Settling In

Our family is settling in to the new schedule and life here in Wichita Falls!  We are having an awesome time and looking forward to what God has in store.  This Sunday cannot be described in words.  We had a young lady filled with the Holy Spirit on Sunday night in our worship service!  That makes two since we arrived on June 15th!  The other was an elder gentleman and he also was filled during our worship time.  This Sunday night following the eruption of the Spirit, we tried to continue on into the Word and the Lord took over again!  I believe that we are going to hear of great victories that took place during this service even in days to come.  It was one of those services where we ended up taking the offering at the end... to God be the glory!  We are meeting almost nightly with department leaders going over their ideas and plans to figure out what our biggest priorities are.  It is exciting to see what the future plans hold for Life Tabernacle.  We have also been looking at houses while we lease the Elms' furnished home.  A special thanks to them for allowing us to live in their home while things get settled and as we search for a place to of our own!  We just got our DSL working here in the house...things take so long to transfer.

Anyway, here are some pictures of some of the happenings of the past week or so:

My birthday at McBride's Steakhouse.  The boys always love to give me crazy cards and want to see my reaction...  As you can see below, it was funny!

We have enjoyed having Joel and Sheree Bean here for a few days.

The guys have enjoyed having access to a pool.  Thanks to the Bivens for opening their home and backyard to them!  They are such awesome people.

We enjoyed a time of food and fellowship at the Frazier's home on July 4th.  They are always great hosts for these kind of events!  Everybody had a great time together and then joined with a crowd over at the Pursel's after dark for shooting fireworks.  You can see (l-r) Rita Frazier and Tammy Bryant below.

Aunt Ashley with Alyssa and Alivia Bean...

Karla and I snuck off in the Jeep with the top down for a little while at the Sheppard Air Force Base fireworks show.  We drove through Sonic for a big drink and just sat in the Jeep watching the display.

This past Sunday night after service, we had our first meeting to plan for our new Spanish-speaking satellite location.  We are having a Home Fellowship Group this coming Saturday at the home of one of the Spanish speaking families we are working with.  They invited us to come together with them, their neighbors and friends.  We will be having hot dogs and all the trimmings along with singing and little time of devotion.  They will be interpreting as I speak.  We are in search for a location to begin holding services when the time is right.

For some reason, Chad always has a crowd of kids around him and it is no different here!  Here's Ryan Isom and Alayna Elms with him.  This picture was taken at the church and then they had a blast playing at Pizza Hut (we had 8 young children with us, plus Chad!)  It was good to see Andrew and Mandy home after a month of camps in Lufkin!

We may be settling in , but we are definitely not settling down!  Have a great week!

Smiley Face

I bought a new camera last week, and it has the coolest feature on it. There's a setting you turn it to that has a "smiley face" - when you use this setting, the camera waits until the subject of your picture is smiling before it will take the picture. It will also take up to 6 pictures in a row without resetting the camera - as it waits for a smile. In other words, if you are taking pictures of a child, it will stay focused on that child and take up to six pictures with each smile. If you want a better description of this feature, go to Sony and read/watch about the Cyber-shot camera. They say, "It knows when you're smiling. The new Sony Cyber-shot camera with Smile Shutter technology allows you to automatically capture a smile the moment it happens."

Anyway, it's quite hilarious. I was trying to take a picture of Lindsey and Cameron before we left Austin - using this feature - we ended up taking about 16 pictures trying to capture just the right smile. Then we started playing with it Sunday after church and caught some pretty funny sights, also. Below are some of the "best" smiley pictures. LOL! Enjoy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY....

.... to the most wonderful husband and father in the world!!!  You bring so much joy (laughter) into our lives.  Thank you for being who you are!!  We love you more than words can say.

Your wife & sons!!

Last Week in Austin

Cameron, Chad & I have been in Pflugerville this week for them to finish out their obligation to help with VBS at New Life UPC in Austin.  We've had a good time - just relaxing and taking care of some last minute details and appointments before moving.  As a rule this week, we've made it a point to eat at places we won't have in Wichita Falls.  So... we've hit TGIFriday's, Bennigan's, Mellow Mushroom, Krispy Kreme, and hopefully Chuy's tomorrow.  

Chad still wants to make it to Rudy's, but I don't know where we'll work that one in - maybe on our way out of town on Saturday.  It's not like we won't be back EVER - but it's been fun.

I have shopped in several places I won't have - DSW, Marshall's, Steinmart, Burlington, - don't worry, Gene, I didn't buy something at every store.  LOL!!

ONE of the things the boys are excited about is being able to play paintball again.  So, we've had to get a few things together for them.  When we got home last night (late!), they put all their "gear" on and we took pictures.

Tonight and last night we ate with some of the "kids" the boys have become close to - Lindsey, Cheyanne, Erika, Lorraine, Brooke & Bonnie.  We love these girls and can't wait for them to come see us in Wichita Falls (maybe before the summer is over).

Saturday we load up the car and head home!  I can't wait to see my husband and to be in church with our "new" family on Sunday!!

Answered prayers this week!

I had to take a few minutes to let you know of some awesome things that God has done this week.  He is still in the business of answering prayer!

While getting ready for service tonight in the office, a lady who is in our church came in and starting explaining a miracle that happened in her life this week.  Sunday night she came down to the front for prayer.  I had just mentioned how that all it takes is simple faith and then expect an answer.  Shereé Bean had also testified about miracles that she has just seen take place.  This lady was on oxygen and has been for some time now.  When she returned to her seat, her lungs began hurting, so she took the oxygen tube off and the pain went away.  She came to the office to tell me that she has not been on oxygen since!  She had a doctor's appointment and they told her that she was at a 96% oxygen level which is unbelievable for her without using the oxygen tank!  She said she has not been able to walk anywhere in her house without the tank - but now she was free of it!!  Thank the Lord!

Also, one of our ladies came up to me after service and told me of another miracle that happened tonight.  When leaving her work today, a gentleman that she had been inviting to church, suddenly told her that he would see her tonight in service.  He said that he was needing an answer from God.  She was so excited that he was there.  After our Bible Study tonight, he approached her and said that he had chill bumps.  He got the answer that he needed.  I began a series, "Thirty Keys to Wisdom" from Proverbs 22 and it included the key:  "Never co-sign a note for someone."  He could not believe that I talked about this because that was exactly what he needed an answer about!  All I can say is that God knows exactly what we need and when we need it!  You don't very often hear a preacher say, "Never co-sign a loan!"  But tonight someone really needed it.  This gentleman will never forget the time that God talked directly to him and where he was!  Isn't God awesome?!

Keep asking, believing AND expecting.

South Texas Revival Conference

Last week we had a great (but tiring!) time at the South Texas Revival Conference.  Being music coordinators is much more than asking people to sing at the conference.  It is also helping make sure the stage is setup and ready to go, arranging for musical instruments to be there, having soundchecks before each service with the singers and then being backstage to get them on the platform at the right time and in an orderly fashion!

We arrived Monday night and it all started at 8am on Tuesday with a blank stage and all the things that were ordered earlier in the year. Chad Harper was over the whole process and we enjoyed being with him throughout the week.  The city facility requires union workers to actually do the hands-on work.

The huge projectors are installed with a forklift on scaffolding behind the screen.

The lights are placed where the production manager wants them.  Some of them are moveable by a remote to spotlight different things during the services!

The screen was enormous!

Here's what the final product looked like!  The florists are installing the arrangements.

The final night!  Bro. Mike Anderson and the Christ Church choir rocked the house!

The other praise singers and choirs were...

Tuesday night - District Conference - San Antonio UPC,  Pastor James Jackson

Wednesday night - Pentecostals of West Houston, Pastor Scott Lewis

Thursday - H.O.M.E. Church of Johnson City, Pastor Greg Steele

Thursday night - New Life UPC Austin, Pastor David Bernard

Friday  - Freeport and Clute churches, Pastor Hammond and Pastor Jeff Smith

Although, we spent most of each service behind the curtains getting the next group ready to go on the platform, we did get to enjoy it and the wonderful preaching.  Wayne Huntley was the night speaker and Bill Davis was the Bible Teacher. 

 Our friend, Rodney Shaw spoke in one of the day sessions and did an awesome job!  We went out with his family several times and I snapped a picture during one of the meals of our dinner entertainment....

My friend, Jeremiah Sibley, acted a fool during the district conference session!  He is the South Texas Youth President and he is pretty much bald.  He said he has always wanted to wear an afro to district conference, so here he is making his announcements 70's style...

He was promoting the Youth Division's theme for SFC, "Join the Story."  Also, congratulations to our friend, Seth Simmons, who was elected as the Youth Secretary!  He has been Cameron and Chad's Youth Pastor for the last two years.

We had a great weekend in Wichita Falls, again. We enjoyed having Andrew, Mandy and the girls home for Sunday morning. They are in the midst of working all the camps.

I am in Wichita Falls and my family is in Austin for this week.  Don't you really miss your family when they are not around?  I am looking forward to them being back on Saturday.  

First Sunday

What an awesome welcome we received from Life Tabernacle, Wichita Falls, Texas today!  It was so exciting to be with God's people and to worship together!  God sent waves of His Spirit on Sunday night throughout the service.  There was no doubt that He was there.  We arrived to the welcoming sign above. (Thanks, Bro. Hardin and Sis. Janet!)

In our motel room was this beautiful bouquet of yellow roses.  The note beside it welcomed us home and explained that the color yellow is the "traditional color for trust, loyalty and friendship.  It symbolizes love and the conquering of obstacles."  (Thanks to the Bryant family!)

We had a great Father's Day!  Thanks to the Isom's for the use of one of their pictures to express how much we love our Dads!  (Happy Father's Day, Dad.  We enjoyed being with you today.)

The choir did incredible under the direction of Sis. Kassie.  (She will remain the music director for those who are wondering.)  There is nothing like the Life Tabernacle choir.  They sang their "guts" out!  In fact, the second wave Sunday night came after their anointed singing of "Rejoice!" accompanied by a horn section.  I don't think I have danced that long in a good while!  Thank you choir for letting the Lord use you.

We know we are in the Will of God and when you know that, nothing else matters.  God underscored our calling today and we are so excited.  It is our desire to be a blessing to this area of God's Kingdom.  This is His church - and I am so thankful that we get to be a part of it!  

The Life Tabernacle website has been updated some.  There will be more updates as we get settled here.  (Thanks to Bro. Charles for his help on this!)

We leave for South Texas Revival Conference - San Antonio, Texas in the morning and will return here next Saturday evening.  Join us in prayer this week for Kolton Prince, son of our friends Kenny and Karen Prince, as he has surgery on Thursday.  We know that God will be with them.

"Rejoice, in the Lord always!  And again, I say, "REJOICE!"

Last Day on the Job

Today was Karla's last day in the accounting department of Keller Williams Realty - Northwest Market Center.  She has been training her replacement this week.  A number of her fellow employees began to cry as they said their goodbyes.  I guess it is best to have them wanting you to stay than hoping that you will quit!  

The main boss - the Team Leader - told her that she brought joy to everyone and has been a delight to have in the office.  They are really going to miss her...too bad!  She IS going with me.  They were all mad at me earlier in the week for taking her away.  I told them to talk to God.  I am thankful for a spouse who has been willing to do whatever she had to do to see God's will accomplished.  She worked so that we could see New Life of Pflugerville started.  

Now we move on to a different field of labor.

 
A package awaited us today in our mailbox - cherries from Valenti Farms in Gilroy, California!  Even with a high temperature of 99° today, they stood the test.   After cooling in the refrigerator, they taste awesome!  Yippee!!

Do Fields Talk to You?

Sunday morning I couldn't sleep past 5am.  Now, if you know me, you know that I usually do not have that problem!  It was the day that I had to say goodbye to our work here.  Finally, at about 6:30am, I got in the Jeep and drove out to Hutto Donuts to get the pastries for our after church fellowship.  On my way back I came across this beautiful setting and the field began to talk...about the Harvest.  I had to pull over the side of the road and take a picture with my phone.

It doesn't really matter what part of the country you are in, there are fields waiting to be harvested.  They don't harvest themselves!  These bales of hay did not just start rolling up on their own one morning...someone had to recognize that the time was right and then get out there and work.  They had to get the right tools together and put in some hours of labor.

The harvest of God will not just happen on its own.  Yes, He will help us, but we have to get the right tools together and go to work.   It's crazy how a field can talk, but just about everytime I pass a field, it does.   Let it talk to you today.  Can you recognize when the harvest is ready?  

"...behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." John 4:35

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