Saturday, September 7, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
!!!!!
The following is what I see every time I unlock my phone to use it--- which is more often than I like to admit these days.
However, I came across this quote, and it spoke volumes to me. After I researched who John M. Perkins was, I was astounded. He was a civil rights activist and now an evangelical Christian who is from none other than the great state of Mississippi. He also has established mission work in West Jackson. Heart be still!!! God still continues to amaze me.
With that said, in about 2 weeks, I will be presenting an agenda and a plan before a few committed people who have the means and the passion to serve Jackson and be the hands and feet of Christ. Be in prayer. This is HUGE. And I know God has a plan and a purpose. And I'm ready to be His vessel. So, so ready!!!!
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Revival Song
Day one of my fast----- tired and tired and more tired. Hungry also. But I forgot just how sluggish one's body becomes when it's detoxing from all the "junk" it gets fed. I was SOOOO tired when I got in my car to drive home from work that I just wanted to walk in the door at home and crawl under my covers. But with 3 kids, that's next to impossible.
However, one of my favorite songs EVER shuffled through my playlist just as I got on the interstate. And I left it on repeat all the way home. It was just the encouragement I needed. If you haven't heard it, I encourage you to listen. It describes my thought process these days and exactly what I'm dealing with in my heart. It was just as if God was dealing with me in my tiredness.....Just take a few minutes--- it's worth the listen----
Lyrics:
What could I do to leave a legacy?
How can I speak with authority
When I can't see You, I can't see You
How can I know the dreams You have for me?
How can I believe beyond what I have seen?
When I can't hear You, I can't feel You now
No, no, no
[Chorus:]
You're my revival song, You start where I belong
On my knees, on my knees
When I am weak or strong You meet me here
When I'm on my knees, on my knees
Oh, it starts with me
Why do I try to work outside of You?
Knocking down doors I should be going through
But I'm so tired, I'm so tired
You take my burdens off of my shoulders
You break the lies that hold me back
I'm not sure enough
I really wanna change the world
I really wanna sing Your song
But I know revival's got to start with me
I really wanna change the world
I really wanna sing Your song
But I know revival's got to start with me
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Ready, set, GO!
I feel compelled to take a few minutes and update my blog. Most people who keep up with me, either keep up with me in "real life", face to face, or on Facebook. Whether you know my heart or not, I'm going to share it here now. I have severely neglected my blog and this is where I like to come for my "therapy".
I'm just going to cut to the chase here....... I am on a mission. A true, real life, unselfish mission. Most of those who know me, know that my heart beats for mission work. I've always supported missions, both locally and on foreign soil. Recently, God has pulled me in a direction I never, EVER thought I would be going. And I'm humbly, earnestly asking for prayers.
My grandfather was a well known pastor in Jackson, the capital of our beautiful state of Mississippi. He served Hillcrest Baptist Church for nearly 25 years before he had to retire due to health problems. Fast forward a decade, and the city of Jackson begins to rapidly crumble. Our congregation votes to move from the area and build a new church building in the suburbs of Jackson. Ten years AFTER THAT, Jackson is almost uninhabitable. Murders, rapes, gangs, thugs walking the streets looking for trouble, houses crumbling, businesses leaving, leadership failing.......... And suddenly......... God, through my son, Brennan, brings me back to the church that once was home to me. Where my grandfather stood behind the pulpit and preached the gospel-- the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth........
Brennan wanted to see where his Poppa Clayton ministered for all those years. So we went to see the building. I didn't know what to expect. I was a sea of emotions. Would I cry over the memories? Would I be angry if the building was in disrepair?
What awaited me, was something I never expected. A kind, wonderful pastor who opened up the doors to their church for us. We toured the building alone..... Brennan asking a million questions..... Even sitting in the spot where my grandfather sat for a quarter of a century. And the wallpaper was still the same. My grandfather always kept a jar of jelly beans in his office. It blew me away when I saw a jar of jelly beans sitting on Pastor Blount's desk, just as it had with my grandfather.
The following Sunday they invited us to worship with them and even invited Brennan to speak. And he did. Behind the same podium my grandfather stood behind. It was so bittersweet that I am still processing the emotions of it all.
Here's the "meat of the story", so to say (I hate that term!)...... God has been working in a way I never thought possible in my heart. It's so easy to turn your back on a city that you once called home and move away as you watch it crumble in on itself and you watch the whole dynamics change. Houses were falling apart. Teenagers were walking the streets looking for trouble. Murders happening for things as small as $5. And I turned my back. Thankful that I was no longer employed in that city and that all of my family had moved away.
And then, out of nowhere, God put such a weight on my heart I couldn't ignore it. I couldn't sleep well, and I kept having dreams...... My heart strings were about to be ripped from my chest.
So now, here I am. Blogging and sharing my heart. Pastor Blount had said that he was waiting for someone to come along and help with missions. And there I was, at his door. Just wanting to show my son the big, beautiful building that my grandfather called home for so many years. And one thing led to another........
You don't have to go to foreign soil to share the love of Christ. It's needed HERE and NOW. And so now, we are in the works of getting some major mission projects going. It's in a very dangerous area..... my husband is leery of my desire to work in that part of the city, but I can't disobey what I feel like is a direct order from God.
Here is all I ask: Please pray. Starting tomorrow I will be on a strict fast and down on my knees in prayer. I want things to happen NOW and lives to be transformed NOW, but I know God's timing is not our own. Please join us in prayer as we get things going, slowly. Pray for a revival of a once beautiful city. That Christ will move like never before in that area.That salvation will come to so many who are desperately seeking a peace they don't even know exists yet. PRAY!
And do you know what started this whole process? As I was driving around that day, I showed Brennan the house my grandparents lived in on what once was a beautiful street, but is now almost unrecognizable. And he asked, "Mama, how can we show these people the love of God?"
The innocence of a child has now set the wheels in motion......
I'm just going to cut to the chase here....... I am on a mission. A true, real life, unselfish mission. Most of those who know me, know that my heart beats for mission work. I've always supported missions, both locally and on foreign soil. Recently, God has pulled me in a direction I never, EVER thought I would be going. And I'm humbly, earnestly asking for prayers.
My grandfather was a well known pastor in Jackson, the capital of our beautiful state of Mississippi. He served Hillcrest Baptist Church for nearly 25 years before he had to retire due to health problems. Fast forward a decade, and the city of Jackson begins to rapidly crumble. Our congregation votes to move from the area and build a new church building in the suburbs of Jackson. Ten years AFTER THAT, Jackson is almost uninhabitable. Murders, rapes, gangs, thugs walking the streets looking for trouble, houses crumbling, businesses leaving, leadership failing.......... And suddenly......... God, through my son, Brennan, brings me back to the church that once was home to me. Where my grandfather stood behind the pulpit and preached the gospel-- the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth........
Brennan wanted to see where his Poppa Clayton ministered for all those years. So we went to see the building. I didn't know what to expect. I was a sea of emotions. Would I cry over the memories? Would I be angry if the building was in disrepair?
What awaited me, was something I never expected. A kind, wonderful pastor who opened up the doors to their church for us. We toured the building alone..... Brennan asking a million questions..... Even sitting in the spot where my grandfather sat for a quarter of a century. And the wallpaper was still the same. My grandfather always kept a jar of jelly beans in his office. It blew me away when I saw a jar of jelly beans sitting on Pastor Blount's desk, just as it had with my grandfather.
The following Sunday they invited us to worship with them and even invited Brennan to speak. And he did. Behind the same podium my grandfather stood behind. It was so bittersweet that I am still processing the emotions of it all.
Here's the "meat of the story", so to say (I hate that term!)...... God has been working in a way I never thought possible in my heart. It's so easy to turn your back on a city that you once called home and move away as you watch it crumble in on itself and you watch the whole dynamics change. Houses were falling apart. Teenagers were walking the streets looking for trouble. Murders happening for things as small as $5. And I turned my back. Thankful that I was no longer employed in that city and that all of my family had moved away.
And then, out of nowhere, God put such a weight on my heart I couldn't ignore it. I couldn't sleep well, and I kept having dreams...... My heart strings were about to be ripped from my chest.
So now, here I am. Blogging and sharing my heart. Pastor Blount had said that he was waiting for someone to come along and help with missions. And there I was, at his door. Just wanting to show my son the big, beautiful building that my grandfather called home for so many years. And one thing led to another........
You don't have to go to foreign soil to share the love of Christ. It's needed HERE and NOW. And so now, we are in the works of getting some major mission projects going. It's in a very dangerous area..... my husband is leery of my desire to work in that part of the city, but I can't disobey what I feel like is a direct order from God.
Here is all I ask: Please pray. Starting tomorrow I will be on a strict fast and down on my knees in prayer. I want things to happen NOW and lives to be transformed NOW, but I know God's timing is not our own. Please join us in prayer as we get things going, slowly. Pray for a revival of a once beautiful city. That Christ will move like never before in that area.That salvation will come to so many who are desperately seeking a peace they don't even know exists yet. PRAY!
And do you know what started this whole process? As I was driving around that day, I showed Brennan the house my grandparents lived in on what once was a beautiful street, but is now almost unrecognizable. And he asked, "Mama, how can we show these people the love of God?"
The innocence of a child has now set the wheels in motion......
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Mission Trip
Headed out on a mission trip with these precious kids. First weeklong mission trip for all of them. Say a few prayers for them and the people we will encounter.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Parent's night out!
Had a great night out with some old friends. Two of whom were visiting from their current state of Tennessee. So much fun! I miss these kids.
Soooo.... ^^^^... An accountant, a doctor, and a Southern Baptist preacher walk into Ichiban..... ....... (Sorry, there's not a punchline.....)
^^^^^^The boys were being ridiculous.
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