Read the Instructions

We pulled in from the weekend yesterday evening in our motor home. Back home....ahhhh....even if it is on an "RV Pad" at the camp ground. We were HOME! We had an awesome weekend and enjoyable lunch with friends on Monday while we waited for some work to be done on our "wheel estate"...so now.....

Wendell went outside to "set up", and I pushed the button for the "slide out room" to "slide out". :) I then sat down in the driver's seat to level the coach. I have done this "many times" and "knew exactly what to do"! After making sure everything was ready to level, I pushed the button on the "Control Panel" to set the "stabilizer jacks" and NOTHING happened! Ok...now, what is wrong? Questions started running through my mind and Wendell started searching for the answers. We took the panel out of the dash, checked fuses, and after a time of not finding the answer to our problem he went to bed. I, on the other hand, went to the internet and started searching. I looked at many different RV Forums, FMCA Forums(Family Motor Coach Association)...searching......searching......searching for our answer! I finally went to the Power Gear Company website, the "maker" of the system, and found a little information. Finally, I decided to call it a night, and went to bed.

Today.....Wendell called the company, and they gave him some more places to check for "blown fuses". He came home a little early from work to "find the problem" and FIX IT! He did everything he had been told, and still NOTHING happened! In an exasperated voice he said, "This is NOT a good time for this to be happening!" Knowing my husband and how he likes things to "work right", I felt really bad for him. I wanted it all to come together "easy" and not take forever to find the problem, or even worse, having to take it to an RV mechanic to find the problem. That can cost a LOT of money that we didn't have to spend, and besides that it puts us out of a place to live. I agreed with my husband, "This is NOT a good time for this to be happening!"

I am the "personality type" that when things happen and there seems to be "no answer" I either say, "Oh well.....it'll work out" or I get aggravated that "nothing IS working out" and do my best to "find the answer". It's not because I think I'm smart, because I'm not, but because something rises up in me and says, "there HAS to be an answer to this problem". Hearing the frustration in my husbands voice I got that feeling of determination inside that says, "I'm going to look until I find it!"

So, I got out the "Power Gear Manual" Wendell had printed off of the company site, took it to the front of the coach, sat down in the driver's seat, and read:

"Trouble Shooting Guide"

The following information will guide you to repairs that may be made on site.

1. Probable Cause: Coach Ignition Not In Run Position

Corrective Action: Turn Ignition To Run Position

2. Probable Cause: Transmission Not In Park Or Neutral

` Corrective Action: Place Transmission In Park or Neutral

3. Probable Cause: Parking Brake Not Set

Corrective Action: Set Brake

That's as far as I got! As I read each "Probable Cause" and each "Corrective Action" I "checked" each one. I got to "SET BRAKE". I checked to see if the "brake was set" and it WASN'T! How could that be? I ALWAYS "SET BRAKE"!

Any motor home owner knows that is one of the FIRST things you must do when you are "setting up" a motor home. Anytime you put the coach in "NEUTRAL" and you're going to "sit for awhile", you MUST set the brake or the coach can start rolling and cause you a lot of problems. One of the problems is the "jacks" won't go down to stabilize the coach, if you don't SET THE BRAKE!!! I knew all of this, but somehow I had let that "important step" slip by.

I KNOW....I'm a simple thinker, but this really hit me hard!

There are many people who, in their walk with God, start having problems with "the world" in their lives. Questions start pounding in their mind about "this" or "that", and they start looking for all the "answers" in all the wrong places.

One of the places we go is "reasoning from a carnal mind".

The other is "asking others what THEY think", rather than the man of God, your Pastor, who loves your soul and would do anything to get you to heaven. He would lead you to God's Word for your answers, but we don't want that. It might cause us a little discomfort.

Another place some go is "comparing themselves with others and what THEY are doing".

I have a question..."Since when was anyone so "holy and righteous" that they can be the "measuring stick" for others?" Now, don't get me wrong...the Apostle Paul wrote: "Follow me...as I follow Christ". There ARE those we should look to for our example of what Christ would be pleased with, but the ones we SHOULD look at and FOLLOW are those who live or have lived their lives with this in mind....."Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world". But, a lot of people don't want to measure themselves by THESE Godly examples! So, we keep questioning, and keep getting frustrated from "question after question", when all we need to do is go back to the BASICS of what makes living for God enjoyable. Frustrations from this world would be silenced if we would "get our eyes on Jesus" and "obey His Word"!

Back to our dilemma......We could have been frustrated for many days if we had not gone back to the book and started at the "basics of setting our motor home up" when we did.

I'm asking all of us to RE-VISIT the BOOK, God's Word, and FOLLOW the instructions for a "spiritual stress free life"!

1. Read the directions and SET THE BRAKE!

When you find yourself "off balance" and feel you are "rocking" from this world, SET THE BRAKE on your "heart" and don't let the "things of this world" take away your love for "the things of God".

2. Don't let the world creep into your spirit and mind.

SET THE BRAKE and you'll be back on the "foundation" you've always known that kept you "safe from all harm"!

Oh yeah! By the way......the "stabilizer jacks" worked fine...after I SET the BRAKE!

Catching Up

As everyone else...we've been busy, busy, busy! I think that is the "end-time" word. "Busy" is the word I hear a LOT when I talk to others! "Busy" doesn't necessarily mean that you've been doing something that HAD to be done, it just means, "I've been doing a lot of things". :) You know, like having fun with the kids and grandkids! That's the "kind of busy" I LIKE!

Last Friday, Jonathan and Brenda came to see us. They needed some time off with the girls, and I think they KNEW we NEEDED to see them. We had a wonderful time with the kids here. I found out real fast that I don't need a house to have fun in. Don't get me wrong, I WANT a house so we can spread out, but I don't HAVE TO HAVE ONE to have FUN! You'll see what I mean in the slideshow.

Last week we also had the MAP Committee Meetings, and we were privileged to be part of them. We had a wonderful time! A lot of discussion, reflection, and decisions were being made for the next MAP Seminar in January. If you want to know more about MAP you may go here. I was asked to teach three classes this next time, and I am really looking forward to it. I can't believe I am saying that, but I really am. After our meeting I got out my notes from when I taught "PrimeLife" at our church, and felt a stirring to teach once again. I actually felt an excitement!

Before our meetings began last week, we went to Ralph and Kaccoo's for lunch. (By the way, for all of you who miss Cattle Company here in Lufkin, they have a "Texas Menu" at Ralph and Kaccoo's that comes from the "Cattle Company" menu and recipes. And...their bread is DELICIOUS!) Well, I got sidetracked for sure, so back to what I was saying. We were sitting at our table and saw Bro. and Sis. Carlton Watkins come in, so we invited them to have lunch with us. We had a wonderful time visiting, and discussing things that were of interest to us. We have been in the same district for years and to my recollection this is the first time we have had fellowship with each other. Yes, we have spoken, and said all the "greetings", but never got passed the "hello's", "God bless", and "good-bye's". I can say I feel like we have made some new friends!

I look forward to some more "times of fellowship" with these good people. We also had some extra time with the McLaughlin's after dinner that night, and nearly talked our heads off! :) They are wonderful to be with!

I've been thinking about "friends and acquaintances" a lot lately. We have been in the Texas District for about 30 years, but since moving to Lufkin we almost feel like we are in a NEW DISTRICT! The place of our calling before coming here was many miles away from the "hub" of things. Now that we are re-located to this area we have found out there are so many preachers and wives that we have only "heard of" through the years, yet not met. There are so many towns back in the "Piney-woods of Texas" that we have never heard of, and there are churches in these towns! Please don't anyone feel bad at my "lack of knowledge". What I am saying is that we are thoroughly enjoying learning about these places, and now have the privilege of enjoying time with "new friends". We feel so blessed to have this opportunity!

In our travels I have sensed a great love for God, and for His Kingdom in the hearts of our ministers and wives here in Texas. They are wanting the best for the Texas District. They want their churches to grow and their people to be blessed! They don't want the world and all that it holds. They want to be a separated people to the glory of God, not for men's applause. If I am "dreaming" then let me "dream on". I choose to believe a "good report".

My husband and I have talked about our churches, and the way they do things. It's interesting to see how they "get the same thing done" through different methods. We have been in many services filled with worship, singing, and praises of God's people, and even in the diverse ways of each congregation we have experienced mighty moves of the Holy Ghost! When we come together in UNITY and PURPOSE, bringing praise to God for all He has done, and for "Who" He is, He can't help but come to us!

TEXAS is a GREAT DISTRICT and I can feel God's love in His people everywhere we go! TEXAS is moving forward in REVIVAL and GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING! I don't have any "doom and gloom" reports. I'm hearing a lot about REVIVAL and SOULS being saved. We are in a great harvest, and I'm glad to be part of it! TEXAS DISTRICT you have a lot to be thankful for. REJOICE and BE GLAD!

Note: To all those who are not part of our district, please forgive me for focusing on "us" in this post. I just had some things I wanted to say to those we are connected to. Thank you for understanding and rejoicing with us.