Hello and blessings to all! How is October already here? We have been super busy but are happy to say that we are full of joy, alive, and well. We continue to thank God on so many levels for calling us to Pawleys Island. We are thoroughly enjoying this awesome weather here! Gorgeous environment! Friendly folks almost everywhere! Carter and I are truly growing in our walk with Our Father each and every day, through challenges and praises!
Despite the busyness of teaching, I have had a couple opportunities to participate in some Women Ministry conferences! Wow! So glad I have continued to take the time to grow personally. I could type long stories about each conference, but will try to keep it short. Attending Beth Moore’s “Living Proof” Conference in Charleston back in August with a dear friend of mine from North Augusta is difficult to describe in words. I can easily say that it was very obvious God didn’t only want us both there, but He wanted us there together. Worshipping and studying Genesis with 9,000 plus other women was amazing. We were challenged to 1-Become more honest versions of ourselves, 2-Know that we can’t walk in our full birthright as part fraud, 3-We’ve got to stick a “with” back in the way we work people, 4-It’s time to go face down and face up with Our Protector, Our God, 5-Children of faith can’t wrestle with people without wrestling with God, 6-God can use a crippling defeat to bring about our greatest victory, 7-God can bring a shocking peace to our fiercest wars, 8-We’ve grasped the blessing when we keep trying to give it away by sharing our blessings with others...Powerful! Challenging! Refreshing! (What a fun surprise it was to run into a vet school buddy here!)
Many of you were praying right along side me for several months in regards to the Women’s Revival “Just Give Me Jesus” that God brought Anne Graham Lotz to Augusta for in September. I was unable to make it back to North Augusta for this, but it was super awesome to watch via simulcast. I felt like I was there! Singing! Tears! Prayers! Another growth moment! One of my favorite quotes from that Friday night was: "I can't out live Him and I can't live without Him!" A song I couldn’t quit singing was "My Jesus, My Savior, there is none like You..."
Most days I post a summarized devotional from Proverbs 31 Ministries on facebook. Two of my favorite women from this ministry are Renee Swope and Lysa TerKeurst. Renee hosted a day conference up in Myrtle Beach last month. Talk about another woman, who doesn’t hesitate to let God use her through writing and speaking! Boy was it a day full of what I like to call God winks. I almost didn’t go because I ended up at the last minute making the trip by myself. Once again, it was so obvious I was supposed to be there. I got to meet her, too...what a special moment! I left repeating many of God’s promises I was reminded of that day. I was challenged to continue to strive to live like God’s word is true, to walk beyond my circumstances, to make daily decisions to come to the cross, and to believe the truth that God is good, loves me, and cares for me. Another amazing day of worship through scripture and music!
I had the opportunity to join Carter at one of his favorite leadership conferences again...Catalyst. This year’s main topic was “MAKE.” Speakers (ie. Andy Stanley, Francis Chan, Perry Noble, Craig Groeschel, Christine Caine, and more) shared various overwhelming advice on how to make history, make disciples, make a strong leadership church team, make a difference, how we are made in His image, etc. To be honest, we love this conference and are always glad we attend it, but boy oh boy did we leave very overwhelmed. So many terrific ideas from such wise leaders. We’ve been in deep prayer on how to try to incorporate some of these thoughts into the church. It was great to meet up with some North Augusta buds from Fairview as well as a sister from vet school while we were in Atlanta for this very short, filled, and busy visit.
Speaking of PIPC, Carter’s job still hasn’t slowed down. No church honeymoon adjustment period this go round. Wink. We constantly thank God for continuing to remind us that He called us here for many reasons, some already known and many still unknown. I have been so proud of Carter as he keeps leaning on the Lord, his faith, and scripture throughout this journey. Side note: I’m just a wee-bit biased, but I have loved watching Carter grow through his preaching and leadership. God is doing awesome things at PIPC!
My new teaching adventure: I knew I would “like” teaching. However, I never expected to enjoy and love it as much as I do. I can’t thank God enough for not only closing doors, but opening this door and helping me be still and quiet long enough to see that I was supposed to step forward in faith and out of my comfort zone. I pray that I am a loving, inspiring, encouraging, supportive, and caring professor, who can help these students succeed in and out of the classroom. Love being excited about going to work!
There is so much more to share, but this entry has gotten long enough. Thanks to all of you, who have continued to pray alongside of us, who have continued to check in, and who have continued to be there for us no matter what. Your love, support, and prayers mean so much to us! Love ya'll!
P.S. Pictures to come...(I'll have to get some off of Carter's computer.)
Prayer Requests and Praises:
- The Holsclaws (Joy came home for about 2 weeks, but has been back in the hospital since. What a roller coaster ride this has been for all of us!)
- PIPC is in week 7 of our 29-week “The Story” study. Praise: God is clearly at work!
- Praise on the clarity of Kristin’s job...God obviously thought she should be a professor at this phase of the game.
- Still striving to be the children He wants us to be.
- Praising Him for showering us with more blessings than we can count.
- Not that we’ve “dropped” any of our past awesome mentors (You know who you are---SMILE!), but we have both been blessed with terrific local mentors here now. To us, having mentors is an important aspect of ‘our walk.’ It’s been neat to see how God answered these prayers...after months of praying.
- Praising Him for allowing Kristin to continue to be involved in Make A Wish here.
- Prayers that we (including all of you) continue to share our “God stories and experiences” because you never know when it’s going to be shared with that special person God purposely placed in our paths.
- Thanking Him for some family time lately...time with the Robinsons, Rene, and Dad (which was an awesome surprise)!
Great Post. Glad you are doing so well. I bet you are a FANTASTIC teacher! The conferences sound so deep and amazing. Praying daily!