Click SMC Intro (under Labels) to learn about the Scripture Memory Challenge - and then look for posts on 1st and 15th of each month!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Rainy Monday - Happy Halloween

It is pouring. My children announced that Jesus doesn't want folks trick or treating. =)

It made me laugh...they are their mother's children. *grin*

I need y'all to pray for me. I am changing jobs. I start at the new company this coming Monday (11/7) and then travel to Denmark on Tuesday (11/8) ALONE. I am very nervous! My hubby has been picking on me...I don't travel well...and I sure don't do it spontaneous! LOL 3 weeks of notice to go to another country for 10 days is stressing me. I went shopping though so I will be the best dressed redneck in Denmark! Pray for safe travels, witness opportunities on the long flight...and my family to survive the 10 days without me! I am sure they will be fine...but I am the main taxi =)

Tomorrow is scripture memory day...and I don't have one picked yet. That is highly unusual for me.

That is it...very random and nothing to really share. haha

See ya tomorrow with a verse!
Sweet Dreams!

In Him,
Kristy =)

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Lost Your Cutting Edge?!?

I finally got to participate again in one of my FAVORITE church activities…packing the backpack buddy bags! It is kind of silly but I just L-O-V-E putting that food together for those children. The last few weeks my hubby has been out of town so I have had to run taxi duty for the kids and we have skidded into church at 6:59pm just in time for service! But last night…I was back to packing and it brought immeasurable joy to my soul.
And this sight nearly made me lose it…just a baby feeding babies…how precious! The littlest gets it when most adults don’t!!! Melts my heart!

Last night in service Pastor Tim spoke about whether or not we have lost our “cutting edge” for Jesus. It was a really good message taken from 2 Kings Ch 6 (I think)…the story of the ax head that fell into the river and Elisha made it float to the top to be recovered. He related losing our “cutting edge” to the student’s tangible cutting edge (ie the ax head).

Ironically, I had been thinking about my cutting edge for quite some time now. A couple months ago I probably would have told you I was losing it. You see, I don’t do drama very well. My motto that hangs on my filing cabinet at work is “just put your big girl panties on and get over it”. (I think Vicki B gave that to me years ago...and I loved it!)

Anyway...I had been sucked into some drama…and I am so bad at drama that it was taking a toll on my whole life...including my spiritual walk! =(

My Granny Capps always told me that life was hard and you just needed to deal with what you were given and move on with it…that every season of life was temporary. And everything will not always be exactly the way you want it...but deal with it and move forward. Never look back on it. (She liked the Apostle Paul *wink* ). And she said don’t hold a grudge because it robs your joy and the other person doesn’t get affected one bit. You are the only one that suffers from the grudge you hold. But a few months ago…I slipped...I had a grudge because I was looking back on circumstances and I was no longer looking forward with my eyes on Jesus. I had lost my focus. And it was robbing my joy and stealing my cutting edge!

Several weeks ago I gave it over to Jesus. I started listening to the advice I tell Peyton and Caleb – “he/she is God’s child not yours…God will discipline them when the time is right…you just move on and leave it up to God to correct...you are ONLY responsible for your actions and words and no one else's”. And then my new memory verse put me over the top Ps 55:22 “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall”. And voila grudge gone…after all they are God's children not mine...satan loses and my joy has returned! Praise the Lord!!!


What about you? Have you lost your cutting edge for the Lord? Check your “spiritual toolbox” as Pastor Tim put it last night…when did you last read your Bible, pray for someone other than yourself, memorize a scripture, use your spiritual gifts for Kingdom work, etc. If you can't move on...get help! Get someone to hold you accountable for memorizing one verse...just one is all it takes to show you you can do it and you can live joyfully and victoriously! I will hound you...I mean hold you accountable... if you need it! =)

After all, the first sharpening stone for your cutting edge is the Word of God…so get back to it today if you have strayed!

And help with backpack buddies…the shelves are empty and children are hungry…



In Him,

Kristy =)

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

a sweet saddness...

Last night we celebrated the life of sweet Mrs. Peggy. Y’all it was so sad. I started crying before the family even came in the room! And I didn’t have a tissue so I had to borrow one! She reminded me sooooooo much of my Granny Capps! They could have been siblings easy! I hope when Mrs Peggy crossed over my Granny was waiting to hug her and thank her for being a part of my life.
Ooooh tears again…gotta move on! lol

And that Pastor Billie is amazing. He preaches the best funerals I have ever heard…and ask my friend Val…I have heard a lot of funerals in my short life! She used to swear I was paid by Parrish’s to be a mourner because 1) we know so many people! and 2) I am SO good at crying! Haha In all seriousness…that funeral was precious! It makes you appreciate Pastor Billie so much! And I think Beth Moore prepared me for the passing of sweet Mrs. Peggy. Sunday night in Bible Study we talked about how sometimes life just is not fair…but God is always just and in control. And I think her message held me together a little better. Still a bucket full of tears…but better! =) And the coolest thing. Mrs. Peggy had written Pastor Billie a letter with her wishes and get this…THREE of my memory verses were included in her preferred readings…I just loved that!!!

Tonight is church night…yay! I have missed two Sunday mornings in a row plus been in nursery a Wed night and prayer room a Sunday night…so I desperately NEED refilling! See ya there!

Be a blessing to someone this week!

In Him,
Kristy =)

Friday, October 21, 2011

Ready for the weekend??

Hey y'all,
I thought I would hop on here really quick and wish you a Happy Friday and awesome weekend! My week has been a little crazy. Lots of changes coming in the Gardner household which tends to stress me just a tad! I am a stress eater and I have gained 12 pounds back! You would think as much as I run that I could maintain...but when you eat like I do...it is inevitable to gain!

And Fall is so busy for most families. We drive thru WAY too often!

Anyway, I hope you have time this weekend to relax and soak up some Jesus! The weather is going to be wonderful...so enjoy!

In Him,
Kristy =)

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Backpack Buddies

I wrote an entire 2 page post on two things:
1) a weekend recap which was pretty lame (except that the WMU Fun Run was FUN!)
2) the lack of support for our Backpack Buddy program.

The #2 was the bulk of the post. Then I decided it was filled with bitterness and frustration and aggravation and spite...so I deleted it...and satan loses. And you get this instead...



Hungry kids need your donations...please support the Backpack Buddy Program as often as you can.

In Him,
Kristy =)

Friday, October 14, 2011

SMC - Oct 15th 2011 (a little early!)

I have another funny story about the song I posted about yesterday (Strong Enough to Save). Well not really about the song but more involving the song. =) This morning I got work and that song came on as I was pulling in the parking lot at 8:04am. It is my favorite y’all so I decided I would listen to it in the car before I came in. I mean you are already 4 minutes late…what is 3 more!

When I parked I noticed a man get out of his car on the row in front of me and just stand there looking at my car. So I assumed what every good woman running late would assume…”oh dear I must have cut him off or followed him to close!” Well he continued to stare and by now the song was well into the chorus and I was feeling a bit uncomfortable. So I decided to crawl out and face whatever horrible driving I had done. I got out and headed across to the building and I noticed he was gaining on me and was just about behind me (it was like a horror film in an alley!! I kid you not!!!). And then he spoke…”excuse me”. And I said “yes” with my most pleasant I-didn’t-mean-to-run-you-off-the-road-or-whatever-horrible-thing-I-did expression. And he said “I noticed your Run Disney sticker…have you run one of the Disney marathons before”? I almost fell on the concrete y’all from the anticipation and then confusion. I said “huh?” And then I was like…ummm no…a friend of mine brought it to me but I was seriously considering running there this year until I realized it was in January. So he said he was registered for January…blah blah blah….have a good day.

So that has nothing to do with anything but it was so funny…and ironic that it was the same song.

Tomorrow is the WMU Mission 5k. I am excited…the t shirts are SWEEEEEET! If you did not register you can tomorrow at 8:30am at South Smithfield Elementary….and we will probably place a late t shirt order if folks want one after the fact. I only ordered 10 extras so I wouldn’t waste money.

And in case I am crazy busy tomorrow between the 5k and baseball and my daddy coming to visit…here is my Oct 15th memory verse.

Ps 55:22 (NIV)
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall”.

Amen!

In Him,
Kristy

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Unstable

Unstable…sometimes I think that describes me best. =)

My friend, Tammy, shared an article thingy on Habakkuk today and the power of Praise! A line in it made me almost spit my Cherry Coke Zero on my desk…”the assumption was that if somebody laughed, cried, shouted, swayed, jumped, danced, waved his hands in the air or acted remotely undignified in a worship service, he was theologically off base and maybe even mentally unstable.”

This morning on my way to work…several people thought I was unstable at best. You see one of my new favorite songs is Strong Enough to Save by 10th avenue north. Anyway, last night it was on and my strong willed little boy was determined to ruin the listening enjoyment of his mother…so I missed most of it amongst his yelling “turn it down I don’t like it” (and yet he knows every word…go figure).

But Jesus knew I needed it so this morning by myself in the car BLARING I sang with hands raised high…I think that is why the dude beside me had eyes as big as baseballs…both hands were raised high at one point!!! The biggest struggle for me is I sing in church with my eyes closed…hard to remember when driving to keep at least one open =) I will post the lyrics below in case you haven’t heard it yet.

What makes you praise God? Is it music or word or picture or what? No matter....whether you praise silently or loudly like me…just praise Him ladies! He loves it when we do!!!

In Him,
Kristy =)

Strong Enough to Save by 10th avenue north
[Verse 1:]You fought but you were just too weak so you lost all the things you try to keep now you're on your knees, you're on your knees But wait, everything can change, in a moments time you don't have to be afraid, cause fear is just a lie open up your eyes
[Chorus:]And he'll break open the skies to save those who cry out his name the one the wind and waves obey is strong enough to save you
[Verse 2:]Look now is not too late lift up your head let the rain fall on your face you're not far from grace, your not too far from grace
[Chorus:]And he'll break open the skies to save those who cry out his name the one the wind and waves obey is strong enough to save you[Repeat]
[Bridge:]I know the weight of this world can take you down like gravityI know the current of yourself can take you out, out to sea but hold on, hold on
[Chorus:]And he'll break open the skies to save those who cry out his name the one the wind and waves obey is strong enough to save you

Monday, October 10, 2011

Checking in...

I realize that I haven’t blogged in forever! I have no excuse…just haven’t had encouraging words to share these days I guess!

I hope both of you readers had a great weekend. Mine was wonderful! Full of baseball and running and eating…three of my favorite things! If only we’d had a dance event thrown in it would have been perfect! Ha! And you couldn’t order better weather…I love fall!

This Saturday is our WMU Mission 5K Fun Run. I have to confess I am a little disappointed in the registration numbers. After 137 last year I just knew this year would be close to 175. Right now we are at 52…there is still time to sign up but no guarantee of a t-shirt after 2pm today. =) It will be fun despite the size of the crowd…last year was awesome! And missionaries will receive clean drinking water through our donations…and God will receive glory! Amen!

http://wmbc2011wmu5klate.eventbrite.com

Have you ever prayed for specific direction from God? And been so convinced where He was directing you…only to end up a little confused and overwhelmed? I have been praying for CLEAR direction on something in my life…and you know what…I think God has a sense of humor because He is answering me with MULTIPLE CHOICE! I went from no options to 3 options and maybe even a fourth! I desperately don’t want to pick the wrong option! So I am continuing to pray…and would appreciate y’all praying for me! I am standing on Jer 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know”. I need to know! =)

Have a great week! Hope to see you Saturday morning!

In Him,
Kristy =)

Monday, October 3, 2011

SMC - Oct 1st 2011

Howdy!

I am repeating my last scripture because I did not get it down yet!

Isa 41:10 NIV"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand".