Welcome to Friday! 7.31.2015

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. - 1 John 4.4

Welcome to Friday!

Welcome to Friday!  How are you doing today?  How have you been this week?  What have you been up to?  What were you working on and doing this week, and how did it go?  I hope that you were successful in your many and varied endeavors this week.  I'd love to hear about the things that you were able to accomplish, and the adventures that came your way during the week.

We are all doing pretty well this week.  I'm not sure if it was the heat, the back to school push, fatigue, or just a random thing, but we had a couple of unexpected bath time meltdown episodes this week.  The biggest one was with little miss Emma.  Emma protested bath time with such fire and vigor that everyone "thought" she had gotten a spanking.  Even the promise and deliverance of bubble bath didn't fix Emma's issues.  Ava, on the other hand, gladly accepted the promise and payment of a bubble bath.

Work was pretty tough this week, but also rewarding.  The new project is on a very tight schedule and it manged to get tighter this week, after our COO dropped in unexpectedly for a visit.  This was an actual good thing.  Past COOs dropped in to let you know something bad was happening or about to happen.  Our current COO is pretty good about showing up regularly, good or bad.  Though I think he prefers to give the bad news via remote. The only bad news this time was related to our project's schedule shrinking by three weeks.  The good news was the project budget increased, and there will be a potential bonus at the end of the year.  The tight schedule has led to some longer days and a few late night emails and things.

The girls are getting some last minute fun in before the new school year.  Their cousins are spending the rest of the week at our house.  They've played spades - sort of, stayed up late, laughed, chatted and watched movies.  Maybe this weekend we will all go out and get ice cream, or catch a movie.  I really want to see Minions. 

Cassarra took senior pictures this week.  Where did the time go?  Gabbi is getting registered for school and so is Sydney.  Syndey will be at a new school this year, and Paige will be flying solo at the elementary school for the first time.  It is so interesting to think how time flies, things change, and suddenly we will be taking kids to four different schools this year.  Where did summer break go?  Can someone delay the start of school by another month, please?

Ava and Emma are doing well, aside from a few bath time meltdowns, one bedtime meltdown and two early mornings due to bad dreams.  Our bed is no longer big enough for wild sleeping toddlers with no concept of not kicking people in their sleep.  One morning, Emma gave me a scissor kick right in the gut!  And the other morning I kept having to roll Ava over so that I could keep myself on the edge of the bed.

Trish is still super and amazing.  I couldn't say enough to tell you how amazing she is, and how much I love and appreciate her.  She has been doing her best to make sure the girls have memories from the summer, and get ready for school.  She worked on some great photos and a neat scrapbook.  She is also working on a highly controversial book of photos of various family members sleeping.  The pictures are funny!


Blessings:

• Timely and crazy amounts of encouragement from friends and family throughout the week
• A great reminder about forgiveness and grace from the Max Lucado devotional
  
• Daddy's birthday party (the fellowship was fantastic)
• Spending time with my siblings
• Seeing and hearing stories from granddaddy
• Grilled zucchini turned out really well
• Got a chance to cook and help
  
• Finding and fixing the missing valve hose on the Expedition
  
• Playing with Emma and Ava at bedtime
• Ava pretends that I am a rhino
• Emma waiting for me to be the tickle monster
• Made it down to the YMCA a few times for workouts
  
• Working out with Paige, Sydney and Trish
• A double dose of workouts early this morning
• Catching a gorgeous shot of the moon on the way to the YMCA
• Getting recognition at work from the COO
• Getting to play basketball this week with only one or two lunch time meetings
• Sydney and Cassarra making extra desserts this week
• Time with two of my nephews - our house is not used to boys
• New pillows and the first week without a stiff (crick in my) neck
• Getting a new laptop at work
• Seeing a draft of Trish's latest photo books
• Free coffee from Panera (yes, I love free coffee)
• Free coffee from McDonald's this morning
• The girls fixing dinner and breakfast
• This was their last week of fixing all meals
• A lesson to, hopefully, correct some of the complaining

Well, I just wanted to drop you a few lines to say hello, and check on you to see how your week is going.  I sure hope that you are doing your best to stay safe and cool during the heat.  I pray that you have shelter from the sweltering heat, and that you aren't pushing yourself too much with the dangerous conditions.  Have a great weekend and enjoy yourself.  Stay cool, safe, and refreshed.  May the God of heaven and earth grant you rest, renewal and joy.  As always, have a great weekend and...

Welcome to Friday!

--- Cassius Rhue 

"Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'" (Job 28:28)

Love is irresistible, irrefutable, undeniable. Nothing rises to it. The dark side of our character has no weapon against it. It's our trump card. - Jim Daly

Wounded... broken... mended

Perhaps the greater pain was the tear of the scar... the minor the wound... I shall again arise... strong, and stonger... fixed... I shall not travel this path of hurt, weaknesa and anger again... it is done, over, finished... when I return... what shall I be, but wounded, broken and mended...

Jump

Jump! Jump head first or with both feet! It doesn't matter which way you choose, so long as you are sure to jump.

Jump into a glorious day prepared for you. Jump into the loving and outstretched arms of Christ.  Jump into the promises of eternal life. Jump into the hope of forgiveness.  Jump up and through the open doors of favor and blessing. Jump into arms that will catch you and grace that will hold you.  Jump for joy into the wide open love and grace stored up since the foundation of time.

Jump!

What are youu waiting for? Stop sitting, shuffling, debating and waiting - "Jump!" For heaven's sake and for yours - jump into the Kingdom life!

Welcome to Friday - 7.17.15

May God minister to you, speaking a blessing over you, 

encouraging you, and healing you.  May God give you 

an affirmation of your tremendous value, 

and declare His glorious love over you.  

Welcome to Friday!

"You show me the path of life.  In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11)"

I'm so late reaching out to you today, but I couldn't let the day pass without letting you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.  How are you doing and how are you feeling?  How was your week?  What were you able to knock off of your "To-Do" list?  How did things go for you in all that you set out to do and get accomplished?  I hope that you were directed along pathways that lead to success.  I hope that as your week unfolded you found doors opened to you as needed and new opportunities fall in your favor.  And I pray that every closed door was for your benefit and greater blessing.    

I had a really great week.  I had a lot of fun with the girls and making memories with them all.   The most amazing part of my week was last night.  The girls fixed me dinner last night and I felt like it was my birthday, Thanksgiving, Father's Day, and Christmas all rolled up into one.  I felt like the king of the castle.  They made appetizers (seafood nachos, and potato wedges), served chicken tenders and boneless wings, and topped it all off by purchasing Coldstone ice cream (cotton candy).  All four of the big girls served dinner and then sat down with us all at the table.  Ava and Emma enjoyed the feast, and the service.  We ate well, laughed a lot and really had a blast.  And after dinner we had an impromptu photo shoot.  Trish took photos, setup the camera on delay and joined the photos, and Emma did her best to make us do many retakes.  We had great pictures of various combinations of the girls, and then all of us.  We made serious faces, normal faces, and funny faces.  I'm telling you... it was the biggest blast... since...  I can't even express it all in words!

After dinner four of us played a game of "spades," inspired by a recent text message post about the 'epic' games in Georgetown over the years.  Sydney and I played against Trish and Paige.  We won a couple and lost a couple.  We had lots of laughs, and lots of teachable moments.  Like that moment when Paige played out of turn, and the moment when Sydney let Trish win a book with a Jack of hearts because she was saving her "really big stuff" for later.  Trust me, later came and went, but the "really big stuff" did not win the book!  Funny enough, the night before we played so many games and had so many silly things happen.  Paige and I were partners on Wednesday night and won a fewer than we played... and we lost some in spectacular fashion.  I had to learn how to take all the trash talking that I taught the girls over the years.  Sydney is really, really good a trash talking...  

I'm glad today is Friday.  The week has been a blessing at work, at home, and at the gym.  The week has featured great food, free coffee, some free food, and great laughs.  If laughter is a gift, then I received a lifetime worth of Christmas, birthday and Father's day gifts in a single week.  Ava and Emma trying to "share" a slushy.  Sydney and Paige joining the morning workouts.  Gabbi and Cassarra showing us  the lighter side of life in the teens.  And Trish holding it all together, teaching, correcting, and leading us with some well time jokes, the most amazing laughter and lots of smiles.

I have enjoyed the week and the favor of God, especially as evidenced by friends and family.  I thank God for you, and your thoughts and prayers.  I hope that you have had an exceptional week and that you have something amazing planned for the weekend.  I hope that things go well with you and you are able to get rest, refreshment and renewal over the weekend and as you continue to journey in life.  May the Everlasting God, filled with compassion and holiness, bless you from his deep, abiding grace and unmatched love.  Have a great remainder of the day and absolutely fabulous weekend!

As it was with Boaz, "May [you] be blssed by the Lord, whose kindness 

has not forsaken the living or the dead (Ruth 2.20)!"  

The Almighty Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, 

giver of all good things, bless you with everlasting kindness 

and unconditional love. 

The most beautiful and amazing Lord, the Sovereign and Holy, 

contend with those who contend with you, shelter, protect,

and in many wonderful ways reveal his presence and power to you.

The God, whose grace is boundless and infinite be with you always ----------- Welcome to Friday!

 

Declare... Believe... Receive

Declare, believe, and receive the promise of salvation and eternal life through Chriat Jesus. 

http://bible.com/111/rom.10.9.NIV

A thought to keep:

☆ Our source of strength is Eternal

Welcome to Friday 7.10.15

Casting all your cares upon him; for he cares for you.  - 1 Peter 5:7

Welcome to Friday!

Awesome and mighty is the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, and he is so worthy of all honor, glory and praise.  

The King Eternal, Sovereign and Holy bless you and keep you, watch over you, comfort you, and give you a peace -

that passes and surpasses all understanding.  

Welcome to Friday!  I am as eager and delighted to write to you as I am to pray that your day is fully enriched and supplied by the immeasurable riches of God's love and grace.  I am so excited that today is Friday and that a new week is coming to an end.   So, how are you doing?  What were you up to and doing this week?  How did it go for you in regards to the things you had planned, the things you wanted to do, and the somewhat unexpected interruptions that you faced?  I hope that you are doing well; blessed, favored, comforted, and strengthened.  I hope that your week has gone well and that it has featured open doors, success, friendship, compassion, grace, and tenderness.  I hope that your week featured power to accomplish your goals, peace to handle the interruptions, and comfort and compassion for everything and every moment in between.  At this moment I hope that your spirits are lifted, your hopes are up, your health is mending, and your heart is full with expectancy for the love of God to pour into and on you.  

I am doing well this week.  It has been a short week for me.  I had vacation at the end of last week for the 4th holiday, and I had two days off this week.  Well, one and a half.  I have had so much joy and excitement over the course of the week with the girls and Trish.  I have enjoyed what God has given me so much this week:

• Trish and I had a very nice dinner date
• Fourth of July food and fun
• Grilled burgers, sausage, hotdogs
• Homemade cheesecake that made me wonder why we ever bought store brands
• Time talking, laughing and making memories
• I ate too much, but it was good
• We had a very nice dinner at the house with the older two and youngest two
• Lots of fun serving at Manna Station on Saturday
• Hearing a friends testimony of faith
• Beautiful songs from our church member, Cheryl
• Meeting the new pastor
• A great sermon and worship service
• Taking part in a homeless feeding ministry in the park on Wednesday
• The girls wanting to go and serve was heart warming and amazing
• Meeting up with other friends from outside of church
• Talking faith and formation
• Learning so much during this one hour (service, worship, humility, compassion, grace)
• Fun time together over the dinner table with Ava, Emma and Trish while the other kids are away
• Text messages and jokes from friends and family have put me in stitches 
• Laughing with my sister at her house
• Seeing Syd and Paige off to spend time a grandma's camp
• Hearing their stories of exploration, trips to the store, and their adventures
• More homemade cheesecake
• Free coffee on Wednesday
• Lunch with a former co-worker and friend and getting some encouragement on life and raising teens
• Working out in the morning at the YMCA with Trish
• Recovering files from my failing work laptop
• Winning at least two games this week
• 0-3 on Tuesday and 2-1 on Thursday

The girls are all doing well this week.  Sydney and Paige have been enjoyed time with their grandparents.  They haven't sent me many details, only the occasional joke, or "hello."  I am so glad that they get to do this.  They have fun, they get away, we get a break, they get to be spoiled, and their grandparents get to spend time with them.  Plus when they get back I'm sure we will get a play by play with lots of details and laughter.

Cassarra and Gabbi are enjoying a leadership conference.  They are getting a chance to experience something new, put their tremendous skills, gifts and talents to work, as well as learning more ways to be successful and confident.  They definitely have opportunities in front of them, and Trish and I continue to try to encourage them to take advantage of every thing they can.

Ava and Emma seem to be enjoying the time to themselves in various configurations.  They do ask about each pair of sisters, but then they also seem to ask about a lot of other things like: ice cream, pops, cake pops, dessert, and my favorite "Daddy can you stay home today?"  They also seem to be a little, not much, calmer in the late afternoon without one of the prime family instigators present (she will remain nameless).  

Trish is doing well.  Hopefully we will get to enjoy a nice dinner at home tonight, since we don't have a sitter, and then some more time to relax and chat on Sunday.  

Praying that you have a great day and a wonderful and refreshing weekend.  May God, who holds all, hold you in his hand with joy, delight over you, and give you all you need in better ways than you could have imagined.  With joy and expectancy...

Welcome to Friday!

--- Cassius Rhue 

"Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'" (Job 28:28)

Love is irresistible, irrefutable, undeniable. Nothing rises to it. The dark side of our character has no weapon against it. It's our trump card. - Jim Daly

 

God do for you today something wonderful and splendid by giving you copious amounts of encouragement and joy.

Welcome to Friday! - 7.3.15

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son... (John 3:16)

Welcome to Friday!

Today will be a fantastic, fabulous and favor filled Friday!  How are you doing?  How was your week and what were you up to this week?  Did you go anywhere or do something special this week?  Are you ready for the weekend and the 4th of July holiday?  Are you going to be on the road for the holiday, shooting fireworks, or staying at home and taking it easy?  I hope that you are doing very well today and that you had a great week!  I pray that you are doing well and that your week was filled with joy, encouragement, and hope.  I also pray that your weekend will be filled with rest, fun, and continued blessings and mercy.

I had a great week.  At work, most of the office was out on vacation.  It was eerily quiet in the office most of the week.  There were no more than 10 people in the office everyday this week, and on Thursday there were less than 10.  It made it a lot easier to concentrate.  Without all of the interruptions, arguments and confusion the day seemed to pass by really slow and I finally got some "To Do" items off the list and my emails down to 10 unread and unaddressed.

The best part of this week was spending time with Trish and the crew.  Trish and I worked out at the YMCA this week.  She is in much better shape than I am, and I clearly have been taking it too easy on the workout machines.  When I let my ego get the best of me, and decided that I would try to exceed Trish's settings/levels on the elliptical, I paid dearly.  I have spent the rest of the week struggling with muscles that seemed to scream at me, "What were you thinking?"  My hamstrings, and calve muscles are still feeling the burn from earlier this week.  It was so much fun working out together and just getting away from the house for a few minutes before work.  Even the long workout seemed to fly by.  I enjoyed it.

Trish and I also had an amazing time this weekend going out to dinner.  My neighbor blessed us with a gift card to Olive Garden.  He even put a beautiful note with it and urged the two of us to go out and spend some time together.  We got a great seat, had a wonderful waiter and the food was delicious.  I had a Rosemary lemon chicken, and Trish had the baked Tilapia with shrimp.  We chatted about the week, the weekend, the girls coming back from camp, and the upcoming week.  Our service was excellent and we really enjoyed dinner.  Little did we know it would get even better.  As we were getting ready to leave our waiter told us that someone had picked up the entire check.  He wouldn't say who, why, or where they were.  He just said, someone asked him if they could pick up our check!  Blown away!  I mean, really!  We are still both blown away about it all.  We went to Olive Garden because our neighbor gave us a gift, and the babysitters were back.  We just wanted a date night, but then to be blessed on top of that blessing was just - stunning!  

I also enjoyed a number of other great things this week.  Including:

• Picking up the youth from Salkehatchie summer camp
• Hearing there stories about camp, the jokes, the laughter and the learning
• Driving the rental van safely to and from Aiken
• Hearing the youth lead the morning devotional, and their messages from camp
• God's grace that comes in many ways
• Gratitude for life, family, friends, and faith
• Faith, forgiveness, and family
• God's wisdom and direction for our lives
• God alone being awesome; giving us what we need, protecting, providing and redeeming
• Free coffee from Starbucks (twice)
• The girls getting back from camp safely and with new experiences
• A midnight trip to Denny's to talk with the teens about faith, life, and being fearless
• At home dates with Trish
• Dinner w/ the girls and a pleasant stroll down memory lane.  
• The question of the night was, "What is your favorite memory?"
  
• Trish and I talking about our favorite memories
• Seeing pictures from middle school and high school sent to us by our friend
• Trish still looks gorgeous and cute
• As for me, I wish I could burn all evidence of my middle school pictures
• Bible study with my friend Yuhui and learning new things about faith, culture, and being a believer
• Going to the trampoline park with Ava, Emma and Paige
• Ava and Emma had minor falls and hurt their ankles
• Ava had a lot of fun even after falling
• Emma decided to stop jumping and slide across the trampolines
• Trish fixed Sunday dinner and we all sat down old school style and had dinner together
• Trying a new recipe for grilled chicken
• Finishing a book by Joel Osteen and starting another by Joyce Meyer
• Fixing one of my laptop issues
• Two good days of basketball and one hilarious conversation about the greatest of all times
• Time with family and friends
• Salted Caramel chocolate chip cookies
• Bomb pop ice cream pops on the hot summer day

It has been a good week.  Some challenges, some trials, but so much more joy!  You know, it is amazing how many beautiful things can occur in the midst of one short week!  I hope that God has opened your eyes to his many blessings, even as he fills your day and week with more and more and lots of love.  Have a great weekend!  Eat a lot of good food for me on the 4th.  Get some rest and as always....

Welcome to Friday!

--- Cassius Rhue 

"Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'" (Job 28:28)

Love is irresistible, irrefutable, undeniable. Nothing rises to it. The dark side of our character has no weapon against it. It's our trump card. - Jim Daly