Carving Pumpkins

Ok...lots of post need to happen so lets start with pumpkin carving! Last Friday night my niece Kenzie was here and her and Jaden carved some pumpkins. They were so cute! Lauren had a friend over and Brooke was gone so they had to wait to do theirs.
Jaden's:

Kenzie's:


Ok...now this is what happens when you carve a pumpkin a week before...and well...the pumpkin was already a little rotten:
Bahaha!! His pumpkin was a moldy mess by Thursday! Poor Guy! Soo...we had to make another!


Here is round #2 for Jaden: Peace sign


Brooke: A rainbow


Lauren: Fun face


We always roast pumpkin seeds after we gut them...yum!


This is our dog watching us...it's a "ruff" life...


So that's one of many things this week...I love pumpkins and Halloween time. So much fun to have! Be safe everyone!

Lori's prognosis

Well...to say the least...it isn't at all the news we wanted to hear. The Dr. told Lori that she is in stage 4 melanoma liver cancer. There is no cure and as of now they will not be dong radiation. They are doing more test on her and a PET scan to determine where to go from here. Please pray for her kids...Lacy...Jacob...Austin and her sister Amy. This is just devastating news for them. But the one thing we all know is...God can still do miracles and we hold onto the hope of that! Her name is Lori Harman...please add her to your churches prayer list! Thank you all so much for praying! I will update when I know more.

I will never understand cancer. As my friend Loren said the other day...I hate Cancer...Pray for Loren's dad Doug also, he is battling cancer also.

Let me know if you have a testimony regarding someone who has/had cancer.

Blessings and love to you all!

What's Next?

What's next? That's the big Question right now @ FCC? And after chatting with several of you at Fight Night I have learned that some of you are reading my blog thinking I might give you a hint of what is going to be announced on Sunday...you little stinkers! Do you think I would tell you? Maybe if you begged...I might..NO! Ok, I am the type that has trouble keeping surprises...I can keep a secret...but surprises...that's hard on me! Like when I buy a gift for someone, I can't wait to give it to them!! But I can say..I have kept my trap shut on this! So you will have to wait until Sunday Morning to hear the big changes that are coming to FCC. It is amazing news and God has been working on this for a long time! Matt and I...along with the staff are so so excited! It will change up some things around FCC!! SO be there so you can rejoice in the Blessings God has brought to our church! Don't be left out!! I will blog about it after Sunday!

My cousin Lori

I would like for you to pray for my cousin Lori..talk about someone who has been thru so much...let me just run a list for you...there is so much more in between...but you will understand how much prayer is needed now: She has 3 children...15, 17 and soon to be 21.

• 2004 her mom passed away
• 2007 my grandma...which she was close to passed away
• 2008 my grandpa passed away
• 7 months later in August 2008 her husband passed away after fighting esophagus cancer for 3 years...
• June 2009 her dad passed away....he had been living with her and had a stroke and died at her house...
• July 2009 she finds out she has cancer in her eyelid...has it removed
• August/Sept she has more cancer in her eye and has to go to Philadelphia for a special Sergent to look at...gets test results 2 weeks ago telling her she is cancer free in her eye after treatment.

Sunday night she has a pain in her side. Her son takes her to the hospital and they immediately admit her. They have found a spot on her lung and on her liver. They did a biopsy today on her liver to test it for cancer. They have called in the oncologist and moved her to the 14th floor...which is the cancer floor...which is the floor her husband died on. So this is a very difficult place for her. Now let me tell you about my cousin Lori...she laughs her way thru live and is full of life! She is so fun to be with! Even in the tough times she has keep her charm. I am asking you to pray for her and pray for her children. This is a scary time for all of them. I know they are being held in God's might arms. They are waiting on test results. I will let you know.
This is a pic to show you how silly she is! She is on the right!

Thanks for your prayers!!

What fills you...will come out: BSF today

Ok..I'm just to excited and just need to blog right now about this mornings BSF. The Holy Spirit was moving as usual while there. We are in John 4, the Woman at the Well. You know I have read that chapter probably 100 times in my life, but I have never really let understood it like I am getting it now.

She always gives an outline and Principles to go with each one. The Principles just kinda wrap it all up to one sentence. So it might seem random, but these are some things Karen spoke of and I truly believe this woman is anointed by God.

I. Divine Appointment:
Jesus went thru Samaria, which is not the normal path you would have taken to get to Galilee. A Jew would not even step in the place. But Jesus diliberately went thru Samaria. Out of His Way....How will you be inconvenienced for doing God's will? He made an effort to talk to her...in those days she would have never talked to him. But he started the conversation.
Principle #1: Jesus uses everything to break through to our hearts.

II. Divine Fulfillment:
1. We need to know who Jesus is...a gift we can receive or reject
2. You have to ask for His gift
3. When you ask..you know he will give it!

Jesus opens her wounds where he knew this cleansing water he offered her would heal her. Before she could known the truth about who he was, she had to face the truth about who she was. He asked about her husband, which really wasn't her husband.
He knew her worst, but proved he loved her for her.
Principle #2: Nothing will satisfy but Jesus Christ. Amen!!

Worship comes from the Greek word Showing worth. Worship is telling God how wonderful He is Praise is telling others how wonderful God is. I have never thought of them like that!
YOU BECOME THE ONE YOU WORSHIP!!

III. Different LIfestyle:
1. Sometimes we forget where He found us..express your gratitude for him not leaving you where he found you!
Psalms 63...good for when you feel weak.
2, She is so excited...she leaves her pot at the well to go tell others and bring them back. She is no longer interested in her needs, but the needs of others and for others to know Him.
Principle #3: What fills you, will come out. ( I love this one)

Here are a few thoughts to leave you with.
1. Who do you know that tells you what they are learning from God? I am thankful for people and especially a husband that I learn so much from everyday.
2. Jesus tenderly and lovingly peeled away the hurt and prejudice that was in her live so she could receive His love. He was deliberate about it.
3. Nothing will fulfill you like Jesus, if you are unfulfilled, He is seeking you and His purpose for your life.

Ok...these are not my words! I did not come up with this. But I just felt like it convicts me...makes me want to seek those who are hurting and feeling unloved and show them how to receive the Living Water that I have flowing in my life. It's eternal and free. I am thankful he sees more in me than I ever thought possible. I forget sometimes what a great life I have been given...forgive me Lord. I pray that these words remind you of how loved you are and how He wants to fill you. I have days that I am so weak and I pray He fills me up...

This verse spoke to me this week:
2 Kings 17:41 Even while these people were worshipping the Lord, they were serving their idols.

Stupid Monkey

Yesterday Rod Pennington preached. It just blesses my heart to see young men and women who grew up in our church go out and serve in His Kingdom. Rod and Amanda grew up in Owasso and then got married! They have been missionaries in Thailand for about 3 years and plan on going back next year. Listening to their stories just amazes me!! One of the stories he shared with us on Sunday was "How to trap a Monkey in the Jungle". Which I guess is something he learned to do over there.
Here is how you do it:
Dig a hole
Put a piece of Fruit in the hole
Cover the hole with a board and weigh it down with rocks or something.
Make a hole in the board just big enough for the Monkey's hand to fit in

What happens?
The the monkey comes along and reaches in the whole and grabs the fruit
You come running loudly out of the jungle and the monkey will not let go of the fruit
He will sacrifice himself while holding on to the fruit. He will not let go!
Sad Huh? For all you monkey lovers...sorry

What do we learn from this?
What sin are you holding onto? Is it worth it?
Let it go...
Don't you just want to yell...Stupid Monkey!!! I guess that's me sometimes...a monkey holding on to that fruit!
Thanks so much Rod and Amanda for the example you have set for all of us. We are so proud of you and what you are doing for the kingdom. You are a true blessing.

Matt's Appendix Comment

So just incase you didn't understand Matt's appendix comment last week...this is where he got it...from Francis Chan author of Crazy Love...which that book...changed my life! And now he has a new book Called Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. I need to get it asap!! But this video clip will help you understand Matt's comment last week. It's short.

Are you an appendix in the church? Listen and see...