Good Sunday afternoon everyone! What an amazing weekend God has given me! Saturday morning we held a Women's Brunch entitled "Women's Health" at Hickory Flat that had been planned for months. It was amazing! Jackie Patrick, a good friend who was diagnosed with lung cancer last August (not a smoker - no exposure to any agents that would have predicted this) and after undergoing surgery and chemo, led all of our worship by playing her keyboard and leading us in praise music. She shared her testimony about her fight back from lung cancer and sang a beautiful song "abundantly". Not a dry eye among us when she finished! It was so powerful.

Why? Because of where the story begins. When I went to pray with Jackie prior to her surgery last August, I remember sitting with her wondering what in the world I should say to this beautiful young woman who was about to be wheeled into what would turn out to be an 8 or 9 hour surgery. I had known Jackie to be an incredible singer who had actually led worship for retreats I had attended at another church years ago. So as I stood there trying to figure out something profound to say, God nudged me (okay, he hit me over the head which is usually what it takes for me) and I said "Jackie, you will be fine. In fact, I am going to ask you in the coming months when you are feeling better to sing for our women at Hickory Flat AND to share your testimony about how God healed you from lung cancer. I remember she smiled a sweet smile and said - you got a deal. (she was probably thinking - Jeez, did they give her some of these happy drugs they just gave me?)..... Because let's face it, what kind of crazy plan is that? A woman who was having 3/4 of her lung removed, would have a scar across her throat, and I'm asking her to not only sing again, but do it in front of a whole bunch of people AND share her testimony about how good God is. Well, let me tell you, there ain't nothin' crazy about God - Yesterday was the fruition of a promise God made to me and a deal Jackie and I made almost a year ago. Just as God promised, lives were changed (so were mine and Jackie's) and eyes were opened. And I'll bet God was smiling. How cool is that!

We also had wonderful speakers, Delores Hartley, A Wellness Advisor and Dr. Angela Falany, and OB/GYN. Both had phenomenal information and inspiration for us. At the end, I asked all of the women who either had a health issue that they'd like to be prayed for OR would be willing to come forward and stand in the gap for another woman to kneel at the altar for prayer. I'm not sure since I was the FIRST woman on my knees, but I'm fairly certain most of us in the room (50 or so) were on our knees at the altar. Linda Martin prayed over all of us and it was POWERFUL!

Then this morning I went to church for my last Sunday as one of the worship leaders (for a while anyway). We had two phenomenal services and we baptized a precious little 7-year old girl and her family joined the church.

I did, by the way, show off my port this morning at church to those of you with the curiosity or stomach to see it. It actually is rather cool - it sort of looks like one of those little buttons that pops out of the turkey on Thanksgiving that tells you when it's done - only it's under my skin (which is interesting) and it's not telling me I'm done yet. Hope it pops soon! :)

I can't tell you how amazing it is to me to be able to continue to minister to our people and to allow then to minister to me. I have received so many wonderful testimonies from others, so many special and unique gifts, and more hugs than you can imagine. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your love and concern.

I continue to walk daily and to pray daily for you, my friends.

Much love - soon to be B&B.....