Why do the weekends go SO fast? Saturday, Carol and I attended Brandon and Aprils wedding. Pastor Jimmy did a great job with the service. I especially will not soon forget the look on Brandons face when April first came walking down the isle. It was all he could do to keep from breaking down and his face showed the emotions and the overflow of his love for her. The sweetest moment came during one of their songs and Brandon and April were kneeling facing each other holding hands. Brandon then April - sat and prayed probably the most awesome prayers anyone has ever heard. It was an awesome moment to witness. God is very much a part of their marriage and that spoke volumes as we all witnessed them raising each other and their marriage to God. They are an awesome example of a relationship that is honoring Gods word.
Saturday night, we got to hang with one of "MyKids". It was great sitting in my chair with her and just talking and sharing things. She is such an amazing kid and I love her dearly. Sunday came with its own blessings to be thankful for. Pastor Jimmy delivered an awesome message and one that it took all I had to hold it together. As he preached on death and how death is for the living.... we all will die in our earthly bodies but only some will live in our heavenly bodies. He taught us about the judgment that we will all face, regardless if we believe in Jesus or not, and what our good deeds brings us in heaven. What we think about eternity determines how we live in today. I reflected upon my father-n-laws last words on this earth. John 3:16 -"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Walt had always thought he was good enough, always being a good person and raising a family the best he knew how.... he had questions about heaven and hell. Sometimes he would believe and other times not. In the end, he put his trust in Jesus and for that I am thankful for.
Rock Group was special last night. We tackled some hard questions concerning "Why?" Why God answers us at times and at other times He seems quiet. Why we feel Him walking with us and at other times He feels distant. If we seek our Heavenly Father, we will find Him. So many times we are looking for the WOW ME affect. God still does those things but many times He is in the smaller things we often over look. As we pass on opportunities to serve someone or doing what He is asking us to do ... we miss out on the sweetness and softness of God. What in your life are you not doing that God is asking you to do? Is he asking you give someone some money for gas, making a meal to help a family through a tough time or maybe just asking them - WHAT is it that I can pray for you for? When we pass on those little whispers that God is wanting us to do ... what are we missing out on? Maybe your life is so full of sin that there is wall between you and God. A wall can be a hard barrier to break through but if we give those sins one at a time to God He will help us get over them thus breaking down our wall. Our sins cut us off from God. Maybe you have been through a tough and trying time. You asked God for something, maybe for a loved one to be healed and that person passed away. You turned your back on God and don't trust Him anymore. Maybe you are still hurt and not sure how to get back. Maybe time has passed and your heart is little harder now. Once you are a child of God, He pursues you and is seeking you. The air is filled with radio waves. They are all around us.... different stations on different frequencies. Even with the radio off, they are still there. Maybe you have tuned God out in your life. He is there but you just can't hear Him. We often times need to adjust our thinking and the way we do things in life so that we can tune into Gods frequency.
~What changes could you make in your life to keep you better in tune to Gods presence?
~Are you honestly seeking out God in your day to day life?

My message to the kids last night comes from Mark 4. We spoke about what a parable means and explained to the kids that Jesus used parables to help us understand what it was He was teaching us. If He spoke over our heads we would miss the point entirely. I asked for examples at school when the teacher speaks over their heads and they don't have a clue to what it is the teacher is teaching. A parable puts the story at our level so we may understand. Here is the story of
Mark 4
Parable of the Sower 1(A)He began to teach again (B)by the sea And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that (C)He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.
2And He was teaching them many things in (D)parables, and was saying to them in His teaching,
3"Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow;
4as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up.
5"Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.
6"And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7"Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.
8"Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."
We then handed out seeds to all the kids. Lettuce and Spinach mixed together in their hands. I asked them about how we plant them. If they fall on the side those seeds may grow or may not. If the seeds are planted to shallow they may grow but soon wither in the heat and the things that life throws at us. The seeds that are planted in the weeds may grow but will soon be choked out by the weed. God has planted in us seeds and we must take our time to learn about Him and walk with Him so that when life does take a hard turn - we are like those seeds planted in good soil and that have been cared for and watered - Jesus is that perfect seed - we must share and plant other seeds as we reach out to their friends, classmates and neighbors. I asked if anyone wanted to pray as we all grabbed hands and little Wesley began to pray. His eyes shut and in a whisper - he prayed to our heavenly father. Nobody knows what he prayed for as he spoke his heart to Jesus - it was a moment that was filled with sweetness and the softness of Jesus. Blessed that we did not miss it.
Love you all~
Lonnie