day of the event was a beautiful day! Warm and breezy with lots of sun.  We got to the place and it was this ginormous, fantastic warehouse-like building that they use for their youth events.  Very cool.  I have seldom met kinder people in my life! We were welcomed and shown generous hospitality. Such a blessing to be there.  Jay and Libby had a blast talking to the teenagers and wondering around the big space of the building.

As usual, we all helped unload and set up. Let me tell you, when they have to take their sound system, there is a LOT to unload and set up! This time we also used the lights, which we don't do very often.  A friend of the guys helped them out and ran the sound.  But, there was no one to run lights, so guess who had to do that? Me, of course. It's not the first time I've done them.  It always makes me nervous though, I 'm afraid I'll do a poor job!

There was time to hang out and talk to some of the teens and parents before they started and we had a great time doing that.  I can't tell you much about how they sounded that night because I was sitting behind amps and drums. Ha! All I heard was distorted wumps, wumps and boom, crash, bang with a little vocals here and there! (At least I hope the audience heard something better than what I did!) But, I will say that the presence of the Almighty was there that evening!  Unforgettable night and that audience is why our guys do this!  Such honest and heartfelt worship we witnessed that night! What glory to our King there was! 

When the event was over, there was, as always, excitement and joy...a peace that descends on the heart and an indescribable "ah" feeling. 

I must say, as we were tearing down and loading up I looked up and saw my son sitting in on a meeting the youth and parents were having.  I thought, "Oh, no, he shouldn't be sitting there.." Did I mention he is just like his Dad??? A minute later I saw the meeting erupt in laughter. I thought, "Oh no, what did he say?" Later, I learned that he contributed to the meeting and even led in prayer. That's my boy! Lol...Did I mention he is just like his Dad???

God's gift of a big mouth got Defining Ezra and our family an unforgettable night and gained us some friends within the Body of Christ that we would've never met this side of Heaven.  Thank the Lord for my husband's abandon of self and his faith in God.  I thank the Lord for our guys and their willingness to use their time and talents for the Kingdom.  I thank the Lord for CCC, Kyle Fisher, and all the wonderful teens, parents, and their friends that we met there!  I thank the Lord for all these sold out souls who want to see His Name glorified in this and all lands!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name. But His word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. Jeremiah 20:9

Birthday!

"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." Hosea 6:3

Another year. That one’s done, gone, over, finished. Good times, bad times, lessons learned, greatness, not-so-greatness, illness, sadness, happiness, endings, beginnings, growth, love, tears, smiles, hugs, kisses, LAUGHS, prayer, music, messes, sweetness, work, patience, IMpatience, pictures, faith, trust, worry, friendship, MORE music, questions, answers, dreams, hurts, plans, devotions, bills, strength, weakness, history, family, fights, forgiveness, apologies, books, time, fruit, confession, renewal, clarity, HOPE….

Having a birthday in the spring provides a perspective of a year being over, but a new one beginning. As the world around me awakens from it’s long, hard winter slumber, I am reminded that another year of my life has come to a close, and a new one is dawning. I do not feel depressed because the number of years is yet one more, but I feel hope and anticipation. The sun begins to shine, flowers are blooming, grass is growing and green, trees are budding, weather is warming. All this new birth and renewal of life, a new season, helps to keep me in a healthy perspective of growing a year older. The number of my age is just a number, I thank the Lord for His goodness and the wisdom He nurtures in me as each year passes.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

So, as this, my 32^nd birthday comes to a close, I praise my Lord for His blessings. I praise Him for the undeserved life He has given me. I praise Him for His majesty and greatness. I praise Him for the past year of trials and joys – and for the coming year of what He, in His providence, has in store for me and for my family. Whatever is coming I rest in the assurance of my Father’s grace and mercy. His promises endure the ages and His love transcends all.

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day."  2 Cor 4:15-17