Christians are like Pumpkins!

Being a Christian is just like a pumpkin!
First, God picks you from the pumpkin patch and brings you in from the field. The Bible says He selects us out of the world. We are in the world, but no longer of the world.
He then washes all the "dirt" off the outside that we received from being around all the other pumpkins. All the outside influences of our former life must be cleaned up. Old things are passed away and all things are become new.
Then, He carefully removes all the "yucky stuff" called "sin" out from the inside.
Sin will not have such internal power. He then changes us from the inside out by the Power of His Word. That's why it is important to go the church and learn about God's Word.
He carefully removes all those seeds of doubt, hate, greed, and fear. He replaces them with the seeds of faith, hope and love.
After Jesus is invited inside, you begin to experience the changing power of God's love in your life.Then He carves a new smiling face. Our countenance is changed by the power of His presence in our life. We then become so grateful. It can even show on our face!When you light a candle inside, the pumpkin reflects the light from inside out.
So too, when Jesus, who is called the Son of Light, lives inside of us, He shines through our life for all to see. We can let His light reflect through us to reveal His presence. "Let your light so shine before men that they may be able to see your good works and glorify your Father, who is in heaven."So you see, we Christians are really like a pumpkin! We will never be the same with Jesus inside of us. We can say like the jack-o-lantern, "Thy presence, my light!"

Thankful Thursday a Day Later

It's a day past Thursday....but not too late to be thankful.

Today I'm thankful for the good turnout we had for the kickoff of Awana Clubs Wednesday night. Goodness, there were kids everywhere. And, that's what it is all about.

So be thankful for the kids and all the workers we had helping them.

What are you thankful for today?

Awana Clubs Start Up

The start-up for Awana Clubs is this Wednesday night. Let's make this program our prayer priority for this week. Pray for:

• Teachers and assistants
• Game leaders
• Directors
• Snack leaders
• Music leader
• Pastor Jim
• And of course, the kids and their parents.

Let's get the year started off right. Pray.

Tuesday Tickler

Red Skelton’s recipe for the perfect marriage

I found this on the internet today, and it made me laugh. Always loved Red Skeleton. Hope you laugh too!

1.Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant, have a little beverage, good food and companionship. She goes on Tuesdays, I go on Fridays.
2.We also sleep in separate beds. Hers is in California and mine is in Texas. 3.I take my wife everywhere..... but she keeps finding her way back.
4. I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary. “Somewhere I haven’t been in a long time!” she said. So I suggested the kitchen.
5. We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
6. She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric bread maker. She said “There are too many gadgets and no place to sit down!” So I bought her an electric chair.
7. My wife told me the car wasn’t running well because there was water in the carburetor. I asked where the car was; she told me “In the lake.”
8. She got a mud pack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.

9. She ran after the garbage truck, yelling “Am I too late for the garbage?” .... The driver said “No, jump in!”
10. Remember: Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.
11. I married Miss Right. I just didn’t know her first name was Always.
12. I haven’t spoken to my wife in 18 months. I don’t like to interrupt her.
13. The last fight was my fault though! My wife asked “What’s on the TV?” I said “Dust!”

Pray for Back to School Bash

Our Back to School Bash is Saturday and Sunday. Here's an opportunity for all our women to pray!
1. Pray that children who don't attend our church will come and hear about God.
2. Pray for the Against The Current youth band as they perform.
3. Pray for those who set up, cook the food, serve, clean up and anything else!
4. Pray for parents who attend with their kids that they will see us as a loving church family where they would be welcome.
5. Pray for "Bradini" as he presents the gospel.
6. Pray for our Sunday morning services and that people from Saturday night will come on Sunday.

When I say good morning I mean to say:

G-od

O-ffers us His

O-utstanding

D-evotion to

M-ake us

O-bedient &

R-eady for a

N-ew day with Him.

I-nspire others please, and

N-ever forget

G-od loves you!

Tuesday Tickler

Little John the Baptist

Matt. 18:4-5 "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And who ever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. "

Johnny's Mother looked out the window and noticed Him "playing church" with their cat. He had the cat sitting quietly and he was preaching to it. She smiled and went about her work.


A while later she heard loud meowing and hissing and ran back to the open window to see Johnny baptizing the cat in a tub of water.She called out, "Johnny, stop that! The cat is afraid of water!"Johnny looked up at her and said,"He should have thought about that before he joined my church."

School and kids are priorities again

Keep praying for our kids--pre-K through college--this week. Everyone will be back in school by the end of the week.

Pray they will enjoy their school days. Also pray they will be attentive and learn as they go.

They are the most important asset we have. Don't forget them.

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday. What are you thankful for?

I can't narrow it down to one thing today, so I guess I'd say I am thankful for the abundance of blessings that God provides for us in this country. We are all privileged (not necessarily money only) people and should be thankful for everything we enjoy and take for granted that people in many countries think of as luxuries.

I am blessed and so are you. Thank. You. God. Your are amazing!

Prayer Priority

School is starting this week for many of the kids at church. Then the rest begin next week.

So, let's make our kids who are going back to school our prayer priority for the next couple of weeks.

Here are some things you can specifically pray for:

1. Christian teachers

2. Good friends for each child

3. A safe environment on each campus

4. Good health--H1N1 is supposed to be a major problem. We want our kids to remain healthy.

5. Campus administration

6. Spiritual growth for each child.

7. The ability and opportunity for each child to get to be a witness in action, deeds and words.

Remember every time you stop at a stop light or sign or when you cross a railroad track, pray. (Of course, you can pray any time.) If you want, pick one or two specific kids and keep them especially in mind.

Thankful Thursday

Rain.

That's what I am thankful for today. Isn't it great how God provides what we need just as He promised He would? I know it may have ruined someone's plan for the day, or made mud in your yard so you couldn't do activities you wanted to do. But, gentle rain provides for us, our flowers, our yards. Thank God for that today.

Prayer Priority

Pastor Jim did an awesome job talking about worship on Sunday. Let's take this week to pray that our entire church family centers on giving ourselves to God in worship all week long--or just forever!

Pray for yourself, pray for each other, pray for Pastors Jim and Nathan and pick some people you'd like to specially pray for this week.

Memorial Service, Wedding

What a contrast today will bring for many of us.

This morning at 11, Deanna's mother's memorial service will be held. It will be a sad time for the family as well as an awesome time to recognize the fact that she is in heaven as they celebrate her life. Pray for them today.

Then at 2:30 Brittani and Greg will be married. It is a new beginning for them and such a special, happy time. Pray for them today and through the years.

Thankful Thursday

Today is Thursday and I am thankful for a church family that is concerned enough to take care of each other. I have seen members of our family working in love to help and comfort others this week. It makes me proud to know that people at Clear Springs love without boundaries.

To all the women who have provided food, comforting words and an outpouring of love to people who have lost loved ones.....I'm thankful you are in my church family.

Tuesday Tickler

Are Women Born This Way?

Prayer Priority

It's Monday morning and time to concentrate some praying.

This week let's keep the Cross and Morris families in constant prayer. The memorial service for Deanna's mother will be Saturday. So, I'm sure it is going to be a stressful week for them.

Let's pray for them every time we stop at a stop sign or drive over a railroad track. Pray for peace, strength and understanding for them.

Pray for the Cross and Morris Families

Deanna's mother passed away this morning. Please keep her, David, Jessica, Kyle and Josh in your prayers. Also remember her brother and his family, and other friends and family who are with them. Although they have known for some time that the pancreatic cancer was taking her, it is still extremely difficult to let go of a parent.
Pray for strength and wisdom for them.
Pray for peace.

Fabulous Friday (and a late Thankful Thursday!)

I'm late with thanks for the week, but I'm still thankful. Today I am feeling thankful for friends who care enough to help me with this blog. Both Sue and Jennifer have offered suggestions, and I appreciate it. The rest of you are welcome to share.

Jennifer suggested we have a Fabulous Friday when we share something good with each other. Sounds great to me. Today I think it is fabulous that I could meet with Gideon Auxiliary women for prayer this morning. They are a group of women from several denominations who sincerely care about seeing people saved.

Prayer Request

Please keep Kim's Dad's family in your prayers. Don's sister Peg died over the weekend, and her funeral is tomorrow in Grove. Jim will be conducting the graveside service. Pray for Don and his immediate family. Also pray for Jim as he conducts the service. I know they will appreciate all of your prayers.

Prayer Priority

The Bible teaches us that when two or more of us pray in God's will for the same thing we will get results! This week let's make our prayer priority each other. Spend time praying for each woman that you know at our church.
Pray that each of us will seek God's will in everything we do. Pray for our ability to discern what His will is then follow through and try to accomplish it. Pray that we will be examples to others. Pray that we will be witnesses to lost people and that we will be there to support each other.
So, when you stop at a stop sign or cross a railroad track, pray for some one of our lovely women. Remember, someone will be praying for you, also.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for the study we are currently doing at church on Wednesday nights -- "What's so Amazing About Grace."
To be perfectly honest, I thought "ho, hum" another book about Grace. But the approach to this one is so different. It really makes you look at some different things and changes your impression of what all Grace involves. I've only got to attend the last two weeks because of camps and a trip to Chicago, but I'm going back to do the other weeks. I
f you haven't been coming, it's not too late to come. Each week is good by itself.

Love is Powerful. Don't Give Up!

Thanks to Paula Shannon for sending this to me for the blog. You'll probably cry when you read it.

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They found out that the new baby was going be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in mommy's tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.
The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown , Tennessee In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute.
But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor. Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.
The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents there is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst. Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral. Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. I want to sing to her, he kept saying.
Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not. If he didn't see his sister right then, he might never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket.
The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, 'Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed.' The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. 'He is not leaving until he sings to his sister' she stated.
Then Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang: 'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray.' Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. 'Keep on singing, Michael,' encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes. 'You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away.'
As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr 'Keep on singing, sweetheart.' 'The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms' Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her.
'Keep on singing, Michael.' Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed. 'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't take my sunshine away.' The next day...the very next day. the little girl was well enough to go home.
Woman's Day Magazine called it The Miracle of a Brother's Song. The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love.
NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE. LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. Life is good. Have a Wonderful Day!

The Five Finger Prayer

This is a prayer guide we use in our Gideon Auxiliary. I thought we could adopt it too. You've probably seen it before, but it works well in praying for people and yourself. Try it.

Five Finger Prayer
1. Put your hands together as if you were praying. You will notice that the closest finger to you is the thumb. Since it is the closest to you, the thumb reminds you to pray for those closest to you. To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S. Lewis once said, a “sweet duty”. While praying for our loved ones is easy, the Bible also tells us to pray for enemies who, in a negative way, are also near us. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to whose who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

2. The next finger is the index finger. It is used for pointing. Let this finger remind you to pray for those who point you in the right direction. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors and ministers. It’s these people who tend to point the way. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction.

3. Next is our tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president and other governments leaders, leaders I business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God’s guidance.

4. Fourth is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are ill, weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night.

5. Last is our little finger, the smallest finger of all. Which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says…”for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.” (Luke 9:48) Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs should be put into proper perspective. We should be asking forgiveness for our sins, thanking God for our many blessings, and laying out what is on our heart and asking that His will be done in our lives.

Prayer Priority

After feeling pretty convicted from Jim's sermon yesterday, I think we should make our prayer priority "prayer". I don't know about you, but I don't spend enough time in serious prayer. I pray throughout the day-a few sentences at a time. But I don't set down, record in my prayer journal, and get super involved in praying. So this week, let's pray that God will instill in us the desire to spend time praying. Like Jim said, He won't make us, but He'd like for us to.

So, every time you cross a railroad track or stop at a stop sign, ask God to increase your desire for serious communication with Him. Then, when you're not driving, set aside time to do just that.

What do you think will happen to us and our church if we all decide to do this? I think we'll be amazed at God's results!

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone? What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets? What if we flipped through it several time a day? What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? What if we used it to receive messages from the text? What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it? What if we gave it to kids as gifts? What if we used it when we traveled? What if we used it in case of emergency? This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible? Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. Makes you stop and think "where are my priorities"? And no dropped calls!Trust in the Lord and *ASAP (Always Say A Prayer).

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for birthdays. Not because I get to be a year older! But because you hear from so many friends and family that you may not hear from all year. That part is fun. It is a good reminder that the important things in life aren't money, gifts or status, but instead, they are salvation, family and friends.

Remember that you are blessed with a church family that loves you all year long--no matter how young or how old you are.

Blessings Radar

If we want to keep our minds open to receive blessings, humor and new knowledge in whatever happens in our lives, we need to set an invisible radar dish on top of our heads that is set to constantly search for blessings instead of disaster. Remember, God enriches our lives by the experiences we go through. I read somewhere that our lives are enriched by the bad things that fertilize our lives. Look for good and you'll find it.

Pray for our children

School is out for everyone around our area now. So these kids all have a summer to rest, get bored and have fun, too!. Let's keep them in prayer all summer. But we can make them our prayer priority this week. Pray for them as they have fun that they will be safe. Pray they will take some time to read their Bibles and pray. Pray they will represent Jesus in all that they do. Pray for Nathan and Chasity as they work with the teens, and pray for the Children's Church workers as they work with the younger group. They are the future of Christ's Church....and are very important!

Special Prayer Request

Pray for Traci Owens and her family today. One of her cousins was shot and killed last night in Oklahoma City. This is a daughter of her aunt that was killed in a motorcycle accident a few months back. Be with Traci as she ministers to the other cousins and the children of the one who is dead. Pray for wisdom for her in dealing with them and strength as well.

Memorial Day

Since this is Memorial Day, a good prayer priority for us this week would be to remember our troops--those who currently serve and those who have served previously, as well as those who have given their lives fighting for the freedoms we enjoy daily. So remember this week to keep these guys in prayer. Also remember the families who have sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers currently fighting to keep freedom, even for others.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for our graduates who attend Clear Springs. It is hard to find high school and college students today who want to attend and participate in church. So let's be thankful for Larissa, Jessica and Derek. And let's pray for them and their families.

Prayer Priority

This week let's make Pastor Jim and his family our prayer priority. Pray for them as they work through the week, enjoy their family and prepare for Sunday. Pray that they seek God's will in all they do. It is our responsibility to keep them in our prayers! Remember, when you stop at a stop sign or cross a railroad track...that's a reminder to pray. But you can pray at any time!

Prayer Request

Please pray this week for Cody Ras and his mom Marilyn. Cody was injured Saturday night in a bull riding competition. His neck has a fracture and he is in ICU. He will be ok, but he will have to wear a brace for some time.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am especially thankful the the teachers in Mustang schools. We had the teacher appreciation luncheon today for Mustang Education Center, and it turned out great. They are a great group of educators and many of them are Christians and talk about their churches.

So even if you don't have kids in school these days, say a prayer for the teachers. We need them to teach our kids, and having Christian teachers is indeed an awesome blessing.

Prayer Priority

Let's put our prayer focus on Mothers this week. Mother's Day is Sunday, May 10. For some of us it will be a day of great blessing--getting to be with our mothers, our grandmothers, our children and our family. For some, though, it will be a hard day. Remember the mothers in our church. And, remember those who have lost their mothers--especially recently--as you focus on praying for strength, spiritual wisdom and insight in raising families.

Thankful Thursday

Yep. I'm sure. Today I am thankful for my Clearly 50 friends. Love these people and have a lot of fun doing things with them. If you're not 50, you should be working to get there as fast as you can so you can have fun with us too. Thanks to all of you you are "Clearly 50" for making my days fun.

Prayer Priority

Since last night's Clear Connection, outreach has been on mind. Surely there are some more things we could do to reach out to people in the community....the nation....the world. We don't have lots of money, but we have lots of love and there are untapped ways for us to share that....we just have to let God lead us to them. Pray this week that we will find more ways to share God's love to people in Mustang.

Remember, every time you stop at a stop sign or go over a railroad track....pray for outreach. (You can pray other times, too ;^)!)

Thankful Thursday

Today my thankfulness is coupled with a prayer request. Three of our girlfriends--Shannon, Marilyn and Traci--will attend a seminar on Saturday for Celebrate Recovery. Be in prayer for their safety in travel as well as their ability to understand and learn all the things they are presented. This program is one that helps people who have difficulties in many ways. Let's thank god for these three ladies and pray for them at the same time!

Prayer Priority

Good afternoon, Girlfriends! Hope your weekend was great. I've been thinking about our prayer priority this week, and I have two things:

1. Pray for DeAnna Cross and her mom Ann Morris. The chemo has done nothing for her, so she is going to quit taking it. She was originally given until September....so they are dealing with this right now. Pray for Ann and that God's will would be accomplished. Pray for DeAnna who is having a hard time accepting what may happen.
2. Pray for our troops wherever they may be stationed this week. We're still losing young men weekly. Pray for their safety and their families.

Keep Up The Momentum

Easter is over! And we were really busy with things at church. The Good Friday service was awesome. The community supported our egg hunt and the kids had a great time.

Easter itself was a huge blessing. Can you believe we had 160 in service? God is so very good. Remember when we made it our prayer priority to pray for all these things and that people who called Clear Springs their church would come on Easter Sunday? Well, many of them did.

Now, it's time to pray that we keep up the momentum. Coming on Easter Sunday is a commendable thing for all of us. But coming regularly and being committed to serving Christ by serving His church is an even more important thing. Now this week let's pray that we all do that.

Remember, when you stop at a stop sign or go over a railroad track, pray.

Easter Week

Ran across this quote today from Charles Dickens: "You never can think what a good place Heaven is without knowing who (Jesus) was and what He did."
That's the reason we are commemorating his death and resurrection this week. It was all for us....we get to go to Heaven.
Remember our prayer priority this week is all of the events we have leading up to and through worship. Pray hard. People will come to church next Sunday that may never come on another week. Pray for Pastor Jim as he prepares his sermon. Let God work through all of us this week.

Game Night

Hey Girlfriends! It's game night tonight.
Let's get together at 7 at Jimmee's home. Bring a finger food or your favorite snack food....a game or two....and plan to have a fun evening.

Will you be at Table Two?

Prayer Priority

From now until Easter Sunday, I'd like to see us make our Easter events our prayer priority. It would be wonderful to see all the seats filled and some of us oldier having to sit in the brown folding chairs, wouldn't it?
Begin praying with me now for our Good Friday Service, where we'll celebrate with communion and feet washing. Then pray with me about the Easter Sunday service. Also remember the egg hunt on the 11th. Here's some suggestions for specific praying:

• Pray for all the people who are setting up activities.
• Pray for effectiveness of post cards we'll send to people who have attended children's events in previous years.
• Pray for Pastor Jim as he prepares the sermon for Easter Sunday.
• Pray for all the people who call Clear Springs their church home. We want them all to attend Easter Worship.
• Pray for workers, teachers and all others involved in Sunday School and Worship.
• Just pray!!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for all of my Girlfriends! I read something recently that said we need four hugs a day for survival, eight hugs a day for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth. Thanks to all of you I get my growth.

Give somebody a hug, and have a great day.

Thankful Thursday

It's Thankful Thursday--and I'm having a hard time deciding which of many things to tell you I'm thankful for. But I think I'm going to say family since we're focusing our prayers there this week.

I am thankful for:

• My husband--he is great support and loves the Lord as well as me (which can't be too easy!).
• My kids and grandkids--they are all loving and caring. Plus all of them except Isla has made a commitment to serve the Lord. I know Isla will, too, in a few years.
• My Clear Springs family--all of you are awesome. You pick me up when I'm down. You share with me. You care with me.

Thank you--all my families--for you love. Thank you, God, for giving them to me.

Brody's surgery

Little Brody will have his brain surgery at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 19. The doctor thinks he is big enough to have a permanent stunt put in. Please pray for him and his parents as he has this surgery.

Keep Praying for Quads

This post is from the mother of the quads we've been praying for:
Brody is doing good and handling his feeds well, however his brain is still swelling. He has had a total of 3 lumbar punctures/spinal taps which have not been very successful. In an LP, a needle is put into the spinal canal in the lower back and fluid is withdrawn. Two of the three times they got about 2 ccs of fluid to drain, which wasn't enough to relieve the pressure on his brain. He will be transported any day now, no later than Sunday, to have his brain surgery. We're not sure yet whether the surgeon will do a temporary reservoir or a permanent shunt. The temporary shunt connects the fluid from the ventricles to the space under the scalp where it will drain and absorb. The permanent shunt would drain down into his abdomen. He will most likely be transferred the day before surgery and hopefully come back to Plano Medical the day after, assuming everything goes well. We will keep you updated on his condition and the plans as far as surgery. Please keep him (and the rest of us) in your thoughts and prayers.
Bret and Brody
Little Miss Kylee is doing well and is as cute as can be! Unfortunately the doctor found that she has a level one brain bleed in her other ventricle. It is extremely rare to find a new bleed after 7-10 days of life... rare... that's us :/ I immediately expressed my concerns to the doctor on how I thought Baxlyn and Korbin (the two without any bleeds on their first scan) should be tested again just in case this "rare" thing happened to them too. Dr. Lucena ordered it immediately (thank you :) ) and thank goodness the scans came back normal. Kylee will have another scan this week to follow up. On a brighter note, she has been off her nasal cannula for over 24 hours now, no breathing assistance what so ever! She still bradys every so often, but no more than she was with her cannula.

Prayer Priority

Let's make our families our prayer priorities this week. Pray for your immediate family as well as your extended family AND your church family.

Thanks and Prayer

This week I'm thankful that God is answering prayers for the Cox quads.
In this picture, mommy Heather holds Brody--the one that has had massive brain bleeds. he is finally off the ventilator and CPAP and is on a nasal cannula. However, his brain is still slowly swelling and he may still have the have surgery.

Two of the others have infections that doctors are not sure about right now. Korbin is back on a CPAP because of it.

So I need you to keep praying for them. Thanks.

Good morning! Here are some prayer requests from Anthony Edgemon--FWB missionary to Spain:

• Pray for Lea as she travels back to Spain!
• Pray for our residency renewal - that things would go smoothly.Pray for our upcoming Café y Algo Más. There are many preparations before this evangelistic event which will be March 29.
• Pray for the men´s and women´s Bible studies.
• Pray for Emily´s leg. She had been having some problems, but seems to be doing much better. Thanks for your prayers about this.
• Praise the Lord for 34 in attendance this past Sunday. We are excited about things at the church. Pray that God continues to grow His Church in Alpedrete.

Brody and Kylee

Remember the Quads we prayed for in church yesterday. Brody is still in bad shape, and now Kylee is at a crisis.

They checked all the babies for brain bleed today and Brody and Kylee need our prayers!

Brody has a level 3 and a level 4 (the worst) brain bleed, and the last thing I was told is that he will not be able handle surgery because his little body is so weak!

They also found a level 4 brain bleed on one side of Kylee's brain. They have not said if she can handle the surgery or not yet!

Pray hard ladies for these two precious babies and their parents Bret and Heather..

Prayer Priority

Here's this week's prayer priority:

Based on what we've been studying in "Breaking Free," let's all pray that we get rid of anything in our lives that is a holdover from past years that keeps us from total freedom in Christ.

Remember, when you stop at a traffic light or stop sign or when you cross a railroad track, remind yourself to pray.

Prayer Priority

This week's prayer priority is the City of Mustang. We re-elected our mayor last week. So this is a great time to remember to pray for all our city leaders--city manager, council, police and fire departments.

Every time you stop at a traffic light or stop sign or when you go over a railroad track, remember to pray for these people.

Love is....

Here's another post that I "borrowed" from Jamie:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4 – 7).

As you go through this check list of the attributes of love, how is God speaking to you? Is this how you show love to your neighbors, friends, husband, children, co-workers? Regardless of how they treat you, how are you showing love, true love, pure love, to them?

If you're like me - there are many areas where you need work. Don't let it overwhelm you. Ask God to move in you and start making small changes today!

Thankful Thursday (on Friday)

It's really Friday, I know! But I forgot to post a Thankful Thursday yesterday.

So today, I'm thankful for the women in our church who donated food, cooked, cleaned, decorated, and did whatever it took to make our annual Valentine Spaghetti Dinner successful. We raised almost $300 for missions. Great job ladies!

Prayer priority

I'm a day late....but it's still almost a week we have to pray for something special this week.

This week let's make getting people out for Sunday School and Worship our prayer priority. There are a lot of people that we're proud to have call Clear Springs their home church. But some of them come only occasionally. We're glad there with us whenever they can be, but let's pray that people will become committed to study and worship like the Bible teaches us to be. That includes you and me!

When you stop at a traffic light or stop sign or cross a railroad track, let it remind you to pray for people to be there Sunday morning. Love you all.

Thankful Thursday

I'm doing this late in the day, but it doesn't mean I'm not especially thankful....just too much to do earlier.

Today I am thankful for our Children's Church workers. They are doing one of the most important things that can be done in our church--training in children in God's Love, Mercy and Grace.

It's a pretty thankless job as far as recognition goes, and I know none of them do it for recognition. But God knows the sacrifices they make and recognizes their work.

Pray with me this week for our children's church workers and for the children themselves.

Then ask God if this is an area where you could help some of the time. Additional workers are always essential and it might be an area where you could assist and make a difference.

Prayer Priority

Today is Monday, so it's Prayer Priority day. Remember that every time you stop at a traffic light or go over a railroad track, pray for this week's priority. Of course, you can prayer any time, but hopefully those two things will make you remember.

This week let's pray for our Pastors--Jim and Nathan.

• Pray for them as they lead the church
• Pray for them as they counsel and befriend people
• Pray for their families, that they would commit the time to their own spouses and children that needs to be spent with them.
• Pray for Jim as he prepares his sermons for next week.
• Pray for their personal needs.

Prayer makes our lives different as well as the lives of those we pray for.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful that God is constantly providing for all of us. I've been watching the birds feed at our house a lot this week. Ken put sunflower seed in the feeder, wild bird seed on the open layer under it, thistle in the box on the side, suet in the box on the end, and scattered seed all over the rails of the deck.

Birds have been two and three deep trying to get at the food when there was so much ice on everything. And there were even more lined up in the trees trying to get to their smorgasbord of treats.

But, today, we're down to seven or eight at a time. I still love to watch them. They are making me think of myself. Hopefully I'm not really for the birds. But I think that too often I am like them. When the ice was bad and they couldn't get to anything else to eat, they flocked to the feeders. But since the ice has begun melting, they can find food elsewhere...and they are.

Too often we are like that with God. When the going is tough we're lined up to take everything he'll provide for us. But when things get better we go back to taking care of ourselves.

Let's remember how much He provides and be thankful for it all today. And, let's try to go to Him for everything--whether things are good or bad.

Prayer Request

This is a note from a young family from the church we attended in Texas. Heather is about 23 and expecting quads. She was admitted to the hospital yesterday. Please pray for her and Bret and all four babies.
Tuesday at 2:15 Heather was scheduled for her routine checkup. When we arrived at the doctors office, he and his staff performed their normal procedures and noticed that Heather was dilated to 1 centimeter. Heather had been having what she thought was contractions on Monday night, but they were not regular so she did not panic. She arrived at her room (New Home) around 3:30 and immediately starting receiving Procardia to stop the contractions, and steroid injections to strengthen the babies’ lungs in case delivery was necessary. The nurses got everything under control around 6:00 p.m. During our doctor's visit, they gave Heather a Fetal Fibornectin (FFN) test this is used to determine if she will go in to labor within two weeks. The test came back positive, but they are not sure how accurate the test is with quads. We are taking it day by day and remain optimistic that everything will go as planed. Heather struggled with wearing four heart monitors and a contraction monitor last night because of the discomfort she was not able to get much sleep. With that said Heather and the babies are doing great and I will keep you fellers informed as things unfold in the coming weeks.

Prayer Priority

Weekly Prayer Priority

I "borrowed" this idea from my daughter's women's blog. Thanks Jamie.

Prayer is powerful! We've all experienced times when it's changed a life we know. Miracles in healing, loved ones being drawn to Jesus, a time when God gives us the words when we otherwise wouldn't know what to say...
So why are we reluctant at times to make it a part of our daily routine? We know that only good can come of it, yet it gets pushed to the back burner.

This year, I'd like to challenge our Girlfriends to make prayer a priority!
Each week, join with all the girlfriends of Clear Springs and focus your prayers on the suggested topic for that week.

Here's what we'll do: *** When you drive across a rail road track or stop at a red light, let that be a reminder for you to PRAY! ***

Imagine what God will do through our combined weekly prayers!

This week let's pray for our country and its leaders on every level.

When you smile...

Remember the old Louis Armstrong song..."when you're smilin', the whole world smiles at you"?

Weather wise there's not much to smile about in Oklahoma today. But...there's a lot more than weather to control our lives. I love the quote with the picture at left..."you can even break ice with it."

So, today, break through the ice and smile at people. Remember that if we let people see Jesus in us, we are glorifying Christ. And our God has control of the ice--and all else.

This little poem from Emily Dickinson sorta sums it up:
"They might not need me, but they might.
I'll let my head be just in sight;
A smile as small as mine might be
Precisely their necessity."

Whose necessity can you meet with a Smile? Go ahead and practice on your family or your coworkers so you'll be ready when a smile is needed.

Prayer Requests

These prayer requests are from Anthony and Lea Edgemon, missionaries to Spain. Please say a pray for them and these things:

We appreciate you taking the time to pray over these things with us this week.
- some families in our church are struggling.
- wisdom as I try to counsel man from church.
- Thank the Lord with us that Emily seems to be doing well with her knee brace.
- Tim Johnson will preach this week as we delve into 1 Peter 2.
- Lea´s sister in the final weeks of pregnancy. Pray that everything goes well.
- María del Carmen, pastor´s wife in Colmenar Viejo is battling cancer and dealing with chemotherapy.
- Pastor Jose Manuel from the Esperanza Church in Alacalpais looking for work.
God bless you all

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday, and it is an easy day to be thankful.

Today I'm especially thankful for the spring-like weather, even though I know it will not last. But a little bit of spring in the middle of winter is a sweet thing.

That reminds that in the middle of problems, bad time, things we don't want to do.....God is our springtime. He is always there to boost us, make us feel better, take care of us and love us.

So take a deep breath today and enjoy the weather. Then take another deep breath and enjoy your life in Jesus.

Doing Our Jobs

Ken is at the airport with Mollie and Isaiah. Their plane is supposed to leave any minute to take them home to California. We've had a fun two weeks. I'm sitting here thinking about the fact that all my kids and grandkids are Christians--thank you, Lord.

But the kids still need a lot of direction, guidance and examples. Deuteronomy 4:9 says "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

So, are we the examples we need to be to our children, our grandchildren or any of the children in our church family or the community. I hope I am. It is a monumental job we undertake to keep them following the Lord and seeking His guidance.

Let's pray for each other today that we will be the examples we should be. That our trust in God will supersede all other things in the minds of our kids and grandkids.

Thankful Thursday

It's already Thursday again, and I'm always thankful. But today I am especially thankful for the five women who participated in Breaking Free last night and the six who are signed up for tonight. It is a blessing to see women desire to study the Bible.

I like studying with others because it helps motivate me to do my studying daily as well as gives me insight from others that I had not though about before. Thank you ladies.

P.S. It's not too late to show up tonight. You will be extremely welcome!

Tonight's the Night

Tonight is the night for the beginning of our new Bible Study, "Breaking Free" by Beth Moore. Hope you're ready for an awesome time with this study. If you're unable to come on Wednesday night, we're doing it again on Thursday night, Tonight we meet at 6:30. Thursday's session begins at 7. Hope you're able to make one of them.

Thanks and Extensions

Today is Thursday, and I am thankful. Especially thankful for kids and grandkids--we've enjoyed all of them this week. I hope you have family you are enjoying too.

On another note, our first session of Breaking Free has been moved to next week. The only ones present last night were Sue and I. And I hated for all the rest to miss the first 50-minute session with Beth Moore. So....we decided to wait until next Wednesday. Gear yourself up for a treat and some cautious insight into yourself. You're going to love it.

If you're busy on Wednesday night, we're having a second session on Thursday nights. Four people who work with Awanas want to study Breaking Free. So if you'd like to join them, meet with us at 7 p.m. Thursday January 15. We will not meet on the second Thursday of each month because of other obligations I have.

Hope to see you on either Wednesday or Thursday night. Love you all.

Amazing Friends

Sunday evening my daughter called and said the airline was going to charge them to bring Isla's car seat and pack and play bed ($50 each). She wanted to know if I would try to borrow them from someone. I though, well if worse came to worse we could probably borrow a bed from the church or rent something. But I though "No one has an extra car seat!" But I called Kyla and Jeremy and they said we could borrow Jenna's Pack and Play bed. We borrowed a highchair from the church, and at home group Virgil remembered that Nathan had a car seat sitting in his office. I called him and he said he seldom used it that we could borrow it for a week.
What would we do if we didn't have a church family? It has always amazed me that everyone is there for you when you need something--even a baby car seat. But that's the way it is supposed to be isn't it? We are there for each other to support, love, and care. I thank God that we have a church family that exemplifies those characteristics. When you need prayer, material things, hugs or whatever, call on your church family. They are there for you.

More on Joy

Just read a quote from Barbara Johnson that goes along with living your life with joy:
"We CAN do it. We CAN sparkle with joy in the deepest, darkest basement, because the Lord is our battery pack that empowers us to smile and laugh no matter how dire our circumstances appear to be."
I like that analogy. The good point is that our battery pack never runs low, needs recharging, or dies.

Deliberately Choose Joy

Ready or not, 2009 has begun and we're all off to a new year. Some of us well have the best year of our lives, others may not.

Some will struggle. Some will laugh. Some will share. Some will wish. Some will pray. Some will commit. And others will resolve.

How about you? In spite of what happens to us or to those around us, there is one thing we can deliberately accomplish in 2009.

We can choose to look for the joy that comes through Christ in every step of our journey this year. Then, we can share it with others. When we do that, we will be blessed with peace and happiness that passes any earthly understanding -- no matter what our circumstances are.

So I'm asking you to deliberately decide to embrace your joy in Christ all year long. And embrace the fact that our Girlfriends are there for you through the good and the not so good. Even through the bad. Yes, even the terrible. Remember to thank God for each other and our group of women. Love you all.

New Book Study

We will begin Breaking Free by Beth Moore on January 7 --one week from today. I'll try to have the workbooks to hand out and we can do a preview of what we will be doing that night. For those of you who want a study at another time, I need to hear from you so I can set aside the time we are going to meet. We can meet on Tuesday or Thursday evenings if we skip the 2nd week each month. Or, we can meet Friday evening or any time on Saturday. You let me know.