This was one of those "AWWWW!" kind of Lord's Days. We had a full house this morning with quite a few visitors. We had had a couple show up last Sunday for the first time. This week they came back and brought both their son and daughters' families. It has been good to meet them and their family, and we hope to see much more of them! James and Debbie P. were up from Houston, too. It is always great to see their smiling faces!
The singing was amazing...if anything, our remodeling improved the acoustics in our building. Dennis lead his old favorite, "The Ninety and Nine." Mike gave an excellent lesson on Ezekiel and the dry bones...about how through faith, life can come from something that everyone would think impossible. Then during the invitation song, we had someone come forward who has been out of duty for over 30 years! I know his parents have been praying earnestly for years for this to happen, but it was a surprise to them when he showed up and then expressed his desire to return to church. There was much rejoicing!
The afternoon was pretty quiet. The girls came over for dinner, but then headed back to their house. Several of the guys were delivering our old church pews to different ones who wanted them. The girls got one to put in their screened in porch. It was a perfect fit! I would loved to have gotten one, but we just don't have any place where one would fit.
This evening, our crowd was quite a bit smaller...all of our visitors were gone. But it was still a wonderful assembly. Heather has been doing SO much better lately and was there both times today (she even felt up to going out tonight with the group). Layne gave an excellent study on Joshua 4. He incorporated an analogy that has stuck with him from a lesson that Charles B. gave at our camp meeting six years ago...that of a concrete foundation. He drew from the verses in Joshua 4 about setting up stones as a reminder...to teach the children about the wonderful things that God had done for them. He likened our training up and teaching our children to pouring a slab of concrete. When a slab is poured, it needs to be smoothed and shaped and worked and reinforced to be able to support the building that will be built upon it. Otherwise it will just be a hard lump of concrete that is good for nothing and will erode and crumble away. It was a very good lesson...as his always are! After the assembly we had a group of 13 go to Rosa's for supper. We really enjoy our time together. What a great way to start the week!
I hope you all had a wonderful Lord's Day as well!
Ps 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Our "New" Building
Just wanted to share pictures of our newly remodeled building. Had our chairs for the first time today. They are quite comfy!
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| View from entry |
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| View from pulpit |
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| I LOVE our new bathrooms! They even have HOT water! |
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Gorgeous Springtime!
Enjoyed a beautiful morning at the Spring Fling at Clark Gardens! First State Bank is sponsoring the event, so the girls were working their booth and got me a free pass. The azaleas and bluebonnets were absolutely gorgeous. I spent about an hour and a half walking through the gardens and looking at the exhibits...one of which was an old car show. Wonderful way to spend a nice spring morning!
This afternoon Ricky took me for a drive in his new Mustang convertible. This is a dream come true for him...he has been wanting a Mustang pretty much his whole life. It is a beauty and rides great! Riding around with him made me feel young again.
How are you enjoying this gorgeous spring day?
Isa 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
This afternoon Ricky took me for a drive in his new Mustang convertible. This is a dream come true for him...he has been wanting a Mustang pretty much his whole life. It is a beauty and rides great! Riding around with him made me feel young again.
How are you enjoying this gorgeous spring day?
Isa 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
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| Close-up of an azalea |
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| White azaleas |
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| Bluebonnets galore! |
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| Loved these golden pansies! |
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| Geese |
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| Really cool truck |
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| My favorite old truck!
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Saturday, April 6, 2013
2Co 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
This has been an emotionally exhausting week! Because I wish to honor others' privacy, I can't go into detail about what all has happened but it has been grueling. One day, I told Dennis that it felt like a "Job" kind of day. I was hesitant to answer my phone for fear of more bad news!
I spent 3 full days in court this week. The parents of my CASA babies were being tried in district court on 1st degree felony charges: knowingly, by omission, causing serious bodily injury to a child. I have been long awaiting the outcome of these trials! I didn't realize how difficult it would be to sit through them however. Even though I knew the facts of the case and had seen all the pictures, it was heart-wrenching to go through it all again...especially now that I have grown to love them so much! Listening to the defense attorney's statements and questions was maddening tho...I would tremble from being so upset, knowing that he was purposely being misleading. But the outcome of both trials insured that the parents can never harm those children again. The trial outcome will also solidify the case to terminate parental rights and allow the babies to be adopted by someone who will love and care for them. I'm very thankful that the citizens of this county take child abuse/neglect so seriously and want to send a message that it will NOT be tolerated here!
The weather has been rather unsettled this week, too. We've had thunderstorms, cold weather and wind earlier in the week and hot, sunny conditions today. I drove to the South Dallas area this morning to visit with 3 of my CASA kids and their foster parents. The bluebonnets were in full bloom along the road...beautiful! I love spring. Next weekend is the Spring Fling at Clark's Gardens. The girls will be working a booth, so I will probably head out there to enjoy the sights.
I hope that this past week has treated all of you kinder than it has some of our loved ones. I look forward to better days ahead.
Ps 119:143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
I spent 3 full days in court this week. The parents of my CASA babies were being tried in district court on 1st degree felony charges: knowingly, by omission, causing serious bodily injury to a child. I have been long awaiting the outcome of these trials! I didn't realize how difficult it would be to sit through them however. Even though I knew the facts of the case and had seen all the pictures, it was heart-wrenching to go through it all again...especially now that I have grown to love them so much! Listening to the defense attorney's statements and questions was maddening tho...I would tremble from being so upset, knowing that he was purposely being misleading. But the outcome of both trials insured that the parents can never harm those children again. The trial outcome will also solidify the case to terminate parental rights and allow the babies to be adopted by someone who will love and care for them. I'm very thankful that the citizens of this county take child abuse/neglect so seriously and want to send a message that it will NOT be tolerated here!
The weather has been rather unsettled this week, too. We've had thunderstorms, cold weather and wind earlier in the week and hot, sunny conditions today. I drove to the South Dallas area this morning to visit with 3 of my CASA kids and their foster parents. The bluebonnets were in full bloom along the road...beautiful! I love spring. Next weekend is the Spring Fling at Clark's Gardens. The girls will be working a booth, so I will probably head out there to enjoy the sights.
I hope that this past week has treated all of you kinder than it has some of our loved ones. I look forward to better days ahead.
Ps 119:143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
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