We love the new beginnings and energy that surround this season. I start almost every January off with reading an Amy Carmichael book, and have never been disappointed. Each one has given me an infusion of fresh focus and high calling.  This one was entitled “This One Thing” and is a biography of her dear friend and co-worker in South India, Thomas Walker of Tinnevelly.  What passion is on each page of this yellowed account.  Here is one quote from Walker that inspired me~

Better, far better, do less work, if need be, that we may pray more; because work done by the rushing torrent of human energy will not save a single soul; whereas work done in vital and unbroken contact with the living God will tell for all eternity. Thomas Walker 1859-1912

We pray that our work done in ‘09 will “tell for all eternity” but please pray for us, and we will for you also, to be more prayer focused and less a “rushing torrent.”  If it’s His Energy and not ours, then we welcome the torrent!  But more of Christ, we pray and less of us. 

Here are some of the priveleged events and people we joined with in the past months… and we pray, as Walker did, that God would cleanse, bless and bear fruit from them all.

__________________________________________

I was invited by my dear friend Cindy to be part of the choir that worshipped with Michael W. Smith in Akron, Ohio in late November.
For someone who is usually singing solo or duet, this was an incredible joy!

There’s our Michael…giving us instructions and being such a delight and encouragement.
What a heart for His Lord and for people.

This also gave me the joy of connecting again with Michael Olson, Michael W Smith’s drummer. We had an evening of ministry with this brother back in the summer.  What a gift he has. And how fun to be worshipping again with him!

November also held a gathering at another living room. Stella and her “team” made the morning an extravagant time of delicious brunch delights and then I had the opportunity to sing to and encourage these beautiful women. Most of those pictured here are former co-workers of Stella’s who have kept in touch after retiring. Lots of stories!  And we had a tender time in the Lord.

My travels that day allowed me to have a visit with dear relatives in my hometown of Pittsburgh.
My sister Tami and her four children met us there too.  What a crowd! The Steeler fan with the “7″ on his shirt is my cousin Vince, who has had a year’s battle with cancer and is doing wonderfully.
We have so much to thank the Lord for.

An another family photo~ shortly after that we celebrated my niece Scartlett’s third birthday… this is the little one many of you have heard me talk about… her nick-name is “Squishy.”

November and December also brought the joy of setting up other musicians with ministry in our corner of Ohio. First we enjoyed spending time with the Glover Family, who have a dramatic testimony of the Lord’s Love and Forgivness. www.thegloversonline.com
Kathy is in the center, and Rosanne (a dear friend and help in hospitality) is on the right.

We also hosted my friend  Jennifer Shaw www.jennifershawmusic.com Jenny sang in three churches (all churches that are second homes to me) and everyone loved her, as I knew they would. Our last evening was spent at Southington Christian Church with Pastor Randall Riley, and of course we got a non-typical pose. Randall doesn’t believe in typical anything.

A great highlight for me was an Aglow meeting near Salem, Ohio. It was there that I met the most vibrant family.   Verla up to tell me that in the spring her age will be the “reciprocal” of mine.  We’ll be 49 (shhhh) and 94.

This is the “whole” family.. aunts and sisters and granddaughters and moms… all serving the Father.The young woman in the blue in the front row is a new friend named Julie who went above and beyond the call duty to help all morning.

Speaking of leaving a legacy, Julia and I led worship and special music for NorthMar C&MA before their guest speaker, Mary Kay Beard, founder of Angel Tree Ministries.  What a dynamic woman of God! What an honor to meet her!

We were also honored at the dinner banquet of Grace Fellowship Church in Warren, Ohio, a local Ministerial Alliance dinner, a concert at First Christian in Girard, OH, the Annual Memorial at McFarland’s, a Disciples of Christ Pastor’s gathering, and HIS Music Connection Coffeehouse.

__________________________________________________

Some of you have asked my what the guys do here at home while I travel. Do they miss me? Are they so bored?  Here is a photo to let you see how much fun they’re having without me…

A GIGANTIC thank you to all who allowed us to share our gift with you in these past weeks and months. We are constantly thanking our Father for you. We do pray that we’ve been “fishers of men” while our men were fishing.

As always, the Lord was “perfectly faithful” in the whirlwind of ministry this fall.
He did marvelous things! Here is a photo journal, but check the blog entitled “October Miracles” for more beautiful stories from the past weeks.

In September I spent time with the women of Grace United Methodist Church in Warren, PA; and with St Cyrils’ of Warren, OH for their Bible Study kick-off; we were also at Poland United Methodist Church to celebrate their 125th Anniversary, and at Hillside Rehab Hospital for a mini-concert there. I sang in the very spot where we celebrated my mom’s birthday after her aneurism. Amazing.

My first ministry in October was at Sandy’s for a Living Room Concert in The Villages, Fl.

Here is Char, Joan and my dear friend Jane, who hosted me in her home.

Sandy took out her authentic English china and used it for our gathering for the first time ever!  She’d said she’s had it for over 20 years, and was happy to bless us with it’s beauty~

We all talked about living life now and not waiting for tomorrow. 

Here is Char with Sandy…our hostess that day.

The next day was a visit to the Springs Assisted Living center for a mini-concert, then on to a wonderful gathering of ladies (over 100) at St Timothy’s there in The Villages.  Maria was one of the organizers, and the hospitality was just the best.  Our Lord was there with us.

 The following day was a Living Room Ministry at Loretta’s home (3rd from the left)…
Loretta treated us like royalty! We had about ten ladies attend, and shared music and our stories and needs…and then an amazing lunch.

On my last (4th) day there, I woke early to take a walk, and this was my reward~
an “other-worldly” fog had settled on the morning, giving me the sense of rest and protection, even in the midst of such a busy schedule.  Oud God knows how to refresh us. 

 Almost home, the fog was lifting, and I got this shot of a flock of ibis. 
Or are those lawn ornaments?

My last ministry was to the women who work at The Villages Sales office in the Eagles Nest of the Grand Hotel downtown. It’s a beautiful place, and even more beautiful are these sisters who all love the Lord and gather when they can so they can pray and support eachother.  Angie organized this ministry.  She loves these ladies, and we had a precious time together. 

 I thought I’d bless you (especially my co-inhabitants of the chilly north) with this bit of “photo warmth” from that journey.   It was a record breaking 95 degrees. I came home to the 40’s in Ohio (and some gorgeous fall trees!)

 One day of rest, and back on the road to lead a retreat for the beautiful women in West Spring, PA.  There were ladies from many different churches gathered at West Spring Congregational Church for their 2nd annual retreat.  Donna and her team there organized the Harvest theme and it was fantastic.

This little country church gives the speaker/singer a panoramic view out of its tall windows. Last year was the first time in my life that I got to watch horses galloping past while singing.

Our prayer time at the end of the day was one of the most meaningful I’ve ever experienced!  What women of courage!  What battles they are facing, and how transparent they were with eachother. It was inspiring and we left with a great sense of the Lord’s love for us and intervention in our lives.

…that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love.”  Col 2:2

Here is one side of the gathering…

And here is the other!  

I miss you ladies already. 

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart… Phil 1:7

___________________________________________________________ 

 And after that flurry of travel and ministry, I was ready to crash like our new kitty.
Now we are resting up for the great JOY of meeting more of you in the weeks ahead!  Please pray for each gathering, that the One Who longs to comfort every hurting heart, and Who calls us all by name would bring us all to a place of Rest in His Love.

 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:29

At last Jesus said to me – Oh so tenderly – “My child, just take Me, and let Me be in you the constant supply of all this, Myself.” 

 For I had not only what I could hold that little hour, but also in Him, all that I should need the next and the next and so on, until sometimes I get a glimpse of what it will be a million years afterwards, when we shall “shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of our Father” (Matt. 13: 43), and have “all the fullness of God.”

We felt a fullness of God in these past weeks. Here is a photo journal account.

For this summer, God had a surprise for us. The remarkable last-minute (from our perspective, not His) plan to send Sonja Wood from South Africa here for three weeks, with her son James and daughter Missy.  This photo was taken at Covenant Presbyterian soon after their plane landed.  Missy is singing her song “Thank You” with us…

Here is my angel!  My sister Tami.  With company coming from overseas, I knew it would be challenging to design a whole vendor table for the Christian Home Educators of Ohio (CHEO) Annual Convention. Tami did it ALL!  It was beautiful.  And this fall will be her first year as a homeschool mom of four.  The Lord gave her great sessions to attend and great encouragement that weekend.

We headed north that Saturday night to be a part of a beautiful evening of music. Michael Olson was one of the most incredible musicians I’ve ever listened to.  Jordan Biel and his band were also amazing. We opened for them.

We sang our new musical version of “The Lord’s Prayer”… then ended our portion with an African song called “Jabulani.”  Our international friends sang too, and Sonja shared some deep insights.  Thank you to Bill Barnett, BAMA and all who were involved in that wonderful evening.  We especially loved having Jack Ciarniello (keys) and Jeff Foos (percussion) playing live for us! 

My Princess.  (God’s Princess)

Father’s Day in our backyard.  Ciferno’s PLUS.

Time in Jack’s studio… Missy and Julia co-wrote a precious song called “Fulfilled.”  Missy took it home with her to sing there in Africa.   James and I also worked on a song for him and recorded a track of that.  So the Woods have original MUSIC!

Another JOY was having some picnic/singing/laughing/discussing time with Sonja’s curriculum providers (and dear friends).  Here is the crew at Deer Creek State Park (we were converging from Ohio, PA, Indiana and South Africa). 

Jamie, Anna and Ethan Demme (back), Sonja and Missy and Julia
Dr Jay Wile and Kathleen (front)

What timing ! Our guests were here for the July 4th Celebration…
their first real fireworks display

We also had ministry at NorthMar church one evening, a homeschool support night, a living room ministry a the home of the Stiver’s and over 1600 miles of driving together! 

Here is Sonja with her rootbeer float on our last ministry at Castlewood Alliance Church on July 5th.  She said they don’t have rootbeer like OUR rootbeer.

Headed the next day to Lancaster, PA for time with Steve Demme and his precious family ( author of Math-U-See curriculum.)  He took us on a tour of his home town of Litizt, PA… 

This is Missy enjoying a rose there. I was overwhelmed by Missy and her love for her Jesus. Those of you who met her experienced the grace and poise of this young woman who has been through so many storms of life.  They have made her a Rose in His Garden that has the sweetest fragrance.

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.  Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.  
2 Corinthians 2:14 and 15

Our friends… Missy, James and Sonja. 

Lord,  use them across the ocean to spread everywhere Your Fragrance.

Dinner at Steve’s.  Google a recipe for “grilled romaine”… it was incredible! 

 Steve, Sandi and the Woods…last photos.

Lancaster Green…

In the past He permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but He never left them without evidence of Himself and His goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.”  Acts 14:16 and 17 

Our hearts are FULL OF JOY because of all He’s done…He has given us evidence of Himself and His goodness. Pray with us that there would be a great harvest from these past weeks.

Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word.
Once His gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone.

CHORUS 

All in all forever…  Jesus will I sing
Everything in Jesus and Jesus everything

Once ’twas painful trying, Now ’tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost.
Once ’twas ceaseless holding, Now He holds me fast;
Once ’twas constant drifting, Now my anchor’s cast.

Once ’twas busy planning, Now ’tis trustful prayer;
Once ’twas anxious caring, Now He has the care.
Once ’twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says;
Once ’twas constant asking, Now ’tis ceaseless praise.

Once it was my working, His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me.
Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus, Now I know He’s mine;
Once my lamps were dying, Now they brightly shine.
Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored, Safe within the vail.

Have you ever felt alone in your walk on this earth? 

I have. Countless times.  Recently the Lord reminded me of the many ways He has given us companions for this journey. Most are invisible, but no less real than the ones we can see. All are here to help and support in this perilous but thrilling adventure of a loving life.

1.   First our Lord gives us Himself… as our daily Companion, our moment by moment Shepherd, our Never-Failing Friend, our Ever-Present Lord.   He gives us “His Own dear Presence to cheer and to guide.”

Jesus told us~  “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.“  Matthew 28:20  

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.“  Hebrews 13:5

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?  Heb 1:14

3.  We are also “surrounded” by those brothers and sisters who have gone before us! 

 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…  Hebrews 1:12

Look at the sidebar for lyrics to a new song called “Sing On” that was inspired by this scripture and by the legacy of the writings of that “cloud.”  I am filled with new courage when reading these accounts of God’s Faithfulness in the lives of my sisters and brothers who inhabited different centuries with the same God (especially Amy Carmichael’s).

4. And last, but certainly not least, we have brothers and sisters here and now, who walk this earth with us in the same piece of history.

I am such a rich lady~ to be able to visit so many brothers and sisters in the Lord and find that there are heroes in our midst.
Would you to know whose stories I have heard this month?

 ~An 87 year old concert violinist has held on to her Lord through the loss of two of her five daughters, and who still teaches violin lessons to ten students!  The music of her life goes on.

~A tea shop owner is open to every opportunity God brings her, and who has developed teas to help a struggling learner, calm an anxious heart and celebrate monumental events in life…all while following the leading of her Adventurous Lord.

~An adoptive mom has taken in four high need babies in three years, literally saving the life of one with her nurturing.

~A young widow is carrying on (with courage) the raising of her three small children after the love of her life passed away.

~A thirteen year daughterof the King doesn’t let her cerebral palsy keep her from writing and recording worship music. She also has a cottage industry with her sister, and her only challenge in life is finding enough time in the day to live out all she dreams of doing and creating to help people and serve her Savior.

                __________________________________

When I was a teenager, there was a song called “Alone Again, Naturally.”  I would sing it by my bedroom window and cry, feeling every word of it described my friendless life in a big inner city high school after leaving a small Catholic middle school. Years later, when I came to know Jesus, He reminded me of those lonely moments and told me that I was really never alone.  He was standing right beside me as I cried those confused adolescent tears. 

Doesn’t it give you courage to know you are surrounded by such love and support, invisible and visible? 

Thank You, dear Lord. God with us.  Thank You for this great Purpose of loving and serving You and for the Company we keep along the way.

The Lord was the Light of our way through dozens of ministries in April and May… when the schedule looks too full, I know it will be only by His Grace that I walk through it. And again, it was!  He was incredible!  I am in awe of the honor it is to be called to this kind of life. I love meeting each dear and precious soul, and hearing the daily, real encounters they are having with their God of Light.  It’s also a role that brings me to my knees as I lift up the needs I hear from town to town and heart to heart. My tears do flow as I drive home from my ministries.  Life is SO hard. But God is SO good, and I hear those stories too. How Alive and Well He is in our midst!

 Light on the altar of Big Run United Methodist Church.

And He is a GOD of SUPRISES!!   Two ladies walked up to me before the concert at the Methodist church in Big Run, PA to ask me if I remembered them. Do you want to know where we met?  Standing on a dock on an island on the French River in Ontario as we stared at the Northern Lights together.  They had a cabin near our family’s at the French River Lodge more than seven years ago.  We had talked about the Creator as we were overwhelmed by His Beauty that summer night, and that week I shared the CD Healer of My Heart with them and we were excited to discover we both served the same Jesus. 

Diane and Audrey live in Buffalo NY and had planned their traveling to include the Big Run concert that evening!  What a delightful thing.

This is Pastor Dawn Krishart and Jenny Gordon after the ministry that evening. Dawn has a beautiful servant heart, and she and her husband Tom hosted me in their home. We had a thought-provoking late night discussion along with hot chai!  Great combination.  

Lakeside United Methodist Church in DuBois, PA is home to amazing creativity and very warm and sincere sisters and brothers in the Lord. I had the honor of singing for both morning services, hearing their bell choir and vocal choir, and joining in on a Sunday School class where the conversation was thoughtful and powerful.

As I walked into the church, these original paintings were throughout the Sunday School wings along all the walls.  Here is the One they are serving with such passion.

A Bible scene~

Janie Borden has the church keys in her hand… she is here with her husband, and had taken much responsiblity for the weekend ladies retreat the day before. 

This is Jenny Gordon again with her husband and daughter~ Jenny was instrumental in putting together the beautiful ladies retreat, and she also sang a the Big Run United Methodist ministry that Saturday night. AND she sang in the choir Sunday morning and played in the bell choir too.  I pray she got a delicious Sunday afternoon nap after we said goodbye!

One of the beautiful windows at Lakeside…

 Cathy and family at Chewton United Methodist Church in Wampum, PA~ This church has a miracle story of a benefactor who isn’t a member, or a resident, but after visiting the church, this man bought them ten acres of land to build a new sanctuary on soon. 

This was their first Mother Daughter Banquet, and Cathy did an excellent job of organizing it.  And I never met a women who had a bruise on her arm from the kick of her rifle after shooting a turkey. Yay, Cath.  A woman who shoots dinner AND roasts it!

Cathy’s energetic daughters~

This is Diana from St Marks’ Lutheran Church in Chesterland, Ohio.  She’s here with her mom and daughters and nieces. What a beautiful day that was!  Also this church’s first Mother Daughter gathering, and SO well done. We loved it there. It was a tea party with all the little delights a tea party should have.

St Marks’ beautiful sanctuary. There’s Julia tuning her guitar.

I haven’t been to Norton Baptist Church in seven years, so it was a joy to visit them again. Some young ladies came up to me to tell me they were just little when I was there last, and they still know the songs.

Here is Jackie and her daughter. She helped to organize the evening~ along with many other willing hearts. That evening was the first time there was a response to my invitation to waltz during the song “Grace.”  Several adorable little girls, maybe two and three years old, stepped into the center aisle in their ruffled dresses, and twirled and twirled.

 More beautiful ladies from Norton Baptist.

We also had the honor of singing for the National Day of Prayer at Packard Music Hall in our hometown of Warren, Ohio. To the left is our gifted percussionist, Jeff Foos.  If you come to any concerts this summer, Julia and I will be singing a song we wrote for that evening. Well, we didn’t write it. They are our Lord’s words, and we put them to music.  We have a new meolody for the Lord’s Prayer.

Please keep us in prayer through the summer and fall months of sharing Christ through these encounters with the people He loves so dearly.  Each invitation is an amazing honor, but we are also seeing some of the deepest brokeness, some very serious situations… the “sea of human need.”   May this music be His medicine for ailing souls. May we point hearts to the Only One Who can rescue and heal. 

“I want to leave a legacy of love
Jesus pour Your life through me with strength from above
So when I am remembered for what I did and who I was
I would leave a legacy of love…”

Fostoria Baptist Church

Amanda, Shirley, Alanah, Avalyn, and Lynn

Look! The lullaby worked! 

Four Generations at Fostoria Baptist…

Liz with daughter Linda, grandaughter Amber, great greatgrandaughters Lilly and Mia

Four Generations at Providence Baptist in Ellwood City, PA

Baby Andrew’s shirt says “Heaven Sent…”  He chose that outfit because he listens to the lullaby CD and that’s his favorite song. 

While I sang it, he was gazing at me with those beautiful big blue eyes!

Hope United Methodist Church in Akron, OH 

Amanda, Amelia , Dolores and Terry