The Lord is my shepherd....

Hello dear porchers! Beloved Hubby and I are blessed to have two wonderfully strong God seeking young women in our immediate family. There's Jessica Ann, (AKA Grant's mommy) our firstborn, and Carey, (AKA Emerson's mommy) brought to the family by our number one son. This evening I'm honored to have Carey here as a guest blogger. I hope you enjoy her thoughts. We do! Hugs, Shellie

The Lord is my shepherd...

I shall not want.

The beginning of the 23rd Psalm, one of my favorites as a child, and the first scripture I ever memorized. How could it be that I've known that scripture for almost 15 years and never really thought about what it means? Honestly, almost everyone knows this passage. I've read it myself and heard it read countless times, and not until the last couple of days have I stopped and pondered on it....

I just finished reading a series of books by Francine Rivers (a wonderful author by the way) called The Mark of the Lion. There is scripture all throughout and that line "the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" for some reason caught my attention. The series is set in ancient Rome and trust me many people lived in want during that time. It is absolutely atrocious how little life was valued. But those early Christians clung to the knowledge that God was the Good Shepherd and in Him they would not want for anything. As I read and pictured these people living in dire situations, persecuted even till death for their faith; I thought of how blessed I am. Seriously, if I want to go on the street corner and yell to the top of my lungs that Jesus is Lord, I might get some funny looks, people might talk about me, they may even ostracize me; but no one would feed me to a pack of lions or wild dogs for entertainment.

Do we ever really stop and think about how much we have and yet we still want for more?

I find myself walking through a store, any store, even Wal-Mart picking something up, wanting it and then saying, "No I don't have enough money, or I don't really need it, but man, I want it!" Even as a Christian, I still want what this world has to offer...why? I believe it's because I constantly feed on the world, I constantly look to them for what I'm supposed to say, what I'm supposed to look like, heck even what I'm supposed to cook for supper. I live in want, simply because I go to the wrong source for my sustenance.

Jesus said come and eat of the bread of life and you will hunger no more. You will not want from the world because you will know that the Lord alone can satisfy! Beloved, feed on His Wonderful Words of Life! Don't just memorize them or read them or hear them, but feed on them.

You shall want no more.

~Carey

Today's 3 R's: Round Ball, Rambling and Refreshment!

'Fess up, time.

I woke up this morning wishing I could just stay home. It'd been another very long week, albeit a good one, and the bones were weary. Beloved hubby was scheduled to drive in from his week long hunting trip in Kansas and I was in a nesting mood, eager to see him and thinking about how nice it'd be to put a big pot of soup in the crockpot and settle in with the hard-to-get-around-to current manuscript. Instead, I was looking at an hour and forty-five minute drive and a speaking engagement. For the record, Dixie Belle was even more unhappy with my plans. Boy, that dog can pout.

It wasn't easy, but I began surrendering my attitude to the Father's plans. (Hey-- this is a confession folks.) Total honesty-- God loves it. Our hearts are never a surprise to Him, but baring them and inviting Him to change 'em is all He asks.

I would be speaking to a group of pastors' wives while the men met separately. When I accepted the invitation months ago, I'd been informed that it would be a small group, (which matters to me none at all), and told that the need was for refreshment. Laughs and inspiration, Mrs. Bessie had said. That's what these ladies need. That's what I asked the Father to help me give them.

I told the pouting dog good-bye in the carport, promising her a game of fetch upon my return, and shoved in the praised and worship tape Rhonda, AKA Madness Czar, had burned for me last month when we were ministering together in Mississippi, (thanks Madness). I knew if I made my mouth start recounting His glory, my heart would catch up. And, of course, it did. Before long I had to pause the tape to pray, and then back to song, prayer, song, prayer, song, the miles came and went. By the time I arrived at my destination, which included a spell where I thought I was lost and had daughter in Houston google the address and make sure I was headed in the right direction (oh, the wonders of technology), Eyore had long since morphed back into Tigger.

I parked my car at Seeker Springs Ministry Center at 9:30 A.M. with awe in my heart for the beautiful day as I took in the interesting vista before me. By now my spirit was fully awake and up to speed. Another surprise awaited when I opened the car door. Was that the sound of someone playing basketball inside the building? This ex-coach LOVES me some basketball and the sound is pretty unmistakeable to me, but I decided that it couldn't be. (Stay tuned.)

Walking up to the building was neat in itself. A gorgeous wrap-around porch stretched before me, outfitted with a couple dozen rocking chairs.

And then, I was thru this door and immediately in the presence of a smiling group of folks, and the lady who had invited me. They were instant friends!

And yes-- right behind them, visible through the foyer, was nothing but-- a GYM-- a full-sized gym and a handful of people shooting roundball! Come to find out, this retreat center was once a vibrant country school. Okay, so I know you're wondering. The answer is YES, of course! It wasn't but a few minutes and I was out of the heels and shooting basketball with my new buds!

We had a blast and that was BEFORE it was time for the meeting. That, was another blessing entirely. Oh, the joy of sharing laughter and love with those pastors' wives will be with me for a while! Let's just say that I rambled all over the place and they didn't mind one bit!

After the meeting, and before a fantabulous lunch was spread out, I slipped around and took some pics of the place. Below is a shot of the softball field and the gazebo meeting place outdoors.

Here's a shot of the pool out back. You can't see it well in the pic, but there's also a big porch back here in case some folks would rather watch the water fun from the shade.

I left Seeker Springs totally today feeling like I had just been privileged to one of my Heavenly Father's Super Set-ups. I hope and pray those women were just half as refreshed as I was by our visit. I love the way He does things. Everything with our Father is a win/win. Yes, the day was for those ladies, but because He is who He is, it was also about rest and respite for me! I could almost hear my Father planning the day..." Oh, and Jesus, let's throw in some basketball. You know, she does love that silly game."

There's more here-- I had one forever more awesome idea while I was there that is continuing to percolate in my spirit, but the time is not quite right to spill it, not yet. Beloved Hubby is home and I want to spend more time talking to him and I also need more time with the Father to iron out the wrinkles. When I do announce it, we'll reference this post.

Y'all take care and have a good day in the Lord's house tomorrow. I plan to.

Hugs,

Shellie

Oh, yeah-- I did it. I said I would!

P.S. When it's been several decades since you actually cheered, things tend to slip your memory. Case in point, as the Madness Czar (aka, BFF Rhonda) and I were walking into Jehovah Java she said, "You do have on bloomers, don't you?"

"Bloomers?!! I knew something didn't feel right."

Hence, no jump at the end of the cheer. But seriously, folks, y'all have to give me my props for going this far, right? And speaking of props, thanks again to everyone who helped ATS raise $4,800 to drill a well for a needy community. I love y'all to pieces!

Hugs,

Shellie

It's Grant's Style

It's only a matter of time until this crawling style gives way to some real boot scooting boogie.

Hugs,
Shellie

The Angel of Lake Providence

Hey sweet porchers,

Ok, so in reality, you're looking at a kudzu covered beacon at the airport near my home. In my crazy noggin, however, she's The Angel of Lake Providence. Can you look past the weather sock and the steel cage and see her quiet beauty?

Dixie Belle and I have been admiring the kudzu angel on our evening walks for some time. I've thought about sharing her with y'all a dozen times in the past few months, but my cell camera wouldn't do her justice.

The other day I finally came home and got a real camera and drove to the airport to get a better shot. As you consider her image, I'd like to encourage you to join me in giving thanks to Abba Father for the wondrous incomprehensible love of our Savior! Behold the love that led the Creator to step out of glory and into the image of man to rescue those He fashioned from dust and make a way for them to come into His presence. To quote the Psalmist:

What is man, that thou are mindful of him?

and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,

and hast crowned him with glory and honor.

— Psalm 84: 4 - 5

I'm glad I took our kudzu angel's picture when I did. While I was at the airport my friend, Barry, told me the vines were interfering with the tower and they were getting ready to strip her nekkid, so to speak. While that makes me a little bit sad, it only serves to provide more fodder for praise. When our kudzu angel is no more, the Father's love will be as strong and enduring as ever. Join me, will you?

"Give thanks to the LORD for He is good and His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

Hugs,

Shellie

Props for the Medical Profession

Beloved hubby busted me out of the hospital yesterday evening. ATS will be swearing off medical jokes for the foreseeable future. I have a total new appreciation for the profession. So, here's the short rundown...

Kidney stones are evil. Mine is still with me. Fever and swollen kidney prevented them from blasting it. Instead they gifted my insides with a stint one day and removed it two days later. (Trust me, you don't want more details on that.) They have plans to blast bothersome stone to smithereens Monday.

I'm so thankful I had a Madness Czar in place. Huge kudos to Red for keeping this thing from running into the ditch in my absence! You just couldn't ask for a better friend/assistant. Thanks are in order also for Mike, ATS Radio Production Czar, and Irene, Czar of KWCL, for seeing to it that classic reruns are running.

I will have to ask y'all a favor now. I'm trying to read thru all the caring Facebook wall posts, Facebook wall to walls, personal emails, and DM twitters. I hope you'll understand my decision to try and jump back into the ongoing conversation as I can. I just don't think I can respond to each of these individually unless it's business that must be addressed. We'll see. Right now my the couch is calling, loud. Later.

Hugs,

Shellie

P.S. Almost forgot-- thanks to Linda in PA for yet another wonderful donation to our Water from the Porch Drive. Thanks also to Amy in LA! All told, our new running total is $4,200! We're only six hundred dollars from our goal. I'm so thankful to you all.

Jumping Fit AKA Dancing with Strangers

Just got notice that we are delayed! Not good. Got a tight connection in Atlanta. Oh, well, it has given me time to offer y'all proof that I am a woman of my word. I give you a jumping fit with additonal footage of Dancing With Strangers.

Please pray I make connections!

Hugs
Shellie

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