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Baby Preacher

Baby Preacher

Singles Retreat 2006 (Part 2)

Okay, I am going to try to write with only one good eye.  I have a scratched cornea on my right eye.  It is patched.  I look likr the victim of a bear attack.  Anyways.  I keep getting dizzy when I try to focus too much on the screen.  So, if there are any mispelled words, sorry.

Singles' Retreat was totally awesome.  Eddie Vansell was the speaker.  He is a great speaker. 

We arrived Friday evening.  We had dinner, Session One, then went on a hayride.  It was fun. 

Saturday was lots of fun.  We had a HUGE breakfast.  We played Bingo.  My extremely wonderful brother, Chris, won a portable DVD player.  He gave it to me.  We switched cards and I won a Mission Impossible DVD set that I gave to him.  Then we went to Elephant Rock.  We ate a picnic lunch.  The rocks were supposed to look like elephants lined up in a circus, but I guess that I lack the creativity to see it.  It was great exercise.  I got some great pics.  When we got back we had dinner.  Are you seeing a pattern, here?  We ate a lot.  After sinner, I decided to take a nap before Session Two.  I figured that one of my friends would wake me up.  Nope.  The next thing I knew, it was 9:30 and we were loading up to go bowling.  Oops.  I love bowling.  It's something that not a lot of people are good at.  So we all sucked at something together, but had fun while doing it.  We also enjoyed playing numerous songs on the jukebox.  When we got back, a few of us decidedto do karaoke.  Ernie was our Emcee.  He REALLY has a voice for announcing.  He would be absolutley perfect for radio!  He is hilarious! About 2 am, or so, Eric came in and asked if anyone wanted to watch a movie.  So, Chris went and got His Mission Impossible movies.  I was beginning to freeze at this point, so I decide to go back to the dorm.

Sunday was our last day.   We got up, had breakfast, and proceeded with Session Three.  Afterwards, we ate lunch and did karaoke.  It was so much fun! 

Son't think that we didn't also realize the main focus of Retreat.  During the services, you could really feel the presence of God.  Philip and Fred sis an amazing job leading Praise & Worship. 

I can't wait until next year.  It just gets better each year!  I can't wait to see everyone again! 

Singles' Retreat 2006

Hooray!  We leave in about 2 hours for this years Singles' Retreat!  I am so excited.  It is going to be so much fun.

Well, they weren't able to put Grandma's stint in today.  They wanted to get the surgeon's opinion, first.  I think they are going to do it Monday.  I made sure that I gave Mom all of the numbers for the Campground.  Keep her in your prayers.  I annointed her and prayed over her.  I know that "..all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28)  So, I'm not going to worry.  I serve a great and mighty God who is above all sickness.  My Grandma is a wonderful woman of faith.  God is going to do His will and everything will work out.

I am going to run over to my cousin's house to borrow some karaoke CDs, grab something to eat, and head out of town.  I'll be seeing a lot of my myspace friends.  Take Care.  God Bless....

God Knows Even when you think he doesn't

Yes, I am alive!  I haven't had the time to post anything for quite a while.  Let me catch you all up since my last post.  Here goes:  worked overtime, fought with Michael, worked more overtime, argued with Michael, went to see the Cardinals beat the Brewers 3-2, my Grandma Pearl passed away, Michael sprained his wrist.  Okay, now that you're caught up, here comes the real blog.

Have you ever thought that maybe you would try to keep something from God.  Yes, I am a blonde, but I'm sure that you understand what I'm saying. I have been feeling really down lately.  Michael and I had a really bad week together.  I started feeling like I was a worthless parent.  I really started resenting all 2-parent homes.  I even felt like becoming one of those "faces on the milk cartons".  I just thought how much easier it would be for everyone else if I just weren't a part of their lives.  How lame is that?  I actually had to ask my kid if he hated me the other day.  He seems to love to break my heart with his words.  His disrespect towards me has gotten out of hand.  We are going to go to counselling.  I prayed long and hard about it.  I tried to do everything MY way.  At what point am I going to realize that it's not MY way, but HIS.  He has this plan for my life.  He has spared me too many times to not have some fabulos plan for me.  He has allowed me to go through numerous struggles that have made me stronger.  They have made me who I am.  Would I have rather not gone through some of those struggles?  Duh?  But, they have made me who I am.  They have made be able to do what He has asked of me. 

So, now I get to the part about trying to hide from God.  My Great-Grandma Pearl passed away early Sunday morning.  I was not planning to go to church.  Then the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said:  you need to be there today.  So, I got in the shower, got ready, and we went.  I am so glad that I was there.  God gave me such a wonderful mesage.  He said: "though I know that you feel like you are worthless. remember that I created you.  I would not create anything that could be deemed 'worthless'.  Though you feel that your heart has broken, remember that I am always in your midst.  Give me your sorrow, give me your broken heart, for I am with you and I love you."  God's presence was so strong in that service.  It was just amazing.  I love my church.  We had a visitor that made a statement that was so true.  He stated that sometimes you can walk into a church, and you can tell that God is not there.  When you walk into our church, you know that He is there.  Of course we do have the best Pastorial Staff in the whole Southern Missouri District! 

Well, not much else to write about.  I have to get things ready to go to Rolla tomorrow.  Later...

Thank You God, For Always Being There

Tomorrow is finally Friday!!  I have had a very long week.  I like my new job.  This week has just been training.  Most of next week will probably be training, also.  That's okay, though.  That way I can learn how to do my new job to the best of my ability. 

The doctor called, yesterday.  They finally figured out what was wrong, some type of infection.  I took the Z-Pak and I'm supposed to feel better soon.  I hope that soon means fast.

I talked to God a lot last night.  I think that we have reached a really great agreement.  I'm going to listen to Him and He is going to smack me upside the head if I mess up again.  Pretty good deal if you ask me.  I need to get my life back on task.  I have really not been doing what He has planned for me.  That just breaks my heart.  I mean, He gave His life for us, and I can't do the few things that He has asked of me.  How lame is that?  He tells me constantly to lay my burdens upon Him.  Our burdens are nothing to Him.  If I could just get that through my thick head.  I just always feel like I don't want to burden Him with all of my junk.  Then I let it all get to me.  Like I think that that is what he wants me to do?!?  He's my spiritual father.  He only wants good things for me, just like my earthly father.  When am I going to figure this out?  I want to be the person that He wants me to be, but sometimes it is so hard.  After all, I am flesh.  I'm not perfect.  I know that He understands that.  He will always be there to pick me up when I fall.  If I could just stay upright for longer periods of time!

He is ALWAYS There

God just constantly sends messengers.  I was sitting here missing my grandpa, worrying about Nae, and wishing that the guy that I have fallen for wasn't so clueless.  Then, this older lady with an accent comes ringing the doorbell.  She is going house-to-house with a book called "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived".  They are trying to reach unbelivers about the love of God.  How fabulous is that?  Really makes you take stock of the things in your life.

Bible Quizzing

I am soooo proud of my Bible Quizzers!!  They won all three of their quizzes yesterday.  These kids are ages 5-8.  They were so great!  THEY BEAT JOPLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  If I remember correctly, the score was 240 to 30.  They were so proud of themselves.  One of the quizzers, Noah, got 3rd place for the individual top quizzer out of all the primary quizzers.  I just love this ministry.  It is so awesome to see how much these kids love to learn the Word.  I just realized the other day that I've been coaching for 5 yrs.  It's been so much fun and so rewarding.  I just love it. 

Okay, Naomi, you know that I read some of your old blogs.  What's up with this anti-God thing.  Call me and we can chat.