Stirrings: church

Showing posts with label church. Show all posts

Thursday, October 7, 2010

My super good friend, Kat and I (and our girls) visiting at Mamie's

Mary Alex's first women's conference at church. Priscilla Shirer.

Mary Alex's first time to tailgate (at Southern)

Mary Alex's first football game (at Southern)

Sweet Sleepy Smiles

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

201st Blog Post...Wow!

After several adventures with our suitcase, Rebekah's diaper bag, my purse and the interior of a car, I finally found my camera with visual documentation of our fabulous weekend.

Rebekah and I left Jackson Saturday morning around 7:30. My little one slept all the way there. She woke up in Sayward's driveway. I enjoyed a sweet reunion with Sayward and Rebecca. I've seen both Sayward and Rebecca since our DSU days, but not together for an extended amount of talking time. I miss them so much. The orgins of their friendship run across, into, and intertwine with the roots of the beginning of my deeper and closer walk with my God.

While at Sayward's, Beks didn't pay much attention to Harper Ann(or even McKayla). She was taken in by the lure of all of Holt's toys, especially this tractor. It made noise! Our morning visit did not last too long because two little girls needed their beauty rest. So we left Sayward and most precious new baby, Harper Ann, for Mrs. Austin's house.

Mrs. Austin has to be the sweetest lady in the world to me. She was so good to us all during our DSU days and continues to be a blessing. I don't know many other people who would open their home to two one year olds at the same time!

Sayward is a biological rarity. She has a two week old child and is up and at 'em AND looking beautiful. She and Harper Ann made an appearance at their family reunion and then stopped in for more visiting at Mrs. Austin's.

The lady of the hour....Harper Ann Fortner

Rebekah gravitated right to Harper Ann this time. She was very very interested in her.

I think she wanted to pick her up and have a bite, much like she desired with her cousin Will a month ago.

She uncovered her teeny tiny feet. Not sure how I failed to snap a shot of those toes.

Mrs. Austin and Harper Ann

I think Mrs. Austin may be the cutest baby holder EVER.

Rebecca and Harper Ann. Rebecca and I both can't believe all girls are big now. We miss the cuddly bundle of a newborn. Ours are on-the-go.

McKayla was very curious about that baby in her Mama's arms.

Harper Ann and I....ooooooohhhhweeeeeeee, I love little babies!

The girls still hovering around Sayward and Harper Ann. They are irresistable.

After our visit with Sayward and Harper Ann, we went to the Blue Levee for supper. It was very very very very good. I've been craving it ever since. When we came home, we decided that the girls needed a bath.

And then we let them explore in their pajamas.

They are super great at playing side-by-side. They went to bed. We stayed up and chatted.

Sunday morning we all went to Covenant. I still consider Covenant my home church. God blessed me so richly through this church body and leadership during my DSU days. I got to see so many faces that I love Sunday morning!!! After church, we met up with another good friend, Anjanette, at the Warehouse for lunch. And then we headed home.

Overall, it was LOVELY!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

So several months ago, Crystal had a very good idea. Her good idea was for us to attend a Living Proof Live even for her birthday. We all discussed and agreed that it was a very good idea. So Friday afternoon, Crystal, Jennifer, Kristin and I loaded up and drove to New Orleans.

And we saw Beth Moore (and her hair) (and her cute clothes).

I had to include this picture of Rebekah watching Beth Moore's Esther study while we were home sick on Thursday.
Now back to LPL in NOLA.

She taught from 1Thessalonians5:11-24

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

It was great. It was amazing. God is amazing. I loved it.

One thing Beth put before us was the importance of living in a community of faith. It made me think back to my Delta State days and the girls who were my community and how God used them to encourage me and shape me and to teach me about Himself. Our community of faith changes with time and enviroments. I think those girls (JenFin, Joy, Rebecca, Annette, Amberly, Sayward, Hilary...) will always be so important to me. They were the first people who I felt loved me despite myself. I cry to think about it. Sweetness.

And Travis Cottrell lead the worship times, which were awesome too. God is so awesome with the awesome things He does through his servants. I bounce on my toes when music moves me. I bounced so much Friday and Saturday that my calves are about to fall off my body.

Ok, thanks for reading.

And here is a video from LPM blog.

Living Proof Live - New Orleans 2009 from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

And I saw BooMama and BigMama from a distance.

They are writing about this event here.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Once again...

God got all over me again this morning.

Tony preached from John 13:1-17. He titled his sermon "Jesus and Dirty Feet".
He started off with the following video.

(Click here to learn more about Penn and Teller)

My heart was struck. It is hatred to believe in heaven and hell and to not share/witness to people you aren't postive are headed to heaven. So many of us don't share because it is awkward or we are scared of how a person will react. Which reminds me something of Priscilla Shirer's I read several weeks ago --"Not allowing our happiness to interfere with our holiness can be a difficult challenge..." So what is more important our personal comfort or someone else's eternity?

Deep stuff.

The main point of the sermon was we are commanded to love as God loved us. God loved us by serving. So we should serve because we love. And in a week or two or three, you can listen to the sermon here.

Tony ended with this quote from Mother Teresa --"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." which made me think of my school babies (who have obviously already been on my heart and mind A LOT) because they are near to me for the majority of my day. And thinking on the school babies made me remember these other lovely ideas I gleamed from Mrs. Shirer.--"Mothering is not the ultimate goal of being a mom, revealing Christ to the children is." and "The anointing causes a woman with children to become a developer of Christian soliders."

Now I know my school babies are not my personal children, but I think I am closer with them than most regular education teachers are to their children. We get up close and personal in my room. It is me and 4-5 kids most of the day. We really know each other. I get called "Mom" A LOT. And God has laid it on my heart that it is my job to try to teach these little lovelies their academics but also to show them His love. And I'm taking that job assignment way more seriously these days.

I'm very glad God continues to reinforce this lesson time and time again.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

A few moments caught this week

Racing towards Momma, not because she loves Momma

but because she loves the SOCKS Momma has!

She's found a new delight at ElRancho.

Reaching for Daddy's wallet already!!!

Getting ready to go to her slumber party with Oma and KaaKaa

Ordering at El Rancho (we only went 4 times this week)

Momma's heart divided in two. How cute are they?!?

Ty and Rebekah checking each other out on the way to church.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Today's Assignment

It is hard for me to narrow down chores to one least favorite. I have a couple. But my very very least favorite has earned that title because of how often I have to do it.

My least favorite chore is emptying the dishwasher (thanks for passing that one on Mom.)

Emptying the dishwasher is very necessary. I do it begrudgingly at least three times a week.

If I stopped doing it, several things would happen. Our kitchen would begin to smell pretty awful. Our available kitchen counter space would dwindle away bit by bit. We would have to buy paper or plastic dishes which when used would drastically up our grocery bill and the amount of waste our household produces which in the long run may result in the end of the world. Anybody else want to complete the assignment for today?

On another note, tonight was the third session of "Anointed, Transformed and Redeemed" bible study. AND it was awesome. AND I am so blessed to have a God that has chosen me and loves me despite myself and chooses the most awesome ways to show me more of Himself.

And on another note, if any of you are looking for things to add to your prayer list, I would love for you to pray for me and my students as we finish out this school year. We all need a little more patience for each other and a little longer attention spans and a lot more Jesus in our interactions. Ok? Ok, thanks.