My Friend Changed Her Home Address

This is Debbie. She was my secret sister. You haven't met anyone on fire for the Lord like Debbie. In the few months we went to church together we enjoyed one another a lot. Whatever the social event, we would find each other. Both of us weren't what you'd call the quiet and gentle types. When she came over to swim this summer she made sure to grill me about the new church we were attending - like any dear friend would.

Last month we were at a friend's surprise party. Her and I were laughing over the fact that we were both huddled on different parts of the couch trying to quickly seal our birthday cards...hoping the birthday girl wouldn't notice how fresh the spit was on our licked envelopes.


Debbie moved September 8th.

Her new home address is Heaven.


Debbie was 48 years old and died unexpectedly from pneumonia. Everyone was shocked, but God wasn't. He knew full well the date and time of her welcoming party. Knowing Debbie, she ran full speed into His waiting arms and hasn't stopped talking and laughing with Him since.

She leaves behind many touched lives, a godly husband, her precious seven year-old son Samuel, and a church family who loved her dearly.

My plan was to attend her life celebration yesterday, but at the last minute I was held up. It was difficult not gathering with my sisters who were missing her too.

Friends shared later how beautiful her service was and how the church was packed with people from all over. I wasn't surprised.

If Debbie were here she'd remind everyone of her forwarding address. She'd point out the way and joyfully and quite matter-of-factly tell you how you could see her again.

When she was a child she heard Jesus knocking and gladly opened the door of her heart for Him.

For some of you He is knocking right now.

Debbie would want you to answer.


Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:20

Got Friends?

Some say I'm a bit social. Others probably think I talk too much. I can't help it. It's how God wired me. I LOVE TO TALK. What women doesn't? If talking were a sport, I'd be a gold medal winner in every event. I am quite the overachiever.

Now, add my chatty nature and a heart to love on people and you have the recipe for a new friend. I have been blessed with quite a few.

This past week I've had a great time. There were my coffee dates with Sue and Aly, my day by our pool with Kellie and another day poolside with my friend Vicki. I had my girlfriend Holly over for lunch today and tomorrow I am having my friend Kim and her kids over to swim. Oh, and my friend Carolyn is stopping by tomorrow for our soccer team BBQ, so that counts for friend time too, doesn't it? (I still need to make a date with you Beth!)

But, the bestest time of all was spent this weekend with my precious friend Celia. She picked me up yesterday morning and took me to her house in the woods. Oh, mercy me, what a great time we had. God has knit our hearts together. We were friends years ago before Jesus came in and scooped us out of our miry muck. Today, we are friends who have been redeemed by His grace. I don't believe there is anything more special than that.

Each beautiful friend I have mentioned is precious to me. Each one has blessed my life with something different. One is a woman who I glean from with her writing and perseverance, another I am linked to by her patriot's heart and strength, another is a sister who went to high school with me and is burdened by our hurting world. I have a friend who I am in awe of when it comes to her parenting skills, another who impresses on my heart to make my home a place where God lives, and yet another who I lean on as my prayer warrior. And I can't leave out a sister in the Lord who makes me laugh myself silly with her dry sense of humor and miraculous patience for her husband. Have I mentioned yet my friend who speaks God's words over my life with her counsel?

Nor will I leave out my sweet sisters Pen and Sandie in Australia, or my countless blogging friends who I love. Some I will see very soon!

I believe each special friend is in my life for a purpose. There are lessons to be learned and joy to be received from all of these beautiful women.

So, fill me in on your life. Do you have a special friend? How has she made an impact on your life? Has she helped you grow in your walk with the Lord?"

If you don't have one, take a moment today to pray for one. But, in a pinch, please remember -you have a friend in me.


Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!—Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Blessed Buddies...

I met some precious people while at Mount Hermon. Let me introduce you to Penelope from Australia. What a doll. She was one of the twelve semi-finalists from the Zondervan fiction contest. We hit it off. Encouraging one another every time we saw each other in passing. She lives on a 3,000 acre farm (or PRUHPATY, as she'd say it) with her husband and two beautiful children. She raises cattle and sheep...and yes, kangaroos hop all over her land. My prayer is that her and her family will stop by and stay with us before she heads home. Penny had some divine appointments with authors and publishers. God is using this angel from Aussie.


Then there was Bruce from Alabama. He is writing a non-fiction book called The Perfect Storm. It's about how the Lord brings storms into our lives, using our health, finances, relationships. He is a preacher who has travelled as far away as South America to reach the lost for His kingdom. I met Bruce on Palm Sunday. We hiked back down the hill together and had the best conversation. I will let you know when his book comes out. If you would like to have a gifted encourager to speak at your church or retreat, go to his website and book him, now! www.brucewmartin.com God blessed him in so many ways while at Mount Hermon, it won't be long before his book is in your hands.



Then there were my roommates, Jennifer and Heidi. God put us together for a reason. We laughed until our sides hurt. I had prayed for sweet roommates and the Lord didn't disappoint. Jennifer writes fiction and lives close to me. I am going to help her get her blog up and running soon. This gal is head over heels in love with her new husband. She even had a picture of him in a frame by her bed. Sweet, huh? Heidi was the quiet one of us three. She is a school teacher from the Bay Area and is writing fiction as well. I found out by the end of the week that she was raised in Taiwan, a child of missionaries. I bullied her into speaking Mandarin Chinese to me while we were at breakfast. When I tried to speak it back to her, she said I was offending her with my foul language.

Three forty-somethings trying to pull off a Charlie's Angels pose.

Then there were those that I wasn't able to snap a picture with. Most especially, Debbie Jansen. If you need a speaker for your church gatherings, EMAIL HER,CALL HER. SEND SMOKE SIGNALS. Just get her. She was a riot. What a precious woman of God. Her and I just clicked. She was such a sweet encouragement to me. I am reading her book, Discipline Exposed.




If you want to read a great book about Godly discipline, packed with humor, go to Amazon and purchase it today.

I have a very strong feeling I will be seeing Debbie again.