Just humor me a bit

A bit of time on my hands this afternoon.  Dinner is on the stove and in the crockpot, where would I be without my crockpot!  Waiting for Eddie to get home from work and John from workouts.  I'm not big on a quiet house but it's the only time I don't feel guilty for getting on the laptop so I thought I would creep in here for a few.  I trust you all had a great Thanksgiving.  Ours was FULL of God's goodness.  I found myself especially thankful this year with some things we had been through as a family during the year.  Last year Mom was getting out of the hospital right before Thanksgiving and not feeling very well.  Dad had a heart attack this past summer so I was ever more thankful to spend those days with him.  I don't take anything or anyone for granted like I probably did at one time in my life.  Oh well, refusing to get sappy but thought I'd pass along some pics from our time together.  These are the people I hold most dear and love the very best in the whole world!!

Monday Morning Perspective

There's a huge part of me that hates to see the IT series end!!  It's had such a life changing effect on me, whether it's been encouraging or challenging, whether it's stomped on my toes or put passion in my heart.  However, it ended with a super bang!!  Eddie closed it out with a look at the conversion and life change of Saul.  He spoke of how God can save anybody and transform anybody.  God delights in turning our lives and our worlds upside down and that's where real living is.  What an awesome series IT was.  If you missed any of it, it would be well worth your time to watch online!!
My favorite of course was how we ended the service with the cross being carried in and the invitation to write whatever it is that's holding us back from living life on the higher level on a card and nailing it on that cross.  LOVED THAT.  The husband was on fire preaching and we got to nail our junk to the cross.  I hope you have accepted that challenge to live life on a higher level...it's worth whatever you have to give up!

Thanks be to God

Just a quick word since I've been asked why the lack of blogging lately.  I stopped in May because my kids were all coming home from college and my high schooler would soon be out for summer break.  I hate being fixated on a computer when my family is around, it seems like a poor use of time.  Besides that I knew summer would be a FULL schedule and especially this summer with the sabbatical happening. God quickly showed me what a blessing that would be this summer.  So many different things happened and most of the time they were deeply personal things.  Other times God just seemed to speak and show off and it was meant just for us and not for sharing.  He's revealed so much of why that was over the past few months.  He did so much in all of our family's lives during the summer and sabbatical.  He gave us a renewed vision and purpose.  He gave new passions and mercies.  He overwhelmed us with His goodness as we walked through my Dad's heart attack and recovery.  He bonded this family together more than ever and I didn't even think that was possible to be bonded any more.  The fall turned into such a busy time for God to work in all areas of our church and we were convinced more than ever that He is alive and well and working in us and through us.  What purpose we have when we serve Him and stay out of His way.  I encourage you that when you feel those little nudges or that still small voice from Him, listen to Him!  So many times we miss out because we are too busy and there's too much noise around us and distractions vie for our time and attention.  I've enjoyed so much getting back to this with the Monday Morning Perspective and as God nudges to do more I will.
Let me say a huge Happy Thanksgiving to all!!  We all have so much to be thankful for.  I am overwhelmed with His goodness!!  Hug your family a little bit tighter when you're with them.  Talk sweetly of others and don't give way to being critical or cynical.  Take every opportunity Jesus gives to share Him with others.  Don't sacrifice your time with Him daily, stay in the Word this holiday season and let Him multiply your time as we all get busy.  Be Thankful!
I Chronicles 16:8...Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
2 Corinthians 2:14... But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Just a quick word since I've been asked why the lack of blogging lately.  I stopped in May because my kids were all coming home from college and my high schooler would soon be out for summer break.  I hate being fixated on a computer when my family is around, it seems like a poor use of time.  Besides that I knew summer would be a FULL schedule and especially this summer with the sabbatical happening. God quickly showed me what a blessing that would be this summer.  So many different things happened and most of the time they were deeply personal things.  Other times God just seemed to speak and show off and it was meant just for us and not for sharing.  He's revealed so much of why that was over the past few months.  He did so much in all of our family's lives during the summer and sabbatical.  He gave us a renewed vision and purpose.  He gave new passions and mercies.  He overwhelmed us with His goodness as we walked through my Dad's heart attack and recovery.  He bonded this family together more than ever and I didn't even think that was possible to be bonded any more.  The fall turned into such a busy time for God to work in all areas of our church and we were convinced more than ever that He is alive and well and working in us and through us.  What purpose we have when we serve Him and stay out of His way.  I encourage you that when you feel those little nudges or that still small voice from Him, listen to Him!  So many times we miss out because we are too busy and there's too much noise around us and distractions vie for our time and attention.  I've enjoyed so much getting back to this with the Monday Morning Perspective and as God nudges to do more I will.
Let me say a huge Happy Thanksgiving to all!!  We all have so much to be thankful for.  I am overwhelmed with His goodness!!  Hug your family a little bit tighter when you're with them.  Talk sweetly of others and don't give way to being critical or cynical.  Take every opportunity Jesus gives to share Him with others.  Don't sacrifice your time with Him daily, stay in the Word this holiday season and let Him multiply your time as we all get busy.  Be Thankful!
I Chronicles 16:8...Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
2 Corinthians 2:14... But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Monday Morning Perspective

I knew this was going to be good and IT didn't disappoint.  What a word!!!  It seems like a basic of the Christian faith, how we treat others, yet it's so difficult at times whether we are in kindergarten or a much more mature season of life.  It is definitely one of those areas we have to be INTENTIONAL about and can make the difference in whether we live on the HIGHER LEVEL or not.
I think it was so important how Eddie started out challenging us to really think about why we are the recipients of persecution.  Is it something I'm bringing on myself or is it because of my testimony in Christ?  I think we are so quick to dismiss any responsibility from ourselves and we probably shouldn't be.
My favorite part was how Eddie reminded us of David and the opportunities he had to take revenge himself.  Also about the attitude of James and John wanting to call down fire to wipe people out.  My oh my is that not so like us? I'm so thankful that Jesus doesn't always take that approach or I would have been one of those crispy critters many times in my life.
A very relevant thought was left with us as Eddie pointed out different ways to deal...retaliate or bury it? Neither is healthy!!  Oh how we need to allow God to heal our hearts, wounds never go too deep that He can't reach them and if we in the words my husband loves and his famous counseling advice for any situation, "take it all to the cross" we will be a healthier people empowered to live life on the HIGHER LEVEL!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!  Enjoy the blessings He so freely gives us all!!!

Monday Morning Perspective

I seriously can't get enough of  IT!!  Romans 12 is becoming my favorite chapter in the scriptures.  Eddie is bringing it to life and I love it!  It also thrills me that every sunday night with our younger ones in bible study someone always brings up something from the message and how it relates to the study we are in.  You girls are connecting it all together and I LOVE that and I LOVE YOU!!
My favorite was definitely the ending when he talked about Jesus sharing His heart and what was important to Him and we looked at that in John 13 and 17.  Jesus was greatly concerned with how we treat others.  Our most powerful witness is our love for one another.  Being a part of that authentic community and doing life together is where it's at.  The credibility of Christianity would rise and fall on how we treat others.  We don't want division and superficial relationships like the world has.
We follow up this message on transforming our relationships next week as we look at how our relationships should look with the difficult relationships of life...I can't wait.

Monday Morning Perspective

Another WOW moment yesterday...I was completely overwhelmed to see our people move out and take the "gold" cards promising to outreach to those in our community who are unchurched!!  You totally blessed my heart.  All ages represented filing out of the pews grabbing those cards!!!  I'm praying not only those we outreach to but also those doing the outreach would be so blessed by it that they catch the fever to do it more and more.  That's what it's all about as the church reaches out and loves on those who most need to see the church DO church and BE church.
Ok now for the message...
This is one series I know I will hate seeing wrapped up.  So much seemed to be pouring forth from Eddie's heart and it was so real and so engaging I could hardly stand it.  To know that we are essential no matter our gift or our role was put before us that noone could have left feeling like they were insignificant to God or His church.  I was doubly blessed last night as I was able to hear our college age girls talk about how they see their part in all of it and how the IT messages have touched not only them but their much younger siblings and their parents.  Praise God He is getting to all ages with His Word.  What a God we are so privileged to serve.