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PTP

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

On the Twelfth Day of Digging Deep!…Today is the day!

Posted on August 17, 2024

On the first day of Digging Deep, this digger got to  see… A new deluxe edition for me…

On the second day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see…two swag orders and a new deluxe edition for me. 

On the third day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see …three posted dig-a bits, two swag orders and a new deluxe edition for me.

On the fourth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see …four sample screen-prints, three posted dig-a-bits, two swag orders, and a new deluxe edition for me.

On the fifth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see…Five Golden Crowns!!!!…four sample screen prints, three dig-a-bits, two swag orders, and a new deluxe edition for me.

On the sixth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…four sample screen prints, three dig-a-bits, two swag orders, and a new deluxe edition for me.

On the seventh day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see… Seven ladies waiting…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…four sample screen prints, three dig-a-bits, two swag orders, and a new deluxe edition for me.

On the eighth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see, eight laughing locals …Seven ladies waiting…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…Four sample screen prints, Three dig-a-bits, Two swag orders, and A new deluxe edition for me.

On the ninth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see…Nine crown photos…eight laughing locals …Seven ladies waiting…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…Four sample screen prints, Three dig-a-bits, Two swag orders, and A new deluxe edition for me.

On the tenth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see… Ten women on the rooftop…Nine crown photos…eight laughing locals …Seven ladies waiting…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…Four sample screen prints, Three dig-a-bits, Two swag orders, and A new deluxe edition for me.

On the eleventh day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see…Eleven p.m. supper… Ten women on the rooftop…Nine crown photos…eight laughing locals …Seven ladies waiting…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…Four sample screen prints, Three dig-a-bits, Two swag orders, and A new deluxe edition for me.

AT LAST!

On the twelfth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see…Twelve new months of digging…Eleven p.m. supper… Ten women on the rooftop…Nine crown photos…eight laughing locals …Seven ladies waiting…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…Four sample screen prints, Three dig-a-bits, Two swag orders, and A new deluxe edition for me.

I hope you’re watching today at 1 pm. EST on the youtube channel “Digging Deep in God’s Word” for the reveal of the brand new study topic! If you’re at PTP, I hope you’re right there in Ballroom A at 12:30, where we will be recognizing the finishers and then announcing at 1 pm the brand new topic. I’m “way ‘cited!” as Eliza Jane says! It’ll be the best spent time of your next twelve months if you are in the Word, whether it’s DD or some other method. But we are “way ‘cited” if you are joining us for what promises to be a deep and useful treasure dig this year.

I can’t wait!…not another day!

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

On the Eleventh Day of Digging Deep…

Posted on August 16, 2024

On the first day of Digging Deep, this digger got to  see… A new deluxe edition for me…

On the second day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see…two swag orders and a new deluxe edition for me. 

On the third day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see …three posted dig-a bits, two swag orders and a new deluxe edition for me.

On the fourth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see …four sample screen-prints, three posted dig-a-bits, two swag orders, and a new deluxe edition for me.

On the fifth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see…Five Golden Crowns!!!!…four sample screen prints, three dig-a-bits, two swag orders, and a new deluxe edition for me.

On the sixth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…four sample screen prints, three dig-a-bits, two swag orders, and a new deluxe edition for me.

On the seventh day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see… Seven ladies waiting…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…four sample screen prints, three dig-a-bits, two swag orders, and a new deluxe edition for me.

On the eighth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see, eight laughing locals …Seven ladies waiting…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…Four sample screen prints, Three dig-a-bits, Two swag orders, and A new deluxe edition for me.

On the ninth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see…Nine crown photos…eight laughing locals …Seven ladies waiting…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…Four sample screen prints, Three dig-a-bits, Two swag orders, and A new deluxe edition for me.

On the tenth day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see… Ten women on the rooftop…Nine crown photos…eight laughing locals …Seven ladies waiting…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…Four sample screen prints, Three dig-a-bits, Two swag orders, and A new deluxe edition for me.

On the eleventh day of Digging Deep, this digger got to see…Eleven p.m. supper… Ten women on the rooftop…Nine crown photos…eight laughing locals …Seven ladies waiting…Six sheep-a-grazing…Five Golden Crowns!!!…Four sample screen prints, Three dig-a-bits, Two swag orders, and A new deluxe edition for me

It’s 10:50 pm and we just entered our room at the Wilderness in Sevierville, TN.  We are very hungry for that pizza we ordered just now for supper. It’s the best and busiest and most blessed week of the year when we do this wandering in the wilderness thing with bunches of people who are traveling to Zion. We are so grateful for this room, these wonderful PTP folks who gave us this opportunity, and for the great comfort there is in being surrounded by several thousand of God’s people. We want to sing and serve and praise and pray and learn and laugh with people who love to try to think like our Father thinks. We met the Glasscocks on the curb and Cody in the lobby and Sophie in the hallway and Andy in the EHC. Andy Isbell and John Dean helped us unload (and hide) 93740 pounds of books just now.

John Dean lives in India and directs a school of preaching there.  We met him today and he rode to PTP with us. Celine Sparks had a last-minute need for someone to do the missions fair for the children and so I asked him as we traveled. He did not miss a beat….”Sure I will do it.”  That’s the spirit of PTP and it’s particularly the spirit of the children’s program.  We love this crowd.

…And we love visiting more than eating, obviously, or we would have had our supper before 11 pm!

All of the people at PTP this week are among my favorites, but not all my favorites are at PTP. And that’s one of the significant and many differences in PTP and heaven. None of God’s people will be missing in heaven. Surely, though, this little resting spot in the wilderness is inching us closer to Canaan! I hope I get to hug lots of diggers in the next few days.

Two days till we announce the new study! Catch it live at PTP or catch it on the Digging Deep FB page at 1 EST on Saturday.

 

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

“Shleeping” in a Palace

Posted on July 10, 2024

Here we are at Polishing the Pulpit-Branson 2024! All the children, but especially Eliza Jane are so excited to be “shleeping “ in a palace. “I never shleeped in a palace afore!” I never did either and, believe me, after 12 hours in that car with those three, their mom and I were ready for some “sleep” in a palace or standing up in a barn. Literally, the question “How many more hours?” must have been asked 50 times from those back seats. Not exaggerating. It started when we were twenty minutes from the house. 

But now is the good part: blending voices, hearts, and purpose with hundreds of like-minded Christians on this hilltop, overlooking a beautiful lake. It seems, in my finite nature, to be inching toward heaven itself! 

Yesterday, on the way here, we got stuck behind a couple of auto accidents. One was an old tractor in the median that had obviously been careened hard by a larger and more modern vehicle. The helicopter was already there for the life flight. Ezra said he would lead the prayer: 

“Dear God, please help that man to be okay. Please help him to live. If he dies, please help him to be a Christian.” 

That’s the nine-year-old view of life and fatalities. That’s pretty much my view, still, except, of course, the “help” for eternal salvation, must be accessed through the blood prior to the time of the death. 

We all agreed that nothing is ultimately “bad” for the Christian. Even a horrific end to this life is not horrific for the follower of Jesus. It is better than ever. 

And that’s the hilltop on which we find ourselves, today; looking out over the promised land and knowing the sojourn is short. We find ourselves preparing, with hundreds of Christians, to bring the Father glory and honor the Son and, to find, in the Words of the Holy Spirit, strength for our journey toward the real palace of our King. 

I cannot wait, Eliza!

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

PTPraise!

Posted on August 26, 2023

So many blessings—so little time at my house! My phone is in there ding-ing away. My inbox is overflowing and my heart is overflowing to a greater degree. PTP’s a wrap for 2023 and I could not be more thankful to our God of comfort and Father of mercies (2 Corinthians 1:2,3)! Though there were some disappointing moments as I had prayed for some things that just could not happen, the overwhelming blessings were so obvious and palatable through the week with the truest kind of blood family. I am so very thankful. (https://polishingthepulpit.com/)

10 Impactful quotes of the week that I am remembering as I write: 

“I have to go to class. I really don’t want to miss any of it today.”  (Ezra)

“I want to see Digger Doug and Mammy.” (Caleb and Lydia)

“We don’t say “oh my gosh.”  (Eliza Jane, to a lady in the corridor.)

‘I loved that lesson so much. I learned so much!”  (Avelynn)

“No. I need my own Bible for this.” (Ezra, when I offered to share my Bible with him.)

“There’s just one good thing about not being a Christian. You could play in the water park.”  (Ezra) —Then we had a long talk about how Christians can play in water parks if people are not undressed. …And how there are NO good things about not being a Christian.)

 “Wait! I need my different money to give to God. That bag is for the missionary.” (Maggie)

“Today we will be singing ‘Jesus Loves the Little Children.’”  (Ellis—in front of 200 people who sang fervently with him.)

“We are going shopping in the big Hall. I hope I find a doll that’s a Bible person.” (Maggie)

“I love PTP. It’s just that all this many people are kind of hard.” (Maggie)

“But I knew all of those answers. I think something is wrong with the buzzer. Yeah, that’s it.”  (Ezra-after Bible Bowl)

“Look Mammy! Look! My teacher made me this book about all the stuff we learned!” (Colleyanna)

“My favorite part of PTP? The carnival!!” (both Ezra and Colleyanna)

“I Low you. You in my haht.”  (Eliza Jane…to everybody)

If you didn’t notice, all these particular quotes are from people ten and under. We could posit, that they might be the most impacted for His glory, by PTP. They, generally, have a longer span left to make this impact. They are uninhibited in influencing others for the Lord. They are the most moldable people there. They are the least hardened in their hearts. They are, in short, amazing catalysts for much good in the church.

So, special thanks to Drew Hudgens, Celine Sparks, Billy Hayes, Tammy Bear, Chelsea Jones and all the teachers and moms and volunteers who opened this important window of learning to so many children. I’m sure I’m leaving out some folks, but that’s the thing about these people. Not one of them is about credit!  They are each about His glory! (One or two teachers even got locked in their classrooms after all the children had left. These are some teachers who are “locked in” to this teaching opportunity!) 

And, if all this good can potentially come from just one aspect of the big Polishing the Pulpit conference, how much eternal good could result from the entire program each year?  And, can Christians double that influence by the addition of another PTP in Branson next year? Jehovah is the God of MORE (Ephesians 3:20)!

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

PTP…It’s a Wrap! (Really!…a blanket of His Providence…)

Posted on August 26, 2022

Some of the finishers!

Kaitlyn!

Presentation by Eric Owens

Polishing the Pulpit is finished for 2022. Every year when we are packing our vehicles to return to Huntsville it seems a blur, as if we stepped out of our vehicles and then seven or so days were fast forwarded—compacted into a few hours—and, just like that, it’s over. This is the year we needed it more than ever before. We went there very tired (sick parents, the stress of the struggles that characterize living in this world, the heartaches of the devil’s work about us, workloads that were formidable.) God’s amazing providence in placing us in a family has never been more clear to us. (Some events of His providence are not necessarily evidenced in the moment. Our placement in a large family of His children, rather than going Christianity alone, IS manifest Providence!) The church is, foremost, an unspeakable vehicle for our salvation. It is, secondly and importantly, His blanket of comfort as we travel though the wilderness on the way to the eternal promised land. We were wrapped in that comfort as we experienced PTP 2022. His blanket, for us, was palpable. We are so very thankful to the Father that we get to be a tiny part of this program that is an immunity boost for those who are determined to avoid the infection of sin in our world. Lessons by Hiram Kemp, Eric Owens and Rebekah Colley were among the most strengthening for me this year. I’m so thankful for the thumb drive containing the lessons I did not get to hear! 

Speaking of comfort, I hope you are getting ready to study the topic we need so much in 2022! It’s here and it officially kicks off on September 1st. I hope you can invite others. I am absolutely positive—I can promise— that, if you study along, you will find blessings in whatever it is that’s causing pain, sorrow, confusion and/or dissonance in your world today. You can find your materials here: www.thecolleyhouse.org/store. Remember, there’s a free download of the study at that spot. One highlight of PTP, for me, is the recognition of finishers (the ones who are present) of the previous study. This year we had about 35 women present who had completed every reading assignment, every question, every practical assignment, and every podcast. (Did anyone get an exact count? I need to re-watch.) This is an estimated minimum of 120 hours of digging!  Ladies don’t do this kind of study for recognition. They do it for reconciliation to the God of all Comfort; for the redemption that instructs them to make their calling sure! I’m so thankful for these diggers!

If you want to study along, there’s an introductory video pinned to the top of the facebook page called Digging Deep in God’s Word. You need to join the group and watch that. It is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/diggingdeepingodsword/permalink/5194568583891134.  You can also find it here, if you are not on facebook: https://thecolleyhouse.org/digging-deep-introduction-video?fbclid=IwAR1YnhHospghdKRzNCXe7iHkE2y4pE5-FVxrVaRF7AotZCHQMrx0c6BZifc. 

There are lots of women who can help you, if you get stumped along the way, especially if you are in the facebook group. It’s full of helps and questions and tips and tutorials through the year. If you’re an old pro digger and you’ve taken a digging hiatus during the chaotic Covid time, now is the time to jump back in. September 1st is always a great new beginning for spiritual goals and glory!

I’m ready!

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Need a little comfort? (Or a lot?)…

Posted on August 22, 2022

Digging Deep is all about that this year!

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene. I do wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned and unclean. 

I stand amazed at the beauty of praises of hundreds of Christians. I stand amazed at the great consolation that flows through these hallways between Christians who have longed to be together again after a three year PTP hiatus. I stand amazed at the depth of the material being presented from the Word this week. I stand amazed at the spiritual growth that’s palpable in the zeal and the evangelism stories I am hearing. Among those are many diggers who are evangelizing using Digging Deep. I heard about seven baptisms in one area of the country due to a digger reaching out with the study.  Nine Tanzanian women were finishers this year. And the study is currently being translated for our Spanish speaking communities. I am thankful to the One who is worthy of all glory for any meager human efforts. I praise Him! 

I’m thankful for the reception you’ve given the new study. Now is the time to invite and encourage. Is there one friend you could ask to accompany you on this year’s study journey? The comfort is only for those who are in Christ. Can you offer it to someone in need through an invitation to study along? 

I’m praying hard for this year’s study. I know He can do more than we ask or imagine. But he lets even small people like me be the conduit for His power in lives. I know there can be souls secured for heaven through the study this year if we will but invite. 

Remember the introductory/instructional video is at the top of the facebook page called “Digging Deep in God’s Word.” Contact me if I can be praying about any contact you are making for Bible study. All materials are available in the store at www.thecolleyhouse.org. Don’t forget there’s a FREE download of the study materials. 

And don’t forget to pray for the success of Digging Deep. Success equals souls in heaven.

If you can share this post, it might mean something good to some soul.