Our sweet church people worked on several projects during our church workday last Saturday. They did some painting, laid some baseboard, repaired odds and ends and weeded the flower beds. We also raked up piles and piles of pine needles. Well, “we” doesn’t include me exactly. My contribution was two crockpots of chili, some crackers and a pan of brownies for the workers. 🙂 And, fortunately for them, they didn’t have to actually rake the pine needles, they used a sweeper attachment for a riding lawn mower. What a blessing, especially since we live in the timberland region of our fair state and pine trees are over abundant!

Anyway, our city has a gigantic vacuum cleaner that will come suck away all of the pine needles, all we have to do is pile them by the road. We are still waiting for the truck to come by, so, in the meantime, my kids had a little fun…building forts!

The kids are holding their “forts” and my hubby and I are holding ours, too. We’re holding to the Lord during very trying times. Disasters are occurring daily, our economy is teetering on the brink, and fear rules the hearts of many. Satan has had a fun time prying apart the “fort” of our church. We have lost people and the financial resources they represent. In the midst of this, however, there is a peace and a sweet spirit that only comes from obeying the Lord and claiming His promises. We are holding the fort, but we do not hold it alone. He has a very tight grasp and will not let us go.

Keep holding on,