I Will Pray...

Our Pastor challenged us to pray very specifically over the next few weeks as we are preparing and going through our upcoming Revival! I have chosen to break it down to one section a day and lift each one up. There are 5 sections and I will be posting them on here. Please feel free to join me in praying! I will be typing what Kevin gave us and then going into my prayer time as I have found that writing these prayers out help me in my time with the Lord.

I WILL PRAY FOR MY FAMILY:

1. Pray that the love (Love for God; love for one another) in your home will be greater than the attacks upon your home.

Song of Solomon 8:7
Many waters cannot quench love, nor will the rivers overflow it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be scorned.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Charity has patience, is kind; charity is not envious, is not vain, is not puffed up; does not behave indecently, does not seek her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil. Charity does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, quietly covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

2. Ask God to give you insight that your home may be a place where truth is taught and learned.

2 Timothy 1:5
Taking recollection of the unfeigned faith that is in you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice. And I am persuaded that it is in you also.

My Family: Nanny, PawPaw, Grandma Mary, MeMaw, Dad, Mom, Ron, Ede, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nyki, Jeremy, Rylee, Jakob, Shawn, Tasha, Bently, Nathan, RC, AC, Trace, Andrew, and Kailey.

Lord God~
I come to you right now lifting up my family. First of all my household. Thank you for entrusting to me such wonderful blessings! Lord I ask that you help me to build a love in this home so strong that it can withstand any attacks upon our home. Lord help us to teach and learn your truths in our home. Let this home be a home that lets your light shine brightly through us. Next I lift up all of my extended family. I pray that you reignite a spark in them that they might experience you in a whole new way. For those who know you put a yearning in their souls that nothing can extinguish it. For those who don't or who have chosen to move away from you let their eyes and ears be opened to your truths. Lord I pray for peace and unity in my family and lift them up to you! Lord even though I get frustrated with my family and the drama I am thankful for each and everyone! Let your love overwhelm us so that we may only live for you!
Amen

The last few weeks...

We have had a busy few weeks!
Last weekend (3/30-4/1) my family came in from McKinney to celebrate 3 very special kids! On Friday night we celebrated my 2 boys, AC and Andrew! It was so much fun to have family and friends all in our home to celebrate my sweet sweet boys! On Saturday we headed to Dumas to celebrate the 1st birthday of my beautiful niece! I have to say my Sister-in-love Tasha is so incredibly talented and creative! She had the Sweet Shop up and decorated so beautifully! Then on Sunday we went to church (which my Mom and Dad got to worship with us), then family lunch at my grandparents and then church again and then dinner with my parents and brother and sis-in-love and sweet precious niece! Poor boys didn't get to bed until 10 and had school the next morning! Kailey and I did get to go shopping with my Mom and Nanny on Monday and then lunch with my grandparents, parents and Aunt!

This last week we have been focusing on trying to get our garage cleaned out. RC and I have agreed to take at least 1 box each per day. We have a sorting system, they get put in one of four categories... 1) We really want to keep it so it finds a home and gets placed there. 2) We aren't ready to get rid of it but it doesn't have a home in the house so it gets re-boxed and placed in the attic. 3) Its served its purpose now its time to pass on to others. (planning a garage sale at the end of the month). 4) Trash!!! I know that many would say "Y'all have been there 6 months and you still aren't completely unpacked!" Well no we aren't but most of these boxes we are going through have been boxed up since 2008 when we moved back to Texas so they haven't been a priority! Also some might say why not just get them done instead of 1 box per day, well just a reminder we have 4 kids, RC is working 2 jobs, and I am in school full time. We are trying to get this done without feeling incredibly overwhelmed.

This weekend was amazing but busy! The kids have a 4 day weekend. Friday off for Good Friday and Monday off because we didn't take any snow days :)! Friday we we hung out around the house until Friday evening, the kids playing and me trying to get homework done. We had an awesome Good Friday service! I love getting to share an amazing worship service with my children! On Saturday morning, well actually 10-2 (that's what time we finally left), we had a backwards Easter egg hunt. The kids got to hunt for 5 empty eggs (1 of each color). They then got to go to 5 stations and hear bible stories. 1st station was hearing about Palm Sunday. They received a piece of gray felt for their eggs (donkey fur). 2nd station let them hear about The Last Supper. They received some Cheerios for their eggs. 3rd station was about the Cross and crucifixion. I was so excited because I got to teach this one. The kids got to touch a crown of thorns. We talked about the beating Jesus experienced. I love that when we talked about the mockers who said for him to save himself the kids understood that he could have but chose to stay there to save us from our sins! He could have but it wasn't part of Gods plan to allow us the opportunity to spend eternity with our King! Yes as you can see I am still very excited about this!!!! The kids received little crosses for their eggs! 4th station was about the tomb! We even built a tomb for the kids to have a glimpse of understanding. They received a chocolate egg but they had to eat it then because the egg must stay empty because the Tomb is Empty!!! 5th station was when Jesus reappeared. We had a great guy who dressed as Jesus and shared the story with the kids. They also had lunch, games and received a basket with candy and toys. We really enjoyed this because it kept the kids focused on the true reason we celebrate Easter! Then yesterday I woke up with an overwhelming since of joy knowing that my Savior suffered a horrific death and the defeated the grave because he loved us! I asked my children do you understand the joy I feel this morning and AC told me "I don't understand it but I see it!" We had an awesome morning service celebrating that our Savior is Risen!! The kids were in service with us again! Amazing worship! Home for lunch. We chose to have a lunch just our 6 because it was such a busy weekend. I once again had to disappear to work on homework. Then had church again yesterday evening. Another great time of worship! Today is going to be a day of recovery for the kids and I have a test.

Things don't really slow down for us from hear on out. RC is taking back over EMF. Daddy had a great opportunity come about for him! Its so amazing and funny how God works sometimes! We have been praying about a job for RC and God gives a new job to Daddy (one that fell in his lap), which allowed RC to have EMF again. Then in 2 weeks we have our church revival. I have school, school and more school. And the kids well they are 4 hyper and amazing kids that keep us very busy!!!

Double digits! The Big 1-0! AC is 10! Oh my goodness my sweet baby is growing up! The picture above just exemplifies the kind of young man he is turning into! He is praying during morning devotions while snuggling with his baby sister! Pure sweetness! He loves the Lord! He loves to read and learn! He is an amazing kid! Happy Birthday to my sweet AC!!!!

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow...

All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Higher than my side
High above my life
I will trust in you alone

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you

Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for you alone
You're the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in you alone, in you alone

In you there's life everlasting
In you there's freedom for my soul
In you there joy, unending joy
and I will follow

Okay I really very strongly feel that we are suppose to mean what we say!! I know many of us (me included at times) sing just to sing. We love the songs, we find the tune catchy, or whatever may be. But do we really truly stop and consider the words. Take this song above. It has a catchy tune that you can't help but move to but have
you considered the words and what they mean...

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow...

Think about it are you really ready to make this bold statement to God. Where you go, I'll go... means you could end up somewhere you NEVER thought or even wanted to go, but you are willing to go! Where you stay, I'll stay... Okay this one means you may have to stay in a situation that you so desperately want out of! Think about it Christ stayed upon that cross for you and I. Do you really think that he was enjoying that situation? When you move, I'll move... Guys we have been called to action! We are called to move and we are to move in sync with what the Lord has planned. I will follow... Meaning more than just going to church and putting our time in. We must truly know Christ in order to follow Him!!

All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Higher than my side
High above my life
I will trust in you alone

Do we truly believe these words? Its easy to sing them. Its easy to raise our hands and want to believe them but actually believing them and living a life that represents these words... Not so easy!! All your ways are good All your ways are sure I will trust in you alone... This means ALL!!! We tend to want to trust Him in the easy things. We want to trust Him when things are going great but when things get hard we second guess Him. I do this! I second guess Him when I worry. Worry is not having true faith in Him! Trusting in Him alone means we have to quit relying on ourselves and others and truly trust in Him ALONE!!!! Higher than my side High above my life I will trust in you alone... Do we believe that He is higher? Do we exalt Him to His rightful place? Or do we place our lives higher? Once again I will trust in you alone means in HIM not ourselves!!!

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you

Okay so I've talked about what I believe the first part means so I will just jump into the next. Who you love, I'll love... Ouch I am stepping all over my own toes! This means we are suppose to love everyone, even those who hurt us and betray us. Christ died while we were still sinners. He didn't just die for those who were closest to Him but for ALL who believe!! He died for those who beat him and crucified Him. He asked the Lord to forgive them for they know not what they do!!! How you serve I'll serve... For those of us who want to just put our time in and move on that is not what we are called to do. Jesus came to serve not be served. Which means that if we are going to follow Him then we must be out serving others. If this life I lose, I will follow you, I will follow you... Guys scripture tells us we must die in order to live. Are you willing to lay down your life for Christ? There are people out there putting their lives on the line in order to spread the truth of Christ to all. They could very seriously lose their life. Have you thought about the fact that at any given moment Christ could call you to do this? Would you?

Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for you alone
You're the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in you alone, in you alone

Do we believe Him when he says he is the light of the world? He is the light unto my path? Are we serious when we say I will live for you alone, you're the one I seek knowing I will find All I need in you alone, in you alone! These are some mighty words. They mean something! When we sing them we should mean them!!

In you there's life everlasting
In you there's freedom for my soul
In you there joy, unending joy
and I will follow

This says it all!! In you there's life everlasting... John 3:16. In you there's freedom for my soul...Galatians 2:4 and Galatians 5:1. In you there's joy, unending joy...You can find examples of this joy all throughout the Psalms.

Seriously the reason I am writing this blog is because God has really pressed it on my heart that we sing these songs and don't really think about the words!! We don't really understand what we are singing to our Lord! I mean if you are singing a love song to your honey don't you really think about what you're saying. You're not going to sing something you don't mean or you might have to live up to it. Isn't that what we are doing, singing love songs to our King? Shouldn't we mean it, fully understanding that someday we might have to live up to those words!!!

Happy Birthday my Sweet Andrew!!!!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17



Six years ago I was blessed by my 3rd child coming into this world!!! Andrew is such an amazing blessing! On this day six years ago I posted the following post...

http://crosbyspalace.blogspot.com/2006/03/god-is-in-control-even-when-we-feel.html

When I posted that I had no idea that he would come that very evening! My life was changed forever when my sweet baby boy came into my life. There were a few complications when he was born. He was born with the chord wrapped around his neck, he was born with meconnium in the womb. I remember very vividly panicking because my sweet baby didn't cry immediately after he was born. He was rushed to the nursery to be monitored (I don't know if it was NICU or not) but he was there for a couple of hours. I was on crutches with my lime green cast and had many nurses act surprised that I delivered in that...uhm No I had them remove it and then put it back on... sorry I still feel the sarcasm.

Little did I know what an amazingly loving little boy he would turn out to be!!! He loves to give hugs and kisses. He tells me he loves me all the time!! He has stolen the hearts of almost everyone he meets!! He is eager to learn about the Lord and loves to memorize scripture!

I am truly blessed that the Lord has intrusted such a sweet child to my care!! I am trying my hardest to raise him up to be a God-fearing man whom loves and seeks the Lord with all of his heart! I pray for him daily! Happy Birthday my Sweet Andrew!!!!