Easter 2011

What a Day!!!!!

Started out really early this morning alarm went off at 5:30am. LOL. Yea!! I know it's way early!!! Sound check was at 8:15 this morning and then a Easter Service that was awesome. The kiddos did great with the puppets, praise team and choir, I love hearing kids sing they are so honest and sincere, and of course over the top in cuteness!!!

Our Encounter video, that video just makes me cry, there I go before my encounter. Just everyday life with everyday people and then one day EVERYDAY changed because a unique and awesome God turned my life upside down. It was "my encounter"

The choir and sign team and then a dynamic message from our Pastor!!! All roads lead to the cross...
It was so cool to look out and see almost all of my family in the audience, aunts and cousins and family. Really fun!!!

We baptized 1 girl today, it was a overall great Easter Service.

Then after visiting with friends we headed home to have a scrumpcious dinner with all our family. We were missing 1 group. It makes my heart sad, even in all the fun and happiness, there is a empty place. God knows I've prayed over this and He has heard my cry. I wrote this last night and posted it I feel like changing it, maybe it's God leading me, maybe I'm just weird. I've been close to a few ladies at church and they have shown me a godly, prayful woman can do, I am trying to follow their leading and I respect them greatly.

So today I'm gonna be different.

God, this morning I come before you humble and broken, I know I'm nothing without you. I ask that you reach down and touch my family. Heal the broken pieces of our hearts and lives. You see all things, you know our hearts even the parts we don't know ourselves. You see our pasts and you know the hurt and trials this family has endured in the past. You see all our imperfections and you care and you love. I know that You know what it takes to bring a family to their knees in order to stand tall for you. God I ask right now that you bless and hold close every member. I rebuke the bitterness and the pain and the hurt in Jesus Name. I refuse to allow the devil to come in and lay claim to my family. I plead the blood over every adult and child. You see the pain You hear our pleas and You see our tears and You feel our pain. Lead us to peace and joy and love. God right now I ask that You stop those that try to bring harm or pain, When they rise up, block their path. I once again ask that You bless each person and bring love and unity to every part. I

I know what our family could be, look what we've become in just the last year or so and the devil HATES it, he wants us stopped. He's wanted to stop us because he knows if he doesn't find a way to drag us down he will lose because we want to work for You and that we are willing to serve in any way no matter how big or small. I'm asking that you foil his plans, destroy them!!! He is a liar, and he thinks he can play the same little trick in our family again but I say NO, I will stand up against him if I'm all alone, he WILL NOT DESTORY MY FAMILY!!! I sick and tired of his antics and games, I have given my life to Christ, I've renewed my vows to God and I will serve him with my whole heart, wherever He leads me I'm going, if a door closes I will stop, if a door opens I will go through that door regardless of where it leads me because I only want what You, God, want for me. I believe at that Ladies Prayer meeting you directed a sister to come and pray over me not only concerning my health but when she begin to pray over my future and the direction for my life. That doors would close and to not fear, let them close and stop and not walk through them. That the new doors that would open would be greater than anything I could imagine and to not fear but to walk through those doors as you open them. To let nothing stop me. That the plans YOU have for my life were unfolding before me right now and I can't see it yet but soon. So I know that You care and are listening to my heartfelt prayer.

Now God, I wait on You, your the healer and the provider. I ask it all in Jesus Name.  Amen.

New Year and Moving Forward

So I decided to start the New Year off right, I get so frustrated with people who lag behind and are lazy, etc. Plus, I've been so busy the last couple of months that I've not been able to keep up with my stuff, gets out of control and then my OCD can't figure it all out. Sooo,  I decided to turn over a new leaf if you will. I am trying to get to bed earlier and when my alarm goes off at 6am, I don't hit the snooze. This is Day 3 of this newness and I want to snuggle back down in my bed but I'm not. My room is nice, clean and organized and getting to the point I want it. I'll just keep on trudging and maybe it will become habit and not a drag. LOL.

This week is a week of prayer at church and OMW!!! What an awesome prayer meeting. I was so awesome to see the young people really praying, and it was nice to take out an hour at church to just pray. So many things in my life I've been praying about lately and sometimes I get a little discouraged because as I pray about things, seems others begin to begin to talk down to my dreams. They may not know it but they do. We aren't going to all be alike and we aren't all going to have the same ideas, but it's not right to expect me to be like you and the rest can do as they will. I'm not like you... I get so frustrated about it all and I just do not understand.

Then at the end of prayer Pastor Foster called us all to the front and began to challenge us to be closer to God, to desire miracles and powerful things, the anointing. Then he asked me to come up, ME. He said that God is going to do what I've been praying about, that at that moment it was to give me an assurance. I hate being in front of everyone but Sis Kathy & Sis Darla began to pray with me and I am still amazed that God cares that much!!! To call me out in a prayer meeting to let me know He still hears and cares and I'm not all alone. Now to just focus on moving forward!!! Waiting for my miracle.

A Good Day

Well, today was a good day, after a shaky start ended up a good day. God came through and worked out what could have been a disaster in our lives and made it all OK. Then we got a letter from CPS, they dismissed all charges ("someone" turned Teresa in on a bunch of phony charges) said there was no sign at all of anything. They will not be out again unless you-know-who decides to be a butt again. The thanksgiving dinner at church went good. We served 150ish people in under 30 minutes. That isn't bad. It was so much fun, we made new friends and got to know others better. I was pleased with the way it all went. Renewed that little dream I used to have of having a event planning service. Sigh, but is the sore muscles worth it?? LOL.

Thanksgiving was awesome!!! Just our little group at Chantry's place. Mom, Dad, Nanny, Teresa, Katy, Chantry, Tiffany, Gavin, Allyson, Landon and me. I went early and spent the whole day, we had a good time cooking and laughing. The kiddos "helped" me out with buttering the pans for the rolls and all. Then we shared a whole jar of marschino cherries!!! Then the kids drank the juice. We had a laugh at Gavin when at 8pm Chantry gave him a glass of Pepsi and Gavin goes "I like Thanksgiving it's a good day". He liked staying up late drinking all you can drink soda's and desserts. LOL. Tiffany and I played American Idol, Guitar Hero and Beatles Band on the Wii, while the guys watched football, BORING... Stephanie and Robert came out late evening. Then we played Beatles with Chantry, hooked up both guitars, drums and all 3 mics and had a great time. Didn't leave until after 1am. I have to agree with Gavin, it was a good day.

Yesterday we shopped preparing for Christmas parties. Today was another good day. I spent most of the day holed up in my room, I scrubbed every inch of the bathroom, did laundry and then organized my books and DVD's. Everything looks so nice and smells good. Got Spooch outside on the end of the house, Hayleigh and Delaynie are locked in the backyard now all the time!!! Can I say it again? It's been a good day.

I had my iPod going with my favorite tunes and I felt so much happiness and peace. Awesome!!!

It's Thanksgiving Time!!!

So I don't write often anymore. Lots going on and I seem to write better when I've got worry and stress inside. Got worrisome news tonight, even as the fear of the unknown washed over me I felt the peace of God and a calm settled over me. Now an hour after going to bed, I'm wide awake, not really because I'm so scared. I am a analytical person so I'm struggling with the desire to sit down and make a plan to work it all out. I guess there is fear inside because I've walked this road before and I don't know if we can do it again and survive. They say the hardships you go through build strength.

What a way to start Thanksgiving week, huh? I have much to be thankful for... An awesome church and church family and Pastor & Family. I have friends who love me and family all around. We have been super busy planning and preparing for the All Church Thanksgiving Meal!!! It's coming along and I think it will be good. I've gotten involved in so many things, God has been so good to me. I know He will protect me and keep me through everything I must go through. God has never led me through anything that looking back I can't see His hand in it all. I have to trust that He will never leave me. I know that this could very possibly change our world but He knows my name, He knows the way I feel, He feels my hurts and sees my pain.

It's Been Awhile

So it's been awhile  since I sat down and took time to write. WOW!!! All the stuff that  has gone on has been amazing and fun.

Katy's custody battle, Health Matters and so much more.

Sunday Morning was my first time up with the Praise Team. I was terrified and had nightmares but it wasn't as bad as my nightmares so I guess it was OK. I actually enjoyed it... I know I messed up some but hey, it was my first time to sing in front of 700+ people so I think I did ok, hopefully. LOL.

Health Matters went good, I think. I learned sooooo much about health and eating and healthy living. Can't wait until next year.

So much still to come this year. I'm so excited in 2 weeks is the Ministry Expo and they've asked Mom to setup a table for Prison Ministry. We are praying that soon DFC will be reaching out to Dallas County!!!

Sunday Morning Bro. Darrell Bennett preached and his title was "When God Doesn't Want Your Best". It was an awesome message about how we always come to God with our best. We put on our fake smiles and say everything is OK, when sometimes God wants us to come and give Him our worst... Awesome awesome message!!! Recently I've had several conversations with numerous people that have caused me to realize how thankful I am that I made the decisions I've made in the last year. It saddens me to see my "friends" so confused and uncertain. They pose their questions to me and I want to scream the answers but I can't people have to find their own way just as I did. I've prayed for a way to help them along without swaying their opinions and it's hard, my heart breaks to hear them talk. I know and understand their confusion because I was in their shoes a year or so ago and had to find my way to where I could grow. Then Sunday morning Bro Bennett said something that made me really take note of and that was this... You can have a good preacher and a good church but you have to ask yourself "When I leave am I changed? Am I closer to God than when I arrived?" To me that is all I need to know for myself and I can say that yes, when I leave each service I'm a little closer than I was when I arrived. So I continue to pray that everyone can find the happiness I have. I believe it's the End Times, the Bible says that everything that can be shaken will be shaken and I believe I'm seeing that.

Well, I need to get some sleep, tonight I had choir practice and praise team practice, tomorrow night is a ladies meeting, wednesday night is church and Thursday night starts Unveiled so it's going to be a really busy week and I joined a gym with Mom, Nanny, Stephanie, Sis A Davis, Alyssa and we are so excited because Michelle is going to be joining us. YAY!!! So lots to do and after 2 months I still have this allergy/cold whatever it is and it's rough and will not go away. PRAY!!! I'm going crazy with this horrible cough. I need rest, sleep and healing. LOL.

Oh and had AWESOME news a dear friend of mine is turning his heart back to God, doesn't get any better than that!!!

Night all!!!

In The Quiet

So here I sit listening, wondering and wishing. I’m not quite sure why it won’t go away, the dreams the plans, it’s past and over yet somewhere inside it just doesn’t quite wondering ‘what if’.

I know I made the right decisions but it doesn’t make it easier or the regrets less. I’ve learned in this life that you can know without a doubt you made the right decision yet regret hang so heavy in your mind.

I hope someday someone will come along and make me forget your promises. I can’t help wondering if the bright lights make you forget that call? Can you really turn your back and walk away from God?

Someday…

Time To Ponder

So I get 2-3 emails, more or less a week from an awesome lady of faith. These emails encourage and strengthen me and they make me stop and think, ponder something in my life.

I’m in a period of my life where I feel like I am where I am supposed to be and God has led me into some awesome ministries that are challenging me as a lady, as a daughter, relative and friend and most of all in my walk with God.

The email I received yesterday was about geese. This is what it said.

"Look at the birds in the sky!..." - Matthew 6:26

In the world of geese, the aged, very young, and infirm are kept protected in the rear of the formation. But they aren't isolated, discounted or considered useless; in fact they fulfill a vital role. They become the honking section and cheer for the leaders. Inevitably, bad weather threatens the mission. The going gets tough and the tough are struggling. From the rear of the formation a lone honk sounds, initiating a geese chorus honking encouragement to the point goose. Many a servant of Christ has crossed their deepest valley on a wing, a prayer and a honk from some old battle-scarred, battle-hardened, straggle-feathered, half-bald honker of encouragement who was too stubborn to let a brother or sister quit on their watch! Occasionally, a strident, out-of-tune goose complains loudly and irritatingly. Within moments the honking section kicks in, drowning out the grumbler, restoring order and unity. The church's problem isn't too many people speaking negatively; it's too few speaking positively! When someone cries, 'defeat', honk back, 'victory' When they cry, 'fear', honk back,
'faith'. A few words of encouragement can overpower a storm of complaints. So join the honking section and be known like Barnabas, whose name means 'Son of Encouragement' (Acts 4:36)

I was so encouraged by this email. Help me to be like a goose and when I’m too battle scarred and wounded to lead, that I can be the one honking saying keep going, you can do this.