Snacks and Strokes #2

Our Women's Ministry held the second "Snacks and Strokes" at our church on Thursday night. What a wonderful time we had together. I just had to share some of the pictures with you. Now when I got home - I see that some of the pics are blurred - and some people are not on any of these pictures. They must have been hiding from the camera :)... I won't name them tonight...

But I will say that we just might have some "artists in hiding" here.

So wonderful to have sweet fellowship, good fun, and wonderful food together with Sisters in Christ...

Enjoy...

Cardboard Ministry Video

Welcome to TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD). I am so glad that you have joined us.

Our goal/purpose is that we are reading God's Word and we are sharing with each other a "nugget" of what we are learning. Join with us - at any time. We welcome your comments and/or your thoughts of what you have read and/or your link to your blog post. You do not have to be a "blogger" to join in on the encouragement and sharing together.



This week our reading (as posted on the sidebar under the button) was from Mark 12-16. Psalm 37, I Peter 1.

(If you are reading something else - that is perfectly fine... just share with us.)

Actually, today I am coming from a totally different passage. I have read all of the reading for this week. But as I was praying about what passage/verse that I was to share about... I received word that the video from our Sunday Service was now posted on you -tube. I immediately watched it and wept again. I knew that this was what I was to share with you today. The song that is being sung comes from Revelation 12:11.

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb

and the word of their testimony...

Our enemy would love for us to continue to be beaten down, trapped, discouraged, defeated, powerless, afraid, guilt-ridden, full of shame, sick, disheartened... unuseful for Kingdom Work.

But Praise be to God... By the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of our Testimony... We can be overcomers. We can be healed. We can be restored. We can be forgiven.

Cardboard Ministry.

Merely a visual of God's healing, redemptive work in the individual lives of this particular body of believers.

And already we have received word from many others, who have shared that they could have/should have been up there too.

It is almost 10 minutes in length... but I promise you will be blessed as you see real people give real testimony of what our Lord has done in their lives.

I just keep thinking about a verse that we claimed for our son during his "yuk-years" as he calls them...

Joel 2:25

"I will restore or replace for you

the years that the locust has eaten..."

It has happened in our lives...

It has happened in each of these lives...

I am sure it has happened in a lot of your lives too....

Leave a comment and let me know how... (you can comment anonymous if you would like).

Let's have a sharing time...

And of course, if you have a blog - link with us... we would love to visit with you today too.

Cardboard Ministry

We had a Disciple Now weekend at our church this weekend. It was good for our teens... and expect to hear even more in the days and weeks ahead.


It was good for me too... in that my Julia and Ronnie came here from VA to help with it - so this mom was able to have all the fam in the same city for this weekend. We did not get to spend much time with them - because they were with the kids... but that is completely ok. Loved seeing them for a short while - and also loved knowing that they were ministering to our kids. That is a "No Greater Joy Moment".


But mainly this post is about the end of the service today at our church. We finished the service with a song by the Youth Praise Team (which was AWESOME)... and any who wanted to participate in the Cardboard Ministry.


It is a visual of where you have been - and what God has done in your life.


It was amazing....


I am going to share a few pics today... and when we get the video, I plan to show it to you too. But just to be honest... I did not want to wait on it. I WILL share it with you when I get it.


You can go to You Tube and see examples of others who have done so... but I must say it was so moving to have OUR people... share. I dare say there was not a dry eye in the house. People broke out in applause... and tears.


In the audience... and on the stage. Tears of Joy. Tears of relief. Tears of Praise. Probably tears of relating... Applause of support and love and acceptance!


I praise the Lord for His Sweet Spirit and the freedom in our church for Him to move.


Praise the Lord for people willing to share by the word of their testimony.


Overcomers.... by the Blood of the Lamb!!!


























P.S. Just found out that Michelle and Tricia have posted blogs about today also. Visit with them too! I will add links to others if more are posted. You can tell we all were blessed!

That's MY KING!

What a wonderful Easter Celebration we had...

We had two services this morning at our church. This was the first time for us. Our choir and praise team were real ministers through music today. The praise team had to be there at 6:45, and the choir came at 7:30. Ready to lead the body in worship at the 8:00 service, and then again at the 10:15 service.

Good music, Sweet Spirit, Wonderful Message from God's Word... and then the most precious part... four people made decisions for salvation and following the Lord in Believer's Baptism.

Can I just say GLORY? !!!

It just doesn't get much better than that.

And then....
The family gathers at our home for a wonderful meal together...
Of course we have to take family photos in the front yard...
And then this year we added the fun of hiding eggs with Aubrey ( a very short session I might add). She really liked making bubbles and chasing them much more than finding eggs. :)

And after they all go to their homes - or to other family gatherings...
I was able to take a "God Ordained" Sunday afternoon nap.

Blessed... Beyond Measure...



So following the video about Good Friday...

I just had to add this one .... I hope you enjoy :)

Theology Reading Group

We have started the first Theology Reading Groups at CBC.

Hal is leading a group of 11 men and I have a group of 12 women. We are discussing John Piper's book, The Pleasures of God.

I was actually a little nervous before we began. But I must say that I have really enjoyed it. We are currently reading chapter five. It is not a Bible study-We are not teaching. Hal and I are just the facilitators. We all are discussing what we have read.

Some days, the reading - and some nights, the discussions - really stretch my brain. Can that happen? Sure feels that way.

I am glad I am on this journey. I am thankful my husband encouraged me to lead this group of ladies. (Actually, now that I think about it - I don't think I had a choice :)

I will probably share more as we go along. There are definitely some quotes I want to share. Maybe I will even get your input and your thoughts. You can stretch with me.

The Body of Christ

So as a form of another update, I just have to share with you about our particular "Body of Christ". I have to share about seeing them function in the way the Body is designed to function.

My Godly husband (the pastor) called for our people to come together Wednesday night to pray for our very sick teenager girl and her sweet family. He asked those of us who teach other classes to dismiss early and come. He asked those who can only make it for choir practice to please come early. He asked for the body to gather together and PRAY. To intercede for a member of our family who is sick. Very sick.

And what a blessing to come down from my class to see such a crowd. Young and old alike with one purpose. We were petitioning our heavenly Father to be Jehovah Rapha and heal our sister in Christ. To touch her body.

What a sweet, sweet spirit. What precious prayers were offered. What a sacrifice of praise. This is how the body is supposed to function. I was overflowing (literally- out the eyes) just to be a part and a witness. Sweet ministry.

And then for the update...

Today, the doctors changed the diagnosis. It is not Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) - as we were told on Tuesday. She does have Vasculitis - but not the serious kind. PRAISE YOU JESUS. I believe with all of my heart that our Heavenly Father reached down from heaven and touched her body. He so graciously has already begun the healing work in her.

James 5:15 says, "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up."

Galatians 6:2, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Certainly, we ask that you keep praying for "K" and for her family and for her doctors. But we know who is the great Physician. We met with Him last night on her behalf. Praise You, Lord!

"Yes" to God Bible Studies (Chpt 3)

When Obedience Becomes Radical

So, after teaching this chapter 3 times (remember we have a Sunday night class, a Wednesday Lunch time class, and a Wednesday Evening Class)... I just wanted to share a couple of things that jumped out to me. (and others in the classes)

First, this quote by Lysa (TerKeurst) on page 45, "We need not fear what obedience will cause to happen in our life. We should only fear what our disobedience will cause us to miss."

So, the question to me and to you....
What is the area in our lives that God wants radical obedience? What is keeping you/me/us from doing so? Fear? That was the common answer from my sweet ladies. (the other was lack of discipline - ouch!)

Secondly, look at this passage of scripture. Let it sink in. Read it. Digest it. Meditate on it...

Isaiah 41:13, "For I, the Lord your God hold your right hand. It is I who says to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you."

He calls us to RADICAL OBEDIENCE - but He... the I AM that I AM is the one who is holding our hand and helping us.

That is awesome.

I am basking in this for a while. Seriously.




P.S. - Make sure you participate in my poll for wives on the right side bar - if you have not already. Thanks-sweet friends :)

Women Mentoring Women

Tonight we had our Women Mentoring Women potluck celebration. It is the end of the first six month commitment for our ladies. It was such a blessing to hear the testimonies given - with so many expressing how God had used their mentor/mentee to minister to them. And then I was blessed to hear the different pairs tell how they knew that God had put them together.

I shared with them that earlier today I had been very discouraged. Felt as if maybe this was not a ministry for our particular church. I had heard a few negative remarks... and Satan had decided to sit on my shoulder and tell me what a failure this ministry had been. I should have known where such thoughts were coming from. So... as I arrived I really did not know what to expect. But God is so FAITHFUL. He used the testimonies to not only remind me of His work in our individual lives - but also in our church and in these particular Mentoring relationships. He used the testimonies to encourage the ladies. It is a commitment to mentor. It takes time. But time invested in the lives of others for the sake of Christ is NEVER wasted.

Ladies, keep on keeping on. Let your Savior use you in the lives of other women. Even if you are not involved in a particular "mentoring" relationship... God places people in our paths/lives for a purpose.

For any of the men that visit my blog... don't think that there is not an application for you... Men need men too. Godly men. Accountabilty. You need it... and you need to give it.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Prov 27:17) Will you be that iron in another's life? It will take time. It will take commitment. It will take being IRON yourself.

A familiar quote: "God is not concerned with your ability... He wants your availability."
He will do the work... but He always chooses to use people. Available people.

What is God calling you to do? Who does He want you to minister to? Where does He want you to go? God will do the work... but He wants to use YOU.

"Let your light so shine before men, that others may see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

OH WHAT A SAVIOR

Happy Easter Morning.

Sunday morning has arrived.

Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior.

Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord.

UP from the grave, He arose.

With a mighty triumph o're his foes.

He arose a victor o're the dark domain.

And He lives forever with his saints to reign.

He arose, He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

• Hide some eggs or better yet....eat some eggs. - Chocolate eggs, boiled (and dyed) eggs, deviled eggs, jelly eggs, Cadbury eggs (yummm).

• Get dressed up in some new clothes (or some old clothes)...

• Go to the "tent of meeting" and worship your Savior with your brothers and sisters in Christ. And with the many others who only come to church on Christmas and Easter. Now, don't criticize them- they may be searching for the Savior. Regardless, they need to be there. Maybe they will meet Him face to face.

• While you are there....."Let your light so shine"- someone may need to see the Jesus in you.

• Sing the songs and celebrate the risen Savior!

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ AROSE!

Christmas was the promise.... Easter is the proof!

WW # 2 Memories