"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" -Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

My Blog Title: 2 are better than 1 takes on a new meaning!

Can I just tell you that the past 3 days have been not so fun. Adam left on Monday with the 8th graders and headed to Washington. He'll be back tomorrow, PRAISE THE LORD! I know I may sound a little desperate to you, but I don't care...I love my husband and I never want him away from me!

I have been staying at my mom's house for the past few nights and tonight, as I write this entry, I am staying at my other mom's and dad's. I will stay at my house when I absolutely have to, but when I know someone in town and they offer their home to me...I'm there! I'm not one to stay by myself. I have to be honest with you...I've been pretty pitiful without Adam here and I am counting down the hours till he comes home...let's see, only 23 hours to go!

So, Ladies and Gentlemen...2 are DEFINITELY better than 1!!

My Blog Title: 2 are better than 1 takes on a new meaning!

Can I just tell you that the past 3 days have been not so fun. Adam left on Monday with the 8th graders and headed to Washington. He'll be back tomorrow, PRAISE THE LORD! I know I may sound a little desperate to you, but I don't care...I love my husband and I never want him away from me!

I have been staying at my mom's house for the past few nights and tonight, as I write this entry, I am staying at my other mom's and dad's. I will stay at my house when I absolutely have to, but when I know someone in town and they offer their home to me...I'm there! I'm not one to stay by myself. I have to be honest with you...I've been pretty pitiful without Adam here and I am counting down the hours till he comes home...let's see, only 23 hours to go!

So, Ladies and Gentlemen...2 are DEFINITELY better than 1!!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

The REAL Change

Man oh man...am I the only one who is ready for this election season to be over?...I mean every other commercial I see is paid for by somebody and it's getting old! Now, I am all for some change around here and I have my pick on who I think should do it, but that's not all we should be focused on.

Our pastor at Elevation started the first week of many on a series called "The Real Change" and let me tell you, if you're looking for some hope in your life...this is where you'll find it!

This morning he said some great words of encouragement that really breathed life into Adam and I and also challenged us as Christians. You can listen to the whole thing by clicking here. Anyway, all that's being said and everything you hear is, "CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE"! Pastor told us this morning that if we want change, the real change will start in you! The body of Christ has to come together and react to things for the better, not just sit back and say, "Well, I'm voting for Jesus and I'm waiting for Him to come back". Well folks, you can say that as much as you want, but the fact of the matter is election day is coming whether we like it or not and we as Christians have to stand up and SHINE! Pastor also said, "the darker it gets, the brighter we shine" and let me tell you, it is pretty dark out there and we have the greatest opportunity right now to shine hope to the world.

And since the economy is the pits right now, it gives the church no excuse to back down from anything it was doing in the first place. For example, Elevation partners with 4 different charitable organizations within the city and gives 10% of their yearly income to them. Elevation is not only going to keep giving to those organizations, but they are partnering with 16 other organizations to provide help during this economic and financial crisis. I believe that is a perfect example of how the church doesn't need to sit around and do nothing...we need to come together along side our community and show the love of Christ and the hope we have in Him.

So, to the whole 2, maybe 3 readers I have, I personally want to challenge you to shine your light on this dark world and provide hope to the ones who are lost.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:13-16

The REAL Change

Man oh man...am I the only one who is ready for this election season to be over?...I mean every other commercial I see is paid for by somebody and it's getting old! Now, I am all for some change around here and I have my pick on who I think should do it, but that's not all we should be focused on.

Our pastor at Elevation started the first week of many on a series called "The Real Change" and let me tell you, if you're looking for some hope in your life...this is where you'll find it!

This morning he said some great words of encouragement that really breathed life into Adam and I and also challenged us as Christians. You can listen to the whole thing by clicking here. Anyway, all that's being said and everything you hear is, "CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE"! Pastor told us this morning that if we want change, the real change will start in you! The body of Christ has to come together and react to things for the better, not just sit back and say, "Well, I'm voting for Jesus and I'm waiting for Him to come back". Well folks, you can say that as much as you want, but the fact of the matter is election day is coming whether we like it or not and we as Christians have to stand up and SHINE! Pastor also said, "the darker it gets, the brighter we shine" and let me tell you, it is pretty dark out there and we have the greatest opportunity right now to shine hope to the world.

And since the economy is the pits right now, it gives the church no excuse to back down from anything it was doing in the first place. For example, Elevation partners with 4 different charitable organizations within the city and gives 10% of their yearly income to them. Elevation is not only going to keep giving to those organizations, but they are partnering with 16 other organizations to provide help during this economic and financial crisis. I believe that is a perfect example of how the church doesn't need to sit around and do nothing...we need to come together along side our community and show the love of Christ and the hope we have in Him.

So, to the whole 2, maybe 3 readers I have, I personally want to challenge you to shine your light on this dark world and provide hope to the ones who are lost.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:13-16

Saturday, October 11, 2008

God-sized opportunity

Last Thursday Adam and I had to go to the store because we had nothing to eat for dinner at our house. We went to the Food Lion right up from our work on our way home. We got everything we needed and got in line. While we were standing in line we both couldn't help but notice the people in front of us. It was an older lady and her daughter who was about our age with her daughter (about 3 or 4) in the buggy and she was expecting another one on the way. Adam and I didn't say anything to each other while we were in the store, but we watched. The cashier proceeded to check out their groceries which included your normal everyday stuff, diapers, and about 15-20 bags of ramion noodles. Their bill totaled up to be $97.00 and when the woman (who was our age) saw it she said, "whoa...oh well". She proceeded to pay and left the store. After Adam and I paid for our stuff and got in our car the first thing we said to each other was, "did you see those people in front of us?" we both knew how blessed we are to have been given 2 steady jobs and pretty much everything we needed. Adam turned to me and told me, "we need to buy their groceries" so as he was getting out of the car to go tell them, they were driving away and Adam got in front of the car to stop them...he told them that he wasn't some crazy man and that he and his wife wanted to pay for their groceries. So they pulled in a parking spot and Adam came over to tell me how much they were and I wrote them a check for their bill. As we were leaving, the mom of the lady our age came over to our window and told us that we would never know how much of a blessing we were to her family. Her daughter had strayed away from the Lord and is now getting back on track and has had doubts that the Lord will provide for her family and that this instance showed her the He will provide for her family! It was such a God thing for this to happen...for us to leave work when we did and check out in the same line as they did and for Adam to be so bold to stop their car as they were pulling away. I just thank the Lord for using us to be a blessing in someone else's life and for Him to get all the glory! It was so cool to be apart of such a God-sized opportunity! So, whenever you get that gut feeling that you should do something, DO IT, for the glory of God!

God-sized opportunity

Last Thursday Adam and I had to go to the store because we had nothing to eat for dinner at our house. We went to the Food Lion right up from our work on our way home. We got everything we needed and got in line. While we were standing in line we both couldn't help but notice the people in front of us. It was an older lady and her daughter who was about our age with her daughter (about 3 or 4) in the buggy and she was expecting another one on the way. Adam and I didn't say anything to each other while we were in the store, but we watched. The cashier proceeded to check out their groceries which included your normal everyday stuff, diapers, and about 15-20 bags of ramion noodles. Their bill totaled up to be $97.00 and when the woman (who was our age) saw it she said, "whoa...oh well". She proceeded to pay and left the store. After Adam and I paid for our stuff and got in our car the first thing we said to each other was, "did you see those people in front of us?" we both knew how blessed we are to have been given 2 steady jobs and pretty much everything we needed. Adam turned to me and told me, "we need to buy their groceries" so as he was getting out of the car to go tell them, they were driving away and Adam got in front of the car to stop them...he told them that he wasn't some crazy man and that he and his wife wanted to pay for their groceries. So they pulled in a parking spot and Adam came over to tell me how much they were and I wrote them a check for their bill. As we were leaving, the mom of the lady our age came over to our window and told us that we would never know how much of a blessing we were to her family. Her daughter had strayed away from the Lord and is now getting back on track and has had doubts that the Lord will provide for her family and that this instance showed her the He will provide for her family! It was such a God thing for this to happen...for us to leave work when we did and check out in the same line as they did and for Adam to be so bold to stop their car as they were pulling away. I just thank the Lord for using us to be a blessing in someone else's life and for Him to get all the glory! It was so cool to be apart of such a God-sized opportunity! So, whenever you get that gut feeling that you should do something, DO IT, for the glory of God!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Monday Night Challenge

So, every Monday night during football season Adam and I go head to head! Last year, we started the "Monday Night Challenge" where every Monday night we each pick who we think will win the Monday Night football game. It started out simple...but ever since then, we have gotten a little more competitive. :)

I won last year, but this year Adam is up a couple of games so far...but I plan on making a huge comeback! I will be sure to keep you all updated on things! Until then, Go Saints!

Monday Night Challenge

So, every Monday night during football season Adam and I go head to head! Last year, we started the "Monday Night Challenge" where every Monday night we each pick who we think will win the Monday Night football game. It started out simple...but ever since then, we have gotten a little more competitive. :)

I won last year, but this year Adam is up a couple of games so far...but I plan on making a huge comeback! I will be sure to keep you all updated on things! Until then, Go Saints!