Thoughts and Feelings

The Saturday Nights service was so powerful tonight. I can't wait until tomorrow. There is nothing better than being in God's presence, feeling Him near you and seeing Him work in lives. I know that there were lives changed tonight. I am so thankful that I get to be a small part of what God is doing at FFC.
I have long wanted to experience God in new and powerful ways and sometimes pray that God would do as He did in the old testament and fill the temple with His glory. What would it be like to be completely undone? To fall on your face before God? To completely leave everything behind and follow Him? I pray that someday I will know God this way, in all of His glory. I want this on earth but know that I will someday have it in Heaven.
Several of us spent some time in the Higher Ground coffee shop after service. Paul Thompson, Eric Brown and Dave Rees blessed us with music. (Thank you guys!) We enjoyed an extended worship service by singing praises to our God and being in His presence.
What an amazing God we have!

Beauty for Ashes

Isaiah 61: 3
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

It is so amazing when you see God begin to work in someones life and give them beauty for the ashes they have made of their life. I am praying that I will witness the gladness and praise that is sure to follow. A life restored truly displays His splendor.

My Dad

Meet my dad. He is a wonderful provider, great handy man and a good fisherman also. It fascinates me how we learn who our heavenly father is through our earthly fathers. It is easy for me to trust God to provide for my needs because my dad is so good at providing for his family. I can trust God to fix the things in my life that need fixing because my dad can fix anything. I can also enjoy creation because my dad enjoys nature. I thank God for being the perfect heavenly Father and for giving me a wonderful earthly father. (I know I am late for Fathers Day.)

Fun Stuff

There are times when life is just plain fun. The staff at FFC celebrated my birthday a day early. We had good stuff to eat at staff meeting. Thanks Jenny and Jill! Dad loaned me his camera and I took this picture of a couple of my plants.

It was fun learning how to work the camera and then move the pictures to the computer. I know this is old technology but it is new to me and I am having fun with it. I also enjoyed my trip to Lowes for a gift card for a wedding - it was fun just to look around. All in all this has been a fun day!

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Worship

Worship - loving God for who he is.

Isaiah 55:12
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands

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Praise & Worship

Psalm 103

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

Praise - Thanking God for what He has done.

Time goes so fast

It is hard to believe that it has been almost a week since I last blogged. Time can slip by so fast and all of a sudden you look back and wonder where the time went. It can be this way in our spiritual life also. A day goes by and we don't read the bible. We skip praying then the weekend comes around and we just don't feel like going to church and before we know it our faith is cold and we wonder where God is and why he isn't talking to us.
I need to be more disciplined about blogging. I could give you several excuses why I haven't blogged but that is all they are just excuses. I can also give you several excuses why I don't read the bible or pray every day but that is all they are just excuses. I do read and pray almost every day but some days I just get in a this day is all about me mood and then the time has slipped by and it has been useless. In the future I am going to pay more attention to where my time is going and make sure that I use it wisely.

Full Day

This has been a full day. One that I have enjoyed. I had some tough things to deal with this morning. Then many small tasks to accomplish. Followed by lawn mowing, supper and back for two meetings tonight; Christian Education and the Business Meeting. James and Tonya Pinkerton were both approved for the positions of Youth Pastor and Children's Pastor at the business meeting. I had the privilege of calling James and making it official with them. (Pastor Kris thought that he was going to be the first to tell them but I think that I beat him to it.) I am looking forward to ministering along side these two individuals and expect that they will help me grow spiritually as well as helping our kids to grow. After talking with James I spent a couple of hours with the A/V team. We discussed a couple of issues and went over the media portion of our "Building to Bless" campaign. I had fun as we did sound checks and set up for the filming of a video for our campaign. It has been a full fun day. But I am beginning to think that I am an adrenalin junkie. I love having busy full days where I have to stay focused and on track to accomplish everything.

Downs and Ups

I always feel honored and privileged when others share their needs and struggles with me. It it is hard to see people hurting, but I am always honored when someone trusts me to help them take their needs to God. I have seen the difference that prayer makes this weekend. Someone who was struggling emotionally is now seeking God. Another person is staying steadfast in their prayer for a loved one and is leaning on the word of God to get them through a tough situation. I am praising God for allowing me to be a small part of all the wonderful things He is doing.