Grilling

This may not seem like the time of year for this blog title, but let me tell you a story. Last Thursday, when the snow storm was approaching, we decided to have friends over for dinner on Friday. When I asked Michael what he wanted to do for dinner - he said he would grill! When I questioned him, he said all he had to do was "step outside the garage door, what's the big deal?"

If you think that's funny, keep listening! I went to work Friday morning and told this "funny" story to my co-workers and their response was a collective blank stare. They thought that there must be more to the story, because what's the big deal about grilling in the snow?

Here's to figuring out how to do everything in the snow :)

SNOW!?!

Yes. It's Saturday late afternoon and the snow started a little less than 48 hours ago. And it's supposed to continue for another 36 hours! This is the earliest snow that I've seen since I've lived up here. There are probably 8-10 inches at our house. In town, probably 6-8. And some of our friends that live on the top of a mountain are having to wade through thigh-high drifts (that's about 2 feet of snow!) Visibility isn't too great, so everything kind of looks like a greyscale picture. I love to watch it snow!

Hope my weather report helps you cool off :)

By the way, if you need some encouragement or are always up for some good Bible reading, read Colossians and focus on all the places that tell us what we've gained in Christ, as individuals and as the church. It's a sweet, sweet time.

Back from Beth

It was such a blessing to be able to attend Beth Moore's Living Proof Live event in Billings this past weekend. Besides all the spiritual stuff I learned, I also learned that she always teaches new material for a new event - she doesn't have a "talk" that gets recycled at every Living Proof Live event. This weekend we got to hear Beth teach on a passage she has never taught on before - it was great. Isaiah 32:1-8 and she made us memorize verse 8: "A noble man makes noble plans and by noble deeds he stands." (and yes, I did actually memorize it and type it from memory) We had seven ladies from our church attend plus 3 others that we brought along with us. I'm praying for God to continue to apply His Word to our lives and to work miracles in us through it.

Michael gave a sort of "State of the Church" address on Sunday. He discounted it as a real sermon, but some people said it was the best one he's ever preached. He shared with the church the vision God has given him for our church - basically glorifying God through evangelism and discipleship. He even gave us some sanctified numbers to reach for. We're not trying to become a mega-church, but our growth does need to have some way to be evaluated. Ready for the numbers? His God-given goal for salvations is 12 in 2009 and 16 in 2010! He said if there were two camps, one of which said "How are we supposed to do that?" and the other of which said "That's all?", he would be in both camps :) He added that he loves kids and wants them to come to know the Lord, but he is burdened for the majority of these salvations to be of unchurched adults from our community! And he's already taken steps personally to adjust his schedule so that he has more time and opportunity to be evangelistic in his life. Intentionally hunting with unbelievers and playing soccer on Sunday nights with unbelievers are two of them.

We ask for your prayers that God would be glorified in our church and in the community. And also that we would be able to withstand Satan's attacks (he is always busy against those who are following the Lord.) Thanks for all your love and support. We love you.

Back in the swing of things

Well, the weather has turned to more cool days than warm ones faster than I thought it would, but I do love seeing snow on the mountains. Michael took Haddie out hunting the other day and is ready for water fowl and big game seasons to open.

Last Saturday we had a block party to kick off AWANA. It was cold and rainy, so attendance wasn't as great as we would have liked, but everyone who came had lots of fun. Our first night of AWANA was good, as well. I am working with Sparkies (K-2) this year with their new material and am excited to spend more time with the kids I had in my Vacation Bible School class.

Beth Moore is in Billings and I'm excited to be taking 8 other ladies from our church this weekend. We are also starting to plan a craft-workshop-outreach-thing to see if it will give us the opportunity to reach some women from Columbus for Christ. Michael is planning a "Bless the Hunt" event for the opening of big game season. He is teaching "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" as a men's leadership development Sunday School while my Ladies Sunday School is working it way through "A Woman After God's Own Heart."

I'm looking forward to all that God has in store for us this Fall and hope that you will pray with us as we seek His direction for our family and in our church. We love you.

Fall Has Come

Well, not really, but it's thinking about it. I see the cycle beginning. While Michael's parents were here, we had a 48 hour cool shot in the midst of days that reached the high 90s and maybe the 100s. Yesterday it was cool and cloudy and gray all day. This morning the temp in our house was 57! It's mid-80s now at 7pm, but windy and the wind is blowing around a few leaves already. I know the weather won't change permanently yet, but the hint of Fall is enough to make this Florida girl wonder if she's had enough warmth yet. Apparently the Farmer's Almanac, as well as some real-live farmers we know, think that Winter will come early this year and will be very cold and snowy. I don't really know how I feel about that. I actually have been disappointed with the lack of snow since I've move up here. On the other hand, and early, long, cold, hard Winter is not completely appealing, for some reason. I'm going to at least start praying that my flights out of Billings and back in from the family reunion will run smoothly. That's about all for now. Have a Happy Labor Day Weekend and try not to hate me too much for complaining about cooler weather as you sweat in the humid heat down south.
Love you all,
Christina

I didn't realize how long it had been. . .

until I saw that the date of my last post was August 4th! Sorry :(

Michael's parents and Grams came up for a week visit. We had a lot of fun. Grams was so fun. She kept saying "I wouln't take for that!" Meaning she wouldn't trade (the animal, dinner, view of the mountains, etc) for anything. She had a lot of fun and so did we.

Well, I've got to run to Praise Team practice, so I'll try to catch you up a little more later.

Prayer

God's been teaching me about prayer and pushing me toward prayer. Not just prayer for other people, although that is part of it. But the heart of prayer that seeks His will in every moment. For instance: I came down to church earlier that I needed to to prepare for Praise Team Practice and I asked God what He would have me do with that extra time. So, here I am writing to you about prayer.

In Sunday School we have started reading Elizabeth George's book "A Woman After God's Own Heart." In the first chapter she talks about "acknowledging God" in all situations - taking just a second in the midst of whatever the situation to check in with God and see what He would have me do. Even before we started this book God had started His work in me concerning prayer. I have been finding out that God is showing me things when I'm teaching other people that I hadn't considered or realised until they came out of my mouth. I confessed to everyone at the Women's Tea that I've been planning before I pray!

What a difference it has made to ask God how I should spend my time, who I should ask to help with certain things, even what words to use to share what He is doing in my life. I am beginning to enjoy one of the blessings Elizabeth talks about in her chapter on prayer - a deeper relationship with God. Watch out - here comes another instance of God teaching me as I type! It's kind of like human relationships - the people I feel closest to are the ones who I share the most of my life with, the ones who are intimately acquainted with even the most mundane decisions of my life. Somehow things aren't so mundane when God is involved in every decision and I can see Him working in even the smallest things.