These past few weeks have been….well insane.

Chapel Grove went to the Deeper Still Conference http://www.lifeway.com/ev/events_detail_mainpage/0,2232,E%253D150%2526M%253D200979,00.html

in Greensboro. (the ladies) Speakers were Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur and Travis Cottrell led worship. A few of us from www.unboundministry.com went up a day early to meet with Pam Case from Lifeway. Well, when I say “meet” what I mean to say is have coffee and just talk for a while. Now you tell me, how in the world can this person who’s pretty much plays a major role in this event, have to time to just “chill” for a while with us, the night before the event. On top of that-the airport misplaced her hair products! She sat and listened to us, wanted to hear our hearts and she shared hers. It wasn’t at all her sitting and telling us what we should aspire to one day become. Then the next day and a half was the conference. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Kay shared her heart and burden the America wake up. Priscilla shared her heart that God’s greatness can’t begin to even be fathomed by us. Beth (I loved this) literally felt God changing her topic only moments before she came out! She talked about fellowship with God. Travis and all the singers had a heart for God that was very obvious. It was so wonderful.

Next day, beach. One week of getting tan, sleeping on the beach, jellyfish stings, bingo and so much more. 

Then we came home for three days and Mark and I went to the Connect Conference Threads in Atlanta. http://threadsmedia.com/connect/?cid=Threads-emailCRD20090813Connect We learned so much and I was so thrilled to be able to go. They design it for a very small attendance intentionally so that there could be interaction with the speakers. I’m so challenged by what I learned and felt somewhat of a confirmation about the direction I believe the class has taken.

Came home Saturday night and went to a cookout, and then got ready for Thursday. Had to move Meagan into college in Greensboro and be back home and have Chloe at her new school by 5:00.
Then Friday night-the Jonas Brothers. We got there at 6:30 and I returned home at about 2:00 AM. The concert was fun. We had to make an impromptu IHOP trip on the way home. Praise the Lord I didn’t fall, because we had nosebleed seats, and looking down made me a bit dizzy. But, I’m glad. It was so loud, to be on the bottom would’ve blown my ear drums out. I found this youtube of them yesterday.

Then Saturday I had to go to a funeral. Someone I know died relatively unexpectedly. Lots of tears, and I don’t know if I’ve ever heard kinder words about a person. What is strange, but I believe it was God, I prayed for this individual by name either the day of or a few days before he died. This isn’t a person that I normally pray for.

On the way to the funeral Saturday I asked Chloe to read I Corinthians 13 to me.
1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version)
1 Corinthians 13
Love

1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love

I think what I was wondering about what the Bible says that love is not.

I went into the funeral and it was very emotional for me, and everyone there. I think that’s something that happens as we grow up. We understand more about death, and realize to the extent that we can, it’s final.

They read various scriptures throughout the service. I have never in my remembrance heard what’s quoted as the Love Chapter, read at a funeral. But, to my surprise, they read the entire chapter. I remembered that I had just asked Chloe to read this, and I realized God was trying to tell me something.

I read all the things that I’ve tried to claim that love “is” when the Bible clearly says that love is “not” those things. I just can’t do that anymore. Please forgive me as I change. I have to. I want to. I need to. Love is what will make my life flourish or fail. This is not a request from God. It’s not advice. I have to do this if I want my life to change and I do.

Please continue to pray for Mark. He still has a kidney stone and had a terrible bout with it last night from 2:00 am on. He took 2 pain pills, and when I went home at lunch, he told me as soon as he could get himself together he was going to our church to trim the bushes, before the clean up day Saturday.