Camp Meetings & Revival

I love my church. When I moved to where I live now 5 years ago I knew getting into church was a must. The embers of my faith had been stirred to a small flicker and in order for the flames of faith to take over, I knew having a church home with accountability was a must for my life. Within two weeks of living here I did find a church home and a week after my first visit I joined. And for the most part I have loved every minute. I have rededicated my life to the Lord in my church, I was married by one of the pastors of my church, I gave my life over to ministry (this one!) at my church, and dedicated my daughter to the Lord at my church. Many milestones worth remembering have happened at my church.

My husband and I did attend another church for a while. I loved that church too! It had a different feel, a different style, but the truth of the Gospel was still taught. The only reason we did not continue at this church was their Sunday School approach. They didn't have SS. They had life groups, which are great but do to my husbands work schedule we never could get plugged in. But at that church we made great memories, good friendships and had our hearts transformed.

During our Sunday's at church #2, I still attended #1 on Wednesdays, so I never left the original church 100%. But now we are 100% back at church #1 and have been for over a year. And what a year it has been!

Our church completed construction on the church growth plan. We have an amazing worship center, the children's area is mind blowing, and our Chapel. Oh my goodness! If the Chapel had been completed when I was getting married, I would have been married at our church. It is so lovely, and the stain glass depicting the story of Christ, wow, just, it leaves you speechless.

My husband and I are not Sunday evening church attenders. I used to be, but we have an almost 8 month old. And before now, if I did not have her in her nursery getting ready for bed at 7:00, no one slept well. But that has been improving & changing. Now in the past 8 months we have gone to one or two services at night, and dealt with the consequences because it was important to us. One of those times was the Dedication Service of the new buildings for the Lord's work. We wanted to be apart of that great service. Our pastors and leaders did a great job setting forth a plan and purpose to bring glory to God with the buildings we have.

Something else to not, my husband and I do not attend service together. I am apart of a Ladies class that meets during 1st service, and my husband works with the high school youth, and they meet during 2nd service. We wish we could but each of us loves where we have been connected and plugged in. But the sweet thing is, my husband always meets me at my class after 1st service. And yesterday, he greeted me with a smile and a message. "We will be attending church morning and night all month long in August."

I was caught off guard but, I said okay. I love attending church, and really, is there a better way to spend a Sunday evening? I asked why, out of curiosity.

Our church for the month of August is having an emphasis that they are calling "August Camp Meeting." The focus will be on salvation and spiritual renewal. The idea invokes the memories of Camp Meeting Services, held outdoors. Our Assistant Pastor lead both services yesterday as his father & mother (our Pastor & his wife) were away at a conference. I love our AP, he is a great man and I have learned so much under his instruction these past 5 years. We as a congregation yesterday got a history lesson on the 1st & 2nd Great Awakenings. If you have listened to the paragons of faith in our modern times they have called for a Great Revival, a 3rd Great Awakening to save this country from the course of destruction it is heading towards. That is what the month of August is about at our church. A renewing of our faith, a refreshing of the Holy Spirit within each of us so that we can be crusaders for Christ and for the faith and change our community. One church cannot change the world. But one church can change a community. And one community can set the example for others. Change, real change, happens, one step at a time.

I am excited to see what happens. We went ahead as a family last night and attended church. To start the next month off right, with clean hearts, examined hearts, our church took part in the Lords Supper, or Holy Communion. I had not partaken of the Lords Super since before my daughter was born so it was good for my heart. Preceding the Lords Super our AP preached on the Blood of Jesus. Oh how precious the Blood of the Lamb is. Last night, neigh, yesterday was a great day for us. We are excited to see the work of the Lord in our home, our family, our church and our community.

This song was sung last night during our worship. Please take a minute and listen. It truly gets your heart in the right mood to serve, to love, to live, to honor the Blood of the Lamb.

End of the Beginning, David Phelps

Some Sunday Inspiration

Money Monday: Making sacrafices for a better tomorrow.

America today is a very materialistic nation. We are used to getting what we want and when we want it, which is usually now. We are not used to having to wait for anything. We have lost the experience of delayed gratification. And this is a very sad notion.

I myself am guilty of not wanting to wait. Which usually meant using my credit card to get what I wanted. And while it meant I had for the current time something new!, it also meant I had some debt that would need to be paid off. I never went excessive with my purchases but still, none the less, I charging things like clothes, or house décor. Definitely not "emergency" items. Gasoline, food, medication, or a car part, those should be the only reason I break out a credit card, and that actually is the rule I follow now.

The sad thing is, my husband paid off my credit cards earlier this year. Now the purchases we have incurred since then were not frivolous splurges. Far from it. One was my daughter's medical bill when she had a bacterial infection and our insurance had not kicked in yet. Another was two new tires on my husband car - the old ones were about to pop! We would have preferred to pay cash for both of these items, but we keep having "Life" moments. Did you ever play that game? I did all the time as a child with my siblings and parents. I love the older version, seems more legit to me than the modern one. If only I realized how often "Life" really does happen when you get older.

Here are our "LIFE" moments so far for 2013:

• Husband lost his life insurance and health insurance at work
• Husband's clients have been cutting back their splurge spending which means less income for him.
• New health insurance did not kick in in time for my daughter's sickness
• Car needed 2 new tires
• Car needed a new battery
• Other car needed new radiator hose (same day as battery!)
• I possibly have something wrong with my kidney's

Life has thrown a few curve balls at us this year. We are living pay check to pay check. We are paying our bills. But that is about all we are doing. There are no vacations for us this year. No fun trips for camping or to see family. I have a wedding in November to attend, it will be the first time my best friend will see my daughter. I am planning now financially for it so that I can go. That means going without certain luxuries the next few months in order to create a great memory. Also with all that is going on, the upgrades to our house have to wait: new floors, new kitchen, fixing up the back yard, finish the front yard.

I have been having a hard time with all of this lately. I never wanted to be in the position we are in. My parent's lived this way when I was growing up and I hated it. I hated their frustrations, how they bickered with each other, and the tension it created. I never wanted this for my child, for my marriage, for my household.

But this is temporary. I have changed my outlook on the situation. We are doing what we have to do in order to survive. We are taking side jobs: training, cooking, cleaning, mowing yards. We are still giving to the church, and to others. We are still fellowshipping in our home and loving our fellow believers. We have made sacrifices:

• I am not the full time stay at home mom I want to be
• We no longer have cable tv
• We sold our suv, and my parents gave us their car, which was formerly my grandmothers car. Decent gas mileage, needs front end work, but it works and we don't have a car payment or insurance since my parents put me on their policy.
• We do not eat name brand often or eat out often. I shop at a great discount grocer that thankfully has kept things "no frills" in order to keep prices down.
• I no longer get my hair colored, or my nails done or my eyebrows waxed. Everything is done at home, and at a heavy discount.
• I do not see myself buying any new clothes or shoes anytime soon. I am learning to be creative with what I have and creating new looks.

This is not a pity party, far from it. We are blessed even with the hard times we are having. Our daughter is healthy, we are able to work, and my husband's business has been improving. We are still a few months out from seeing the effects of the new business and changes, but we possibly have  a light at the end of the tunnel.

Also with all that tis going on, our priorities of what is important has shifted. We are spending more time together. More time talking, playing and laughing. We are throwing away junk and finding better uses for items. We are clearing out the clutter and finding ways to live a simpler life.

I do miss the tv, especially a summer show I cannot seem to watch online. But I am reading for pleasure and for study more now. I am reading to my daughter more now.





So yes we have made sacrifices, and life is not as we had planned. But we are trusting Him, we are being obedient to Him, and His plan is always better. We just need to hang in there while our wonderful Abba works out the wrinkles in our lives.

Independence Day 2013

Have a great day with  your family. Remember those who fought to create and establish this great land.

 

Happy Independence Day!

http://images.paraorkut.com/img/wallpapers/1024x768/i/independence_day-9117.jpg