The Vows

Dear Ones,



On June 26th, Johnny and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. As I look back over fifty years together, I can see such a correlation between our earthly marriage and the marriage with Jesus Christ when we become believers.


The Vows

Taking our marriage vows was just the beginning of our marriage and when we accept Jesus, it is just the starting point of a lifetime together. The early years of most marriages are difficult, because two very different people with different backgrounds and personalities are now living together under one roof. I am so glad we both believed that our marriage vows were binding and permanent and I can honestly say that divorce was never an option for either of us--murder maybe, but never divorce! In the same way, when we become the bride of Christ, it is a permanent relationship that can never be severed. As in earthly marriages, we all make mistakes and sin grievously, but Jesus will never divorce us or even consider a trial separation.


Walking Together

Johnny and I thought we were deeply in love when we married. Fifty years later we both know that we were deeply in “like” and didn’t have a clue about having a love that lasts forever. It takes time for a deep, abiding love to develop and in the same way, it takes time to truly fall in love with Jesus Christ. Our love has grown more as we have gone through the hard periods of our marriage because we went through those times together. In these fifty years we experienced the joy of parenthood and the sorrow of losing our precious daughter Shari at the young age of 39. We have walked together through hard financial times, Johnny’s stage 4 cancer, a real fire and a flood. Losing our home and all our earthly possessions in Hurricane Ike was a great loss, but we have weathered that storm because our love is deep and lasting. In the same way, I have found that I have gone deeper in my relationship with Jesus through the tough times of life. He has proven Himself to me over and over again that He is able to keep me safe from the storms of life if I will only love and trust Him.



Things I Love

There are so many things I love about Johnny. He has a great sense of humor that keeps our life from ever being dull. After fifty years I still laugh at his funny stories even though I’ve heard some of them many times. Johnny never takes anything seriously and this has been a great asset as he has fought stage 4 prostate cancer over the last eleven years. Another thing I love about Johnny is that he is still full of surprises. I know him so well that I know how he thinks on any given subject. Most of the time I know how he will react, but he is still full of surprises. Just last weekend our grandson Tal was getting ready to go on a month-long trip to Europe. Tal has spent the last semester in a program at the University of Texas studying World War II. This program culminates with a trip to visit all the sites of that war. I was in Eastland, TX, with some of the family for my grandson-in-law Michael’s college graduation and Johnny was at home. On Monday, when I was back at work, Lisa casually mentioned how nice it was that Johnny came over to see Tal before he left for Europe. She went on to say that Johnny brought Tal four books and eight index cards with handwritten jokes and funny advice for the trip. Lisa could see my surprise and astonishment so she said, “I guess you didn’t know that he also gave Tal some spending money for the trip.”


When I got home that day, I looked at Johnny and said, “You know what I love most about you? It’s the way you still surprise me after all these years. You obviously had to plan that little trip and you spent time doing it because you love our family.”

The Lord Jesus still surprises me after all these years. I think I know everything there is to know about Him but there are so many things I will never know. He surprises me in the way He chooses to solve problems. Even though I offer suggestions constantly, He always has a solution that I would never think of in my own mind. He must have a great sense of humor because He keeps on loving me in spite of my self. He never stops blessing me with His presence or His power. Jesus and I have now been married for 55 years and the time together has been anything but boring.

Our earthly marriage will come to an end one day. One of us will die and our marriage on this earth will be over. Praise God, our marriage to Jesus will never come to an end. When we accepted Christ, he promised to stick closer than a brother and to be a husband to the widows so we need have no fear of the future. With Christ, our future is secure and eternal because we are His bride.

Let me close with a verse I love, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4

Dear Ones,

Johnny and I leave for Hawaii on June 27th. Our 50th Wedding Anniversary is June 26 and we are taking our two kids, John & Lisa and their spouses, Lisa & Kent to Hawaii with us. We can hardly wait. We chose a cruise so in case Johnny has a day where he’s not feeling well, I can stay on ship with him and the kids can go see the sights. We love the water so much that this will be the perfect celebration for us.

We drove to our property at the bay on Saturday and it was so wonderful. We had a peach double Hibiscus right by our gate and when we drove up there it was in full bloom! I thought it was dead like all the other plants but it came back in all its glory! The fig tree which was uprooted and laying on its side after the storm is in full bloom with figs on it (still laying on its side, I might add). We’re going to have to reward it by tying it upright again. We were so encouraged that we might consider building a garage apartment for now over our garage and see what happens from there. That would give us a place to stay when we want to go down there and a place for Johnny when I am out of town.

Yesterday, I was sitting having my second cup of coffee at 7:45 when the phone rang. It was Nancy Taylor, who used to work with us in First Place and who now teaches a ladies Sunday School class here at First Baptist. She woke up with a severe bladder infection and wanted to know if I could teach her class at 9:10 a.m.? Mind you, I was sitting there mulling over whether I would even go to the morning service, thinking I might just rest and go at 6:30 p.m. I flew into high gear and made it just fine. I just love it when God surprises me with opportunities to bring Him glory. You know, learning that it’s not about me at all has been so freeing.

How are all of you doing in the area of your weight? Summer is a great time to eat healthy since there are so many wonderful fruits and vegetables available. I’m already planning to eat lots of pineapple on our cruise and to work out with the Lisa’s every day. I’m praying for all of you and can’t wait to see you at one of our FP4H events. The Leadership Summit is July 24-25 so hope many of will come.

Lots of love,

Carole

Conga Line at the Summit?!

Hey gang! This is my first time to write on the FP4H blog. I’m Lisa, the FP4H Events and Special Projects Manager. We are full-speed ahead preparing for the First Place 4 Health Leadership Summit in July. I’m so excited about all we have planned, I wanted to write and tell you guys about it. We had a planning meeting last Saturday with leaders from around the Houston area and boy is it going to be great! Conga line and all! Okay maybe we won’t have a conga line -- although that was suggested and I was all for it… :). We will have seminars like Leading on a Shoestring, The Ten Things Every Leader Should Know, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Live It Food Plan and so much more. We added lots of Q&A time with the staff during our coffee and dessert bar on Saturday afternoon, too! You’ll have plenty of time to get all your questions answered and wait until you try some of these desserts. They are yummy. We’ll give you the recipes to take home with you.

Our theme this year is Leading Out Loud. The theme is based around the idea that as FP4H leaders we should lead with confidence and kick it up a notch! We have a message all the world needs to hear in the area of health and wellness so we should “Lead Loud!" It won’t just be an idea, we’ll have practical Lead Loud tips in our seminars and throughout the summit.

We’re also making some big changes to our website and they will debut during the summit. We’ll have one of the designers here to tell you all about it. There is just so much going on, I know you will want to be a part of it. Grab a couple of your class members and y’all head this way. We would love to see you!

For more information about the summit, click here.

~ Lisa Lewis

Erin & Matt DuBroc have a baby boy

Everett Stewart DuBroc was born Tuesday, May 19th and weighed 7 lbs. 14 ozs. He is beautiful and they are all doing well. If you want to send congratulations you may send them to our office and we will forward them to Erin. Our address is 7401 Katy Freeway, Suite 337, Houston, Texas 77024.

Day 5 Media Tour

Today was a great day. Me and my luggage are together again and all is well. I had a fun experience today with my taxi driver. The driver that came this morning at 6:30 to take me to the studio was a believer who has been driving a cab for 41 years. He is really hurting financially because he doesn't get a lot of calls in Gwinnet county where I was staying. I just contracted to keep him all day and he was wonderful. We shared about the Lord and his good ness and he blessed me and I pray that I blessed him too. He ended up taking me to the airport so today was a good one for him. I really believe God sent him to me so he could make some money today.!

My first interview was at the In Touch Ministry headquarters and I was on Family Net. The interview went really well and instead of 12 minutes they gave me an additional 5 minutes. We had a couple of call ins so that was fun. After the interview, the taxi took me back to the hotel where I had breakfast and waited for the 2 p.m. interview.

The second interview was taped and will be shown at a later date so it was over in 20 minutes and I set off for the airport where I am right now waiting to board the plane for Tampa. I have one more show in the morning at 10 a.m. and then catch a plane back to Houston at 2:25. I can hardly wait! I miss Johnny, my office and my bed.

I'm still glad I did it this way but it has been a hard trip. I counted up and I have been on 9 planes this trip. If I don't get swine flu it will be a miracle! People in the airport here in Atlanta are wearing masks; don't know if they already have it or if they are afraid they'll get it.

Johnny used to wear a mask on the plane to California because it scared people and they would give us the entire row! Wish I had a mask today; I could lay down and take a nap on the plane.

Thank you all for praying. I wouldn't have made it without your prayers.

Day 4 Media Tour

It's 12:20 a.m. and I'm so full of joy and thanksgiving to God that I can't sleep! I was sound asleep and got a call on my hotel room phone. When I answered the phone a lady said "We have your suitcase and I'm sending it up to you right now". I jumped up and put on my dirty jeans I've been wearing since Monday and when I opened the door it was as though an angel was standing there with my suitcase. Nothing has ever looked so beautiful. I immediately opened it and put on my gown. I've never thought to be thankful for my gown till I went two nights without it! I arrived at the hotel today feeling like I was getting a cold; nose running and stuffy feeling. Well, now I have my suitcase and it has airborne in it so I'm drinking some right now. God and I have been walking together since Monday but it has felt so weird not having anything at all that I brought with me. Kind of reminds me of last September after Hurricane Ike hit. Do you think God wants me to travel light or what???? I've proven that I can do it the last three days but It's still not fun!!

Today was great. I got up early and made the two hour drive to South Bend, Indiana to appear on the Harvest Show. After my 10 minute interview, I left immediately to make the two hour drive back to Chicago to catch a 1 p.m. plane to Atlanta. I thought about renting a car for Atlanta and even reserved one but when I arrived in Atlanta I was too exhausted to drive so I took a taxi to the hotel.

When I saw that I was staying in a Holiday Inn I was a little anxious because I've stayed in some really bad Holiday Inns. What a nice surprise when I walked in my room and saw that it was spotless. I went down to the dining room and outside the dining room was a table set up with appetizers of cheese & crackers and a beautiful plate of cut up fruit; pineapple, oranges, apples, pears. etc. I had the most delicious hamburger for dinner and the hotel staff has been so helpful. What a delightful gift from the Lord; a Holiday Inn that looks and feels like a Westin! My bed is so comfortable and my room is lovely. God loves His kids and I'm trusting Him for my total healing of this cold bug by morning.

I better try to go back to sleep as I need to be at the first interview at 6:55 a.m. this morning. Thanks you so much for your prayers for me. I love you all and thank God for your friendship, love and prayers. I have two interviews on Thursday and then fly to Tampa for the last day on the road. After a 10 a.m. interview on Friday in Tampa I fly back to Houston. I can hardly wait!

Good night, sweet First Place 4 Health family!!!

Day 3 Media Tour

Yesterday, when I left Marion, Illinois, I was the only person on the 19 passenger plane. Two pilots and me! I sat in the very back that had 3 seats across the back and knew how people must feel that have their own private plane. What fun, but alas, my fun was short lived. I flew from Marion, Illinois to Cincinnati, Ohio. I went directly to my plane in Cincinnati and when I walked up to the gate the lady said, "Are you Carole Lewis"? I was the last person to get on the plane going to Toronto and my suitcase didn't make the short connection.

The last 24 hours have been wild! When I landed in Toronto last night at 9:30 my suitcase was not on the plane. After filling out all the forms and going through customs I arrived at the hotel and got in bed at midnite. I set the alarm on my phone for 5 a.m. This morning I kept waking up and when I finally realized that the alarm had not gone off I looked at the clock and it was 6:45 a.m. My cell phone was dead and the charger is in my lost suitcase so it was weird going an entire day with no cell connection to the outside world. I was to be picked up at 7:15 so I went into high gear. Actually all I had to do was shower, wash my hair and dry it, brush my teeth and go. Since I had no fresh clothes or make up I just put on my yesterday clothes that I flew in and went to the studio. Everyone was so gracious and kind and it went well. The make up lady was wonderful so that helped a lot. After the program, 100 Huntley Street was over, I got to visit with ladies from 3 FP4H groups in the Toronto area. One of the ladies, Carol Dorr, found Christ through First Place in 1981. What a blessing visiting with these ladies today. When I got to the Toronto Airport to fly to Chicago there was still no bag. In fact the bag has not yet been found so I don't know when we'll meet again.

When I got to Chicago I rented a car and found a mall where I could buy a cell phone charger and an outfit to wear tomorrow in South Bend, Indiana on the Harvest Show. The Mall door I walked in had a cell phone store at the entrance and the first store I saw when I walked into the mall was a Coldwater Creek, which I love. Within 20 minutes I had an outfit and was off to Target to buy toiletries and a curling iron. If I can keep the one outfit clean I'll wear it the rest of the week if my suitcase doesn't show up.

I'm staying at the airport Sheraton and will leave at 6 a.m. in the morning to drive to South Bend. I sure love the GPS in the car. It's like having my own personal guide. Actually, we all do have our own personal guide, the Lord Jesus. He has kept me calm and sane this entire day and it was really sweet of Him to help me get what I needed with so little stress.

Well off to bed. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Devil, you didn't win today and you sure gave it your best shot!!!