Life's Journey

It is has been a exciting few weeks with lots of fun and exciting things happening around here.  Our dedication service was a great success and here is a picture of our praise team leading us.  When I went up to share i was really surprised to see that the building was nearly full – Yeah!!  Last weekend 23 of us ladies went to CFNI Ladies Conference in Dallas, which was a great success.  I learned so much and was very refreshed, not to mention, getting to know so many ladies better.  The next big thing is our Ladies Bible study that is starting this Thursday night! We are doing a Beth Moore study on the Tabernacle and everyone is really looking forward to it.

Here is a picture of our ladies (and Joe Davila who goes to school there) while attended the CFNI Conference and enjoying the dance team.

It has been a very exciting few weeks with lots of good things happening in our lives.  Last week-end we had our dedication service for the extension on our new building and it was amazing to see the building almost full!  I was a little nervous as i thought we would feel very empty but that was not a problem.  We had the Henderson’s minister and it was a blessing.  For me, I had a friend come to visit for 3 days from Houston, Susan Feinhandler.  It was so good to see her after 8 years!  We first met 29 years ago while attending CFNI in Dallas and have been friends ever since.  I am hoping that she moves here so pray that she finds a job 🙂  We are also in the process of buying a new home and it looks like all is a go. Pray for us that all goes well with us and the buyers of our home. This is very exciting as we really would like to live in a one story ~ we have to plan for the years ahead you know!  This past week was also time to visit with Sarah’s Rheumatoligist, who is her main specialist at this time.  After her contribution of many viles of blood for testing,  we were all anxious to hear the results.  On Thursday when we went in and visited with Dr. Carrasco, he was so elated with her blood work.  She is in range for all levels except one, which is expected to catch up a little slower, so no worries there ~ this is amazing and a miracle.  Sarah says that she feels the best she ever has since about the age of 11, right before she became ill.  Praise the Lord and now we are waiting for the complete healing as we walk through this season.  You can read Sarah’s full story here ~ you can also share your story here too!  Sarah also obtained her drivers license and has been gainfully employed at Sonic on 620!  Not sure if I could handle anymore excitement but try me!!  Daniel’s job is going well with Apple, he was the second highest in sales and customer service this past month and has managed not to be late for work, having to show up at 3:30 am everyday!!  Yeah God, He is so kind, faithful and merciful.

Whatever you scream into life, will come back to you.  What you sow you will reap – what you put into, you will get out.  When i think about this, it challenges me on how I speak and what i speak, life is really in the tongue and so is death.  I guess it comes down to knowing the Word of God.  If we know what the Father has said about us, spoken over us and desires for us, that determines how we live our lives.  In other words, your ignorance of the word causes you to miss out on the fullness of God for your life.  Know what the Word of God says and you will know Him ~ We only get to do this once so let’s know Him!

Reading this scripture the other day was rather inspiring.  Psalms 127:1 ~ “Unless The Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it: except the Lord keeps the city, the watchmen wakes but in vain.” At this time we are literally expanding our sanctuary at TOLC and it has reminded me how our lives are also being built.  Expansion seems to be in our lives right now in many areas so watching and being involved closely with all these projects, I have been reminded how we received the blueprint in life when hearing about the plan of Salvation.  How exciting as we trusted the Lord with Jeremiah 29:11 ~ “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you a hope in your final out come.”  Along the way while building, we have had to have the plans submitted, corrected, we get inspections done, weather delays and even change of construction sometimes!  Just like our lives, when we have obtained the blueprint and established a strong foundation, off we go and start the process of growth and expansion in our lives.  Sometimes things happen that we don’t expect, diversions, corrections, losses, change, additions, subtractions and different seasons, even inspections!  All this is for the good as we grow in the Lord, mature in our faith and press on to be complete in Him.   He is still working on me, to make me what He wants me to be…..  We are building a physical sanctuary for the people of God at TOLC to dwell in and grow in love and unity.  Just like our lives, He is making us to be a habitation for the Lord to dwell in richly, a place where the Spirit of the Lord dwells and enables us to be a person that can then reach out to others in love, grace and blessing wherever we may be.  I am so glad that the Lord does not quit building and expanding our lives and making us to be the habitation of the Lord!!