He's doing better1

Thanks to those that prayed for Brother Nowling. Though he is still experiencing pain it has lessen considerably. The dental work isn't done yet. You know they keep you coming back so they can get every dollar possible. But he finally went.

I'm excited for the weekend. Other than youth Bible Study at Heather's and Jeremy's tomorrow night and getting to possibly play some games tonight, I have no plans for the weekend. That's what makes it good.

I think I have an answer to prayer. I feel like I do but I've got a couple of things to have come together and then they'll be no doubt...but you know what, God is GOOD all the time.

Brother Nowling had a Root Canal

Please pray for Brother Nowling, he had a root canal today and is a lot of pain. He has infection as well so to say the least he is not doing too good.

I am pretty frazeled from work as more people are quitting...yikes! I covering service tonight due to his mouth not working.

It's been only 10 degrees today...cold. It's all those people that start decorating for Christmas before halloween, it makes weather think it has to be cold.

Gotta run!!!

Reflections of the Heart

It's been a week of tug-a-war with the enemy. Stress has been trying to be my best friend. I thought when you're almost 50 acne doesn't know you any more, but when stress is your friend, so is acne. Couple all that with fighting a cold (scratchy throat, chest and sinuses hurting). Ugh! I am working in the most volatile atmosphere that I think I have ever been in. The last batch of lay offs last day was this week. They are putting all these new procedures into place without consulting the very ones that do the work to know if they will work. I cost the company over $12,000 by accidentally not scheduling two major ads. The graphics department who are stretched so thin...dropped a wrong ad so I had to issue a big credit. There has been so many tears shed by various ones that are just having "melt downs" trying to get everything done. No position is safe.

I did have a good short visit with one of the gals who is a Christian. We both were saying how we couldn't handle things if it wasn't for God. As stressed as we are, we were both saying how our hearts ache for those that were laid off and those in graphics that are putting in long hours and not able to get everything done. I made the statement (which I've been saying a lot lately, and have declared many times throughout my life), I am so glad that God never changes. When everything is shifting around you, I am so thankful for my ROCK, Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I've also noticed that God has really been testing me regarding the lesson I taught on Sunday regarding allowing Him to be I AM in every part of my life. Allowing HIM to examine us and show us where He isn't the "I AM". I have truly felt a tug-a-war as I know I have to give over to Him things but finding it so very difficult. I remind myself that I'd rather have these things revealed to me now, then to possibly miss out on the "well done, thou good and faithful servant".

The song "Shut in with God" has been being sung in my heart a lot this week as that will truly be where I'll get the power to make it each day. Today, I was really thinking how homesick I am for heaven. This world, thankfully, is NOT my home and I am soooo longing for those streets of gold. To see my mom, grandpa and the grandma I never knew. Though my mom's and my relationship here on earth was far from perfect, I know she loved me and was always praying for me. When I see her in heaven, our relationship will be perfect.

Tomorrow I have no big plans. I hope to get some rest as to get rid of this cold once and for all. I also, hope to go with Jenna car shopping. Beyond that sleep and cleaning house is in my plans.

The door of happiness....

Not a whole lot going on here. Saturday we went to our new Target only to be disappointed due to bare shelves and lack of selection. Then we had our youth activity at the church with Jackie in charge. It was great. I think everyone enjoyed the new games that she taught us and then I had got Uno Attack. Between the games and the variety of food, it was a good night. Get this here we have a youth event where everyone is to bring their favorite treat to share AND we had NO SWEETS ~ giggle. Quite the mature group of young people we have.

Sunday was my youth service...after some charades of people who tried to hide from God; I brought out the "goalie" masks that I bought for each youth (they were called goalie masks but they looked like the mask worn by phantom of the opera). I wanted to find the plastic snow white, Cinderella, spider man, superman, Garfield, etc...but do such masks even exist any more? They were all rubber, scary masks...but I felt the goalie mask wasn't too bad (although the groans from some was obvious they didn't agree ~ grin). Any way, my point was we can't hide from God and how we need to take our masks off and be true to ourselves and therefore to God. I wasn't dealing with sin, but just being real. Recognizing where we are weak, searching ourselves to see where we're lacking and ask God to show us "us". Get out of our comfort zones and allow God to use us how He sees fit.

Then off to work today, for an announcement of even another change. My former boss's boss, who is now my boss, announced he accepted a position at a Honolulu paper and will be leaving in three weeks. UGH! He is a great guy that carries a lot of responsibility. There were several groans, jaws on the floor, and even some tears. He said it was the most difficult decision he's ever had to make as he didn't go to them they came to him. I don't know if we can operate with any smaller of a staff. Wow. What next.

I came across a saying the other day that I put in our bulletin...
When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.
I have been thinking for several days on this. It is so true.

Thank you for those that have been praying for Brother Nowling and myself. Please continue as we are still dealing with things that we really need God's help in.

Pourin' My Heart Out

I would like to pour my heart out about some things but I don't feel the liberty to do so. What I will do is plead for prayer for Brother Nowling. He has some HUGE things facing him that He needs God's wisdom, guidance and boldness to deal with. Also, pray for me that I can be the support that he needs me to be and not an added burden.

Thanks in advance.

Revival's End!

Well tonight was the last night of revival. The Byers are very precious people. That man preaches the Word straight. I know it hit home to many. Last night he preached on Power, tonight he preached on...salvation, hell...and if you're not saved that's where you're going. To say it was straight forward is nothing but truth, but unfortunately the Spirit didn't break loose. We had a couple of visitors and they heard the Truth and all have had some meat to chew on throughout the week. I pray that as people dwell on what was preached that lives will start to change. Sunday night was the best for me. I'm still rehashing so much of it in my mind and reminding myself and asking God to remind me to love. There are those that I have been afraid to "show" love to and really put myself out to because I have been hurt. I told Brother Nowling, I don't want to purposely walk into the Lion's den and he reminded me, that God was there in the lion's den because Daniel was obedient to Him. So Sunday night's message is still doing it's work in me.

Tonight, I am so physically exhausted I even turned down fellowship afterwards. I feel myself coming down with a cold as my chest, throat and head really hurt. It never fails that the enemy always tries to rob me of the blessings of good services by getting me down sick afterwards. I know it's because I push myself between job, home and church...but I truly feel it's just one more way the enemy waits outside the revival ready to bring us down. Well my spirit has been blessed and I truly thank the Lord.

I'm headed to bed now. Tomorrow I go to get the eye exam that I messed up by being late to on Saturday. Then off to work...tomorrow night I will have a home cooked meal (of what I'm not sure yet, but I haven't ate much this week and what I did was eating out and I'm tired of it) and just relaxing.

Revival!

Convention was good. Brother Byers preached falling my ABM boost on Friday on "love" and then Saturday night he preached on . Last night was the first night of revival (Sister Vicki, revival will go through Wednesday). Last he preached on "stepping in the light of love" basically. He had Brother Nowling up there with him almost the entire time. It was almost like tag team preaching as he would say something, Brother Nowling would respond and he would finish the statement. It was 1 1/2 hours of this. I was so tired, but the annointing was so strong that he never lost me for even a second (even though my lower back and hips were crying out from sitting). He minced no word regarding, love, forgiving, etc. It was powerful.

They both are such mellow people. They do NOT like cold though ~ giggle. I was feeling bad that we didn't take them anywhere, as initally we we're going to just drive to shipcreek. But the weather, though pretty, was nasty. They said that's ok it's warm in here and cooold out there ~ grin. I tried to get him to recline in the chair and he said he had his wife for a pillow, thus the picture below.

Pray for the next tonight. This gets really tough for me as I don't get off work until 5:30 and basically I head right to the church. But I am sooo excited for what God's going to do. The Holy Ghost worked on about 1/2 the congregation now for the other 1/2 ~smile.