Sunday, December 31, 2006

The Girls Are Back In Town!


My wonderful Hawaiian friends are back in town and we went out on the town tonight. We got dressed up in our best dresses and had a wonderful dinner at Red Lobster and then went over to Opryland Hotel to see all of the awesome Christmas decorations. It was quite spectacularous. Noni, Keo and Pomai were in rare form as the sisters three toured the hotel for the first time! Quite a treat for us all. We ran into my good friend Teagan and her boyfriend Chris. A magnificous time was had by all!

Friday, December 29, 2006

What Does Love Mean?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
________
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got
arthritis too. That's love."

Rebecca- age 8
_____
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

Billy - age 4
_____
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

Karl - age 5
_____
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."

Chrissy - age 6
___
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

Terri - age 4
_____
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

Danny - age 7
_____
"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"

Emily - age 8
_____
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

Bobby - age 7
_____
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"

Nikka - age 6
_____
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

Noelle - age 7
_____
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

Tommy - age 6
_____
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."

Elaine-age 5
_____
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."

Chris - age 7
_____
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

Mary Ann - age 4
_____
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."

Lauren - age 4
_____
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."

Karen - age 7
_____
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."

Mark - age 6
_____
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

Jessica - age 8
_____
And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly
gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"

Out of the mouth of babes..................

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Christmas at Mom and Dad's



Well I just returned very late last night from East Tennessee where I have been since last Saturday. I spent Christmas with my parents and my brother and his wife and my sister and her two kids came also. It was a great break from the craziness of life. You can go home where things don't change much, and it just renew's you somehow. I did not have any access to a computer, so it was also nice to take a break from that as well. It was a nice Christmas, non eventful, low keyed, but great to be with family. Mom and Dad were so glad we were all there. We ate too much, watched too much TV (my brother got Mom and Dad season 3 of "Everybody Loves Raymond", and we pretty muched vegged. Kaitlyn was thrilled with getting a cell phone for Christmas and Mark was pretty pleased with all of his gift cards. Mom and Dad were surprised and very happy with the new bar stools and cushions that me and my sister got for them. Boy were those others on their last legs (ha!) Made a coconut cake, coconut cream pie, dressing, my sister made a pecan pie, Mom and Dad made the ham (it was yummy) and my sister in law made a great dump cake and cookies. Can't wait to get back in the gym this week! I ate way too many sweets! I hope you all had a wonderful, glorious Christmas! Be blessed!

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Lazer Tag, Bumper Cars, Ice Skating

Family Fun Center

We went to the Family Fun Center last night and had a great time! We played Lazer tag......and hey! I didn't do too shabby! Beat everyone the first game at least. But I did pick a dream team to go into battle with! The Parry's boyz, Danny and Jonathan. Sorry about the "frendly fire" Danny! The guy let us play twice without getting back in line. It was great. Ice skating was funny to watch. There were so many people on the ice I decided to just watch......besides they had not "smoothed" the ice before everyone skated, so it was a mess. Jess & Trey were an ice skating couple with lots of great moves; and of course who could top Danny when he blew everyone away with his NSYNC moves to "Bye, Bye, Bye". Stuart was doing some pretty wild and crazy moves of his own, but I don't think they were on purpose :-O Bumper cars was a blast and they let us stay on twice. It was a good time. Everyone have a wonderful Christmas, I love you guys!

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Christmas for Kids.....Kids for Christmas

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Picture this, over 350 under priviledged kids, on 63 buses from all around Nashville, at the Hendersonville WalMart, meeting up with 350 "Chaperones" to help them shop for their Christmas presents! Its was amazing! This was my first year to volunteer to be a Chaperone and I want to do it again next year. The kids were great. They got to spend $175.00 each for what they wanted for Christmas and we each had a child and a calculator to help them keep track and shop! I had Jadn and she was quiet, but knew what she liked and didn't like! We were able to help her get several sets of cloths, shoes, pajamas, CD Player, games, batteries, gloves, coat and more! What an amazing experience. The kids from church went to the Parry's this past weekend and Dance, Dance Revolution was a HUGE hit! It is so addictive! None of us could stop! Elliot and Stu were up until 2AM challenging each other. Karoke was another great favorite as everyone sang along with every song. Kids and Christmas, I love both. IT is like seeing things totally from a new perspective when you see it through the childrens eyes. Wonder of wonders.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

A Beauty to Unveil


From John Eldredge 12/12/06

Is there any doubt that the God John beheld (Rev. 4:3,6) was beautiful beyond description? But of course. God must be even more glorious than this glorious creation, for it “foretells” or “displays” the glory that is God’s. John said God was as radiant as gemstones, richly adorned in golds and reds and greens and blues, shimmering as crystal. Why, these are the very things that Cinderella is given—the very things women still prefer to adorn themselves with when they want to look their finest. Hmmm. And isn’t that just what a woman longs to hear? “You are radiant this evening. You are absolutely breathtaking.”

Saints from ages past would speak of the highest pleasures of heaven as simply beholding the beauty of God, the “beautific vision.”

The reason a woman wants a beauty to unveil, the reason she asks, Do you delight in me? is simply that God does as well. God is captivating beauty. As David prays, “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may . . . gaze upon the beauty of the LORD” (Ps. 27:4). Can there be any doubt that God wants to be worshiped? That he wants to be seen, and for us to be captivated by what we see? (Wild at Heart)

But in order to make the matter perfectly clear, God has given us Eve. The crowning touch of creation. Beauty is the essence of a woman. We want to be perfectly clear that we mean both a physical beauty and a soulful/spiritual beauty. The one depends upon and flows out of the other. Yes, the world cheapens and prostitutes beauty, making it all about a perfect figure few women can attain. But Christians minimize it too, or over-spiritualize it, making it all about “character.” We must recover the prize of Beauty. The church must take it back. Beauty is too vital to lose.
(Captivating , 35–36)

Monday, December 11, 2006

The Many Faces of Christmas and Friends

I have taken a lot of pics over the past several weeks and just have not had time to download them. I have included several in this album. Christmas is a wonderful time of year. The lights, the hustle bustle, the wonderful fragrances, the smiles, the colors...............friends, life, love, wonderful memories. This is probably my favorite time of year. It is cold outside, the sky with the stars and moon at night are so clear and beautiful. I love giving and seeing the great expressions on the faces of those you want to be a blessing to......it is priceless. It's not about giving presents though, and not about getting them either. It is about relationships.......friendships.....creating memories that last a life time. Spending time with and sharing life with those that we love and care about..........creating those wonderful memories together. We only have right here, right now to create those memories, once now is gone, we don't get it back. I don't want to waste time when there are so many out there who need Jesus, who need a kind word, a smile, a hug, encouragement. We have such a great opportunity every day to touch someones life, especially those we care so much about, those closest to us. They are usually the ones we take for granted the most. Life is too busy, slow down and share yourself, share your time, share the love God has filled you with, with those around you. We can't love too much, we can't laugh too much, we can't hug too much, we can't say too many encouraging things to one another. May we all be the greatest blessing to others not only now, at Christmas, but throughout 2007. God is so faithful and loves us so much. I do love you all very much and I wish you much love, laughter, blessings and friends now and always.......................

(I am having problems with HTML, click on my profile, then click on Wishlist to get to my webalbums and view the latest album)

Thursday, December 07, 2006

The Final Burden of Remembrance



When I consider all that is at stake in this journey I am on, how vulnerable are my heart and the hearts of those I love, I am moved to fall on my face and cry out to God for the grace to remember.


George MacDonald says it better in poetry:

Were there but some deep, holy spell, whereby
Always I should remember thee . . .
Lord, see thou to it, take thou remembrance’s load:
Only when I bethink me can I cry;
Remember thou, and prick me with love’s goad.
When I can no more stir my soul to move,
And life is but the ashes of a fire;
When I can but remember that my heart
Once used to live and love, long and aspire—
Oh, be thou then the first, the one thou art;
Be thou the calling, before all answering love,
And in me wake hope, fear, boundless desire.
(Diary of an Old Soul )

The final burden of remembrance does not rest on us; if it did, we should all despair. Jesus is called the “author and perfector of our faith” (Rom. 12:2). He is the One who put the romance in our hearts and the One who first opened our eyes to see that our deepest desire is fulfilled in him. He started us on the journey, even though we may for long seasons forget him, he does not forget us. I am always with you;you hold me by my right hand.You guide me with your counsel,and afterward you will take me into glory . . .My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

(Ps. 73:23–24, 26)(The Sacred Romance , 208–9)

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Your Heart Has Been Set Free

"In [Christ] you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ. (Col. 2:11)

It’s not just that the Cross did something for us. Something deep and profound happened to us in the death of Christ. Remember—the heart is the problem. God understands this better than anyone, and he goes for the root. God promised in the new covenant to “take away your heart of stone.” How? By joining us to the death of Christ. Our nature was nailed to the cross with Christ; we died there, with him, in him. Yes, it is a deep mystery—“deep magic” as Lewis called it—but that does not make it untrue. “The death he died, he died to sin once for all . . . In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin” (Rom. 6:10–11). Jesus was the Last Adam, the end of that terrible story.

You’ve been far more than forgiven. God has removed your heart of stone. You’ve been delivered of what held you back from what you were meant to be. You’ve been rescued from the part of you that sabotages even your best intentions. Your heart has been circumcised to God. Your heart has been set free."
(Waking the Dead , 63)

Monday, November 27, 2006

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!



Congratulations are in order for my friends Clay Krasner and RyLee Madison! They got engaged on Friday! I am so happy for you guys! You are perfect for one another. Clay, you are like a new man! I don't know when I have seen you so happy. RyLee you are an awesome godly woman with much wisdom. You are blessed with my great friend Clay and he is blessed to have you my friend. I can't wait to see all of the awesome things God is going to do in your lives, your marriage, your ministry together, your music, your anointing. Be so very blessed my friends......I love you both!

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Thanksgiving and Thankfulness



This week was full of food, food, food! I am thankful for the food, I just don't want anymore for a while! We had Thanksgiving dinner at my brother Bill's and his wife Diane. My sister Sonya came with Mark my nephew and Kaitlyn my niece and our Mom and Dad were there. We had quite a spread, all of us cooked family favorites. I love my family and I am thankful that we were all able to be together this week. Great stories, lot's of laughs, my brother is quite the story teller. Every year his embellishment of the actual facts grows, and I still laugh! He is so funny! I am also thankful for my friends. One I have not seen since the summer, Keo, and others I have not seen that often because they moved (Andy and Shontel). They all have been a blessing to my life in so many ways. And I got to spend time with my good friends Clay and RyLee (more about them in the next blog). I am thankful for their love and their friendship. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with those that mean the most to you. You all mean so much to me. I love you bunches.........

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

The Journey of Desire



I have posted a lot this week, but I can't help it. This is really and truly been hitting me right where I am and I know that God is having me share this with all the singles out there, as well as married couples. In order for things to change in our lives, in order for us to receive from Jesus the things that He has desired for us all along (which is where the desire comes from), we have to come to the knowledge of these truths that are being spoken. To say this is an amazing book is not saying enough. Get it, read it, let it take you to where God wants and needs you to be. Allow Him to complete in you the work that He started so long ago. We will never "arrive" here on this earth, but there is so much more to the life He wants us to live than we are living. Haven't you said to God "There has got to be more than this? My heart truly yearns for more." I pray this is helping many of you out there as it is helping me. God desires for us to "get real" with Him in our prayers, in our intimacy with him. You see, He already "knows" our heart, our dreams, our "desires". So it is us that are not being honest with Him and ourselves. Read on and be so forever changed and blessed my friends. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, we have so much to be thankful for. We serve an awesome, amazing God who loves us so much that He does not want us to stay in the place we are, but wants us to come up higher and walk in so much more. I love you all so much.

"Embarrassed by Desire?"
A young woman came to see me, as most seeking counseling do, because she was at the end of her rope. What had begun a year earlier as mild depression had sunk deeper and deeper until she found herself contemplating suicide. We met for many weeks, and I came to know a delightful woman with a poet’s heart, whose soul was buried beneath years not so much of tragedy but of neglect. This one particular afternoon, we had spoken for more than an hour of how deeply she longed for love, how almost completely ignored and misunderstood she felt her entire life. It was a tender, honest, and deeply moving session. As our time drew to a close, I asked her if she would pray with me. I could hardly believe what came next. She assumed a rather bland, religious tone to her voice and said something to the effect of “God, thank you for being here. Show me what I ought to do.” I found myself speechless. You’ve got to be kidding me, I thought. That’s not how you feel at all. I know your heart’s true cry. You are far more desperate than that.

Why are we so embarrassed by our desire? Why do we pretend that we’re doing fine, thank you, that we don’t need a thing? The persistent widow wasn’t too proud to seek help. Neither was the psalmist. Their humility allowed them to express their desire. How little we come to God with what really matters to us. How rare it is that we even admit it to ourselves. We don’t pray like Jesus because we don’t allow ourselves to be nearly so alive. We don’t allow ourselves to feel how desperate our situation truly is. We sense that our desire will undo us if we let it rise up in all its fullness. Wouldn’t it be better to bury the disappointment and the yearning and just get on with life? As Larry Crabb has pointed out, pretending seems a much more reliable road to Christian maturity. The only price we pay is a loss of soul, of communion with God, a loss of direction, and a loss of hope.
(The Journey of Desire , 60–61)

Prayers and Pleadings
The book of Hebrews describes the prayer life of Jesus in the following way: “While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could deliver him” (5:7 NLT). That doesn’t sound like the way prayers are offered up in most churches on a typical Sunday morning. “Dear Lord, we thank you for this day, and we ask you to be with us in all we say and do. Amen.” No pleading here, no loud cries and tears. Our prayers are cordial, modest, even reverent. Eugene Peterson calls them “cut-flower prayers.” They are not like Jesus’ prayers, or, for that matter, like the psalms. The ranting and raving, the passion and ecstasy, the fury and desolation found in the psalms are so far from our religious expression that it seems hard to believe they were given to us as our guide to prayer. They seem so, well, desperate. Yet E. M. Bounds reminds us,

Desire gives fervor to prayer. The soul cannot be listless when some great desire fixes and inflames it . . .Strong desires make strong prayers . . . The neglect of prayer is the fearful token of dead spiritual desires . . .There can be no true praying without desire. (Man of Prayer)
(The Journey of Desire , 59–60)

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Restored


This CD has really been a blessing to me. It has been ministering to me a great deal. If you don't have it.......try it out. This song has meant a lot to me.............

Letting Go
by Jeremy Camp
album: Restored (2004)

Gripping arms so tight
The security I have inside
Knowing what is right
Holding onto my cry

Letting Go
Of the things I hold so dear
Letting Go
Of all my pain and all my fears
Letting Go
Of the Things I hold so dear
Letting Go
Of all my pain and all my fears

I have been brought to a place
Where I want to give up everything
Where all I can do is seek your face
The brokenness I will bring

Letting Go
Of the things I hold so dear
Letting Go
Of all my pain and all my fears
Letting Go
Of the Things I hold so dear
Letting Go
Of all my pain and all my fears

Holding onto the things I deem so strong
Holding on even though I know I've held on
too long

Letting Go
Letting Go
Of the things I hold so dear
Letting Go
Of all my pain and all my fears
Letting Go
Of the Things I hold so dear
Letting Go
Of all my pain and all my fears
Of all my pain and all my fears
Letting Go.

Read On............

 

The Feminine Heart.........“There are three desires that I have found essential to a woman’s heart, which are not entirely different from a man’s and yet they remain distinctly feminine. Not every woman wants a battle to fight, but every woman yearns to be fought for. Listen to the longing of a woman’s heart: She wants to be more than noticed—she wants to be wanted. She wants to be pursued.

Every woman also wants an adventure to share. “I want to be Isabo in Ladyhawk,” confessed a female friend. “To be cherished, pursued, fought for—yes. But also, I want to be strong and a part of the adventure.” So many men make the mistake of thinking that the woman is the adventure. But that is where the relationship immediately goes downhill. A woman doesn’t want to be the adventure; she wants to be caught up into something greater than herself.

And finally, every woman wants to have a beauty to unveil. Not to conjure, but to unveil. Most women feel the pressure to be beautiful from very young, but that is not what I speak of. There is also a deep desire to simply and truly be the beauty, and be delighted in.

The world kills a woman’s heart when it tells her to be tough, efficient, and independent. Sadly, Christianity has missed her heart as well. Walk into most churches in America, have a look around, and ask yourself this question: What is a Christian woman? Again, don’t listen to what is said, look at what you find there. There is no doubt about it. You’d have to admit a Christian woman is . . . tired. All we’ve offered the feminine soul is pressure to “be a good servant.” No one is fighting for her heart; there is no grand adventure to be swept up in; and every woman doubts very much that she has any beauty to unveil.(Wild at Heart , 16–17)

An Invitation to Leap from the Falls..........
What if ? What if those deep desires in our hearts are telling us the truth, revealing to us the life we were meant to live? God gave us eyes so that we might see; he gave us ears that we might hear; he gave us wills that we might choose; and he gave us hearts that we might live. The way we handle the heart is everything. A man must know he is powerful; he must know he has what it takes. A woman must know she is beautiful; she must know she is worth fighting for. “But you don’t understand,” said one woman to me. “I’m living with a hollow man.” No, it’s in there. His heart is there. It may have evaded you, like a wounded animal, always out of reach, one step beyond your catching. But it’s there. “I don’t know when I died,” said another man. “But I feel like I’m just using up oxygen.” I understand. Your heart may feel dead and gone, but it’s there. Something wild and strong and valiant, just waiting to be released.

If you are going to know who you truly are as a man, if you are going to find a life worth living, if you are going to love a woman deeply and not pass on your confusion to your children, you simply must get your heart back. You must head up into the high country of the soul, into wild and uncharted regions and track down that elusive prey. (Wild at Heart , 18) Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The Whole Package.....a personal testimony

I was talking with the Lord yesterday, about "stuff" and He reminded me of the things that He started in me a little over a year ago. Things that He has shown me, done in me, changed in me over this past year or so. I felt really impressed to share this testimony with other singles. While it opens me up and makes me very vulnerable on things you like to keep very private, I know that the Lord wanted me to share it so it could help others that are currently in the same place that I was last year at this time.

I had just finished watching the movie "The Kid" by Disney with Bruce Willis. It was the second time the Lord had used that movie to do some major deliverance in me. I went upstairs to my loft and sat down and just started talking to the Lord about the second half of the movie and what I had just seen. I have always wanted to be married, learned so much about it from the Word of God, books, teachers, couples etc, thought I knew something and then that night, what the Lord revealed to me totally shocked me. As I prayed and talked with Him He told me that I had been "afraid" of marriage. Well that surprised me, but as I sat there, with this newfound knowledge, and allowed God to show me things, He unfolded what had been going on in my life for many years. Way in the back of my mind, not even concious of it, I began to see that I had been looking for and waiting for and beliving for a "perfect marriage". You know, you see other couples having problems, not being nice to one another, just everyday normal stuff and you think "that is not going to happen to me and my husband! It will be different for us because we are Christians (followers of Christ)." You know those thoughts that most singles have that things will be just perfect, God will bring our mate to us, we won't even have to work for it, and then we will float off in to la-la land on love and never have a cross word or any problems! Yep, that was me, but I had not realized it until that night. God told me that I had not been willing to accept "the whole package". I was looking for perfect up until that point. He said that everyone comes to a marriage with baggage, scars, flaws, hurts-all of us; and we have to be willing to accept the Whole Package. The mate for each of us includes all of those things. We will never have a marriage or the mate He has intended for us until we are willing to accept all that comes with that.....everyday life! I have listened to many singles talking for the past several months, and I do hear these undertones. I was there....I know.

What God did for me that night was deliver me from that "perfection mode" for marriage and a mate. I repented and asked God to forgive me for not being willing to accept the whole package prior to that. I asked Him to forgive me for running and being afraid of the very thing that I wanted the most....to share my life with the man God intended for me and me for him. I asked God to forgive me for not being willing to come outside of the little box I had built for myself......small, comfortable (or so I thought), easy. I mean afterall, to look outside of the box, the norm (or the worlds definition of norm) was just too much work, it was hard to be shaped and molded into something new; but praise God He did that in me. From that day forward (late September 2005) I allowed Him to do a new thing in me. He brought me so far out of the box, you would not believe. I began to see relationships, marriages, from a new perspective, from a "real" perspective and God brought me to the place that I was very willing to "accept the whole package". You see, "the package" may not look like we think it should look like, may not sound like we think it should sound, may not come wrapped the way we think it should come......and that is how we can miss out on what God is doing. There is a lot of truth in the saying "never judge a book by it's cover." So whether you are a guy or a girl, waiting for "the one", just remember to allow God to take you outside of the box, and do in you what He wants to do, so that you are willing to accept "the whole package." Remember, you are a package too, and when you get married, the person you marry has to be willing to accept you and all of your flaws, and scars and pain and baggage......and God knows how to make that happen. TRUST HIM. Let go of the control singles.........let God bring you outside of the box you have created for yourself and show you a whole new world, a whole new outlook, a fresh anointing! You will be so glad you did.

One last note, not long after this night of deliverance and revelation for me, God gave me a vision right before I woke up. It was about "becoming" together. He used a Pampered Chef recipe that I do a lot, and showed the ingredients being put into the bowl one at a time. The bowl that held the ingredients was God, the foundation or base ingredient in the recipe was the Word, Jesus. The next ingredient that was added was the man, then the next was the woman, then the sauce and the garlic for "spice and flavor". Then the whole thing was mixed together, blended together, and put into the crust and placed in the oven. It "became" the finished product, a sweet smelling savor. But none of those ingredients would have been good alone. Italian sausage is great, but not by itself. Bell Pepper and Onions are great, but not by themselves. Garlic and sauce are great, but not by themselves. It took putting all of the ingredients, the husband, the wife, and all that went into the marriage - the spices the flavor, the "whole package" to make the finished product! And they "became" together. When two people come together as husband and wife, it is a start of a new journey, a new process and they "become" together. That is what the Lord showed me that morning. Be blessed my friends, I truly want Gods very best for every one of you. I love you all...........

Monday, November 13, 2006

Can I just say............................

 

.......that the Muth Math Concert tonight was amazingly remarkable . I had heard great things about them "live", but now that I have experienced it first hand........man oh man was it awesome! They are not only talented musicians, but very educated musicians as well (you're welcome Clay!). Several of us went tonight and it was amazing, just amazing.......and the drummer was crazy-insane! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Proverbs 13:12

"Do we form no friendships because our friends might be taken from us? Do we refuse to love because we may be hurt? Do we forsake our dreams because hope has been deferred? To desire is to open our hearts to the possibility of pain; to shut down our hearts is to die altogether. The full proverb reads this way: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy.” The road to life and joy lies through, not around, the heartsickness of hope deferred. A good friend came to this realization recently. As we sat talking over breakfast, he put words to our dilemma:

I stand at the crossroads, and I am afraid of the desire. For forty-one years I’ve tried to control my life by killing the desire, but I can’t. Now I know it. But to allow it to be, to let it out is frightening because I know I’ll have to give up the control of my life. Is there another option?

The option most of us have chosen is to reduce our desire to a more manageable size. We allow it out only in small doses—just what we can arrange for. Dinner out, a new sofa, a vacation to look forward to, a little too much to drink. It’s not working. The tremors of the earthquake inside are beginning to break out."
(The Journey of Desire , 23–24) John Eldredge


This has long been one of my favorite scriptures because there has been some things that have been "deferred" in my life, for a really long time now. What are we without "Hope"? Bible hope is "earnest expectation", not wishing. I love the Eldredges and the ministry they have brought to the body of Christ about the Heart. It has and is changing my heart and giving me a greater perspective on God's heart...........His heart for us. He truly wants to give us His very best in every area of our lives, we just have to surrender it all to Him so He can. No striving, No hiding, No controlling...........just pure and simple TRUST.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Chill Time.......................



Several of us went to the Parry's after church on Sunday for homemade waffles and bacon and a great time! We took our turns on the trampoline (we laughed so hard) and ate some great food, football, music, and some great fellowship time. It was great! Take a look at the pic's. The last pic's are from Friday night......we had a great time!

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Thoughts.................

Some thoughts I have wanted to share with you all. Many of us have been talking about these things for a while. As singles they are on our minds and heart so I thought I would give voice to those thoughts and pulled from a few resources to share……………..

"Has God abandoned us? Did we not pray enough? Is this just something we accept as “part of life,” suck it up, even though it breaks our hearts? After a while, the accumulation of event after event that we do not like and do not understand erodes our confidence that we are part of something grand and good, and reduces us to a survivalist mind-set. I know, I know—we’ve been told that we matter to God. And part of us partly believes it. But life has a way of chipping away at that conviction, undermining our settled belief that he means us well. I mean, if that’s true, then why didn’t he _______? Fill in the blank. Heal your mom. Save your marriage. Get you married. Help you out more. Bring the finances.

Either (a) we’re blowing it, or (b) God is holding out on us. Or some combination of both, which is where most people land. Think about it. Isn’t this where you land, with all the things that haven’t gone the way you’d hoped and wanted?"
Waking the Dead (John Eldredge)


1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.”

Captivating, Wild at Heart (taking part in a great adventure and Relationships and Marriage are just that-A Great Adventure); and Song of Solomon. My roommates and I are watching the 12 part series by Tommy Nelson (which I have not seen in several years) on Song of Solomon. It is a great series and I have never heard anyone teach on it, especially not like Tommy Nelson who takes you verse by verse through the entire 8 chapters of this book. Snow Patrol has a song that says “It's not as easy as willing it all to be right , Got to be more than hoping it's right I want to hear you laugh like you really mean it, collapse into me tired with joy.” Did God just take something as complicated as Love, Relationships, Marriage, and just put us here and say “Hey, I know it’s not easy, but figure it out and hope that is works!” I don’t think so, because it is not easy, He gave us His blueprint for this very thing “Song of Solomon”. I am no expert, but I can share with you what God has to say about it in His word and let you walk it through in your own lives. In this amazing book, which the church has shied away from, because of it’s explicit content, God teaches us how He intended it to be between Men and Women from the Attraction, to Dating to Courting to Romance to Marriage and Sex (yep, it’s in there) to Confrontation/Fighting Fair, to Making Up to Life Long Commitment. It sheds light on this Mystery called Love and Marriage.

“The spiritual life cannot be made suburban,” said Howard Macey. “It is always frontier and we who live in it must accept and even rejoice that it remains untamed.” The greatest obstacle to realizing our dreams is the false self’s hatred of mystery. That’s a problem, you see, because mystery is essential to adventure. More than that, mystery is the heart of the universe and the God who made it. The most important aspects of any man’s world— his relationship with his God and with the people in his life, his calling, the spiritual battles he’ll face—every one of them is fraught with mystery. But that is not a bad thing; it is a joyful, rich part of reality and essential to our soul’s thirst for adventure.”
Wild at Heart (John Eldredge)


It’s important to lay some foundational things. There is more to relationships than just being attracted to one another, exploding with desire for one another (which burns out quickly if that is all it is based on). You want to be best friends with the person you will marry. You want to be able to talk and share about everything, and want to share your life and all the experiences that go with that. Sex is a great part of marriage, but if you don’t have the best friendship, the dreaming and working to achieve together, with God as your center (think of the triangle) then it won’t last the test and trials that life will bring.

Think about that. As John Bevere said at Desperation Conference in Colorado: “You want the relationship (mate) that will propel you to your destiny, not hinder you from it.” When two people decide that they want to get married, part of that has to be “What is God calling us to do together, what does He need us to accomplish for Him that we can not do by ourselves (alone).” All things are for His purposes, and He gives us “all things to enjoy.” There is always a greater reason for two people coming together in marriage than just being attracted or just making love (sex) or just having children, and all of those things are great…..don’t get me wrong. But as I heard it said many years ago, as the Kingdom of God goes, there is little that is more powerful than a husband and wife in one mind, one accord. They can change a whole city because a husband and wife can be one like no other two people can be. The enemy knows this, which is why he has fought marriages, Christian marriages so hard. You have to go into the Marriage/Relationship with the mind set “Divorce is not an option!” Take a stand against the enemy together, and watch your home, your family, your city change because of it! True, if it were easy, everyone would do it, and stick with it, but it is about Jesus, and the Word of God says “I can do all things through Christ (the anointed one and His anointing) that strengthens me.”

Song of Solomon shows us the blueprint of how to do this, for a lifetime and bring Glory to God at the same time. He shows us in this book the art of Attraction, and still glorify God, Courting and still Glorify God, Marriage, the wedding night (sex) and yes, bringing God Glory at the same time, Romance and still giving God the Glory, Fighting Fair and Resolving differences while giving God the Glory, and Romance and Companionship for a lifetime while giving God the Glory.

“You are Mine, You are Mine, You are Mine all mine, You are mine.” (Mute Math)

Love is Chosen: “Any parent or lover knows this: love is chosen. You cannot, in the end, force anyone to love you.

So if you are writing a story where love is the meaning, where love is the highest and best of all, where love is the point, then you have to allow each person a choice. You have to allow freedom. You cannot force love. God gives us the dignity of freedom, to choose for or against Him (and friends, to ignore Him is to choose against Him).

This is the reason for what C.S. Lewis called the Problem of Pain. Why would a kind and loving God create a world where evil is possible? Doesn’t he care about our happiness? Isn’t he good? Indeed, he does and he is. He cares so much for our happiness that he endows us with the capacity to love and to be loved, which is the greatest happiness of all.
He endows us with a dignity that is almost unimaginable. For this creator God is no puppeteer. “
Epic (John Eldredge)


“I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance” Lee Ann Womack

“I hope all my days will be lit by your face
I hope all the years will hold tight our promises
I don't want to be old and sleep alone
An empty house is not a home
I don't want to be old and feel afraid” Keane

You all are welcome to come and watch the “Song of Solomon” series with us. It will truly be an eye opening experience and you will be blessed! All you singles out there, feel free to comment! I love you all…….

Monday, October 30, 2006

Kaitlyn's Birthday Weekend



What a beautiful weekend it was! The sky was so blue I couldn't stop looking at it. And the tree's, man, were they beautiful. Perfect fall weekend. I went to East Tennessee to see my parents and my niece Kaitlyn. It was her birthday this past week so we celebrated. Click on the photos to see the album. Kaitlyn said to tell everyone Hi, the last pic is her message to everyone.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

It Takes Courage to become Vulnerable...........


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The Longing to Belong 10/26/2006

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Whatever else it means to be human, we know beyond doubt that it means to be relational. Aren't the greatest joys and memories of your life associated with family, friendship, or falling in love? Aren't your deepest wounds somehow connected to someone also, to a failure of relationship? That you were loved but are no longer, or that you never have been chosen?

One of the deepest of all human longings is the longing to belong, to be a part of things, to be invited in. We want to be part of the fellowship. Where did that come from?

So, too, our greatest sorrows stem from losing the ones we love. Byron lamented:

"What is the worst of woes that wait on age?
What stamps the wrinkle deeper on the brow?
To view each loved one blotted from life's page,
And be alone on earth, as I am now."

Loneliness might be the hardest cross we bear. Why else would we have come up with solitary confinement as a form of punishment? We are relational to the core. We are made, as it says in Genesis, in the image of God or, better, in the image of the Trinity: "Let us make man in our image" (1:26, emphasis added).

Meister Eckhart had it right when he said that we are born out of the laughter of the Trinity.

From the Heart of the universe come our beating hearts. From this Fellowship spring all of our longings for a friend, a family, a fellowship, for someplace to belong.

(Epic , 22-24)John Eldredge

In Epic we explore the Larger Story. Think of all those movies you’ve ever loved, the stories that have stirred your heart--there’s a reason they move you so. They’ve been trying to tell you about the true Epic ever since you were young. It is a breathtaking story, and you play a crucial role.
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From The Ransomed Heart, by John Eldredge, reading 299
Ransomed Heart Ministries www.ransomedheart.com

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Reminders of the Story



We have dissected God, and man, and the gospel, and we have thousands, if not millions, of facts—all of it quite dead. It’s not that these insights aren’t true; it’s that they no longer speak. I could tell you a few facts about God, for example. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and immutable. There—don’t you feel closer to him? All our statements about God forget that he is a person, and as Tozer says, “In the deep of His mighty nature He thinks, wills, enjoys, feels, loves, desires and suffers as any other person may.” How do we get to know a person? Through stories. All the wild and sad and courageous tales that we tell—they are what reveal us to others. We must return to the Scriptures for the story that it is and stop approaching it as if it is an encyclopedia, looking for “tips and techniques.”

Reminders of the Story are everywhere—in film and novels, in children’s fairy tales, in the natural world around us, and in the stories of our own lives. In fact, every story or movie or song or poem that has ever stirred your soul is telling you something you need to know about the Sacred Romance. Even nature is crying out to us of God’s great heart and the drama that is unfolding. Sunrise and sunset tell the tale every day, remembering Eden’s glory, prophesying Eden’s return. These are the trumpet calls from the “hid battlements of eternity.” We must capture them like precious treasures, and hold them close to our hearts.

(The Journey of Desire , 203–4) John Eldredge

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Just for fun...........

OK, I was feeling silly and decided to straighten my hair for a change! I know you like it straight Beth, so this is for you! Check out the pic's below. Just click on the Pic! We had Twinkie night at the Palace last night and I had a couple of pics in there with some of our great Youth!

 Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Breathtaking.........................

 

I was in North Carolina this past weekend for my uncles funeral. He was ready to go and that was what mattered. He had made peace with family that had been estranged (Praise God), and there was some great family time while there.

It was a whirlwind trip, we went from the Virginia boarder (Mount Pilot, Hanging Rock, Westfield area to see some family (on my Dad's side) and then on down to Salisbury to the funeral and see family that had come for that (Mom's side). Then we headed back home through Black Mountain, Asheville area. We pretty much saw most of North Carolina in one weekend. I have attached a photo album of the pic's we took of the mountains in most of those areas. What an amazing site, what beautiful blue skies. God always takes my breath with the splendor of His creation. I could stay out there in it forever and just Praise Him. How glorious!! I hope you enjoy the pic's as much as I was blessed looking at all of that beautiful scenery. Tam

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Monday, October 09, 2006

Just checking in........

 
Hi Everyone! Life has been very busy of late. I don't have any new pic's to post because my rechargable batteries are dead and my charger for them is packed in a box somewhere! Most of you know that I moved to Gallatin with 2 other roommates so condensing a 3 bedroom house down to 1 room, more or less, has been quite interesting. But hey.......it's just "stuff". I am sure I will eventually find the charger and then watch out!

I accumulated so much stuff over the past 5 years, I am still throwing stuff out (and I am not even a pack rat :)

Where I am living is in a great community with a beautiful lake (across the street and behind the other condo's) but I take the opportunity most days to walk down to the lake and watch the sunset, or if it is the weekend, some sunrises. You don't know what you're missing if you miss a sunrise or sunset. God is so amazing with His handywork and I just stand in awe. Sitting on the deck at night and looking at the moon listening to some awesome music is another blessing that should not be missed. These things are more important than "stuff". I also am getting into a routine of walking around the neighborhood each morning before work, right before the sun is coming up, and that gives you a lot of energy as well as some great quiet time. It has only been a little over two weeks, but it has been good.

Once I find my battery charger, I will take pic's of these things and post them. Have an amazing week! Much Love to all.......... Posted by Picasa

Monday, October 02, 2006

Do Not Give Way To Fear..........

 
Do Not Give Way to Fear
09/30/2006

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Of course this is scary. Responding to the invitations of Jesus often feels like the riskiest thing we’ve ever done. Just ask Rahab, Esther, Ruth, and Mary. Webster defines “risk” as exposing one’s life to the possibility of injury, damage, or loss. The life of the friends of God is a life of profound risk. The risk of loving others. The risk of stepping out and offering, speaking up and following our God-given dreams. The risk of playing the irreplaceable role that is ours to play. Of course it is hard. If it were easy, you’d see lots of women living this way.

So let’s come back then to what Peter said when he urged women to offer their beauty to others in love. This is the secret of femininity unleashed:

Do not give way to fear. (1 Peter 3:6)

The reason we fear to step out is because we know that it might not go well (is that an understatement?). We have a history of wounds screaming at us to play it safe. We feel so deeply that if it doesn’t go well, if we are not received well, their reaction becomes the verdict on our lives, on our very beings, on our hearts. We fear that our deepest doubts about ourselves as women will be confirmed. Again. That we will hear yet again the message of our wounds, the piercing negative answers to our Question. That is why we can only risk stepping out when we are resting in the love of God. When we have received his verdict on our lives—that we are chosen and dearly loved. That he finds us captivating. Then we are free to offer.

(Captivating , 213–14) Posted by Picasa

Friday, September 29, 2006

Have you sought to save yourself?

From todays daily Ransomed Heart Devotional, I pray this makes a difference in your life as it has in mine.........Jesus come for me.

Turning from the Ways You’ve Sought to Save Yourself
09/29/2006

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Change a few of the details and you have my story—and yours. We construct a life of safety (I will not be vulnerable there) and find some place to get a taste of being enjoyed or at least of being “needed.” Our journey toward healing begins when we repent of those ways, lay them down, let them go. They’ve been a royal disaster anyway. As Frederick Buechner says,

To do for yourself the best that you have it in you to do—to grit your teeth and clench your fists in order to survive the world at its harshest and worst—is, by that very act, to be unable to let something be done for you and in you that is more wonderful still. The trouble with steeling yourself against the harshness of reality is that the same steel that secures your life against being destroyed secures your life also against being opened up and transformed. (The Sacred Journey)

God comes to us and asks, “Will you let me come for you?” Not only does he thwart, but at the same time he calls to us as he did to our friend Susan, “Set it down. Set it down. Turn from your ways to me. I want to come for you.”

Therefore I am now going to allure her;
I will lead her into the desert
and speak tenderly to her. (Hos. 2:14)

To enter the journey toward the healing of your feminine heart, all it requires is a “Yes. Okay.” A simple turning in the heart. Like the Prodigal we wake one day to see that the life we’ve constructed is no life at all. We let desire speak to us again; we let our hearts have a voice, and what the voice usually says is, This isn’t working. My life is a disaster. Jesus—I’m sorry. Forgive me. Please come for me.

(Captivating , 98–99)

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Goodbye My Little Italian Villa......

 
 
 
 
I have been away for a while because I sold my house and have been packing furiously to get everything moved out in time. It is a Happy and Sad time all the same. I leave this wonderful home that God blessed me with to move to Gallatin where my friends, my extended family and church are located. This house has so many wonderful memories that I will always cherish, most especially the times that the Youth were here for get togethers, games, sleepovers, great food, Shania Twain and lots of fun. As most of you know I love to have the people I care most about, my friends, over and cook for them and hang out and talk and have a wonderful time together....this home has been host to many such gatherings. I will never forget those special times. I cherish those memories.

I am also happy to be moving in with friends for a while. It will be so nice to have others to come home to and do things with. I am sure we will have many friends ready to get together and I will still do one of the things I love doing for people....cook. Thanks to all of you, my friends, for the good times we have had, and for the wonderful times we will have going forward. I give what I have most to give to you all.......my love, with all my heart.

I love you,
Tammy Posted by Picasa

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Football, Cowgirls and Dairy Queen




It was a fun night at the Football game as some of the girls wore their Cowboy hats and boots and of course in honor of the dance team I had to wear mine. Abbey Sue was there with her beautiful curls and smile; some of us topped the evening off at the Hendersonville DQ.

Friday, September 08, 2006

United We Stand

"What could I say, what could I do, but offer this heart, O God, completely to you. I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the one who gave it all. I'll stand, my soul Lord to you surrendered all I am is yours."

"Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades, never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame and the cry of my heart is to bring you praise from the inside out of my soul cries out. My heart and my soul, I give you control, consume me from the inside out. Let justice and praise become my embrace, to love you from the inside out."

"Falling on my knees in worship, giving all I am to seek your face. Lord all I am is yours, my whole life I place in your hands. God of mercy, humbled I bow down, in your presence, at your throne. I called, you answered and you came to my rescue, and I want to be where you are. In our life - be lifted high, In our world - be lifted high, In our love - be lifted high."

"Your love reaches out to me, your grace has made a way to you. Your word lives inside of me, your truth is life to all who hear. We live for you , live your truth. May your kingdom come, and your will be done, we serve your heart - serve your heart. Let salvation flow, as your people pray, Lord we long for more - long for more. In you death is overcome, no power can stand against your name, the power of your name. In faith we will rise to be your hands and feet to all the earth, life to all the earth."

"God of all the heavens, now and forever, high above the universe. God of our redemption, God of my surrender, The Glory is yours, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord." Posted by Picasa

Monday, August 21, 2006

The Ransomed Heart...Nakedness Indeed (revised)


8/18/06 from "The Ransomed Heart" by John Elderedge

"The deeper reason we fear our own glory is that once we let others see it, they will have seen the truest us, and that is nakedness indeed. We can repent of our sin. We can work on our "issues." But there is nothing to be "done" about our glory. It's so naked. It's just there - the truest us. It is an awkward thing to shimmer when everyone else around you is not, to walk in your glory with an unveiled face while everyone else is veiling his. For a woman to be truly feminine and beautiful is to invite suspicion, jealousy, misunderstanding. A friend confided in me, "When you walk into a room, every woman looks at you to see - are you prettier than they are? Are you a threat?"

And that is why living from your glory is the only loving thing to do. You cannot love another person from a false self. You cannot love another while you are still hiding. You cannot love another unless you offer her your heart. It takes courage to live from your heart. A friend said the other day, "I desperately want to be who I am. I don't want the glory that I marvel at in others anymore. I want to be that glory which God set in me."

Finally, our deepest fear of all. . .we will need to live from it. To admit we do have a new heart and a glory from God, to begin to let it be unveiled and embrace it as true--that means that next thing God will do is ask us to live from it. Come out of the boat. Take the throne. Be what He meant us to be. And that feels risky. . . really risky. But it is also exciting. It is coming fully alive. It's a risk worth taking."
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I have been getting these daily devotionals from this ministry for a couple of weeks now and I am very moved by what I get each day. This particular one had a major impact because 1) I start teaching the "Captivating" Bible study in a couple of weeks and part of that talks so much about "not hiding, not striving, becoming naked and vulnerable" which brings so much freedom. 2) Because the Lord showed me a vision about this very topic earlier this year and this was confirmation of that. I never cease to be amazed at how God talks to us, reveals Himself to us, is always talking with us if we will just listen. He desires to "romance" us which is something you will see more about in the new book coming out in October by John Elderedge. Don't be afraid to let "your truest self" shine.

Friday, August 11, 2006

SAY IT ISN'T SO! :-o

I saw this T Shirt at the Mall last night, worn by a teenager, and I took a picture of it. Could not resist telling you about it! The Tshirt says "NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR BLOG" Thought it was funny............ Comments, comments, comments.............?

Sunday, August 06, 2006

John Bevere......Destiny.....Prescribed Soil...

Our first night of the conference started off with a huge, massive, eye opening message from John Bevere. Wow......did God really show me some things and impacted me in a way that it changed me and how I look at all aspects of life. John taught on Destiny and fulfilling our Destiny. He talked about "remember God in the days of your youth". The youth are the church of today. He said that God only see's 3 age groups, Babies, Children, Adults and I see that from His word. He kept talking about the Eternal focus and not to lose site of it. 2 John 8, it is an endurance race we are in, not a sprint. A full reward is what we want, not to have rewards taken away from us at the judgement seat. Phil 3:14, the prize is the full reward 2Tim 4:6-7. We all have a course that we have to run. 1Corinth 9:24, 2 Corinth 5:8-10 We are to initmately know Jesus, to follow Jesus as a bride that gives herself to her husband, totally, completely abandoned to him. He asked the question, have you truly given yourself to serving Him?

One of the major things that he said that really hit home was that we will not be judged for "what" we did, but for what we were "called" to do. Driven by Eternity. The way we live as believers determines how we spend eternity James 4:14. How would you spend the next 24 hours if you knew that how you spent eternity depended on it? Ephesians 3:10 He said everyone has a call of God on their life. that calling was given before the foundation of the earth. Jeremiah 29:11 He talked about how most people do not fulfill their Destiny. They do what is convenient, what is easy, what "they" want to do instead of what God wants them to do.

Ecc 3:11 "It is my time" God has spoken this to me through several preacher/teachers over the past many months, and now once again He has confirmed it to me. He has made everything beautiful and out of the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses let a thing be established. This has been established in my life....."it is my time!"

He talked about 3 ways to know the plan of God for your life...................

1) Security: Seek God earnestly Hebrews 11:6, ask God to give you glimpses of what you are to do, your destiny. Prov 20:5 Purpose, you have a calling, if you don't fulfill it, God will get someone else. My prayer after this conference was Lord, whatever you want, whomever you want, wherever you want, my life is yours, totally surrendered to you.

2) Plant ourselves in the local church Psalm 92:13. The successful churches are the ones that have the youth as active in the church as the adults. He talks about when you go through a famine, the battle, the desert over and over again, it gives you the character you need to do what God has called you to do. You will grow into your destiny. This is one thing that really ministered to me and opened my eyes to several things and I am still chewing on it. He said: "The seed- you have an outer shell, it has to be broken (God truly broke me at this conference). God puts you into where you are planted for your shell to be broken so the seed can grow and produce fruit, so that the roots will grow deep and wide. YOUR PRESCRIBED SOIL. Only the Prescribed soil will cause the pressure that is needed to break open the outer shell. So if it is hard where you are planted, don't fret, God is moving. He used the example of him and Lisa and when they got married. He said they fought and fought and thought they were going to kill each other the first 4 years of their marriage. They were looking at divorce. But then God showed them, they were the prescribed soil for each other. Both John and Lisa in their teaching time admitted that neither would be the man or woman of God that they were had it not been for the other one. John said he would not be the man of God he was if it were not for Lisa, his prescribed soil. Lisa said she would not be the woman of God she was if it were not for John, her prescribed soil. Iron sharpening iron. Do you have the character to handle the call?

3) Luke 9:57-58. I make the decision to follow the call of God, even if I don't see the provision. Luke 10:1-2, appointed = chosen, Matt 22:44, this it the Joshua generation.

I know there was a lot in here and I just wrote from my notes, but it was a message that impacted me and moved me to a new place in the Lord. To question if the things that I do are for me or for God. It is His purpose, His plan, the Destiny that He has for us that is important. I poured my life out to him, before Him that night, totally surrendered and it has been my prayer since that night, whatever you want Lord, all of me, I am yours. You can handle my life much better than me, you can handle my heart much better than me. Your plan, not mine. Be blessed my friends, allow God to show you your destiny and then commit to fulfilling it...........

Friday, August 04, 2006

Desperation...Colorado....






Desperation......what a worth while trip and conference. So much happened in everyone. God moved in so many ways and everyone has a different testimony. We went White Water rafting on the Arkansas river, played football, kickball, frisbee and hiked into the hills and what a glorious view it was! God's handywork for all to see. We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking, laughing, sharing, playing cards and games, checking email and just bonding. We downloaded pics every night to my laptop and started fresh each day, which is why we ended up with over 400 pics and video's. Matt man made a great video from some of the shots and clips. We attended breakout sessions for Youth Leadership, praised and worshipped the Lord, had our picture made with an archangel, jumped on beds, struck a pose in the wee hours of the morning. I can honestly say this 8 days brought everyone that went closer and created new friendships and strengthened old ones. We had a time of prayer with everyone in a circle the last night after the conference and it was an amazing time to watch God use these kids in praying for one another and praying for their Pastor. God started a work there that is just the beginning, you are going to see wonderous, amazing, fantabulous things out of this Youth group like never before. It was an awesome group to be with for 8 days, no fights, lots of sharing and laughs. I would go to the ends of the earth with these guys.........in a heartbeat. Love you guys so much!

We're Back!!!! Where do I start?????



Where do I even start! Man.......this was such an amazing trip to Colorado. I think it met and exceeded everyones expectations....I know it did mine. I have so much to blog about that you will see several post over the next few days. We came back with over 400 pics between Pomai and myself! United is in the first pic here and then the second is a pic of the audience, there were 6000 people there! All rockin' and worshipping the Lord with United, Watermark and the Desperation Band, and there was such a Freedom! Total, no holds barred, surrendered worship to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! We jumped and shouted and cried and poured our lives out in total surrender. I wish everyone of you could have been there. Our Youth, as well as the entire Youth Staff lives were changed and so many testimonies are coming out of this conference. God took us to the next level and challenged us to move forward and do more, be more, to fulfil our Destiny! Who You Are was the theme. I want to blog about John Bevere next and what a huge impact his message had on me. Oh yea.........the guys at the United table gave me a T Shirt! Oh yea! Love it! More to come...................................

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Words to Live by........Have the Courage............


Have the courage to appear foolish, because it is sad for those who never attempt anything. Have the courage to make mistakes, for they can teach you like nothing else can.
Have the courage to take action. For even though your actions carry the possibility of failure, if you never act then you are certain to fail.
Have the courage to live each day fully, with enthusiasm and a generous spirit. Though there are many problems in this world, there are a whole lot more positive possibilities.
Have the courage to do what is right instead of what is easiest or most convenient. It will earn you the respect of others and, even more importantly, the respect of yourself.
Have the courage to see and accept things for what they are. That will put you in position to make a real difference.
Have the courage to love, to speak your mind, to follow your curiosity and your passions. Have the courage to give of yourself, for the goodness you give will come back to you over and over again.

Author: Ralph Marston

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Friends, Family, Moving

Hi everyone! It has been a very busy week. I was blessed to be able to help some friends from church pack to move last week, and then went to my parents in East TN over the weekend to help them move and unpack, and then came back to help my friends unpack from their recent move. Many of you called me to check on me over the weekend since I was not at church and I love an appreciate all of you so much for that! My church family is my family and I don't know what I would do without you all. You are the best!

We will be heading to Colorado in a few days with our Youth and there will be lots of pictures and stories to tell when we get back. It is going to be an amazing time! Be blessed my friends...........be blessed!

Monday, July 10, 2006

Pirates, Pirates, everywhere Pirates!




We went to see "Pirates of the Caribbean" and it was great! Johnny Depp was very funny. Here is one scene from the movie which is actually towards the end, and then..........wait a minute.............where did those other guys come from?! I almost didn't recognize them with those eye patches! Why it's Pirates III.............The Next Generation!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, July 03, 2006

Sumner Life Cookout.............Great time!





It was hot..........but it was fun! Our church went out to the Montgomery's farm to grill hamburgers and hot dogs with lots of great side dishes! We played volleyball (with the megaball), and some threw the frisbee, the guys played football and there were fireworks to top it all off when it got dark! Everyone had a great time! You should have been there!