No matter how He sends us. . .kicking and screaming . . .

I was IM’n a buddy the other night and responded that I was really doing okay in spite of all the stuff in my life. My house is a mess, my lawn needs to be mowed, I have bills to pay, my sister has a rare cancer and isn’t doing well, my son is having surgery to remove the pins this week, I’m getting rid of the kitten and the kids aren’t happy, this is the time of year that my hours get cut and I’ve had to take time off for the boy and my sis. But really I’m okay.

He sent me these words



Philippians 4:11-13 (Today's New International Version)
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength


He has given me the strength to take whatever this life gives. He also has gone and gotten me this past week. Honestly it was as if He grabbed my hand and dragged me to church. I’m a bit of a recluse at times at church. I know it sounds surprising but it’s true. I get the kids where they need to be then head to the booth.

So. . .

I hadn’t planned to show up for the big event at my church. I had done very little to help due to my sister being ill and didn't really care that it was happening. Big deal is what I was thinking. I am not going and who cares if I show up. God cares and He said so in a phone call and with my friends/hey we’re family. (No God didn't call He had someone do it) I was asked if my daughter would light candles for the Saturday night event. I agreed. NOW I HAVE TO GO!

When I walked with my friends/hey we’re family to look at the decorations they told me about the dinner (I even failed to look at what was going on) I told them that I hadn’t sent an RSVP. They informed me that one of our family members had and wouldn’t be there so I was covered.

God fed the multitudes and me.

I worked that morning at my paying job and checked on my son after work then dashed to church. I was needed in the booth and had a blast.

We CofC folks can rock at times.

I wish that I could bottle that spirit up and take it to my sister. I ached for her presence when Sharron sang, she loved listening to her.

I loved the hugs and love.

I visited with several people that I hadn’t seen in a while.

It’s so amazing how God sees what we don’t.

He sees in our darkness.

He sees through us.

He sees within us.

He sees with us.

He knows us . . .

. . . and knows when to drag us into His fellowship to show us love.

The event wasn’t about me it was about celebrating what He gave us and will continue to give to us.

No matter how God sends for us. . .

kicking and screaming. . .

laughing. . .

crying. . .

or singing. . .

we should know that we are sent.

My minister did the coolest thing last Sunday.

I had to take a fresh battery to him before he hit the pulpit/stage, after running around looking for him, being told to go in the wrong direction thanks to Greg. (What was I thinking listening to him?) thank God for tall men to point me in the right direction, way to hide in plain sight, I gave him the battery. He seemed shaky but it was almost go time and I had just given him a task right before. He sat in the pew then looked up at us. We try to focus on the players at hand in case they have a change of plans and need us to do something. The sermon is in the computer and notes are at hand it’s almost go time and he is staring at us. My cohort mumbles about the fact that he is looking at us. I whisper something back about it.

He came up to the booth with a slip of paper and two lines of notes on it. The scriptures are loaded I make sure the picture is changed because they weren’t right for the mood and they were too light.

He preached from the heart. I needed to hear it and I know the many others did. The sermon was real and personal. It touched me. It’s sort of sad that not everyone knows that it wasn’t planned.

My minister plans to the last detail on his sermons. He’s easy to follow when you are doing slides as long as you are awake. I’m still waiting for my Starbucks.

I love it when God leads

Demons in the church

After a couple of discussions with spouses of those in the ministry I started thinking.

Demons are in the church.

I wonder if we could see them how many are circling the church. I thought about how many sit within.

One spouse is the wife of my minister. I want to say this so that you folks who think nothing of trashing the man or women who speak God’s words to you hear this. They are human and they have feelings! They have wives husbands and children. You are the people who brought them here you are the ones who they feel in love with and you are the ones who are hurting them the most.

I gave this some thought as I showered I would never pray that my child go int the ministry. Especially youth ministry. The devil hates youth ministry. He works hard to break it where ever he can and he uses parents. We parents have no problem listening to his hissing how wrong those who love and guide our children are. We have to stand hard against his vile nature.

My son has a wonderful heart for God and His children and when he said that he thought of going in youth ministry I prayed for guidance. He no longer speaks of it.

What a hurt it is not to trust those you love. What a hurt it is to feel so alone. The spouses don’t feel that they can trust anyone in the church. How could they? after all they’ve been slammed also. They have been talked about because their children ran around yelling yesterday. Mine did they day before and his were in the parking lot running around the cars. Still she’s a minister’s wife and she needs to keep them in place. I’ve read those letters. I’ve apologized for words that I had nothing to do with but still felt that the hurt needed to know how much I hated it.

Yes I do believe that demons attach to us and we walk them into the church proudly. We need to rid ourselves of them. We need to stand in font of the mirror and ask God to show us the truth.

No this mother will never pray that her children will go int the ministry.

Church and state?

Can we truly separate church from state?


I had a pretty important typo on that post.
I can't separate it in my heart.

I’m asking if any of you have ever really been able to. Sure we can use reason to do so but can your heart go along with it?

And if the movie was even close to being right the men involved in the declaration had trouble also.

Too bad Mark is out of town this is a good one for him to dig into. I have so little time right now so please feel free to speak freely.

Why church?

Now that’s something that we’ve been asked a bit around the blogdom. So then this can be an easy one for us to talk about.


Today as I came down from the booth I spotted a man who seemed a bit lost so I greeted him and asked if I could help him. He seemed to force a smile and responded with shrinkage. I explained that we weren’t about filling a building and he responded by telling me who we were. We weren’t as big as he remembered. I came back with We aren’t about filling a building. His response is like so many others I've encountered. We aren’t? What are we about? My responses We are about worshiping God not filling a building. My worship leader overhearing parts responded with Just filling a building that’s not good, not at all. I smiled and walked away.


So you know he didn’t stomp off at that conversation infact he waved at me later when I was in the fish bowl. (A place where I work at church. . . ok more like play at)

As I was walking in for worship one of the men stopped me. I was so glad to see him because he gave us a bit of a scare, he became ill and was thought to have GBS. He still has a bit to go but is in good spirits. He tells me he has been worried and thinking of me every day. Insert me teary eyed. As we were talking another man who had been rather close to my almost X came over and hugged me and had some very kind words. Ok now I’m holding back my tears.


Come on Milly get to the chairs, that’s all that you have to do find your children and get to the chairs. You know I was stopped by a sister who wanted a hug and to introduce me to another sister who has gone through a divorce. We talked about her first date and laughed a bit. I hope to get to know her better because she seemed like a nice lady. I found my kids and was able to focus on God instead of me.

Why church?

Milly thinks God deserves our attention. We need a place to focus. We need to be told about Him. And for me this week I needed to feel loved by those brothers and sisters. We need to be reminded how very far church has come with divorce and support does just that. No filling that building isn’t important God and His love is. No matter the size or place it’s about HIM.

Ice Ice Sunday

When my alarm lightly woke me with a wonderful song from my dainty slumber I wondered if the freezing rain would keep us from church. Ok the truth is what you expect when you read this blog so the truth is what you’ll get. When I heard the beginning of Michael W. Smith singing I pushed the snooze button and rolled over hoping that the ice storm would allow me to go back to my drool and snore fest. I think I was dreaming about having a maid, a chef, a nanny, and a life coach who is willing to do all the work for me. You know the dream that all of us married with children ladies dream. I had been interrupted once and was about to the part of the dream where my husband realizes how wonderful I am when again Michael began to sing to me. (Note to self change that CD because he seems to be nice and you are not thinking nice things about him at 6 AM) I quickly jumped out of my bed to see if the roads were too treacherous for travel hoping beyond that we could make it for services. That’s right I’m telling the truth. Slowing left my warm bed and stumbled into the family room to check for church closings. Not on the TV. I then hit the web site. Nope. I then check emails. The worship minister sent changes late so we’ll be dealing with those this morning if we have services. I happily start getting ready for church. Not. I call my boss to see if we are indeed having services. He’s setting up and people are there. Yea! I skipped. Who am I kidding I dragged myself out to the family room to find my children waiting. Oops Miss Littles is dressed in a spring dress and its freezing, I remind her so she dashes up the steps to change. By stomping and yelling “when am I ever going to get to wear a dress to church again?” I think to myself “How precious” or was it “Just get changed people are waiting for me. I could leave you here with your dad.” That’s it the last one. I marvel at the fact that she’s now wearing wine pants and a purple shirt complimented by a red jacket with Dalmatian fur cuffs and collar, she tells me it is real puppy fur. (No covering that one up I was a bit horrified until she agreed it was a bit cruel.) The real deal is that we needed to go and I had already sent her up to change once.

I can't keep it up any more here's the way it really was:

I arrived at church late so I dropped my stuff in the booth and rushed to the room where we copy stuff to copy a CD for the holiday season. I know I should have rushed up to see if I was needed in the booth. I then rushed back to the booth and began to help with the rehearsal. Other churches were closed today so a man in a truck dropped off several boxes of donuts. That was good because the boss and I had a discussion about me being the woman and my roll. I should bring food because that’s what good women do. I rushed down to get him a donut so that I was now redeemed. When I got back he was already eating one but happily took my round offering after all it is a holey food and can be eaten on the Sabbath with or without coffee.
It turned out to be a lively morning and if you listen to my minister you might get a hint of things that took place.

During a reading someone did a rebuttal from the audience, our worship minister asked if we had other gods up there, tattoos were shown, we had a song mix up that I thought I had fixed, and my boss forgot to advance a slide during one of the songs making both of us laugh out loud.

It was a fun and silly morning.

Most of all it was a wonderful reminder of why I love that bunch of folks. God took a morning when all that I wanted to do was sleep to remind me why I get out of bed to be with these folks.


God showed me something so beautiful on my way to work. Just as the Michael W. Smith sang Son Of God I hit the part of town hit hardest by the ice. The trees were bowing from the weight. I wished for a camera as I passed them. It was wonderful timing as if God had them show me how it was to be done.

Sunday at work was an interesting one. I have to say that I will fall for jokes. I can easily be set up and played. I was played well by our LP and another coworker. It was classic. I was full in hook, line, and sinker. It had me laughing. I spent most of the night pushing credit. Yes I have to do it and yes I do it well. The truth is that I ended up helping folks and loving it. The storm was really hitting folks hard so helping them find what they needed was a good thing. It was reminded how blessed I am when two homeless men were in the store tonight because it promises to be a hard night for them. It was an easy drive home and the heated seats felt nice. I came home to a nice house with family in it .

And to think I wanted to sleep in today!

A season of change

Fall is to me one of the most beautiful times of the year. It’s not just because I can be outside without wilting and itching but because the colors and the smell of the earth. Fall smells so good to me. The earth seems to want for those leaves. I wondered as I walked home after walking my daughter to school why we rake leaves if we aren’t going to turn it into mulch. Why do they throw them away? Some bag them up for a land fill. It makes no darn good since.

No good since seems to be a theme this year for me and where I worship on Sundays. We rake leaves without trying to save them. When I found myself in the path of those who only want their yards to look nice I was struck hard. I knew that they would eventually want to speak to us about what was happening, I was preparing for it. I wasn’t prepared for them to pluck the leaves from the tree, they went way beyond raking the leaves from the floor of the forest they raked the branches.

Who knows what spring will bring.

No Faith

So lose of faith in leadership isn’t anything new. I have lost it for those who lead this country and now those who lead at the church that I attend.


I think part of it is that I’m too close to some of the men. If I didn’t know them and their families I might not have the information. I might be a part of the flock that is blind to the truth and very happy to walk in those doors sit in that room and worship God. I now have to figure out how to let those men not be such an obstruction of my worship. I have to get back to God being the focus of my time.


What do you do when sin stands a few feet away?


How do you walk past someone who has hurt you and not focus on the pain?


No I won’t leave that church. My son loves it there and this is the time that he needs for a foundation with God. The boy will soon be fourteen I want him to be happy with the place he worships.


I know that we all sin and just because you are a shepherd in church doesn’t mean that you will stop sinning. I do think that it should hold you accountable and if you and your family aren’t in the right place that you should step down.


I also know that some of you are wondering if I have spoken to these men. One I confronted right away. The other I haven’t I want to be able to speak without showing anger that is one that needs work. I have a bit of a temper and when pushed far enough I tend to really let go.
For now I give it to God.

Where's the rock for the kids?

The church I attend has been doing something a bit different with VBS for the past two years. It has changed it to Wednesday nights through the summer. I volunteered when I could in the past and love being the snack lady. Once we did a lava theme I brought a chunk of lava that had Hawaiian diamonds in it and let them feel the rock to show how rough it is. If you’ve ever been snorkeling in the tide pools on the Big Island you’ll know that they can shred you. I then passed a container of green sand and black sand and showed then how smooth it is from the water. I most likely don’t have to tell you where I went with the illustration of how God makes us smooth with water.

When I was a kid I attended VBS and still have those memories in my head of felt Jesus. I’m so glad to see that the VBS of the past is gone and we now have puppets, music, theme based snacks and so on.


I do have a point to telling about our VBSs. A great deal of the children that attended in the past were from our community or kids that were at friends or families house for a visit during the summer. We were an outreach for the kids. Now it seems that I’m not seeing as many new faces. What happened to VBS being an outreach? I will say that many volunteer and put on a VBS in another area so that they can have what our children have so we do have folks reaching out to those around us.


I spoke to some folks who were gathering things for their churches VBS about reaching the community. They had some really cool ways that I’d love to see more of. A bag of popcorn placed in a bag and hung on a door with the saying "Popping in to invite you . . .. ." A Kool-Aid package with something about having Kool time at VBS put on doors to invite kids.


The church where my son meets for Boy Scouts has a concession stand and charges money. This is a huge church and from what I hear they seemed surprised to see kids for outside the church attend their VBS. Are they alone in this or is the trend to take VBS away from the community?


I also realize that some parents did the drop and go thing but at least the kids got a bit of God in that week. You never know if that young person will be sitting on a bench on campus, thinking of what path to take, might think when he sees a rock on the ground and think about how smooth God could make him with the water.


Does your church use VBS as on outreach?

A time to pray

As the new year was ushered in with celebration around the world, the Tulsa Year of Prayer kicked off -and now it's my churches time.


Several churches have joined the 24/7 of prayer. This is an amazing thing to be able to be a part of God’s plan for us and it going on all over the world right now. I will be clocking out of work this week and driving to my church for two hours of prayer. My husband and I plan to take our children with us to spend an hour of prayer time with them.

If you have a need for prayer or praise please feel free add it here. I promise to take them with me. You don't have to put your name on the prayers if you don't want to. Those who have come here looking for different things are welcome to ask for prayers.


I'll pray for Bob, Bob’s wife, Bob’s son.

Ms. C, who could be facing a return breast cancer and is very frightened

Praise for the lady who struck up a conversation with me today while we waited. You were a reminder to take our faces out of a magazine or cell phone and talk to people. You were so wonderful in witnessing to me about your healing and to tell me your story. To raise five boys with two divorces must have been a hardship. I’m so glad that God has led you to where you are now. I can still smell your perfume from our hug. You are blessed and you are a blessing. I will pray that God continues to show you how very blessed you are. Thank you for a reminder to keep telling it!

Ed

Those going and those who are in the mission field

How do we let the neighborhood know that our church exists without knocking on the door and smacking them over the head with a Bible?

It seems to me to be a fine line between being annoying and being nice when it comes to inviting folks to church.


Several years ago one of our ministers decided to hold a free car wash. No big God only loves clean cars or if you are killed in this car you’ll go to hell pitch.


Last year we held Christmas Eve and Christmas services, my husband put the events on the church sign , several visitors came and one family said that the invitation on the sign brought them in and the hospitality let them know that this is where God wanted them to be.


I use to find a plastic Easter egg on the lawn every year, inside was an invitation to Easter services at a church near by.


I’ve heard of giving out 9v batteries with a note attached saying we care about you please change the battery in your smoke alarm, with the church information on it. Don’t add anything like if you died a sinner you’ll burn in hell, people hate to hear that.


I don’t mind people knocking on my door to invite me. I’m not fond of opening the door with my hair a mess, no makeup, and barking dog trying to eat those church folks. Only to see the picture perfect family standing on the stoop with that smile on their faces. I tell them thank you for the invitation and close the door.


I stared a tradition with our cub scout group to Christmas Carol for food for a food pantry. That would be a fun thing to do gather a group and Christmas Carol to let them know you care.

So how do we reach the masses?


Any ideas?

How to we select volunteers?

Well that in a way is a very silly question. People volunteer because they want to do what ever task they are passionate about. The problem is as byevad and Danny pointed out we must protect those who are susceptible to harm not just physically but spiritually. That doesn’t just apply to our youth us adults can fall prey to the false word.


The thing is when a new comer walks in those doors and offers to help we need to let them help somewhere that is fulfilling and will spark their passion to serve. Nothing personal but telling someone to just hand out bulletins might extinguish the fire to help. Sure it’s an important job I love those who do it where I attend but it’s not my passion. I love greeting people when we have special occasions but I want to be in the sound booth, it’s my passion. I’ve been a leader of a women’s group, a Sunday school teacher, the teacher’s assistant, a greeter for a Group publishing event, dish washer, MOPS hospitality leader, worked in the kitchen, spackled and painted, helped in children worship, LTC drama leader, and many more things. The thing is that we can easily toss a good volunteer away, they most likely will stop volunteering or find a place where they feel needed. I walked away the first time I offered to help out and wasn’t just turned down I was down right ignored, it took me years to go back to trying to help. Now I’m full in because of the passions God gave me.


Volunteering gives ownership to the church


That’s right it gives ownership. The more that people are involved the more they care about the life of the church.

Volunteering brings up tithing for some

They have seen first hand where the money goes and needs to go. The first project my husband did at our church was to rebuild a wall, paid for mainly out of our pockets. He said he wanted to and no one stopped him even though he was rather new to the congregation. Now he’s the ministry leader. He wasn’t told you can’t do that because. . . .


We also have to make sure that everyone is involved who needs to be.


I don’t know if you heard of ruffled feathers in other ministries like we have. In December we have a huge project coming up, the baptistry, and brand spanking new one is waiting to go in. This involves several ministries from those who keep the plants around it to people who want to be baptized while the thing is out. It would be very easy to step on toes, yes we are suppose to be Christians and grown ups and I need not say more?


The un believer who wants to help.

The Habitat House, building a neighbors fence, serving food to the homeless, a community project, we all should be aware that non believers are around us we may not be the seed we might be the fertilizer that makes that seed sprout. We should always be aware of those who might just need us to shine a little light on the beginnings of a new Christian.

I haven’t seen an un believer in the teaching area perhaps some of you have, I haven’t. Please give examples if it’s happened to you.


There is always room for one more to hold a paint brush, fix a toilet, help in the kitchen, the food bank, work sound, and so many other areas. If they walk in that door they believe something, they are wanting for something, you need to find out what their passions are and help them become a Christian.

What I did this Saturday and what I think

I spent Saturday working at my church I ran A/V for a Group Publishing event. It’s a pretty easy gig and the pay is nice. The only issue is that you spend several hours sitting and pushing a computer button. I know some of you do that all day, I’m not sure that’s for me.

I was a bit disappointed in not seeing anyone from any ministry team in our church, this was about getting and appreciating volunteers. Those are difficult issues at times and we should have had leaders at the event. I asked my husband why he didn’t consider going and he told me he was unaware of it. Hmmm could be no one knew.

Balls get dropped. Lip service happens.

We all have great ideas and we want to put these great events on yet we don’t always have time nor want to do the work, we expect others to take it on. When was the last time you showed up with cleaning supplies to clean a wall? How about just fixing the toilet instead of reporting that it still has a broken handle? I want to tell people when the complain about a mess or broken objects to pitch in and help, I don’t instead I tell my husband.


I have found myself volunteering for jobs then thinking "Was I just insane at that moment?" We’ve made some staffing changes in our church and I’m wondering how much of the load I can take on, that’s crazy for me to do much more. That’s another problem, some of us do more than we should we neglect or families and our own time, the time we should be spending with God. I doubt that many of us haven’t at times been so focused on the task at hand that we have neglected to see God. We dash around doing "God’s work" so much that we aren’t doing God’s work. I love the verse in the song "For a song in it self is not what you require" God doesn’t want us to over stress ourselves. He wants us to give with a glad heart, that’s not just about handing over money. Give time with a happy heart.

Something very cool happened at this event Saturday, I couldn’t keep up with the script. It’s scripted so that the slides go with what they are saying. It has places in the script for the presenter to tell stories and ask questions so it becomes more personal. I was trying my best to keep up but couldn’t. The presenter came back after the first break and said I don’t know it seems as if God has taken over I’ve never deviated from the script like this before. She allowed for the needs of the crowd, it was great. She let God take over, we were patient with each other on the slides and videos so we weren’t stressed.

I had an issue with a question that came up. What do you do when an unbeliever wants to volunteer, how do you tell them they can’t do that?

Huh???

Did she say that the way we heard it?

Sure now I’ll agree you might not want a non believer teaching children unsupervised, then again what? I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of this ever being an issue. When someone comes into the church you should welcome them and if they volunteer then let them. (Yes you want to make sure it’s safe and you give the guidance. If they walk in those doors then they believe in God. They may not know all the details but they know something bigger is at work and they need us to open our arms and love them.

So you know I hate the titles unbeliever, nonbeliever, and unchurched. If I heard someone call me that not actually knowing who I was I’d walk out of the building.

Elephant Food

This is elephant feed.

Someone spoke to me tonight about our church I'm sick at the things we are going through. My heart is heavy. I'm not sure if we can take the sand. I know I must put it in God's hands.

I found this on someones blog. I know that this is feeding fear and anger. Truth doesn't matter. He said it and some are upset.

**** made this comment, "I am a recovering Church of Christer." And noted that "******* Church is a recovering Church of Christ." He adds, "What we are trying to recover from is a mean spirited, divisive, judgmental, narrow, arrogant, harmful, despicable version of the Christian faith that has done terrible damage to the cause of Christ in this world." **** isn't saying all churches from the Restoration Movement are this way, but the fact is the far right within Churches of Christ have been this way. Pretty strong statements from ****. I'm not sure I would have even phrased it that way but I do agree with his premise. Most surprising, he is still employed there! (Which is good, he is a very bright guy.) Give it a listen if you have a chance. I'd love to hear some thoughts. The title is "Both And"

THAT"S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT SUNDAYS

The alarm played That’s what I Love About Sundays at 7:01 am Sunday morning. Not 7:00 because it’s to regimented for me. I pushed the snooze putting Craig Morgan on hold for six minutes. I pulled the blanket up to my chin and tried to relax for the next six, when Raymond’s in his Sunday best. It’s cold and wet outside. Don’t get me wrong it’s a blessing the burn ban has lifted for now. Not today just let me stay home and sleep next to the man I love, I think as I close my eyes.

• 
  I have no choice I had to brave the cold tile and get ready for several reasons.
• 
  My children are devastate when they don’t go to church. They will actually try to fake being well to go.
• 
  I was expected to be in the sound booth.
• 
  I need to hear the word of God.

It’s not just the cold that is making me want to stay. There is a very large elephant in our church. It has been fed way too much and is continuing to grow.

While I sat putting on my make up I start to speak with my husband. He has different views than I do and we have no trouble saying how we feel. So I’m putting my make up on and doing my hair while we talked about the elephant. Sometimes it’s hard knowing things. Why can’t I be a pew sitting woman, happy to just relax and soak it in? When did I stop doing that? I wonder. This morning we are in agreement something needs to be done about the elephant.
I know that I could be just a bit tired of the place. We’ve changed a zillion light bulbs. No they didn’t all burn out at once, when you have a lift and the scaffolding you change them all. We still had a few things to finish up Saturday. When we arrived we were greeted with a much needed hug, a real on the one where the huger doesn’t let go for awhile and you soak in every second of it. She also shared her concerns.

So there I was in the bathroom getting ready Sunday and I started to vent about the darn elephant.

Aaarrrggg. . . . Just talk about it! I was sure that I was getting loud because I sounded loud to myself. The frustrating thing is that none will be able to sit down and dialog until the big event is over. That thing has it’s own elephant. And until it’s over and everyone has decompressed the pachyderms are free to roam about eating and growing.

So here it is Sunday and for the first time I’m worried about church. I love that place it feels like home to me and my family. I don’t want to even think about changes.

Let it go and get dressed I tell myself .

My daughter brings a ray of sunshine. She is dressed and ready to go. Brushed and fluffed. No sending her back up the steps to change. Thank you Lord.

I wonder why they have painted the darn elephant pink.

We after going back into the house for a left item, no son one pare of pants isn’t enough for a week at your grandfather’s . A blessing my father loves my children and my son chooses to spend time with him. Thank you Lord.

They giggle at my joke in the car (sounds of Heaven) and my husband laughs at what I said to him. Humor is wonderful, God gave us that. Thank you Lord.

I was ready to throw my cell phone at the person who called during services. Bad timing clearly thing weren’t going too well. I stopped taking communion when brought, Codepokes post. Now I set it to the side. It brings peace during a hectic time. It’s a God thing. Thank you Lord.

The music was great it feels good to be a part of that. I don’t sing well and fill in the parts I don’t know with my own words. Improve training. He found a way to make me part of it. Thank you Lord.

We had a Baptism. Thank you Lord.

They have put the elephant in the church and we can all see it. It’s big and pink and is just roaming around . Why can’t they just talk openly about it?

We had a visiting minister. His microphone is cutting out and we can’t fix it. It smooths out a bit so I relax and listen to what he brings me. Thank you Lord.

He says "Jesus doesn’t just love you He likes you" What! What! Oh man now. . .AHHHH!
If I were in bed covers pulled up I wouldn’t have heard this. We shouldn’t just love someone we should like them. Okay. . . I love my enemies my fellow men and women . . .like. . . honestly. . . like. . . that’s a stretch. I have to work on that. It has honestly consumed me since he said it. I need to hear it. Thank you Lord.

I am leading the LTC dramas this year. We have a lot of kids and very little time. I have a parent volunteer to help and was able to split the group. I had to write one script. I prayed that God gave me the words and will bless this great group of children. I wrote the script rather quickly. Thank you Lord.

The elephant is large and neon pink and I’m not a keep quiet lady.

I will when the time is right, rope it and ride it into the conference room. God will give me the ability to say look see it now it big pink and is wearing Marti Gras beads, let’s talk about it. Not in my time, my time comes with a quick temper and a loud voice. I’ve yelled about stuff before not realizing how loud I was until the minister’s eyes grew wide. He remained calm and spoke quietly. Thank you Lord

God loves and likes me. WOW! Thank you Lord!

I need to write a script on this.

"When the princes in Israel take the lead,
when the people willingly offer themselves—
praise the LORD!

Judges 5:2




God will give me the words. The kids will learn and enjoy being together.