Speaking of Blossoms...

Appropriately following yesterday's post, I have stories of literal blossoms in my life! :)

I do work with some great people. Thoughtful and kind...and always trying to make me smile!

Yesterday, one of our secretaries surprised me with a belated birthday party-let. She brought me a gift and took pictures of me opening it (which redeemed the lack of pictures during the May office birthday bash).

And she brought these gorgeous flowers!

These came from her yard! I don't think I'd ever leave my yard if such beautiful flowers grew there.

Love them! The blooms are enormous and they have brightened my little corner the last two days.

Today I was bent over a list, working hard, when a knock at my door revealed the delivery of these:

I must tell you that truly, truly, truly, one of my biggest wishes in life is to get flowers at work. I think you've arrived when someone delivers flowers to you.

They were a birthday gift from my Monday lunch date, Jenny. Does she know me, or what? Flower delivery - and purple flowers at that! Thank you, Jenny!!

Blossoms in the Desert

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. ~ Isaiah 35:1-2

I am on a journey.

A wilderness. A desert. A place that is sometimes lonely but yet precious because in the loneliness, I can sense the Lord's nearness in a way I never have before.

I don't want to stay here.

I don't want to decorate the place and make it my home. I do not aspire to be like the Israelites and camp out for 40 years. But while I'm here, I want to learn. I want to grow. I want to cast aside the fears and bondage of my past and walk into the Promised Land free and whole.

No decorating. But I do love a good blossom in the desert. A little bit of beauty to give me hope that the Promised Land is on the other side of this thing.

Silly though it may sound, that's why I gave the blog a makeover. I was tired of peppy polka dots. I needed something that represented the journey. So I made the thing over.

Silly though it may sound, that's why I went clothes shopping on Saturday. Walked out (after paying of course!) with six new pairs of pants that fit. I walked into the office and one of the girls said You got clothes that fit! Look at you!!

And the other little blossom of my day is this beautiful thing right here:

A brand new prayer journal.

I sat outside on the porch yesterday and filled in the last lines on the last page of the old journal.

There is something breathtaking to me about the blank pages of a new journal. The wonder of what will take place throughout its tenure as my record keeper.

He will send me verses to sustain me.

He will send me song lyrics to replay in my mind for the discouraging moments.

He will send me examples of faithfulness that I can preserve among the pages and read some future day when I need a reminder of such things.

These are my blossoms.

And one day...

...one day...

This thing is going to burst into bloom. I will stand on the other side and gaze upon my promised land.

Thank You, Lord.

The Love of God...

Hard to believe that at this time last week, I was strolling in the sand at Chesapeake Bay. The day is every bit as beautiful as last Sunday, but the scenery (the side of my garage and the extension cord feeding my laptop) is slightly less enthralling.

My trip to the ocean was wonderful in every way. My planes stayed airborne when they should have and landed with a decent amount of grace. My sunburn has morphed from painful to incessantly itchy – and I’m molting like a snake. (ATTRACTIVE.) I have a host of pictures to scrap and Walgreens was kind enough to run a good special this week so I can afford to print them. My suitcase is mostly unpacked (this may be a record!) and I think I’m ready to return to the land of the working.

The chance to see the ocean was a dream come true for me. I wanted to say I’d dipped my toes in something larger than a shower. I wanted to write in the sand and take a picture of whatever I wrote. I wanted to walk barefoot along the beach and pick up shells. I wanted some sun. (Can we say WISH FULFILLED?)

And I rather hoped that somewhere in all those dream fulfillments, God would show up with something to say. He and I have been talking a lot lately. (A lot more than usual – and we usually chat often.) And I was definitely not disappointed with the conversation we had that day.

I stood there, water swirling over my ankles, looking out at blue waves that were only interrupted by piers and the occasional boat. I loved it that I couldn’t see a shore in front of me. Just water…water…water…sky.



As usual, a song came to mind. As usual, it was the David Phelps version.

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky
Oh love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure -
The saints’ and angels’ song.

I looked to the right and the left and tried to imagine thick, black ink filling the water covered sand…down to depths I couldn’t even imagine. I looked overhead and tried to fathom writing on a sky that was wider and higher than I knew…and I’d just flown in it. I looked down at the twisted, broken sticks littering the beach and imagined each of them carved out with a tip for writing. I looked at the countless people scattered about and knew that they were only a fraction-let of the people on the planet.

And surrounded by all that greatness, I thought of those next words…to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky.

I stood on a few square inches of a beach where I could see just a few miles of that whole ocean. If the entire expanse (times all the oceans in the world) can’t contain His love – wow.

God and I are on a journey. It’s a bigger journey than I can comprehend. And I’m thankful that His love is even greater still. How measureless and strong!

A Glimpse...

Consider this fair warning: this post contains a lot of pictures and this time, I'm not Bekah the roving reporter. This is a glimpse into not only my evening, but my heart.

My sister, Julie, and I went to Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis last night for a Gaither Homecoming concert. It was her first one ever and my first one in a long time. Here we are - and you can see that just a few other folks showed up for the evening as well. :)
The concert was her birthday gift to me, and what a great gift! But beyond the fact that I'm a Gaither junkie and was a full force Bekah-razzi last night (93 pictures and you're welcome for not posting all of them), this evening was perfectly timed. I haven't gone into a lot of detail on the blog but I'm walking a journey right now, and this night was manna in my wilderness. Thank You, Lord for having Your hand in everything about my life, right down to the Gaither song set.

Bill started out the night with the song "Old Friends," and while I was mostly spending that time messing with camera settings and getting all settled in my seat, I can tell you that in this journey I walk, I am so thankful for friends. Friends who seem to understand that there are times right now when I can't call or text or hang out, because I'm listening to God and that takes silence and concentration. Friends who understand that sometimes I must melt down and in just a couple minutes, I will be okay.

Gordon Mote plays the piano for all the Homecoming concerts, and he's played for a bunch of country artists as well. What a great sense of humor he has! (My favorite moment was when Mark Lowry sat down with him, traded his glasses for Gordon's sunglasses, and then said, "Well no wonder you can't see! These are filthy!") Gordon can play a trillion times better without his sight than I ever could with two good eyes and eleven years of lessons. And though I'll never play like Gordon, what a great reminder that I don't have to see to walk forward in faith.

The Isaacs joined Gordon for some singing early on. I've had a picture of Becky (in the white shirt) on my blog before...she's someone that people tell me I look like. You know, when they're not telling me I look like Flo from Progressive. These three are siblings. Sonya is wearing the black shirt, Ben is - well, he's the guy! - and then Becky is in the white shirt.

I was very excited to see that the Martins were part of the evening. I have been a huge fan of their music since I was in college (and we won't talk about how many years ago that's been, now) and I have even seen them in their own concerts a couple of times. AMAZING family harmony. (They are also siblings. Joyce is on the left, Jonathan is in the middle and Judy is on the right).

They sang one of my all-time favorites from their repertoire: All People That on Earth Do Dwell. In addition, they sang a song I'd never heard before, but it could not have been more perfectly timed for my wilderness journey. It's called The Promise and here are some of the lyrics that caused a tear or two to roll down my cheeks:

I never said that fear wouldn't find you in the night

Or that loneliness was something you'd never have to fight

But I did say I'd be right there by your side and I did say I'll always help you fight

'Cause you know I made a promise that I intend to keep

My grace will be sufficient in your time of need

My love will be the anchor that you can hold onto

This is the promise, this is the promise I've made to you.

So keep on walking - don't turn to the left or right

And in the midst of the darkness let this be your light:

That hell can't separate us and you're gonna make it through

This is the promise, this is the promise I've made to you.

Russ Taff also came out to do a couple of songs. Several years ago, Russ sang baritone for the Vocal Band.

The Isaacs came back out to do some more songs...this time with their Mom, Lily. They did two songs that I knew from having watched them on the Gaither Reunited project: The Three Bells and I Will Praise Him. The Three Bells gets stuck in my head for days, but I think their rendition of I Will Praise Him is the best I've ever heard.

Bill helped them out on The Three Bells. :) I didn't take any pictures of I Will Praise Him because I was in full worship/absorb mode at that time!

Lynda Randle sang the last songs before the Vocal Band came on. I love her voice - probably because it's right in my range! :) And the last song she sang was "He Will Carry You." More great words:

There is no problem too big God cannot solve it

There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it

There is no storm too dark God cannot calm it

There is no sorrow too deep He cannot soothe it

If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders

I know my brother that He will carry you

And then....Alpha and Omega time! I love that song. Here is the (modified) five member Vocal Band. Michael English had surgery a couple of months ago and is apparently (much to Julie's dismay...he was the whole reason she wanted to go!) not back on the road yet. So Marshall Hall filled in for him. But anyway, this was their opening song. So powerful. Alpha and Omega was the song that proved to me the best way for me to learn scripture is to learn it through song. The lyrics are pretty much straight out of Revelation.

I love the Vocal Band's music, but I love their humor too. The banter between Mark and Bill is always hysterical. In this picture, Mark was explaining his arm flab to Bill. In our family, we call this "The Bricker Swing." And I think I'm in the early stages of it.

I told Julie that you know you've watched too much GVB when you know what's coming up and you hold off taking pictures until it arrives. This is from the song Journey to the Sky, and I knew the snapping would make a fun picture. (Heads of people in front of me only added to the joy.)

I almost missed this one. I was trying to time the actual click of the camera. Wes (who is such a powerful singer yet such a little guy!) hits a high note in which they pick him up to "help" him.

Now y'all knew you were not going to get out of this post without a few pictures of David Phelps!

He sang Nessun Dorma...oh my WORD. That song gets me every single time. I can sing every word. :) And I'm now officially learning what they mean.

Did I mention the man can sing?

My favorite picture of the entire night. Love this one. Okay - done with Bekah-razzi. Back to what the night meant. :)

On the left is Wes Hampton, who I thought sounded better last night than I've ever heard him sound ever. And on the right is Marshall Hall, the Michael English fill-in. Marshall used to sing baritone for the Vocal Band.

Wes was belting it out last night. I think this picture was taken during the song Hide Thou Me.

Bill likes to play the piano now and then, so he took over during Hide Thou Me and sent Gordon over to the organ. Because oh yes, he can also play the organ.

The guys gathered around the piano to sing with Gordon. Who, by the way, can also sing. (Bill said he - Bill - was thinking of running for president and he was going to make Gordon secretary of transportation.)

David and Mark Lowry. This was not the time he sang this, but since I'm talking about Mark, I'll talk about it now. In the second half (actually right at the very end of the concert) he sang this song called Make it Real. I'll admit that historically this song has not been one of my most favorite Vocal Band songs. But again, this time it was so appropriately timed. I started crying almost as soon as he started singing. Some of the lyrics:

I can't fill the emptiness inside of me

Or calm the troubled waters of my mind

So if You're really out there and You're listening

Then prove to me that those who seek will find.

If You can just see fit to show me some of Who You are

If You can shed some light into this broken sinner's heart

I need to know the truth and I need something I can feel

I need You to make it real.

There must be some good reason why You brought me here

Through valleys where the shadows hover close

Down here there's a mask to cover every face

But Your sweet Face I long to see the most

So if You think there's just the slightest hope for me

In spite of all my questions and my doubts

Then let me hear Your still small Voice speak out my name

And let me know what others talk about.

The part that really got me was when, halfway through the song, he did something I've never heard him do before on this song. He broke away from it long enough to sing I Believe; Help Thou My Unbelief. I just learned this song not long ago, and I have been singing it in the car nearly every day lately.

I believe; help Thou my unbelief

I take the finite risk of trusting like a child

I believe; help Thou my unbelief

I walk into the unknown trusting all the while

I long so much to feel the warmth that others seem to know

But should I never feel a thing, I claim Him even so

God got my attention with that one.

The second half of the concert was the true Homecoming style singing. It started out with Buddy Greene tearing it up on the harmonica. (He tried to redeem the bad name it's gotten through the years. He can play the daylights out of that thing!)

The Martins did another little part of a group song. I loved all the hymns they sang in the second half. My years of rebelling against hymns have long past and I now really appreciate them for the richness they have!

Charlotte Ritchie sang a few solos throughout the night. This one was from when she sang Tell Me the Story of Jesus.

For some of the songs, they played footage in the background of those same songs sung years earlier with Homecoming singers who have now died. This particular one was taken during Rock of Ages. Vestal Goodman sang the solo on this during the taping for Down by the Tabernacle. I was at that taping when I was a sophomore in college! I knew as soon as they started the music for this song that they'd be using her solo!

Speaking of Vestal...right after that, they brought out this guy. Logan Smith is his name, and they said he's 13. He is a Vestal fan through and through. He sang "What a Lovely Name" and definitely had the Vestal vibe going on! That kid can SING.

Toward the end of the concert, Woody Wright came out to sing a solo.

The next to the last song they did was one I've written about on here before: I Then Shall Live. As I've said before, if I had to condense my life's hope into a song, this is it. As I have walked the steps of this journey - which isn't done yet - I have prayed over and over to be faithful to the Lord and to what He is asking of me at this time.

I am His child and I am not afraid...I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges...When relationships demand commitment, then I'll be there to care and follow through...Your Kingdom come around and through and in me...Your power and glory, let them shine through me...Your hallowed name, oh may I bear with honor...and may Your living Kingdom come in me.

The last song of the concert was Because He Lives...another one I've been singing over and over. That song was sung at my baby dedication 32 years ago, and I've always thought it must have a very special place in my life.

But greater still...this calm assurance...we can face uncertain days because He lives. Because He lives...I can face tomorrow...Because He lives, all fear is gone...Because I know...I know He holds my future...my life is worth the living just because HE LIVES.

Waterfront....

Remember my pictures of Ariel and the tourists? Those were taken around this area in Norfolk:
We did not go in the museum or any of the exhibits, but I did get some pictures. I have every intention of returning to visit at some point, so I was willing to save some adventures for the next time around. :)

Remember how I said there were lots of Ariels around the city? Here's another one. I especially enjoyed her flower in her lil belly button. :)

The Battleship Wisconsin...now that's a big ole boat!

That last picture was only one little part of the boat. Here's another:

No trip to the waterfront is complete without an anchor!

There were ships everywhere!

We walked around for a while, and then we decided to do one of my favorite things of the whole trip: a ferry ride!!

Here's our ferry, pulling right up for us to hop on board! (We weren't really hopping at that point. The sunburns had already entered the "significant" stage.)

Sun-kissed Bekah - happily aboard the ferry!

The ferry took us across the Elizabeth River to Portsmouth. There, we had the opportunity to see a lady chasing an injured Mallard duck through a street, randomly shouting at traffic and passers-by, "It's okay! I called PETA! They're on their way!" Oh if only I could have taken a picture of that!

We ate dinner and headed back on the ferry. By that time it was almost dark, so the sights were even better.

Goodbye sweet waterfront!

I was burned to a crisp and tired from a long day, but I did so love my trip to the waterfront. I loved the ferry ride. Certainly the beach is still the calming place to be, but what a great experience to be able to walk around this area and enjoy a slice of life I don't often see! (And by often, I mean ever.)