a joyful mother

Zacchaeus: "Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house.' - Luke 19

2011-11-11T02:03:00.000-08:00

As I have sought the Lord to hear His voice, I am always in awe of the times He lays a verse on my heart and "instructs" me to search it out, because He has something to share with me. =) Jesus is just SO COOL!

This past week, I've been praying a lot for some very dear friends. I've been asking the Lord to show me how to Love them with His love, to be His hands and feet and to be His "Aroma of Christ in every place." - 2 Corinthians 4:17

A few days ago, I kept getting Zacchaeus in my head. What? Zacchaeus? Where did he come from? Isn't he the guy that's in the little children's song..."Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he." Well, the Holy Spirit wouldn't let up and for three days I kept getting Zaccaeus popping up in my head.

So yesterday I went on a search. =)

As I read Luke the Lord began to reveal some REALLY amazing things from this passage on Zacchaeus! The biggest thing that I discovered was that this man who was hated by many in his society because he was rich and most all of his wealth was gained by cheating and stealing from others wanted to see Jesus... "He wanted to see who Jesus was..." He had heard about Jesus. He had heard about all the miracles, all the deliverances, all the amazing signs and wonders and LOVE of this man Jesus and he wanted to see Him SO MUCH that he actually sought him out by climbing up a tree! Doing something pretty foolish!

And what did Jesus do? He picks Zacchaeus out of the crowd as he is coming up to the tree he was in and says, "“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."...Jesus had already made the decision to be at Zacchaeus's house that day! And I believe he decided to go to Zaccheaus's house because he knew that Zacchaeus had a desire to KNOW who He was! That he was struggling within with all that he had been about and he was seeking Him out.

I see this all as a BEAUTIFUL and LOVELY truth that our precious Lord Jesus is sharing with us through this account. That as we seek Him out...even in our hard places, our undeservedness, yes, our sin, He will reach out to us and seek us out ...IMMEDIATELY! Out of all those people he told Zacchaeus He was going to HIS house. What a BEAUTIFUL PRECIOUS EXTRAVAGANT example of How Jesus loves ALL of us no matter where we are! No matter what we have done! No matter what we feel we can never be forgiven for! And His mercies are new every morning! He is "Christ the Redeemer!" "Nothing is Impossible with God"...even our past. WOW! And that He comes IMMEDIATELY as we take those steps TOWARDS Him!

And what happened next? Just because he was in the presence of Jesus his heart was changed!! Transformed!...thus Jesus says, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”...Hebrews says, "What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” - Romans 4:3...Zacchaeus was a child of Abraham because his FAITH was counted to him as righteousness...not that he fit any mold, but that he "Believed God". The beauty of Jesus is that He is the one who transforms us by His LOVE, he makes us clean and white as snow...and I never realized all that was in this little children's song until today as the Lord has laid Zacchaeus on my heart this week. And I love the way the Holy Spirit teaches us.

"For the Lord will give you understanding in everything." - 2 Timothy 2:7.

So, as I have been asking the Lord to show me how to Love others with His EXTRAVAGANT Love, He says to me through this account..."Keep showing people who I am, Love them, and allow My presence to move and transform those around you." It's nothing I do, it's Him that lives in me.

Jesus is JUST SO AWESOME and BOY! DO I LOVE HIM!!! =)

As my dear friend, Pastor Ron says, "Keep Making Jesus Famous!"

I Received a BLOG AWARD!

2011-10-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

Well, I was just given the Versatile Blogger Award by Miss Taunya at

Taunya's Place.

It always feels so nice to be given recognition for sharing your life and ministry with others!

Apparently,

the deal with the award is that the person who receives it has to perform two tasks:

Share 7 things about themselves

and

Nominate 15 new blogs for the award.

Well, here goes:

1. I have a PASSION for Jesus! I guess, when you start to read my blog, you'll come to realize that. =) I came to know Jesus as the "Lover of my Soul" when I was 14 at a youth retreat. When I was 19 my future husband took me by the hand and showed me the depths of that relationship and by the time I was 25 there was no turning back!

2. My husband and I were married 23 years ago this past Saturday, October 8th. After 10 years of waiting Jesus blessed us with our 13 year old, Caela, and gave us 4 MORE after that! Life as a Mom has been AMAZING!!! And to watch my precious quiver full grow, love, connect, enjoy life, and discover who they are in Christ are the best things! I LOVE MY KIDS!!!

3. We are church planters. We've been involved in church planting for over 15 years. We currently live in New Bern, NC and minister at an AMiA church called Healing Grace Church. My husband is the worship leader/assistant team leader and the children and I just live out "Relational Missional Life" with everyone we come in contact with. It is a JOY every day to encourage, pray for, and LOVE people!!! The greatest gift you can give to anyone is the Word of God and the Power of His Love and Spirit. "An aroma of Christ in every place." May we always be that. =)

4. I have been homeschooling off and on for 11 years. This year my two oldest girls started in public school for the first time. It's been a blessing to see how CONFIDENT, LOVING, HARD WORKING, and CONNECTING they are in this new environment!!! I am SUCH a proud mama and so GRATEFUL to Jesus for all He has poured into them!

5. Ok. 3 more things. Hmmm...we realized over the summer that we LOVE Karaoke!!! =) We had a Karaoke night at The Emerald Golf Club, in our neighborhood and the kids ATE IT UP!!! It was SO MUCH FUN!! I HIGHLY recommend it to ANYONE at ANY age! We had little 3 year old, Liliana, up to some retired folks who live in our neighborhood! For me, seeing the generations come together is HUGE! Because we can all bless one another in so many ways and to share a night of just plain FUN is AWESOME!!

6. Ok, here's a goodie. I've always wanted to be the stereotypical Home Schooling Mom, who bakes bread, sews, knits, etc. But I have come to realize I just ain't that. = ) I really struggle with cooking! There, my transparent moment! =) I would love to be a good cook that my husband could dote on and be blessed by...I did not get my Nani's INCREDIBLE talent! But, it's good to be able to accept those things about ourselves and press into those things that we ARE! =)

7. And what are those things I am, you ask? =) I am a networker. Plain and simple. I LOVE people! I LOVE loving people! I love connecting, encouraging and loving people. This summer Jesus gave me something incredible. My husband, Bill, and I were involved in youth ministry like 12 years ago. I vowed I would never do that again! Not my forte. This Summer, Jesus just melted my heart with the kids we came to hang with at the neighborhood pool. The home school kids my kids connected with. All different ages from 2 - 18...just LOVE these kids so much!!! And hunger to see them all just flourish in the experience of Life in Christ! I LOVE conversations with 16 year olds about who Jesus is, I love HUGGING and loving on little ones, I LOVE encouraging the hearts of my pre teens and teenager in the ways of God and helping them to discover what they were created for by the God who took such pains to make them UNIQUE and PRECIOUS for His purposes in this world until they go "Home".

Well, there you have it. Some 7 things about me!

Now for 15 new blog sites...YIKES!!! Honestly, I haven't been blogging for awhile so I don't have that many, but I'll take a shot at it:

Eternity Impact

Too Many Kids in the Bathtub

Waffles and Kimchi

Our Mothers Daughters

Our Journey of Faith

Prophet Poet Preacher

A Day in the Life of Raising Six Munchkins

Feeding the Family for Less

Home and Body

Settled in my Home

Wasted Textbooks

To Show Them Jesus

Church Planting Confessions

Us Plus Four

Live a Life Worthy

So, there you have it! These blogs are varied from Home School Moms, to church planting, to evangelism, and motherhood. Enjoy checking them out and, please, visit them on your travels on the web!

It was a BLESSING to share with you this evening! It's always a JOY to remember who you are and WHOSE you are and be able to encourage others on the same journey!

Peace of the Lord...

Cheryl

She said, "Yes!"

2011-09-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

Gracie with her AWESOME Godfather, Tom Sproul in Blacksburg 3 weeks ago.

Yesterday morning Gracie came to me to confess that she had done something wrong.
She said she didn't deserve to eat breakfast. We started talking about it,
and I told her what I always tell her, "If you ask for forgiveness and mean
it, and desire to turn from that sin, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins...and FORGET them forever!"

She started to cry really hard. I
asked her why she was crying, she said,

"Because you talked about Jesus."

I said, "When I said Jesus what did you think or feel?" She said,

"I felt so GOOD, Mommy! That's why I'm crying." =)

So I told her that I believed Jesus was saying to her that He loved her so much and that He wanted to come and live fully in her heart if she wanted Him to. I asked her, "Do you want Jesus to fully live in you, Gracie?" And she said, "Yes!"

So I led her in the prayer for salvation (sample below) and she repeated it after me and just hugged me and kept
telling me how much she loved Jesus!

The thing I loved about that experience with Gracie was that it was REAL! That She wasn't just doing something that she thought was right to do, or that was out of fear, but it was a desire Jesus put in her heart to want all of Him, because He was showing her that He loved her so much that she could FEEL IT! and it felt SO GOOD she was CRYING! = )

Jesus wants us to EXPERIENCE Him...to feel His presence...to hear His voice. He is not just some RELIGIOUS concept of rules and regulations He is REAL, ALIVE, and READY to walk with us, speak to us and show us every step ahead...and LOVE US EXTRAVAGANTLY!!! And it's nothing that we do, but it is something that we ASK for.

Thank you, Lord, for drawing this little precious girl to Yourself and allowing her to experience just how GOOD You are!!!!

Peace of the Lord be with all of you today!

(If anyone out there has a desire to have Jesus transform your life and step into the AWESOME adventure with the God who created you...below is a sample prayer to follow when asking Jesus into your heart. You can pray to God in your own words.)

Sample Salvation Prayer:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.

Mission...

2011-08-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

New Bern, NC

Mission...

You know, the Lord says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." - Matthew 28:19.

Most of us think that to be "On Mission" means those people that Jesus sends to Africa...missionaries that go and live in grass huts and sit on dirt floors. No electricity, no running water. Those people that Jesus sends to places where it's easy to see the hurt, the pain, the struggle to live full lives without the fruit of the Spirit...

"Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness, and Self Control."

Well. The McCarthy Family was called to New Bern, NC. And not to any ole neighborhood, but to a GORGEOUS neighborhood, with manicured lawns and a golf course. Surrounded by older retired people. I asked the Lord early on..."Why New Bern, Lord? Why this neighborhood? You called us to Full Time Ministry, but why here and not Africa?"

He didn't answer me immediately. He likes to wait, doesn't He? He is just SO WISE!

As we have lived in this precious neighborhood and met so many amazing and beautiful people He has revealed that behind those gorgeous manicured lawns, and nice cars, are people who hurt. People who deal with great loss. People who have no stability or order in their spiritual lives.

As I drove home tonight after talking with a dear new friend in the neighborhood hearing about his losses, I looked at my life. I looked at what our family has been given by a God who LOVES us and who we have CHOSEN to TRUST and LEAN ON and OBEY. He has BLESSED us with ABUNDANCE in the Spirit...Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness, and Self Control. Still waiting for an outpouring of the "Self Control", mind you, but such ABUNDANCE in Him! And SUCH a HUNGER to share that "LIFE" with all those He places in our lives.

It's easy to think that having a good education, a good job, money, can give you Life and Security, but without Life In Christ all those things are empty and meaningless. Solomon can attest to that. They can make life more convenient and easier, but the emptiness of our own limitations without the depth of the Love of Christ and His Power in our lives is very linear.

Mission...

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart all your mind and all your strength and

Love your neighbor as yourself."

Jesus...thank you for the heart of passion you have given me to share YOU with others and to anticipate Your Power being made manifest in their lives. Jesus...I pray that the quiver full you have given us will be given that SAME passion and hunger to be Your hands and feet to share the Truth of the Gospel with others...more and more and more. May many come to know You and know Your peace that passes understanding.

I love you.

a joyful mother: Does Jesus Really Care?

2011-08-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

a joyful mother: Does Jesus Really Care?

Our Identity in Christ...

2011-08-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

As I was walking today I had the most beautiful revelation.

I was thinking and praying about a dear friend that I love. I felt such a pleasure and security in this person's friendship and love of me. I felt so unselfconscious, unfearful, fully at ease and confident in who I am as I prayed and thought about this friend.

Then...the Lord just broke through in my thoughts.

"My dear Cheryl, how much I love you. You can fully rest in MY LOVE for you...a thousand fold more than the precious love of your friend. How much more do I love you than anyone on this earth, because I created you for My pleasure and you will never disappoint me no matter what you do because

NOTHING can separate you from MY LOVE."

I was so overcome by the fact that though I LOVE My Jesus SO MUCH, that beautiful place of RESTING with FULLNESS of my identity in Him has many times alluded me.

I think, sometimes, because we cannot feel the arms of Jesus around us...the hug, the lips upon our cheek, the sound of His voice in our ear...his flesh before us, we can sometimes forget to what full extent we can find ourselves in His LOVE and His ...

"You are my beloved."

Though I know this in my heart TODAY the Lord took me to a new level of fully ENGAGING in His love for me...for US!!!

And I just HAD TO SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What FREEDOM we can walk in knowing WHOSE we are and that nobody can take that from us...EVER!

Jesus...when you said in your word,"Come run with Me."

"Rest in Me." ...I am.

Thank You for your GREAT and ENDURING and UNFAILING LOVE!

I love you.

~ Cheryl

Snippets

2011-07-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

We are preparing to travel to Northern, VA today to speak at

Church of the Word, Gainesville, VA

Bill led worship there for 6 years before Jesus moved us on to serve with the

The Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA).

We welcome your prayers as we share our story and our mission at

Healing Grace Church in New Bern, NC.

In April, since my last post, during Lent, the Lord led me to focus extensively on my "Temple of the Holy Spirit" - my body.

In the last 3 months I have lost over 45 lbs.

This is Bill and I in front of our church at Healing Grace Church.

It's been a powerful journey. Every day is a battle, but Jesus is GOOD and FAITHFUL!

We have been enjoying the pool this summer! Meeting lots of people and the children are ROCKIN OUT on the Emerald Swim Team!

Caela and Liliana at a swim meet.

Isabella and Caela waiting for the whistle.

Gracie, Isabella, Caela, and Daniel

watching the races.

We've had opportunities in New Bern to serve and share and pray for people.

Caela, Isabella, and their friend, Sabrina, getting a tour of the RCS Homeless Center.

This is little Tory on the right. She is a little girl we met at the pool. Gracie makes INSTANT friends with kids and adults. = ) Tory has cerebral palsy. One leg is longer than the other and her arm doesn't work properly. We were able to pray for her and encourage her parents.

This is Miss Janie. We met her at the Chick - Fil - A one night after a Swim Meet. She was in pain having had recent surgery on her hip. Gracie and Mommy were able to pray for her and we've seen her twice since!

This is Irene. She is a store owner in New Bern. We became instant friends! I look forward to seeing how Jesus moves in her life.

These are some friends from our Swim Team!

It is SUCH a gift to connect, encourage and CHEER for one another as we watch the kids press in and see all that Jesus has given them to use their gifts!

We LOVE our time at the New Bern Library!

We are always meeting new Home School families! The Lord has used this family and their mom to lead us to a new Grammar Curriculum that we really needed for next year!

Caela and Daniel are learning the guitar in their Daddy's Guitar Class held at Healing Grace Church. We had a night of Caela leading us in Praise Songs.

This is our dear friend, Brian Lamm! He leaves us on Monday after living with us for the past 6 months.

He begins a new chapter in his life as he heads off to Louisiana to prepare for his marriage to Mandy Boussard. It has been SUCH a GIFT to have Brian be a part of our family IN HOUSE these last months! He's always been a part of our family, but living together has given us insight into one another and been a GREAT "iron sharpening iron" experience. We are going to MISS Brian!!! But we are SO EXCITED about what Jesus has in store for him!

We are SO BLESSED to be in New Bern!

We are excited about what Jesus is doing to build us as a family.

We are grateful for the way he is connecting us in the community.

We are grateful for the way he is using us in ministry through worship and prayer. (more on that later).

As we head out to Northern VA today we look forward to what Jesus will do through divine appointments, visits with old dear friends, and our time at Church of the Word!

Would love to hear from you!

a thankful mother...

2011-04-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

I sit in the peace of the Living God tonight...

only wishing that everyone on this earth could know that

"peace that passes understanding"

and rest solely in it.

Tonight, I am joining the blog party at

a holy experience

I love this blog so much I just can't tell you!

Each post leads me to the pools of

His refreshment

and I am daily taken to a deeper

place of surrender to my King because of the

transparency and beauty that rolls off the page as I

take in Ann's every word.

I am thankful this week for so many profound and life changing

things and I dance in JOY at His kindness, His power, His

AWE - someness!

1. a spontaneous hug from a 13 year old girl who says, "Mommy, thank you for this conversation it impacted me to do the right thing."

2. a spontaneous lean in from a 9 year old boy who closes his eyes and smiles as his head touches my side.

3. a jump! jump! jump! from a 3 year old who is FEARLESS on the trampoline!

4. tender lips that touch mine as my man - musician walks past me in the kitchen

5. the "I love you." from a 11 year old girl who rarely shares so easily

6. the "Mommy, read! Mommy, read!" from a 6 year old girl who is growing up way too fast!

7. WIND! Wind...water lapping...candle flickering the dusk glow...as my sister prays with me...a liquid conduit of the Spirit of God penetrating this dust

8. the words "Love you!" on my notepad in the kitchen from a 26 year old who is God's angel - man to this tribe for this season

9. a pastor who speaks truth from the pulpit and into our lives...seeing his hunger to not let us ever remain in any state but that of full victory in JESUS...a true representative of the Good Shepherd to his flock

10. hearing the voice of God for a dear brother knowing that HE has called me to speak life and be used to be His voice ...poured out wine

Ann is a beautiful woman...a pearl among pearls...and I am thankful that Jesus is pouring her out so that He can make us pour out as well.

Thanks, Ann!

We love you!

LENT...a place of His Refining Fire

2011-04-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

This past few weeks, as we have entered into this LENTEN SEASON,

Jesus has been digging deep in the garden of our hearts...

our spirits...to root out all that is hindering us

from moving out in full victory.

"Pressing every hindrance aside, out of my way, I want to know you, Lord."

~ "In the Secret"

Today, I read a blog post from my former pastor, Jonathan Tagg,

at The River, in Blacksburg, VA

The River - TAGGED Blog Post

His post just brought together so much that has been stirring up in me these

last few weeks and I commented on his post.

I wanted to share it with all of you...

you Moms at home with little ones,

you Home School Moms pouring into your children,

you missionaries out there who hunger to be EMPTY and FULL to

walk out fully what Jesus has called you to,

you pastors out there who are the mediators between Jesus and the flocks

He has given you to serve (2 Corinthians),

and everyone who calls themselves a DISCIPLE of CHRIST!

I pray that this exchange...Jonathan's Blog Post and my comment

will be a place of refreshment for all of us who are

walking out this LENTEN season

TRULY seeking the time in the desert

as Jesus did 40 days before his ministry began.

BATTLING the FLESH

that is Satan's realm.

We are more than CONQUERERS...

Sing psalms...hymns...and spiritual songs one to another...

forgive one another...

break bread together.

JT ~

It really is amazing how Jesus uses this season of LENT to really penetrate and prune us as we seek Him to "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23 -24)...He will! Because He is GRACIOUS and wants us to TRULY enter into HIS promised land...vibrant, fragrance filled. "crushed grapes and poured out wine" (Oswald Chambers) LIFE in Christ..."pick up your cross daily and follow me."

We've been going through this refining as we seek Jesus to clean out and refine and purge and cleanse and make ready US for the harvest to come at this new church plant of Healing Grace Church in New Bern. WE NEVER ARRIVE! = ) It's a continual deepening and refining so that we can be made more and more usable in His kingdom work. It truly is a "dying to self"...not allowing the enemy to get a foothold ANYWHERE...MUCH prayer...and forgiveness "70x7 times" ...and that's forgiving others, ourselves, and Jesus in those areas that we are sometimes so blind to for whatever reason.

But to lay open...always open...open hands, open heart, HUNGERING for His deeper work in us! ALWAYS!!! And when we surrender...which is a day to day journey...His pruning yields so much fruit! But will we allow the rubbing when we enter the realm of no control...but allow Him to be in control?

I think the greatest thing is His GRACE...that as we as leaders and as followers impart His GRACE to each other at every turn we thwart the enemy from getting that foothold in there where bitterness, negativity, hurt, hardness, and what you spoke of as not trusting happens. Putting the Cross between us ALWAYS and laying ourselves down and being willing to engage the pressing of our flesh, our agenda, our fear, our control, that will lead us to the land of VICTORY and POWER.

I'm just amazed at how the Lord is moving DEEP in so many of us this LENT...and though the rubbing is hard... it is AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL and POWERFUL!!! "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead WILL GIVE YOU LIFE IN YOUR MORTAL BODIES through his Spirit, who lives in you." (Romans 8:11)

Thank you for your transparency and your post today, JT. Very cool! "Jesus, please put a salve over our hearts as we allow You to take us through your refining fire...because we know that YOU have created us for MORE and that MORE is Your INCREASE in us and our DECREASE so that we can be the crushed petal that gives off the 'Aroma of Christ in every place'. We love you, JESUS, and we THANK YOU for not ever allowing us to be comfortable, but You press us to be SATISFIED in You! 'You MAKE US to lie down in green pastures.' In Jesus name. Amen."

Peace of the Lord be with you, Jonathan ~
Cheryl

May the PEACE of GOD dwell in you RICHLY

this day and may He continue to PRESS you to

the GREATER PRIZE

the PROMISED LAND

the Easter Resurrection

in our own hearts.

a joyful mother...

2011-03-07T21:22:00.000-08:00

"joyful willingness to do humble work without gain or appreciation." (E.Elliot)

I just read this quote on a new BLOGGY MOMMY'S Blog...

Home Body

I was instantly brought to tears.

A few days ago, on March 4th, I was reading Oswald Chambers, His Utmost for My Highest.

The quote above just sums up Oswald's "word" to us for the specificity of a Mommy...

COULD THIS BE TRUE OF ME?

*"But none of these things move me, neither* *count I my life dear unto myself."* Acts 20:24 It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment. You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God wants will always come like a goad; you will no longer be able to work for Him on the common-sense basis. What do I really count dear? If I have not been gripped by Jesus Christ, I will count service dear, time given to God dear, my life dear unto myself. Paul says he counted his life dear only in order that he might fulfil the ministry he had received; he refused to use his energy for any other thing. Acts 20:24 states Paul's almost sublime annoyance at being asked to consider himself; he was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Practical work may be a competitor against abandonment to God, because practical work is based on this argument - Remember how 'useful you are here, or - Think how much value you would be in that particular type of work." That attitude does not put Jesus Christ as the Guide as to where we should go, but our judgment as to where we are of most use. Never consider whether you are of use; but ever consider that you are not your own but His. Jesus...make it so. May I pour out my life for what YOU truly call me to beyond my usefulness... beyond my pride... beyond my need... to.. LIFE... ABUNDANT LIFE...(John 10:10) for YOU. May my garden of budding blossoms be TRULY fragrant...with the "aroma of Christ in every place"... brilliant...vibrant...holy unto You. May I be blessed to watch these flowers BLOOM... radiant...plump...ripe for the picking... show me...Jesus...how to truly LEAN on You... DRINK from You... TRUST in You... BREATH in You... that I might be the MOMMY...You created me to be... because "I love You because You FIRST LOVED ME!" I LOVE these flowers because You FIRST LOVED ME... and GAVE ME this quiver full... Jesus...walk with me... give me strength to pause... to collect myself when I would first yell.. give me grace to listen... when I would first know impatience... give me joy... when I would first be frustrated... give me LOVE... ABUNDANT LOVE... to SHOWER and POUR into the hearts and lives of these...YOUR fruit of MY womb.... thank you...my King Jesus... Your gifts are amazing... luscious ...and sweet. i love you. ~ your little lambie girl (the painting above was created by my little Gracie. I love it. She said she was painting a flower and it got messed up...I told her, "Gracie...look...what a BEAUTIFUL heart you have created!" May our children...our flowers BE the HEART of CHRIST to the world.)

Lynette's Spring Blog Party

2011-03-03T16:55:00.000-08:00

Thoughts of Spring Blog Party

I have a BLOGGY Mom friend who I JUST LOVE!

She is a mother of 9 children, 6 on earth, 3 in Heaven.

She has invited all of us to her Blog Party and I thought...

"What a GREAT way to start this new Season of our Misisonary Homeschooling Life!"

For those of you visiting me for the first time...

My name is Cheryl McCarthy and I have been married to my
Worship Leading Hub, Bill, for 22 years.

We have been given 5 AMAZING children!

Caela,

Isabella,

Daniel,

Gracie and

Liliana

(Caela - 12)

(Liliana - 3)

(Isabella - 11)

(Gracie - 5)

(Daniel - 9)

We just started a Call to New Bern, NC as a "Missionary Family" at Healing Grace Church (AMiA Church Plant) we are a part of the Anglican Mission in the Americas.
A Mission, not a denomination...so AWESOME!

The Lord gave us a house that was TRULY "prepared for us" by our King Jesus!

We needed 5 bedrooms AND an office for Bill...both of these needs (the 5th bedroom and the office) had been built onto the house the year before the owners rented it to us!

We are a Homeschooling Family.

Here are Daniel and Isabella doing their copy work.

Now to answer some of these questions Lynette has!

How would people describe your personality? (If they could only use ONE word.)

Are they right?

I have a few descriptions I would think others would call me, but the main one is...

Encouraging

(This is the ONE word I hear most of the time)

But I also hear: Frenetic...Joyful...Bold...Passionate. = )

Are they right?

I think so. But what is pretty amazing, that I have been learning lately, is that

sometimes people who honestly share how they see you make you sometimes wish YOU could be friends with YOU and really see what THEY see!

Would any of you like to be friends with yourself?! = )

If you inherited a million dollars what would be the first thing you'd do with it?

The first thing would be to pay off ALL our debt!

We are SO CLOSE! Dave Ramsey groupies!

After that I would love to shore up lose ends on our NEEDS in our house

and for the kids.

And THEN I'd love to shower our parents with things THEY need because of ALL THE KINDNESS they have shown us over the years!

Lastly, I would give portions to our friends in Rwanda...Sonrise School, Bishop John Rucyahana, Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee...

That would be a GREAT day! Just the idea of Jesus giving us His money to be able

to be His hands and feet in this world!

WOW! These questions are TOUGH! = )

If you could live anywhere at all (and take all your loved ones with you),

where would you go?

To be honest? I'd go RIGHT HERE!

Where Jesus wants us! Wherever He wants us is where I would want to go!

We used to pray all the time, "Jesus, please don't take us somewhere that is FLAT and where there is WATER." ...well, it's amazing how He changes are hearts when He calls us ...New Bern is ALL flat and water...and WE ABSOLUTELY love it here!

Because Jesus is all over this move and this call!

What movie or book character can you most relate to?

The character that I DESIRE to relate to more and more are all my heroes in the Faith...

Rees Howells, George Mueller, Brother Yun...

We are right now reading The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun as our read aloud.

Today I thought, "Is this too heavy for them?" ...yes, probably, but the FAITH BUILDING TESTIMONY of a man SOLD OUT to Jesus is what comes through every page!

We are going to start George Mueller's autobiography next...WHEW!!!

All of Jane Austen's books and movies are MY FAVORITES! Just the BEAUTY, the dialogue, the family dynamics...love them!

Also, ONEGIN...with Ralph Fiennes, The Scarlet Pimpernel...with Anthony Andrews, Camelot...the PLAY on HBO with Richard Harris...all the PASSION! all the ROMANCE! all the HONOR! Love movies like that!

Here is a pic of me and my new sweet friend, Ellen, taken at the AMiA Winter Conference a few weeks back!

I have SO FEW pics of ME! = )

This has been a TREAT sharing with all you LADIES!

I hope you'll come by and VISIT!

And I pray that this blog will always be a

HUGE ENCOURAGEMENT to anyone who has a PASSION for Jesus...

And a PASSION for your children and Home Schooling!

Peace of the Lord be with you ALWAYS!

~ Cheryl

ps...I just published this post and there are some WEIRD spacing going on..

A Lovely Day

2011-03-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

Well. I said I'd post pics, right? = )

Today we had our ART time!

Gracie started painting this picture of a FLOWER,

but it turned out looking like the most BEAUTIFUL HEART!

It reminded me of MY 5 flowers and how they truly are

a picture of Jesus' Heart to Bill and I.

Liliana LOVED painting with lots of

mixed colors...a lovely shade of BROWN!

Gracie enjoyed painting pinecones from

the front yard. I now have them

displayed on my mantel.

Liliana wanted to be the Green Goblin so she

decided to hide under the

kitchen table and draw

all over her face!

She enjoyed sharing her creation with me!

It's so hard, sometimes, to scold when they

look SO CUTE!

Friday, last week, Isabella and Caela went to their

Science Class that they absolutely LOVE!

Isabella got home and did some of her own ART!

She drew all the cells she had learned about.

AMAZING!

Friday night we had some family time...

"Don't you have FAMILY time ALL the time?" you ask. = )

Well, it was "FUN DO WHATEVER"

Family Time.

Isabella continued her Science..which she could do ALL the TIME!

Caela and Isabella played some checkers,

Liliana just PLAYED with all the game

peices...UGH! = )

And Daniel was the little observer.

Also, on Friday, Daisy and Isabella were

ready to take on the TOWN!

Sorry, Isabella, but Daisy can't go to

Walmart and that's where we

need to go today seeing as it's FRIDAY!

We decided to go by

the shoe store in town on Middle Street

where the Mommy Corgi JUST HAD 8 PUPPIES!!!

WHAT?!!!

Isabella's FIRST love

for a puppy is a Corgi, but, OF COURSE, Corgis

are CRAZY EXPENSIVE!

So for Isabella to get to enjoy CORGI PUPPIES!!! Just down the street!! NO WAY!!!

Liliana is just a BUNDLE

of LOVE!

Our Little Flower!

Friday she decided to go somewhere with her puppy dog.

And, as some of you may know, Uncle Brian is living with us for

how ever long Jesus wants him to.

And the kids are LOVING having him around!!

Big Hugs for Uncle Brian!

Wondering what the racing is all about?

Well. My little kiddos aren't as Bloggy and Facebooky as Mommy is. = )

Isabella gets them all focused on NOT getting their pictures taken!

But then again...there's my little Daniel!

He's always a blessing to his Mommy for her shudder finger. = )

I just want to say, "Thank you, Jesus, for pressing me through this last week of

'shift'. Thank you, Jesus, for the Body of Christ, to walk with us

as we head to our 'Point of Intercession' (as Rees Howells used to put it). Thank you for your PEACE...thank you for your PERSISTANCE...

thank you for your HEART for me and for our kiddlings.

I love you."

1000 Gifts Post

2011-02-28T22:24:00.000-08:00

(My littlest...Liliana)

I just visited a holy experience.

This beautiful lady just wrote a book called...

One Thousand Gifts.

On her blog she invites us to share what we are thankful for.

I am thankful for the 10 years of waiting for 5 little ones like

this cutie patootie above. = )

I am thankful for the stretching and pressing and tears

that the Lord kindly found favor for to give my Bill and I

His Quiver Full.

I'm thankful for all the moments where He said and still says,

"Little precious daughter of mine...my beloved cheryl...

are you ready to allow Me to show you great and mighty and beautiful things?

You will need to let go of all you know and all that is comfortable

and all that is YOU...

your flesh, your pride, your control...

and just SURRENDER to ME...your Lord...your King.

I love you...and I will be interceding for you...

but I want you to have the "ABUNDANT LIFE" (John 10:10)

I came to this earth to give you.

Will you trust Me?"

And I remember all those "Yes" moments that hurt so bad...

but there was ALWAYS the DAWN!

ALWAYS the DAWN! = )

"Thank You, my dearest Lord Jesus...

thank You for loving me and pouring that love out of me as 5 little flowers...

may I be a GOOD gardener and keep your garden well.

Forgive me for neglecting it and allowing weeds to BEGIN to grow.

Thank you that You have guided me and given me Your power

and strength to keep back the weeds.

May I ALWAYS have a 'weed free' garden and

thriving BLOOMING BLOSSOMS!!!

I love You.

Your little lambie girl."

Art

2011-02-28T21:54:00.000-08:00

For the last few days I have felt the Lord impressing on my heart

how IMPORTANT it is to have the children more and more exposed to

ART and CREATING.

When Caela and Isabella were little they drew and drew and drew all day long.

Isabella was especially gifted in her art. Not only in pictures, but in MAKING things.

I remember when she was 5 years old I would give her a cardboard box and just let her have at it.

She started making kitchen appliances...fridge, oven, microwave...complete with milk cartons and egg containers that she MADE.

For years I have WANTED to give them ample opportunity to DO ART.

To put a huge tarp out on the lawn and just let them have at it.

Never happened. = )

It's time.

Tomorrow will be one of our Art Days.

I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with.

Gracie has been very active on Sunday mornings at church drawing

what she sees and experiences at church. It's been fascinating to see HER view point. = )

I hope to post some pics of their creations for you!

I Work for a King

2011-02-27T16:42:00.000-08:00

“I work for a King.

He has put me in charge of His home.

When He comes to see how I have managed His possessions and His children.

I do not want to be found wanting.

I want to do my best.

Everything I have is on loan from Him.

I have room and board and a job to do, but it is all for Him.

Therefore I want to dress my best and do my best in all my work.

I also want to be creative,

for this is a sincere attempt to glorify Him and His beautiful creation.

How I manage my home is a form of worship to Him.”

~ Lydia Sherman

Be My Everything...Jesus

2011-02-26T21:03:00.000-08:00

Holy...Holy...Holy...

is the Lord God Almighty

who was and is and is to come...

With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything and I will adore You

...be my everything...

...be my everything....

I adore You.

Jesus.

The Journey

2011-02-25T21:26:00.000-08:00

The Children and I have been in New Bern now for almost 3 months.

It's been quite an adventure thus far!

With all the transition of moving, settling, and figuring out what Missionary Life is supposed to look like, I have been bouncing around like a rubber ball as I have sought the Lord for His best in all of it...Home Schooling, Ministry, House, Visiting, etc.

Having just come back from the Annual AMiA Winter Conference, which is ALWAYS a heightened whirlwind experience, the Lord did much in me at the conference and I was ready to return home and "unpack". Instead, I ended up with the Flu.

NASTY thing!

Laid me up for several days.

During that time I had a lot of time to pray. After much praying I started reading through old journals. Do you ever do that? WHEW! Brings your past right in front of you.

For 10 years, Bill and I were without children. Many of those journals I read through were filled with day in and day out HUNGER, ANGUISH, and YEARNING for children.

As those of you, who have followed me for years now, at some point between Isabella and Daniel I lost sight of that pain and desire of those childless years and started pining for outside ministry. WHAT!!

As I lay in my bed reading those journals the Lord began to meet me and press deep in my heart and being to where I could feel His weighted presence in my stomach.

He was speaking to my heart the mission field I have at home with my 5 little flowers.

I don't know why I have always been grabbing for things outside my home.

I really couldn't tell you. But sometimes it takes a few days laid out in your bed with beautiful bound books strewn all over your bed to REMIND one of what is MOST PRECIOUS in this lifetime on earth.

This week has been a great turning for me. A turning and a stopping.

A grounding.

My sweet pastor told me today,

"When your home is in order and your children are prominent in your priorities then your ministry will flow fully and strongly from it."

I started connecting with my old Home School bloggie Mommies this week.

I LOVE BLOGGING!!! To be connected and to hear and see the beauty of the Home School family! To walk alongside other HS mommies is SUCH a TREAT!

AND Jesus has given me three HS Mommies here in New Bern that have children that are my children's ages. He knew.

So. This week we turned a corner in our Missionary Life that Jesus confirmed.

For those of you who are Home School moms desiring to hear about our schedule, like I am ALWAYS wanting to read about in yours! ...here it is:

Monday - Thursday

7:00 Mommy gets up

8:00 Kids get up

8:30 chores

9:00 breakfast

9:30 Devotion and read aloud

10:30 Daily Core Subjects

12:30 Lunch

1:30 I work with Gracie - C/I/D do independent work

2:30 Clean Up - play

4:00 Reading Hour - Mommy rests = )

5:30 Dinner Prep - chores

6:30 Dinner

7:00 Hoping to start an after dinner Worship time with Daddy or Read Aloud with Daddy

8:30 Bed

11:30 Mommy to bed

Friday

Caela and Isabella go to 9:00 Science class

Grocery Day/Library Day/Project Day/Family Night

Our Lord Jesus is FAITHFUL, KIND, and has ZEAL for His house.

Thank you for walking out this journey with us!

Transitions

2011-02-24T07:24:00.000-08:00

Curriculum.

hmmm....what a challenge for us Homeschool Mommies.

I was just given this AMAZING resource from a seasoned Homeschool Mommy who is now an empty nester. The Original McGuffy Readers. What a TREAT!

With this last school year being SUCH a crazy and transitional time...so many changes, this Homeschool Mommy is living out what I have read of so many Homeschool Mommy's journeys. You start out researching, praying, asking the Lord for discernment in making the RIGHT decision for your children's curriculum.

When I homeschooled 4 years ago I knew I wanted to do the Charotte Mason approach.

I loved that whole books would be used.

I loved that all the Language Arts, etc. would be taken from the books used.

I loved that it was a "Life" learning approach.

In October I purchased the Epi Kardia Curriculum. I was excited because it was Charlotte Mason based with the use of Unit Studies to bring it all together. I loved the books that would be used.

After 5 months of transition I have come to realize that this curriculum is a quite bit more high maintenance for me than I'd hoped. Because I can't return it at this point I will have to make it work for us somehow.

As a Home School Mommy you really hope all the horror stories won't be your testimony...but, alas, all those seasoned Home School Mommies are right! = )

I came across a WONDERFUL blog

4 Moms, 35 Kids "How Moms of Many Manage"

WHAT an encouragement! Each month these 4 moms share about an area of Homeschooling or living with a large family. So often as Homeschool moms you get concerned that you aren't doing enough for your kids in life and education. But listening to the schedules of these four amazing women I felt like I'm doing JUST FINE!

So. Today, as we continue to walk out this Call in New Bern, NC at Healing Grace Church living out the Homeschool family life, I embark on a new transition in my schedule, my focus, and my continued laying my children before the throne of God to be His: Love Him, Seek Him, and learn to HEAR His voice so that from that firm foundation in relationship to the King of Kings trusting that a heart and desire to learn and grow in this life will flow from them.

HOMESCHOOLING!

2011-01-25T11:41:00.000-08:00

Well, last week we started back up on the Homeschooling full force!

After asking Caela what she thought of our new revamp she said:

"It reminds me of Dayspring"..(the school they were attending in Christiansburg)

WHAT A COMPLIMENT!

Daniel tells me how fun school is!

We are incorporating the kid's AWANA study into our own Devotion time.

Each day Bill teaches on what the verse is that the children are learning. We start with Gracie and by end of week we get through each child. That's the GOAL anyway!

Caela and Isabella started their Science Class last week. They go to a local church where the class is taught by a wonderful Mom who has a heart for HSing. The girls get to be with their new friends who also attend the AWANA program on Sunday nights. We even get to see each other at WALMART!

As the week goes by we get to enjoy fellowship with friends from Healing Grace and neighbors.

Katie and Michael Sandifer enjoying Tea and Company!

We even take time out to get the MAIL! Isabella's American Doll Christmas and Birthday stuff has been arriving FINALLY!

Some of you have been asking what our house looks like.

Well. Here is our school room/dining room. Lots happens in this room! And there is my Orange Chair! Still a GREAT place to sit and chat!

To the right is our Living room. We have a gas fireplace that makes it REALLY cozy! And our computer is stationed in the living room so the whole family can use it.

We are beginning a new schedule and allowing the Lord to lead us in our Missionary Life.

We have allowed a three hour TIME BLOCK for school each day and an hour of Reading Time. The afternoons can be used for cleaning, visiting and catch up. And when the sun is out the kids LOVE to jump on that trampoline!

Well. We are off to pick up some homeschool books from a new friend and go to the Library!

Much love to all!

The Journey TOGETHER begins!

2011-01-08T10:28:00.000-08:00

What a RIDE it's been since we left Christiansburg!

I want to apologize to all of you

for the utter DELAY in filling you in on our move to New Bern!

FORGIVE ME! = )

But, I can't think of a better time to share than to begin this year with

a photo album of this past month and all the Lord has done to lead us to His work

in New Bern!

December 2-4 were BIG DAYS for the McCarthy Family AND for all the AWESOME family...both blood and church family in getting us packed and ready to hit the road to New Bern!

As you can see, Liliana says it ALL!
We had driven to Barnes and Noble for our last HOORAH there..sad to say, but New Bern DOES NOT have a B&N! By the time we set off we were all about as spent as Liliana!

Before we left we were able to spend some good quality time with some of our friends and have our last visit to Gillie's Restraunt.

My dear friend, Robin, and I had a WONDERFUL breakfast and then the kids and Bill and I enjoyed breakfast the following day before all the packing started.

We got to spend our last Sunday Lunch with Scott, Sandy, and Kelsey! They have been a consistant blessing of encouragement and fellowship! We will miss our friends and my parents much as we are in New Bern, but it was a GREAT GIFT to be able to have those sweet moments right before we left.

Then the packing and loading...

Gramma was a HUGE blessing for MONTHS!!!

Then came the River and New Horizon's troops!

Jesus is SO KIND to give you what you need when you need it and we could NOT have done this move without all these amazing people!!!

Jim Sallie and the River Interns - Josh and Ryan.

Robin, Allison, Juli, Mandy,
the crew from New Horizons (they left before I could get a pic!)

And then the second wave!
Michael, Pastor Mark, and Dave drove all the way from New Bern to drive the trucks down!!!

And to send us off was our sweet friend, Lexi!

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, for your TIRELESS SACRIFICE to get us to New Bern!

Good bye
355 Tanglewood...

Hello!
Greenbrier!!

We met the unloading crew on Saturday, December 4th.

Kelly and Carol tackled the kitchen, the guys kept the furniture going and Miss Jane got pretty snuggled on the chair with Gracie,
BIG JOB keeping her settled! = )

The Lord provided so many new friends from Healing Grace to help...even our new young neighbor, 15 year old, Aaron, from across the street!

What a blessing to feel so cared for and received after 6 months of waiting. = )

We enjoyed a LOVELY home cooked meal, provided by Michael and Katie, on our first night in our new home.

Eric, Kelly, and Omari joined us and it was such a sweet time together!

Thanks, Michael and Katie, for an AWESOME first meal!

The children have enjoyed their new rooms and getting settled back with toys and books they haven't seen in 6 months. Liliana is now in her OWN BIG BED and LOVING IT!!!

And Mommy is LOVING her new house!!!

Jesus was so kind and dear that He even gave me a kitchen painted in the EXACT same color I painted my kitchen in Northern, VA!!!

As Bill and I survey our new house we sit in AWE at God's KINDNESS and MERCY.

We know that He has given us this amazing, taylor made home because He has MUCH He wants to use it for in our lives and the lives of HEALING GRACE CHURCH.

We look forward to how He leads us in using His house for His purposes and just GRATEFUL to be LIVING here!

Thank you, Jesus!

Right after moving in we had Isabella's 11th Birthday!

She got to enjoy it with her family and with new friends!

Our first week of settling we got MANY visits from our neighbors!

Lots of COOKIES!

We've also gotten the JOY of watching little Omari every Wednesday morning!

One day, Isabella got all the kids together and had an IMPROMPTU TEA PARTY! Daniel even went upstairs and put on his Sunday Church shirt to be PROPER!

Definitely children after my own heart! = )

I really don't know WHAT happened to Liliana's shirt! = )

As you can see, below, this house has some fun little cubby holes.

And Gracie is modeling her PINK TU TU her Uncle Armand gave her!

As you can see, we spend A LOT of time in our kitchen!

Then came

Christmas!

We enjoyed the Healing Grace Christmas Party!

Everyone had a MAGICAL time at Pastor Mark and Miss Jane's house!

As you can see, Omari, gets around!

The beautiful thing I LOVE about Healing Grace Church, is how the Lord is bringing together the GENERATIONS!

And such RICH, FAITH FILLED, HUNGRY for God people
of ALL ages!

The kids also enjoyed tree shopping and baking cookies for the homeless in Morehead City.

We also LOVED our gift from Miss Jenny!! HOMEMADE BREAD!!!

We scarfed that down in about 30 minutes!

SO SO YUMMY!!!

Then came Christmas Week!

Decorating the tree, our AWESOME Christmas Eve Service, and our Christmas STOMACH FLU!!!

It started with Caela and hit 4 our of the 7 of us.

FUN TIMES!

Liliana spent Christmas morning on the floor opening her gifts!

The children had a wonderful time Christmas Morning.

They enjoyed getting some fun presents,

Enjoyed singing, "Happy Birthday, Jesus!"

And we just spent the day in total NAP MODE!

Liliana, Gracie and I had a WONDERFUL Christmas Nap together!

One of the HIGHLIGHTS for me!

My two favorite presents were

1. While driving to Church on Christmas Eve we got lost. In the quiet of the van an impromptu chorus of Silent Night broke out from all the children. My favorite present!

2. Because of all the illness Mommy didn't have time to wrap all the gifts. I had two little elves named, Isabella and Caela, join me Christmas Eve wrapping all the little ones presents until midnight!
SUCH a SWEET SWEET time with my girls!

And now, we begin 2011!

The GREATEST gift of all is being TOGETHER!!!

It is an INCREDIBLE gift to have Daddy around!
It is an INCREDIBLE gift to be in Ministry

TOGETHER

as a family!

Like unto the night before a wedding, when the bride and groom don't see each other until the ceremony of a NEW LIFE...such is the 6 months that we were a part from Bill.

Now we are almost settled in our home,
homeschooling starts in full swing for our
McCarthy Homeschool January 17th,
and illness has LEFT the BUILDING!!!

We are enjoying listening to the Lord as to His instruction for us along with the Leadership Team at Healing Grace.

We have already seen the Lord bringing so many AWESOME people into our midst at HGC!

We await our Service tomorrow as our Pastor Mark shares the VISION of 2011
for Healing Grace Church with us!

PLEASE join us in prayer for this service tomorrow!

So, as we walk out Epiphany,
as we embark on this new season for our family and for our church family
we look forward in anticipation as to what the Lord has in store for us, His servants, to be about as we

LOVE HIM, HONOR HIM, and WAIT UPON ...
the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

Happy New Year!!!
Much love...All Us McCarthys

It's been a GOOD Day...

2010-11-20T21:25:00.000-08:00

It's close to midnight on a quiet Autumn evening.

The little ones are nestled in their little beds...

Daddy is on the road...traveling to New Bern, by himself, for the last time.

Mommy is listening to the stillness, but for the dryer beeping at it's random intervals.

It's been a GOOD day.

Today I went to visit a friend. She wasn't home, but I got to enjoy the

BEAUTY that was on her front door! Aren't these GORGEOUS!

I then played hookey from the fam and visited a little Antique Shop on
Depot Street in Christiansburg. I took a picture, but it didn't turn out. = (
But I so enjoyed walking the rooms and soaking in the

BEAUTY of timeless treasures.

Yesterday, little Daisy Mae was picked up by her current owner for a week while we are away. We still don't know if she'll end up a member of the McCarthy Tribe, but doesn't Isabella look GOOD with her in her arms?! = )

Gracie has enjoyed the focused time of playing on Caela's DS. She's such a little whirlwind MOST of the time, I just HAD to get some pics of her QUIET and STILL...another BEAUTY shot!

Today Isabella got to have a playdate with one of her BFF's, Abbie.

Isabella's 11th Birthday is December 11th.
Hoping we can maybe get a little early celebrating with her VA friends before we leave.

Two BEAUTIFUL girls!

(Bill and I with our friend, Tom Herrick)

Tomorrow is Bill's last Sunday at Healing Grace Church....

ALONE! = )

And it's a SPECIAL time for the Healing Grace Family!

After the service our dear friend, Tom, will be having a Skype Conference with our new Church Family for his last Church Planting Coaching session with the HGC Leadership Team.

These last 8 months have been AWESOME in building the foundations for HGC.

Wishing the kids and I could be there!

He is a BEAUTIFUL instrument in the hand of a BEAUTIFUL God!

So looking forward to seeing the Lord do GREAT and MIGHTY things through HGC's time with Tom in addition to all the other factors that have built such a STRONG foundation for

this precious church Jesus has called us to serve in.

Tonight, I leave you with the BEAUTY of these gorgeous fragrant roses!

I bought them for $3.99 at Kroger last week.

Jesus knew I needed some BEAUTY to accompany this week of

brown and black and upheaval with boxes, tape, and paper.

I LOVE MY ROSES!

May the Rose of Sharon visit with you this night and especially on His Day

the Sabbath!

May His Spirit fill you and refresh you as you worship Him with YOUR body of believers tomorrow.

Peace of the Lord...

We are Getting Close! New Bern...HERE WE COME!

2010-11-16T18:41:00.000-08:00

Good Evening, my Bloggy Friends.

I'm sitting in my soon to be EMPTY office with a sweet little puppy named, Daisy Mae,

sitting on my lap.

(Little Gracie with our possible addition, Miss Daisy Mae)

Bill just got in last night after a week a part. He will now be with us until Saturday and then joining us in Sapphire Valley, NC where we will joining my parents at their Time Share for the week of Thanksgiving.

What a PROFOUND gift the Lord has given us in His PERFECT TIMING!

To end this 6 month stint of Faith Stretching with a WEEK TOGETHER to celebrate Thanksgiving! Right before the week we move into our new home!

(Our New Home! You can see our van parked in the driveway!)

I'm still in shock!

As I look back on the last 6 months and all the waiting, wondering, discerning, and PRAISING!

To see the Lord Call His children and then Provide for their every need with

More than we could EVER ask or imagine!

I would like to introduce you to some of our new dear friends and co laborers at

Healing Grace Church.

Michael and Katie Sandifer, Bruce and Carol McPhail, and Dave and Wendy Nicholson...just to name a few!

Just tonight I was walking little Daisy Mae and just getting SO EXCITED about FINALLY being in New Bern, in our NEW HOME, and joining my brothers and sisters in Christ as we walk out God's plan for Healing Grace Church.

This week we are PACKING, PACKING, PACKING...and working out all the details of our move.

It's funny, sitting here writing about it it doesn't seem that overwhelming, but as we try to juggle kids and go through boxes, and work out help with friends and family...it's like getting the last BIG PUSH!

When we finally get settled in New Bern...enjoying Christmas in New Bern!

I look forward to seeing what LIFE as a MISSIONARY family will actually look like

on the GROUND.

I look forward to walks in Greenbriar with (hopefully) little Daisy Mae, and my dear friend, Jane, who lives RIGHT DOWN THE STREET!

(Jane Cooke and Margaret Brewbaker)

I look forward to Coffee Time with my dear friend, Margaret!

Being able to help with my friends Denise and Kelly and their little babies.

(Little Omari Scherrer and his mommy, Kelly)

To be able to share the Love of Christ with my new neighbors and their children,

to pray PHYSICALLY with my Healing Grace Family, to be a vital part of the HG Leadership Team seeing how the Lord would use my gifts and the gifts of the children joining Bill to serve HGC, New Bern, and the NATIONS!

He is AT WORK IN GREAT AND MIGHTY WAYS at HGC now...it will be SUCH a GIFT to be a hands on part of His Grace and Mercy and Power on the ground.

It's the last leg of the journey to New Bern. Can't Believe It!

Thank you for your PRAYERS and ENCOURAGEMENT!

We welcome you to continue the journey with us in

THE NEW YEAR 2011

Much love to all...

Two of Our Favorite People!...Happy Birthday, Lexi!

2010-11-02T22:07:00.000-07:00

It's someone's Birthday TODAY and I thought,

"What a wonderful opportunity to share about two of our FAVORITE people!"

Today is Lexi VanDervort's Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEXI!!!!!!

Lexi and Tom, her fiancee, are two of our FAVORITE people!

About...oh, my..18 months ago...two college students came to visit The River. I know, LOTS of VA TECH college students visit The River, but on this particular Sunday I was especially drawn to these two.

It was a Pizza Potluck Sunday and after the service I remember asking them to sit at our table.

Tom started sharing all his passion! I knew from that first lunch conversation that these two precious people were REALLY SPECIAL!!! = )

Over the next 18+ months we would see each other mainly on Sundays. Tom and Lexi would sit with us every Sunday and Gracie and Isabella..of all the children...ESPECIALLY...bonded with their new friends!

Gracie has a Special place in her heart for Mr. Tom and Isabella usually ends up with her head in Lexi's lap getting her hair rubbed!

(A Friday Autumn afternoon in Blacksburg, VA)

It's been a bit tough going these last few months, as we have waited on the Lord to lead us to New Bern. I've been a bit of a hermit holding down the fort with the kiddos. When I was able to begin seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and return to The River after the Lord brought the buyer for our house, it was SUCH A GIFT to have Tom and Lexi hanging with us again at The River!

(Liliana and Gracie's Trick or Treating Buddy, Mr. Tom!)

In this life, Jesus gives us people, along the journey, that we get to pour into and we get to receive from. These are people that touch us in a deep and longstanding way. These are people that we find a "kindred" ness to...a richness in their presence...and safe place, a place to be challenged, encouraged, and loved.

I'm sure you can tell by now...

WE LOVE THESE GUYS!!!

Tom and Lexi are getting married on January 1, 2011.

WOW!

It has been a treasure to walk with them in prayer and encouragement watching the Lord grow two strong, earth tilled souls together, and be given the privilege to anticipate their "one flesh" union in the beginning of a new year!

I believe very strongly that Jesus has an AWESOME path for them to walk in this life and I can't wait to watch it unfold!!!!

I just wanted to express how very BLESSED we have been, as a family, to have Tom and Lexi in our lives. Though we don't see each other very often, the times the Lord gives us is rich, sweet, and beautiful! I am most especially grateful for the LOVE and KINDNESS they have shown to our little brood! And Tom's love towards Gracie has been a balm on her heart that I have prayed for ...and Jesus saw fit to give her Mr. Tom. = )

This is what you want to see! Don't you think?! = )
Nothing like two little girls jumping into your arms before you even get through the door! = )

Tom and Lexi...may our Lord Jesus LIVE and BREATH and HAVE HIS BEING IN YOU all the days of your lives! May you know, Sweet Lexi, how BEAUTIFUL you are inside and out! How honoring and radiant you allow yourself to be before your King! How blessed the little ones are to have you as such an example of Godly Virtue and Grace! mmm...

And you, Dear Tom, how deep your waters run as a Tree planted by streams of water! OH! MAN! If someone could paint on canvas the depiction of what Jesus has wrought in you for His people and His plan...as His son and soon as the Priest of your home.

Thank You, Jesus, on this the Day the Lord has Made...when You brought Lexi into the light...her Birthday...Thank You, for allowing our paths to cross and may they remain close in line as You lead all of us by the way.

WE LOVE YOU BOTH, DEARLY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET GIRL!!!
May it be a BEAUTIFUL DAY!!! = )

October Fun....

2010-10-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

Liliana jumping in the leaves.

Too much fun for one person to be allowed to have!

Go Baby, Go!

A Heart of Thanksgiving!

2010-10-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Elliot...

Anyone ever heard of this woman?

What about Brother Yun?

...George Mueller?

...Rees Howells?

Bishop John Rucyahana?

What about Saint Paul?

Anyone ever heard of these people?

Anyone?

These are people who TRUSTED JESUS ...BELIEVED HIM...and when they SURRENDERED their lives to Him they saw Him LEAD their lives according to His purposes...

and do GREAT and MIGHTY things in and through them...according to His will.

EXPECTANT of what their God could and would do in their midst because He called them. And His PLEASURE to have servants who obeyed Him even when it was HARD.

They weren't PERFECT...they weren't POPULAR...they weren't RICH...

they just LOVED JESUS and wanted to KNOW Him and SHARE Him with others...
and SERVE Him.

To be used to reveal the PERSON of Jesus
who is ALIVE ...RISEN...and the

LOVER of our SOULS!

to those He led them to...

in prison...

in the jungles of Equador...

to those who hated them....

to those who were the poor...the orphans...the widows...the "least of these"...

to the NATIONS....Equador...Britain....China....Southern Africa...Rwanda...Israel...(represented here)...

And their SURRENDER and MINISTRIES have since impacted the WORLD!

It's not easy proclaiming Christ in this world.

To proclaim to believe that a man 2000 years ago said that He was GOD and died and rose again to SAVE the world from their SINS..and that He wants us to KNOW Him...and SURRENDER to Him...and to LOVE Him...because He is ALIVE!

WHAT?

Sunday, my Lord Jesus moved the heart of one of His children to do a ridiculous extravagant thing on behalf of one of His churches. He lead this servant to BUY at ASKING PRICE ...OUTRIGHT...the McCarthy House in Christiansburg, VA in order for all of our family to be "living and moving and having our being" in New Bern TOGETHER at Healing Grace Church.

(Our House in Christiansburg, VA)

This wasn't about US...it wasn't about HEALING GRACE CHURCH...it was about Jesus seeing His children TRUSTING HIM and WALKING OUT what He called them to...and HEARING their PRAYERS...."Pray...believing and it will be done for you." ...

PROVIDING ...

"MORE THAN WE CAN ASK OR IMAGINE" (Ephesians 3:20)

so that we could be able to

"Go into all the earth and make disciples of all men."

The key word is "Go".

"Go where I call you. I know you are frail and weak, and ridiculous and unable...dust...but step off this cliff to the unknown...KNOWING that you know ME and 'I will not LEAVE you or FORSAKE you'....'I loved you before you loved Me'. 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' (Jeremiah 29:11). 'Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.' (John 20:29)"

I have read about each of these people, over the years, and with each book I would have to put it down...several times... and sit and WEEP because I would always ask,

"Lord...could I be able to make that choice for you in those difficult moments of surrender? To be ridiculed, rejected, spit upon, tortured, killed for my love for You?"

and then I would continue to read about their lives...their choices...and the MIGHTY AND CRAZY ways He provided for them in EVERY WAY!!! And provided for them in EXTRAORDINARY ways! Leading them to places in the world and in themselves that was NOT their giftings...not their comfort zones...not what was reasonable to them...but WHAT AN ADVENTURE to be co laborers with the LIVING God! SO COOL!

wow.

...and I wanted that in my life. I wanted to live that way...

(Bill and I at our engagement party 1988)

One day, after church in Nashville, TN, 22 years ago, I sat in a Dodge Dart...

just Jesus and me.

Bill and I were dating. After weeks of arguing with Bill about what the Bible said...this particular Sunday afternoon, Bill told me...

"Cheryl...this isn't about what I say or what anyone on this earth says. It's about what God says and who God is. You need to do business with Him."

So I sat.

I sat for a long time.

I looked at all the arguments and the struggles in my mind ...
all that I did not understand.

I finally surrendered to my unbelief...and CHOSE to believe.

I told the Lord that day..."Jesus, I don't understand all of this...I don't understand who You are, what You did, really why You did it...all I do know is that I WANT what I see in these other people that I just can't touch right now....

(the Elizabeth Elliots, the George Muellers, the Rees Howells,
the Bishop Johns and the Tom Herricks)

...I want to know YOU!....

so. I accept all that I don't understand and accept that I don't understand it.
Lead me to You."

After that day...in 1988...my NEW LIFE began.

Adventure and Divine Romance began with the Lover of my Soul...that day.

Each step of this journey, since that day, I've had to let go of what makes sense and the lie that in order to be a Christian you have to follow a set of rules and do everything right...be a good person.

How can I be a good person...I know myself way too well.

I had to learn what GRACE was...and how I SO DIDN'T DESERVE or could WORK for the incredible LOVE relationship with the God of the Universe...the King of Kings...Jesus.

With this unbelievable GIFT Sunday...that we could NEVER REPAY...I sit looking back at my life and the STRUGGLE and PAIN and the ALL OUT BLESSINGS that are CRAZY GOD LOVE STUFF

and I ask the Lord...with a deeper desire...

Jesus...there is still so much to discover about who You are. I know You give abundantly, you answer prayer in profound ways, but I'm still always in awe when I see You work! I imagine You saying to me, "There you go, Cheryl!", each time, and with such pleasure on your face!

I can't wait to spend the next 22 years going deeper with You.= )

What happened Sunday is just Jesus saying...

"It's Time to GO...THIS is MY PROVISION for you...because I am YOUR GOD...You have chosen to TRUST Me and I have a work for you to do. GO.
'I have come that they might have LIFE and have it ABUNDANTLY' - John10:10

I love you. "

As I have walked through these last few days I realize that in these last 22 years I have not even TOUCHED on how DEEP and HIGH and WIDE is the LOVE of CHRIST for ME!!!

...for YOU!!!! ...

It's SUCH an AMAZING revelation to me! Like peeling off another layer of an onion...or digging and digging to find a whole new underground city! SO COOL!

I just REALLY wanted to share publicly, before my beautiful Savior, My Jesus...

how utterly thankful and how utterly undeserving I am ...and my family is...to have blessed us with being His vessels of Love and Light in this world and I pray that He would continue to be blessed to use this dust ...His little lambies... for His GLORY!!!

AMEN and AMEN!!!

"Take my time here on this earth
And let it glorify all that You are worth
For I am nothing,
I am nothing without You."

Quiet and Solitude..."A Sabbath Time"

2010-09-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

(Gracie and Isabella watching the water on the path in front of Miss Jenny's house in New Bern, NC)

Quiet and Solitude...

What does that look like for each of us?

This past week I was given the GIFT of 3 days ALONE in New Bern to just BE

...to have a "Sabbath Time" as my dear pastor Mark referred to it.

The children and I enjoyed 4 days together with Daddy and the Healing Grace Church Family before I took my Sabbath Time.

We enjoyed the Trent River and walks downtown Historic New Bern.

We enjoyed the sun and the cannons! And lots of GAME playing at

Miss Jenny's Apartment

where Daddy has been living.

(Gracie, Liliana, and Daniel on the Cannon in Historic New Bern)

We spent time hanging out with each other in Miss Jenny's apartment...

Getting ice cream at the "Cow Cafe"

Taking a LONG boat ride

with our dear friends,

Margaret and Doug Brewbacker.

Bill and I got a ride to

lunch with Pastor Mark and Miss Jane

on the Brewbacker Shuttle!

SO FUN!!!

Drove us right to the Restraunt steps!

It was great to be able to have

GOOD visits with members

of our church family

while we were there

together.

(Miss Jane and Pastor Mark enjoying lunch together with their new Team Members!)

Sunday morning at Healing Grace was a HUGE shocker for me!

The Spirit of God just OVERWHELMED me and I spent the majority of the service

in TEARS! = ) I wanted to break out DANCING in the aisles!!!

But I ended up doing that in my car on the 5 hour drive back to VA! = )

Don't worry...I kept my eyes on the road. = )

It was SUCH a GIFT to see and EXPERIENCE what the Lord is doing at Healing Grace!

To experience the worship, led by Bill, and the Word spoken by Pastor Mark.

I spoke with a new member, after the service, and he shared that

they had been searching for 2 years for a church in New Bern

and when they visited Healing Grace for the first time they

could tell God was moving in this place and that Worship was happening.

CAN'T WAIT to get there!

(Members of the HGC Leadership Team, Beth and Hank Corcoran with their grandchildren,

Pastor Mark and some of our Tribe)

After Bill and the children left on Tuesday I enjoyed this...

A three hour nap and a hot bath!

And the Beauty of Miss Jenny's WONDERFUL Apt.

(Miss Jenny and Daniel...Daniel LOVES Miss Jenny so much! THANK YOU, Miss Jenny, for your incredible kindness to our family!)

For the next 3 days I spent many hours in places like this...

My camera was a bit testy so all the other LOVELY places didn't turn out. = (

Each hour I just felt myself unravelling. I likened it to a chain of little scared mice all holding on to eachother's tails...gripping each other with eyes squeezed shut. With each passing hour it was as if they were realizing that "It was ok" and began to open their eyes and RELAX their grip. = ) Sadly, I had reached a point of "Being Anxious"...and really didn't realize how much until I had this time alone.

By Friday morning I was SO LAID BACK!!! I'm sure Pastor Mark and Miss Jane thought I'd turned into another person! = ) I spent two nights at their lovely home and many hours outside in my fold up rocking chair enjoying the water..my little friend turtle and my other friend, Blue Heron. I had some wonderful chats and dinners with Mark and Jane ...it was just GOOD to be there.

Jesus met me in such sweet and deep ways.

He spoke to my heart..."Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you

the desires of your heart."

I could feel myself firming up...able to stand...like a little plant that had finally been given water after a long drought.

Bill left yesterday to return to New Bern. It's so nice to be able to visualize him there now. Today, the children and I visited a new church...New Horizon's in Radford, VA.

The pastor is Rich Palmer, Caela's DCA Bible teacher. She has been attending their youth group for about a year now.

The pastor that spoke, Phil Pendergrass, spoke on "From the Stirring (of the Holy Spirit) to the Steps"...UNBELIEVABLE! I drank in all he had to share. The Lord used him to speak into our lives... my life... as we embark on this new season to New Bern.

After the service I asked him to pray for us.

He heard the words, "Don't miss it." ...he talked about not focusing on the Call or the Future, but what God was ABOUT in and through us NOW. It was a hard word, to be sure, but comforting. It makes me want to be in prayer and in His word and with Him at every moment I am able....just so I can keep in tune with what that looks like for us right now.

We continue to wait and to listen...and we LOOK FORWARD to

being HOME...

in New Bern. = )