A Very Happy Thanksgiving Indeed

How Do You Spell Home?

Let me count the ways...

C-A-R-P-E-T-I-N-G on the floor.

P-I-C-T-U-R-E-S on the walls.

S-O-F-T music playing in the background.

Delicious S-M-E-L-L-S wafting from the kitchen.

A W-H-O-L-E (clean) bathroom all to myself!

S-I-N-G-I-N-G around the piano.

H-I-G-H S-P-E-E-D Internet once again.

Tasty cherry S-M-O-O-T-H-I-E-S.

S-P-A-C-E to move about.

L-A-U-G-H-T-E-R in the hallways.

L-O-V-E all around.

Home. There's truly no place like it. It's so good to be back...

Something I've Been Learning Lately...

"When the answer is not given immediately, the praying Christian must gather courage at each delay. He must urgently go forward until the answer comes. The answer is assured, if he has the faith to press his petition with vigorous faith. Successful prayer must have in it the quality that waits and perseveres. It must have in it courage that never surrenders, patience that never grows tired."

~ E.M. Bounds

Study Hour in Room 33

Trio Del Rey

Recently, the radio station that is hosted by RGBI put on a health fair here at the campus. Throughout the day, live musicians performed outside for the people eating or resting on benches. One of the music groups was RGBI's very own "Trio Del Rey" (The King's Trio). I always enjoy hearing them play and sing, so I decided to record a few of their songs for your enjoyment as well!

Answered Prayer!

God has been so faithful to answer prayer for my friends, Joshua and Kelsie Steele, in the recent birth of their third daughter, Hosanna Joy. Click here to read the full story of how God intervened in a crisis situation following Hosanna's birth and used the body of Christ to meet their needs. You can also see pictures and video of my adorable, new little "niece!"

What a gracious and merciful Father we have!

The Story of Jonah

Jesus said, "Let the little children come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Here is the story of Jonah told by a little girl whose animated expression and love for God's Word have blessed my life today. Prepare to be delighted!

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Having a Bowl!

I don't know what you do when you're sick in bed on a quiet Sunday...but I decided to try my hand at making a movie today.

*smile*

The other night, a group of us went bowling for a friend's 21st birthday. I took lots of pictures and videos but didn't think I would have time to upload all of them to You Tube. So instead, I used my handy-dandy iMovie program to splice together the clips and create a movie! It was so much fun!

The McAllen Symphonic Band

I had the privilege of attending a Veteran's Day concert by the McAllen Symphonic Band this past week and thoroughly enjoyed it! While I have been to many a symphony/orchestra concert over the years, I've never seen a symphonic band play. There are no stringed instruments in a band (although this one did have a harp strangely enough) but plenty of brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The sound they create together is rich and full!

Here are a couple samples of the music we enjoyed:

The Veteran In My Life

This is my grandfather, a veteran of World War II who fought bravely for our country and lived to tell about it. I am so grateful for men like him who sacrificed so much to protect and defend our nation. The stories my grandfather tells of the war are not stories of fun and games. He tells of hardship, danger, and sorrows endured. Why? Because he and his fellow soldiers believed in freedom and justice for all. With honor they fought and persevered.

May we be faithful to remember and preserve such a heritage.

The God Who Knows

I just now read this beautiful composition on the Young Ladies Christian Fellowship website. It spoke volumes to me so I am passing it on to my blog readers as well.

I don’t know about tomorrow. Sometimes I wish that I did.

I don’t know whether or not the sun will shine, or it will rain again.

I don’t know if times will get easier or if we’ll lose all we’ve got left.

I don’t know if anything will change, or if everything will. Sometimes I wish that I did.

But I don’t know.

What I do know is that I serve a God who is more than faithful.

I know that He is able.

I know that He is good.

I know that He does not forget.

I know that His way is best.

I know that He stands behind His promises.

I know that He is Jehovah Jireh- the God who has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we can’t even imagine.

I know that whatever happens today, whatever happens tomorrow, He will take care of us.

Most of all I know that He knows.

He knows our needs before we ask.

He knows the desire of our hearts.

He knows what we can take.

He knows the little things that mean so much to us.

He knows what is best, more than anything.

He knows about tomorrow and He holds it, and each day of our future- in His hands.

Troubles come like rainstorms sometimes. They drench the heart, and leave a chill that lingers after the rain is gone. But the same water that drenches, that sometimes chills, waters the ground so that life may go on. So that when the sun shines, new life will spring up. Flowers will bloom and birds will sing again. And every little droplet becomes a diamond of hope in the sun.

“Worry is blind. It cannot see the future.”

But He can. He does. And out of our circumstances, out of our failures, out of our troubles, He brings beauty. Hope. Life.

And so I trust Him. With yesterday’s brokenness, today’s fears, and tomorrow’s unknowns. With the sorrows and with the joys. With life’s unpredictable twists and turns and with the uncertainty that it brings.

I trust Him with my heart. My life. My family. My home. My abilities. My everything.

And He gives, and gives and gives. Wisdom for this moment. Strength for today. Bright hope for tomorrow.

I know this. I’ve tasted it. Experienced it. Lived it. And I know it is true. And that is all that really matters.

- Written by Chantel

Set Apart Girl

I just discovered that the latest issue of Set Apart Girl magazine has been posted on the web. You can check it out here! Once again, it is packed full of inspirational articles. I especially enjoyed the ones on Time Wasters, The Art of Hospitality, Purpose of Place, and Sisters of the Common Life. And of course, Annie does such an amazing job with graphic design and photography that the magazine is a feast for the eyes as well as a delight for the soul!

Happy Anniversary Katelin and Nathan!

It's hard to believe today marks the one-year anniversary of my sister and brother-in-law! My, how the time flies! To celebrate this milestone, they have posted a summary of pictures from their wedding here in case you want to relive the memories with us. :-)

Love stories written by God are so beautiful!