I cannot believe it has been months since I have blogged! It seems like yesterday Howard had his surgery and I was sitting in the hospital room waiting for the doctor to come in and tell me he was fine. He didn’t say anything very encouraging til weeks later after the surgery and we were in his office for a follow up. He said that he was very concerned when he was performing the operation but was happy to say after the results were back that all the cancer is gone! Have you ever watched a doctor talk and you think in your mind “he’s not telling us everything and all he is saying is let’s just wait til we get the report back”? well, that was how it went for me but I’m happy to announce Howard is fine!You never know when God is going to take you down a path you prefer not to go even though you  know in your heart that if God allows you to travel that path, you would rather travel that path with God leading than another path you were leading! We are in the middle of our summer bible study and loving it. We are so pleased to have so many ladies. We are studying Spiritual Maturity and desiring our Father to grow us up!Cup of Joy is at our new office and loving it! We certainly see that our Father has led us here!!  I was thinking about me listening to God’s voice.  He does speaks so clearly in the stillness or is it that only as we quiet ourselves do we hear?  

I’m sitting here at Emory Hospital watching my sweet husband sleep. Today he had his surgery for prostate cancer. It’s hard to believe he had cancer seeing how healthy he is but life never seems to go like we think. The doctor seems to think that he will be fine. Of course, we will not know until the report is back from the lab but I sure can’t complain. Howard always says that we do not deserve anything but hell and if we get anything, it’s a gift from God. I would love to thank everyone who has prayed for us. God has been beyond faithful to us and I’m overwhelmed with the goodness He has given to our family. Andy is preaching on the series describing faith. One thing he said is that for us to pray knowing God can heal but not knowing if it’s His will to do so. I have prayed this so much lately. Knowing that He can heal and not knowing if He will.  It’s always a great reminder that my commitment to God is not based on what He can do but who He is! He is good, He is faithful, and He’s mine! I really am so thankful that at this moment God has given us a good report but being reminded that had we not had a good report, the cross is more than enough!Have a wonderful week enjoying His goodness!Love you all!dot 

There has been so much happening around Cup of Joy that all I can say is that God has been doing things we cannot do for ourselves and we cannot explain. As many of you know, I had to go for a cat scan to determine if the spots on my lung had grown. A sweet group of ladies at a recent retreat where I was speaking asked to pray for me and anoint me with oil. I agreed, and in a room away from others, they prayed for my healing. This was a first for me but here’s another first, “the spots on my lung” are gone. Now, as you know, this does not happen every time. Howard still has prostate cancer and my sweet sister still has lymphoma but for a reason God only knows, He chose to heal me.  I no longer have anything on my lung. I praise Him for that report and I hope and pray I would have praised Him had that not been the case.Howard will have surgery on May 12th. We feel that God has led us to this wonderful Doctor at Emory and trust me, Howard went prepared to ask the doctor many questions and he has read everything he can to educate himself on the different paths to handle prostate cancer. Surgery seems to be Howard’s answer after much prayer about this.Another thing that God has done in such a short time and with circumstances that Robin and I are still not believing is that Cup of Joy will have a new office off Holcomb Bridge Road. Please look for our newsletter that will be coming out soon for all the details in this amazing journey. I hope you are growing closer in knowing your Savior and as you know Him, you can enjoy Him!! Please remember through praise and thanksgiving, we silence the enemy and enter into God’s presence.Enjoy your time with Him!dot   

On December 30th my precious mother-in-law opened her eyes and saw her Savior. We received the call around 9:30 a.m. Sunday, December 30th. As the nurse washed her face with a warm cloth, Anna V said “that feels good” and then closed her eyes to open them in the presence of God. We are very sad to lose her but very thankful God has allowed her to live for 98 years. We enjoyed our last Christmas with her and we are very thankful God allowed us to have that time.  She has left us a legacy of love and a special knowledge on how to really love unconditionally.I did an half-marathon and as I finished the finished line. I felt very dizzy and when I opened my eyes I heard things like “no heartbeat” “no blood pressure”. They say a by-standard gave me CPR and a few heart pumps! I guess I have given my guardian angel something to do.  After 3 days in the hospital, I found out that they had found a spot on my lung. I have never smoked but it appears that’s not the only people who get lung cancer.  My parents have died with lung cancer so use your imagination how much I did not want to hear about a spot on my lung. To have to deal with this was not on my day timer.  I have had a pet scan and at this moment it appears to be a benign nodule. To that I praise God!  Yes, It’s Cup of Joy time!! It appears that my journey to Cup of Joy is always a journey to trust God in a way more deeper than before. I have yet to have a Cup of Joy that something has not happened that has been a scare of some sort. I’m holding on to my Father and saying “what’s next, I’m with you! ” The retreat is a full house!! every time I would see the number of women that had registered, even though I did not know the name but just the number, I would smile knowing that meant God had drawn one more lady to have a date night with Him. We are so excited.  This is our largest group and we are thanking God. We love you all and have been praying so hard for everyone. What we know is God is drawing you to Him and we are excited to hear what He is going to do in the lives of each of you. He has already started working with me! Love you all!dot     

 The house is bursting with the excitement of Christmas. Do you ever wonder where did summer go? How is it life seems to go by so fast? We are trying to get ready for Christmas from decorations to shopping. Trying  to balance our priorities in spending time with our family and friends. The hardest thing lately for me has been giving my Savior His deserved time with me. Yet, this is really “His Time” not “My Time”. I was thinking the other day how did God take all His Glory and all His Majesty and put it in such a small baby boy? How did Mary ponder all these things (carrying the Messiah) to herself? I was reading in Luke 1 when Gabriel said  to Zacharias “I am Gabriel I stand in the presence of God” how I marvel and think how awesome that must be to be standing in the presence of God and yet, I get the privilege of entering into His presence every day in prayer. The angels marvel at redemption. Don’t you think they wonder what is it about mankind that Jesus would leave heaven and be born of a woman to die for the very ones He created.  Yes, I’m  celebrating His birth knowing that He was born to die for me. Wow! what a gift! a gift  I cannot buy for myself!If I don’t get back to this blog before Christmas, I certainly will be praying that you will enjoy this time as you celebrate the birth of our Savior. Why does He love us so? I have no idea but I’m so thankful He does!Merry Christmas!Dot 

Wow! we are so excited here at Cup of Joy about our next retreat. we have a waiting list and I’m praying that God will open up more rooms for everyone. It appears that we can have rooms outside the campus which is only a few miles away.  The truth is that we can be together with everything except sleeping. (I doubt you want to share a bedroom with 100 women anyway). My heart is if God is leading you to have some quality time with Him, what does it matter where we sleep. I know the leadership has given up their rooms so that more women can be on campus and I’m so proud of them! If you feel like you are suppose to be at the retreat, don’t allow this to be an issue.I hope you all have a great Christmas. It’s hard to believe how close Christmas is and how quickly the retreat will be here. I love you all and I’m praying for you during this time of the year to “Pause and reflect on His greatness. 

When you ask God to do something that only He can do, He knocks your socks off!
I’m referring to a lot of things but recently to our registration for the February retreat. Every year I have been on my knees asking God to draw women to Himself and this year He is letting us know it is His desire. we have the wonderful opportunity to find extra rooms.He is calling women to slow down and reflect on Him and I know He will work out the room situation. Winshape has given us all the rooms we can have at this point but it appears that we can go to a hotel and get more rooms that are only a few miles away. we have space in everything else like eating and meeting and enjoying the property. It’s just sleeping. I can’t explain the excitement I have when after praying, go to the registration and see the number go up! I know every time the number goes up, it’s another lady God has called. Wow! All we can say at Cup of Joy is “This is for your Glory”!
So if you feel God is calling you to be a part of this weekend, keep checking with us because we believe if He calls, He will provide!
The theme is “The Bridegroom says Come”! (It was determine before registration) and I believe He really is telling us all to come. would you be willing to just sleep somewhere else and then enjoy your time with Him on the amazing property of Winshape? He’s calling! Our amazing Savior would like to enjoy a weekend with us focusing on Him!

As so many of you know, i have the privilege to come to Cayman and get a way from the “busyness” of Atlanta. Howard had to be here for a meeting so it didn’t take me long to say I would go!! I was walking today, as I love to do here, and listening to praise music. I began to pray and ask God what His desire is for me and His Will for Cup of Joy. I have been thinking about the name “Cup of Joy” and remembered when I chose the name and it had no real powerful meaning. I thought I like coffee so cup is cute, I love to have fun, so joy seemed a great word for fun (clean fun) so there it is Cup of Joy! Cute, don’t you think? But, today God has led me thinking deeper into His purpose for Cup of Joy. My thoughts today is that God wants to be my Joy. I think of the many names of God like Soveriegn, Peace, my Provider, just a few, but today I felt Him saying to me “Let me be your Joy!”
It was just a walk but the thought nearly stopped me in my tracks! I had to really think was Jesus really THE joy of my life? I pray He is, I really do want that! Have you ever thought about who is your joy? Take a walk or just sit for a moment and ask God where you find most joy. Is He the joy of your life, is He the joy of my life? That’s a great question. I think I need to take another walk. will you join me?

I think about ME rejoicing over what God has done for me and He has done so much it’s hard to express at times but reading Isaiah 62:5 it says that God rejoices over His bride. As I know, the church is referred to as His Bride and that would include me. I’m thinking about my conversations, my schedule,and my attitude today, has it been something He would rejoice over? I certainly pray that everything I have done today has brought Him Glory and He was pleased with all of my actions but as I think about this scripture, it really doesn’t say “based on your performance today” I will rejoice over you. It really says He rejoices over me because I’m His child (bride). Wow! He has chosen me and pursued me and now rejoices over me. Amazing love I can’t understand!! I guess this is one of those “mysteries” scripture talks about!

i have been thinking lately about something John Piper writes in Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ. “Christ does not exist in order to make much of us. we exist in order to enjoy making much of him. Christ is glorious so that rich or poor,sick or sound, we might be satisfied in Him”. Satisfaction is certainly something i think we all long for. i have been asking myself What makes me satisfied? where do i get my satisfaction?
even more importantly am i satisfied in Christ? what is the longing of my heart? satisfaction, peace, contentment all are the same to me. As a believer, am I a satisfied follower? what about you? have you thought about what really makes you happy? are you content in Christ? do you have peace? something to think about…….