Soothing Balm

Does anyone remember the old hymn, "There is a Balm in Gilead"?

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead

To heal the sin sick soul.
Some times I feel discouraged

And think my work’s in vain,

But then the Holy Spirit

Revives my soul again.

I know the hymn is referring to Jesus as being that "balm" for our souls and praise His name, He is, and what a soothing balm He is, but may I say that I find this place, "blogville", to be a soothing balm also for this wounded soul.

As most of you know I am married to a pastor and I was wounded today in church...yes I said church...by negative comments made about him. I did not retaliate or respond how my flesh wanted....the Holy Spirit keeps Colossians 3:12-14 ever before me when it comes to church family relationships. So after I spent some time "telling on them" to Jesus, I came here. Visiting your pages and seeing God at work in your lives is so uplifting and encouraging. In my mind, this community of "blog sistas" is what church should be like...always encouraging, always uplifting, we bear one another's burdens, we weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice, and always Jesus is magnified! Thank you girls, for ministering to me. Even when I don't get to post as I would like to, I still visit with you and gain strength and encouragement from your journeys.....your the BOMB! The Holy Spirit has used YOU and the promises of His Word to revive this wounded soul! Praise Him!

May we all live out the teaching of Colossians 3:12-14 (especially me, at this time!):

So as those who have been chosen of God , holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity

To God be the glory!

And the award goes to.....

As I mentioned in my last post, my "twin sis" Patty has given me the "You Make Me Smile Award". Just like her, I would like to give it to all my bloggity friends because that is the very reason I visit them all.....they make me smile! But since I can only pass it on to one, I would like to bestow this upon my sista Susanne at Truly Captivating. Since I began visiting with her I have watched her love for Jesus and His word grow more and more and it has made me smile big time! Another reason she makes me smile is because she's a dancin' Baptist just like me and we love to praise Him in the dance! I look forward to the day when she and I can get together and get our praise on! Maybe at the Siesta Fiesta?

Continuing to go "Deeper Still"

WOW!!! What a weekend I had ! I would have posted sooner, but it's taken me the last few days just to assimilate all I experienced. I wanted to go Deeper Still and I was not disappointed (does He ever disappoint?.......NOT! or as Kay Arthur says.....DUH!) I heard the word of God taught with such power and authority, I worshiped in spirit and truth with 20,000 plus women, I met and fellowshiped with my online "siestas" who have prayed for me, encouraged me, and have inspired me with their love for Jesus, and I got to go to the event with my best friend of 25 years and...and...we traveled with a group of precious women she works with as a home health nurse. They were so much fun! We bonded immediately (that's what Jesus will do for you!). Heaven practice....that's what it was.....heaven practice! Except when we get there, we won't need the Word taught to us, we will be with the Word...in His very presence, and we like the disciple John, "will behold His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Come Lord Jesus, come! I so want to go to Atlanta next year...trying to make that happen. If you haven't had the chance to attend "Deeper Still" go...just go...it's so worth it!

Meeting the "siestas" was so much fun! I finally got to meet my "twin sis" Patty who, by the way, was the coordinator and T-shirt designer for the siesta meet-up Saturday afternoon. You can see our picture on her blog (I left my camera in my seat and just didn't have the strength to go back and get it!) and also on the LPM blog. What fun.....thanks Patty! I also want to thank Patty for the sweet award she bestowed upon me today. The "You Make Me Smile Award". She makes me smile too! I will be passing this award on tomorrow.

Remember sweet friends, every day is an opportunity to go Deeper Still!

I'm going "Deeper Still!"

Ok girls....I'm asking you to "rejoice with those who rejoice" and am I ever rejoicing! Tomorrow morning I am headed to Nashville to attend the "Deeper Still" event with Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shirer! My best friend lives near Chattanooga and I'm meeting up with her, then Friday, it's off to Nashville we go to "sit under the spout where the glory comes out!" And if that were not enough, I am going to get to meet some of our "blog siestas" there also! Ain't God good?!!!!!! Patty at Girlfriends in God has arranged a little siesta get together for us and we even have T-shirts so we can find each other! You're the best twin sis!! I have been looking forward to this for almost a year now and my heart is just beating wildly in anticipation of what God is going to do. There is no doubt in my mind He is going to do BIG...HUGE...GINORMOUS things this weekend! Oh, how I need a word from the Lord this weekend and I know I will receive it and much more! I wish you all could be there! I'm really not kidding when I say I will be thinking of all of you who I visit so often and who come to see me. We need to be making plans for the "Siesta Fiesta" so we can all get together! I have camera packed and plan to give details when I return. Pray for us!!