Copper River lunch & Other things

Well, we went back today for our free lunch and I have to say that the staff and owner at Copper River in Boiling Springs went out of there with niceness (is that a word) , the service was wonderful, the food was great and I have to say I am thankful for all that Mr. Hannah did for us.... If you have not gone to Copper River do so, esp if you like salad their is awesome just ask for cheese to be added...

So, I am hoping to get my post up about our youth retreat to TN a couple of weeks ago this weekend but tonight we are going to see Fireproof w/ some people from Sunday school and tomorrow I am help painting the girls Sunday school room and I need start getting things together for our beach trip Thursday so I am going to try and work on getting caught up between all of that... I did have some cleaning I needed to do but since Dormans was closed today cause of a chemical spill I left Ryan at home to do the majority of it... Cross your fingers it will get done..lol

If you get a chance stop by cousins blog, he is a baptist minister in Denmark, SC and he just came from a conference it is pretty good..
http://andyfbcdenmark.blogspot.com/

Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!!!

Oppotunities To Pray

I really like this one... How many times do we see a situation like this and either tell our kids to stay away from other kids like this or we even say something like about his parnets or about the child in a negative remark... When we should be praying for all situations even ones like this.. This was a great reminder...

OPPORTUNITIES TO PRAY
by Suzanne Benner

What would happen if we viewed the variety of things we encounter each day as opportunities to pray?For example, whenever I pick up my son from high school, I see teenagers dressed provocatively or defiantly, lighting up cigarettes and clinging to each other. And if the window happens to be down, the language that filters in sometimes makes me cringe.My natural inclination is to rail against parents who tolerate that kind of behavior and kids who show little or no respect.Yet, God knew ahead of time that I would to be waiting on that particular day, at that exact time, to see those specific kids. Therefore I can consider it a summons from God to pray for those hurting children who are crying out for love and attention.Every day is packed with opportunities to pray, if only we would take them.Stepping out the front door into a warm sunny day is a chance to thank God for His marvelous creation.Reading the newspaper each morning provides a myriad of opportunities to pray for lives that are in crisis, for peace in our land, and for wisdom for world leaders.Every siren wail is an invitation to pray for God's intervention in the lives connected with that disturbing sound.Even menial or monotonous tasks, like scrubbing toilets or paying bills, are chances to thank God for His provision in our lives.The Bible says, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18 NIV)~

God, thank you for the many opportunities and reminders to pray that You give me throughout the day. May I be faithful in responding to You.

Questions: How can viewing even distressing situations as opportunities to pray change the way we think? What opportunities to pray have been presented to you today?

Copper River Update

Well, if you read my post last week about my lunch experience and buy an $18.40 grilled chicken salad and water you know I was not at all happy (who would be) well Friday it really got to me so I went and sent the main Copper River people an email about my experience thinking I doubt anything will come it except I never will go back.... Well, I was wrong... I got an email from the owner and operator of the one in Boiling Springs and he he apoloigzes for the service and for what happen and invited the whole group that I went with (there were 10 us) back for lunch ON THEM... They are going to buy lunch for ALL of us... here is a few parts of the letter
“ what happen wasn’t right” and we would like to make it up to you and your friends.
Your waitress should have been more helpful in helping you select what you wanted. It is her responsibility, as it is with all servers, to make sure that we assist you in getting what you want and at the correct price
So please except our apologies and come back with your friends for lunch on us
I thought is really kind of him to take the time to read the complant and want to make it right... You know alot of resturants might would only satisfy me but he wants to with all the people I was with which I thought was awesome... In the beginning I did think it was wrong that he said it was the waitress responsibility but then again the more I thought about it she should have inform me of the cost, she should have suggest another way to do the salad and she should have not acted like I was trying to get one over on her.. So yeah, I have to agree with him... But I don't know what is going in her life or if she was having a bad day or whatever... I am just happy that they are wanting to make it right.... So there was a happy ending to the story, well as of today.. We will see Friday...

Have you ever had an experience at a resturant and they came back to make it right for you??

15-Minute Breakthrough

A friend of mine sent this to me and it so a great reminder. I am doing the Bible study right now Power of Praying Women and I really truly wanted to do this and do it in depth cause I want to be praying woman, wife, mother, friend but sometimes I have that question.."How do I pray?" "What do I say?" I don't have all the spiritual words that other people have and then there is that I don't have time for a quite time or to do my Bible study, class is tomorrow I have to jamb in a whole week just so I will know what they are talking about... Then I get to the point to where I get frustrated and question God and ask him why does he have me teaching high school girls, Biblical teaching I have a hard time teaching and I have never been good at reading, studing and then being able to share for 30 mins what scripture is about... But I am so thankful that my God is so patience with me and when I am so lost that He lifts me up and He shows me what He is doing and what He is using me for... I do pray and I have learn that if I just call out His name He is there, I can just say thank you and He knows. I am learning to pray out loud and I do want to continue doing that to where I don't feel tongue tied. The best prayer I have when praying out loud, for doing my Bible studies, for preparing for a lesson is that I ask to clear my mind and take away all the distractions and open my spiritual eyes, ears, heart and sould up to what He wants me to see and learn and you know what I get it when he does... We take out 15 mins a day to blog, email, talk on the phone, read books or watch TV why do we have a hard time taking at least 15 for God. This is my prayer for the week...

The 15-Minute Breakthrough

with Robert Morris

"Surely I have stilled myself, just as a small child is quiet with itsmother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me." (Psalm 131:2)
Robert Morris teaches us how to "elevate" our spiritual life.
Years ago, I suffered with severe headaches. After a series of tests, the doctor said, "There is nothing physically wrong with you. You have headaches because you are stressed out." I knew stress was ruining my life, but I didn't know what to do.
When I asked the Lord for help, He told me I needed time with Him every day. I told him, "I have tried, but I don't know how to have a quiet time."
The Lord said He would teach me. I was surprised when His instructions didn't begin with time requirements. He didn't say that He closes at 7 A.M. so we could only meet together from 4 to 6 A.M. He also didn't demand I spend three hours or write long, scripture-like entries in my journal. He showed me that we have an ongoing relationship and "quiet time" was my opportunity to cast all my cares upon Him.
Stress is like a snowball going down a hill. It gets bigger and bigger, gaining size and weight with the momentum. Jesus told us, "Each day has enough trouble of its own," (Matthew 6:34b) so our burdens must be unloaded on Him each day or they get carried over to the next day until the weight is too much for us.
The minute I sat down with God to unload those burdens, a mental battle began. Don't forget to pick up the cleaning. Don't forget your appointment and the bills that need to be paid.
David wrote, "My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him." (Psalm 62:5) To get to that peaceful state of mind, I had to tell the distracting thoughts to leave in the power and authority of Jesus to make that part of my soul be quiet. Then I sat there for a few minutes until I could feel my heart rate and breathing slow down.
Once my mind was still before the Lord, He asked me to focus my mind by singing to Him. I reminded Him that I am not a singer and He assured me that He listens to my heart. When I asked what I should sing, He said, "The song you woke up with." I never thought about it, but usually within the first few minutes of the day, a song will come to me. I have also learned that God will give me a song if I ask and listen for it. Often that song will stay in my heart all day. God showed me that special song is a key to entering the Holy Place where I commune with Him.
I learned that I must pray what is on my heart and mind in my fifteen minute breakthrough. I don't have to pray about world peace unless world peace is on my heart. I don't have to pray for the government or the economy unless I feel burdened. I also learned it is not selfish to pray about our weaknesses and temptations. God wants us to have an honest conversation about what concerns us the most.
Philippians 4:6 says, "Be anxious for nothing." How can you be anxious for nothing? The next phrase explains. "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
The last part of my quiet time is used renewing my mind with the Word of God. "I beseech you, therefore, brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And don't be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
"For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) The Word of God divides between the soul and the spirit -- between what we think and what God thinks. God's word helps me to get His perspective daily.
Going to a new level in your relationship with God only takes 15 minutes. Quiet your mind and sing to Him. Then focus your mind and pray what is on your heart. Lastly, renew your mind with His Word. You will never know the breakthrough He is waiting to give you until you decide that it is worth your time to come to Him, get to know Him and let Him work in your life. There are days I spend more time in every phase of my quiet time, but this is the starting place to move into more intimate levels of relationship with the Lord.

This WeekWill you miss out on what God has for you in the days ahead because you are too busy to give Him 15 minutes a day?

Prayer"Lord, I desire this spiritual breakthrough. Help me set aside time to clear my mind of distractions, get into Your presence with song, pour out my heart to you in prayer and let you mold me and shape me by Your Word."
Join Robert Morris all this week on LIFE Today.

Leave your thoughts.....

Tongue in Cheek- Avoiding Gossip

Here is my devotation today from www.christianwomentoday.com.. I am just as gulity and this step all over my feet... It talks about work but it is for everything I believe...

A co-worker recently crept into my office. Judging by the look on her face, and the way she quickly and quietly closed my door, I knew she was about to gossip. She proceeded to tell me very unsavory details about someone I admired and respected. She was not sure if it was true, but she assured me that she received the information from a very reliable source, so how could it be wrong?
I must confess I had enjoyed the “juiciness” of the scoop she was giving me, right up until the point when she started sharing the information that was just so damaging to the image I had of this well-respected person. I suppose I should have changed the subject when it turned sour, but instead, I let her continue, my eyes growing as big as saucers as I took in each morsel of gossip.While her talk had enticed me to listen to the whole story, regretfully, I am now faced with some very negative images of one of my mentors engaged in unseemly conduct, an affair no less.

Most gossip would appear to be harmless, and doesn’t carry the same repercussions as the above scenario. Our culture tends to treat gossip lightly. While most people think it is a bad habit, gossip is a generally accepted pastime that people share in when they congregate around the lunch table, or the water cooler. We may innocently “dish,” “get the goods,” or hear the “dirt,” on someone, but God doesn’t take the whole matter so lightly. He says that our tongues are set on fire by hell (James 3:6).
God is not pleased when we gossip in the workplace, and neither is your employer. According to Human Resources Specialist, Cassie Dibiase, who owns Resources and Results Consulting in Houston, Texas, “Listening or contributing to gossip in the workplace is probably the single most destructive behavior for anyone hoping to succeed in the business world.”
Key points
Gossipers in the workplace are viewed as untrustworthy and are less likely to receive promotions or key assignments
Important lines of communication between employees and supervisors are often disrupted because of a lack of trust created by gossip
What might appear to be simple gossip can often result in a full-blown investigation, causing irreparable damage to an individual’s reputation, and to the gossiper’s reputation as well.
What are some ways to avoid getting caught in the snare of gossip?

Know if it is gossip
The dictionary defines gossip as rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature. To know if you’re gossiping, a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself how you would feel if the person you were discussing suddenly happened upon your conversation. Would you be embarrassed? Chances are, as a Christian, you know when you are gossiping. You get that unsettled feeling from the Holy Spirit that maybe what you’re discussing isn’t quite appropriate.

God’s view of gossip
Not only does the Holy Spirit convict us, but God commands us through scripture not to gossip. Proverbs 4:24 reminds us to “keep corrupt talk from our lips.” God doesn’t want us listening to gossip either. Hearing the gossip is about as bad as spreading it, since you can’t erase the negative words you’ve heard about a person. Proverbs 26:22 says, “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.”
The Philippians 4:8 principle
To help us remember what is and isn’t acceptable to discuss, use Philippians 4:8 as a guide: “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” While the writer, Paul, instructs us to think about these things, it seems to me that Philippians 4:8 is a good way to measure our conversations too.

Gossip just plain hurts
Simply put, gossip hurts people. When my dearest friend and co-worker went through a divorce a few years ago, many of our colleagues came to me looking for information. My friend was so devastated and shocked over the divorce, that to discuss her hurt and raw emotions with anyone seemed unthinkable. Furthermore, I ran the risk of seeing mixed rumors circulate about my friend. Ms. Dibiase points out, “Just think back to the playground… when someone spread untrue tales around the schoolyard. They were hurtful, unproductive and damaged friendships. Playground rules still apply. The only difference is professional reputations are taken more seriously – the stakes are higher.”
Setting parameters in your conversations
Melissa and her friend Monique are close confidants. As Christians, they were both worried about crossing the line of gossip in their daily conversations. They came up with a way of setting “parameters” in their conversations. When their speech began to tread into gossip territory, one gently reminded the other that they needed to steer their conversation to a more edifying topic. Surrounding yourself with close friends who are Christians and like-minded in spirit always helps keep gossip in check.

Steering the conversation
While maintaining ties with fellow believers is a helpful way of keeping our tongues in check, we don’t always share office space with other Christians. How do you keep gossip under control when you are with people who aren’t necessarily focused on guarding their talk? While my first impulse is to stay away from situations that would put me in the middle of gossip, I am reminded that Jesus himself broke bread with non-believers and those who gossiped, among other things.
When gossip begins around you, try to cut it off with a gentle remark to sway the conversation. Or, better still, turn to your gossiping co-worker and ask her about what’s happening in her life. It has been said that a gossip is one who talks to you about others; a bore is one who talks to you about herself; and a brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself. It’s an almost guaranteed way to change the conversation.
After you read this article, you’ll probably try harder to avoid gossip, but since we are only human, you might still have to catch yourself every now and then. As my friend Melissa puts it, “Gossiping is something we always have to keep in check with the Lord.” Why not pray this simple prayer in faith today and release the control of your speech back into God’s hands.

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life and accommodating gossip and other conversations that are hurtful to others and not glorifying to You. But I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Good Book

I just got done ready The Shack and let me tell ya it was wonderful.. If you have not read this book yet do so... If you have read it leave me your comments on it.. I don't want to go into details about it I will say I read the back of it when it first came out and I was like nah, don't sound good to me, everybody was telling me how get it was and I was nah we don't have the same reading taste and then Sherry use a part of the chapter when he goes back to the shack and she got me so interested in that I had to go and get the book... All I can tell ya is that oh how I would love to experience going to the "shack", how do you get to that point?? It is a wonderful book and also if you have a hard time understanding the trinity well I understand it a little more now... You can check out the website at www.theshackbook.com.

Worth the read, got a book let me know..

Stephen's B'day

The weekend of 9/22/08

My middle child and last b'day of the year was on Monday 9/22/08 but we halfway celebrated it the weekend before. Eric was in AL helping with some remodeling at our pastor dad's church while I was at home with the kids and doing all the taxi driving. Stephen is my hard child to buy for and the only thing he wanted was a phone so Friday night we took off to Verizon to check out the phones but we had to do it quickly cause he wanted to go to the Dorman game that night and I had a dear friend and her daughter with me so we could out to dinner after we drop him off, well if you know anything about Verizon there ain't nothing quick so I had to leave the salesman and promise to go back the next day... Stephen went to the game and had fun w/ his friends just what he wanted to do. Tyler and I went to eat dinner and hung out w/ Melissa and Emily Claire just as I wanted to do. So Saturday morning we took off back to Verizon to get him a phone and to sign up for the internet needless to say even though we had the best help (see Chris when you go to Verizon) we were there half a day and I still had to go and get a b'day gift and take Tyler to a party and be back home to meet some ladies for dinner and movie. So, needless to say I was running around like a chicken with my head cut-off all day... But my child got his phone and thinks it is the best thing in the world now. Now, I know some people are saying 14 is to young for a phone and all that stuff but we are one of those families that do not have a home phone so he needed it. I have to say he has come out to be a little socializer (don't think it is really a word) since he got the phone. For his actual b'day we took him to his favorite resturant (and one of my least favorite) Golden Corral and we got him tickets to go see TobyMac and Family Force 5 in November w/ some friends, of course my arm had to be twisted to take them (NOT, I can't wait either) so I will post about his actual celebrating b'day next month... Stephen is my loveable, why you so nosey, reading, funny (he has a knack about making Eric laugh which is hard) and smart child. He has been such a blessing in the past 14 yrs and so have the other boys but I have to say he is the true mama boy but in a good way.... Here are a few pics of him in action...

Beach Retreat out on the basketball court doing yoga, it was one that you had to be there forHaving spa time at schoolJust his cute self at my sister