Exciting new partnership

Don't you love it when God brings His plans together? Here's one of the best things in my life these days: a new ministry partnership with Lisa Troyer, a Cleveland based Moody radio host and musician, and her ministry Circle of Friends. Last spring, when Lisa heard me speak in Cleveland for Moody's Gathering for Women, she felt God's nudge to write and produce a worship CD to accompany my book, Meet Me at the Well. After we talked it over, we subsequently flew in August to Moody Publishers for their blessing and advice. By July, Lisa had written and recorded a number of songs in Nashville, and signed with a record label.

I'm delighted to say, God has blessed this venture beyond belief! Pictured here are radio host Wayne Shepherd, me, producer Joe Carlson, and Lisa Troyer at Michael Card's famed Mole End Studio in Nashville where we recorded an hour-long radio special announcing the January release of Lisa's new CD, "Meet Me at the Well," as well as our upcoming partnership in ministry. I will speak and Lisa will lead worship around this wonderful God-given theme of renewal. Isn't He wonderful? Our first retreat will be Winterlude for Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA, held at the Hyannis Conference Center January 14-17, 2010 on Cape Cod. In February we'll bring the same messages and music to Lisa's Circle of Friends retreat near Cleveland. (More details soon.)

As I write this, Jocelyn Hamshire, pastor's wife, speaker, and COF board member, is completing a 13 week Bible study to accompany Meet Me at the Well. I marvel at the goodness of God in all this. We are truly a Circle of Friends serving Him together. If you'd like more updates, or would like to schedule an event, please contact me via my website, www.virellekidder.com.

In the meantime, may God's goodness mercies overflow in your life.

Ever seen a pink full moon?

I wish I'd had a camera the other night as my husband Steve and I stood on the boardwalk of the Indian River Lagoon in Fort Pierce, Fl after a wonderful dinner at Cobb's Landing. Amazing. Suddenly, this pale pink full moon rose through the clouds like a rose in bloom. We were stunned by its beauty. I've seen an orange harvest moon in NY, full of brazen glory, but nothing like this. To the north of it were the densest thunder clouds you've ever seen, black as a wool blanket. We'd never have seen the moon rise that night if we'd stayed home, just forty minutes to our north. But here on the literal edge of night, God made a spectacle of beauty rising like hope next to the storm.

Like you, our lives often skirt big storms, sometimes landing right in them. We have a very black one right now in our family with a deathly diagnosis for my husband's mother. It's awful to see the darkness gaining on her, and on us all. But here is hope tonight rising for real in my heart like that rare pink moon. I know this is not all there is. Life has more. God has more of His goodness and mercy to give. And the darkness cannot overcome it. I'm sure of it.