Well, as most of you know, we came back to this area because it was "home" as we knew it and Paul needed to finish school. A strange thing happened after arriving "home".....it never felt like home. A year and a half later and it still doesn't feel like home. We feel that this is just God's provision in keeping us ready to GO wherever He wants us to go. And now Paul is at the end of his school days (for now), he has 5 weeks left and could not possibly be more excited. So, we are preparing to end this chapter in our lives and move on to wherever the Lord wants us. We all know that we are moving, sometime soon, but have no idea where. This seems to be a recurring theme for about the past 4 years. But we are just going to keep trusting in the ONE that is trustworthy and go where He leads.
With that said, Paul has had contact with a company in North Carolina and has completed 3 parts to a 4 part interview process. Things look promising and we are getting excited, not about North Carolina, but just excited that the Lord is revealing little by little. If we move to North Carolina, we will love it and we can give you so many positives that you will want to move with us! He also has an interview with the same company but different area this Wednesday and this position would put us in East Texas. Again, we are excited and will be ecstatic with either, we just want to know without a shadow of a doubt that we are doing the Lord's will for our lives. We are desperate to do His will and NOT ours!
Please pray for the Lord to open doors that He wants opened and to close doors that need to be closed and don't allow us to try and pry them back open. We are hungry for the Lord and desire above all else to serve and glorify Him in ALL that we do! Lord, let it be so!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Peyton & Pierce turn 3
This was their first birthday in the United States and we tried to make it a special birthday with just family and one other couple and their two children that are like our family. It was going to be small but we wanted it that way for this first one anyway. So we were only having Nana and Pawpaw, Aunt Lisa, Uncle Curtis, and Dustin, Tia (my sister), Uncle Scott, Ethan, and Chloe, and Kevin, Krissy, Kody, and Kaleb. We wanted to spend this time with our family that didn't get to share those birthdays with the boys while we were in Brazil. We wanted it to be a time of celebrating and building memories, we were not worried about the presents. The gift was their presence!
Happy Birthday Peyton & Pierce! We love you big as a pickle!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Proof of Kingdom Life
Today I wanted to talk a little about our salvation in Jesus Christ. The other day I was talking to my 15 year old daughter, Kati. We were discussing salvation and what it means. The reason we were talking about this subject is because she was just wanting some confirmation about her salvation. Kati was saved at a young age and really doesn't remember a lot about it. I say that to also say this, we have taught our children about God and Jesus since they were born, not to make a decision for them but to teach them just as God said in Dueteronomy 6. We talked about a few things but one thing really stood out and we went to Matthew 7:13-23. In this chapter Jesus is talking about entering through the narrow gate to life because the wide gate leads to destruction. That means the majority of the world is going through the wide gate.
When we skipped down to verse 22, Kati and I talked about how Jesus said "not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven but he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter." He went on to tell what these people were doing, they were prophesying, casting out demons, and performing miracles in His name. But yet they still did not get into Heaven. Why? Jesus said "I never knew you." Because they didn't have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ. It wasn't because they didn't say a prayer at one time or another or someone lead them in the "sinner's prayer" and it certainly wasn't because they weren't doing for the Lord or the church. It was because they didn't spend time with the Lord, they didn't get to know Him. I know you have heard this a million times, but you can't have a best friend unless you get to know that person. You can't have a good marriage until you spend time with your spouse.
I said all of that to say. It's all about the relationship. I told Kati that I saw fruit in her life. It's not all about remembering when she said a prayer of forgiveness. I see in her a follower of Christ. When she puts down the computer, cell phone and TV for 40 days to spend time in the word, I see fruit and Proof of Kingdom Life.
I challenge you to show fruit in your life. Remember its not about what you do at church, work, what T-shirt you where, or whats on your license plate. DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS?
When we skipped down to verse 22, Kati and I talked about how Jesus said "not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven but he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter." He went on to tell what these people were doing, they were prophesying, casting out demons, and performing miracles in His name. But yet they still did not get into Heaven. Why? Jesus said "I never knew you." Because they didn't have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ. It wasn't because they didn't say a prayer at one time or another or someone lead them in the "sinner's prayer" and it certainly wasn't because they weren't doing for the Lord or the church. It was because they didn't spend time with the Lord, they didn't get to know Him. I know you have heard this a million times, but you can't have a best friend unless you get to know that person. You can't have a good marriage until you spend time with your spouse.
I said all of that to say. It's all about the relationship. I told Kati that I saw fruit in her life. It's not all about remembering when she said a prayer of forgiveness. I see in her a follower of Christ. When she puts down the computer, cell phone and TV for 40 days to spend time in the word, I see fruit and Proof of Kingdom Life.
I challenge you to show fruit in your life. Remember its not about what you do at church, work, what T-shirt you where, or whats on your license plate. DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS?
Friday, April 9, 2010
Clothing Ourselves
Today I want to shift gears a little and not talk about me or my family. I want to talk to you about what God's Word says to you and to me. Recently I was reading in the book of Colossians and a couple of verses really stood out to me.
Colossians 3:12 & 13 says, Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
First off, we must realize that we are a chosen people, we are to be holy and we are dearly loved by the Creator of the universe. Next, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. It says to clothe ourselves, not put on your socks of compassion, or your lapel pin of humility, but clothe ourselves. Cover up with all of these things. I used the NIV here because I like the way it reads. Just a few short weeks ago we were in the dead of winter. When my children would go outside I would tell them you can go but you must put on a bunch of clothes to stay warm. Put on long pants, thermal shirts, thick socks, and a heavy coat. Wrap up! They needed to wrap up to face the cold. That's what the apostle Paul is saying here. Put on these clothes that Jesus has given you. Wrap yourself in these attributes so that people will know that you belong to Jesus. When we clothe ourselves in these attributes we will see people just as Jesus saw them and we will have compassion for them just as Jesus did for the multitudes.
Also, we are to bear with each other and forgive whatever we may have against another person. That is a hard one because we are in a sinful human body, but when you read the last sentence of verse 13, it should make it easier. Read it and think about what that means to you.....Forgive as the Lord forgave you. How much have you been forgiven? And in this sense of the word forgiven means removed as far as the east is from the west, never to be brought up again! Wow, never to be brought up again. (now that's complete forgiveness)
Hope this gives you something to think about and ponder. Hope you remember to clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience....and don't forget to forgive as the Lord has forgiven you!
Paul
Colossians 3:12 & 13 says, Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
First off, we must realize that we are a chosen people, we are to be holy and we are dearly loved by the Creator of the universe. Next, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. It says to clothe ourselves, not put on your socks of compassion, or your lapel pin of humility, but clothe ourselves. Cover up with all of these things. I used the NIV here because I like the way it reads. Just a few short weeks ago we were in the dead of winter. When my children would go outside I would tell them you can go but you must put on a bunch of clothes to stay warm. Put on long pants, thermal shirts, thick socks, and a heavy coat. Wrap up! They needed to wrap up to face the cold. That's what the apostle Paul is saying here. Put on these clothes that Jesus has given you. Wrap yourself in these attributes so that people will know that you belong to Jesus. When we clothe ourselves in these attributes we will see people just as Jesus saw them and we will have compassion for them just as Jesus did for the multitudes.
Also, we are to bear with each other and forgive whatever we may have against another person. That is a hard one because we are in a sinful human body, but when you read the last sentence of verse 13, it should make it easier. Read it and think about what that means to you.....Forgive as the Lord forgave you. How much have you been forgiven? And in this sense of the word forgiven means removed as far as the east is from the west, never to be brought up again! Wow, never to be brought up again. (now that's complete forgiveness)
Hope this gives you something to think about and ponder. Hope you remember to clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience....and don't forget to forgive as the Lord has forgiven you!
Paul
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Challenging Times with Two Two-Year Olds!!!
We have always heard that the Lord will not give you more than you can handle; we claimed that as a promise when we found out that we were going to have twins. I can say that right now as we approach Peyton and Pierce's third birthday, we are begging God not to trust us so much because we think we are at the limit.
Keri and I both hate to label things, so we really don't like the term "terrible twos", but we are really wondering if that is what we are in the midst of. These two boys are testing every bit of patience that either of us have ever had and every bit that we have prayed for. We are at our wits end and feel that with two of them we are getting a double whammy. Every time we turn around, we are having to correct one and sometimes both. It just doesn't seem that we went through this with the other two, but maybe it is because we had one at a time. Either way, we would covet your prayers to help us make it through this season of life with these two little guys. Don't forget to pray for Kati and Preston also, they have to live within our organized chaos. Everyday is a new challenge with these 2.
Preston and Kati can bring in their share of frustrations also but at least it's not a daily battle. They are really good kids and we are very proud of them and their accomplishments and adjustments over the past 3 years.
In all things remember that children are a blessing from God.
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3
Paul
Keri and I both hate to label things, so we really don't like the term "terrible twos", but we are really wondering if that is what we are in the midst of. These two boys are testing every bit of patience that either of us have ever had and every bit that we have prayed for. We are at our wits end and feel that with two of them we are getting a double whammy. Every time we turn around, we are having to correct one and sometimes both. It just doesn't seem that we went through this with the other two, but maybe it is because we had one at a time. Either way, we would covet your prayers to help us make it through this season of life with these two little guys. Don't forget to pray for Kati and Preston also, they have to live within our organized chaos. Everyday is a new challenge with these 2.
Preston and Kati can bring in their share of frustrations also but at least it's not a daily battle. They are really good kids and we are very proud of them and their accomplishments and adjustments over the past 3 years.
In all things remember that children are a blessing from God.
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3
Paul
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Finally Finishing
Along with a new business, I decided to finish my bachelor's degree. I started right out of high school at Mississippi State, but didn't finish and now the time seems right to finally finish. I started back in October at Union University in Germantown and will finish up in March 2011. Wow just 11 months away! Sounds like a long time but it is really not long at all.
This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time but I just didn't know how I would do it. When we returned from Brazil, Keri and I talked about it and felt like this was as good a time as any to finish and get my college diploma which is needed in today' economy. It has really been a blessing to go to Union. The classes have been relevant with a constant emphasis on the work place.
After Union I really don't know what God has in store next. We are open to what God has for
us. We are praying about several things and one of them is possibly getting my masters from Mid America. A lot will have to happen in order for that to take place but we are open and praying for God's guidance in our life.
Here are some things you can pray for:
Paul
This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time but I just didn't know how I would do it. When we returned from Brazil, Keri and I talked about it and felt like this was as good a time as any to finish and get my college diploma which is needed in today' economy. It has really been a blessing to go to Union. The classes have been relevant with a constant emphasis on the work place.
After Union I really don't know what God has in store next. We are open to what God has for
us. We are praying about several things and one of them is possibly getting my masters from Mid America. A lot will have to happen in order for that to take place but we are open and praying for God's guidance in our life.
Here are some things you can pray for:
- Our finances
- Our new business (Honey-Dew Lawn Care) We need yards to cut!!!
- Our children
Paul
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Work is Picking Up
Right now my crew is mainly myself, and occasionally Keri, Kati, or Preston. I have a few others that I can call on, but haven't really had the freedom to hire anyone since we haven't had enough work, but things are looking up. My hope is that I can get busy enough to pick up a young college student or even high school student for the summer but I am not there yet.This has so far been a real learning experience just as any new business venture. God is teaching me many things through all of this and the biggest thing is that He is in control of my life and this business. I have to tell myself this every night before I go to bed!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Paul
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
