This and That 2012, oh my!!

What an incredibly busy but fabulous time it has been over the past few weeks.  Christmas was a blast as we did much celebrating around here, lifting Jesus high and proclaiming His goodness and reclaiming His special day!  The time we spent away was refreshing and much needed. Very rarely do we take things in small doses and I have to say we all overdosed on laughter!!  There are some funny people around here and I'm talking bend over with the tears squirting out of your eyes and laughing just as hard later when it comes back to your mind.  I'm so glad God loves laughter and is the giver of much joy!!  Actually had one of those mornings and it was much needed!! Eddie and I are definitely sleep deprived at this point but honestly I don't think either of us are missing it.  Since the kids came home from school and John got out we have stayed up much too late at night just squeezing out every moment we have with them.  Only problem is they turn around and sleep til lunch and we are still up early.  Lack of sleep continued as we went with our MBC students to Passion 2012 with the cherry on top being that Michael and Chrissie brought their students and we got to worship along with them.  That's probably an entirely new blog post but just let me say I've been to many conferences, conventions, retreats, camps, call em what you want...never been to anything like Passion.  Many times I sat and just tried to grasp it and wrap my mind around it.  45,000 students ages 18-25 gathered to worship Jesus, and oh my soul, do they know how to worship. I'm talking wreckless abandon, don't care who's looking, kind of worship.  I was one big goosebump with my heart pounding so hard at times I wondered if I would survive.  I couldn't quit looking around thinking what a mighty force they are and if even a small fraction goes away with that much passion, what a work God will do.  Yes, I know it's a spiritual high time.  And there were probably those that were there last year on fire and fizzled out during the year deciding to cycle back into a stronghold of sin again just like I've seen many others do after spiritual high times.  But I know God's arms are long and He never lets go even if we try to get away.  I'm praying that each and every one will hold fast to what God did in their life last week and it will only be the beginning of what He is going to do in them and through them. Definitely a precious time that Eddie and I got to enjoy with all of our kids and our church kids who stay heavy on our hearts as well.
State of the Church was awesome.  If you're a MBC member, check it out online. EXCITING days ahead for us as a church!!  I've been about to burst waiting for Eddie to share it all! I have no idea the specifics of what 2012 holds for us as a church or as a family but I'm resting in His great love for us all and knowing that there won't be one moment we walk alone or celebrate alone.

A few pics added, hope you enjoy!

Monday Morning Perspective

We looked at heaven's view of Christmas in part 2 of Christmas in 3G...The Glory.
What an incredible way Eddie presented the Christmas story from heaven's perspective and reminding us that it didn't all begin in Bethlehem with Jesus being born.  John 1:1 explains the beginning and we took a deep look into how Jesus emptied Himself, took on limitations and came to earth.  Salvation really is the greatest gift of all!!  It is priceless.  It is permanent.  It is practical.  It heals our hurts.  It gives meaning and purpose.  It meets our every need.  What more could we want this Christmas? Don't leave the gift of salvation unopened and be willing to share it with others.
Merry Christmas to all from our family to yours!!

Monday Morning Perspective

Kicked off Christmas in 3G with The Grinch also known as Herod.  I'll give you some of my favorite points from the message...(btw parentheses are mine)...
...Herod was determined to kill off all of his competition (how often do we try similar things with those we compete against? We try to kill em off or tear them down with our words usually).
...God isn't taken by surprise by what happens here...and it's all public knowledge in heaven.
...God used the ordinary and sensible instead of the miraculous when he told Mary and Joseph to flee.
...Herod was insanely suspicious and paranoid (Lord have mercy, how often are we suspicious of others thinking the worst of them. May we realize how Herod-like we are when we act like that).
...I loved how Eddie pulled from Revelation (how the Word goes together from Genesis to Revelation!!).
...Remember in The Grinch cartoon and movie how Grinch thought all the Whos would be upset when all was taken but they still rejoiced and it led to the transformation of the Grinch himself??? (what a testimony we can be to others when we show them it's not the stuff, it's the Who Himself that makes Christmas Christmas!).  As Eddie said "it's never too late to be transformed even for a grinch.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!