Roger Bennett's Midnight Meditations

A Belated Merry Christmas!

By now, most of us are wading in discarded wrapping paper, and wondering what to do with all of the leftovers in the refrigerator. I sincerely hope that your Christmas was spent remembering the TRUE meaning for the season. Our Christmas celebration was very different this year, and, in fact, is not over yet. Chelsea and I went to Arkansas over the Dec. 17 weekend (which would have been mine and Roger's 30th wedding anniversary - wonderful memories, but bittersweet) so that she could spend a quick weekend with her grandparents. I am going back over New Year's to celebrate again with them, and with my oldest brother's clan. Then, she and I will fly to Los Angeles the first weekend of January to visit with Jordan and Jessica, and to have our Christmas with them. I got to be with Isaiah for his Christmas morning, and got some precious video and lots of love.

2011 is ending up quite a bit differently from what I ever expected. My heart is heavy, as my marriage is ending, as well. I will not go into any details, and only ask for your prayers as things are sorted out. My heartfelt prayer is that God's Will be done in this most stressful situation, and that, if it IS His Will, that I be allowed to remain in Isaiah's life. It will take God's intervention for that to happen, but that precious child of my heart is foremost in my mind. I know that God will take care of him, no matter what, but it is hard to hand him over, praying for some rights, and for his protection, and wait for the answer.

I guess I have learned a lot of lessons from this experience, and as my wise son said, if I learn from my mistakes, it hasn't all been in vain. I do know that God can make even our worst mistakes work for good, and if nothing else, I believe that I was there to help Isaiah get into a safer place, and to place some things in his heart that he will hopefully remember throughout his lifetime. I have also learned that I have had to ask for forgiveness for all of the times I have judged others. I know I face a lot of judgment and condemnation, and truthfully, a lot of that will be self-inflicted, but I also know that there is NO WAY to know all of the circumstances of another person's life, nor to know what is going on behind the scenes. I know from personal experience that you can put on a smile for the world, and cry many tears behind closed doors.

As you have noticed, my posts have been very sporadic lately, and that is largely due to the turmoil I have had going on in my life, and quite honestly, because I am so embarrassed to be in a place that I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be in. However, I decided to share some of it so that others who are hurting - and hiding - can know that there is no one in this world who will remain untouched by a tragedy of some kind. I was going through some old sermon notes again today, and ran across one that said, "Maybe we are tested the way we are, so that when we are wounded, others will be able to see the essence of Christ bleeding out." Yes. I need to be so filled with Christ that my wounds bleed HIS very essence. It is a struggle right now, but that is the person I truly desire to be.

And, it has brought the true meaning of the Christmas season home to me in such a different way this year. Because, if not for the tiny baby born in a manger so long ago, I would have no hope; no comfort; no love to sustain me during this new trial in my life. I am eternally grateful that God looked down, and knew I would need a Savior. He knew I would need a Healer. He knew that I would need guidance, forgiveness, and love, and He sent His only Son, to hang on a cross to make my life worthy. I may be losing a step-son (and may not be, only the Lord knows that), but God understands that, too. He has walked every path I could possibly imagine walking in this life. He loves me; He forgives me; He has plans for me; and He keeps me firmly

In His Grip,
Debbie

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

I am sitting here with a cat on one side of me, and a dog at my feet, having a cup of coffee, getting ready for another day.....but a special one, as it is Thanksgiving, and it reminds us all to pause and be thankful for our many blessings.

Life can be stressful and confusing at times, but you only have to look around to see that there are many things to be thankful for. One thing in particular I am thankful for today is that my daughter-in-law, who was involved in a car accident on the Los Angeles Freeway on Tuesday night, is alright, even though her car isn't. Cars are able to be fixed or replaced - people aren't; so we are very grateful that she is okay, if a little sore.

As soon as the season settles a little, I plan to post more of an update, and share some things God has been showing me. The holidays are always a bit tough, with such vivid memories crowding in, but they are also welcome ones, reminding me of God's goodness in my life.

So, have a wonderful day, enjoy family and friends, and remember to pause to count your blessings......not just today, but every day. God is good - all the time, and He is faithful to keep us

In His Grip!
Debbie

Updates from our Lane

I am sitting here on my couch typing this post, after having had an Indian dinner with Chelsea. Dinner was delicious, but the company was even better! We were kind of putting off a sad evening at home, our last one with our precious 15 year old Cocker Spaniel, Sadie. We have made the decision, based on her rapid decline in the past 24 hours, to let her go tomorrow. (An update - sweet Sadie did not make it through the night....) It has been heartbreaking, especially since she will be our 4th little buddy we have lost in the past 1 1/2 years. Those are the hazards of having them all pretty much the same age, but we have lost our 2 oldest puppies, and our 2 oldest kitties. It will be a difficult transition for the one Cocker we have left, but I have a feeling she will be even more spoiled than she already is. I wouldn't trade a minute with any of them, but I am not looking to replace them, either. The loss is hard to handle, and so we will concentrate on loving the 1 pup and 2 kitties we still have with us.
As for the rest of the goings-on around here, things are pretty much the same. I spend a lot of time between TN and AR, and try to deal with all of the other things going on in the meantime. I so enjoyed the 3 days I got to spend at NQC. I get to visit with friends I only get to see once a year. My dear friend Scott Fowler was up to his usual shenanigans, though, and managed to embarrass me AND get it on video at the same time. That's one talented guy! Then, the first weekend in Oct., we had the Roger Bennett Memorial concert in Batesville, AR with guests The Isaacs, and had such a great time. (I had also squeezed in a yard sale at my Mom's house that weekend, so it was a very busy few days!)
Fall is finally beginning to show its warm colors around here, and we are enjoying the beauty of it. It is a daily reminder of our Creator, and His love for us. Seasons in nature change, just as the seasons of our lives do. While change may not always be comfortable for us, with a little faith and trust, we can find the beauty in it. God always has a plan for us, and even when we can't see it, we can believe that He loves us and has the best plan for our lives. Yes, seasons come, and seasons go, but it is a joy to know that we are always
In His Grip!
Debbie
P.S. The Roger Bennett Direct sale is still on through October. Check out the previous post for the details.

Making Progress

It's been a long haul, but the house is finally almost finished. All of the major work has been done - now it's up to me to put the necessary stuff back, and purge what I really don't need.............actually, I've been needing to do that for some time now........ I am really pleased with the work that JB and my brother Tony have done. It looks better than it did before! They may have done all of the construction work, but it's equally tiring trying to keep a 2-year-old out of the mix. He wants to do everything everyone else is doing, including handling tools, and hammering, etc. He is a mess. I found myself saying phrases that I never thought I would use.......like: "Get out of the refrigerator with your shoes on" and "Don't lick the dustpan". That's life with a toddler for you!

I really have been busy, and that's one reason for my lack of posts this summer, but another one is that I have really been struggling with some situations in my life. I have always embraced what I thought God gave me as a gift of encouragement, and it just doesn't seem like I have been able to do much encouraging lately. I am seriously trying not to wallow in my fatigue and distress, but I am also reluctant to share it. I did have a sort of "God moment" the other day, though, and I thought I would share that with you.

When I see myself as unworthy; unloved; a failure in so many areas - I am not defined by my mistakes. God sees me as a treasure; worthy of love and of dying for; a promise of things to come. I AM DEFINED BY HIS GRACE! Hallelujah and Praise God for showing me that regardless of any situation in my life, all I really need is Him. He is enough. Period. So that is what I am taking with me, while trying to sort out the trials in this life.

And, with that better perspective, I am preparing to go to NQC next week. I will be there Thursday through Saturday, and Scott has graciously made some room for me in the L5 booth, so I am taking some "clearance" items with me. I ran an ad in the Sept. "Singing News" and those specials are only available through mail order or phone, NOT through the website. I will post them at the end of this post, so that they are also available to you, my dear friends. I am trying to clear out some overstock, and make some good deals available for gift-giving, too.

We are still dealing with health issues with my parents, but things are holding steady right now. Roger's dad, Doug, has a birthday next week, and he is doing pretty well, too. Chelsea had a great trip to Poland, and is back home, working, and enjoying having the front porch back, after weeks of it being a construction zone. Jordan and his wife, Jessica, are moving to a new place in Los Angeles today, where they will have a small yard for their puppy Charlie. JB and Isaiah are doing well. We are all enjoying this cooler weather, and looking forward to Fall's approach. I was recently on a courier trip delivering bone marrow, and despite earthquakes and hurricanes, managed to make it through and deliver my precious cargo on time.

Thank you for the prayers and love that come my way. I look forward to seeing many of you in Louisville! Have a safe trip, and wherever you are, especially on this 10th anniversary of our nation's great 9/11 tragedy, may God hold you safely

In His Grip!
Debbie

*****Roger Bennett Direct Specials valid Sept. & Oct. 2011 ONLY:
You must either send a money order or check to:
Roger Bennett Direct/ PO Box 681075 / Franklin, TN 37068-1075
OR: phone 615-791-5993 with your credit card order to receive these specials.

$25 Bundles:
* 4 yrs of the NQC showcase "Parade of Pianos" - 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 (Roger's last recorded performance) on DVD (reg. $65)
* 2 DVDs: "Midnight Meditations" (w/bonus CD) and "Whispers in the Night" ($55 value)

$10 Deals:
* DVD: "My Father's World - A Celtic Experience" (reg. $20)
* Hardcover book: "Midnight Meditations: A Journey through Cancer and the Lessons Learned Along the Way" (reg. $20)

$5 Blowouts:
* CDs: "Don't Be Afraid" / "Whispers in the Night" / "Heavenly Highway Hymns" (reg. $15 ea.)
* Piano arrangement books: "Whispers in the Night" / "Church in the Wildwood" (orig. $15 ea.)
* Boxed set of 10 Cards of Encouragement (orig. $20, now listed @$10 on the web)
* Roger Bennett replica signature tote bag

ALL ORDERS ADD $5 SHIPPING/HANDLING (foreign orders require additional postage) [See the website for more product info @ www.rogerbennettdirect.com ]

Off to a New Challenge

Whew! I have been in Arkansas for 3 weeks, helping Mom and Daddy, and it has been HOT, HOT, HOT!! (Did I mention it was hot?) I promised myself I wouldn't complain, though, because I dislike the cold even more than the extreme heat. Mom had some dental surgery, and has had to be taken back and forth to the doctor 2 hours away, so we have juggled schedules, and made lots of interesting soups these past few weeks. Daddy hasn't been doing too well lately, but we are blessed every day to be able to have him in our lives. I even managed to squeeze in some time with Doug, and had a great time there.

Shortly after I arrived, my brother phoned me at 6 a.m. one morning to give me the joyful news that a pipe had broken in the upstairs bathroom in my TN home, and had flooded the house, caving in a ceiling, and ruining almost all of the floors upstairs and down in the house! This, after we have just been dealing with an insurance claim over Chelsea's car. Bless his heart, though, he had already been up for over 2 hours running the shop vac and saving the furniture from ruin. We even had to have piano movers come and take Roger's piano to storage to prevent its ruining during the drying-out process (kudos to Serv-Pro for a job well-done!). I head home tomorrow to a certain mess and a reconstruction project.....yea! It may be a headache to deal with all of the insurance claims, but, boy, am I glad to have insurance right now. And, it could always have been worse, and they are only "things" that are able to be replaced. The only thing I would have worried about was the piano, and it is safe.

I learned a long time ago that the important things in life don't revolve around possessions. Time with our loved ones is invaluable. Relationships are more precious than gold. Love makes the world go around, as they said in a song. If you have precious people in your life, you are blessed. Don't ever miss an opportunity to let them know how important they are to you. Time goes by so quickly, so seize those moments.

I hope all of you are safe, cool, and happy in these ending summer months. Make some great memories, and bask in the security of being

In His Grip!

Debbie

A Busy Summer

Yes, it has been an incredibly busy summer. The first part of it was spent trying to fix up a place to "land" while I am in Arkansas so much. That done, now I keep the road hot going back and forth - a LOT!
I am so sorry the posts have been few and far between, but I do want you to know that I read each comment, and have been praying for YOUR situations, as well. We are blessed to be a part of the Body of Christ, so we share each other's burdens.
First, a quick update on family members and happenings of the summer so far.....
Chelsea is at home these days. Seems I missed telling that her house deal fell through at the last minute, (God had another plan) so I am glad to have her back here for the time being. She is still working in Nashville, and her birthday is today (she is 27 - my, how time flies..). Last month, she and I went car shopping and found her a replacement for the car she had been driving for the past 7 years. 5 days later, she was sitting at a traffic light when she was rear-ended by a commercial ice cream truck, pushing her into the car in front of her. She is okay, but has been receiving treatments 3 times per week for a neck and back injury. Her car was totalled, and we have been dealing with insurance and titles, etc. for weeks now. I think that has been a bigger pain than the actual injury for her. We are still trying to resolve the issue, and insurance wants her to turn in her rental car tomorrow, so I guess we are going car shopping again today, and hoping for reimbursement soon! She is headed back to Poland with a group from church the end of this month (Jluy 28-August 7) so if you think about it, please pray for her and her group as they minister there.
Jordan and Jessica were able to fly home over Memorial Day weekend, and we got to spend a nice afternoon together. Jessica stays busy doing multiple jobs and acting work in California. Jordan will finish up his audio enginering school in October, and recently got a job in a large music store near him, so he is able to utilize more of his skills now.
I was in Arkansas over the weekend, celebrating my Daddy's 89th birthday with friends and family. We are so blessed to have him with us still. I made a quick trip home to TN yesterday to try to get the car issues resolved, and head back to AR mid-week. Mom is having some extensive oral surgery that will involve quite a bit of back and forth to the surgeon 2 hours from her house. If you have any good soup recipes, send them on!
Doug is doing better after a fall 2 weeks ago that earned him stitches in his head, and soreness in more places than he knew he had. It was pretty scary, but he is on the mend, and has replaced a rather tricky entrance into his home with a more stable one, thankfully.
Isaiah turned 2 years old the end of June, and is growing like a weed. If you need a picture of a typical, active little boy, you just have to look at him. He would live outside if he could, and he looks, most of the time, like he just got back from a war zone, with all of the scrapes and bumps he gets out there - but, he is happy, and that is what matters most. As tired as he can make us all, when those little arms reach up and say "Mama", you kind of forget about all of the other.........well, for the most part!
I am doing fine, just running ragged some days. It has definitely been a stressful couple of months, and some days I deal with the stress better than others, I must admit. I have said many times that my life is "Plan B". It seems like any plan I make, gets superceded by something else that I didn't plan. I learned many years ago that I could either just roll with the tide, or kill myself worrying about it. I just roll (and if I don't stop eating, I may be doing that literally....sigh.....).
All that being said, though, I do know that I am blessed beyond measure. My life may not be what I had envisioned it would be at this point in my life, but I know that God has a plan for me, and He is still in control. There are days that I wonder if I will ever hear a clear direction from Him, but I keep listening, and waiting, and I know that His timing will be perfect. I am so thankful that He left us with the promises of comfort and protection. I simply do not know how people who don't have this faith ever get by in life.
I hope I haven't rambled on too much. I have had computer problems the past few weeks, in addition to other problems, and I just haven't had the time or the ability to sit down and type a post the way I should. I'm working on that, too!
Meanwhile, know that I value your feedback, and I am praying for your lives, as well. We all need to lean on each other for that fellowship and support that being a part of the Body of Christ affords us.
No matter what we each face, if we have Christ, we are assured that He is holding us lovingly
In His Grip!
Debbie

Don't Know Whether I'm Coming or Going!

These days I am never sure. I am keeping the road hot between TN and AR, trying to fix a place to "land" while I am in AR, and running back home to TN occasionally for meetings, office work, etc. I should have it more or less in place in a couple more weeks, though, so maybe it will slow down a LITTLE bit!

I am in prayer for all of those who have been affected by the tumultuous weather our entire country seems to be experiencing - from floods to tornadoes to fire, it never seems to end. When asked by some workers recently what I thought about it all, I was able to share my thoughts that we are indeed living in the end times the Bible speaks so clearly about. What other explanation could there be for such constant devastation? Just remember to lift each other up in prayer, as so many are either directly or indirectly affected by these events.

I am doing okay, dealing with some strong emotional issues these days. More on that another time. Mom and Dad are "hanging in there" with ongoing health problems, but nothing of an urgent nature right now, thank God.

Thank you for your prayers and support. I AM continuing this weblog, but postings, as you have noticed, are going to be more sporadic for a while, as I am busier than usual. Hopefully, soon, they will be more regular in nature, and with more content. I still have some things to share that are not merely updates to my life, but more of what God has shown me. My love and prayers are with each of you who post your own needs, as well. I love to be a part of a community who knows the value of being

In His Grip!

Debbie