I am soooooo excited!

Yes! You better believe I'm excited about the beautiful cover for Quilting Patches of Life. Again, thanks and kudos go to Tina Harper of cmhphotography for the lovely design, and a special thanks to Glenn Hall glennhallphotography for the gorgeous cover photo.

Ordering information will be posted on the website soon.

Angelic Visitation

Just a few minutes ago, seated at my desk working away on “Quilting Patches of Life,” I felt a presence come in the room that brought me to tears. As I worked at my computer I felt an angelic presence hovering over me in the right-hand corner of the office above my desk. I lowered my head in awe. “God … thank you. I’m not worthy. I love you, Jesus.” I looked up half expecting to see the form of my visitor, but there was no shape before me to confirm what I felt.

My husband came down the steps, and I told him, “You know, we have angels all around us.” He smiled and agreed.

“I know we do.” He walked into the kitchen to get the kids a cup of water, then returned upstairs.

Only a minute or two passed before my eleven-year-old son Charles came down the steps, tears in his eyes, and said, “Mom, the Lord told me to come and apologize to you for accusing you about working on your computer – that you are doing it for Him. I have been accusing you, and I’m sorry.”

I started crying myself, and I told my son, “Charles, I believe you. Just before you came down, I felt an angel in the house, and I believe the Lord did give you a message. Thank you for obeying. I forgive you.”

We hugged and kissed, and I sent him up to bed after we shared a laugh of joy over how good God is, the great God of the universe, to visit lowly people like us in our homes … even my cluttered office.

I went upstairs and shared this with my husband. “It all works together,” he said. ‘When you were downstairs, I was praying for the kids. I prayed that God would dispatch angels to watch over them and our house. And He did.”

Thank you, Jesus, for sending a message to my son ... for answering my husband's prayer ... for the gift of holy visitations in my home ...

I Got a Face Lift

Well ... actually Gates & Fences did!

Thank you, Tina Harper, for working so diligently to bring the cover in line with the content of the book. You are awesome. You are amazing.

I highly recommend CPhotography for photography and graphic art. Tina's the best.

The new edition should be available the end of September.

Upcoming Events

A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mama, look what I found," the boy called out. "What have you got there, dear?" With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear."

Tee hee. And as the cartoon depicts, fall is coming soon. With it a couple of conferences I'd like to tell you about.

I'll be speaking at Zion Christian Church in Troy at a worship arts conference. Visit the Ascend 2007 website for all the details at www.ascend07.org. The dates are September 20-22, and it's going to be a great time with Martha Munizzi, Donnie McClurkin, and Michael Gungor as we experience God's presence and explore the power of purity.

I'm also teaching a workshop geared at transmitting the values of living within Biblical boundaries for youths and singles at the upcoming ICEA Sunday School & Church Ministries Conference in Northville, Michigan on Saturday, October 13. I'll be hosting an exhibit there as well. Visit their website for more info at www.iceaOnline.org

And since the cartoon brought this to mind, I'll share a little about Adam and Eve's wardrobe choices from my book Gates & Fences: Straight Talk in a Crooked World from Chapter 4: Modest is Hottest.

After Adam and Eve sinned, their eyes were opened to their nakedness. Once they realized this, Scripture tells us they made themselves "aprons" out of leaves. Get a picture in your mind of an apron. There are short ones that tie at the waist and those that have bibs covering the chest area as well. How much of the body does an apron cover, and how much does it leave exposed?

Now, back to the Garden. Even with their new clothes on, Adam and Eve knew they weren't properly covered and hid themselves from God. God must have found their garments insufficient as well, because he created tunics (or robes) for them from the skins of the sacrifice offered for their sin. The clothes God made covered more than just their "private parts."

There are obviously a lot of different styles, but if the clothes we choose are more apron-like than robe- or tunic-like in the way they cover our bodies, perhaps we should reevaluate our wardrobes.

Book Signing - Warren, Michigan

It was great meeting so many wonderful folks at Discount Bible Saturday, June 30. Thanks to all that purposely came out to support me and those that I was blessed to meet!

Thanks to Argentina, Jeremy and all the Discount Bible staff for making me so welcome.

Gates & Fences on tour in Clinton, Kentucky

At left is a picture of me with Event Coordinator, Tina Harper.

Frank Hubbard said, "There isn't much to see in a small town, but what you hear makes up for it."

Monday, June 25, there was much good to see and hear at the Young Center in Clinton, Kentucky. Close to 150 people gathered, mostly young people, for a wonderful time of worship and encouragement at the Gates & Fences seminar. Thank you Altar Praise Band for facilitating this event and to all that worked so hard to bless the youth in the area.

I was pleased to see people of many denominations come together to explore the blessings of Biblical boundaries: Apostolic, Baptist, Catholic, Charismatic, Methodist, and Non-denominational churches in the area were all represented. There was "straight talk" sprinkled with personal stories that made us laugh and Scripture that provoked us to examine our motives and actions. I hope that many were inspired to reject the lure of wordly compromise and pursue God's best for their lives. As one that lived my young adult years outside the "fence" of Biblical boundaries, I can say with confidence ... life is better on this side.

Thanks also goes out to ...
~ All those that set up, cleaned up, decorated, ran sound and lighting, etc.
~ Kristia and all the ladies that worked so hard cooking and serving our Mexican fiesta.
~ Cheryl Yates, the senior guitar instructor at Chapman Music for sharing her skills during intermission. You're amazing!
~ 525, a youth drama team from Oasis Christian Church in Paducah, who did an anointed presentation of the song "I Need You, You Need Me." Keep pressing in!
~ Joy Ride, an emerging Clinton-based youth worship band for their upbeat music that closed out a great evening.
~ My family for all their love and support. I couldn't do it without you! Thanks for running my PowerPoint presentation and all your prayers, Honey! You keep me calm when my ends are fraying. XOXO.

Gates & Fences on Tour - Clinton, KY

Gates & Fences on Tour!
That's Clinton, Kentucky
Monday, June 25, 2007
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
The Young Center
First United Methodist Church
Highway 51, just off the square

For more information or to make a reservation, email event coordinator Tina Harper at tina@hamtastic.com or call (270) 653-7366 or (270) 832-4744.


Also coming up is a book signing in Warren, Michigan, on Saturday, June 30, 2007. Hope you can make it out to Discount Bible on 26756 Dequindre Road between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.