It's Thursday.....
I get so excited about Thursdays during the summer because I have Friday off. So, it's Thursday but really Friday of the workweek! Yeah!
Thank you ladies for the most wonderful birthday ever. I absolutely love my purse. For those of you who know me well, you know that purses and perfume are my favorite things in life. My new purse is so beautiful and will be a treasure for many, many years. I can just imagine the experiences that it will go through with me. Times of refreshing, conferences, great services, weddings, just overall the path of life. And....the special thing about it is we will walk that journey together. Ever stop to think what it will be like in 5 years, 10 years, 15 years at Grand Prairie UPC? What kiddo in children's church do you think will be directing the choir in 15 years? Who do you think will be driving the bus? Who will be the church secretary? In 10 years, which of our young men will be seeking opportunities to preach in order to develop their ministry? Think any of our kiddos will head to the mission field? How will our ministries develop in the next 15 years? See today is not just for today's sake but just another stone in the foundation of the church in Grand Prairie that we are laying for our community. What we do matters in the kingdom.
One of our callings is to edify each other. What's edification? Edification means to build each other up so that He may become greater within us. Acts 9:31 NKJV says "Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied." This is my desire...that we have peace and unity and are able to put our selves aside in our to build each other up. Notice that when the Acts church did this, they had the comfort of the Holy Ghost and multiplied. We are in revival and that's because we are in a time of unity and daily seeking God's presence in our life.
In Ephesians 4:29 NKJV it says "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Wow! I love this scripture. Our words should be for edification so that hearer can receive grace. Do your words with each other bring grace or do they bring anger or condemnation? Communication is so casual with so many venues such as twitter, texting, email, cell phones, etc. However, all communication has an effect. Can we measure our words to see what result they are having?
I remember when Ellerie was really small. I was very, very frustrated with a young lady that was really just throwing her life away. I was talking to my husband and in my southern way said, "Oh, I'm so upset with her. I could just kill her for what she's done." Ellerie started crying and in her little 3-year old voice said, "Mommy, don't kill her. I like a lot of things about her." Wow! What a lesson to me as a mom in so many ways. We are called to find the good things in each other and build those up so that grace may abound and the undesirable things can be placed under the control of the Master.
One of the things that I have enjoyed doing through the years with Sunday School classes, youth groups, ladies, etc is called positive bombing. In positive bombing, someone sits in a chair with their back to the group. Everyone else in the group then begins to say things or "bomb" them with all of the things they like about the person in the chair. Truly, it is easier to say nice things about some people than others. But I remember a time when there was a very difficult young man in the chair and kids were saying things like "I love his socks", "He is always faithful to church", "He brings good snacks", and so forth. I could see this kid's face and with every comment, the smile was stronger and he sat up a little straighter. Our words do mean a lot. So...don't know how this will work but I thought we might do positive bombing in the comment section of this post. As you see one of our ladies post a comment, begin to bomb them with words you would like to say about them. Comment posted, we respond with positive "bombs".
Love you all so much,
Sis. D.
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I will start with bombing you, (how funny) ok seriously now you are an amazing leader, as you grow closer to God with your daily walk it puts a hunger in me to do more and be closer. You believe in people like no one I have ever seen so much that I have seen people do things under your ministry who would have never attempted. You are a faithful, strong, loving, dedicated, sincere, no messing around person. You know how to tuff love. As pastor said you are someone who knows how to get a job done even when it requires lots of hours, all of your attention and no rest. When you have a vision you work to see it come to pass. You are my friend and love me even when I am difficult. There is only one you and I am sure glad that I get to be involved in your life. I love you very much!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSis. Kim
Wow! This means so much to me. Ok...my turn. Sis. Kim, through the years I have been amazed by you. You came into church and it was like a dog with a bone. You would not let go of what you wanted for your children and your family. You are determined to be used of God in prayer and ministry. I have heard you travail and watched God answer. You are special. I can always count on you reaching God. Your love for the things of God is amazing plus you are just alot of fun to be around. I have so many, many wonderful memories of times spent with you. (Remember, FiFi LeBouf, Boyz in Black, and big water guns)? I prayed for you to come into my life before I even knew you because I had a void and God sent you to me. I'm so proud of you and so glad you have the lives of my children in your hand. I have to laugh at times because when people first meet you, they are overwhelmed by your beauty and sweet ways. They just don't know the steel that you are made of until they get to know you better. When you take on a ministry, you can guarantee it is going to be the best. I love you so very, very much. Sis. D.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't know where to start because I want to say good things about both of you. So, I will.
ReplyDeleteSis. Duvall you are a strong leader and I have learned so much from you. You know how to motivate people and always have a smile for everyone. Your music ministry is awesome and you always know what song is appropriate at any time. I watch you in action and it makes my desire for a spiritual music ministry grow stronger. You are a great first Lady and I appreciate you. You deserved that purse!!!! I almost kept it for myself!! J/K but that purse was adorable and I just LOVED this blog and how you brought that purse into it and made it a spiritual journey. Awesome!!
Sis. Kim, I totally agree with everything Sis. Duvall said about you. You are a STRONG woman of prayer! Your example is awesome to watch. I'm SO glad you and your family came into my life. You are a very positive influence on all the Sunday school kids and they will never forget you. God has given you an awesome ministry and I'm enjoying watching it grow.
I love both of you guys and I'm so glad you are in my life.
Kimmie
Ok, my turn again. Sis. Kimmie, you are an amazingly talented woman of God. It is a pleasure to work along side you in music and church work. Your voice is so beautiful and you have a fabulous ear. I'm always amazed at how quickly you can play a song. If I had to sum you up I would say "Faithful, Steadfast, and Talented." It is so evident that you want the church in GP to be blessed mightly and I see where God is taking you in your calling. I love you very, very much and love being your friend and co-worker in the Kingdom. Sis. D.
ReplyDeleteNow it is my turn! I love you Sis. Kimmie! You are friendly, sweet, fun fun fun. These are the qualities I think about when I think about our friendship. Now what I think about you as a woman of God I think of strength. You are very strong and very passionate about the things of God. I have heard and felt the passion you have for the word of God. When you wrote your blog last week people probably from the surface did not know how much revernce and love you have for God's word but I have felt it from you in our conversation on more than one occasion. You are not prideful but you are very strong. You don't have to be loud or be heard for your strenght to help others but you have an incredible strength that helps others. When you sing it touches me sometimes I may not even hear the words, because of the sound before but shouldn't be a problem any more(smiles), but I feel the annointing and I desire for you to sing again and again. And please don't stop blogging I love your blogs!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy turn to bomb!
ReplyDeleteSis.D first I want to say that I love you!
You are an amazing woman of God.As busy as you are with job,church and family,I know you will always take some time for someone if they need you.You sing with such a passion and I love to hear you correct us in choir with your singy songy voice.you are sincere and you love people no?? :)
Kim G.
You are a beautiful person on the outside as well as the inside.You are trustworthy.Your walk with God has been an inspiration to me,to seek God more,to pray more.I love how you are leading our children.You are an awesome prayer warrior.I had so much fun on our walks:)
Kimmie
You are a great friend,kind and encourage me even when you don't know it.You are so funny and so down to earth.You have an amazing voice and you need to make another c.d. soon.I also had so much fun walking with you and visiting at Mardels. I love ya!
you ladies will never know how blessed I am to call you my sisters.I am the only pentecostal in my family and sometimes I feel like I have no one to talk to but then I think about you guys and know that you are my family and it makes everything better.
Hugs,
Sis.Monica
Sis. Monica,
ReplyDeleteYou are a natural leader and more powerful than you know. You have so many talents and things to offer whatever you are involved in. I love your spirit. I feel your desire to be everything you need to be for your family and loved ones. I feel priviledged to call you my sister and you are definetly one of those people when I get to heaven I can't wait to shout around the throne with and to see all the people you have won to the Lord there also. I love you and appreciate you!
Sis. Monica,
ReplyDeleteWhere to even start? From the day I moved to GP, I knew you were special. Your gentleness with others is amazing. You inspire me with your kindness but yet dedication to get things done. You are a Proverbs 31 woman. You are a smooth stream in a chaotic world, no? I absolutely love to watch you praise the Lord in sign team. You are going to see great things happen in your life and the life of your family!
Much, much love,
Sis. D.
Aww, you guys are so sweet and awesome. Thanks for your encouraging words. I need that these days...:)
ReplyDeleteThis positive "bomb" goes out to Sis. Monica. You are such an inspiration. I know when you first started leading the sign team you didn't feel like you could do it. Well, I knew you could! And you are doing a great job! I so enjoy sign team.
I love your sweet steady spirit in worship, too, and you are always willing to do a solo for the ladies group even though you don't think you can do it. YOU CAN DO IT! I love you and I'm so glad you are my friend. Like Sis. D says, great things are going to happen in your family this year!!! Love ya!
Kimmie
I got the text and email about todays blog...but for some reason kept forgetting to stop in. but here I am anyways...
ReplyDeleteI will just start down the list..I did read what you guys have written...but I am tired and have already forgot...so I am not trying to copy, these are the things I feel as I think about each of you...
Sister Duvall you are...
Relentless (in every good sense of the word). You strive to share all the God given talents you have without ceasing.
Your Faith is amazing, the way you have faith in others, in yourself, in God...sometimes you KNOW how something is going to work out because you have FAITH in the process and people.
Accountability. We can count on you, and because you demand accountability from others, we are seeing a great progress of work in the church. (that also goes along with the faith you have in others)
Fun. One of the fondest memories I have of you, you don't even realize you gave me. It was last summer when you introduced secret sister...and the way you bantered and goofed off with everyone on who their sister was and who you had and so on....made me realize that you a new member of the church filling shoes beyond anyone's comprehension...still was down to Earth, fun loving and goofy. It gave me great respect for you.
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. Showing all of us that not only can you devote time to God and church, but also have a successful job, family, and overall happiness....
Sister Kim G
ReplyDeleteDedication and Service. Your dedication to the church, your standards, the children, your family, and the Lord shows me that there should be nothing in this world more important to me than serving those I love, and my Creator. Every Sunday without fail, I see you praising, or loving on children, or taking the time out to help someone, and it strengthens me to take time out of my life for others.
Understanding and Patience. I am particularly recalling the drive home from Ladies Conference, and how as we all discussed my transition into a different religous world all your words to me showed me these qualities in you. You understood how overwhelming this journey got for me, and you understood the words I was trying to say regardless how they were being delivered. And even after that conversation, you patiently waited for my journeys course. And almost each Sunday, you took time out of your worship to come to me and pray with me to show me your support and love, and you don't understand how excited I was for you to go to dinner with me right after I got baptized and filled with God's spirit. That is my personal experience with your understanding and patience, but heaven knows both of those qualities are imperative to have when working with children, and for all the love you give every child you meet...these talents and qualities are oozing out of you.
Fun, I love also how you have fun and know the greatness which is goofing off...Ladies Conference made me appreciate your goofy side, thank you for sharing your time and love with me....and mostly thanks for sharing pantyhose secrets and how to pronounce schlotzskys.
Kimmie K.
ReplyDeleteOH MY WORD...what I could say about you, but won't...ha ha ha.
Like Kim G, our time at Ladies Conference was indescribable. Thank you for sharing your time with me....
BUT... here are the things I think of you....
You Stink.
Ha Ha joking!
Your humor, crazy funny. If someone doesn't know Kimmie and how fun she can be, and how she can banter and goof off with the best of them, then they can't really say they know Kimmie. ANYTIME I am with you, for the day, for a few minutes, I end up laughing and leave giggly and relaxed. There is something to be said to the "laughter is the best medicine" and Kimmie's doses are the best.
Your willingness to serve is astounding. It appears to me that you are at the church any time the doors open. wither it be for decorating for a wedding, practicing with someone in the choir, or for any of the numerous activities you play the piano for, or participate in. And none of it you require or even expect anything for, you do it pure and simply because you love the Lord.
Honesty. I know that at any point in time, if I want an honest opinion, I can come to you. If I need to know if my shoes look cute, or if what I think about a topic of discussion is right, I know that you will sincerely let me know your opinion, and you will do it as respectfully as possible.
Thank you for being my friend. (ring ring I call you....don't forget the cookbook! ha ha ha)
Monica...
ReplyDeleteYou want people to think you are sooo quiet and shy... Lady I have your number... I know better than that... ha ha.
You are a quiet server. You show each and every one of us by your example..how to serve and do it without question, without complaint, without murmuring....we should all strive to become a servant like you.
A Touch of the Spirit. In memory, I sit and think, every time I see what you do with the sign team, I think I remember how strong I felt the spirit. And every time I hear one of the songs that the team did, I return mentally to the feelings I had as I watched the team preform. Thank you for your talent, it has and will always help me keep the Spirit of God burning in me.
Frugality. It is always fun to have someone like minded in the way of keeping things cheap for our families. I love that you are a grocerygamer (which I need to talk to you about by the way) and how as I read your blog, that you are a gardener, a turn old things into new- kinda person....that you for helping me remember to save and be happy with the things God has given me. (I want to learn to sew more too, I need your tips on the denim skirts, yours always look so much cuter than mine...help me.)
When I was a teenager at church we were raised to beleive that every woman should continusly strive for these things in their lives,
ReplyDeleteFaith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works
Integrity
and each one of you are a beam of inspiration to me as I always look for examples of these qualities in people. Thank you all for showing me how to live for God and continually strive for higher levels.
Ok...Sis.Layla,
ReplyDeleteFrom the moment I moved to GP, yours was a smiling face that I loved immediately. Before I even packed my bags, I knew that I had found a treasure in you. You are deep. Your devotion and loyalty run very deep and once you commit to something, you won't let go or give up. You can count on you. When you take on a task, it is going to be done with integrity, skill, and devotion. Plus, I just love your grin. It completely lights up your face. Without a doubt, good things are in store and I love you MUCH!
Sis. D.
What a neat idea! I'll have to try the 'bombing' effect here with our ladies ministry. I love and miss every single one of you wonderful ladies.
ReplyDeleteLayla,
ReplyDeleteYou are the sunshine in a person's rainy day.You really know how to put a smile on anyone's face.You have done an awesome job at raising money for our kids and now for our new gym.I love that I'm not the only one who is crazy for coupons and I've found a new great friend in you.I appreciate you so much!
And girl you can dance!!!!I have video to prove it ;)
Maybe use the dance video as a fundraiser for youth congress? HA!
ReplyDeleteSis.D.
Layla,
ReplyDeleteYou are a lot of fun to be around and I love your smile. I love your "can do" attitude and your giving spirit. I know that great things are going to happen in your life!
Love ya, girl,
Kimmie