The Greatest Gift

I loved reading Heather's idea of the greatest gift ever over at But Mom Said

and now it is my turn in this bloggy chain to let you all know what I think is the greatest gift.

If you know me..then you read my blog! ha!

No really...if you know me then you know that I love going to church. I love being involved in my church...

so as soon as i read the Greatest Gift Ever was our topic for this blog chain....

first thing that came to my mind was

Jesus

What better gift could you ask for...than for someone to lay thier life down for you so that you may have forgiveness when you mess up....and mess up ...and mess up again?

He didn't just lose his life...it wasnt a quick thing...

he was ridiculed

he was beaten

he was whipped

he bled

he cried

he pleaded with God

he didn't want to

who would?

but he did

because not our will be done

but God's will be done!

He did

for us

to live

live a life that is pleasing to God

through all that

.... not a bone was broken....because nothing is broken on my God...he is PERFECT!

He knows what he is doing

He knows me

my secrets

my joys

my fears

my failures

He heals me

restores me

treasures me

comforts me

That is what I call a gift.

and I couldn't ask for a better one.

Now ...head on over to Margaret's blog The World As I See It to see what she thinks is her Greatest Gift!
Have a great day!

Domestic Violence ... Never Again

I was blog hopping around...and came across this one ....i have never seen it before...but what a wonderful poem it had on there...i urge you to go read it.

October is not only the month of Breast Cancer Awareness..which is really close to my heart because my grandma was taken from me at the age of 52 because of breast cancer...and you really don't know how YOUNG that is until you grow up...so there is another post coming with breast cancer information...but October is also the month of Domestic Violence.

I know a few girls that have been a victim of Domestic Violence..and I know that it is hard to go through. I am a believer that love is blind. When you really love someone..you can't see reality..you can't see what is wrong and right. You just feel like you are always wrong...and somehow if you would quit making your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend mad..then they would quit being mean to you..
but i am here to tell you..that it is not your fault!

If your relationship is abusive...physically, mentally, emotionally...you can get out..and it will get better.

The one thing that I think gets overlooked is that Domestic Violence isn't always against women. In 100 domestic violence situations approximately 40 cases involve violence by women against men. An estimated 400,000 women per year are abused or treated violently in the United States by their spouse or intimate partner. This means that roughly 300,000 to 400,000 men are treated violently by their wife or girl friend.




For more information see http://www.dvmen.org/

So in all cases...domestic violence should stop...

and stepping out of the normal shell for a minute...if you read your Bible ..you have obviously read the things that our God can do. He created this world...he can destroy it. He has before with a flood....we all need to get our act together...or I hate to say it..but when our God comes back..it ain't gonna be pretty. Our God is a God of love...but he is also a God of judgement....some I think forget that.

Put yourself in his shoes for just a moment..you create this wonderful masterpiece of Earth...you create the people..and everything in it...you give them LIFE...and now some of the very people you breathed life into turn thier backs on you...hating each other...hitting each other.....disgracing your Name....

I would be utterly ticked off!

and I pray that I am good and gone ...rejoicing and singing HOLY HOLY when his wrath takes place.


Now i want to take a minute and have everyone think about the little things they are thankful for...not the big things..those count too....like your job, family, house....but the little things...like my magazine subscription...dr pepper...etc.

can you get to 1000?
1000 things you are thankful for....
I have actually tried this before..but never finished it..and I think with this being an awareness month ...it would be a good time to try again..and even if you don't finish..it is nice to look back at all the little things that really matter that you might not otherwise notice.

1. dr pepper
2. magazine subscriptions
3. chairs with padding
4. quick supper ideas
5. preschools that you trust
6. hand sanitizer
7. ponytail holders
8. a good pair of comfy PJ pants!
9. the automatic shut off on my flat iron
10. the warm setting on my stove




 

Why would you opt out to teach a child about Jesus?

if you don't know ...I am a preschool teacher...i have been for six years...not in the same place...i worked at a preschool with a boss....well let's just stop there because our last sunday school lessons was about being positive....
so .......i ........... am ..............thinking............positive
moving on
At the preschool where i work now...we go to chapel everyday....but on thursday we go to Brother Ronnie's (changed the name just in case). The kids look forward to this all week.
I teach two and three year olds...and they talk about it all week...until thursday finally gets here.
We sing songs...have fun...Bro Ronnie does a trick...we watch a movie...pray...and at the end they all get a treat! woo hoo! the kids love it!

Let me mention that my classroom is upstairs...and brother ronnie chapel is downstairs.

Again...don't forget that i have 12 two and three year olds.

Today...as usual...at our chapel time we walk downstairs to head over to bro ronnie chapel and i get stopped to find out that brother ronnie was not there today.

From what i hear..he doesn't call...or let anyone know that he isn't going to be there...we just have to ask around and find out for ourselves BEFORE we take 12.....yes....12 two and three year olds down a flight of stairs!!!!!

Kids are smart...they know schedules....they know when it is time to go to brother ronnie chapel....they want to know why we aren't today...why he didn't show up...is he sick...did he get a time out?

how do i answer.....uh.....he was just to busy today to teach you about Jesus?
um
no..
that doesn't sound good...
but what was the reason? Why would you schedule to do a chapel every thursday with a bunch of kids ...then bail on your responsibility. I know things happen...

The only reason i am writing this now is because i heard all last year...when i was just observing..that he done this all the time...and i can tell that alot of the teachers who have been there for a while...gets very aggrevated at this whole situation of him not showing up and not knowing when or when not to go downstairs with your whole class of children.

I know..of course he has his side of the story..which is completely understandable..i am just writing from what happened today with no notice and the behavior of my co workers.

For alot of kids...the chapel they go to in our preschool..is the only opportunity that they get to hear about Jesus...why would you opt out of teaching a child about Jesus?

I talk about Jesus to my students All Day Long! When we do colors, shapes, sing our ABC's ..whatever we are doing..I somehow incorporate Jesus into our day..all day. Whether it be we sing loud so Jesus can hear our praises...or we pray before everything to thank Jesus...we ask Jesus to watch over us at night so that we can all come back to school the next day and play...
whatever it is ...

I see no reason good enough to not jump on the chance to tell a little child about Jesus....

The kids you see today aren't our future....they are our present...and what we do in the present to these little minds...will shape our future...we can't just sit around and wait for our kids to grow older and hope that they can make our world better...we need to instill the values of our Lord in them now...raise them in the ways of the Lord now...they when they get older...the will not depart from it...
that is the ONLY thing that is going to make our world better....

Why I met my husband...

The past few Wednesdays at church we have been having prayer meetings...
We go to church...sing...then we take prayer requests....
we turn the lights down...turn some relaxing worship music on...
and find a place to pray

Just you...and God...
talking....listening

I have thoroughly enjoyed these prayer meetings...and I feel like I have gotten alot out of them.
I honestly never thought I would..so I am a little suprised.

To share with you a little of my past...
When I was a little girl...my mom and dad never TOOK me to church...it was MY decision to go. I went to the First Baptist church...

it was the biggest in our little town of 200 people
all my friends went there
they had a summer camp that was awesome
they went on field trips..
and had fun..

but what do you expect when a 10 year old picks out a church..

I wasn't exactly looking for doctrine at that age...

So all my life I have been taught about the Trinity and God not caring what you wear just go to church...how women are to be silent in church......

OK...fast forward a few decades...

When I met my husband..I wasn't going to church..I was to busy being **21**  (woohoo!)

So when we decided to get serious...and started the talk about having a family..I told him I want my children to be raised in church...I wasn't and made that decision myself..and I know that God tells you that if you raise a child up in the name of the Lord..when they get older they will not depart from it. And the way this world is...we need Jesus!

The Baptist church where we live now is SO HUGE..that I actually got lost trying to go to the worship center. It is like a college with different buildings...it felt like I was a stranger...I didn't like it.
My husband's family goes to a United Penecostal Church.
What?
Wow!
I didn't know if I could handle that...or turn from my ways and solely accept thiers.

But my first time there...I felt so welcomed...so loved....it was so inviting...
and my first service there I felt the Lord...and realized that it didn't matter what building you were in ...Jesus was everwhere....
So I knew that God knew how confused I was...but I was trying.

and to this day (yes we are back to the present) I am still trying...
There are a few things...that have changed my thinking...

like the Trinity...
I no longer believe in that...
I believe that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is all one thing.

Like I am me, and Lyla is me, and my soul is me
All Me!

I believe that you need to be baptized "in Jesus name for the remission of your sins"
Acts 2:38 tells you plain as day

............and throughout these prayer meetings.....
I have come to realize that the reason I met my husband is so that I would find that church...because there is no way that i would be living in the town i am...going to that church if I hadn't met him.

And my husband and I will talk all the time about how many places we have been in the past...together...but never noticed each other. So crazy!

So it makes me really feel that I have met the ONE that I am supposed to be with on this journey of life.

Our last prayer meeting on Wednesday ...I was praying and just stopped to listen ....I didn't know what I was listening for...or if I would fall asleep...but I started thinking...and thoughts just kept popping in my mind...
like...
if I was walking down my sidewalk...and someone noticed me...would they know as soon as they seen me..that I believe in God.
as hard as that is to answer ...No
Why?
because if you think about it....
if you see a woman in a skirt...with long hair...no make up....
what do you think?
She is Pentecostal. And we all know...that Penecostals "get with it"
They worship...like no other religion I have seen in my life!

When you see a Pentecostal woman ...you know that she believes in God...and that she is a praying woman....
if you have a need...get her to pray with you...

There have been many people just walk up to my mother in law and ask her where she goes to church because they are looking for somewhere to go...just because of what she wears...

and I know this is going to be hard for me...and I really don't wanna do it....I have had all these feeling before...I wrote not to long ago about this same situation here but I am feeling God tug at me....when I wear jeans and a Tshirt....I look like everyone else in this world....I don't want to be OF THIS WORLD...I want this world to know that I plan on seeing Jesus one day!

I want people to know that I am a Godly person....

And if you know me..you know that by all means I am NOT a dressy person...
at all!

So this is going to be hard..and I am going to have to lean on God....alot!

But I feel like if I stepped out in faith and did what God is asking of me..that he will do amazing things through me!
and that is worth it all!

hmm...
just my thought before i go to bed...

How Cool is this?

First of all I have to tell you all..I SLEPT ALL NIGHT LONG!

We went up to my mom's house last night and when it was time to go...baby starting screaming to stay with her nanny...so mom told me to let her stay the night...last night was my first night without her in a while...a long while...so i worried a little ..until i fell asleep!

So this morning...while hubby is still sleeping..whom i am mad at right now by the way...i got up to play on the computer ...while surfing around I found Wordle.net

It is supercute! Expect many of these wordles from me...i love them!

Here is one that was in the gallery that i thought was fantastic...it is the Beatitudes from the Bible....I love it...I plan on printing it out and giving it as a Christmas present....or I could totally scrapbook something like this...oh what a great idea!

Thanks Wordle!

well it wouldn't let me post it...says the "tag" was broken....but anyway here is a link to it.

The Beatitudes

We are the Body ..Week 3

This is week number 3 in doing our Bible Study on how we are a part of the Body of Christ.

Today we talked about how we get in situations where we are so fed up that we just DONE..and we are ready to check out!

I know I have been there...more than once! and I know that there will be more occasions where I will want to check out....but I won't...because whatever situation I am in..God put me there for a reason...so i will hold on to his Name and get through it with the strength of God.

Whatever door God puts in front of me...I am not only going to walk right through it..I am going to run..with everything I have because I know that whatever is on the other side of that door is straight from the presence of God. Who wouldn't want to see that...to feel that???

We had an awesome sermon from a preacher Sunday night that preached about God opening a door for you...and to go through it.
But we have to remember...God can open those doors that no man can shut...not even the Devil...yes...even Satan can not shut the door that God has open...but God can shut it. So don't waste your time...don't waste the blessings he is willing to give to you...he is stretching his hand down as far as he can ...all you have to do is pray and grab a hold!

God, I pray that when you open a door for me..that I know it is you...and that I run with all my might to wherever you want me to go and do whatever it is that you want me to do. Praise be to you!

.....ok so i kinda got off the subject...

I'm back...

This week we are to remember that if can't be with the one we love...Jesus....to love the one's we are with....your husband, your children, your nieghbor, the lady at the grocery store..everyone.

We are to make a list of the people that we are closest to and make a list beside each one on ways to show them that we love them.....

That will be what I do before I go to bed tonight...but I am thinking maybe some "thinking about you" scrappy cards!!!

Feel Free to join in the Bible study....we have quite a few more weeks to go!
It is over At the Well...join in!

Sunday Seven

seems like i have been so busy that i haven't had time to blog..i have had to catch up on America's Got Talent...ate with family ...did some laundry...and scrapped a little bit.

So I am making time for my blog right before i go to bed....

1. it just started down pouring...it has been thundering and lightning for a while now...i like storms...when my husband is home with me.

2. church was amazing today...God really moved...two great sermons...A. stop just being smoke..and start blasting away for God...B. When God opens a door...run through it with everything you have cause on the other side is the presence of Jesus!

3. I wanna go fishing

4. I need to go visit my dad

5. I am cleaning up my scrappy room and making it suitable to actually craft in...i am feeling the mojo

6. I found a good list that I need to focus on... God first, husband second, children third, family and friends fourth, housecleaning fifth, voluntering when you have time....sometimes i get those all confused!

7. My goal this week is to pray like i have never prayed before and see what happens...i want to hear from God..to know that he is there with me...maybe to hear what he wants me to do ...

I am blessed.

Today at work I answered the phone and a man was on the line.


He immeadiately started to rattle off that he had three kids..his wife had left...one of his kids is an infant...two of them are sick and need to go to the doctor but he has no car...he doens't know how to pay bills and at the moment they had nothing to eat...he said he had no where else to turn.



I work at a preschool in a church. I love being in God's setting. Being able to teach children about Jesus..because these children will be our future.



When I answered that phone call today I was reminded the bad part of working at a church. The stories of people in need. It breaks my heart. It makes you want to go to your house and gather up all your food and just cook them one big meal!But I have no idea who that man was...or where they live.



And now a days ..it is kinda scary to do something nice for someone else because you never know when you are going to get yourself in trouble.



The rest of the day...I have thought and thought about just how blessed I am.



I am 25...and I have more than I ever imagined I would have at 25.



My husband and I own our own home...we have a wonderful and healthy little girl...two dogs...cable...internet...nice furniture...I have scrapbooking stuff...my husband has hunting stuff...and we go out to eat....etc.



All of that is God's work...a blessing from God.



I love those little moments that just put you in check and make you think just how good you got it.
 
A few more blessings to add my list:
24 my house
25 my job
26 my cable tv
27 my internet and computer
28my furniture
29 my scrapbooking supplies
30going out to eat
31 lyla's toys
32 electricity
33 plumbing
34transportation
35insurance
 
 
i know they are just simple things..but they are BIG things if you don't have them

Will I be remembered?

I forgot to do this study ...so I am doing it now..because i want to make a point to do them all!

Over At the Well they are having a bible study about being a part of the body of Christ...

Today's question was..How do you want to be remembered when your gone?

This is hard to answer for me...because I don't like to think of :when i'm gone:
When I'm gone...will my husband be OK.....will my daughter be OK.....will my husband have the faith and strength to carry on and take care of our family....how about my little brother whom I think of as son....how will our finances be?

I just don't like to think about it...
but saying that I live a long and full loving life...when I die of old age...I would like to be remembered as a GREAT momma, a wonderful and caring preschool teacher who had fun and laughed at everything!
I want to be remembered as a woman that was a NO HOLDS BACK kind of woman in praising her God. I want to be remembered as the woman who could feel the Holy Spirit in Wal Mart in the middle of grocery shopping.
I want to be remembered as a good friend...always there for people...helped wherever I could...did good things....

of course I will have mistakes..but I pray that my good doings will supercede my bad things.

So that is how i want to be remembered...

now it says to make a list of all that I just listed and started trying to be the person I want to be remembered as.........
How do you want to be remembered?

Vigilant Wives

So today ...before work..I had a few minutes to blog read...which is so relaxing..I need to work that into my morning routine..I love just sitting and reading in the mornings...

Anyway...I seen that The Vigilant Wives Club blog made a post and it reminded me to do something for Gregg....

I know that we are supposed to do something to show them we are submissive...or to enourage them..or blah blah...

but here lately I have had the feeling that is HARD to talk to my husband...I don't know if it that I don't feel comfortable enough to talk to him..or that he is working all the time and I can't find any time to talk to him...i don't know what it is...so this morning after reading the Vigilant Wives...I decided that I would quickly write my husband a letter shortly stating that I feel like I can't talk to him..and it hurts my feelings that he is my best friend and my confindant...and I can't confide in him..or get his advice..which here lately I have really been needing...

I have been asking and praying to God to let me know whether or not I need to start wearing skirts.

I was raised in a Baptist church..but started going to a United Pentecostal Church with my husband and his family..and God has told me that the reason I met my husband was to find this church and to build a strong family that could withstand anything the devil had throw against us.

I solely belive that if we got together as a family and truly worshipped the Lord with everything we had we could do major things in our church...but my husband as well as I ....just haven't dove in.
I don't know why....Earthly things I guess...

But Earthly things don't matter
They just fade and shatter

I have been told over and over that the reason all the Pentecostal women wear skirts was because God convicted them for one reason or another to wear skirts...whether it was not to be OF the world....Not to look like a man...or just to please God...My mother in law strictly wears skirts so that people will know that she is Pentecostal...because you would be amazed at how many people have started coming to our church because they asked my mother in law if she was Apolstolic by the way the dressed.
crazy huh?

So my one and only complex....well two....on this wearing the skirt thing...is

1. I work at a preschool...so needless to say that can be rough..in a skirt...with two year olds all day...but none the less...it can be done...

2. I wonder if Gregg will still find me attractive.....Pentecostal women seem to forget about themselves...and focus solely on God...which is amazing..but I still want my husband to be attracted to me.

Anyway...I don't know how I got on this subject...but for my post today on being a Vigilant Wife...I let my husband know how I felt.

At the well....We are the Body

Over At the Well...they are having a Bible Study called We Are The Body.

It is all about us learning what our part is ...and how to put it into action.

Todays subject was about accountability.

Do you have a friend that will keep you accountable?

I used to ...I worked with her..but now we have gone our seperate ways...we still talk but not as much as we used to.

I went to work this morning looking and asking God to show me what I needed to work on in my life since I really have NO one to keep me accountable.

And lo and behold...just like an old friends..God told me ...
1. I could be a little more joyous to my husband
2. I could focus a little more on reading my bible during my hour lunch break when I have nothing to do
3. I need to work on my patience...with everyone...actually my patience is fine..it is the devil tempting my patience and making me over react
4. I could start relying on God a little more....he is the Comforter...the Healer...the Protector..A Friend..A Father...He will take care of me..He is there to talk to ....He will give me anwers and advice when I need it.
5. Do what I can for my church...including paying tithes....

Isn't it wonderful how Jesus can be just like a friend you can just sit down and talk to ...You are never alone when you are a child of God...

He is never against you ...He is always for you....And if God is with you...who can be against you...He is the God of all Gods...
Which means if Buddah needs a miracle...he goes to God...
Jesus is the only wise God....which means all those other Gods are dumb gods..and I don't wanna worship a dumb god...I want to serve the only wise God!!!

Thank you Jesus!!

Nevertheless, not my will; but thine be done!

The past few days at my church we have had a mini..(scratch that MAJOR)...kinda unplanned spontaneous revival.
I love that about my church...they go with what they feel. Whatever God tells them to do..not matter how dumb it may seem to other people or how crazy it may seem to us..if God it telling you to do it...then do it!
We had an evangelist come in and preach to us on Saturday night about HIS JESUS. His Jesus...Jesus that was born in a stinky stable...to save us all. Today would you think some poor woman who had a kid in a stinky horse stable..would be the kid that would save your life? I don't think so. The Jesus that walked up in a graveyard and said ..Lazurus...Come to me...and raised him from the dead. THE DEAD??? I know we have heard this and heard this...many many times..and most of us could probably repeat the scripture. But what we have to realize is that the blood that was shed on the very day they nail MY SAVIOR to the cross ...is the same blood that covers me today. His blood back then healed the blind...the deaf...the dead!! And his blood can do all that today! It is just the same...Jesus is the same...today...yesterday...and forever.
Our problem is ...we have to believe it will be done! I am the first to say I am a skeptic about everything...so the reason my BIG prayers haven't been answered...it because I don't believe God will do it for me. Now I do! Thanks to Brother Mahaney!

In Luke 22:42 Jesus was telling God...You know I don't I don't to be naked...made fun of..humilated, whipped, nailed to a cross, suffocate to death, beaten, bruised, chastised!! So please God..take this from me...

Here is the scripture:
Saying Father if thou be willing remove this cup from me Nevertheless not my will but thine be done.

What I think now..thanks to our revival...is that Jesus looked further down the years and seen me and you and all our family and friends on this very day and seen that we need to be saved...the way this world is going...and they crazy things that are going on...we need JESUS.
He went through all of that ..for us! for me!

That is amazing...you know the story...you can recite it by heart...but really sit down and think about it...research what a real cruicifixion....it is horrible horrible death.
He wasn't beaten to death..he suffocated...because the way you are nailed the cross...your lungs can take in air..but it can't exhale air. So Jesus would have to put all his wieght on the nails on his feet to reach up to breathe...and to his very last breath...he was doing it all for us!

THANK YOU JESUS!!

A miracle

I know I have wrote this on other blogs I have had..and I know it is bad that I have jumped and jumped blogs...but short story...Lyla had a heart murmur...later they thought it was something wrong with her valve
We prayed and prayed and the ultrasound tech told us that something divine touched her because nothing was wrong.
At our church we have a pile of rocks on both sides of our driveway...when a miracle happens we move one from the right side to the left side...
So this is Lyla moving her rock for her miracle...and ours! Hallelujah!

Back in the ol' days of church...

I just watched an amazing last episode of Grey's Anatomy...I am utterly exhausted but had to come check on my Hotel on Facebook..and of course wanted to see if anyone had updated thier blog. I am really getting into this blog world.

I came across one that I haven't ever been too called No.17 Cherry Tree Lane. The post I read was called Remember When...?
And she had a list of things that she remembered about going to church when she was a child and how things are way different now a days...
I love posts like this because it gets you thinking of how things were back in the ol' days.....

I just wanted to post a few things she had down...so that when I roam back through my posts..I will find this one and smile....





Growing up in church was much different when i was a kid
Kids these days don't experience church the way that I did. At least not in Southern Arkansas.


*Church had pews.
*Church had hymnals. That you actually sang from.
*The "band" was really your pastor playing the drums and two ladies on "vocals" with someone at the piano AND organ.
*Church lasted for more than an hour.
*In the Sunday school classrooms, kids sat and were quiet.
*Adults actually HAD Sunday school.
*I had to go to church every Sunday. Even if I didn't want to (I know! Amazing concept!).
*The "soundman" was the guy that set up the drums and turned on the mics. That's it.
*There were tamborines on every other pew that the congregation played while we sang.
*There were rules set by the pastor and they WERE followed..no questions asked.
*There was no fancy names for events. It was just church, Sunday school, youth group and family BBQ.
*No computers in the offices. Just yellow legal pads.
*We didn't have announcements. You just knew what was going on.
*The pastor didn't use a mic. He didn't need one.
*When you did communion, it was an actual meal and foot washing combined with the bread and the grape juice.
*When summer rolled around and kids camp was happening, EVERYONE in the church participated.
*Youth group meant hanging out in the basement, throwing balls at each other and drinking TANG. And it was cool.
*You didn't fool around during the sermon. EVER.
*There was always a cross hanging in the pulpit.
*Donuts were for the adults only. Don't steal the donuts.
*You sat with your parents in "big church". Not your friends.
*We sang the old hymns.
*The best crafts ever with sand, glitter, paints and glue.
*If a child was smartin' off to an adult, it was perfectly acceptable for another parent to scold him.
*You had respect for church. Dress and stockings EVERY Sunday.
*You weren't late.
*Small pencils lined the pews, next to the comment cards.
*The church office was always open and fun to visit.
*It was your family.

Is all the new stuff going on bad? No..

I wonder though....was it so wrong that we needed to change it all?

It reminds me of a saying I heard not to long ago ....
Sometimes we get so caught up in giving our kids what we didn't have that we forget to give them what we did have.

Tonight I had our Home Friendship Group over at my house. Home Friendship Group is just a group of people from our church that takes turns meeting at each other's houses for good food and a bible study. It is more of a relaxed environment ..where we can talk and eat and learn something about God without there being the pressure of what to wear to church or hoping the preacher don't call you out as a visitor and make everyone clap for you. I know that is how I felt when I first starting going to church. I just wanted to slip in...and see if I liked it. I didn't want to be adopted and then feel like I have a burden to fulfill..I just wanted to get my feet wet.

So anyway.........

Tonight I did an icebreaker...something to get everyone talking....about being in a plane crash and picking from a list of what you would take to try to survive. It was fun..I never knew Crisco shortening could be so useful!!! But I will now start to carry a little can of Crisco in my purse in case I am ever caught in the event of a plane crash.

Moving on.........

The topic for tonight was a "Friendly Invite" It pretty much just talked about how a friendly invite to church could possibly get that person into church..on fire for God..and that one person you invite could become a preacher or a missionary and save millions of people's lives. You never know what a person's purpose is in life according to God when you invite them to church.

This is one area...I know that I have been lacking in. Tonight I actually invited my friend I used to work with to Friendship Group..but seems like something else always comes up and she can't make it. I wonder if something would happen if she ever gave God a chance to really get ahold of her. She is such a committed person ...that once she grabs a hold of something ..she doesn't let go until she has gotten everything she wants from it. Could you imagine someone like that getting ahold of the Holy Spirit of God and taking off!!???? I would just love to be a spectator of something like that! So since she didn't come this week..I will invite her again next week. But I need to think of more people to invite. So....Lord....lay some people on my heart!

After the bible study we all just sat and talked a little bit about how we got into church...and where we would be if we hadn't found church...and what made us go to our particular church. Some of the stories were pretty amazing...and some were actually a suprise to me....for example ...my mother in law told us that when they were stationed here because my father in law was in the Army..they were fixing to get divorced...papers ready and everything....then they decided to find a church...and my father in law drove right up to our church and said this one is it. And they have been there ever since. But..my father in law isnt completely in church....

and by completely ..I mean ....I know he believes in God..and God heals...but he doesn't fully put himself out there for God to grab a hold of...on the other hand..my mother in law..is all in.

One thing...amongst many more...that I can say about my mother in law is that she is a Godly woman...no matter what is said or what happens...she remians steadfast in her faith! That is an inspiration to me. I know that whatever question I may have or problem that comes up....She is there to answer it or pray with me for an answer!! And that is a tremendous characteristic!!!

I had a good time tonight in Friendship Group and I thank God for everyone that comes and allowing us to have that great fellowship!

Have a blessed day..and watch out for all these storms....we are getting one right now that is calling for egg sized hail!

Great song over at New Nostalgia

New Nostalgia: "Start Somewhere-By Toby Mac
Last night, everything was movin' so fast
I could barely keep track
Oh, of my offenses or your defenses
In hindsight, I woulda, coulda, shoulda not gone there
But left without a word to spare
Was it your offenses or my defensiveness?

That's got me thinkin' that we're never gonna get it right
I wanna straighten this before the sun goes down tonight
If I could only fight the bitterness I feel inside
This thing is eatin' me alive

Well I'm right here
And you're right there
And God knows we've got to start somewhere
Cause I'm messed up
And you're broken
And those shots we fired are still smokin'

I'm tossin' and turnin' on the things I'd undo
As I wrestle with the painful truth
Oh, my sleep escapes me as guilt berates me
Exhausted, the memories are drawing so near
I can see it like a world premiere
When did my objective lose all objectiveness?

If I need you, and you need me
How can you turn your back and just leave me?
When I'm right here, and you're right there
And God knows we've got to start somewhere

I said some things that I regret
And if I could, I'd take em back
If I could turn my words around
You wouldn't hear a sound

But here I am, and there you are
The space between us is not so far
I'm reaching out my hand in love
Before the fading sun, forgive me for what I've done"

This reminds me so much of me and Gregg right now. We have both said hurtful things and are trying to get over things that we both didnt mean to say to each other. I love this song!!! And I needed to read that. There have been many nights that Gregg and I have stayed up until dawn talking and trying to figure out why we are in the situation we are in. It always comes down to God testing us or Satan trying to test us but either way we have commited to not go to sleep until we settle whatever we are talking about.

Be angry, yet do not sin: do not let the sun go down upon your wrath.
Ephesians 4:26

Thanks Amy...I needed this!