Yesterday

I didn't feel good... and it was kind of a crazy evening.

But good news today! My cousin Melissa is coming to visit for Easter. She is an interpreter in Las Vegas (American Sign Language)! And so much fun! I am pumped!

Happy Birthday Sister!

To my beautiful sister!
I love you so much. I am so blessed that God gave me a sister as wonderful, loving, funny, unique, God-loving, ambitious, and smart as you! You have taught me patience, humor (even though you weren't funny until Erin Warkentin came around!), and so many more things, I couldn't even name them. When we were younger it was hard to imagine a time when we would want to be friends. I am so thankful that God gave us a chance to find a new respect for the women God made each of us uniquely. You are amazing!

Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there. ~Amy Li

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~Marion C. Garretty

Is solace anywhere more comforting than in the arms of a sister. ~Alice Walker

Big sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life. ~Charles M. Schulz

If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child. ~Linda Sunshine

You can kid the world. But not your sister. ~Charlotte Gray

I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness. ~Emily Dickinson

Help one another, is part of the religion of sisterhood. ~Louisa May Alcott

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double. ~Toni Morrison

What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it? ~Jenny DeVries

Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship. ~Margaret Mead

March 27th

Yesterday was so much fun. Jena, Brandy and I went on a "Road Trip" to Hollister, where Brandy's boyfriend lives. It was quite an adventure. Hollister is before Gilroy. We left at 9:30 and got there at 3...That tells you how much of an adventure we had. I'll let the pictures tell the story.

This is Brandy's old house in Los Banos, her neighbor Hilda (who is amazing) and Jena and Brandy in their usually pose!

This is me trying to climb on top of this really weird farm animal statue that is in the middle of Los Banos. What can I say...we had to stop...who builds a super nice statue with fountain and all for farm animals? So we stopped! Got out! And Got ON!

I ran across 152 to take some really pretty pictures. This is one...but Brandy and Jena apparently thought that this was crazy. They stood up out of the sunroof to take pictures of me. So I took more pictures of them!

Did a little stop at Casa de Fruta...always entertaining!
Stopped along the side of the road to take some really pretty blossom pictures! Have I mentioned I love California!

Then we surprised Ryan and picked him up from school! He was pretty shocked! Then we made him go with us to take a picture under the "SPUDNUT" sign, because we thought it was funny.

So then we went to The Garlic Shoppe! Ryan and I bonded! He moved a shelf and got me some free Habenaro and Peach Mustard! I was pretty excited.

Overall we had a great time! I always tell them it's about the journey, not the destination and this trip proved it. I really like Ryan...I am glad Brandy found a Godly young man to date. And his family is super nice and loves Brandy to death!

God is GOOD!

I had an amazing weekend!

I love it when God opens my eyes to His movement!
Friday was a California classic! It was warm and sunny and BEAUTIFUL! So I finished work around 12:30 and headed home to change my clothes and run a couple of errands. I went to the Takahashi Farm Stand, which has to be one of my new favorite places. There is something about a sunny beautiful day and eating all the fresh ingredients God gave us to grow. So I got some veggies and fruit. I made the little lady mad though...apparently there is "Bagging" rules, which I didn't follow properly...mainly because I was unaware of the unspoken rule... but I can tell you I will never make that mistake again! I spent 8 dollars and got so much stuff. So then I headed to the grocery store and I had a few more stops. It was great to sit and eat such a fresh lunch that I made myself (cooking makes me happy!). The girls came over Friday night for a movie night. We watched Madea goes to jail, which is a super funny movie. Lots of one-liners from it. "I know you can't read...but the sign says..."DON'T FEED THE MONKEYS"...

Saturday I had lunch with another great friend God has given me. I just love the leisurely flow of a beautiful spring day! I think that is what makes each little thing seem so picturesque...like its from a movie. Then I had some of the older girls come over to try to find an alternative to going out. Aaron was kind enough to come over and try to teach us how to play Texas Hold 'em. Try...because it didn't go over so well...but we had fun! Lots of fun. I don't know why we don't play games more often.

Sunday was such a good day. Becca got baptized during first service. Liz stood up for herself and was obedient to God. Chelsea had a few victories of her own. Jena supported her friends and encouraged the people God put on her heart. Danica led amazing worship (that song from Leeland is amazing when you do it alone especially!). I got to take a nap. Encounter went great...did something a little different and I really liked it. Brandy and Suzie came to Encounter. Brandy's HERE! Everyone helps at Encounter to put stuff away (I love to see everyone pitch in). Katie might use her BEAUTIFUL voice for the worship team (when God gives you a talent...use it!) It was just really amazing!

I am so thankful for all the gifts He gives us. Read Psalm 139...Really think about it and meditate on it. It is beautiful!
May God bless your day!

March 22nd & 23rd!

So yesterday a friend of mine and I went out to dinner and then to a movie. Premonition...anybody seen it. DON'T! The ending is terrible...we laughed though. The whole movie was good...we were liking it, but not quite figuring out what was going on. And then the end came and we were left hanging! Anyhow...

It was fun. I love that God has given me a friend for life.

We have been friends since about 1981. Which is a super long time! We've been through so many ups and downs we can't even count them anymore. She is a true friend. Tyler Perry said "You know who your true friends are when God really starts blessing you"...and boy is that true. There have been times in my life where God blessed me so much I could never have imagined what He gave me. The only friend that was there through it all is her. Now I have high schoolers and she has two beautiful girls and a wonderful husband...and we are still friends! GOD IS GOOD!

As for today...we are having a girls party tonight at my house. I think we are going to watch Madea goes to jail...which is the best movie/play I've ever seen. Good morals, funny humor, clean, and has a point! I would recommend it very highly. Tyler Perry makes some amazing things. You should check him out. So 7:00 at my house...be there!

March 21, 2007

Was yesterday...

And it went pretty good. I am using this pedometer thing...you are supposed to do 6000 steps to maintain health, 10,000 to loose weight. I did 6295. So that was pretty good. I was excited. It makes me feel healthier. I get up throughout the day and jog for a few minutes. It is really giving me more energy.

Anyhow...Then I went over to church for Wednesday night youth service. We pray at 5 and then hang out till we start service at 6:30. So while we were hanging out...Danica made up a song for Psalm 23. Which I love! I can't wait to hear the finished version! She is so amazing. To be able to sit down, pick out a melody and then put words to it...AMAZING! That was a lot of fun.

I talked with Brandy, which is always a joy. The way God moves in her life is so funny. It seriously makes me see the sense of humor God has. He is so creative!

We talked about Song of Solomon 4-5, so you can imagine how mature that conversation was...Basically the only thing I think the kids remembered is "Protect your rose"...which is a super cheesy cliche but Good point and illustration that came with it. Hopefully they will really get more out of it than that.

So that's it...that was my day in a nut shell...

Spiritual Gifts

This is what we are going to start in Girls Bible Study next week. Be PRAYING!
Week one-
Answer questions:
What would you guess your spiritual gifts are?
What are you passionate about? What do you like to do?
Take Spiritual Gifts test
Next week instruction: Research your top three this week…see what you come up with.

Week two-
Answer questions:
What are spiritual gifts?
What is their purpose?
What are mine?
What does this mean for me?
Next week instruction: find some biblical examples of people who you think had one of your spiritual gifts.

Week three-
Answer questions:
What do I do now?
How do I use them? Generally and Specifically
Next week instruction: Pray for ways to use your gifts.

Week four-
Answer questions:
What can happen when I start using them?
How, why, when, and defense for spiritual attacks
Next week instruction: pick one way you are going to use one of your spiritual gifts and do it this week.

Daily happenings...

Nothing particularly fascinating has happened since my last post...but since the girls complain that I don't post enough on here...I'll ramble about the daily happenings.

I had a great weekend. Michele and I got the material for some of the projects for her wedding. It is funny to plan this with her because you can't deny that God works in the little things. We basically told the lady at the fabric store how much we wanted to pay for the fabric we got and she said OK and charged us that...then we got up to the counter and the lady there took another 50% off. Crazy! I know! God does work in the little things...(P.S. I can hear Miah...right now...going "Melissa...she's one of THOSE!")

Anyhow...Saturday we went to do a Bible Club in downtown Fresno, which was a lot of fun! Kids are so cute!

Church was so good on Sunday...David talked about saving souls and how we should look at each person and see them as a soul God wants. And how differently we would treat people if that's how we saw them...interesting!

Oh...I have a props for Jimmy and the Jr. High Group! So Sunday at Encounter I thought I was going to have to set up by myself, since Aaron wasn't there. So I showed up a little early to get a head start and the Jr. Highers were having a dodge ball tournament. So I went in the little side closet where the stuff for Encounter is and just started doing what I could. A few minutes later the doors to the closet open and Jimmy said "What do you need us to do? You tell them where to put what and they will." So I did... and they did. They set up all the tables, table cloths, the stuff that goes on the tables. It was GREAT! I just had to do the more specific booth stuff. I WAS PUMPED! God is amazing when He takes care of the little things! (Yeah I know!)

Monday night bible studies have been going good, at least in my opinion. We got into a discussion on baptism and we read through Psalm 23. I love it when the girls speak up and ask questions that people actually have opinions about and will discuss them. I LOVE THAT. And After Channelle and I got to talk, with Jena and Becca...so that was good too. I like when I can have one on one conversations.

I guess what it comes down to is that GOD IS MOVING. There are somethings I know He is working in and on and that is difficult and great all at the same time.

Discipleship Groups

The second thing I am really excited about is the Girls Discipleship groups. I have put together some information that God put on my heart and created some Discipleship groups for the high school girls in our bible study that really want to go deeper...to the next level.

These groups are going to concentrate specifically on Spiritual Growth. I feel like the groups that we have are going to be amazing! They have been prayed over and I feel confident that this is where these girls are supposed to be.

The part that hasn't been made clear yet is the leaders for these groups. We need some adult women that have a passion for young women. To train and encourage them to be (not in the future...RIGHT NOW) the women of God that they are designed to be. They are powerful young women RIGHT NOW. They have opportunities RIGHT NOW that they will never have again and we as adult women need to give them the encouragement and tools to take a hold of their opportunities that God is giving to them today! We need women to take time out of our immensely busy schedules and put the youth first, if we don't, who will? They are searching to be taught...I don't want someone else to get them! God's got them! It is our job to teach the young. And this group of girls in particular are ready today to do amazing things...in fact most of them already are! I can't even imagine what they can do with our encouragement. So if you would pray for women to lead these groups, that would be so helpful.

Pray...because most of you that read this don't even live in California, so leading a group yourself isn't really possible...unless of course God is calling you to MOVE TO CALIFORNIA and help! God has blessed me with some amazing women of God in my family, as well as men of God. I have Grandparents who love and serve God, who raised kids who love and serve God (most of them are actually pastors at churches throughout the country), who raised kids who love and serve God (again, who are serving at churches or studying in college to become pastors at churches across the United States and even further...I have a cousin who teaches in Bolivia!) Any input, prayer or assistance you could offer would be much appreciated. I know God has blessed you, so the wisdom He has given you is greatly needed here!

I love you! And I love HIM!

Living Hope

http://www.livinghopechurch.com/index2.php

I went to this church a few weeks ago when I was in Washington visiting Brandy. It was amazing! God really inspired me through this experience! First, it was amazing to be part of a church that clearly FELT so ALIVE! I walked in and I felt GOD there!

They are doing some exciting things and there is a lot to learn from a church where God is definitely moving in a BIG WAY!

I would encourage you to look at what they are doing.

Read some of their blog entries...Listen to some of their sermons... Look at some of the things they do with their youth programs...and then...pray!

Pray about what God wants you to do with what you just read...What He is inspiring you to do...What He wants you to learn or take with you...!

GOD IS MOVING!

Are YOU going to be a part of it?

I AM!