What a Wonderful Husband...

I would just like to point out a few things that make my husband so wonderful!  God blessed me with a man who truly strives to live by Ephesians 5:25.
          "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her."

Here are just a few of my sweet moments with Tim ...
...Tim and I went to see Eclipse with Andrea, Ryan, Steve, and Amanda.  My back has been bothering me so during the movie, when the pain was unbearable, I got up and stood in the walkway.  After awhile, Tim came down to stand with me.  He said he didn't want me to be by myself and he would stand with me as long as I needed.  - How sweet for him to put my needs above his comfort.
...On my first day of school, Tim woke up with me (after getting only three hours of sleep) and made muffins for me.  He also packed my lunch so I could finish getting ready.  - What a helpful husband!
... When we went to bed, Tim wasn't completely tired.  He decided to read his book in bed.  Without me asking, he covered the lamp so there was just enough light for him to see his book.  He leaned over and kissed my head, said he loved me and started rubbing my arm to help me fall asleep.  - He is so thoughtful!

This list could go on and on but I'll save some for another day.  I thank the Lord daily for sending me such a sweet, supportive, loving husband!

Family

All summer was spent with family.  We traveled to them or they traveled to us.  In the past couple weeks we have stayed put and no one has visited.  Basically, I'm starting to miss everyone.  Here is one of my favorite family pictures from the summer. 

A Secret About Me (Liz)

I'm the type of person that does not like to be alone.  I don't like going shopping, getting my hair cut, going to bed, eating, or sitting in my house alone.  Could it be that I don't feel safe or is it that I'm a people person and must have company?  I'm not sure what it is, actually.

Tim has continued his education since we moved from Winston-Salem three years ago.  He was able to attend Piedmont Baptist College because they offered week modules.  Tim would leave me in Beaufort for a week (alone) since I had to be at work.  Needless to say, those weeks were horrible.  I hated coming home to an empty house after work, cooking for just one person, going to bed alone not having Tim around to protect me if someone broke in, and hearing all the new noises at night that I never heard when Tim was around!  I prayed myself to sleep most nights and was so relieved when Friday finally arrived.

When Tim signed up for Southeastern, I was very excited (at least for the first semester).  He would just be gone for one day of the week and would come home that night.  Little did I know he would be signing up for new student orientation and have to leave for an overnight trip so soon.

This brings us back to the beginning...Sitting in an empty house, cooking for just myself, not having anyone to talk to, going to bed without a hero if someone decided to break in, having to fix random items myself if they break, and honestly, I could go on and on.  Yes, I agree, I'm pitiful!

Though I still don't like being alone, I found a few verses that helped me during these times...

        Psalm 32:7 "You are my hiding place, You shall preserve me from trouble, 

You shall surround me with songs of deliverance."  

Matthew 28:20b "... and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Even though Tim may have to leave me when he goes to school, God NEVER leaves me.  What a comfort it is to know that I can still feel safe when I am alone.  He will protect me and hide me under His wings.  He will deliver me when trouble is around. 

Thank You, Lord, for never leaving me and for the protection You provide when I feel helpless and alone!

The Centurion's Wife by: Davis Bunn and Janette Oke

The Centurion's Wife (Acts of Faith series part 1) is the type of story that you want to continue reading in the late hours of the night because it's too good to put down.  The setting is in Jerusalem immediately after the resurrection of Christ.  There are two main characters, Leah (who is one of Pontius Pilate's servants) and Alban (who is the head of a garrison in Galilee, and whose slave was healed by Jesus).  Both are sent on a mission to find out what truly happened to the body of Jesus.  During their quest, Alban and Leah are betrothed, and both of their lives begin to change as they learn the truth of the Messiah.

I highly recommend this book to everyone (men and women).  It's interesting to read a book set in biblical times.  It gives the details of a story we have heard all our lives but in a different view point.  Reading this book opened my eyes to what it must have been like during the death of Christ and the resurrection.  I could put myself in their shoes - really identify with the culture.  The authors did a fantastic job making it seem as though the reader was right there.  It made me appreciate what Christ did for me so many years ago.  We often take the passion story for granted, reading it and meditating on what He did for us once a year on resurrection Sunday.  But this is the most important story to remember and share with others.

Rating: Two thumbs up!

Books We are Reading

So we thought we might interest and hopefully spur you to read some of the good books we've been reading ourselves. At the very least, we will give you our opinions on them. Considering the tastes of Liz and I, you will get a strange variety. If you are interested in "Bible books", then I'll give you some good perspectives (or just perspective, not necessarily good). If perhaps you like Christian fiction, children's books, and things of that nature; Liz will be your resource. She's recently read an interesting series many of you ladies will enjoy hearing about. Any theology nerds out there might like what I have to say. At least you'll see what we were reading (as if you would even care about that =D). Just click on the tab at the top right entitled "Books". Clever, huh? Enjoy!!!

Tim

Unpluckable???

How’s that for a blog name? It randomly came to me when Liz wanted (read: demanded) a good title for the blog. I blurted out the first comical name to encapsulate a cherished doctrine that came to my head. What came out – “Unpluckable! As in we are not able to be plucked out of the hand of the Father or Jesus.” This of course was referring to John 10:28-29:

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"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (KJV)

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Although “pluck” is an archaic English word for “snatch,” it still conveys the idea that believers of Jesus are eternally secure in the hand of Jesus AND in the hand of God the Father. We cannot be removed from that place of blessing and safety. But it also reminds us that it was only by grace that we were put in the hands of God in the first place. This blog is dedicated with that in mind. We are here for His glory, honor, and praise. May everything we say or do on this blog and also in our lives magnify Father, Son, & Spirit.

Tim

His Way is Perfect

In the past few years, Tim and I have gone through a few difficult trials.  One that still lingers is not being able to have children.  When friends/family announce their wonderful news of expecting, it almost feels like a slap in the face.  I used to become bitter after hearing the news, allowing it to eat away at me till I was miserable.  But with out fail, a verse from my devotions would remind me how wrong that was.  One particular day, Psalm 18:30 was the verse that gave me strength and encouragement.  So for all those out there who are struggling to get pregnant, get frustrated when others are pregnant, and sometimes feel a little bitter towards them... I hope this verse gives you the strength to carry on.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

"His way is perfect!" Why should I be bitter by the fact that I am doing exactly what God wants me to, exactly where God wants me to be?  Because of that, I should trust in Him!  I'm thankful (like a couple of my other friends have said before) that I'm able to spend so much 1 on 1 time with Tim.  We have been able to do things that would not have been possible if we had a baby already. 

Thank you Lord for making Your way perfect.  Help us to rest in You, knowing that Your plan is much bigger and better than our own.

Twenty-one Months...

What has happened in the year and 9 months of no blog posts? The Lord has done so many things in our lives. Through these many months, we have been through many trials and tribulations as well as changes and excitements. Here is just a short list I can remember off the top of my head.

~ God blessed us with our 1st pregnancy
~ Two months later, we lost our baby
~ God has given strength and comfort over and over
~ We kept busy at New Hope Baptist Church (where Tim was the pastor)
~ Our new niece was born to Scott & Amy (total of 4 nieces and nephews now)
~ Bought a house and worked hard to fix it up
~ Tim resigned from being pastor at New Hope
~ My brother Nathan married Traci
~ Sold our house and moved (for the 5th time in our marriage)
~ Found out Scott and Amy will be having their 3rd child (makes 5 nieces and nephews)
~ Completed my 3rd year of teaching
~ Found out Nathan and Traci are having a baby after only 3 months of being married (makes 6 nieces and nephews)
~ Started working at Cornerstone Gospel Baptist Church (Tim - music leader/assistant pastor, Liz - piano play)
~ Moved again (for the 6th time in our marriage)
~ Tim signed up and was accepted to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

So how is that for a year and nine months? God has been working in our lives and hearts, and I want to continue sharing what God has done for me. I will try to update more frequently than I have in the past. Please feel free to make comments on what God is doing in your life!