22 Years and Getting Better Each Year!!

It was over 25 years ago that I met this Texas Belle next to the duck pond at UNM. Beautiful smile, killer southern twang of an accent, and blonde! Three years later she became wife, my best friend, my confidant, my lover, and the mother of our two beautiful daughters.
I have said this before and I will say it again, I am humbled and blessed by our marriage and our relationship. God has truly weaved our lives together in such a way that each day our love grows stronger, our faith in Christ becomes the foundation of our relationship, and our days together are still exciting and new! I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings in our marriage, let alone next year.
I look back and see the "markers" in our marriage these past 22 years and see a path of growth, trust, and true agape love. We have been blessed with two beautiful daughters who are firm in thier identities in Christ. We have been through the trials and tribulations of business ownership to career choices that just kinda did not pan out. We have experienced sorrows and joys that can only be understood by us.
To try to sum it up would be kinda near impossible....yet, let me give it a try....
"I am My Beloved and My Beloved is Mine."

It's VBS Time Again...

In less than 4 hours we will kick off this year's Vacation Bible School here at Eastern Hills. We already have over 160 children registerted and are expecting an additional 40-50 more tomorrow morning. Kerry is again running the Crafts Rotation. She is expecting a full load every day. Sam and Baylee are once again joining our Youth and leading the Worship Rally each morning for all the kiddos. They will be teaching each daily song as well as continue with the Theme Song. After that, Sam will be assisting in the Music Rotation  while Baylee will be a "Tour Guide" and escort a 3rd Grade group around this week.
Yes, it's gonna be a great week!  Say YES to VBS!!!

Romero Fire

Here is a wildfire in the Bosque near Corrales. As of 9pm tonight, zero percent contained and winds of 50mph are predicted tonight. We are so dry right now....everywhere!

PuttPutt Night

Just spent a great night playing PuttPutt with my Ladies, Ryne, Brenda and Riley Swann. It was just what the Dr. ordered for all of us. My Ladies and Ryne just got done with 2 weeks of camps and we are now gearing up for Vacation Bible School next week. Yup, getting out this evening was perfect.

Preach Jesus, Preach the Gospel

 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children.  Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead.  Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”  Deuteronomy 6:4-9

We just arrived back from Young Lives Ablaze Camp last week with our kiddos and support staff. The week was amazing and one that I personally will never forget. Let me share with you some comments that were shared with me that came from camp.

A leader talking to me about one of his campers raised in the church, who raised their hand to accept Jesus Christ on Monday night- “I never knew that she did not have a relationship with Jesus. I assumed that since she has been here all her life that she already did.”  A leader from another church about a PK who raised their hand on Wednesday night to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior-The Boss of them-“I am shocked. I was just sure that she already had a personal relationship with Jesus because of who her father is He always shares the Gospel during his messages.” And finally a text I received Saturday morning from one of our parents, “Thinking you should have a class for the parents to prepare them for the huge changes that occur at camp. It’s amazing to see the transformation. He is on fire for Christ now.”

During the entire week, I was personally burdened by something spiritual that I could not pin point. Each night’s messages, it became heavier and heavier. As I prayed and sought the Lord each day, His Spirit continually reminded me, “Preach Jesus. Preach the Gospel.” 

After Thursday night’s message, it became clear what that burden was: I, possibly we, take for granted that our own children as well as those we are leading spiritually not only know the Gospel but have made that decision to follow Jesus Christ. We just assume that since they are raised in a Christian home, they have heard the Gospel, it has been explained to them, and that they have already made a decision for Christ. How short sighted is that.

So here are the 2 Truths the Lord made very clear to me this past week.

First, we must never assume that our own children are saved. We should continually share the Gospel with them, by our words and actions and deeds.  We need to take time to fully explain what Jesus Christ did for each and every one of us and what it means to accept that eternal gift of salvation.

Next, once that decision is made and they choose to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, it is now the responsibility of the parents to fulfill Deuteronomy 6:4-9. They need to take the lead to train up their children in righteousness. That also includes being the living example of Jesus Christ to their children.

So in closing, let’s never take for granted the salvation of our children or even our family and friends. Take time to “make disciples and teach them to observe all that He has commanded us.” Matthew 28:19,20  

Father's Day 2012

Very great Father's Day! Started with our annual Father's Day Pancake Breakfast at church. Then was able to serve all my "adopted" kiddos in our children's ministry. Was all topped off with a fantastic lunch at Samurai Grill with my ladies. Was doubly blessed to have Ryne and Emily join us. Enjoyed smoked salmon and eel sushi along with shrimp teppan. After that, enjoyed a movie on the couch with Kerry. Very relaxing and very much blessed!

Summer 2012 Bucket Lists...

So, I asked a question to the family as to what their Summer 2012 Bucket List would contain. I asked for only 5.
So here it is:

Samantha
1. Have a Pinterest Craft Day
2. Go visit John, KK, and Averie.
3. Go to a beach
4. Go play Paint Ball
5. Have a Pinterest Food Day

Baylee
1. Road trip to somewhere fun
2. Go visit John, KK, and Averie
3. Stay at a hotel in town
4. Something really fun involving water
5. Be nice for a whole day to Sam (ok, I added that one...)

Kerry
1. Paint Baylee's Room
2. Paint and redecorate our bathroom
3. Visit the Zoo
4. Go see my Averie!!
5. Spend a weekend away with my husband

Joe Ray
1. Go visit John, KK, and Averie
2. Read 3 books
3. Teach the girls to drive stick shift
4. Spend an entire weekend in the mountains with My Beloved
5. Run a 5K before August 15th

It's early this Monday morning. In a few short hours there will be close to 50 kids and adults from EHBC coming together to caravan up to Inlow Baptist Camp. It is so amazing and humbling to see how far our Children's Ministry has come in the past years. 3 years ago we were taking only one camper and sponsor. Today we will be taking 27 campers, 7 sponsors, and 15 support staff from EHBC!  Our volunteers ROCK! We had 5 step up literally at the last moment to volunteer to be camp cooks! I am most humbled by my three ladies. They just got back from a week long Youth Camp and then in two days turn around to go serve all week at YLA. Yowza!
So, please pray for this week's camp. We have over 280 campers, sponsors, and staff up there this week. The entire focus of my messages will be "Obedience to the King."
Thank you Lord for all the blessings you have given!

It's Camp Time!!

Are You Peculiar?

Are you peculiar? Do people look at you as odd or different?  Do you find being called “peculiar” offensive?
The definition of peculiar is one who is odd or strange in nature and behavior.  One who is distinctive in character from others.  One who belongs exclusively to one person or group.  Now, does that describe you as a Christian?  Let me explain…
Paul writes to Titus in chapter 2 on the duties and responsibilities of the seasoned followers of Christ to the younger, newer believers.  He closes chapter 2 with a reiteration of the Gospel and who we are in Him.  In verse 14 he says, “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  emphasis mine
That phrase, “His own possession”, is a Greek word meaning peculiar.  It is a compound of two words that apart mean, to be around.  So let me see if I can better explain just how truly wonderful it is to be peculiar in Him by the way Ken Wuest describes it.
Draw a circle.  In the middle of the circle, draw a dot.  Now label the circle, God and label the dot, follower of Christ.  Let’s notice some things about this circle and dot.
The circle completely monopolizes the dot.  The circle has the dot all to itself.  Nothing can get to the dot unless it comes into contact and is allowed to cross through by the circle. Now do you see how truly powerful it is to be His possession, to be peculiar in Him?  God has us all to Himself. We are His own, private possession.  No temptation or trial can reach us unless it goes through God first, 1 Cor. 10:13. As we walk, stay obedient and repentive, in the center of God’s Will, He will not permit the enemy to confront us with a temptation too great for us, nor can a time of testing or trial reach us unless it comes through the permissive will of god and when that happens, God’s grace will be given to bear that temptation/trial.
So when others look at us, do they see a peculiar person?  One who is distinctive in character from others?  One who belongs to Christ Jesus because of their words, actions, and deeds?  I should hope so.
So here is to being peculiar!

Sivells Week...

Well, my three ladies are on their way to Sivells Baptist Camp for the entire week. Sivells is down south from ABQ in the Sacramento Mountains. It's about a 4 1/2 hour drive. They are there with our Youth Group from EHBC. This will be Sam's last "Lives Ablaze" youth camp as a youth. Kinda amazing to think that they have been doing this for the past 5 years...wow! This year's theme is "Relentless Pursuit".
So I am "Batching It" this week. It seems that my calender already has filled up with appointments and errands to get done for the family and ministry. This is also a great week for me to finalize my thoughts and points for my messages for next week's Young Lives Ablaze Camp. I am blessed to return as the Camp Pastor for the 3rd year in a row.
So you see, it will be an amazing week for all of us; however, I will truly miss my ladies, especially My Beloved!