Thursday Encouragement...

I just received the daily devotional from the Moravian Church. I love reading these! Today is a great reminder. It seems I hear these verses frequently and the message might get watered down because of the repetition. As I read it today, I am reminded how powerful the Holy Spirit is at work within us. Thank you Jesus for dwelling in each of us!!

To him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish
abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in
the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.
Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21

A prayer for each of us today:
Your overwhelming power is at work within us, God of dreams and wonders,
and yet our asking and imagining is too small. Flood our hearts and
minds, Holy Spirit, that we might dream impossibly and envision eternity
- today! Amen.

Have a wonderful day!

IHS,
Cammie

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life
and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies.
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

1 Peter 3:8-11

Family. . . . .You ROCK!!!!

Nathan and I just wanted to say thank you to each and everyone of you that interceded on our behalf this past weekend. The story comes to mind of Moses in the desert fighting. And the Lord told him that the Israelites will win if Moses can keep his arms up the whole time. He came to a point where he just couldn't do it anymore. .. so his brother Aaron and others came to hold his arms up for him when he was unable to do it on his own. That's exactly how we felt church and you raised our arms up to Jesus for us, we had no strength, so you gathered around us, as God designed the body to function and held us up. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for your obedience, your steadfastness, your faithfulness, your prayer and your love. You truly are such a blessing to our family. We love you deeply.
Jocelyn, Nathan, Elijah & Noah

Changing World

As I was listening to this song I think for the first time I actually really gave attention to the words. With college looming closer than I would like to think about, and with so many changes happening I tend to forget I need to Trust Christ with my life, and stop clinging to my own devices to see me through. Anywho this song is by a Christian group called Kutless.

Kutless Changing World Lyrics

I thought I had it all under control
I thought my fate was still in my hands
All of my plans were firmly set
By the words that I say
I forgot how quickly things can change
Now my vision can not be the same

Chorus
My life is not what I thought
I’m not where I planned to be
Though something’s gone
There’s nothing wrong with my changing world
Though something’s gone
There’s nothing wrong with my changing world

I need to let go of my destiny
I need to trust in things unseen
I believe in having faith
Though I yield my control
I forgot how quickly things can change
Now my vision can not be the same

I’m embracing all of my fears
I am watching them turn to delight
The very fears which were gripping my mind
Are now the hands shaping and sculpting my dreams


IHS
Sean

What have I been given anyway?

There once was a fabulously wealthy man who loved his son above all things. To stay close to his son, they began to build an art collection together. Every spare minute, they were out at auctions and sales acquiring rare works of art: everything from Picasso to Raphael. By the time the Vietnam conflict broke out , they built one of the rarest most valuable collections in the world. A letter came one day informing the son he had been drafted. The father offered to pull some strings, but the son felt compelled to serve his country as his father and grandfather did before him. The son went off to war, but he wrote his dad everyday. One day the letters stopped. The father's worst fears were realized when he received a telegram from the war department informing him his son had been killed while attempting to rescue another soldier. About six months later, there was a knock at the door. A young soldier with a large package under his arm said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the man your son saved on that faithful day he died deep in the jungles of Viet Nam. He had already saved many lives that day, and as he was carrying me off the battlefield, he was shot through the heart and died instantly.Your son was my friend and we spent many a lonely night "in country talking about you and your love for art." The young soldier held out his package and said, "I know this isn't much and I'm not much of an artist, but I wanted you to have this painting I've done of your son as I last remember him. The father tore open the package and fought back the tears as he gazed at a portrait of his one and only son. He said, "You have captured the essence of my son's smile in this painting and I will cherish it above all others." The father hung the portrait over his mantle. When visitors came to his home, he always drew attention to the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other masterpieces.When the father died the news went out that the entire collection was being offered at an exclusive private auction. Collectors and art experts from around the world gathered for the chance of purchasing one of them. The first painting on the auction block was the soldier's modest rendering of his son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel and asked someone to start the bidding. The sophisticated crowd scoffed and demanded the Van Gogh's and the Rembrandts be brought forth. The auctioneer persisted. "Who will start the bidding? $200? $100?" The crowd continued to turn up their noses, waiting to see the more serious paintings. Still the auctioneer solicited, "The son! The son! Who will take the son? Finally a squeaky voice from the back said, "I'll bid $10 for the son." The bidder was none other than the young soldier the son had died saving. He said, "I didn't come to buy anything and all I have is $10 to my name, but I bid it all." The auctioneer continued seeking a higher bid, but the angry crowd began to chant, "Sell it to him and let's get on with the auction." The auctioneer pounded the gavel and sold the painting for the bid of $10. An eager buyer from the second row bellowed, "Finally, on with the auction." And just then the auctioneer said, "The auction is now officially closed." The hostile crowd demanded to know how after coming, all this way could the auction possibly be over? The president of the auctioning company came to the microphone and said, "When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a stipulation in the will I could not divulge until now. According to the wishes of the deceased only the painting of the son was to be sold today and whoever takes the son gets it all. So today, for $10 this young man has bought one of the world's most priceless art collections and the entire estate in which it is housed -- auction closed." And with the swing of the gavel, the crowd sat in stunned silence staring at the young soldier.

We can stop trying to be good enough for God. If you've taken the son, you HAVE everything else the Father has to offer. It's this simple and yet this sublime: "whoever has God's Son has life; whoever does not have his Son, does not have life.He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:12-13)

We can really, I mean REALLY rest in the finished work of Jesus. Enjoy, and Live!

Is there a Holy Spirit?

This is very powerful. Please don't miss this. Turn up your volume...and soak in this...alone...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9NkGdZ-N2E&NR=1

"Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

John 8:1-11

I have had a lot of thoughts following Zach's sermon this morning. One of which I wanted to share, only because it hit me hard today. Zach taught on the adulteress woman whom Jesus forgave. How she should have been stoned to death because of her sin. Jesus allowed her to go and said, "go, and sin no more."

My thought was not only of the new life that this woman was handed from Jesus, but the idea that she was facing a death sentence. What a crazy parallel. I, myself, have never been a dead man walking, I have never been threatened to being stoned to death, I have never had a weapon held to me. I cannot empathize with this woman who was about to lose her physical life. Because of the fall, we were all headed to hell, death. We cannot imagine what this eternal life would be like nor should we take the time. I do know that my life as a Christian would be different if I had encountered this threat and Jesus had physically saved my life. I think it would be easier to "sin no more." There would be more obedience, more prayer, more love, more forgiveness, less criticalness, less judgement, less apathy, etc. I know this would be true for all of us.

Tonight I put myself in her sandals and imagine standing before Jesus and the pharisees and the teachers of the law. And Jesus would say, "Cammie, I do not condemn thee, go and sin no more." Grace is freely given from him, and I would freely receive it. I would look forward, and never look back. Our sins are forgotten, they'll never find us, they're on the ocean floor.

Jesus did say this to each of us. What an amazing truth.

In His Service,
Cammie

Maxson...

...don't even think about it...

"Ainsley, can you help me? Maxson is trying to hold my hand again!"

Just a note to thank all of you who have been in prayer for my sister. She has still not been released to go back to work but the doctor believes the immediate danger from the blood clots in her legs has passed. She doesn't have any more pain in her legs and is starting to get around a little more though she tires easily and still has a cough. She's still checking in with her doctor a couple times a week. We so appreciate your love and prayers. You're wonderful! Sam & Pam

I've got the JOY, JOY, JOY, JOY!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk

You have to check this baby out!!! If you need a good smile or laugh. . . beware. . . this is contagious!!!

I've been watching this with my boys and they just adore it. We sing the goody but oldy song. . . "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart to stay. And I'm so happy, so very happy, I've got the love of Jesus in my heart. . . . . . . ."

Sometimes we need to be reminded of the joy that the Lord brings and we too can laugh like this. Remember God gave us the ability to laugh, so you can bet He laughs when we laugh. Can you picture God laughing with us. . .pretty cool thought eh?

Anyway, Enjoy!
Love you all,
Jocelyn