I keep trying to get into the Facebook, twitter, Blog thing, but I’m not as quick to pick it up as one might think.  Did you know people comment on blog posts, and they don’t automatically show up – you have to “manage” them.  I checked yesterday and I had a comment from the very first post I submitted.  I had no idea.

My husband decided to check out FB, twitter and blogging and within 48 hours he had it all down!  He does most of it from his phone.  What???  I’m just not ready for that.  Everytime I look at FB he’s got an update.  Could it be that, as he stated in his last blog post, he’s a tech geek?  OR could it be that I just don’t get it.

Whatever it is, I have to say he amazes me!  He is so great, and I’m proud of him.  He’s been absolutely amazing handling the A/V project for the new church.

So, here it is – 1:02AM and we’re both up checking out blogs and catching up with friends.  IT’S TIME FOR BED!  ~Not before I check on my babies….

I LOVE MY JOB!!!
I LOVE WHERE I WORK!!!
I LOVE MY CHURCH!!!

Isn’t it amazing how God blesses…
He takes you by the hand and guides you toward your destiny – if you allow him to.
When I think of all He’s done for me – it blows my mind.  And I know that it’s just the beginning.

Every week, no every day, I am faced with another opportunity to grow.  When God grows you up, He wants to take you to new levels in many areas.  What you might think is a lesson for your attitude can very well be groundwork for a level of leadership you never dreamed of.
As I sit and think of all the things I’ve learned the past 14 days I’m amazed.  That’s one of my problems!  I don’t take the time to reflect on how God is working in my life.  Sometimes you can’t just “see it” you have to look for it.
My fingers keep starting sentences describing what God is teaching me, yet I delete them because they are too precious.  Some of the lessons I’m just realizing as I’m writing.  Thank you Lord for stretching me – for showing me you love me!!

What to say.

It’s now 38 days until we have our first weekend service in the new auditorium!!!  The word “Busy” doesn’t seem to quite do the job for the atmosphere for The Gathering.  People are here and there getting things done.  It is so exciting!

For those of you (AG) who anxiously wait to read my profound thoughts – here you go.

I’ve never struggled with authority [those in authority over me], but I have struggled with my authority.  I have no problems following the direction of my superiors.  Yet, why would someone follow me?

Why – I ask?  Well – I used to ask.  No more.

I am a child of the King.  Placed in this place, in this position, at this time.  The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in me; therefore I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

You cannot allow what others say about you to dictate how you feel about yourself.  It DOES eventually come true.   What freedom there is in knowing, “yes, I am a filthy rotten sinner.  BUT – I no longer live, but Christ in me.”

Those are my thoughts of the day.

Well, it’s Sunday night. We had a LONG weekend. ~ And I’m wide awake!

Friday I had my first experience with a sleepover. Sara turned 6 on the 12th, and we celebrated on the 13th. I took 1 4yr old, 1 5yr old and 2 6yr olds to the movies, dinner and finally shopping. You may be saying, “What were you thinking???” My reply, “obviously I wasn’t.” The girls were great! Very well behaved and polite. Chalk it up to experience gained. LESS IS MORE. We got home about 10:00, set up their beds, then turned on another movie. Needless to say I crashed before they did. And I’m sure it’s no surprise they were ALL up before 7:30am.

Call time was 2:30 today. I have to say our run thru was rough. Not sure what’s going on, what God wants to teach us, but I’m keeping my eyes and ears open to hear him. We’re growing…

We opened our new series, “You’re Still The One” where we’re focusing on our volunteers. We cannot do what we do without our faithful volunteers! 5 services followed by the luncheon at the new property took a lot out of me: physically as well as emotionally.
Guy and I wrote the names of family and friends on the concrete in the new auditorium. We wrote our babies names – Oh that they would love the Lord and serve Him all the days of their lives! We are claiming that in the name of Jesus Christ!
We ended the afternoon in a time of prayer with a couple of ladies – AMAZING!!!

Rounding out our weekend was our small group. FIREPROOF is going to be so good for us. Our church needs this- Guy and I need this.

Sara finally crashed after her big weekend; Matthew fell asleep on the couch with me; Kate fought it for about an hour, and Guy retired about 2 hours ago. Why am I still up?

My mind is reeling from a very moving weekend.
I learned a lot about being a mom. I watched my baby girl with her friends. She was so respectful and kind with them.
She’s growing up! SHE’S 6!!!
I’m continually learning about being a worshiper – and leading worship. I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST
who gives me strength!
I am experiencing new things! There has been a little bit of tradition stuck to me. God is so good – His timing is perfect!
I am ready to receive what he has for me! I’m ready to go to the next level. What is it? I have no idea, but BRING IT ON!
I saw that my marriage is about to go to a new level. My husband said some incredibly and insightful -
complimentary comments tonight.

I’m exhausted….

Let’s get ready to do it again! It’s what I live for.

Since I announced this weekend that I have a blog, I thought I should probably write something. I rack my brain trying to write something insightful, something powerful, but it’s just not coming. I think instead of going that route, I’ll just write what’s on my heart.

Family:
In just 2 weeks my Katy Bug will turn ONE. It doesn’t seem that long ago when Guy and I discovered that God was surprising us with our third child. WOW!!! WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN!!! God is awesome. Kate brings such joy to our home. – all of our children do.

Matthew is SO FUNNY. Guy and I love to just watch him. I’ve never seen a more expressive child. He doesn’t look you in the eye when he talks because his eyes are too busy helping to tell his story, as well has his hands, his mouth, his legs… He is so funny.

Sara is so pretty and so smart. She’s almost six, but seems at least 8. She loves to learn and is helping to teach Guy and about discipline. In order for her to learn and constantly be challenged, we have to be the ones to challenge her. She’s amazing!

Work:
THANK YOU GOD that you have placed me in such an amazing environment. When I think about what I’m learning, I am so grateful that I’ve been given this opportunity. I have learned so much about leadership, communication, respect, how to handle myself in various situations, and so much more. By the grace of God I am able to learn all of these things as well as put them in to practice within my home, the church, and everyday life.

Spiritually:
God is stirring my heart to break free from some things that have a hold on me. Do you ever wonder why you just can’t “win the battle” in some areas? As Paul said, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” That makes so much sense to me now. It also seems that sometimes when there’s a breakthrough – there can also be a set back. Is it because contentment sets in? I don’t know, but I sure am seeking Him in this area. I don’t want to waste time trying to figure it out; I just want to follow Him.

He is faithful and He is true.

As Pastor likes to say, “He’s a Good GOD!!”

It never ceases to amaze me how face-paced ministry is. I remember thinking that people who worked at a church only worked when there was a service. It’s still the most asked question – “You work fulltime at the church? Do you not have a real job? What do you do all week?” I’d say that it doesn’t matter what ministry you’re a part of, it’s in the top 5 questions regarding the position. Here it is well after midnight and I’m just now winding down.
God is a HUGE GOD, and His ministry is HUGE!
We are entering my favorite time of year, The Chest of Joash. This is positively the most special season we go through each year. And every year is sweeter than the one before.
I’ll never forget the first Chest. None of us, all 120 of us, knew what to expect. Pastor Gene taught us how to give, how to give Sacrificially. I had never heard teaching like that. What was sacrificial giving? The phrase that at that time was merely a slogan to me is now a precious heart declaration. Not Equal Gifts, but Equal Sacrifice. I have to say, I have yet to learn the true depth of that statement.
That first Sunday in December 2001 we showed up to give our sacrificial offering. At that time the church had a borrowed chest placed on a small table with purple crushed velvet cloth to drape. The staff gave their gifts first, all 3 of us, followed by the leaders, then our church family. After we placed our gift in the chest I relieved the nursery workers so they could give with their families.
I will never forget the moment I stepped back into the Auditorium. It was as if all of Heaven was right their in that room witnessing this small church’s huge offering of faith. That’s what it is; it’s an offering of faith. We’d all like to think we have a strong faith, but it’s when we give all we have, when we have nothing else but Him, that’s when our faith grows. AND each year the experience of the Chest gets better.
Anyway, all the business of ministry life is so worth it. The late nights, early mornings, long days, carting three small children to every event, is all worth it knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that it’s all for the One who gave EVERYTHING for me. If what I do allows someone else to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, then I’ll do it! I am storing up treasures in Heaven as well as creating a legacy for my precious babies.
As I said earlier, God is a HUGE GOD, and I haven’t even scratched the surface of knowing Him.

After having a website with my own name as the title for over a year, I thought it might be time to actually write something!

I have been so hesitant to write something for fear of not doing it right, saying something silly, or bad grammar. Well, if I keep waiting for everything to be “perfect”, I’ll be sitting here this time next year with a blank blog.

This past year has been an amazing year for me. We welcomed our third child last November and we just have not seemed to slow down. I’m starting to realize that phrase is just a phrase, not a reality. I am doing my best to develop a routine – that sounds good, doesn’t it…
Sara is a quarter of the way through Kindergarten, Matthew still loves Tea Cups and Trucks and Kate is thinking about walking. She just discovered her scrunchy cheesy smile as well as her high pitch sounds. WE HAVE 3 CHILDREN!!!!

Guy and I realized that riding to work together saves a tremendous amount in gas, as well as gives us much-needed one on one time. It’s hard to spend time together with your soul mate when you have 3 little ones as well as challenging jobs.

Between ministry and motherhood there is not much left at the end of the day. And waking in the mornings is difficult sometimes as well. This past weekend I took time for me! I spent the weekend in Talladega, AL at a women’s retreat with a group from Atlanta. WOW! I needed that! My inner woman needed that! To spend time with other women and revel in the love of the Father, to be exposed to new levels of worship was so fulfilling.

One lady mentioned that she lives with the thought, “Lord, don’t leave me the same way I was when I walked in.” Now I had heard that at a Willow Conference, but had confined it to pertain to planning weekend services. Now I want to apply that to my daily life. Every moment is an experience. Every conversation, every activity, every part of my day – Lord, don’t leave me the same way I was when I woke up this morning. More of YOU! If I constantly seek those moments to see my Lord in everything, there is NO WAY I will be the same. He is new and fresh all the time. He is so big that around every corner I will see Him as never before.

It’s good to get away and be refreshed. I pray that each day I wake refreshed in His love for me!