I am big time excited about tomorrow. We are serving at church at the Pumpkin Patch. We are picking up about 5 of my adopted kids tomorrow morning and headed to get dirty - sweaty and nasty but man is it going to be fun loading and playing with 6000 pumpkins. I may not be moving too fast Sunday morning for setup!! LOL

Anyways - tomorrow night almost everyone from our Rock Group will be headed to the park dedication in Locust NC - for Officer Shelton. He was killed a few months ago in Charlotte. Our church band will be playing at the park dedication - his wife has attended our church in the past and wanted our band to perform. We have lots of folks going and will be hootin and hollerin I am sure for a great band, a great fellowship time and playing great music.

I am looking forward to spending some time with my kids tomorrow - I love investing my time into smiles and knowing this time is being WELL spent.
I have to share Psalm 23 with you today...... God is pretty awesome!!!!

Psalm 23 5-6
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Have a great weekend~ I pray that the Lord holds you close to Him and teaches you something about His grace and love that He has for you.

Peace,
Randy~

My Kids......

While I was growing up as a child - I knew a lot of kids but I did not have many friends. Growing up in the north and having a southern heritage - left me talking funny no matter where I went. Kids are ruthless and mean and gang up on you no matter what..... they just keep coming when they have someone singled out. Many times my so called friends would walk away when I was getting picked on - back out of a fight when it was time to get dirty. All that changed when I entered middle school - Wrestling was my after school thing and then on to Judo. I remember a lot of tough times in middle school - many fights - I never got caught because those fights never lasted long. Once I seemed to earn the respect of the folks picking on me - I was accepted and left alone. Many kids today face these challenges and finding their way to fit into the right crowd or be singled out on the outside.

Kyle has such a big head start compared to me and I am delighted about that! He has such awesome friends....... an awesome Rock Group family and a church family that just loves him.

I have to say that spending time in the classroom and with my sons friends has been so awesome. Yesterday a few of (my kids) came by after school - the kids swam - laughed until their belly hurt - I took them for a walk to the horse farm near our house to feed the horses - they rode bikes - laughed some more - swam some more..... when it was time to go home.... they were already planning the next get together. Scheming is what Carol calls it......
Anyways - its just great taking part in these lives - helping mold and shape them and just loving on them...... Saturday we are all headed to the pumpkin patch together.... Its has been such a great investment in my life getting to really know these kids and their families.
Enjoy the picture - Smiles are abundant!
Madison - Kyle - Amanda

I just love ~my kids~
Randy~

Kyle - I really like that shirt.,.... "be a revolution"

A Coffee break.......

I have to say that I have had a couple of really good days the last few days. Yesterday I took a little time off work for about an hour and went to meet a good friend of mine at a local coffee shop. I went a little early, got me a good bagel with cream cheese and a fresh cup of OJ. Man that OJ was probably the BEST I have EVER tasted.... anyways, after sitting for about 45 minutes, I had finished my snack and was watching the people come in and out. I watched the folks driving up and down the road and wondered about their lives. Why are they in a hurry - where were they going? Comes to find out my friend did not show but I had a peace about me that it just made it so clear that God gave me this free time to sit and be still. He had something to teach me and He wanted me to slow down. I went back the office and emailed my friend to say I was not mad, I was ok, things come up but just to email me back and let me know everything was ok. So later that afternoon, I checked my calendar and the meeting was for today. Wow - I couldn't help but to think it was a God appointment yesterday. It was a Divine appointment to focus me and to slow me down.
I had that appointment this morning and it was a great meeting. There was ministry that took place and I just love it when God puts folks together just for His purpose and for His reasons. It had been awhile since I seen my friend or even had the chance to talk. This past Sunday during our Rock Group - I spoke about Truth. The people in our lives who speak TRUTH to us and have access to our hearts. If we have folks in our lives who constantly drag us down, depend on us for all the wrong reasons and make us do things we know are not right and would not be acceptable to God - We need to limit their access. We need to love them from afar ~
I had the chance this morning to talk TRUTH and with all my heart I felt what I had to say was exactly what my friend needed to hear. Maybe they already knew the answer and where God was leading them but maybe they needed TRUTH from someone who walks with them and along side of them instead of judging them.
Loved ones, many times life puts us in places where we don't belong. Many times, just like my friend, you may have been on the path God placed you on and you turned from it or walked away from it. Listening to the people around you, decisions leading you in other directions.... so many things keep us from where God wants us. It is not too late to get back on that path if that is where you found PEACE in your life. Maybe you were doing the GIFTS that God had given you and you walked away from that because you wanted to do something else or to make more money doing this other thing.
Friends - there is nothing worse in life than hating where you are - your job, your situation and the baggage that is being carried around .... life is tough enough without all these things. There will always be something we struggle with - but know God is with you and you have accepted Him to lead you in life and to surround you with folks who love you and walk WITH you is the greatest blessing that I can think of.
Adjust your thinking, accept the change God has for you, let God surround you with good loving friends, - God has better plans for you, if you would just listen to His soft and loving voice.

Sometimes bad things happen to us and those around us - we may not understand them but in time if you walk with Jesus - He will show you what you need to learn. Understanding might be right around the corner.....

I just love it when God appears and takes over the control........ I needed that pause yesterday..... a Divine appointment to sit me still and listen to Him. Many times its as easy as that!

Randy~

A Faith that matters.....

Its has been a few days since I posted anything. I have been pretty busy but I am not short on things to say and things to share. Sometimes I feell ike my heart is overflowing.....
Our Rock Group meeting Sunday night was pretty awesome. Our new families attended and it was a great start to the fall semester. Meeting even went over a half an hour because the conversations where so good..... I am very glad about that - because I am learning this new role even after a year of doing this. I don't feel confident in leading, teaching and planning a lesson that has something in there to teach folks - I am more of a person who walks along side of you and helps.... I am in this walk with you but God has called me to do this leadership thing and I am learning so much about it. I am thankful for the opportunity and for the families who God has me surrounded with.

Today is my dad's birthday. Also his and moms anniversary. 43 years being married - its a long time. I am sure he will be having a tough day but I pray that he is busy today - focused on mom being in heaven and knowing she is safe - happy and waiting on him. After this weekend and the talks that Carol and I have had with him - I feel that he is searching for God - he is looking for God to show up in a big way in his life. Maybe to pull all this together and make something make sense. So much has happened the last few years in our family and there is nothing more painful in life - than family pain.
I still believe with all my heart that God got our attention in a way that He had no other choice. God doesn't work on our time table and He doesn't see death the way we do. Our loved one is with Him - so why is that such a bad thing? God has purpose in everything He does and even during our painful times and struggles in life - there is meaning and purpose in them. When we ask Him - He walks with us during those times, showing us and teaching us about His grace and His mercy. When we accept those things and let God be a part of our lives and more importantly a part of our PROBLEMS and our STUGGLES - those things seem to be less and we are in those things WITH Him.
I would rather battle the things in this life with God and 100% all on my own. Many times when we do things alone - thats the part that gets us in the most trouble and causes us the most pain.
God wants nothing more than for us to call out to Him - ask Him for help and to get involved in our lives..... its not the destination that counts ~ its the journey. That journey is a day by day walk with Jesus.
I am praying for you today Dad - maybe one day soon you will LET God do what He does best. When we are at our weakest - God is at His strongest. God wants a relationship with all of us. He wants to be trusted ... and included in our lives and our decisions.

Faith is Gods currency - and there is no buying into Gods plan except through Faith.
Trust + Belief = Faith

Heartfelt prayers today,
Randy~

A Very Happy Birthday also today to 2 very special people in my life - they are part of my kids:
Madison and Heather - Happy Birthday!! I love both of you~~~~

Sunday Night thoughts.....

It has been a tough day today. Going in early to serve setup @church - out of the house this morning at 6:05 - My dad came down yesterday and went to see Walt - we had supper together and I put him to work today. Serving behind the scenes in both setup and breakdown. I hope we didn't scare you too much pops! Yes there is lots to do and we need folks serving - it is hard work but when you have the vision and Jesus in your heart - there is nothing folks won't do to get the message out.
It was a good service today. Lots of new folks, packed at 11:00 - kids ministry had their party today with popcorn and sno-cones. WOW - lots of happy faces leaving today. Also got to serve with some new folks and I am glad for that.

I have to be honest with you now. I am a little nervous about tonight. Our Rock Group meets and there is some big stuff that is on my heart that I want to share with them. They are family and I shouldn't be nervous but I dont like being in the center - I don't like public speaking no matter how small :) and how loving the folks are. Especially when it comes to things on my heart that I really want to share with them. Pray it all comes out right and I nail each of my points. I am blessed to have such a great family in these folks..... but I am still nervous!

Dad - hope you make it back real soon - it was great serving our Lord with you today. Mom is smiling today! I hope your decision to trust Jesus will be made soon.
Continued prayers for all those around us who are lost and need Jesus in their lives.

Randy~

Change is Coming

Romans 12:2 - “…let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”

Romans 12:2 (The Message)
Place Your Life Before God
1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

God answers prayers~ Today my wife and I moved Walt from CMC Rehab center to the Assited living facility near our home. Its 3 miles away and is a wonderful - clean, bright and friendly place - I am sure Walt will work as hard here as he did at CMC. He told us today that on his calendar would have been the day he would have arrived for his trip south from Tupper Lake NY as he moves south for the winter. Well - he got a jump start on that schedule and he got here a few weeks early! We all look forward to his continued improvement - for visitors from church - for friends who can show him they care. This is an important step in his faith journey even if he does not know it. God has placed him here today - at this point in time - at this place in his journey in life for a reason. Even if he doesnt see it, want to accept it, or wants to see God in anything because he has pressed the truth down into his heart for so long...... I pray that God awakens him - heals him and shows Walt all His glory and love. For a man who has been mostly alone the past 9 years and does not like too many folks...... I know in my heart - CHANGE is COMING.
Check the baggage at the door...... CHANGE is COMING.

Randy~

Ask God for the answers....

I know many of us are struggling with things. Many are at a stand still in life; stuck right where you are - unable to move. Unable to move forward and unable to move backwards. A decision is looming over your head like a shadow that follows you around. The old you wants to do things your way. The new you is unsure about what to do - afraid to make yet another mistake or another bad decision. You know the TRUTH and you know what to do - why are you afraid to ask God for an answer. Is your faith struggling today? Has God not shown up in your life in some time? Are you alone and feel abandoned?

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

God tells us to lean on Him. Ask, and it will be given. Knock and it will be opened. God does not want to just be a part of your life for an hour on Sunday. He does not want to just have you come to Him when the chips are down and there is no other place to turn. God wants this relationship with YOU - today - no matter what is going on in your life.

I had someone tell me this week that the ways of the bible are old and it is not for today. It was during a good conversation that was way overdue to happen and if only time could have stood still that evening for about 20 hours - we could have spoke at length about things in life. I have learned so much from where God has taken me from. The old me is not here anymore and the new me - well I am not afraid to shine for God and do my part in explaining how He has changed my life. Your struggles and decisions MUST include God for them to be fruitful. Your struggles are YOUR struggles until you ask God to take them. Only then will He come and handle them. The Bible is not irrelevant - its applications are just as good today as they were thousands of years ago. What has changed really if you think about it? Technology? Science? Those things have advanced but so what. People are the same, there are still people suffering, hungry and sick. The world has the same problems as it did back then even though we talk about global warming and the economy - who cares if we are dealing with donkeys -Gold or Oil? Its still a product that is need and can be sold. Someone still makes money and someone still has to work for it to get it.
That evening, I have to admit, I felt like Pastor Jimmy - I wanted to shout that the Bible is Relevant!!!! TODAY!!!!

Include God in your decions today. Include God in your daily walk - your work place, friendships and in your marriage. God will give you the understanding and the path you need.

Honor God in your decision and I bet you make a great one when you finally do.

Randy~