I like to be prepared, organized and may be considered a control freak.

I began to think,  that God was a planner and liked order.

 God himself sent Jesus his son to a willing young girl and an industrious young man.

Jesus's life was ordered from the birth , to each miracle, to having a relative by the name of John the Baptist who would baptise him, to the His disciples, to his death and resurrection.

God wants our lives to be ordered just the way He ordered the world to be created and the arrival of the baby Jesus.  But He wants our lives to ordered by Him not our own plans and wants, but His.

If only I could get that through my head!

He has everything under control, why wouldn't I want Him to control all my ways?

I wanted to share a note that I would LIKE to receive from a new quest to our church.

I like coming to church.  You said Sunday in your sermon to come as “you are” and I appreciate that.

Normally, I feel uncomfortable when people greet me, but I felt a warm feeling and a comfort that I hadn’t felt in a while.

Your church was friendly but not overbearing. You talked about helping those in need and sharing kindness to those who are not so fortunate.

Then when you talked about God’s love and forgiveness and grace, I really got interested.  For you see am not a bad person, just has some issues in my life.   But, you said God could help me with this issues where others have not been able to.

Yeah, I kind of like your church.  I think I will come back.

 

July 27, 2012

Well, hello everyone.  Life has been busy.  We are starting to prepare for Eastpoint Family Church's 5th year anniversary.  I can't believe it.

We were remembering the nights and Saturdays toiling.  Cleaning, tearing carpet out, cleaning, throwing out trash, getting rid of 4 organs, cleaning, painting, tiling and more cleaning . And then we would go to Sonic at 9pm and get a crushed ice coke and hamburgers. Sitting out on the Sonic patio area and  people looking at us with pity.  We did look kind of pitiful with black dirt all over us and black in our hair, nostrils and dirty clothes. But we were happy as larks, because God had given us a church.

We are still happy and thankful for what God has done.  To God be the Glory for what great things He has done.!

Please join us on September 16, 2012 at 10:30am and join us in a "Joyful Jesus Celebration".

Have you ever wanted to be alone? Friends keep calling, texting, tweeting and emailing with great persistence.

You just need a break.  After a day of relaxing with no conversation, no interaction, wow it was great!

Then after the first day, then I began to feel a little lonely.

Turning to my Bible, I came to Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times” then Proverbs 18:24 “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly” and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”

Well, I am ready to go back to face book and began chatting again and then go to church Sunday to hear from my “closest friend”,Jesus.

I was looking at a magazine stating all the different blogs to log in.  There were finance blogs, lifestyle blogs, news blogs, pop cast blogs, sports blogs, TV blogs, movie blogs, music blogs and the list goes on.

Today, I was thinking what to title this blog.

I was feeling kind of sad, and then some children came around me wanting to show me how to find an invisible story for scratching a picture with a pencil.  The story revealed how God made the world.

Then I was feeling a little weak, when I remembered in the Bible where is says “the joy of the Lord is my strength”

Then I was feeling thankful.  I had just told a friend how Jesus changed my life.  Is my life not without struggles? No, however I accepted Jesus as my Savior to help me through the struggles.

I guess I would title this today as “Jesus, the calmer of mood swings”.

Next week is Mother’s Day.   I remember my mother as an active and vivacious lady. She is now in a care center, not active at all, sometimes knowing me and sometimes not.  It is painful to leave her after a visit. I pray God will take her home soon without any suffering.

However, when I visit and speak of church, she lights up.  For you see, her and my father’s life was church.  They were not ministers just lay people who loved Jesus and loved to work in the church. That love is still in her spirit.

When my husband was studying for his ministerial credentials, mother knew we wanted a church of our own to pastor. She told us she would be praying for a church in the area, because she wanted us to be close to her.

With realistic thinking, I explained to her that there were not any churches in this area available to pastor at that time.  She seemed disappointed but that didn’t stop my mother from praying and believing for the miracle that was to happen for us.

Four years passes, Mother became ill, my husband and I became her caregivers.  During this time, God was also preparing a church for us to pastor here locally. It was all about God’s timing. It was all about a Mother’s fervent prayer.

God answered Mother’s prayer for us to have a church close and He also took care of her by having us close to care for her.

Never underestimate the power of a Mother’s Prayer.

 Please come and visit us at Eastpoint Family Church, Kansas City, MO. Check out my husband’s personal testimony our website eastpointfamilychurch.org.

You know you are in trouble when you walk into a Subway with a help wanted sign on the door. Then when you see 8 people in front of you, then you know this is serious. Then when you hear the multiple orders of "12" subs, toasted with four different melted cheese, you know you will never get back to work , at least today.

Suddenly, I am trying to recall every sermon Pastor Claude has spoken about patience. All those Bible scriptures and positive sayings that I have memorized seem to fade away as rage begins to infiltrate my body.

As flames are coming out of my nostrils, I look up and guess who is coming through the door, my Pastor, with that happy, friendly smile on his face. He greets me like he always does, with a smile and " I am so glad to see you". The he proceeds to tell me that this worked out, because I was on his mind and since the line was so long, we could visit.

Well, I hadn't look at it like that , but whatever. I must say it was good to have a cheerful talk with him, between orders. I left feeling better than when I came, maybe just like when I go to church.

As I left, Pastor said, I guess, " All things do work together for good, don't they. I had to agree.

Technology is great isn’t? Texting, tweeting, face book, IPods, I pads, kindles, smart phones are
great ways to communicate.

When I am with a friend, who I really want to communicate with,
I really like a face to face conversion with them. Have you ever been excited about sharing with
a friend and finally you get together and they can’t stop texting or tweeting to someone else while you are trying to converse with them. What a disappointing time.

I begin to think about how Jesus who’s ministry was a positive, aggressive ministry of energy. He was and is not interesting enough for some people to stop and take time to communicate with Him through prayer, Bible reading or church attendance. People say they can’t see God. Well, they can’t see the person they are texting either. I know He is always trying to get my
attention. Sometimes I think God is in heaven waving His nailed scarred hands, saying
"please pay attention to me , I just want to be your friend" .

Well, as I am waving to my friend who is sitting across fromme “saying be my friend and talk to me”, I know God is waving and cheering me on and saying “‘I am a Friend who sticks closer than any brother’ come and communicate with me a little while.”

I guess I will text my friend and ask her if she would come church with me to Eastpoint Family Church Sunday.

REMINDER:

SET YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD THIS SATURDAY MARCH 10, 2012 BEFORE YOU GO TO BED.

AND BE ON TIME FOR SUNDAY SERVICES.

AND COME TO EASTPOINT FAMILY CHURCH!!

I don't know about you, but I need to lose 20 lbs. I have purposed in my mind to stop drinking so much diet coke , eating less bread, and limiting the desserts. My desire is so strong , I am going to stick with it, or as Pastor would say "God Willing".

When reading God's Word, I came to Romans 8:28 " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

I know God wants me healthy because He wants to work good through me, but I had to stop and think about what the Word says about "His PURPOSE". You mean, I can't rule my own life, He has a PURPOSE for me. If that is the case, I want to PURPOSE or and desire to read God's word and pray more so I can know what God's PURPOSE for me.

It doesn't hurt, to go to church too. There I can may get a nugget of TRUTH to help me with the PURPOSE HE has for me.

Well, God willing, pounds will start coming off and I will start learning more from God's word about the PURPOSE HE has for me. Do you need to join me?

Well, I guess it is time to get ready for the next season, spring.

I have found that there are seasons of life too. There are many in fact. Seasons of exhaustion, seasons of fear, seasons of excitement, seasons of sorrow, seasons of loneliness and many more.
In the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 describes a number of seasons.

Did you know that one season of life leads to another. 2 Timothy 4:2 says " be prepared in season and out of season"

How are we suppose to do that? By renewing our minds in reading God's Word and praying to our Heavenly Father. God does not indicate He will remove or change the season we are in, however He will be with us through it , if we allow Him to. Romans 12: 2 states " God's will is " .. good, pleasing and perfect.."

Maybe the season you are in right now is not so cool. God promises that He will make "a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert" Isaiah 42:19. And that is pretty cool. Man has a hard time making a path through a wilderness and irrigating a desert. But GOD does not have a problem with that.

Come join some Sunday to learn more about God's Word and learn how to be prepared for every season.

Well, the New Year is offering new challenges for us. How about you? I am starting a new study book ,author Joyce Meyer, titled "Be Anxious for Nothing". Boy, that is hard not to be anxious.
There are schedules to meet, bills to pay, kids to raise, jobs that are intense and or no job at all.
Who can help me? John 14:27 " Peace I leave with you; My own peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you."
That is saying to me that the things of the world can cause me aggravation, but God gives a peace and willed me his peace in times of storm. I like that kind of inheritance.
I am so thankful for Eastpoint Family Church , where I can learn God's word and help me understand how to get through lifes issues. Come and join me some Sunday or Wednesday night.
All of us need help and I have found that being in God's house is the best place to find it.

Pastor told a story last week about a little girl who had such a wonderful Christmas and had so many toys to unwrap. She went to her parents and said " Can Mary and Joseph have another baby next year?" She wanted to make sure she could have the same event happen again for her.

You know , if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we have Him all year round. Thank goodness. I need HIM everyday.

If you have not experienced Christ, now is the time. Please join us at Eastpoint for our Christmas Eve 6:30-7:30 service and our Christmas Day 11:00 service. Come experience HIS love. When you think no one loves you, HE does.

Today was Grandparents Day for our special needs grandson. We felt so honored to be there.
However, both my husband and I had a sad moment, thinking how disappointing it is to see children including ours that struggle to do normal life skills.

Then I was reminded of the verse that the Lord gave me when my grandson was born.
Psalm 139:14 "....for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous are thy works...", God has a special plan for his life even with special challenges in living a normal life.

Pastor's sermon Sunday is "What the baby in the manager didn't do" . This should be a good one. There are times I ask " why God didn't you do this and that". His answer is "I gave my only son, who was perfect, to come as a baby and grow and then die on a cross for your sins."

Thats good enough for me.

Well, the race has began! 26 more days until Christmas Day. Do you already feel your heart racing? Can I get all that I need to be done? Is there enough money for all I need to purchase?
Do I have enough credit left on my credit card to charge? Will I be able to pay the bill when it comes in? Is grandma going to be mad if I don't come to dinner for Christmas at her house instead of my husband's mother? Wow, maybe we should just skip Christmas.

Oh yeah, Christmas is about JESUS coming as a baby. A rejoicing time to be thankful that JESUS came to save our lives from sin.

This Sunday, Pastor Claude will sharing " Surviving the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

You know what, I think I need to hear this sermon. Come and join me.

I have always thought God could do anything and everything. Well, Pastor says his sermon Sunday is titled" Five Things God Cannot Do". I can't wait to hear this one.
This Sunday evening the Central Bible College Basketball team will be here to minister at the 6:00am service. They always have an exciting service and lots of action.
I thought today how thankful I am to be apart of the Eastpoint Family Church. They truly are my family. Please join us and learn what it is like to know someone loves you no matter who you are or what you have done.

Pastor is continuing his sermon series referring to the guardrails that are placed in our lives.

Matthew 6:24 states " No man can serve two masters". Unfortunately, we all want to run our own lives until we hit a bump and then call out "God help me". Being the heavenly Father that God is, he doesn't shout out saying " you idiot didn't you see the guardrail I put up for you". The guardrail of doubt about a certain relationship or business deal. The guardrail of "waiting" or "directing our life from destruction with alcohol and drugs". But NO we want to run our lives, because we know better than God. But God is so loving and is always wooing us to HIM.

Please come join Sunday,as Pastor shares from Daniel 1:5-9 "Make up your mind , guardrail once and for all"

Thank the Lord for the rails on the highway that protects us from running off into a cliff or ditch.

Did you know God sets up cautionary rails in our life, to protect us from making grave mistakes?
Pastor will be speaking this Sunday about the Guardrails of God's Protection.

Have you always made the right decision? Have you just had a crash because of a bad decision? We can find caution signs and ways to help prevent disaster in God's Word.

Please come and join us at Eastpoint this Sunday and let's find out how to watch for those God ordered guardrails.

Well, fall has come. Life has seasons doesn't it? Maybe the season of life you are in now, you don't particularly like. God's word says that HE never changes. HE is always the same. That means to me, I can Always go to HIM in whatever season I am in and HE will level with me. He is not fickle and changeable. I need that kind of relationship.
Come to Eastpoint and find a relationship with good friends and Jesus Christ.

Pastor's sermon this Sunday is "Pass by Review". Someday we will all pass by Jesus at the "Judgement Seat of Christ". I want to hear HIM say "Well done thy good and faithful sevant".
The more I hear and read God's word , the more I want to be faithful.
See you at church!

In our children's Sunday School Class last week , we were learning the verse "Casting all your anxiety upon him, for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7. NIV. Jacob H. spoke up and said "I will always be anxious because I have attention deficit." I replied , " Now Jacob , we can pray and God can help us with our anxious moments even though we may have a medical condition. In fact, we can pray that God can heal our " attention deficit" medical issues and make us better." He replied, "O No, I will have it forever." My heart broke, because he had it in his mind he would never get better and he would always be anxious.
Pastor spoke on the devil's schemes last Sunday. It is indeed the scheme of the devil to attack our minds. He delights in making us feel defeated.
That is why we need to be in God's house to learn and be encouraged. Before the class was over that Sunday, Jacob started to understand that he could be better with God's healing power.
This Sunday is National Sunday Day, please come to Sunday School at Eastpoint at 9:30 and Morning Worship at 10:30.
You will feel welcome and God will meet your need.