26 Years

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." [ John 14:6 ]

Jesus did not say, "I am one of many relative options to the way and the truth and the life. If you feel like this is a belief that is comfortable for you, you can come to the Father through me."

Twenty-six years ago today, I was compelled to make the most important decision of my life. One that was more important than where I went to college, what I was going to do when I found out I was pregnant, or if I should marry Danny. That decision was to believe that Jesus is who he says he is: "The way and the truth and the life." To believe He is not a liar and intolerant, but that He is the ONLY choice for Truth and Life.

On August 13, 1983 at 13 years old I had joined my best friend and her church youth group for a day trip to the beach. As far as I knew, it was just going to be a fun day at the beach. But as I spent the day with this group and especially on the ride home in the van, I knew there was something different about them. They had something I did not. They had some kind of peace, some kind of something, and I had never seen it before, but I knew I wanted it too. What they had, was the way, the truth and the life.

As my friend and I sat in the parking lot of the church waiting to be picked up by her parents to go home, I remember asking her who Jesus was. I had been to church before at my grandmother's in VA many times and there was plenty of talk to Jesus and hell and being saved, but none of it ever made sense to me. I was Daddy's girl and since my father had rejected the beliefs of his parents, and was such a smart man, I naturally followed his lead.

But this night would be different. When I finally got home and lay awake in my bed, I could not stop thinking about what I had sensed and could not shake who Jesus was. No one told me how to say a special prayer, no one was there to urge me to "accept Jesus", but the Spirit of God had taken hold of me and without a word spoken, my heart acknowledged to God that night "You are God. And I need You."

Does it take deep doctrine and theology to convince someone of who Christ is? No. What kind of knowledge, what kind of insight, what kind of wisdom could a 13 year-old have?

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. [Matthew 11:25]

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." [Matthew 18:3]

My point being that it was nothing about ME that showed me who God is, it was His working and revealing. They say statistically as one gets older the less likely they will be open to the gospel of Jesus. Children don't have egos and pride and self-promotion and independence the same way adults do. Children don't define themselves by resumes, social status, accomplishments, influence, etc. the way adults do. They are innocent and don't know much. They do not have to over analyze and weigh the pros and the cons and consider the various outcomes and sacrifices. They are innocent and able to receive the truth.

As an adult now and as a Christian of 26 years, I find that the truth is sometimes the hardest thing to believe and live by, but it is the only thing that will set you free and will give you life.
Jesus is the way to get you to the truth which will give you life. The other options are all a detour to the lie which will give you death.

The Return of Female Teenager

YAY! Lauren is on the train from VA on her way home to Raleigh. She'll be home around 4:30 and Danny and I are excited to have her home. While she was gone this summer, I took the liberty of redecorating her room, which when she finally moves out will be the guest room too. With the help of Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, Walmarchey, Ross and TJMaxx I tried to put together a room that still had all her stuff but was more ordered and neat and provided her with much needed space to use.

I hope she likes it. She doesn't really have a choice, but everything looks way better than it did and is much more "grown-up" then what she had. I think she will enjoy the painting of her hung up too.

Here are pics of the room!

Charleston, SC

This past weekend we met up with our best buddies Zoe and Stuart in Charleston. I haven't been to Charleston since I was 18, so its been a couple of years : ) Danny actually lived there years and years ago so he was the travel agent and found a 2 bedroom apartment right in the heart of the city for us to share and it was perfect! We had good parking and were in walking distance from everything.

The initial reason for the Charleston trip was for Danny and Stuart to attend a Christian men's conference Iron Sharpens Iron. This left Zoe and I lots of "girl time" all day Saturday.

Friday we met up at the Tanger Outlet Mall first where Zoe and I did a little bit of damage to our pocket books at Ann Taylor. (This is good damage, no?). Don't be fooled, the men did their own shopping for mandals at Clark's and then the Nike store! Luckily for us, they did not by anything matching ..... Zoe and I actually bought the same dress! I was tempted to buy one for each of the Wine-Price girls, but I knew Beth (yes, you) would be opposed to the idea.

Next year we are going on a cruise together to celebrate all of us turning 40 and there is constant chatter about acquisition of cruise attire. How funny would it be for all 7 of us girls to wear the same dress?!

Anyways, back to this trip. Friday night was dinner in the apartment with crab cakes, rice and asparagus and gabbing and a movie. Saturday the boys were gone, and Zoe and I did our power walk around Charleston and saw the battery to rainbow row to the slaves' market. The weather was HOT and STICKY!!! I'm telling you what, I thought I was from New England the way the weather affected me. Later that day we headed out again for lunch and walked to the end of Charleston for pedicures --- which were wonderful! Our toes are gorgeous!

Saturday night we got all dressed up and went the Peninsula Grill -- named Charleston's top restaurant 9 years in row. Yes, it was hoity toity, but I hate to get all Langley High School on you, but I love, love, LOVE a fine dining experience!

We were definitely not the $800 bottle of wine clientele, but the sommelier sold Danny (and Stuart) on a Cabernet Sauvignon by the Californian winery Steele. I on the other hand had a glass of bubbly. Zoe? Well, she opted for "Charleston" water over bottled.

As for dinner, (Catrina this is for you):

I had:
PAN ROASTED MUSCOVY DUCK BREAST
with Creamy Spinach Flan, Duck Confit Spring Roll and Port Wine Jus

Danny:
Some sort of fish special

Zoe:
PEPPERED SEARED NY STRIP “AU POIVRE”
with Crispy Potato Cake, Teeny Weeny Benne Beans and Brandy Pan Sauce

Stuart:
Grouper of some sort with beets. He was all about the beets.

For dessert we shared their famous coconut cake:
"Twelve layers of pure indulgence, The Ultimate Coconut Cake is infused with coconut and fresh vanilla. Unlike most traditional coconut cakes, the pound cake center is topped with an icing made from cream and butter, coated in toasted coconut and dripping with simple syrup."

Seriously? Food is an absolute gift from God. I thank my God for my tastebuds. I shall use them as much as I can before I get too old to taste anything!

The evening was topped off by a visit to the River Street Candy Store. (Don't even say it.) There were purchases of chocolate mint fudge, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered marshmellows, and chocolate covered peanut butter Ritz crackers! Not to mention the free tastings of the Savannah pralines. And that doesn't include what the Gardners purchased!

Sunday we made breakfast in the apartment and then headed out for another walk of the city with the guys. Plus I had to walk off some of that coconut cake!

As much as I enjoyed the shopping and the food and spending time in the southern charm of Charleston, it was really the blessing and pure joy of hanging out with Zoe. There's nothing like one on one friend time where you can talk and laugh together in person. All four of us were grateful that God provided us with the means to have a weekend of indulgence!