First official night of Awana

Tonight is the first night of Awana at my church in Oxford. I am pretty amazed at how much work has been done to bring this all together. My pastor and his wife have bent over backwards to see this happen. This is something that our church really needed and that I am already seeing being a huge tool to reach out to the other kids in our area.

My computer was being crazy last night, so I have to finish my powerpoint for tonight, now. I know it will come together, but I am a little anxious.

Please keep us in your prayers as we attempt this tonight. It is all for God's glory. Phil. 4:13

What a gorgeous day!

The sun looks so gorgeous outside and coming in through our windows. It has rained so much lately that I almost forgot what bright sun looked like. We needed the rain, I am not complaining, but we got a lot of it.

This week has been wild, but really good. We began revival services at our church on Sunday morning. The preacher, P.J. Scott, has been great. I have learned so much from him, already. Tonight is our last night. He has preached on so much that has been on my heart for awhile. How our churches need to change to actually be a place where outsiders would even want to come and join. That our churches have become a closed society. My heart has been breaking for feeling like I didn't have the resources to reach the people around me. There has also been a staggering fear that it would just be too overwhelming to try to invest enough time into the lost people around me when I have a family of 6 who need me. I have let myself be complacent. Even though I was disappointed with myself, I just kept going and passing people and praying that maybe they would meet someone else that could reach them.

I have been praying about how God could use me and being disgusted that I felt like my using my gifts at church alone was a cop out and not what I needed to be doing. Ministering to Christians who, I know, need lots of ministering to, but at the same time feeling like I was meant to reach this dying world. Well, not all me, but I hope you know what I mean. At least the part that I am supposed to reach. I get down so easily. It is my temperament. I really have to fight not getting depressed about this all. One thing I really realized is that I have been trying to do all of this in my own strength. I think I have been afraid of asking God for His strength because I know He would give it to me and then I would have to get out of my comfort zone.

I have to remember that the entire Christian walk is with Christ's strength. That is the only way it is possible to please God. That is one thing that seperates us from other religions. We depend on Christ. Depend. We are desperate for Him. I know that my "self" is so weak and pitiful on my own. I have to be filled with the Spirit to do anything that He is calling me to do. Yes, it may sound like He is one big crutch. Well, He is and He is supposed to be.

My goal for the rest of this year is to start by at least contacting my neighbors. Inviting them to church. Inviting them into our home. Getting outside our comfort zone.

I have to be honest. Asking God to totally take over my life is very scary. He may want me to give up some things that I have made myself dependent on. He is so worth it all. It is about walking with Him and fellowshipping with Him. Being a part of what He is doing. He will bless us with letting us actually be a part of His work.

Take care,
Laurie

I am trying something new

OK, I have just started calculating how much I am paying ebay to sell my items and discovered that there is another up-and-coming business that is similar to ebay, but whose fees are much lower, etc. It is not an auction site, but instead a storefront, or "booth" like they call it. I only pay if I sell anything. Here is the link if you are interested. Maybe it could help you out, too. Now, I have to get a life and do some house work. :)

Have a great day!

Happy Birthday, Benjamin!!

Benjamin is our now 12 year old. Today is his big day. It seems like he always gets the shaft when it comes to his birthday. Like something out of the ordinary is happening and he doesn't get to have just a normal, go out to eat....sing, eat cake, open presents, etc. birthday. Many years ago his brother, Matthew, had an appendectomy on B's birthday, a couple of years after that, or it may have been the next year, Hurricane Katrina came through Mississippi and he spent his b-day in the dark with candles. This b-day his mom is being a dud and is puny in the bed. (Well, now at the computer, because I was going completely stir crazy).

Well, thank goodness we had a birthday party at the Skate Place last weekend for his birthday. He always envisions having a family "party" too. His dad has made his day now, though. He has just taken B and Jacob to Wal-mart to buy Nerf swords so they can fight to their hearts' content for the rest of the night. A birthday cake is going to come in there sometime, too. Happy Birthday, Benjamin!! We love you!

Life is good

Sometimes we think we know what is best for us and we frequently find out later that we really don't have a clue. Well, we may have a small clue, but then we talk ourselves out of it, or rationalize that surely we couldn't be right.

Following God and trying to just rest in Him is tough sometimes. Well, most of the time it is hard to not trust our own instincts. We get used to thinking about what we "need" to be able to make it. Well, I have been interviewing and applying for jobs with the thought in the back of my mind that God might have wanted something more simple for me than to be in a fast-paced job with a contract and more income. As much as I have wanted to just provide for my family, I think my purpose right now might be to provide in a different way. After the kids and Matt being back at school for two days, I don't know how we made it with me driving 1 1/2 hours a day and planning, being gone for programs, etc.

I know God kept us sane during that time, but made us tired enough to know that there was something different for us. Are we going to realize that peace in our family is more important than more money? I hope so. I don't know if I am going to get a job tomorrow or in 5 years, but I know that God has us in the palm of His hand.

Take care.....

Ripley's Believe it or Not in Gatlinburg

There is a lot more to come from our trip to G'burg, but here is a start. On Tuesday, the kids wanted to go to the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum on the strip. Here is a pic of them in the "Big" chair. There was a lot in there I could have definitely lived without seeing, but now they can say they went. :) Now the kids are on their way with Mamaw's to meet up with Nana. Matt heads to his guitar workshop in Atlanta on Sunday and I am meeting the family at Lake Tiak O' Khata on Sunday for the Brantley reunion.
I can't believe there are only a couple of weeks left of summer.

Take care....

Off to the mountains

I am packing away. Tomorrow we are off to Gatlinburg. Hope you all have a great week!