Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Revived....Renewed....Rejoicing....
Revival was incredible...all three nights. Each one better than the night before. God showed up. People were touched by His spirit. Wounds were healed. Relationships were formed. Hearts were softened. Lives were changed. Hated to see it come to an end. And man... it just doesn't get any better than that!
Monday, May 4, 2009
God is workin overtime...
Big stuff goin on at the Jones house. God is a mover and a shaker and He is movin and shakin all of us right now.
After a loooonnnngggg time of prayer and consideration, and agonizing really, we made the move to a different church. Not because we don't love our home church. We really do, and it served us very well. We loved the people there and still do. However, the time had come to seek out more for our teenagers. My purpose in this life is to raise my boys to be good, faithful, and true god-fearing men, who will go on to raise good, faithful and true god-fearing families. Something the world is seriously lacking. I prayed so long and so hard for the wisdom to know what to do. I prayed for just the right situation to put the boys into. I prayed for a place that they would grow and grow and grow as Christians... and I prayed it for over a year. My ya ya's prayed and prayed for it also. And as usual, and in his own time, God came through.
Almost immediately, Austin got a call and was asked to play his guitar in the praise band. Can you even imagine how excited he was. Yesterday was his big debut. Not only did he do an awesome job, he was actually the one playing all the intros! It brought tears to my eyes to see my baby up there praising God with the talent he has so obviously been given. Can't wait to see where it takes him. The man who leads the praise band said he was discouraged and was turning in his keys to quit the band the very day that Austin first came to church. He said Austin was an answer to his prayers. How cool is that.
Ethan has become very active in the youth group. Two nights a week, which is alot in teen time. He looks so forward to it. Last night was the first night of revival. Turns out, during youth group right before revival began, each and everyone of those kids took turns laying their hands on and praying for Pastor Dan. Pastor Dan himself told about the experience at the end of the night with such excitement and he said "folks, that's what you got goin on here in this church." It was my confirmation that my boys are exactly where they are suppose to be.
The service itself was incredible. One of the most awesome experiences I have had. It was an "on the edge of your seat" type of thing that you really didn't want to end. But it did have to end and in closing, he asked the congregation to gather around the youth to pray for them and their daily struggles in this world. Struggles that we had to deal with when we were young, and struggles we would have never even dreamed were possible. It was incredibly moving.
I'm blogging about this experience today because I truly NEVER CEASE to be AMAZED at what GOD can do and how he uses so many different people and different situations to accomplish His work. And how His plans for us are so much more than we could even begin to imagine for ourselves. And I am BLOWN AWAY by how he heard my cry and my prayers for my boys and has turned them into something more than I EVER would have thought possible.
God is HUGE people... and he works overtime!
After a loooonnnngggg time of prayer and consideration, and agonizing really, we made the move to a different church. Not because we don't love our home church. We really do, and it served us very well. We loved the people there and still do. However, the time had come to seek out more for our teenagers. My purpose in this life is to raise my boys to be good, faithful, and true god-fearing men, who will go on to raise good, faithful and true god-fearing families. Something the world is seriously lacking. I prayed so long and so hard for the wisdom to know what to do. I prayed for just the right situation to put the boys into. I prayed for a place that they would grow and grow and grow as Christians... and I prayed it for over a year. My ya ya's prayed and prayed for it also. And as usual, and in his own time, God came through.
Almost immediately, Austin got a call and was asked to play his guitar in the praise band. Can you even imagine how excited he was. Yesterday was his big debut. Not only did he do an awesome job, he was actually the one playing all the intros! It brought tears to my eyes to see my baby up there praising God with the talent he has so obviously been given. Can't wait to see where it takes him. The man who leads the praise band said he was discouraged and was turning in his keys to quit the band the very day that Austin first came to church. He said Austin was an answer to his prayers. How cool is that.
Ethan has become very active in the youth group. Two nights a week, which is alot in teen time. He looks so forward to it. Last night was the first night of revival. Turns out, during youth group right before revival began, each and everyone of those kids took turns laying their hands on and praying for Pastor Dan. Pastor Dan himself told about the experience at the end of the night with such excitement and he said "folks, that's what you got goin on here in this church." It was my confirmation that my boys are exactly where they are suppose to be.
The service itself was incredible. One of the most awesome experiences I have had. It was an "on the edge of your seat" type of thing that you really didn't want to end. But it did have to end and in closing, he asked the congregation to gather around the youth to pray for them and their daily struggles in this world. Struggles that we had to deal with when we were young, and struggles we would have never even dreamed were possible. It was incredibly moving.
I'm blogging about this experience today because I truly NEVER CEASE to be AMAZED at what GOD can do and how he uses so many different people and different situations to accomplish His work. And how His plans for us are so much more than we could even begin to imagine for ourselves. And I am BLOWN AWAY by how he heard my cry and my prayers for my boys and has turned them into something more than I EVER would have thought possible.
God is HUGE people... and he works overtime!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Prayers for Greg...
My step-dad took a fall from his loader yesterday afternoon at work. He has a broken pelvis. He had surgery at 2:30 this morning, and they put in 4 screws. Once they got in, it was worse than they suspected. We are now told he is to be non-weightbearing on one leg for 12 weeks.
I am heading up today to access the situation and talk to them about what is to come. Please pray for the both of them. They have a very long road ahead.
I am heading up today to access the situation and talk to them about what is to come. Please pray for the both of them. They have a very long road ahead.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Weekend Circus...
Not our typical weekend circus...this weekend there was an ACTUAL circus. The Kelly Miller Circus was in town.
It's a very good show, and we always go and take the kids when they come around. This year, Ethan thought it would be uncool to go. :( Austin went, but sat far away from us with his friend :( But the babies were super excited to be there and loved every minute of it.
Here are a few pics before, during and afterwards at Aaron's mom and dad's
It's a very good show, and we always go and take the kids when they come around. This year, Ethan thought it would be uncool to go. :( Austin went, but sat far away from us with his friend :( But the babies were super excited to be there and loved every minute of it.
Here are a few pics before, during and afterwards at Aaron's mom and dad's
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Not my Anooooppppp!!! Whyyyyyyyyyy
I am so bummed. I know he wasn't the best singer in the competition. I also know he would not have made it to the finals. But I do think he deserved to be there at least one more week. You have to admit... Matt screwed up big time last week and should not have been saved. If the judges had not played their save card, Matt would've gone last week... Lil would've gone this week... and my Anoop would still be there!
Unacceptable.
I have said all along that Anoop reminds me of my brother Evan and that's why I like him so much. Here are pics so you can judge for yourself. Similar smiles, laugh lines, and dimples... albeit Ev is way cuter and does not have the crazy eyes and uni-brow. Similar nonetheless... and man the mannerisms... that's where it gets scary.
Sorry Ev. :)
I am so bummed. I know he wasn't the best singer in the competition. I also know he would not have made it to the finals. But I do think he deserved to be there at least one more week. You have to admit... Matt screwed up big time last week and should not have been saved. If the judges had not played their save card, Matt would've gone last week... Lil would've gone this week... and my Anoop would still be there!
Unacceptable.
I have said all along that Anoop reminds me of my brother Evan and that's why I like him so much. Here are pics so you can judge for yourself. Similar smiles, laugh lines, and dimples... albeit Ev is way cuter and does not have the crazy eyes and uni-brow. Similar nonetheless... and man the mannerisms... that's where it gets scary.
Sorry Ev. :)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wednesday Why's??????
Why is it that when I am most tired... someone in my house gets sick or hurt or both?
Why is it that on the rare occasions when Ava is able to sleep through the night... one or two others in the house are tapping my shoulder in the dark?
Why is it that just when we think business might slow down a tad bit so we can breathe... we get hammered again? (I know, I know... we should be thankful for that)
Why is it that first born children are so hard on themselves...even though the only B they've had in their entire life was a B+ in 5th grade Science?! Geez
Why is it that middle kids are a bit scatter-brained and unorganized?
Why is it that the last born kids are whiny fit throwers?...or is that just a girl thing? lol
Why is it that when one bad thing happens...ten more follow?
Why is it that when you sleep in to get some much needed rest... the entire day is shot and you end up feeling more crappy than you did when you were tired?
Why is it that I feel the need to vent this morning?
Man folks... God is HUGE! I had literally just finished typing that last sentence when my dear Susan texted me a verse and said "just read it" so I stopped typing and read it...
Romans 5:3-5 "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us - they help us to learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. for we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love."
Wow...straight from Him to her heart to me via text at exactly the right moment.... bet God is lovin technology right now. I know I am :)
Why is it that on the rare occasions when Ava is able to sleep through the night... one or two others in the house are tapping my shoulder in the dark?
Why is it that just when we think business might slow down a tad bit so we can breathe... we get hammered again? (I know, I know... we should be thankful for that)
Why is it that first born children are so hard on themselves...even though the only B they've had in their entire life was a B+ in 5th grade Science?! Geez
Why is it that middle kids are a bit scatter-brained and unorganized?
Why is it that the last born kids are whiny fit throwers?...or is that just a girl thing? lol
Why is it that when one bad thing happens...ten more follow?
Why is it that when you sleep in to get some much needed rest... the entire day is shot and you end up feeling more crappy than you did when you were tired?
Why is it that I feel the need to vent this morning?
Man folks... God is HUGE! I had literally just finished typing that last sentence when my dear Susan texted me a verse and said "just read it" so I stopped typing and read it...
Romans 5:3-5 "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us - they help us to learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. for we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love."
Wow...straight from Him to her heart to me via text at exactly the right moment.... bet God is lovin technology right now. I know I am :)
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