Autumn

Time in the back yard.

#twitterrocks

I am on twitter. @BrendaCohorn

@matt, one of our Pastors, always tweets our Sunday morning services. I love the short descriptive sentences summing up sermon high lights. I enjoy it so much I sometimes join in! EXCEPT he does it so much better and f.a.s.t.e.r. than I possibly can. So I usually wind up “retweeting” his tweets!

The tweet sums up the section/subject or a thought in the sermon. The #hashtag sums up the tweet!

Then I have short sentences or phrases to help me remember what I’m hearing learning.

One of the added benefits of this method is that I have met some wonderful people  from my church through twitter!! With two services I need all the help I can get!

Some of my favorite #’s:  

(#’s have no spaces. sometimes it takes me a minute to figure them out!! – it’s an age thing!)

#church

#thechurchhasleftthebuilding

#ifnothereinheaven

#itsthelittlethings

#notaboutme     followed by     #butthekingdomofGod

#family

#friends

Twitter is not for everyone and everyone uses twitter differently. But for what I use it for – it’s right for me!

#ifnothereinheaven

Please Pray for My Pastor

It is absolutely no secret to you, my dear readers, how much my church means to me.

I moved here just over 4 years ago and when Randy passed away, many asked me if I would be going back to Oklahoma. My Dad is there. One of my son’s and his beautiful wife and 2 of the best grands on earth live there. My brother and his beautiful wife live there. 

BUT...
My church is here. And they have all created their own lives in Oklahoma. So, I need to create mine. And doing that around my church seems the best for me.




We all know that The Church is not the building. (even though I love our church building.)

It’s the people! All the wonderful people that I go to church with. And the staff. I have had my share of different churches in many places and I can say that the staff at Cross Road is the best all around staff I have ever experienced.

Many churches have one personality that really stands out. Our staff melds together so well, it’s hard for me to imagine one without the other!

We have Linda, Doug and Kenny who work in the background and are the basis of the foundation.

Lathanyo  leads us in worship every Sunday. Inviting us to the Throne of God to Worship.

Audra works with early childhood and loves these young ones with a passion that is astounding.

Matt, one of my favorite people,  does such a great job with our youth.

Bob, affectionately known as PBob. Oh my goodness. What a wonderful job he does. It would take several people to fill his shoes!

Pastor Brad. This is the man that every week either holds me accountable, comforts me, or encourages me – sometimes he does all at one time! He breaks open God’s Word every week and speaks truth – he is the reason I’m writing this blog today, dear readers.

Pastor Brad, fortunately listened to his body and knew something wasn’t right, went to the ER and through a Heart Cath discovered he needed open heart surgery. THIS is why I’m writing, please keep Brad, his wife Robyn and their girls and grands in your prayers. His surgery will be Saturday and I want to ask each of you to pray with us for this man and for his medical team.

Thank you! God Bless.

Forgiveness

Wouldn’t life be so much easier if this word was not around. Then we wouldn’t have to forgive those who hurt us. We wouldn’t have to ask for forgiveness from those we have hurt – which to me is often much harder than forgiving others…

I have made so many mistakes in my life.. Big ones. HUGE ones. But forgiveness is one that makes me stumble.

I can move along in my “Christian” walk – at a fairly quick pace. Then I run smack dab into the wall of forgiveness. In either giving it or asking for it.

Forgiveness

 

I’ve been quite stubborn about this at times. – Okay, most of the time.

I have no easy answer for it – other than I just have to tell myself to do it AND THEN DO IT.  Yep, sometimes I have to tell myself on a daily basis to forgive. In asking, I often do it – then try to go back to my old habit of living as if I didn’t. I really am a hopeless mess at times.

I’ve had many people to forgive over my lifetime – 62 years of it. BUT I also have 62 years of having to ask for forgiveness. {sigh}

But I know I can do it – because I have God to help me. I am so very thankful He knows my heart and He helps me daily to forgive and He often reminds me when I need to ask for forgiveness.

You are right, dear readers, forgiving does not mean you go back into the same relationship you had before. Sometimes those relationships aren’t healthy. BUT sometimes you go into a better relationship than what you had! 

God does that for us!

 

Fire Licking at My Heels

This season of my life has not been an easy adjustment. 

When I moved here – and married my wonderful Knight in Shining Armor   it was an adjustment – wasn’t always easy but it was always fun!

But now, this season is not what I wanted at all yet here I am in new territory again. Only this time it’s not fun.

I have been feeling just like this: cold, barren, tangled, confused.

My calendar has been FULL and when it isn’t full, I make things up to do.

For those of you, my readers, that know me, you know this is not me at all. I am a homebody. I love being at home. Being at home is how I thrive! Confusion – well, it just confuses me!!

I don’t know if I have been at home – by myself for a complete day since Randy died. 

This week, it caught up with me physically. It had already been wearing on me emotionally and mentally. I have been on that depression roller coaster – good one day, bad the next, the up and down and sometimes upside down.

I have a propensity for pneumonia. So when I start wheezing, I KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO.

Wednesday evening I could barely breath. So, that was it for me. I took care of the one study I was doing with friends on Thursday and then went to bed.

Friday I stayed in bed all day. I read a book. A trivial book. Pure fiction.  The first complete book I’ve read since Randy died. (except for study books)

I feel better.. physically, emotionally and mentally. I do realize that it’s not over. I am pretty sure I will be paying my quarter (that dates me for sure!) to ride on that roller coaster again. But today. I am on solid ground.

I had been running to and fro as if fire were licking at my heels. I never slowed down enough to let God calm me or console me.

I have learned another life lesson.

Be Still and Know That

I Am God.

Which Jesus Do You Follow?

I have heard said, “God is a loving God, He would never send someone to hell.”

Is this the God you follow? The Jesus you know?

A Jesus. A God who is loving and kind and a God who would never send someone to hell would never judge because he is so loving….

We have turned God into a “loving” God only. We’ve taken away the justice of God. The jealous God. The God that requires ALL of us. We have turned that God away from our:

• Our politics – our government
• Our religion
• Our quality of life
• Our sexual identity
• Our very breath

God warns His people. He gives us directives to live by. But we pick and choose. We read that book and choose what we want to live with and ignore the other parts -  it is more comfortable to  for us.

How do you look at the Bible? 

• Promises?
• Prophesies?
• Teachings?
• Stories?
• Warnings?
• God’s Word as a whole complete book? As His infallible Word?

In only presenting God as love, we remove all fear of Him. We remove all Accountability. We present only a part of Him.

In a world that abuses love in every way:

• By throwing it away
• By perverting it into any “thing” we want it to be for pleasing self
• By believing love is only sex

And then we present God as only a “Loving God” – so what is to be expected? We turn a “loving god” into anyone – into anything we want him to be. Then God becomes as perverted as our beliefs on love are.

We must present Jesus as our only answer and present Him in the Truth as it stands –  in the Bible.

To think His Word has changed throughout the years is not correct. It stood firm when He wrote it through men and it stands firm today.

 

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

The Plumb Line of Jesus

In my twitter feed on September 24th, I read two tweets – back to back by two different people:

“You must stop talking about the problem and start talking about the solution… Start speaking words of victory.”

Women of Christ

“In a world filled with problems, He provides the answer. His name is Jesus.”

Liz Curtis Higgs

As simplistic as that sounds, it is complete truth. 

Jesus is our only answer.  Our Nation, our people, even many of our churches have turned their backs on Him.

We’ve turned our backs on Him and then  are disgusted, saddened, sickened, devastated by the news we hear daily. School killings, Pastors in prisons, human trafficking, need I go on?

When the simple answer is Jesus.

Have we strayed too far?

Can our world, our country, our lives ever be brought back to the

plumb line of Jesus?

"And the Beat Goes On"

Admit it, you sang that, didn’t you??

I have gone to movies, gone out to eat, gone all sorts of places by myself over the years.

But, I haven’t gone out to eat by myself since Randy died. I mean to a real sit down restaurant. – Until tonight.

I went to Oklahoma today (September 30), visited my Dad, visited the cemetery and on my way home I decided I was hungry for breakfast. You know, those Village Inn breakfasts!! (without even realizing that today was FREE PIE DAY!!! BoNuS!)

So I went to eat by myself. At suppertime. On free pie night. The place was packed. I didn’t get a “private” out of the way booth. Or even one of those 2 seater booths they have. Nope. I got a table for 4 right in the middle of all the other tables for 4!

But think about it. This was restaurant heaven for me because I am a certified, card carrying, people watcher.

What an interesting meal. At the table to the left of me – and up one were 2 girls that I decided must be sisters. They look alike, they have matching tattoos and they interact like sisters. They each have a little girl close  in age.

One is bad. :)  One is good. How fun it was to watch this meal unfold. One kept screaming. Then she kept throwing her cup at to the man at the table next to them. It became interesting watching the face of the mom of the “good girl.” You know, that look of "Hmm, look how wonderful my daughter is!" You know the look. You’ve probably gotten that look before! You’ve probably GIVEN that look before!!!  The"OH MY, my daughter will NEVER act like that!!!" look!   Very proud and a smidgen of disdain!!

Then on the other side of me and up one table was a man and his wife. Older couple. - Older than me. And she was very upset. Someone had made her mad. She went on and on and on and on some more. I could hear “she…... then she…… and then she….” For at least half of their meal. She was disgusted with “she.”  She was irritated with "she."  He didn't say much but continued eating. He smiled at her, nodded once in a while. After a while, she looked at him and smiled. All was good in her world again. All she needed was someone to listen!

There were many more stories unfolding around me but you get the picture!

It was fun. No one even noticed me. Even as I plainly stared watched, no one made eye contact with me. They were all existing in their own worlds.

as Sonny and Cher would say:

"And the beat goes on."

Life goes on. Even if when you are alone.

Comic Sans

I keep reading that to be taken seriously as a blogger you should never use Comic Sans Font. Unless, of course you are a middle school girl. 

Well, I like Comic Sans Font. So I will continue to use it. So I guess you shouldn’t take me seriously…

Visiting My Mom

Today I went to Oklahoma to see my Dad. It’s been one year today since my Mom died.

Dad and I spent time visiting, eating his favorite – Braum’s and watching two episodes of Gunsmoke and one of Bonanza – But we mostly talked during Bonanza so I have no idea what it was about!!

My Dad and I talk much more now that my Mom is gone. Not sure why. But I’m thankful for it.

Then I went to the cemetery to take some flowers and visit my Mom.


I spent some time talking to her about what my life has been like without Randy. Things I’ve been doing. Decisions I’ve made. I could hear her voice in my head several times saying, “Oh, you don’t want to do that.” – I have outgrown it some but usually when I hear her say that I am determined to do what she has told me I don’t want to do….. As I said, I have outgrown that some.

Mom never said too many positive things too me so when I do feel like I’ve done a good job or made a right decision, I don’t hear her voice at all.

I hope and pray when I’m gone, my children hear me say “I’m proud of you. You have done and are doing a great job.”

Your Super Power!

My Oklahoma friend Debra asked on her blog the other day “What is your super power – your passion?” You can read her blog post H.e.r.e.

She said her super power is reading and love.

What is my passion?

She caused me to take some time to think about this. Of course the first things that came to my mind are probably the parts of my life that I am most passionate about.

A few years ago, I probably would have said reading. But over the last few years mine has changed a bit.

Prayer is a super power that I love.

I mentioned to Debra that kindness was one of my super powers. But then I realized some people may question that!!

But my real passion? Teaching Bible Studies. Hosting Life Group. I gained my love for Life Group Ministry from my husband and it is still in my heart.

What are you passionate about?

Let me know! Tell me your super power!

C.S. Lewis

I made a trip to Barnes and Noble this week. It’s across town so I don’t just drop in there very often – this was a special before school trip. 

Believe it or not, this was my only purchase! (oh, except for a small gift for our Children’s Director at church.)

I haven’t finished the book yet, but I have started it and so far I will say C.S. Lewis knew – he just knew how to put words onto paper. I admire his gift so very much.

Back To School Season

Today is the first day of school for USD 259 in Wichita.

All over the city young people are headed back to their education and parent’s are jumping up and down with excitement!

The routine that comes with “back to school” always seems to calm nerves and helps me settle back in to a day by day schedule that keeps me motivated to complete tasks. During the summer I procrastinate on a daily basis thinking summer will last forever this time.

It never does. And I always begin September with all the little (?) jobs I had intended on doing during the dog days of summer.

Every year I think “not this summer, this summer I will get it ALL done.” Then – it’s mid-August and BAM… Lot’s to finish up.

But today – being the first day back into our routine – I plan on meandering the back yard, maybe even taking a short nap! and just enjoying this day… (pretty much like every other day of the summer!!)

Global Leadership Summit 2015

This is where I have spent the last two days:

The Global Leadership Summit

This is my Summit Notebook and I have filled it with notes. I so envy all those “young” people around me taking notes on their phones!! I couldn’t even type fast enough to “tweet” the wonderful bits of information given!

(Not only am I a slow tweeter : ) I am also bad at taking “selfies”! Oh, where is my grand when I need her!!!! She is an expert at all of this!!)

Anyway, this is a picture of my beautiful friend Linda. She is our Church Secretary but this week I have renamed her the

“Face of Cross Road Church.” 

For 2 reasons:

1. She is the first person you see when you come in our church or first voice you usually talk to when you call. Plus, as in all ‘organizations’ she is the heart of our church – the go-to woman for any needs!
2. PLUS, she’s just so pretty – not that Pastor Brad, Pastor Bob, Pastor Matt, or Doug aren’t “pretty” – she’s just prettier!  (I didn’t put Audra in this list because she is prettier, too!   Inside and out!)

Anyway, I was fortunate enough to spend these two days with wonderful Christian people!

I chase rabbits so easily.  (sigh)

What I’m writing to say….

I am “pressed down, shaken together and running over” with blessings from God.

My ego was bruised, my heart was broken, my heart was mended and I am filled up again and ready to carry on with God’s Work. We all need a good revival to our souls every now and again. It’s what keeps us going.

I have heard good teaching, good leading, and great preaching. I am full.

Thank you, Bill Hybels for Willow Creek Community Church, and for The Global Leadership Summit. Thank you for listening to that still small voice and following His direction.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the opportunity to live in this season and to be able to drink at the well you have provided.

Learning New Life Lessons

During Spring Break the big kids came to visit. Randy was going into hospital later that week so we kept them busy.

We did some fun things – went to the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson and we also did yard work. They helped us put mulch in the back flower beds.



          
 


       Josie washing windows.

   

Learning to mow to Papa’s specifications!! 

      

 That was only the introduction! Now let me tell what I came here to write:

I knew I would be mowing once in a while after Randy died.  Michelle has mowed, Heather has mowed, Andru has mowed.

Last week it needed to be mowed. Andru wasn’t here. I’m an adult. How hard can it be, right? – just to let those of you know – I HAVE mowed before. But with a riding mower. I had many acres to mow before Wichita!

So I mowed. My yard is slanted. Uphill or downhill? depends on which way I was pushing that mower! BUT….

NO ONE EVER TOLD ME WHAT THIS LEVER IS FOR!!!

After taking about 4 trips uphill (both ways?) I had to stop to empty the grass and I was thinking “there is NO WAY I will be able to mow this whole yard without PAIN!”

Then, as I was getting ready to start mowing again – after whining for awhile – I thought, “hmmm, I wonder what this lever does.” I pulled it up and low and behold my mower took off without me pushing it….

It was done in no time with minimal effort on my part!!

A new life lesson….

Written on April 3, 2015

From my journal on April 3rd
Two weeks ago the love of my life went to be with Jesus.
My beloved husband, Randy Cohorn.
I had him in my life for five years. As my husband for four.
My chest hurts so badly – I can hardly breathe.
He was on this earth too short of time and he was definitely my husband for too short of a time.
I don’t know how this happened. I have no idea why God took him.
I feel as if I can’t function with out him by my side.
I am so very very thankful he was sure of his salvation.  I could see his salvation worked out in his life every day that I knew him.
We were looking forward to many more years together.
I’m scared. I’m hurting and I just want it all to go away.
God is my refuge, He is my strength.
God gives me peace.
He will give me wisdom to carry on.

God, give Randy a hug for me. Reassure him we are leaning on you. Thank you, Amen

The Proverbs Challenge

“The purpose of Proverbs is to give "prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young" Proverbs 1:4, and to make wise men wiser (1:5). 

The frequent references to “my son” emphasize instructing the young and guiding them into a happy and prosperous life. Acquiring wisdom and knowing how to avoid the pitfalls of folly will lead to health and success. Proverbs is a practical book dealing with the area of living, it bases wisdom solidly on the fear of the Lord.  Throughout the book this reverence for God is set forth as the path to life and security.” Taken from the introduction in the NIV Study Bible

Did you know there are 31 chapters in Proverbs?

Would you take the Proverbs challenge?

Read 1 chapter a day for a month.

Then do it again and again.

See, if once you have saturated yourself with this wisdom,

whether you feel wiser!!

Would love to have you join me in this challenge. Read 1 chapter of Proverbs a day for the month. Let me know if you take the challenge and let me know if you believe you have more knowledge and wisdom at the end of the challenge!

There will NOT be a test!

Because I am a Woman of God….

I am a child of God. I am a follower of Christ.

Elisabeth Elliot – one of my mentors, my heroine ( why do we not use the word heroine anymore? is it because they named a drug heroine? I just love the way the word feels on my tongue when I say it.) Anyway, Elisabeth Elliot died on June 15, 2015 at the age of 88. She was such a wonderful example of being a follower of Christ in her 88 years.

One of my favorite quotes from her is this:

“The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman.”

On March 21st I entered a new season of my life. This struggle has been just that. A struggle.

Just weeks(?) days(?) after my husband died, I told Pastor Bob (and I’m sure others) that I have no idea what God has for me but I want to be a widow that studies and teaches Bible Studies….  But when it’s time to begin studying, I have no concentration. No “drive” to teach.

Which leads me to this blog, I haven’t been writing here because it all seems so personal and I don’t want to seem like I am begging for sympathy or empathy because I’m not. In fact I often seem to do better without it. So I’ve been jotting in a “real” journal.  But this morning I had a revelation!

I am a Christian.  If I don't use this season of my life to help someone else, then I have utterly failed.   Utterly, completely, totally, absolutely entirely, fully, wholly.

So, I will share my struggles, my joys, my setbacks and my accomplishments. And all the other stuff that comes in the package deal of mourning a loved one.

My journey is not more important, more special than yours – or anyone else's. – Except to me and it is special to me because it is mine and I live it daily.

My goal for 2015 is to make it to the end of the year standing on both feet, my shoulder’s back and my head held high. Being that "different kind of woman because I am a Christian."

My ultimate goal is to help someone else get through their tough days in their important journey with maybe a laugh, a tear, or just an understanding of hurt - knowing that we serve a Great God and He is right here with us on this journey.

In Honor of My Husband, Randy

Randy Cohorn

08-05-1947  -  03-21-2015

My memories of this man are strong and intense.  I am so very grateful that I have only one regret in my life with him  and that is that we had so few years together.  

* He was the most handsome man I have ever met.
I loved his face. It had so much character. But more importantly it was kind and loving.

* He had a FABULOUS sense of humor.
Before we even met in person, we emailed for a few weeks. On February 25th, 2010 he said, 

Brenda,
2nd grade joke...
Question: What happened to the frog who broke down on the highway?
Answer: He got Toad away.
I get all my best stuff from second graders. First graders are cute but they're just not funny.
Randy”

This is when I fell in love.

* He loved with every fiber of his being.
He loved God and never hesitated to let others see that love.

He loved me more than I have ever been loved.

He loved children!! He enjoyed them – even teens!! 

We had a large combined family and he loved them all. Toni’s family, My family, His family. At different times in his life he made room for so many different people and he took responsibility and worked hard to care for everyone and to make everyone happy! If I start listing them here I may run out of room. But he loved all of us.

He loved his friends. – Greatly. They have been so important to him in his life.

He loved his church. – He loved serving in his church. He never picked his ministry by what he enjoyed doing – he always picked his ministry by where he was needed most. THEN he greatly enjoyed it.

He loved our Life Group!

 
We had such a good time together! And he wanted to do things together – spend time together.  We always had things to do and we always enjoyed them. If it was going to Branson, estate sales, or watching Blue Bloods and playing “Words with Friends” (he always won when we played… – well most of the time.) We just always had fun.
 
I can’t cover all he meant to me. Too much.

But I am thinking of him today and of his patriotism and how he enjoyed these holidays.
 
He was a good man. I hope you knew him. If you did, I’m sure your life was changed a bit. If you didn’t, I hope and pray you meet someone in your lifetime that is as special as Randy is to all of us who did know him.

"Take Me Deeper 2015"

I have been spending my time with estate sales, church commitments, my wonderful husband and I've been doing the "Take Me Deeper 2015" Project.  It seems as if blogging has taken a back seat. I’m hoping to improve on that (a promise I have made often) during 2015. I am scheduled to go to a Blog Conference in the fall and am looking forward to it. Until then, I will t.r.y. to get back into a blogging schedule.  

And to be really honest here – I have a new computer and the photo program is giving me FITS… But, you will be pleased to know, I haven’t thrown it.....  YET.

I thought I would share with you about "His Kingdom Come" and their project of “Take Me Deeper.”  His Kingdom Come is a website for people to come together and share their artwork while growing in their spiritual lives.

I am not an artist. If you remember a little over a year ago I tried my hand at Media Art – which I love. But it was kind of like playing the piano – some (ME)  are just not gifted in the arts!! But I did like the idea of Bible Journaling. With or without talent what I've discovered is that journaling a passage of scripture really helps me to meditate on it, to think about it more and so I find that I apply it more to my life.

So I’m going to share a bit with you to give you an idea of how fun and meaningful this is. (if you want to see some FABULOUS art work on these Bible verses take a look at His Kingdom Come website.) 

This is a Journaling Bible that I purchased on ebay. The margins are 2.5 inches wide.

Week 1, Romans 12:1-2:

Week 2, 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10:

Week 3, 2 Corinthians 3:18:




Week 4, Hebrews 10:19-23:




Week 5, Philippians 2:12-13:




Week 6, John 3:16:




Week 7, Matthew 22:37:




Week 8, John 13:34-35:




Week 9, 2 Corinthians 5:17:

I've finished the first two months of the year! Looking forward to the rest of the year.

A dear friend of mine is doing a wonderful thing with her Journaling Bible. She has picked a verse for each grandchild, highlighted it, then in the wide margin has added a current picture of the child with their hand print over the page. It is beautiful and what a wonderful legacy for her grands!!

So many ideas!! Hope you will get some ideas and try them yourself and share them in the comment section of my blog! 

Happy Journaling!!

Happy New Year - 2015

I ended 2014 not feeling well. I have been fighting allergies for several months. But I woke up on January 1, 2015 feeling better!

I very seldom make “new year resolutions.” There may be some things I want to change over the new year and sometimes I will state these but resolutions are not what they should be! – for me anyway!

Someone suggested we set “goals” for the new year instead of resolutions.

Weight always seems to be forefront in my mind. I ended 2013 having lost 15 pounds and had hoped I would carry that through 2014… Not so much. I added that back on plus a few more – so resolution – goal – no matter what I call it, for my health that needs to become a priority to me for the next few months.

I found the fabulous web site of His Kingdom Come a while back and did join their “Take Me Deeper 2015” group and resolution or goal- no matter what I call it, I am going to strive to become better at this life as a Christian. I am taking their challenge to do their devotional/study once a week for 52 weeks.

Last year I picked a word to use as my theme for 2014. The word I picked was kindness  - using the Bible verse “He has told you what is good… to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

I not only tried practicing kindness more, but I also tried to notice kindness in others more.

This year on His Kingdom Come I found “logos365” which is the idea of a word that God chooses for me to focus on. Which I have already shared H.E.R.E.  I didn’t realize that His Kingdom Come would have prompts for each month for this also. So I am excited about that so it will come to my mind more often.

I hope your 2015 started out on good ground. I hope that as you think of resolutions or goals for the year that you include physical, social and more importantly spiritual goals for this new year.

Happy New Year!

God Bless you.