In honor of the 21st birthday of Christa and the 15th birthday of Jessica, I write you the following post.
To my new found sisters: Two of the most woderful, godly young ladies I know.
I pray that God will bless you in this next year and that we will celebrate many more birthdays together!
Happy birthday to you both, my friends. I love you!
~Robin <><
sabato, ottobre 22, 2005
giovedì, ottobre 20, 2005
Howdy Y'all!
Fear not, dear friends I didn't turn into salt as I left New Orleans. Of course, I didn't look back (just in case), nor have I acquired a Texas drawl.
The reason that you haven't heard from me is because I have been SOOOO busy.
Since I got here in a nutshell:
Mr McDonald, James VI, Mr. Hildebrandt, and one of the Allison sons came down and packed us up into trailers and moved us here. On the way, we had a blow out. Of course, I (who have been driving since July) was the one driving at the time. Typical, isn't it?
We were traveling with walkie talkies, so we called Mr. McDonald and James to come back and help us. It was a trip, and we didn't get home until 11:30 (and had a very late dinner).
Just a few days after we got here, the family who was running the tea room resigned. We now are at the tea room sometimes until in the wee hours of the morning getting prepared because there is just so much to do. It's getting better as we are learning the systems better etc., and we are still so grateful to be here.
The McDonald family is full of very wonderful and very distinct people and personalities. Here is my take on the oldest 5:
James VI - well, I really don't know him personally at all, but he does a great job on the magazine! :)
Christa is sweet and quiet. She's sensitive, and very loving
Tiffany is JUST like me (yeah, I know you're terrified now) but we get along great
Melissa is quiet and loves to be at home caring for the children and house
Jessica is a TRIP! Quite the Drama Queen. She's always smiling and spreading good cheer!
The younger ones are too young to really have much differentiation.
Anyway, this hasn't turned out how we expected (because of the resignation etc) but we're still thrilled to be here and settling in to our new home.
Later,
~Robin <><
PS The Astro's won and are going to some kind of big baseball thing. Everyone's thrilled. Go figure.
The reason that you haven't heard from me is because I have been SOOOO busy.
Since I got here in a nutshell:
Mr McDonald, James VI, Mr. Hildebrandt, and one of the Allison sons came down and packed us up into trailers and moved us here. On the way, we had a blow out. Of course, I (who have been driving since July) was the one driving at the time. Typical, isn't it?
We were traveling with walkie talkies, so we called Mr. McDonald and James to come back and help us. It was a trip, and we didn't get home until 11:30 (and had a very late dinner).
Just a few days after we got here, the family who was running the tea room resigned. We now are at the tea room sometimes until in the wee hours of the morning getting prepared because there is just so much to do. It's getting better as we are learning the systems better etc., and we are still so grateful to be here.
The McDonald family is full of very wonderful and very distinct people and personalities. Here is my take on the oldest 5:
James VI - well, I really don't know him personally at all, but he does a great job on the magazine! :)
Christa is sweet and quiet. She's sensitive, and very loving
Tiffany is JUST like me (yeah, I know you're terrified now) but we get along great
Melissa is quiet and loves to be at home caring for the children and house
Jessica is a TRIP! Quite the Drama Queen. She's always smiling and spreading good cheer!
The younger ones are too young to really have much differentiation.
Anyway, this hasn't turned out how we expected (because of the resignation etc) but we're still thrilled to be here and settling in to our new home.
Later,
~Robin <><
PS The Astro's won and are going to some kind of big baseball thing. Everyone's thrilled. Go figure.
venerdì, ottobre 14, 2005
"Remember Lot's Wife"
Well, today is the day! The men will be here this evening to load up our stuff, and tomorrow we will head across to Texas.
As we draw so near to the day when we will be gone from New Orleans, I have really worked up an understanding for Lot's Wife. Here I am living in a city that is well known across the country for it's wickedness and perversion, but yet, there is something about it that I know will want to make me look back as we leave.
I always wondered "Why in the world did she look back? That place was so evil!"
The Bible doesn't tell us why she looked back, but if it's anything like my attachment to New Orleans, she looked back because it was home. Because the city was captivating and interesting. Because she had friends there that she was leaving behind. They were wicked, no doubt, but a certain portion of her life was spent in this place with these people.
Of course, an angel didn't come to my house and tell me to leave New Orleans and never look back, and I'll not pretend to think that it's as bad as Sodom (though some would disagree with me), but I've always known that whenever we got out of this place, it would be a deliverance.
So, we are being delivered tomorrow :)
I wonder what the next year will hold?
~Robin <><
As we draw so near to the day when we will be gone from New Orleans, I have really worked up an understanding for Lot's Wife. Here I am living in a city that is well known across the country for it's wickedness and perversion, but yet, there is something about it that I know will want to make me look back as we leave.
I always wondered "Why in the world did she look back? That place was so evil!"
The Bible doesn't tell us why she looked back, but if it's anything like my attachment to New Orleans, she looked back because it was home. Because the city was captivating and interesting. Because she had friends there that she was leaving behind. They were wicked, no doubt, but a certain portion of her life was spent in this place with these people.
Of course, an angel didn't come to my house and tell me to leave New Orleans and never look back, and I'll not pretend to think that it's as bad as Sodom (though some would disagree with me), but I've always known that whenever we got out of this place, it would be a deliverance.
So, we are being delivered tomorrow :)
I wonder what the next year will hold?
~Robin <><
mercoledì, ottobre 12, 2005
What does the Bible have to say about us?
Matt 5:13
I am the salt of the earth
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."
Matt 5:14
I am the light of the earth
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."
John 1:12
I am God's child
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
John 15:1,5
I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener."
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:16
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."
1 Cor 3:16
I am God's temple
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
1 Cor 12:27
I am a member of Christ's body
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
2 Cor 5:17,18
I am a minister of reconciliation for God
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
Eph 1:1
I am a saint
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus
Eph 2:6
I have been raised up and I am seated with Christ
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus
Eph 2:10
I am God's workmanship
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Phil 3:20
I am a citizen of heaven
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ
Rom 5:1
I have been justified
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
1 Cor 6:17
I am joined to the Lord and I am one spirit with Him
But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
1 Cor 6:20
I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.
You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Cor 12:27
I am a member of Christ's body
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
2 Cor 5:21
I have been made righteous
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Eph 1:5
I have been adopted as God's child
He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
Eph 2:18
I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit
For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Eph 2:19
I am of God's household
I am a fellow citizen with the rest of the saints
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household
Eph 3:12
I may approach God with boldness and confidence
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Col 1:14
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins
In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Col 2:10
I am complete in Christ
And you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
John 1:12
I am a child of God
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
Rom 8:28
I am assured that all things work together for good
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:35
I cannot be separated from the love of God
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Rom 8:1
I am free forever from condemnation
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Rom 8:33
I am free from any condemning charges against me
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
2 Cor 1:21
I have been established, annointed & sealed by God
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us
Eph 1:13,14
I have been given the Holy Spirit as a pledge, guaranteeing my inheritance to come.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
Col 1:13
I have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Christ.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves
Col 3:3
I am hidden with Christ in God
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Phil 1:6
I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
2 Tim 1:7
I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Heb 4:16
I can find grace and mercy in time of need
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
1 John 5:18
I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.
I am the salt of the earth
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."
Matt 5:14
I am the light of the earth
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."
John 1:12
I am God's child
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
John 15:1,5
I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener."
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:16
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."
1 Cor 3:16
I am God's temple
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
1 Cor 12:27
I am a member of Christ's body
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
2 Cor 5:17,18
I am a minister of reconciliation for God
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
Eph 1:1
I am a saint
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus
Eph 2:6
I have been raised up and I am seated with Christ
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus
Eph 2:10
I am God's workmanship
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Phil 3:20
I am a citizen of heaven
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ
Rom 5:1
I have been justified
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
1 Cor 6:17
I am joined to the Lord and I am one spirit with Him
But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
1 Cor 6:20
I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.
You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Cor 12:27
I am a member of Christ's body
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
2 Cor 5:21
I have been made righteous
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Eph 1:5
I have been adopted as God's child
He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
Eph 2:18
I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit
For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Eph 2:19
I am of God's household
I am a fellow citizen with the rest of the saints
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household
Eph 3:12
I may approach God with boldness and confidence
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Col 1:14
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins
In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Col 2:10
I am complete in Christ
And you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
John 1:12
I am a child of God
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
Rom 8:28
I am assured that all things work together for good
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:35
I cannot be separated from the love of God
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Rom 8:1
I am free forever from condemnation
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Rom 8:33
I am free from any condemning charges against me
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
2 Cor 1:21
I have been established, annointed & sealed by God
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us
Eph 1:13,14
I have been given the Holy Spirit as a pledge, guaranteeing my inheritance to come.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
Col 1:13
I have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Christ.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves
Col 3:3
I am hidden with Christ in God
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Phil 1:6
I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
2 Tim 1:7
I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Heb 4:16
I can find grace and mercy in time of need
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
1 John 5:18
I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.
domenica, ottobre 09, 2005
The Sad Days of Farewell
For the last two days we have had many hard goodbyes to say. It has been quite emotionally draining. Yesterday we said goodbye to our very dear friends with whom we go back many years. Today - our church family. First at Berean, the church where I grew up, and second, our home church. I shall miss my dear brothers and sisters very much.
At the home church, we had one final theology discussion (debate?). It all started when my friend, Christian, said: "So, Leah says you're becoming a Presbyterian. How in the world could anyone be a Calvinist?" And so it began. This is the only theology discussion he and I had ever had, so I was surprised that he ever brought it up in the first place. We are usually the ones who walk out when the conversation makes the turn towards this subject. We talked for some time, he and I, then others started gathering around and adding their two cents. This was fine, but it did change the dynamic of the conversation. We ended up all agreeing to disagree and acknowledging that we're all still going to heaven, even though we disagree on the subject (which is how every theological conversation on this Calvinistic vs. Armenian theology has ended up for our church). It was a typical Sunday, an apt farewell.
When I told him "Well Christian, I shall miss arguing with you" he replied (with his usual quick wit) "Hey, there's always e-mail debates". He always makes me laugh, then wonders what I'm laughing about. Though 5 years my junior, we got along nicely. I wonder what he shall grow into?
Monday is fast approaching...and the men will be here to move us on Friday! Everything is happening so very quickly!
In the midst of it all, I was reminded today of the hurting, broken city that we live in as we drove further into the areas with the most destruction from Katrina. So much despair, darkness and hopelessness looms for most. I can't imagine going through something of this magnitude without the grace and peace of our Savior.
With this I leave you:
"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace! Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is discord, harmony. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sorrow, joy. Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."
Goodnight, dear readers!
~Robin <><
At the home church, we had one final theology discussion (debate?). It all started when my friend, Christian, said: "So, Leah says you're becoming a Presbyterian. How in the world could anyone be a Calvinist?" And so it began. This is the only theology discussion he and I had ever had, so I was surprised that he ever brought it up in the first place. We are usually the ones who walk out when the conversation makes the turn towards this subject. We talked for some time, he and I, then others started gathering around and adding their two cents. This was fine, but it did change the dynamic of the conversation. We ended up all agreeing to disagree and acknowledging that we're all still going to heaven, even though we disagree on the subject (which is how every theological conversation on this Calvinistic vs. Armenian theology has ended up for our church). It was a typical Sunday, an apt farewell.
When I told him "Well Christian, I shall miss arguing with you" he replied (with his usual quick wit) "Hey, there's always e-mail debates". He always makes me laugh, then wonders what I'm laughing about. Though 5 years my junior, we got along nicely. I wonder what he shall grow into?
Monday is fast approaching...and the men will be here to move us on Friday! Everything is happening so very quickly!
In the midst of it all, I was reminded today of the hurting, broken city that we live in as we drove further into the areas with the most destruction from Katrina. So much despair, darkness and hopelessness looms for most. I can't imagine going through something of this magnitude without the grace and peace of our Savior.
With this I leave you:
"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace! Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is discord, harmony. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sorrow, joy. Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."
Goodnight, dear readers!
~Robin <><
venerdì, ottobre 07, 2005
Ahh, the feeling of autumn!
Autumn is definitely in the air today, Ladies and Gentlemen!
I woke up at 3:30 this morning sneezing, sniffling and stuffed up...a sure sign of weather change. After two big glasses of water and two cups of steaming Echinacea tea, I felt infinitely better and decided to go back to sleep. When I woke up, lo and behold, it was cool outside! And not just slightly cool, mind you; it was cool enough for me to have to go inside and put on a sweater before returning back outdoors. It's quite heavenly.
God was so kind to give me some coolness during my last days in New Orleans...this shall be a wonderful way to remember my last week in Cajun Country.
Did I say one week? Ah yes, I had almost forgotten. The wonderful families from our new church in Texas are coming to move us on the fourteenth. That is very soon.
We have gotten rid of a TON of stuff, though. We're just about finished with the de-cluttering stage, which is the hardest part, so packing should be easy riding from here.
Saluti!
~Robin <><
The-cool-calm-and-collected-soon-to-be-Texan.
I woke up at 3:30 this morning sneezing, sniffling and stuffed up...a sure sign of weather change. After two big glasses of water and two cups of steaming Echinacea tea, I felt infinitely better and decided to go back to sleep. When I woke up, lo and behold, it was cool outside! And not just slightly cool, mind you; it was cool enough for me to have to go inside and put on a sweater before returning back outdoors. It's quite heavenly.
God was so kind to give me some coolness during my last days in New Orleans...this shall be a wonderful way to remember my last week in Cajun Country.
Did I say one week? Ah yes, I had almost forgotten. The wonderful families from our new church in Texas are coming to move us on the fourteenth. That is very soon.
We have gotten rid of a TON of stuff, though. We're just about finished with the de-cluttering stage, which is the hardest part, so packing should be easy riding from here.
Saluti!
~Robin <><
The-cool-calm-and-collected-soon-to-be-Texan.
lunedì, ottobre 03, 2005
Sold?
On Saturday, the day after we returned home from Mississippi, before most people knew we were moving, before most people even knew we were home, and long before we had a chance to put a "For Sale" sign in our front yard: someone found out through the grapevine that our house might be getting ready to be up for sale.
That person came to look at our house as soon as we gave them the okay. Today we found out that they definitely want it.
Could it be? Before it was even on the market, the first person we've ever shown it to wants it. And they not only want it, but they have the resources (because of some newly acquired inheritance money) to pay for it cash. No going through realtors, no going through mortgage companies...
It's not definite yet, mind you, but if they back out, we've got at least 1 other person who is really interested. If they fall through as well, the realtors are calling wanting us to list with them.
When I said that the house market was really hot right now, I didn't know it was quite this hot!
So, if this one goes through, they want it at the latest by the end of the month!
The pressure is on! I think I'll get back to packing up the Library now.
~Robin <><
That person came to look at our house as soon as we gave them the okay. Today we found out that they definitely want it.
Could it be? Before it was even on the market, the first person we've ever shown it to wants it. And they not only want it, but they have the resources (because of some newly acquired inheritance money) to pay for it cash. No going through realtors, no going through mortgage companies...
It's not definite yet, mind you, but if they back out, we've got at least 1 other person who is really interested. If they fall through as well, the realtors are calling wanting us to list with them.
When I said that the house market was really hot right now, I didn't know it was quite this hot!
So, if this one goes through, they want it at the latest by the end of the month!
The pressure is on! I think I'll get back to packing up the Library now.
~Robin <><
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