Just about a week???

I can't believe it's been just about a week since I've left a post. Not sure if
that is more an indication of business or forgetfulness...lol. We had a wonderful
weekend. After basketball on Sat. Jordyn and I went to Lynetta's bridal shower.
It was fun because we played some games that I never have before and also because
Marlon's family loves to see Jordyn and they don't get to that often. The wedding
is less than 2 months away---it'll be so fun! Marlon and the boys went to visit
with Pops and Uncle Keith, so they had a great afternoon/evening too. On Sunday,
church was special. The 4th and 5th graders were learning about adultery and this
was taught to them by having a mock wedding ceremony (which I sang 'You Raise Me Up' for) and then the bride and groom spoke to them and they had time to ask questions.
Isaiah, who is in 4th grade, said that it was cool and he enjoyed it.
This week so far at work has been busy--but definately not mentally.
I was thinking how just the job switch changed my life so much.
I am so much more refreshed now. I get home in the evenings and have energy for my
family and can leave my work at work. God so blessed us with this. I do love
keeping in touch with some of my old clients, however, at this stage of life,
I am happy to have a job that is pretty much mindless, yet still challenges my
spirituality, encourages me to grow in my faith and provides support.
I have been thinking more about school and Marlon has been so supportive--he very
much wants me to go back. I'd probably look into Trinity (classes are held at
Elmbrook) or maybe do Moody like he does (correspondance) I'd only take one class at a time for now (at least until he is finished) I am certain we would qualify
for financial aid-so that would help cover cost. Please pray for wisdom in this
area of my life and wise decision making.
Tomorrow and Friday I have Excel training in Milwaukee. I am kind of excited
because I really don't know Excel that well. I have self-taught some basic so
that I can do what I need to, but I know that there is so much more to it than
that and I love trainings.

Winter

Oh yes, winter is here! For those of us who were basking in the mild
weather we've been having, reality call---uh, we live in Wisconsin!!
It was so dead at work today, between the Annual Congregational Meeting
and then the weather today, not many people came in. I actually got a
lot done though.

Elijah came home sick yesterday :( Thank you for everyone who prayed
because by the end of the day he was back to his silly, happy self and
even came to the meeting.

The meeting--oh my goodness, it was so wonderful! The spirit of
everyone was so inviting, kind, friendly. Different than I have
experienced before. Not that Elmbrook isn't a friendly place, I do
love it. But as free and wild as I can be...it is occasionally stuffy
to me. It was totally not that last night. The pastors did a dance
to Celebration by Kool & the Gang--what a hoot! There was a balloon
drop, chocolate fountain, chicken kiev for dinner. I really think that
the congregation felt taken care of and cared for. It was nice also
to see pastors with support staff and volunteers--all just working together
to get tasks done. As a special treat there were bagels and fruit for us
this morning.

This weekend won't be too busy for us. Friday Marlon and the boys have
basketball practise, Saturday we have the games and then we're heading
into Milwaukee for Marlon's cousin's bridal shower. Then on Sunday is
church and Marlon has a prison in the evening. Sometime in there I have
to clean my house too...lol. I can tell that I've been sick and then very busy the last two weeks--aside of dishes and laundry, not much else has
been done.

Anyway--I've really had the fruits of the Spirit on my mind lately. I
am not sure why (although they are great to read about and keep close) I
guess I am going to post some scripture here because for whatever reason
I feel like I'm supposed to. Hopefully, this will speak to who it is
supposed to.

Galatians 5:16-25
"So I say, live by the Spirit, andyou will not gratify the desires of the
sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit
and the Spirit is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with
each other, so tha tyou do not do what you want. But if you are led by the
Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious,
sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred,
discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and
envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that
those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who
belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions &
desires. Since we live by the Spririt, let us keep in step with
the Spirit."

I love those verses. They convict me. I am so guilty of those things. Some
in the past, some that I still struggle with today. I give them up to God
so that I can come before Him clean...as clean as I can get in my humanness
at least. I confess that I still am jealous at times, have angry outbursts,
make selfish choices, hate instead of love...I must daily replace my sinful
desires with those of the Spirit---love, joy, peace...because I am a child
of Christ my sinful nature has been crucified and does not need to hinder me
anymore!!! Praise God!! May I continue to develop and grow these fruits so
that I may be a blessing to others.

Lord, I pray that you bring everyone who reads this tonight open eyes--open to
what they read and open to see what they might bring to the table. What fruits
of the Spirit do they need to develop? Where are they gifted and need to step
up to the plate? Help them see how a relationship with You is the start of all
good things in their life. The darkest day with You is still 10 million times
better than the best day without You. Amen.

Busy for God

Amazing things happen everyday and we so often miss them.

First of all, I had such a grand weekend. Even though I
was thoroughly exhausted physically, I just felt at peace
in my spirit and like I knew I was doing what I should be.
This weekend was the Children's Ministry conference and
it went pretty well. It's fun to be part of something
that comes together and that people have positive things
to say about. My friend Andrea and Phoebe (who I met at
the ministry wives conference)were able to come. It makes
me feel good that they were able to gather helpful info
to take back to their church plant.

Sat. was really the day...lol. There was the conference,
Upward basketball and Couples Date night. I was involved
in all three. Even with all of our activities, it is
very rare that so many things collide on the same day.
A special gift, however, was that since almost all of our
things occur at Elmbrook, I was able to be part of it all.
Conference from 7-12, Upwards from 12-4 and then date night
from 4-9:45...lol. Writing it down makes it look much
worse than it was. I got to see the kids all afternoon with
Upward (they all play as you know) and then Marlon had gotten
them all tickets for the All-Star soccer match so they were
gone all night anyway--why not serve? Why not put my gifts
to use to help others? It is rewarding.

So after church and my parents on Sunday, I was pretty tired.
But as I stated earlier, not in way that made me regret
doing it, or feel like a martyr...in a way that made me
content that I was in the right place at the right time for
the Lord. That is a great feeling :) Also, my cousin signed
a card at church that he had asked God into his heart and
wants to know more about what that all means. Hallelujah!!!

Wednesday is our church's annual meeting. The staff is working
the event. I think it's going to be so fun! I am praying for
the night to run smoothly and for people to get their own
yucky feelings out of the way so that God can do what He plans
to. What is one night to make the congregation feel how important
they are to the church and how they mean a lot to what comes next.

On a different note--Happy Valentine's Day! Although, if you are
living out God's love it really shouldn't be that special of a day!
Hug someone you care about and tell them how much they mean!!

My Nieces

Here are my nieces--Nia and Keyona. Aren't they beautiful?

The kids

Here is (from left to right) Isaiah, Jordyn, Elijah and Israel is in front.

So sick :(

I have been so sick!!! Just yesterday I finally started to feel back to
normal. I came home early on Thursday and passed out (well, not literally)
I was in bed and out of it until Sat. On Sat. I was still definately sick,
but at least able to sit up and actually came down from the bedroom. It's
crazy how you lose time when you are ill.

this is a super busy week because on Friday/Sat. we have the Children's
Ministry conference at Elmbrook. there is so much to do and so much
planning. I think it'll go great! I'll let you know

I'm trying to download/scan some of the new pictures of the kids that
my parents had taken last month. I may have those posted soon if I
figure this out...lol

What can you say?

Well, it's over. The trial went suprising quickly. Yesterday by noon the defense was done with it's case. At 1 we reported to court to hear closing statements. The DA was very encouraging and then all we could do was wait. I went back to work. Becky and some of my other family sat around at my Grandma's house. Finally, at a little after 7pm, the jury was back in. Not guilty. None of us could believe it. How could they not see him for what he is? Almost immediately after hearing the verdict, he got this smug grin on his face and pulled out his dress shirt. Almost as if to say, whew--don't gotta pretend I'm a gentleman anymore. Hadn't they heard the tape of his messages to her? Hadn't they seen the turmoil she was in? All we could do was hold Becky as she wept. Several of the female jurors were crying...for what? Not being strong enough to stand their ground? Having been through the same things and not standing up for themselves? Once he had left the courtroom with his family and we knew they were down the hall the DA took all of us to a room downstairs. Nothing can prepare your heart to see someone you love so much in so much pain. All she kept asking me was, "why, why would God do this to her, why would God allow her to be hurt again?" I told her it wasn't God...God didn't do that to her back in June. God was there for her, to strengthen her, give her peace. This sad excuse for a man is a human who has problems and sickness, he is the one who sinned in a most despicable way...and sinned again in court by lying on the stand and not being man enough to own up to what he did. Humans were on the jury. The DA said that these cases are so hard to get convictions on because often times the jury is afraid to be bold enough to be the 12 that send somebody away. Often times there are jurors who in the past had a sexual assault against them. Maybe they weren't strong enough to stand up against the other jurors. The DA said that usually one hold out for a not guilty will change everyone else's mind before the others change theirs. He also said that he has no real explanation for why it happened. He tried and he pursued the case because he believed her and felt the case had merit and was provable. Once we got her calmed down...we all went back to my Grandma's.
I have to tell you my head was spinning. In my head, I heard God say to me, "Even if...even if he wasn't convicted??? Do you still believe I am who I say I am?" I was so proud of my family for being there for Becky and standing by her. God might not have answered our prayers as we had hoped, but that doesn't mean he didn't answer them. He had reasons and ways that we couldn't begin to understand. But His intent is never to harm us. Jeremiah 29:11 (and I've said it before but it is always worthy of saying again because in times like these we need to hold fast to it)
Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He can make good out of any and all situations. When you run to Him and allow Him to fully live in all parts of your life...He will give you a peace that you can't even explain to others. Don't allow human sin to make you believe that God has harm in mind for you. Sometimes you never know the lesson that you are learning. Sometimes you find out later and sometimes you never do. Sometimes the lesson isn't for you-but someone around you. We are all an intertwined puzzle, linked and connected as only He can see.
Some good has come already of this hateful thing. Becky, my aunt and her siblings are so much closer now. They are there for each other in a way they weren't before. She is free from that horrible relationship. If he had not gone that far...she might not have broken away. The guy's sister is married to Becky's brother, my other cousin. Using this situation as a scapegoat...she walked away and left him. While there are kids in common from the marriage...and that will be a difficult thing to figure out--they are both free from those unhealthy, hurtful relationships. What matters now I told her is what she does next. Does she allow this to eat her up and keep her down? Does she get help and talk to someone about everything? She still has not dealt with that night...and regardless of guilty or not guilty--she was going to have to do that. She doesn't have to turn to harmful behaviors herself...hiding her true feelings, poor choices because she is acting not thinking, falling into a pit of despair.
Please continue to pray for her. Pray for her to feel God's hands upon her. Pray for her to see that He is not the enemy...Satan and his evil are alive and well and always after us. When we allow Satan to make us question our beliefs...doubt ourselves...feel too low for God to love. They are all lies!!! The bible says if God is for us, who can be against us? Pray for Becky to go and get help dealing with all of this. Pray for me and knowing when to speak and when to just be.