LET IT BEGIN

The month of February started off with a "bang" for us. February 1, Monday, Mickey & I attended our first planning meeting at our Church. This is held 3 times a year and all the staff and department heads attend. Boy, we walked away after that 3 1/2 hour meeting, of setting the calandar for the 1st 6 months of the year, with our eyes opened even wider to the wide range of activities and involvement that our Coweta Assembly has going on ALL the time and how very much we are reaching out to the community.

We purchased all our paper goods products for the King's Kitchen. The supplier is in Jenks, about 30 miles from Coweta and does not deliver to Coweta, so Mickey and I drove over in our little HHR and had the back end (luckily our back seat folds down to create a hauling area) packed full.

This shows the entire end of the gym in the ORC building which is storage with 4 doors. We were given a portion of the area behind the door on the far right. Some other items had to be removed to clear it for the King's Kitchen.

The boxes of supplies stacked neatly and with easy accessibility to remove 25 of the very items needed each week.

3 of our 4 cases of 2 different sizes stacked and ready. The 4th set was in the church office on display.

In comes the first food purchases. Sherry is planning all the meals and doing all the shopping. Thank you Sherry!!!

The start of our area in the large walk in freezer.

Planning ahead for a future meal.

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Then on Saturday the 6th we took this load in Mickey's pick-up,

This load in Deann's pick-up,

And this load in our HHR,

And moved these 3 loads from Tulsa to Owasso. The rest of Marc, Oksana, & Aric's things will be moved later ............

'cause these 2 are getting married on Feburary 12th!!!!! We are delighted and happy and, as you can see, so are they!!!!

Yes, busy, exciting and very happy times in our wonderful life.

WHAT'S YOUR TYPE?

A blog friend of mine posted a book review the other day about "Get Motivated!" by Tamara Lowe. Part of the review included a place to take a test to type your personality.

This particular test identifies patterns of human behavior and personality qualities that have been broken down into six categories. Each person fits three of the six categories. I just love doing these type tests so I took it and came out a PVI - A Visionary.

Here are my type results:
Susan’s Motivational DNA Type is PVI
(Production-Variety-Internal) The Visionary
Visionaries are persistent, energetic and confident. They are able to organize people and projects. Visionaries exhibit strong leadership potential and react quickly to crisis. Creative thinkers, Visionaries have the ability to craft a vision and get others excited about it. They enjoy working on multiple projects at the same time and like to be involved in exploring alternative concepts. Farsighted and imaginative, Visionaries are good at finding original solutions to difficult problems. Visionaries enjoy change and thrive under pressure. They have the ability to shift gears and turn on a dime. They are confident in their ability to master new skills. Visionaries enjoy challenge and desire personal growth. Visionaries want to know that their work matters and desire to “go where no man has gone before.”

PVI Motivators: Inspiring work environment, opportunity to originate and initiate ideas, peer respect, credit for work accomplished and a strong sense of mission.

PVI De-Motivators: Rigid structure, routine, delays, time-consuming details and bureaucracy.


Here is the link if you enjoy taking these type tests. If you take it I'd love to hear your type & results.

It's so amazing that God has made each of us different and with our own special strengths and weaknesses. It's all part of His Plan to have every part of His Body operating as it should. What a wonderful God!!!!

THE KING'S KITCHEN PRESENTATION

For my 3rd post to Spiritual Sunday this year I am linking to the presentation of our vision for The King's Kitchen at our church service last Sunday, January 31st, and my earlier post about God Knocking Our Socks Off that day. Be sure and visit here and read the other Spiritual Sunday posts for today. You will be blessed.

For any of you interested, in actually hearing Mickey's & my presentation last Sunday, January 31st, you can listen to us on the Coweta Assembly link on my side bar.

It is titled "Joy in Obeying the Holy Spirit" in the series Contagious Joy #5. Our part is about 3/4 way through the sermon.

Hey, doing so you can put my southern accent to my picture and writing!!!! :o)

All of Pastor Gary's sermons & teaching are wonderful and you will be blessed if you have time and desire to listen to them from time to time.

Just thought you might be interested.

ANSWERING A COMMENT

Bobbi left me this comment a few days ago on my post about God Knocks Our Socks Off.



"As Sister Rosalee use to shout out to Pastor giving a praise report, HALLELUJAH!!!



What a blessing, Susan! PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME, LORD!



Thank YOU for blessing this ministry and those involved!



Just another confirmation of GOD's faithfulness.



AND I love that You and Mickey are not slowing down and "retiring"!

Blessings!Bobbi"



There is no such word as "retiring" in our book. How could there be?!! When we are children of the LIVING GOD.

5 1/2 years ago Mickey & I had a word spoken over us. I won't repeat the entire word but the second sentence was: "You're never too old", says the Spirit of God. "You're never too young."

Our society tries it's best to tell us we are either "too old" - "too young" - "too busy" - "too dumb" - "too poor" - "too ill" - "too hurt"....... and on and on......just pick YOUR "too ........" and fill in the blank!!!!

It is a lie from the pit of hell !!!!! He has been a lier from the beginning but, I'm sorry to say and see, far too many of God's redeemed, by His own PRECIOUS BLOOD, buy into it .

The fields are ripe unto harvest but the laborers are few. SOOOOO - I repeat the closing lines of this word spoken to us 5 1/2 years ago:

"You're never too old. You've waited a long time but you're never too old," says the Spirit of God. "You've got a lifetime ahead of you, of following me, walking together with me and hearing my voice," says the Spirit of God. Amen...Amen...Amen...Amen."

PLEASE don't buy into satan's lies one day longer.

As for Mickey & I, as long as we have breath and life in us we will not retire

but PRAISE & EXALT HIS NAME.

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY - ARIC

We celebrated our grandson Aric's 11th birthday Wednesday night at Mi*mi's, his favorite restaurant. All the family was in attendance, with the exception of his cousin, Jessica, who had to work :o( As always we had a grand time and Aric was thrilled with his big present from his dad, a Nintendo DSI.



I goofed BIG time, with my new camera and did not turn on the flash, and have no decent pictures to post. Present were his sister, Oksana, Grandma Susan & Grandpa Mickey, Aunt Suzette & Uncle Dave, Aunt Jacque & Benny and of course his dad, Marc and soon to be step-mom, Deann. As always we had a grand time.



We are so very blessed with the love and closeness of our wonderful family and the fact that we have all of them, except #1 son, David, living close to us where we can all get together like this.

TRACKING MY 2010 GOALS

Last month I posted 6 goals for the year.

Now it's check-up time to see how I'm doing and if I'm on track!!

Goal 1. To begin the new year with a 21 day fast. Total fast (water only) for the first 4 days and then switch to fasting 2 meals a day.

I did 3 2/3 days of total fast. I did eat just 1 meal a day for days 5 through 15 - broke it on day 16th - fasted on day 17 and then stopped it for days 18 & 19 because our Pastor called for a Church wide fast for 32 days beginning January 20th. On day 20 through 31 we have been doing the Daniel Fast, which means no meat or sweets. We still have 9 more days to go.

But we are doing a total fast (water only) for February 1, 2 & 3rd. Then will continue the Daniel Fast for days 4-9.

Goal 2 - Was to do a one day fast for the remaining weeks of the year.

This will be met today for the first week of February.

Goal 3 - To lose weight!!! My goal is 150 lbs and that will be a weight loss of 32 lbs.

My weight loss for the month of January was 13 lbs. With a fast that's a given!!! I still have 19 lbs to go.

Goal 4. For the month of January to not spend any money on groceries except for bread, milk and fresh fruits & vegetables and to rely on the Storehouse of foods we have put back on both our shelves and in the freezer.

This goal was easy to accomplish but I was surprised that I still spent $99.75!!!! Fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive and whole wheat bread is higher. Seems the food industry does not encourage better eating!!

Goal 5. To make an extra payment or two on the principal on our house mortgage.

Not able to do that this month :o)

Goal 6. My main goal for 2010 is to hear God's voice and be lead by His Spirit about each and every area of my life and then be obedient to do what He shows me.

I feel I was on track for January on this one. With the 3 2/3 total fast (except water) God gave me 4 very special dreams!!! We have moved step by step in The King's Kitchen ministry He placed on Mickey's heart. I took some major steps in improving and cleaning out the Hearts in "1" Accord Prayer Blog and am delighted with what God is doing within this group of pray-ers.

This is a good time to "plug" the Hearts Prayer Blog!!!!! If any of you are interested in joining the 16 of us who pledge to pray at least 15 minutes a day and participate in this private blog forum, please let me know in a comment and I will send you additional information.

How are you doing so far on your goals for 2010?

GOD KNOCKS OUR SOCKS OFF

Do I have your attention?!!!!!!

The feet aren't pretty but the story is beyond wonderful.

On January 18th I posted here about Mickey beginning a new ministry outreach at our church called The Kings Kitchen.

As a recap, if you don't want to take the time to read the above post, Pastor called for a forum on Sunday, January 17th, at 4:30 in the afternoon for all those interested in this food ministry. We had a wonderful response of 30 people attending and at the end of the meeting had 11 cooks, plus 2 reserve cooks, and 7 delivery people signed up as volunteers. We were thrilled beyond measure!!!!

The past 14 days have been a virtual whirlwind of activity and blessings!!! The very next night (Monday) Mickey gets a call about 9:30 from one of the leaders of the Young at Heart group of our church. They had just finished their monthly meeting and Robbin called to tell us the woman of Young at Heart had stepped forward and were going to supply ALL the home made desserts for these meals. WOW - what a blessing and within the first day.

Mickey & I had purchased a blue Ig*loo cooler for the hot meals and a white Styrofoam cooler for the cold items such as milk, salad, desserts. We needed 3 more of each of these carriers. We had also visited a supplier and gotten samples and prices for the 3 part aluminum trays, 6, 12 & 18 oz cups with lids for stews and soups, a box for sandwiches, cake or pie, that we would need.

On the following Monday evening (the 25th) we met with all the cooks and developed cooking schedules and menu's for February & March. We have a wonderful young woman, Sherry, who has stepped up to do all the menu's and scheduling. The meeting was such a joy as everything and everyone just came together without a hitch.

After this meeting Mickey & I walked across the hall to the Board of Deacons and Staff Meeting and presented our plan to them. Mickey showed all the needed items and gave the start-up cost, for the containers and meal packaging supplies, of $281.51. He told them we estimated a cost of between $1.75 and $3.00 per meal for the food. Mickey also showed the Board a microwavable 3 part tray, that was about the same unit cost as the aluminium one but it would require purchasing a $1500 machine to seal the tray with a clear covering. The discussion was that the microwavable tray would be better for the elderly and shut-ins so they could reheat the meal if they did not eat all of it, or if they wanted to save it for later. The goal was to work toward getting the machine as soon as we could save up the $1500.

We learned the next morning that the Board had approved $100 for 10 weeks, or a budget of $1000, for us to begin. We were elated.

On Wednesday we went to the church to get checks to purchase the 3 blue and 3 white containers. When they were filling in the store name they asked if we wanted them to fill-in the amounts. We had paid $19.88 for the blue Ig*loo & $6.88 for the white Styrofoam. Pastor was standing there and I said, "No, leave it blank we might just find them on sale". When we got to the store we found 3 (the last 3 I might add!!!) blue containers marked down on sale to $9.88. YEAH!!! We were thrilled we were already $30 under budget just on the containers.

We had scheduled a Thursday (the 28th) 6 p.m. meeting with the delivery volunteers but due to the ice/snow storm we had to cancel that.

Pastor Gary asked Mickey & I to be at both the 8 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. service yesterday. His message was JOY IN OBEYING THE HOLY SPIRIT. About 3/4 through the message he called Mickey & I to the front to present the vision of The Kings Kitchen to the congregation.

After our presentation Pastor told the congregation he wanted to take up a special offering toward the $1500 for the purchase of the machine. I have to add our attendance was down due to the ice/snow still covering everything.

Pastor Gary proceeded to finish his sermon. Just before he was through one of the Deacon's came forward and handed him a little slip of paper. The offering they had just taken was $1,800.01. WOW - we were all shouting and clapping.

THEN, at the end of the service another gentlemen came up to me, I was still sitting on the front pew, and handed me a check. I took the check and said "Thank you so much" and didn't even look at it until later. It was for $1500!!!!! The full price of the machine. Later we learned the amount collected from the 8 a.m. service was $287.26.

Total designated funds for The King's Kitchen $3587.27.

I don't know how many of you have ever noticed one of the quotes I have on my side bar under "God Determines" - It is by Dwight L. Moody - "If God be your partner make your plans LARGE"

One of the names of our God is EL Shaddai : The All-Sufficient One.

Yes, He is our All-Sufficient, More Than Enough God.

PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!!!!!!

Now, we've got to get our socks back on .... and our shoes .... and be busy being about what our God has called US to do .......... feeding the widows, widowers, elderly & shut-in's a hot meal every Tuesday at noon.

What is God telling YOU to do. Just follow your heart and DO IT!!!!