A Very Special Day

Today is such a special day for our little family.  Just 4 days before his 7th birthday, Myles told me tonight - right after I told him it was time for bed - that he wanted to ask Jesus to come into his heart!!!!  We sat on his bed and he took my hands in his and - after thanking God that his Grandpa is out of the hospital - he asked Jesus to live in his heart!!!


As many in church will notice, Myles has been taking communion for a while now.  Those that don't go to our church probably don't know that we don't have a "set" age when people can take communion.  As long as you profess to have Jesus as your personal Savior - you can take communion in our church.  


I had talked to Myles about this before he ever started taking communion and he said "I did that with Mama Jean!" ((his babysitter/teacher/other mother)).  I didn't want to doubt him, so I let him take communion.  I made sure to talk with him virtually every Sunday, talking him through what the bread and the cup represent.  He knew all the answers, which always made me feel good.


So, I don't know if he's actually done it before or not...but since I know he asked to pray with me tonight...I know it for sure now!!  I am so unbelievably proud of him and happy for him.  I know that his life is secure in the love of Christ!

But to all who have received Him - those who believe in His name - He has given the right to become children of God

John 1:12

Monday Reflection

Church was good yesterday - the sermon really hit home in several areas. But, before the sermon, some of our music team got up to perform the offertory song.

Sometimes, it is hard to focus during the offertory...offering baskets being passed - kids dropping money in and getting so excited, etc. So, I am so glad I was tuned in enough yesterday to listen. They sang Press On - by Selah. I wish I could post a link to their actual singing - they did a phenomenal job! I know I've heard it before - but I don't think I've ever paid attention to the lyrics before now.

When the valley is deep

When the mountain is steep

When the body is weary

When we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard

When we're battered and scarred

When we've spent our resources

When we've given our all

Chorus:

In Jesus' name, we press on

In Jesus' name, we press on

Dear Lord, with the prize

Clear before our eyes

We find the strength to press on

In Jesus' name, we press on

In Jesus' name, we press on

Dear Lord, with the prize

Clear before our eyes

We find the strength to press on

To press on

I just really needed to hear that.

Believing God To Get You Through The Rough Stuff

I'm the type to smile and pretend that everything is a-ok. I'm not one to just offer up all the problems I'm having just because someone asks "Are you ok?" or "How are you doing?". I will just give my typical response of "I'm fine". I don't know why I'm like that - I just am.

I have been a part of the most wonderful group of women for the past two years. We meet on Monday nights for Bible study. I think part of the reason I love the group so much is that it is small - just 6 other women. They are slowly getting it through my head that it's ok to ask for prayer for myself. I never used to do that. I would sit there and listen to other's prayer requests and pray for them - but rarely offer up my own...or if I did, they were about other people - my kids - my friends, etc. - never myself.

This past year - we did a Beth Moore study called "Believing God". It was amazing. Knowing that you can lean on God for everything is something I "knew"...but didn't practice. We had a 5 statement pledge we said every week:

• God is who He says He is.
• God can do what He says He can do.
• I am who God says I am.
• I can do all things through Christ.
• God's word is alive and active in me.

I put out an e-mail to a few of the women from group last week and was instantly covered in their prayer. It felt so comforting to know that there were people that I could trust like that - to pray instantly - without knowing all the facts.
The problems aren't gone. We're still working on them...but it's nice knowing that there is someone out there praying for me.

Sunday's service seemed to have song after song that touched me. One stuck out in particular:

Trading My Sorrows

by Darrell Evans

I'm trading my sorrow

I'm trading my shame

I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness

I'm trading my pain

I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

Chorus:

And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord

Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord

Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen

I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned

Struck down but not destroyed

I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure

And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night

His joy comes with the morning

Easter 2009

I must admited that out of all the "themed" sermons throughout the year - Easter is definitely my favorite...especially as I have gotten older. I am amazed every year by how much I am moved by the service. I don't know why that shocks me...it is so powerful - just thinking about Jesus' resurrection.

Easter is the annual celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ...just in case you didn't know. It is called a "moveable feast" because it does not fall on one set day every year. It falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox...not confusing at all, is it?

The story of Easter:

Matthew 28:1-15

1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."
8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to (J)My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me."
11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13 and said, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.'
14 "And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble."
15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.

He Lives!!!

Hallelujah!!!!

After the Storm~~April 10, 2009

Today was a day of intense storms in our area. I woke up this morning a little before 4:00 am to some extremely loud thunder. I turned on the news to see strong thunderstorms over the entire mid-state area. Thunderstorms I can deal with...tornados - I can't.

At about 12:30 this afternoon, I hear that the storms they were predicting for this afternoon had arrived. Had they ever!!

I was at work in Brentwood - about 45 minutes from our house - watching the news as they are saying that a tornado has been spotted close to our house. Now, on a normal Friday afternoon - that would be sad...because it's our house...but today was not an ordinary Friday afternoon. It is Good Friday...so the kids were home with Terrance. A tornado in the area of my "house" is bad...a tornado in the area of my family is terrifying!!!

Sitting at work, I am frantically calling Terrance telling him to take the kids and get in the closet. He is thinking that he should go out and put the kids in the drainage ditch next to our house!! He takes the kids out...and the tornado is right out in front of our house (but not super-close)!! Our house faces a rock quarry (now a fishing hole) and interstate 840 is beyond that. The tornado was on 840!!! Terrance grabs the kids and basically throws them in the drainage hole and stands there and watches the tornado fly by.

All this time, I am at work - not really knowing what is going on at home. I can't get ahold of Terrance - all the circuits are busy. He finally calls me back and tells me what happened...I lost it. I started crying. I was so frightened that something terrible had happened to my family.

I am so thankful that they are safe. God has protected us yet again.

The tornado

The aftermath

Flooding

After the Storm...