It was such an honor and a feel right at home feeling to be back and be a part of my mama and daddy's small life group Sunday evening. We also enjoyed the Sunday morning service...Great worship team, harmonizing, and prasing our almightly Lord. Pastor Darren had another great inspiring sermon, "never stop improving" (like the Lowe's commericials, and from Matthew 5:17-20, understanding and realizng that God judges our heart as well as our deeds, for it is in the heart that our real commitment lies. God tells us to be just as concerned about as our attitudes that peope dont see as about our actions that are seen by all. A repeated one liner that continues to stand out "In order to have a victory, there has to be a battle". Yet it is reassuring to know that "God will never leave us or forsake us". and in Phillipians 4:13 it says "with Christ all things are possible". During small group we talked about how Jesus wants His listeners need to have a different kind of obedience altogether (out of love for God), not just which is mere legal compliance. Our obedience must:
1. come from what God does in us, not what we can do by ourselves.
2. be God-centered, not self-centered.
3. be based on respect for God, not approval from people.
Ernie and Belinda Moore's home is always open and warm. I love how their Hawaiian roots can be seen and felt throughout their home. Last time I was there, it was Halloween theme food, this time it was Easter themed foods. We mad twinkies with marshmellow tires, pretzel steering wheels, a peep driver, made not just the perfect car, but the perfect sgar high! I love how we get to be comfortable, shoes off, the Dockeries chilin on the floor, Debbie opening her heart and getting real, no holding back, but being reassured by Mavis and John that she's a wonderful servant of God and knowing her story and my mama and daddy's story, I couldnt help but remind them that God gives some of His hardest battles to some of His strongest soldiers.
Not only is it wonderful to study God's word and dig into the todays sermon and take it to another level. It's great to have a homemade meal of this and that together, but my favorte part was to know and feel that when 2 or more gather in His name, He is there, and to hold each other up in prayer, to pray for Audrey and the 5th or 6th knee surgery she is going through, for Mr. and Mrs. North, for Sharon Davis as she goes to MD Anderson for 2nd opioion, and the family of Mary Ward as she received her angel wings and is singing amongst the angels, to give praise for my mama's complete scan results (pretty much the same as December results, no changes). Anyways, it is so amazing to be a part of their church family, and be amongst people who love and serve The Lord.
All this,
Because of His Amazing Grace...
1. come from what God does in us, not what we can do by ourselves.
2. be God-centered, not self-centered.
3. be based on respect for God, not approval from people.
Ernie and Belinda Moore's home is always open and warm. I love how their Hawaiian roots can be seen and felt throughout their home. Last time I was there, it was Halloween theme food, this time it was Easter themed foods. We mad twinkies with marshmellow tires, pretzel steering wheels, a peep driver, made not just the perfect car, but the perfect sgar high! I love how we get to be comfortable, shoes off, the Dockeries chilin on the floor, Debbie opening her heart and getting real, no holding back, but being reassured by Mavis and John that she's a wonderful servant of God and knowing her story and my mama and daddy's story, I couldnt help but remind them that God gives some of His hardest battles to some of His strongest soldiers.
Not only is it wonderful to study God's word and dig into the todays sermon and take it to another level. It's great to have a homemade meal of this and that together, but my favorte part was to know and feel that when 2 or more gather in His name, He is there, and to hold each other up in prayer, to pray for Audrey and the 5th or 6th knee surgery she is going through, for Mr. and Mrs. North, for Sharon Davis as she goes to MD Anderson for 2nd opioion, and the family of Mary Ward as she received her angel wings and is singing amongst the angels, to give praise for my mama's complete scan results (pretty much the same as December results, no changes). Anyways, it is so amazing to be a part of their church family, and be amongst people who love and serve The Lord.
All this,
Because of His Amazing Grace...
