OPPORTUNITIES

Today is Friday, January 8th, 2016.  A brand New Year.

Yesterday we got the wonderful, encouraging word from Mickey's Lung Doctor that his lung x-ray shows improvement since his last visit, August 18th.  We were SOOOO overjoyed and so praising our wonderful God.

On our way home, God gave me not one, but two opportunities to serve those around me. (I don't usually share things I do, but I always try and share all the many things that are done for us.......which are SO many!!!)

When we left Dr. Schelbar's office we were literally having difficulty keeping our feet upon the ground but we needed to stop at Aldi's to pick up a few things. While waiting to get sour cream there was a little boy and an older foreign woman at that section and the little boy was having trouble selecting a yogurt he was getting to choose.  The lady, who saw me standing there waiting, pulled him back so I could get my item.  I smiled and said, "Thank you".  

When we got to the check-out stand the lady and the little boy were right behind us putting her few items on the belt.  As the belt would move the little boy was almost hugging the 2 yogurts among the other  few items.  Mickey even said to him, "You aren't letting those get away from you are you"?  We all chuckled.

In the line ahead of us was a mother with two children.  The little boy in the basket had a pacifier in his mouth and a fairly large blue ball in his hands.  He was looking at me with his big chocolate eyes and I asked his mother how old he was.  "He is 2" was her reply, "Yes, he is 2".  As they checked her out the cashier noticed a cookie had been removed from the package she was scanning.  She told the lady to go ahead afterward and get a full package.  

My items were checked and put in the basket and I was given the amount I owed.  As I was preparing to swipe my debit card the older lady, with the small boy and the yogurt, realized she did not have her card, or any money.  She was telling the cashier this and exclaiming how sorry she was.  You could tell she was so embarrassed and upset.  I quietly said to the cashier, go ahead and ring her up and put it on my ticket.  The older lady was saying, "Give me your phone # so I can repay you".  I said, "No, that's fine I want to do this."  

Mickey at this time is on the side counters bagging up our items, the young mother with the 2 children is beside him.  After I got my card swiped and was walking away the woman was still thanking me.  I turned and said, "This isn't from me it's from GOD."  She exclaimed, "Oh God bless you."

As I was walking over to help Mickey the young mother with the 2 children said, "Can you please watch my children for a few minutes?  I have to run back in."  Of course I would.  The little 2 year old with the blue ball is still in the basket, and his sister is sitting on the loading shelf with a red ball.  I asked her how old she was - 5.  I asked her name.  She told me.  I asked the boys name.   She told me.  The little boy is trying to give me his blue ball, still sucking on his pacifier.  I tell him "no, you keep it".  I said to the little girl, "You both got new balls today"?  She said, "Yes".  I said, "You got blessed".  She looked at me and I said, "Do you know what blessed means"?  She nodded "no".  I said "When God does nice things for us that is being blessed.  Do you know who God is"?  She was saying, "yes." when her mother returned and said, "Oh yes, she knows who God is.  We go to church all the time and she goes to her class".  She thanked me profusely for watching the kids.  I assured her I was honored to do so.

I'm tell you ----------- on top of our GOOD NEWS and GOD'S GOODNESS TO US and then being blessed by my GOD to be used in 2 such little ways ------- I was almost floating as Mickey pushed our cart and we headed for the our car. 

As I am writing this, at 11:50 a.m. on the 18th I am awaiting a phone call from The Breast Center about 2 biopsies that were performed on my left breast yesterday morning at 8:30 a.m.  I have been, since finding our I needed these on December 15th,  and am today, totally calm. 

God has been speaking to me in soooo many ways.  Today my 31 day Scripture Writing Plan was Psalm 27:1-3 "Light, space, zest - that's GOD!  So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.  When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, those bullies and toughs fell flat on their faces.  When besieged, I'm calm as a baby.  When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool".  The Message - How GOD to have me writing this scripture on this day - whatever the outcome is!!!!   

   

MINISTRY - The Act of Reaching Out - PURSES

Tiny, baby steps~~~~ 

1)  Our small group is studying The 10-Second Rule by Clare De Graaf.

2)  Idea I saw on fb - fill an old purse with small, useful items.

3)  Obtained 5 used purses from the church Klothes Kloset.

4)  Began purchasing small toiletry items.

5)  Purchased a couple snack items.

6)  Asked my good friend, and Sister in Christ, Judy Russell to prepare 5  

     personal prayers she writes out and puts in pretty envelopes.

7)  Purchased blank notes and envelopes that read:

Dream, Hope, Believe...

the Lord is painting a  

beautiful

future for you.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.  Ecclesiastes 3:11

8)  Felt lead to add a $5 bill.

9)  Assemble and get the 5 purses ready.

    

Assembling

1st one completed 

All 5 filled and ready to go.

And, NOW - I have placed the 5, filled and ready to go, purses in my automobile. I am asking God, and believing I will hear His voice as HE directs me where, when, and to whom to give each purse.  Judy and I discussed her prayers, each is different.  We believe God will direct the RIGHT prayer exactly to the right woman.

I have never done anything this "random" before .  But, I know God has been directing my steps. I BELIEVE and am excited to "HEAR HIS VOICE".

Watch for follow-up reports as I am obedient to this small Act of Reaching Out.

(Usually it is not a good idea to give cash to people asking for it, because they may use it to buy drugs or alcohol.  Because God is who will be leading me to whom to give each purse, He spoke to me to add this small amount of cash.)  

A KLOTHES KLOSET UPDATE

Even though I don't actively work in the Klothes Kloset ministry any more, since Mickey started The King's Kitchen in February, we still have a real heart for this ministry. Another wonderful ministry in our church is called Bridge Builders. It is headed up by a husband & wife team, Dianna & Danny, and began a year & a half ago for people with special needs.

About a 6 weeks ago the Bridge Builders ministry expanded to operating the Snack Bar which serves beverages & snacks before our services. They are open Saturday nights from 4 to 9 pm, Sunday mornings from 8 to 9:45 am and on Wednesdays from 2 to 7 pm. This 11 3/4 hours per week is an expansion of this ministry to oversee, train & teach skills that will help Bridge Builders participants obtain jobs in the public sector.

This article, which ran on June 11th in our Coweta American newspaper, is announcing an important step of expanding the clothing ministry hours to a 3rd day per week by being open on Saturdays from 3 to 7 pm. It is also announcing the news that the Bridge Builders are providing this service, giving them an additional 4 hours of job training skills per week.

We are totally amazed, and oh so thankful , with the way the Lord is expanding the unity and growth in so many areas within our congregation as we reach out to serve the needs of our community.

COMPUTERS **!!%%**@@

You know you've been missed when even people you "know" and "see" in the flesh begin calling and saying, "Is everything alright with you two? You haven't posted for over a week."



So, a quick update. My computer, with all my pictures, all our accounting records, all the King's Kitchen forms and information, EVERYTHING is ------------ I don't even know what to say it is -------- the problem is, it isn't!!! My computer expert (Son, Marc with a new wife (yeah!!!) father of 5 very busy, VERY active pre-teens (3) and teens (2) and who not only himself, but Deann, have very busy, involved, demanding jobs and are in the midst of redecorating Marc's home they just moved out of) is currently unavailable to get to our house to check said computer out.

Thank goodness we have Mickey's computer which is working. Thanks to Ginger, who last evening told me how to get back onto face book, that helps. I still do not know how to access our valornet or gmail e-mail accounts. If anyone can tell me the secret to that I would appreciate it. When I type in my gmail account it only leads me to a link about bloglines and I don't use bloglines. When I type in our valornet account it gives me some very old references to comments I've made on older blogs asking them to e-mail me. About the time I'm thinking I'm making my way pretty well around all this technology STUFF I find out, take away my "set-up" and my little "icons" and I know nothing!!!!


Beyond the computer issues.......We find ourselves VERY busy. I'm sure any who follow me do not find that surprising!!!


For a quick update:
The King's Kitchen is going fabulously. We got the wonderful sealing machine and 3 compartment microwavable trays and film in last Thursday (March 4th). Spent time getting it set-up and tested. We used it for the first time yesterday and it went well. Mickey & I were at the church Monday night from 7 to 9 with the 2nd week cooking team. Then of course yesterday, Tuesday, we were there from 9 to 12:30 getting the meal ready, packed, out the door and waiting for the delivery teams to return. We had 2 of the delivery people who did not show-up so Mickey and our Jr. High Youth Pastor ran one of the routes.


Klothes Kloset update. As you know, when Mickey began The King's Kitchen I stepped down from my Tuesday 10 to 2 position of working in the Klothes Kloset. Well, this ministry has been so blessed with donated items, and to date not enough workers, that Judy cancelled the Monday morning Bible Study and 5 of us, plus I talked Mickey into joining us, we needed all the help we could get and a strong man!!!, went to the church to sort through clothes and get the storage room somewhat cleared out. The 6 of us worked from 9 to 11:30 and it was unbelievable how much we got accomplished. Many hands truly do make work light and I've always said about this Bible Study group of women, we work together like a well oiled machine and we work hard.


On Saturday, February 27th, 4 of us (myself, Sandra, Carmel & Vanessa) went to a Billye Brim prayer meeting at the ORU chapel from 10 to noon. This is in connection with Empowered21 conference that will be held at ORU in April. We met up with 2 others, Debbie & Tammy, and the 6 of us had a lovely lunch at Pan*era Br*ead afterward. While I was doing this Mickey went to the lake with our daughter, Suzette, and son-in-love, Dave, to look at their ponton boat.

That evening at 7 p.m. Vanessa and her team had the Official Dedication of the Remnant House of Prayer here in Coweta. It was wonderful. Vanessa, Jeff, Nate & Angie have done a wonderful and beautiful job setting up this facility and been so faithful in pursuing and fulfilling the call of God on their lives. The biggest blessing was seeing, and hearing, 4 of the local pastors participate in this city wide vision for 24/7 prayer. Of course our beloved Pastor Gary, who is Vanessa's Spiritual Father, was the last speaker. The 27th was Purim!!!! How neat is that.


Our church, Coweta Assembly, is beginning to experience true revival. It is SOOO exciting to see what many of us have been praying for coming to pass. We are seeing people saved in each and every service and many new ministries taking place. Last Sunday MANY were filled with the Holy Spirit and people were going down to the altar during Praise & Worship. Yes, God is truly moving in our body.


I can't even remember if I've posted that one of these new ministries is a GED class every Sunday evening. I am helping in that area as a mentor. So exciting to see 8 of these young adults taking this big step to improve their lives by studying to pass the GED test.


My friend, Sandra, has started a Prayer Shaw ministry. Read about it here. It is so exciting!!! Sandra has already completed 2 of these shaws that have been given to woman in our congregation who need healing. I bought myself a set of the looms (Mickey & I had to go to 4 Wa*lly Wor*lds before we found them!) She showed me how to start it after we returned to my house on the 27h after our outing. I had done about 5" on mine and suddenly realized I was making a tube!!! Going round & round instead of getting to the end and reversing directions!!!! So I had a "lesson" in ripping out and starting over. Grrrrrr As always, I asked the Lord what He was trying to teach me in this.....and the message I got was to take a little more time and be sure of what I was doing before I plunge so head-long into a new project. Do you think?????
I started over last Saturday, March 6th, and took it to Tuesday night Bible Study to show Sandra and be sure I have it correct this time. I currently have about 6" done.

Last Sunday our latest new ministry was begun. It is an ESL class. English as a Second Language. We have a young bi-lingual man who just recently started attending who is teaching this class. We are excited about this new class and reaching out to the Hispanic community of our area.

Last, but certainly not least, Bobby, our Praise & Worship Minister, is putting on a Drama Easter week-end. It consists of the opening, 5 individual scenes, and an ending. The name is "CHOICES". I was privileged to write one of the scenes myself, and then another gal, Kelli, and I wrote another scene together. I have been selected to act a part in another scene. We are currently practicing every Thursday evening. The Performances will be Good Friday, April 2nd at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 3rd at 6 p.m. & Easter Sunday, April 4th at the 10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m. services. Mickey is going to help build the sets. It is a BIG project and we are very excited about it. Bobby is amazing and oh so talented in this area of drama and worship.

The Good Friday showing is a city-wide program with all the Churches participating. The various ministers of different denominations will be participating and will be assigned different rooms for after service counseling. The people making decisions can visit with the minister of the church of their preference. In all that Coweta Assembly does the motive is not to build the attendance of CA but to increase the Kingdom of God and the ministry of ALL the churches.
I ask you to join us in prayer that God will use this mightily. Anyone who reads this blog, and lives anywhere in the Tulsa-Coweta-Wagoner area is invited and encouraged to attend.

Today is another busy day for us. Mickey & I and Tammy are attending a Food Handlers class at 9 this morning at the Coweta Health Department and this afternoon at 3:30 Kathy & Valerie will be attending. Then Mickey & I are going by Lo*wes and getting some kind of quick-set concrete mixture and going to Marc's Tulsa home and Mickey is making a minor repair on the sliding glass door area. Then as always we'll be picking up Aric, making our weekly Wednesday trip to "R" gym at Mc*d's then bring Aric home to attend Royal Rangers at CA, and spend the night with us. Thursday morning we are up early and out of the house by 6:45 a.m. to make a stop at the doughnut shop on our way to taking him to Tulsa for school by 7:35. We know, at the age of 11, we won't have too many more years of this kind of time with him and we cherish each and every minute of it.

Tomorrow night, drama practice. Friday night celebrating Benny's Birthday. A week ago Wednesday we managed to take daughter, Jacque, out to lunch before picking up Aric & Oksana from school.

Our lives are busy, and blessed and we are very happy. GOD IS GOOD!!!

I am going to take off the monitoring from the comments and hope I don't get covered up with all the garbage I've been getting. If you see some "deletes" in the comment section of this post that will be the reason.

STARTING OFF WITH A BANG

I don't know about you, but that's surely the way our year is starting off. The starting gun sounded and we were out of the chute!!!!! Here, it is already the 12th & this is only my 5th post.

So very much is happening and it is all GOOD and exciting. I have had a great anticipation for this New Year and this New Decade and what God is doing.

God began dealing with my heart about my Hearts In "1" Prayer Blog and I will be posting about that later on in the week.

As you know Oksana & Aric's great-grandmother, Beryl, was in town and we got to spend a lovely lunch with her, and our son, Marc, and soon to be daughter-in-love, Deann, on Tuesday.

Then from 4 to 6 we went to hear a new minister (to us) that our friend, Carmel, has been supporting. He was in town and a fast meeting was called and held at the Library and we went. His name is Rev. Sherlock Bally. I'm sure you'll be hearing me talk more about him as the year progresses. He was powerful!!!

Wednesday was of course picking up the grands and going to McD's and then church.

Thursday night at 7 Carmel, Wantha Ann & I went to another church to hear Sherlock Bally again. Another powerful, moving service.

Friday night was our at home prayer meeting and we had 2 new woman come who had not been here before. That was a blessing.

Then Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Mickey, Carmel & I went to ORU for a special meeting with Billye Brim. Also in attendance were Sharon Daughterty and Mother Tucker!!!!! So we were triple blessed. This was a special prayer gathering in preparation for an upcoming Empowered21 conference here in Tulsa in April. I will be posting separately about it later.

This meeting was absolutely glorious!!!! I don't think my feet have touched ground since :o) and Mickey keeps telling me he is going to have to put weighs on my feet to hold me down. There is NOTHING like being with a group of Christians who are on fire and who truly love the Lord and are following His leading. That was this meeting. What was really a blessing was seeing all the young people so on fire for God.

Now I'll share my "detail" personality (could be my accounting background). I keep a running inventory, on an excel spread sheet, of all our food items. Every once in awhile I have to take a physical inventory, because sometimes as I'm cooking I'll forget to take items off of the inventory that I'm using, so I spent time doing that big job. Also closing our our accounting records and books for 2009.

I have also been deep cleaning and going through drawers and my messy office. Do the rest of you have trouble keeping your offices clean? The rest of my house is no problem but boy can we (I) pile up the stuff and make a mess of our office.

I had told Mickey at the beginning of December that come January 1st I was not going to spend any money on groceries except for bread, milk, fresh vegetables, etc. To date I have spent $13.12 for a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk, broccoli and cauliflower. Of course, being on a 21 day fast is facilitating this greatly!!!!

Last but not least, this is the 12th day of the 21 day fast I committed to and began on January 1st. I did a total fast (water only) for 3 2/3 days (I was trying for 4 but broke down and ate supper on the 4th day). Since then, and for the balance of the 17 days I am eating only 1 meal a day. Actually, after the 3 2/3 days the others have been easy. I immediately lost 9 pounds eating nothing and then during these 8 days since gained 2 of them back and now lost them back, so my total weight loss is 9 lbs. Since I have 33 lbs to lose that leaves me 24 to go.

Got BIG news to tell you about a new ministry Mickey is starting but I'll save that for another post.

We are excited about what God is doing and going to do within His Body this year !!!!

Almost forgot: the 21 day fast I put myself on will end on January 21st. Then Sunday night our Pastor called for a church-wide fast for 21 days beginning on Sunday, January 24th!!!! Haven't decided fully yet what I will fast for those 21 days but I will enjoy January 22nd & 23rd!!!!!! Doesn't God have a great sense of humor? Surely will help me take off more of those 24 lbs.