A LONG WAY TO GO FOR A CHANGE OF HEART

I left Dothan Alabama Thursday a.m., flew to Atlanta, Ga., on to Salt Lake City, Utah, and finally arrived in Twin Falls, Idaho before driving to my final destination in Burley, Idaho! A long way to go! A day of traveling and then a repeat day lay ahead for me on Sunday, with an added 5 hour layover in Salt Lake City.
Yes, It was a long way to go but I would repeat it again this coming weekend if it meant my heart would be changed as it was this weekend. You see, I live in the Bible belt where we lavished with fine huge buildings, and large numbers of people each week, and resources at our fingertips, with a church on every corner. We definitely are blessed!
But these women do not seem to need all of the "stuff" we have to be "on mission with God." They just take the meager things of life and watch God do incredible work with their "little". I was reduced to tears so many times during this weekend - so humbled to see how happy these women were to be on mission with God, anxiously learning how to reach the lost around them. They are doing it right in Idaho and they are doing it well and I believe that when they worship, it brings a very sweet aroma up to the Father.
I had prayed for a year to be a part of a mission trip, but my schedule has not allowed it. God was saving this weekend for that purpose. It was my "mission trip." I will be forever partnering with my friends in Idaho and am praying God will allow me to return if He doesn't come for us before then.
Are you basking in your "muchness" my friend or are you "living large with your little"?
love, margaret

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?

Can not believe it has been so long since I blogged on my website. Facebook has been my most visited venue.
Ross and I have returned to Houston since I last wrote and gotten a great gift. For 6 years, we have returned to Houston every 3 months for evaluations and tests. For 2 years now, we have had no cancer to reoccur, so on the last visit, we were given a 6 month reprieve. Yeah! Helps the pocketbook, the energy, and the time factors.
I am packing today to travel to Burley, Idaho, tomorrow to speak at a statewide ladies conference. If you are anywhere near, it is an open event and I would love to visit with you there.
I am teaching through the book of James on Sunday mornings and absolutely loving the learning. I highly recommend that journey!
I am speaking often these days out of the depths of my heart on "knowing God" - it is my obsession! Talk about gifts - knowing Him is the gift of a lifetime!
Thanks for visiting me here.
love, margaret

Christmas gifts

Ross and I just returned last week from another trip to Houston for a 3 month checkup and got a great Christmas gift - another good report. No sign of reoccurring cancer!
Spending time with the family has been such a great gift this year. Since we gave each other a Disney Cruise in November, gift giving amounted to each one bringing a $10 gift and playing Bingo for the gifts. Bartering was allowed at the end so that everyone went home with a gift of their choice. What fun we had. Then off to the movies to see new movie with the chipmunks.
The joy of laughter is such a great gift from God isn't it. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it has to be a choice so I encourage you friends - enjoy the gift of laughter when it is easily obtained and when it has to be a choice. It is so contagious!
Thank you God for the greatest gift of all! Happy birthday Jesus!
Receive Him and His joy this Christmas season!
love, margaret

Well, it certainly feels great to be connecting with you once again. Sorry for the inconvenience or confusion this interruption may have caused you. Thank you for "missing me".

I have been busy teaching God's Word with women even though I was unable to share my heart with you.

I have been in Irving, Texas with women who definitely did things with a wow! How I loved teaching them wrapped around the theme of "Extreme Makeover: Heart Edition". The women received the Word with open hearts and I was so blessed to be the vessel that God chose to pour through. These women had ears and hearts to hear from God and He was faithful to speak to them. What a joy! My friend and co-author of Heart Friends, Shirley Moses, came over from Pottsboro and that was an added pleasure for me.

God gave me opportunities to teach and speak in my hometown this past week several times. At a local Bible study, a sister church at lunch, and then at "Joyful Refuge" over the weekend. I had not realized how long it had been since I have spoken in my hometown. I love making new friends that I keep in my mind and heart, but it is a blessing to share with those who have occupied individual places in my heart for years. Both are blessings straight from the Lord and I cherish friendships greatly!

And that my friend, is why I love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me at the email provided.

Love, margaret

LOVIN' LARAMIE

What an awesome first time trip to Wyoming for me. LifeWay sent me, along with 2 of my best LMM buddies, on an assignment to serve the women of Laramie, Wyoming. There we found some precious women with hungry hearts ready to receive the implanted Word into their lives. It was an absolute joy to teach Pursuing Holiness and Heart Friends.
Thank you, sweet friends, for opening up your doors and your hearts to receive the three of us. We walked away feeling so blessed and privileged to have been with you. Your faces are before me still!
What a great time we had Friday evening and Sat morning at the Living Proof Live Event. Thank you Beth for sharing the Word with us and issuing such challenges. I feel that we all committed to run our race, stay in our lane, forsake cherished sin, and pass on the truth to the generations coming along behind us. Whew!
I love Laramie!
love, margaret

LOVING MY DAYS IN PARADISE

Seriously, I have just returned from spending a few days in Paradise.
Paradise, California that is - just about an hour away from Sacramento.
Thank you, Libby, Lisa, and the other ladies, for sharing your Paradise with me.
What a joy to teach women who were so receptive to receiving the truths of God. What fun we had reflecting on "makeovers" the way the world offers us. How our hearts were challenged to dig deeper into the Word and learn about true transformation, God's way. Not as easy, not as quick, but surely incorruptible! Thanks for letting me share about my mom. I miss her so.
We opened up our hearts to Him and because "He is faithful and he will do it", we left our time together with a renewed determination to become women after God's own heart.
You were a blast to teach, pray for, love on, hang with, eat with, cry with and laugh out loud with. Do you think that could be a glimpse of what our real Paradise has pending for us?
You are loved,
margaret

California Dreamin'

How I did love the way our Lord worked this past weekend among us! In my life, to give me strength and energy to stand up and speak after flying across the country to San Francisco California. This was after a 2 hour delay in my home town, missing my flight in Atlanta, that entailed another 5 hour wait. When I stood up to speak it was 10:00 Ala. time and I had been up since 3:30 a.m. I am truly not whining, as it sounds, I am boasting in the Lord! He truly means it when He promises to be our Restorer! You, Campbell Church of Christ women, are a joy to know and a blessing to hang around with. Thank you for being so receptive to receive the deep things of God. You are a joy to serve! I know without a shadow of doubt that God began a deep work in all of us that will continue until the Day of Christ Jesus! He is "performing" so many things in us so that we become conformed more and more to the image of Jesus.
I truly love you and appreciate your allowing me to share my life with you!
margaret