Sunday night was amazing at church. We tried to get there early for prayer, but managed to be walking in the sanctuary just as the music was starting for service. Noelle wasn't feeling good, so David held her...but Joshie and Chris wanted to sing in the choir...so I took them up there. It didn't occur to me until I was up there that I had no idea what we would be singing, and I can't see the monitor with the words on it...lol So there was one song that I just got to worship through. It was an awesome song...I think it's called Matchless...but I couldn't seem to get enough of the words to actually sing it...lol
Pastor called for people who wanted/needed prayer and David didn't hesitate...which thrilled me...since he has held back in the past. Suddenly it was like the whole choir just moved down into the line...he he It was awesome! Just what I needed! (Isn't that so like God?!)
At the end of the service they had an offering for Thanksgiving dinners for the poor. (OK...so part of me hasn't caught on that that COULD be me...today, anyway...lol) I was disappointed at first because I wanted to badly to give...and then God told me an amount and as I reached for my checkbook, David handed me his pen....how's that for confirmation? I finished writing the check and David grabbed my hand and we ran up to the basket. I felt so silly...but somewhere in my I KNEW that it was the joy of giving. When we got back to our seats I started crying...cuz I KNEW that I had sown for something BIG!!!
Then pastor called for people that needed healing. As he got to the end of the line a crowd was gathering. Since I am incredibly nosy (couldn't have been GOD...lol) we went over...and...well...it was awesome! Pastor was speaking to people...not arbitrarily picking a person...but we could tell there was PURPOSE to what he was doing. As soon as he started talking to David I started crying. He said things and referred to things that there's no way he could have just *known* - we've only been there a few weeks! He said the most amazing things...and the more he spoke, the more I cried...cuz it was so fully of hope and promise! (We need to get the CD to hear it all!) When he started to talk to me, all I could do was laugh! It was so cool!!!
As we were leaving, one of the ushers asked David to join the Usher Team. Now THAT was confirmation on the call on David's life! I'm overwhelmed yet again with all that has been happening..but it's a *good* overwhelmed...lol
The week found us all getting sick with some coughy-cold thing. By Wednesday night I was feeling crummy, but I NEEDED to go to church! And I'm SO GLAD I did! Worship at Youth was OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!! I'm tellin' ya...it's incredible!!! It was so overwhelming that the band was even...I can't even think of a word for it! LOL
As we were getting ready to go, we were blessed with a turkey! We have connected more here than I can ever remember connecting within a church before. I am so grateful that we have finally found a church home!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Finding the words...
I guess this part of the journey started about a month ago when I got a book from the library called When Heaven Invades Earth. It's an awesome book that talks about the Great Commission, and how Jesus intended for His disciples (even us!) to walk in the same authority that He did...healing the sick, casting out demons, etc. He shares his own journey, and relates testimonies of those he has trained and worked with. (That's a really quick synopsis....enough to help the rest of what I'm about to write make sense...I hope.) I wanted what he described in the book, and I started praying for God to show me how to get there.
About 3 weeks ago there was a pastor's conference at a local church that David and Chandler ushered for. David went Thursday night and was very impressed with the speaker, so we decided to go on Friday night. They had 2 ladies sing, and I wish I could remember their names. The worship was awesome....especially the 2nd lady. For some reason she made an impression on me. A couple of men spoke...but the main speaker of the evening was Maurice Cerullo.
Listening to Mr. Cerullo was like listening to someone read When Heaven Invades Earth aloud. There was confirmation of so many things that I realized God had been speaking to me. And when he called people up to the altar to be prayed over, I couldn't get there fast enough...even with a baby on my hip! Mr. Cerullo laid hands on the pastors and they began laying hands on others. I backed up into a row of chairs so I could get out of the way, while David made his way forward, praying for people as he went. Pastor Alan Crider (our pastor) prayed over David...and he came back to take Noelle so I could go forward. I saw Pastor Terry (Pastor Allan's wife) and was making my way towards her to be prayed over. The lady who had sung the 2nd sung walked up to me and began praying over me. When she was done I went back to where David and Noelle were and continued to watch and pray. It was amazing! The presence of God was so thick it was like you could touch Him!
I knew that I had experienced something big...but I didn't *feel* anything...so I thought maybe I just wasn't ready. It wasn't the *warm fuzzies* that I was looking for, but the KNOWLEDGE that I had experienced God on a deeper level...and it just wasn't there. But I decided to BELIEVE that, despite the lack of evidence *I* was looking for, that something was different.
That following Wednesday David and I went to the youth group service at church. The worship was amazing! Once again, the presence of God was SO THERE! At one point I had to just look around and watch these STUDENTS completely immersed in the anointing. It was AWESOME!!!!!!
We didn't go to church the following Sunday morning, but we did go that night, and once again, it was just...WOW!!! Anyone who wanted to be prayed over went through a line of the pastors in the church. When David got to the front of the line, Pastor Alan cracked up laughing. It made me laugh! And clear as day I KNEW that he was laughing at anything that had the audacity to come against him!
I've lost track of time...of the order in which things have happened. I think it was that same Sunday night that we prayed over Kyle's foot. Since then, his achilles' tendon has become VERY pliable and stretchable...his foot has lengthened...the bump on his foot where all the bones seemed to have congregated and hardened has softened and we can manipulate the bones...he actually HAS a heel, which he can put completely to the ground, and his leg has lengthened!
Somewhere in here, too, David and I have come to a place where we are absolutely convinced that God's promises are TRUE...FOR US!!! We have been walking in the peace that passes all understanding. We have been walking in the anointing...having visions...understanding things with greater clarity...trusting God as our Source like never before.
This past week, a food bank that we had gotten food from in the past called David to ask if we needed food. He has been working in sales, selling cemetery monuments, and sales have plummeted horribly over the last month. He didn't sell enough to cover his draw for last month, so we will not be getting a commission check. Because of the favor of God he received a draw check with this week...they weren't planning on giving him one. So when this call came in, David said we needed food, and we got the first voucher this week. When he went to pick up the food, we were blessed with 4 boxes instead of 3! On Monday night, a friend from Scouts asked if we could use some jeans for our 2 youngest boys. That is a huge blessing...cuz as rough as those 2 are on pants, and since Joshie decided to grow out of his size 5's, they have been sharing 3 pairs of jeans-without-holes between the two of them! Then we were blessed with more food from some friends at church! On top of that, a friend that I met online has decided to bless our children for Christmas. I haven't been telling many people about our situation, because I KNOW that God has already taken care of all of our needs. But I am so grateful for each and every one of our friends who blessing us in so many ways!
I have been wanting to blog for so long...to keep a record of all that's been happening...but there are just no words to explain it all! Wednesday night was an amazing time of worship at youth group. It totally refreshed me...and I needed it badly with all the negativity from David's office. I wanted to go to the New Members class, but I ended up in Pastor's Prayer class. There was so much confirmation...so much encouragement...so much...EVERYTHING I NEEDED...I could barely contain it!
All of this still does no justice to what has been happening. There's so much that's hard to explain in print. God has led me to start a list of specific prayer requests for my friends....and some of those prayers are already being answered. (If you have a specific request, email it to me...or send me a FB message!)
So...my goal has become to blog as often as I can...to keep track of the work that God is doing...to encourage others...and my prayer is that your socks will be blown off, too!!!!
About 3 weeks ago there was a pastor's conference at a local church that David and Chandler ushered for. David went Thursday night and was very impressed with the speaker, so we decided to go on Friday night. They had 2 ladies sing, and I wish I could remember their names. The worship was awesome....especially the 2nd lady. For some reason she made an impression on me. A couple of men spoke...but the main speaker of the evening was Maurice Cerullo.
Listening to Mr. Cerullo was like listening to someone read When Heaven Invades Earth aloud. There was confirmation of so many things that I realized God had been speaking to me. And when he called people up to the altar to be prayed over, I couldn't get there fast enough...even with a baby on my hip! Mr. Cerullo laid hands on the pastors and they began laying hands on others. I backed up into a row of chairs so I could get out of the way, while David made his way forward, praying for people as he went. Pastor Alan Crider (our pastor) prayed over David...and he came back to take Noelle so I could go forward. I saw Pastor Terry (Pastor Allan's wife) and was making my way towards her to be prayed over. The lady who had sung the 2nd sung walked up to me and began praying over me. When she was done I went back to where David and Noelle were and continued to watch and pray. It was amazing! The presence of God was so thick it was like you could touch Him!
I knew that I had experienced something big...but I didn't *feel* anything...so I thought maybe I just wasn't ready. It wasn't the *warm fuzzies* that I was looking for, but the KNOWLEDGE that I had experienced God on a deeper level...and it just wasn't there. But I decided to BELIEVE that, despite the lack of evidence *I* was looking for, that something was different.
That following Wednesday David and I went to the youth group service at church. The worship was amazing! Once again, the presence of God was SO THERE! At one point I had to just look around and watch these STUDENTS completely immersed in the anointing. It was AWESOME!!!!!!
We didn't go to church the following Sunday morning, but we did go that night, and once again, it was just...WOW!!! Anyone who wanted to be prayed over went through a line of the pastors in the church. When David got to the front of the line, Pastor Alan cracked up laughing. It made me laugh! And clear as day I KNEW that he was laughing at anything that had the audacity to come against him!
I've lost track of time...of the order in which things have happened. I think it was that same Sunday night that we prayed over Kyle's foot. Since then, his achilles' tendon has become VERY pliable and stretchable...his foot has lengthened...the bump on his foot where all the bones seemed to have congregated and hardened has softened and we can manipulate the bones...he actually HAS a heel, which he can put completely to the ground, and his leg has lengthened!
Somewhere in here, too, David and I have come to a place where we are absolutely convinced that God's promises are TRUE...FOR US!!! We have been walking in the peace that passes all understanding. We have been walking in the anointing...having visions...understanding things with greater clarity...trusting God as our Source like never before.
This past week, a food bank that we had gotten food from in the past called David to ask if we needed food. He has been working in sales, selling cemetery monuments, and sales have plummeted horribly over the last month. He didn't sell enough to cover his draw for last month, so we will not be getting a commission check. Because of the favor of God he received a draw check with this week...they weren't planning on giving him one. So when this call came in, David said we needed food, and we got the first voucher this week. When he went to pick up the food, we were blessed with 4 boxes instead of 3! On Monday night, a friend from Scouts asked if we could use some jeans for our 2 youngest boys. That is a huge blessing...cuz as rough as those 2 are on pants, and since Joshie decided to grow out of his size 5's, they have been sharing 3 pairs of jeans-without-holes between the two of them! Then we were blessed with more food from some friends at church! On top of that, a friend that I met online has decided to bless our children for Christmas. I haven't been telling many people about our situation, because I KNOW that God has already taken care of all of our needs. But I am so grateful for each and every one of our friends who blessing us in so many ways!
I have been wanting to blog for so long...to keep a record of all that's been happening...but there are just no words to explain it all! Wednesday night was an amazing time of worship at youth group. It totally refreshed me...and I needed it badly with all the negativity from David's office. I wanted to go to the New Members class, but I ended up in Pastor's Prayer class. There was so much confirmation...so much encouragement...so much...EVERYTHING I NEEDED...I could barely contain it!
All of this still does no justice to what has been happening. There's so much that's hard to explain in print. God has led me to start a list of specific prayer requests for my friends....and some of those prayers are already being answered. (If you have a specific request, email it to me...or send me a FB message!)
So...my goal has become to blog as often as I can...to keep track of the work that God is doing...to encourage others...and my prayer is that your socks will be blown off, too!!!!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Seriously?!
This is a second attempt at coherently expressing my thoughts on vaccinations....
I read an article today by the CDC that stated that the reason that *people* are *catching* the *swine* flu virus, is because the virus has *mutated*. When I brought this up to Chandler and Kaelyn, who have taken high school biology, they both looked at me like I was crazy.
VIRUSES DO NOT MUTATE!!!!
The CDC bases their claims on their *fact* that viruses will mutate to avoid the immunity that a host has built up to it. That way they can reinfect the same host again. This made no sense at all to me, until I started reading some of the comments. Then I realized that they're evolutionists...OF COURSE they would believe that a virus can mutate...after all, doesn't everything go from a less organized state to a more organized state?
But the thing that really got me, is that, with the way they explain the ability of a virus to mutate to avoid a host's immunity, completely debunks their line of reasoning for vaccinations! What good are the vaccinations if the viruses can mutate to *get around them*????
I read an article today by the CDC that stated that the reason that *people* are *catching* the *swine* flu virus, is because the virus has *mutated*. When I brought this up to Chandler and Kaelyn, who have taken high school biology, they both looked at me like I was crazy.
VIRUSES DO NOT MUTATE!!!!
The CDC bases their claims on their *fact* that viruses will mutate to avoid the immunity that a host has built up to it. That way they can reinfect the same host again. This made no sense at all to me, until I started reading some of the comments. Then I realized that they're evolutionists...OF COURSE they would believe that a virus can mutate...after all, doesn't everything go from a less organized state to a more organized state?
But the thing that really got me, is that, with the way they explain the ability of a virus to mutate to avoid a host's immunity, completely debunks their line of reasoning for vaccinations! What good are the vaccinations if the viruses can mutate to *get around them*????
Monday, March 2, 2009
Answered Prayer
We have been looking for a church on and off for the last few months. For the record...I HATE church shopping!
I want good worship...EXCELLENT worship...good preaching...friendly people...I want to feel connected...to God...to other people...feel like I belong...and I realized yesterday the foundational thing I'm looking for. I want to find a church that accurately describes God...His TRUE nature...from the Bible...as depicted in the life of Jesus. I desperately need that...because it's way too easy to let my mind wander when things start heading south...and to see God as a big, mean, judgmental jerk who just wants to make my life miserable cuz I made a mistake. Granted...there are consequences when I make mistakes...but that's different from being punished...and sometimes it's hard to tell the difference...especially when I forget who God REALLY is.
Yesterday we decided to try City Church in Chattanooga. We'd heard good things about it...from several people...and their *Ethos* service sounded like it would be a good fit...especially with the worship.
On the way to church I was complaining to David about how I was begging God to show me what I was missing...why things seem to be going rotten right now...what about *me* is causing us to keep repeating this cycle??? And why wasn't He answering me???
So...we get to church...for the last few minutes of the 9:15 service. It was good. God was talking to me immediately. We saw the pastor in the hallway afterward and he was very friendly. He took the time to stop and talk to us...shake our hands...make a connection. Honestly...most times *pastors* only have time for people if they get in their faces or stand in a line...yk? So THAT impressed me.
We sat with friends in the Ethos service. I was prepared for the music to be deafening loud...but it wasn't. I didn't know the songs...and that was a little frustrating...cuz I like to sing when I worship...and they were hard to follow in that respect. BUT...God was talking to me anyway. And somewhere in there I realized that I had made the comment that I wanted Him to scream at me so that I could hear Him...and HE DID!!! I know what the point of the message was...and I did understand it...but what I heard more than anything else was...
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
Simplistic? Yes! Necessary? ABSOLUTELY!!!!
The funny thing was...as we discussed the service on the way home, David said he thought the message that knowing God's love and allowing that to compel us to love others was...a bit naive. Ya know...I agree...and yet...I also know...somewhere deep inside...that it's really not. Remember...He said He would use the simple to confound the wise.
So...we'll be visiting again...trying the early service...deciding which one we like from there. I know we were where we were supposed to be yesterday...and I would like to have found a church home. But we'll take it one step at a time...and trust that we will know when it's time to commit...and where.
I want good worship...EXCELLENT worship...good preaching...friendly people...I want to feel connected...to God...to other people...feel like I belong...and I realized yesterday the foundational thing I'm looking for. I want to find a church that accurately describes God...His TRUE nature...from the Bible...as depicted in the life of Jesus. I desperately need that...because it's way too easy to let my mind wander when things start heading south...and to see God as a big, mean, judgmental jerk who just wants to make my life miserable cuz I made a mistake. Granted...there are consequences when I make mistakes...but that's different from being punished...and sometimes it's hard to tell the difference...especially when I forget who God REALLY is.
Yesterday we decided to try City Church in Chattanooga. We'd heard good things about it...from several people...and their *Ethos* service sounded like it would be a good fit...especially with the worship.
On the way to church I was complaining to David about how I was begging God to show me what I was missing...why things seem to be going rotten right now...what about *me* is causing us to keep repeating this cycle??? And why wasn't He answering me???
So...we get to church...for the last few minutes of the 9:15 service. It was good. God was talking to me immediately. We saw the pastor in the hallway afterward and he was very friendly. He took the time to stop and talk to us...shake our hands...make a connection. Honestly...most times *pastors* only have time for people if they get in their faces or stand in a line...yk? So THAT impressed me.
We sat with friends in the Ethos service. I was prepared for the music to be deafening loud...but it wasn't. I didn't know the songs...and that was a little frustrating...cuz I like to sing when I worship...and they were hard to follow in that respect. BUT...God was talking to me anyway. And somewhere in there I realized that I had made the comment that I wanted Him to scream at me so that I could hear Him...and HE DID!!! I know what the point of the message was...and I did understand it...but what I heard more than anything else was...
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
Simplistic? Yes! Necessary? ABSOLUTELY!!!!
The funny thing was...as we discussed the service on the way home, David said he thought the message that knowing God's love and allowing that to compel us to love others was...a bit naive. Ya know...I agree...and yet...I also know...somewhere deep inside...that it's really not. Remember...He said He would use the simple to confound the wise.
So...we'll be visiting again...trying the early service...deciding which one we like from there. I know we were where we were supposed to be yesterday...and I would like to have found a church home. But we'll take it one step at a time...and trust that we will know when it's time to commit...and where.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Looking Ahead
Happy New Year 2009!!!
This year Kaelyn will get her driver's license, graduate from high school, and turn 18...where did the time go?!
This year Chandler will get his learner's permit and turn 16...for real?!
This year Corey will turn 13...and we will have 3 teenagers in the house...eeeekkk!!!!
This year Chris will become a Webelo and turn 10...4 in double digits!
This year Kyle will turn 7...seriously?!
This year Joshie will turn 5...holy cow!
This year Noelle will turn 2...thankfully at the END of the year...lol
This year David will be 44 and I will be 42...sure doesn't feel like it!
This year David and I will celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary...has it really been that long?! (We're planning to renew our vows...woohoo!!!)
Now that the *givens* are out of the way...these things will happen no matter what...on to goals for the year....
Get all of our debt (except the house) paid off. (The house would be nice, too...but that would DEFINITELY be a God-thing!)
We're getting a second car...for cash...NO PAYMENTS!!!
Get our house renovations done...new LCD TV in the living room...new living room furniture...walls finished and painted...floor finished (haven't figured out how yet, though)...school area redone...playroom completed...new curtains in the living room.
That's not all...but it's a start...
This year Kaelyn will get her driver's license, graduate from high school, and turn 18...where did the time go?!
This year Chandler will get his learner's permit and turn 16...for real?!
This year Corey will turn 13...and we will have 3 teenagers in the house...eeeekkk!!!!
This year Chris will become a Webelo and turn 10...4 in double digits!
This year Kyle will turn 7...seriously?!
This year Joshie will turn 5...holy cow!
This year Noelle will turn 2...thankfully at the END of the year...lol
This year David will be 44 and I will be 42...sure doesn't feel like it!
This year David and I will celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary...has it really been that long?! (We're planning to renew our vows...woohoo!!!)
Now that the *givens* are out of the way...these things will happen no matter what...on to goals for the year....
Get all of our debt (except the house) paid off. (The house would be nice, too...but that would DEFINITELY be a God-thing!)
We're getting a second car...for cash...NO PAYMENTS!!!
Get our house renovations done...new LCD TV in the living room...new living room furniture...walls finished and painted...floor finished (haven't figured out how yet, though)...school area redone...playroom completed...new curtains in the living room.
That's not all...but it's a start...
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Looking Back
We say this every year...but I just can't believe it's gone by so fast! I think it was just June yesterday when I woke up...where did the time go?
This year we've watched Noelle smile, turn over, sit up, crawl, walk, and get some teeth...Kyle, Josh, and Chris have all completed at least 1 phonics book... Chris, Kyle, Corey, and Chandler have all completed a math book...we've moved from the life of Jesus to the Dark Ages in history...Chandler and Corey have each gotten a rank advancement in Scouts...Chris moved up to a Bear... Kyle became a Tiger...all 4 boys went to Summer Camp...Kaelyn has completed 10th and 11th grades...she also got her permit...and her first boyfriend...David began working his dream job...and has just changed all around (for the better)
Me...it seems I've just been caught up in the whirlwind of change...jobs... finances...children growing up.... Sometimes I wish it would all slow down... well...the good stuff, anyway...it wouldn't hurt my feelings any if the bad stuff moved a little faster...lol
Overall...it's been a good year. I've learned a lot...grown a lot...and I'm ready to move on to 2009...ready to savor each and every moment with my children... remembering that this is the last few months of childhood for Kaelyn...and how quickly it goes...I don't want to miss a moment...don't want to be too busy.
I went to sleep last night dreaming of the *me* I want to be this coming year. I won't say it's a resolution...Michelle is right...that word just stinks of failure! I want to be more laid back...get things done...but not in a chaotic, forceful way, if that makes sense. I want to be with my husband and children...enjoy them... not be so anxious to do my own thing...
We have a lot to be grateful for this year. God has been so faithful...even though at times we couldn't *see* His faithfulness...we've known it in our hearts...and caught a glimpse here and there.
This year we've watched Noelle smile, turn over, sit up, crawl, walk, and get some teeth...Kyle, Josh, and Chris have all completed at least 1 phonics book... Chris, Kyle, Corey, and Chandler have all completed a math book...we've moved from the life of Jesus to the Dark Ages in history...Chandler and Corey have each gotten a rank advancement in Scouts...Chris moved up to a Bear... Kyle became a Tiger...all 4 boys went to Summer Camp...Kaelyn has completed 10th and 11th grades...she also got her permit...and her first boyfriend...David began working his dream job...and has just changed all around (for the better)
Me...it seems I've just been caught up in the whirlwind of change...jobs... finances...children growing up.... Sometimes I wish it would all slow down... well...the good stuff, anyway...it wouldn't hurt my feelings any if the bad stuff moved a little faster...lol
Overall...it's been a good year. I've learned a lot...grown a lot...and I'm ready to move on to 2009...ready to savor each and every moment with my children... remembering that this is the last few months of childhood for Kaelyn...and how quickly it goes...I don't want to miss a moment...don't want to be too busy.
I went to sleep last night dreaming of the *me* I want to be this coming year. I won't say it's a resolution...Michelle is right...that word just stinks of failure! I want to be more laid back...get things done...but not in a chaotic, forceful way, if that makes sense. I want to be with my husband and children...enjoy them... not be so anxious to do my own thing...
We have a lot to be grateful for this year. God has been so faithful...even though at times we couldn't *see* His faithfulness...we've known it in our hearts...and caught a glimpse here and there.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Mary, Did You Know?
This is David's favorite Christmas song...and here it's done by Chandler's and my favorite group...Kutless.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
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