Monday, April 28, 2008

Random



I have to admit...I really like/want random things for the most part. I saw this beautiful olive wood salt keeper. Do I need one ABSOLUTELY not...probably not... wait maybe I do...I know that it is just an infatuation but it sounds so nice...

Beautiful and unique, this box keeps a half-pound of cooking salt within close reach on your countertop. It’s from BĂ©rard, the French maker of fine wood products since 1892, and handcrafted from beautifully grained olive wood with an oiled finish. Because each one is carved from the branch of an olive tree, no two are alike and dimensions vary slightly. The salt keeper’s swiveling magnetic lid provides easy access with one hand; rubber feet hold the box steady while you grab a pinch. The stainless-steel hinge resists corrosion.

I went to Woman of Faith this weekend with about 20 woman from my church. It was awesome...I'll blog about that later.

Well I am suppose to be getting ready for a hugh meeting that I have tomorrow. So I better quit drooling over this wonderful olive wood salt keeper and get back to work. Hope you are all having a wonderful SPRING!!!! It's suppose to snow tonight. No I'm not kidding. We JUST opened our pool on Monday.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

At 32 another 1st!

It amazes me how fast weeks really do come and go when you grow up. Well I have to admit I didn't become a pro at Guitar Hero like I wanted to last week...I got sick. Brandie and he sisters arrived here on Thursday evening and I got sick with strep throat Friday morning. Except I didn't know what it was. I have never had strep throat. I got a sky high fever and broke out with at least 200 pimples on the back of my neck. I went to the dr on Monday and he said there was no doubt it was a bad case of strep. Thought it was kind of funny God chose to allow me to have a huge amount of pimples but he put them on the back of my neck. I couldn't see them or anything. I was too scared to pop them for the fear that they might spread.

Well its been a crazy busy week since then. We had encounter this weekend. Not all church's have it but it is a pretty powerful weekend for those who are ready. I of course was in charge of children. Shawn spoke and did a really good job from what I hear. After serving in weekends such as this it always excites me to see God moving in the lives of those who attend but there are times when I leave a weekend such as this asking begging for God tosweep me away in His arms where nothing matters and be refreshed in nothing else but His presence. Where there are no intruptions...just the ability to sit at His feet and lean back aginst him and SOAK in His presence. I am praying for a time such as that REALLY SOON!

Friday, April 11, 2008

It's offical


As I sit here in the cool morning air with my cup of coffee I have come to a realization... In case you were wondering what it was I absolutly possitivly SUCK at Guitar Hero!Brandie brought her two little sisters up here this weekend and they brought Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution. I don't mind admitting it. I do have to say it was pretty funny watching my play. The people on the TV were BOOING me and wanting to kick me off the stage, Gabbie kept saying "Please let me turn it on pratice for you then they won't boo you." After about the fourth try of Hit Me With Your Best Shot on easy I actually made through the entire song. YEAH ME!!! Well this weekend will be entirely devoted to becoming a pro at GH and DDR!!! I will let you know how it turns out.

Monday, April 7, 2008

A request for VBS...

And NO that is NOT a STD... Its VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!!! How many of you out there remember your childhood VBS experiences????? In preparations of this years VBS my wonderfully awesome coordinator came up with a list of prayer request to hand out to all our voulenteers...Thought i might ask you to pray as well.

VBS preparation:
-order & structure in preparing curriculum and classrooms
-favor in receiving supplies & donations
-RESPONSIBLE, spirit-filled adults to volunteer

Prepare volunteers:
-to minister to the childresn and their families
-to be patient, to show kindness and love to use wisdom
-to coorperate & to be courteous to church staff, VBS Directors, and other volunteers

Prepare the children:
-to receive Christ as their Savior
-to be excited about participating
-to take the love of Jesus home to their families

Prepare the Parents/Guardians:
-to send their child to VBS
-to be punctual in dropping off and picking up their children
-to witness & experience the love of Christ @ VBS

VBS Conclusion
-Salvation of chilren and their families
-Growth in families' relationships with Christ and each other
-REST for all church staff and volunteers

I would LOVE to hear about experiences that you had at VBS when you were a child. What do you wish they would have done or things that you HATED that they did. Its always intresting to me get a perspective of what we thought of as children.

7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Hard to take at times...

It has been so long since Shawn and I started trying to have babies that you'd think that I'd be use to all the "baby talk" around the church. It still sucks it sill hurts it still makes me want to cry. I usually do a fairly good job of holding it together,believing in God's promise for us but it wasn't that way tonight. I almost lost it about a dozen times. My heart hurts, and it hurts in a way that is unexplainable in words.

In the mist of this there are firsts...I've now been to my first OB appointment for a pregnancy. Today I have picked up my first prescription for prenatal vitamins and am preparing for my first ultrasound on Wednesday. I was so excited in the beginning now all I keep thinking is...That should be me. Why isn't that me? Yet I know my faith must remain strong...struggle sometimes.

Romans 4:20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Great Expectations

I have been praying and praying that God will give me an over all vision for the children's ministry at the church where I attend as well as work. I feel like God has said many things to me regarding His vision for this church. I don't feel like I have the over all vision for the children's ministry yet but God continues to speak in His still small way visions of certain aspects the children's ministry which gives me a different sense of excitement.

I started working at the church the end of May last year and went directly in to planning for VBS mid June. YES that is what you call diving in head first. Last years VBS went well for putting it together in matter of a month or so...but this years I know will be outstanding. Last year every step from preparation to cleaning up I heard God say "maintain and learn". This year I feel like God's saying "Obtain and don't refrain". I feel like He is saying "STOP putting me in a box. Your curriculum may come in a box but but I DON'T. Go outside the norm and teach these children how to reach for me when they learn how to reach for me that's when they will learn how to reach others with my love."

I LOVE working with children because they teach me so much and come expecting to be taught...WE should go to God that same way. When we come to Him come expecting Him to touch us talk to us hold us CHANGE us HE WILL. We have to be willing to have an expectant heart and mind. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matt 7:8 If we don't ask...if we don't ask with great expectations we are the ones missing out on God's blessings.

Please pray for our ever changing children's ministry at COL. We are growing changing and learning how to reach...to step outside the box and recreate where God has called us to be.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

So much bigger than me

There is a song by Pocket Full of Rocks that has continues to flood my brain. It called Bigger:

I try to put You in my little box. But You keep busting hinges and You keep picking locks. And I see a bigger picture, how small I really am...What's a man to do when he comes face to face with the divine When every part of me wants to run away and hide.

Shawn and I have been trying unsuccessfully now for 112 months to get pregnant. It would be easy to give up or to say that it isn't in "God's plan" for us to have a baby. If I'm being honest I am tempted at times to say that myself. God continues to bust through my box that I continually put him in unknowingly at times. There have been so many things running through my brain the past 10 years while preparing for this child that I know God has promised us, but for some reason I still have this underlying confidence that God really isn't a God that he should lie and that he WILL give me the desires of my heart...just on his time table.

The way God stretches me really hurts sometimes. The 20 year old staying at our house is about 5 months pregnant...She is just starting to show...She has felt the baby for a few weeks now but I am just now able to feel the baby. A single mom of soon to be two little precious gifts from God...I have never wanted to run and hide as much as I do right now. Can't I just run and hide while I wait for His time? Why is my JOB-DAILY JOB- to work with families and children. As much as I LOVE IT...Its hard, but I know that's selfish. I don't know what you thought when you were in first grade and were asked what do you want to be when you grow up but I KNEW I WAS CALLED TO BE A MOMMY. No doubt...in my child like faith I KNEW that's what God created me to be. Sometimes I just kind of find it funny where God places me & who God places in my life. In those times I look around and realize how BIG my God really is.

...Lord I found it quite amazing, somewhat amusing too The way some of us try and put our fences around You. But I'm grateful for Your mercy and for Your patient grace. And to think that You invite me Lord to look upon Your face.