The Journey

4Real

2009-11-02T10:18:00.003-05:00

Girls, I wanted to tell you a little bit about our weekend at the Revolve Tour! You may be wondering, "What is the Revolve Tour?" Well, it's a two day conference just for teenage girls. We had a blast hanging out together! The theme this year was 4Real and the main idea was that if you want to know who you are 4Real, you have to know who God is 4Real!

We all have our own individual struggles, weaknesses and insecurities. This affects how we view ourselves, others, and God. Our beliefs determine how we behave, and therefore impact the way we relate to friends, guys and even God.

The good news is that the Creator of the universe knows you better than you know yourself. Psalm 139:1-4 says, "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord."

Are you having trouble working through your problems? Well, if God knows you better than you know yourself, then He is the best one to help you work through your insecurities and troubles, right? But in order to get to know Him, you must spend time with Him and get to know His Word. James 4:8 says, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." And Psalm 119:105 says, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

In order to see change in your life, you've got to commit to know God's Word. The more you know it, the more you will know Him, the more you'll understand yourself, and the more you will love Him. I'm not just telling you this because I think you should know it, I'm telling you this because I've experienced it myself and pray that you will experience it, too!

-Leigh Anne

Pumpkin Hunt 2009

2009-10-21T09:48:00.005-04:00

I love the fall!! Cooler weather, making smores, leaves changing colors, hot chocolate, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, carving jack-o-lanterns, lots of yummy food, etc, etc, etc!! In our student ministry at DSM, the fall has one of the greatest events of the year - The Pumpkin Hunt!! :) The Pumpkin Hunt will be this Sunday, October 25, from 5:00pm-8:00pm. This is where teenagers and adults search Peachtree City from clue to clue in hopes of finding the pumpkin.......FIRST!! You never know what will happen at the pumpkin hunt, or who you might see, but trust me when I say, you wont want to miss it! Get in touch with your c group leader and tell them you want to participate.....but you must do it soon! They need to know you are coming so they can make sure they have a car big enough to hold you and the rest of your team! Hope to see you all on Sunday night! Who's gonna win this year?

15/15 Challenge: Day 15

2009-09-20T21:08:00.001-04:00

Prayer
You made it to day 15! Look back at what the Lord has done in your life through your time with him. Ask him to give you the strength to continue to spend time with him each day.

Don't forget to let him search your heart and show you and selfishness that might be a barrier in your communication with him. Ask him to speak to you through his Word today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Philippians 1:3-11
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.
What does this passage mean? What do you learn about God? What do you learn about yourself? What do you learn about your relationship to Jesus?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart. How does this passage apply to your life right now? How will what you have read transform how you live today?

Prayer:

Thank God for how he is moving in your life. Commi your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 14

2009-09-18T23:05:00.004-04:00

Opening Prayer:

You only have two more days of the 15/15 Challenge left. Are you going to let this stop? Are you going to continue. Talk with God about that. Ask him to give you the strength to continue to spend time with him each day.

Don't forget to let him search your heart and show you and selfishness that might be a barrier in your communication with him. Ask him to speak to you through his Word today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Hebrews 4:12-16

12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind. What do you learn about the Word of God?What do you learn about Jesus? What do you learn about yourself?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart. How does this passage apply to your life right now? How will what you have read transform how you live today?

Prayer:

Based on what you learned about Jesus in the passage you read today, thank him for who he is - be specific. Are there any areas of weakness that you struggle with? He knows how it feels - talk to him about them!

Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 13

2009-09-18T11:02:00.001-04:00

Opening Prayer:
You've got the hang of this part now. Spend as much time in prayer as you need before getting started Remember to ask God to search your heart, take time to listen. Confess your sin to him and thank him for his forgiveness. Ask him to help you understand his Word and apply it to your life today.

Scripture:
Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Lamentations 3:21-26
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Observation:
Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.Who is speaking?What do you learn about God?What do you learn about yourself?

Application:
Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart. How does this passage apply to your life right now? How will what you have read transform how you live today?

Prayer:
Close out your time by thanking God that his mercies are new every morning. Thank him for who he is and all he is doing in your life. Pray about anything on your heart.
Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 12

2009-09-18T10:50:00.001-04:00

Opening Prayer:

You've got the hang of this part now. Spend as much time in prayer as you need before getting started Remember to ask God to search your heart, take time to listen. Confess your sin to him and thank him for his forgiveness. Ask him to help you understand his Word and apply it to your life today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Matthew 6:25-34

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.Who is speaking?What do you learn about God?What do you learn about yourself?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart. How does this passage apply to your life right now? How will what you have read transform how you live today?

Prayer:

Do you realize that worry is a sin? Jesus commands us not to worry and yet so many of us do. He knows that when we worry we are putting all our trust in ourselves and not in him. Is there anything that you are worrying about? Are there any areas of your life that you need to release and let him take control? Pray through that right now.

Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 11

2009-09-16T22:49:00.002-04:00

Opening Prayer:

Ask God to search your heart, take time to listen. Confess your sin to him and thank him for his forgiveness. Ask him to help you understand his Word and apply it to your life today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

Who is speaking?
What do you learn about Jesus?
What do you learn about yourself?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.
How does this passage apply to your life right now?
How will what you have read transform your thinking and living?

Prayer:

As you read today, Jesus is more than able to carry your burdens. Close your prayer time by asking him to take on your burdens - talk to him about them specifically.

Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 10

2009-09-15T22:32:00.002-04:00

Opening Prayer:

Take some time to pray as you open up your time with God. Pour out your heart to him - he wants to hear what you're feeling.

Ask him to search your heart, take time to listen. Confess your sin to him and thank him for his forgiveness. Ask him to help you understand his Word and apply it to your life today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

John 15:5-8
⁵"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ⁸This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

Who is speaking?
What does the picture of the vine and branches illustrate?
What do you learn about God?
What do you learn about yourself?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.
How does this passage apply to your life right now?
How will what you have read transform your thinking and living?

Prayer:

Close your time with the Lord by praying according to what God has spoken to your heart today through his Word. Commit today to him.

15/15 Challenge - Day 9

2009-09-15T08:22:00.002-04:00

Opening Prayer:

Take some time to talk to God. Lay any burdens you have at his feet. Don't forget to take some time to allow him to search your heart and show you any selfishness or wrong doing. Ask him to speak to you through his Word today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Galatians 5:22-25
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

What does it mean when it says the "fruit of the Spirit?" How do those characteristics become part of your life?

What do you learn about Jesus? The Holy Spirit? Yourself? One another?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.
How does this passage apply to your life right now?
How will what you have read change how you live today?

Prayer:

When you decided to follow Jesus for the first time, you also received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is your guide and gives you power for daily living. Ask the Holy Spirit to live through you today.

15/15 Challenge: Day 8

2009-09-13T17:45:00.002-04:00

Opening Prayer:

Open your prayer time thanking God for who his is. Tell him outloud some of his characteristics that you are thankful for.

Don't forget to take some time to allow him to search your heart and show you any selfishness or wrong doing. Ask him to speak to you through his Word today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)

¹²Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

Who is this text talking about? What do you learn about God? What do you learn about yourself? What do you learn about your relationship with God? Your relationship with others?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.

How does this passage apply to your life right now?

How will what you have read change how you live today?

Prayer:

Is there anyone in your life that you have not forgiven? Ask God to reveal that to you. If there is someone, what is keeping you from forgiving them? God wants us to forgive each other as he has forgiven us. Ask God to give you the strength to let go of your bitterness towards that person.

Ask God's peace to rule in your heart today no matter what may come your way.

Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 7

2009-09-12T23:36:00.002-04:00

Opening Prayer:

Open your time alone with God by looking back on what you have read or journaled the last few days.

Don't forget to take some time to allow him to search your heart and show you any selfishness or wrong doing. Ask him to speak to you through his Word today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come. Todays reading comes from the book of Proverbs. Make sure you read these verses a few times through.

Proverbs 3:1-8

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,

² for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.

³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.

⁸ This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

Consider this: who is the author of Proverbs and why was Proverbs written?

What do you learn about God in this passage? What do you learn about yourself?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.

How does this passage apply to your life right now?

How will what you have read change how you live today?

Prayer:

Ask God to fill you with his power and strength today. Pray that you will not rely on your own understanding, but acknowledge him and trust in him alone.

Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 6

2009-09-12T00:14:00.002-04:00

Opening Prayer:

We read a verse out of 1 John a few days ago that says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." God wants us to confess our sins to him, not for his benefit but for ours. This shows our dependance on him when we admit we have been wrong.

Take a few minutes to lay any unconfessed sin at his feet. Thank him for his forgiveness. Ask him to speak to you as you meditate on his Word.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come. Some of this passage may be familiar to you - don't just read right over it. Really take the time to think on it.

John 3:16-21
¹⁶"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. ¹⁹This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

What do you learn about God's character through this scripture? What do you learn about who Jesus is, what he did and why he did it?

What do you learn about yourself?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.

How does this passage apply to your life right now?

How will what you have read change how you live today?

Prayer:

Thank God for loving you so much that he would send his only Son to die for you. Take this time to talk with him about anything on your heart today. Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 5

2009-09-10T12:58:00.003-04:00

Opening Prayer:

How is has your time with God been so far? Take some time to pray and remember the things that he has shown you over the last several days. Are you beginning to see a difference in your day since spending time with him? Thank him for all he's spoken to you so far and ask him for the strength to continue the next 10 days.

Don't forget to spend time in prayer asking God to search your heart, laying your sins and burdens before him. Ask him to speak to you through his Word and transform you.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Philippians 2:3-11

³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

Look back at the scripture and identify the different persons it talks about.

What do you learn about Jesus? What do you learn about others? What do you learn about yourself?

What is humility?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.

How does this passage apply to your life right now? How does your life line up with who Jesus is?

How will what you have read transform or change your thinking and how you live today?

Prayer:

Pray that your attitude will reflect that of Jesus. Pray that his love will transform you today. Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 4

2009-09-09T17:37:00.002-04:00

Opening Prayer:

You should be getting the hang of how to open your time with the Lord. Reminder: Allowing God to search your heart for any unconfessed sin by taking time to listen and wait for him, confessing that sin to him and thanking him for his forgiveness, and asking him to give you wisdom to understand his Word. Do that now.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Psalm 100 (NIV)

¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

² Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

³ Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

Look back at the scripture. What are some action words that stick out to you?

What are some descriptive words that tell you more about who God is and what he is like?

What do you learn about yourself or how God views you?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.

How does this passage apply to your life right now?

How will what you have read transform or change your thinking and how you live today?

Prayer:

Take some time to pray about what you have just read and what God has spoken to you. Close out your time with him by thanking him for who he is and what he has done. You may want to begin a list of characteristics of God that you are thankful for or things in your life that you are thankful for.

Surrender your day to him and ask him to help you depend on him today.

15/15 Challenge: Day 3

2009-09-08T13:56:00.006-04:00

Opening Prayer:

We cannot come before God and expect to hear his voice if we have unconfessed sin on our hearts. For this reason, take some time to ask the Lord to search your heart and show you any disobedience. Don't rush through this. In order to hear God, you have to listen. Allow yourself a few minutes of silence.

Once the Lord reveals those things to you, admit them to him and thank him for his forgiveness. Ask him to speak to you as you read his Word and talk to him.

Scripture:

Read the scripture for the day. You may use your own Bible for this so that you can underline anything that speaks to you. You may also want to write those verses down in a journal. In order to let God's Word soak into your heart and mind you may want to read it two or three times through.

1 John 1:5-10 (NIV)

⁵This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. ⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

⁸If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

What do you learn about God and his character from this passage?

What do you learn about yourself or your relationship to God?

What do you learn about light and darkness? Think about how it is contrasted.

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.

How does this passage apply to your life right now?

How will what you have read transform or change your thinking and how you live today?

Prayer:

Respond to God with a prayer. You may want to journal this prayer. Talk to him about what he showed you through his Word today.

Thank him for the gift of his son, Jesus. Thank him for the fellowship you have with him because of Jesus.

Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 2

2009-09-07T22:23:00.005-04:00

Opening Prayer:

Begin your time with God by praying. Ask God to reveal any selfishness in your heart. Confess that to him and thank him for his forgiveness. Lay any worries or concerns before him. He wants you to pour out your heart to him!

Ask God to speak to you as you spend time in his Word. Ask him for insight so that you can understand the truths you are about to read. Ask him to use it to impact you today.

Scripture:

Read the scripture for the day. You may use your own Bible for this so that you can underline anything that speaks to you. You may also want to write those verses down in a journal. Take your time as you read the passage and make sure you really comprehend what you are reading. It may take you reading it 3 or 4 times.

James 4:7-10
⁷Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

What do you learn about God and his character from this passage?

What do you learn about yourself or your relationship to God?

What do you think it means to submit? To resist? Think about the significance of humbling yourself before God.

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.

How does this passage apply to your life right now?

How will what you have read transform or change your thinking and how you live today?

Prayer:

Respond to God with a prayer. You may want to journal this prayer. Talk to him about what he showed you through his Word today. Ask him to help you submit your will to his will, and resist any temptation that may come your way today.

End you your prayer time by asking God to come near to you as you come near to him. Thank him for always being with you. Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 1

2009-09-07T00:07:00.005-04:00

Dear Student,
Before we get started, we want you to know that its great you are taking this next step in your relationship to Jesus by committing to spend time with him daily. You will find that just 15 minutes of your day spent with him will make a huge impact on the rest of that day! We encourage you to grab a journal or notebook where you can write thoughts or prayers during your time with God. Also, don't forget to comment and let us know that you were here.

Daniel & Leigh Anne
__________________________________________________________________

Opening Prayer:
Begin by taking a minute to pray and ask God to show you any unconfessed sin in your life. Pray something like this: "Search me, Lord, and show me anything in my heart that is disobedient to you." Sit for a second and let him reveal those to you.

As things come to mind, confess them to him and thank him for his forgiveness. Now ask the Lord to open your heart and mind to understand the scripture you are about to read. Pray something like this: "Lord, help me understand your Word as I read it, and use it to help me know you better and become more like you."

Scripture:
Read the scripture below. You may use your own Bible if you would like. Take your time and read it 2 or 3 times to let it sink in. If a verse speaks to you, underline it in your Bible or write it in your journal.

Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV)

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

What do you learn about God and his character from this passage? What do you learn about his Word?

What do you learn about yourself or your relationship to God?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.

How does this passage apply to your life right now?

How will what you have read transform or change your thinking and how you live today?

Prayer:

Respond to God with a prayer. You may want to journal this prayer. Talk to him about what he showed you through his Word today. Ask him to help you apply it to your life. Pray about anything else that may be on your heart.

End you your prayer time by asking him to help you make time for him and grow closer to him as you spend time with him daily. Commit your day to him.

"You're Looking at a Christian!!"

2009-09-02T08:02:00.001-04:00

Hey guys! What a blessed week it has been! If you have not heard by now, our oldest child, Joshua prayed and asked Jesus in his heart on Sunday night. He looked at his dad and me and said "I feel God talking to me and I am ready to ask Him in my heart!" We asked him lots of questions and he knew every answer and even more than we thought he knew. Then Daniel led him in the prayer and when he was done praying, he looked up with a huge smile on his face and said "I have a new heart!!!" Joshua then called his grandparents to share the news. He told them what he had done and now he was looking forward to showing everyone his picture. You see we have explained to him that baptism is like a picture you take on vacation. When you go on vacation, only a few people go with you. So, in order to share with others what you did on vacation you take pictures and come home and show them to everyone. The same is true with baptism. You ask Jesus in your heart and then baptism is the picture of that to show everyone else what you have already done!!

As a mom, I have been praying for this day! And more than anything I wanted to make sure he really understood the decision he was making. I would not say that I did not want him to make it, but I almost wanted him to wait a little while to make sure he was ready. I did not want him doing it because his daddy was a pastor, because we wanted him to, or for any other reason other than the fact that he was ready! I dont want him to ever look back and question anything about this special day. God knew that "fear" in my heart and answered my prayer. You see on Monday morning, after Joshua had gotten ready for school, he came in my room to see me. He said with a big smile "Hey mom!! You are looking at a christian!!" It was priceless. God confirmed in my heart from that statement that Joshua did know and understand, and he was passionate about his decision to follow Christ! He shared with everyone at the bus stop, his bus driver, his teacher, and his friends at school the decision he made. His boldness and passion lit a fire in my heart and made me want to tell everyone that I know "You are looking at a Christian!!"

What are you focused on?

2009-08-25T22:55:00.007-04:00

We had a whirlwind of a weekend here at the Ward house! My van would not crank 2 days last week and we had to take it into the shop to be fixed. My mom came from NC to visit last Wednesday. Jackson ran a fever for 4 days, starting on Wednesday, and we ended up having to take him to the doctor on Friday. Jackson had his 1st birthday on Saturday!! :) At church on Sunday, Caleb fell and busted his nose on the metal walkway on the playground. On Monday, some friends from Virginia came into town and spent the night. (We had 5 kids sleeping in one small room!!) Then as of 7am yesterday morning, everyone had gone home. We went from having a houseful to having no one in our home!

In the midst of that chaotic weekend (some things were wonderful and others were not), I was reminded of the story in Matthew 14 where Jesus walked on water. When the disciples saw Him coming towards them, they were afraid. Peter says "Lord, if it is You, command me to come." So He commanded Peter to come. Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on water. Then when he looked away from Christ and saw the wind and the waves, Peter got frightened and began to sink. Peter got caught up in his circumstances and took his eyes off Jesus.

Sometimes we get caught up by circumstances in our life - illness, family struggles, classes at school, homework, tests and projects, relationship difficulties, job stresses, car trouble, etc. One thing I noticed in reading this passage that I never really thought of before was that when Peter took his eyes off of Christ and looked at the circumstances around him, Jesus never left his side. He was right there beside Peter the entire time and all Jesus had to do was reach out a hand to grab him. He was not so far away that he had to run 3 miles back to Peter to keep him from drowning. Also, He had not turned His back to Peter so He could not see that Peter needed His help. Christ was right there and He was willing to rescue Peter! Christ is right there beside you all the time. Even in the midst of undesirable circumstances, keep your eyes on Him. He will reach out His hand to walk with you and see you through whatever is going on in your life. And if you fall He will stay right there to pick you up and keep you from drowning! What a wonderful, loving God we serve!!!

Mystery Song

2009-08-21T22:47:00.003-04:00

Come to DSM this weekend and hear one of your favorite songs....

You won't know what it is unless you show up! Any guesses??? See you at 5:00 on Sunday night!

Power of words

2009-08-19T08:00:00.002-04:00

We never need to underestimate the power of words. In fact in the book of James, it talks about the tongue. It says that the tongue can be like a rudder of a boat - it can direct someone. The tongue can also be like a poisonous animal - it can destroy someone. The tongue can also be like a fountain of water or a fruitful tree - it can delight someone.

Think about it. A judge in a courtroom says one or two words - "guilty" and it can condemn someone, or "not guilty" and one's life will be saved. A doctor can say few words - "cancer" and one is devastated or "not cancer" and one is elated. You dont have to say many words to impact someone's life. And that impact you have can be good or bad depending on the words you use.

In Colossians 4:6 it says "Let your speech be with grace, as if seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Salt is used to keep our food pure and free from corruption. In the Old Testament, Leviticus 2:13, God instructed the people to put salt on their offerings to keep them pure.

We need to always be mindful of our offering of words to the Lord. Do you think He finds your offering pleasing?

Nostalgia...

2009-08-14T12:13:00.005-04:00

The end of the summer always makes me a little nostalgic.

It reminds me of starting back to school as a little girl with Dad as the best chauffer I could've asked for.

It reminds me of football games at Landmark where my friends and I didn't watch the game because we were too caught up in talking to each other.

It reminds me of move-in day with my best friend our first week at Samford University and the lifelong friendships I developed while there.

It reminds me of falling in love with my husband.

I love this time of year...I love how God has given me things to look back on, remember, and be thankful for. I choose not to live in the past, but be thankful for where I am now and who God has allowed to be a part of my journey.

What blessings can you thank God for this time of year?

-Leigh Anne

It's finally here......Kick Off 2009

2009-08-12T08:00:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone!!! You are 3 days into your school year and I hope it has been great so far. In honor of kicking off a new year, I wanted to take a moment and invite all 7th - 12th graders to our DSM Kick off this Sunday night from 5:00 - 8:00pm. We will be launching our ministry year all around the theme of "Tribes". We want you to come dressed in your school colors. Best dressed wins a prize! And don't worry if you are a home schooler, we have given you an honorary mascot......the Chick-fil-a cow. So come dressed in black and white. It is going to be an exciting night with free food, games, prizes, worship, and an inspiring message. The staff has even invited 6 area high school football teams to come and join us. So, be sure to ask any players that you see in the halls at school if they are coming on Sunday night. Also, this is a great chance for you to begin the year connecting in your small group and getting to know your small group leader. Invite your friends and we look forward to seeing you all there.

A Lesson From Riley

2009-08-08T17:07:00.005-04:00

Today I was hanging out with my friend Leslie and her 10 month old baby girl Riley. Leslie and I have been friends since we were 10. We went to middle school, high school, and college together. Now we live in neighborhoods right down the street from each other. It's been fun to share almost all of our stages of life together, including this one. I usually go over at least once a week to play with Riley and it has been a blast watching her grow and change over the last 10 months.

Right now Leslie is working on getting Riley to eat something other than baby food. She wants Riley to be ready to eat cake at her 1st birthday in a couple months. Unfortunately, Riley is refusing everything Leslie tries. Today I got to witness it, and the faces Riley makes are hysterical! She puckers out her lips, scrunches her nose, and even acts like she is gagging!

I started thinking about how Riley's rejection of solid food is a great picture of Paul's call to spiritual growth in Hebrews 5:11-14:

^"11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. ¹² You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. ¹³ For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. ¹⁴ Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong." (NLT)

If Riley doesn't decide to begin eating solid food before her birthday, she's going to miss out out on some really yummy birthday cake. In the same way, if we aren't willing to go deeper in our relationship with Christ by feeding on his word, we are going to miss out on the benefits of growth and intimacy with Christ that we could experience!

So where are you? Are you still living on milk or are you eating solid food? Have you been a Christian for a long time, but haven't grown? Are you ready...?

-Leigh Anne

He works all things together for good....

2009-08-05T07:34:00.006-04:00

This has been quite a tough year for the Ward household. In May, my uncle passed away from a hard fought battle with cancer. Then two weeks ago, Daniel's grandma, Ruby Griffin, passed away unexpectedly. She was 83 years old and such a wonderful Godly woman. In both cases, Grandma Ruby and Uncle Norman loved the Lord. The found great comfort in Him and in knowing He was in control of their lives. They both trusted in His perfect plan even if that plan meant going home to be with Him.

Through all of this, it has been amazing to watch God work. How in their deaths, His hand can clearly be seen. For example, last weekend when we went to the hospital to see her, Daniel went to her bedside and began quoting scripture in her ear. Then he felt the desire to open the Word of God and read to her. He asked her nurse for a Bible after he had searched the Critical Care Room she was in and could not find one. The nurse said, "I am sure there is one around here somewhere." They both searched and searched and finally after about 15 minutes, they found one. He was able to open God's word and read to her. About an hour later she went home to be with Jesus. That night we were talking about the events of the day and Daniel said one thing he would like to do to honor the life of his grandma was to get enough bibles to put in each room of the critical care unit where she died. I thought that was a great idea and one she would be thrilled about. For the next 2 days we were consumed with funeral arrangements, visitors, phone calls, etc. Then we received 2 boxes in the mail - one with 15 bibles, and one with labels that said "In memory of Ruby Griffin." We were overcome with emotion and felt extremely blessed. We got to sit with Joshua and Caleb and place the labels in each bible. We were able to talk to our children about Grandma Rudy and her love for Jesus, about Jesus' love for them, and how these bibles would impact each family that would read them. Then, we were able to deliver the bibles to the hospital just before we came back to GA. It was such a tremendous blessing for us, and we know those bibles will be a great blessing for families whose loved ones are sick in that unit.

In times such as these, I am thankful that God can be seen so clearly. It helps me to find rest in Him, comfort in knowing His presence is with me, and that He truly is working all things together for good and for His glory!

- Jessica

Music

2009-07-30T16:30:00.004-04:00

I'm loving a specific album right now. It's called "Life Light Up" recently released by Christy Nockels. If you don't recognize her name, Christy was the female vocal of the husband/wife duet Watermark. Songs you might recognize are "Glory of Your Name" or "Grace Flows Down." Anyway, if you are looking for some new music that is grounded in God's Word and sweet to the soul, check out Christy's solo project. You can go here and listen to the whole album once for free. Then go to itunes and download it for yourself! You can also follow Christy on Twitter or check out her website for her bio, blog and more.

On another note, I hope to see all of you at our DSM Pool Party and Cookout this Sunday night! Check out our website for all the details (directions, times, etc)!

-Leigh Anne

Don't Miss It!

2009-07-23T23:39:00.005-04:00

Ben and Mary Grace Richter are dear friends of mine, and I'm excited to have them back at Dogwood again this Sunday. This time The Museum will be leading our time of worship at DSM. Come at 5:00 pm - you won't want to miss it! The Museum has led us in worship a few times at DSM, on Sunday mornings, and at past Verticals! Bring your friends.

Speaking of Vertical...anyone out there love Fee? Those of you who went to Orange Beach with us had the chance to worship with Steve Fee! I'm so thankful God has gifted people like Steve to write songs that help me connect better with God through song! Anyway, this Sunday night we'll also be studying the Biblical Truth behind a favorite song that has impacted DSM over the last several months...a song written by Steve Fee! Check out this video interviewing Steve if you're curious...(and I'll see you Sunday)!

-Leigh Anne

Can You Hear Me??

2009-07-22T14:20:00.003-04:00

Last week, the flip phone that I have had for 3 years broke into two pieces. It jut got worn out from use, from the boys playing with it, etc. I went online and got another free phone for signing up for a two year contract again. I dont need all the bells and whistles of a new phone - if I can call someone and text people occasionally, then I am good to go.

For two days I was without a cell phone. That was quite strange to say the least. No communication with anyone except from our home phone. Finally, the box with my new phone arrived on my doorstep. I plugged it in so the battery could charge. Put in the sim card.....to no avail, nothing transferred over to my new phone. I have to start all over with my address book. :-( But, that is fine.....I have a phone and that is enough. Then I begin trying out my new phone - listening to the ring tones, getting the volume just right, txting a few people, taking some pics of the boys to save to my wallpaper. The finally I make a call......"Can you hear me?", I say to the person on the other end of the line. Their response was "No. You sound like you are underwater." Out of the calls I made in the first couple of days of having my new phone, no one could hear anything I was saying. I could hear them very well, but they could not hear me at all. So, what good is a having a new phone if no one can hear you.

I thought about that broken cell phone and how we communicate with God. When we pray and talk to our heavenly Father, the communication must be 2 ways. We have to listen just as much as we talk. He has lots of things to tell us - promises from His word, clear direction for our lives, peace and comfort to give us when we are hurting, answers to questions that we wrestle with, etc. Sometimes He tells us these things immediately and other times it takes some time.....but if we dont take the time to listen, we wont know. Have you stopped and really listened to your heavenly Father lately? What have you missed Him saying to you?

Family

2009-07-21T14:31:00.006-04:00

Josh and I had a family-filled time last week. Tuesday we flew up to Detroit, Michigan to surprise his grandma for her 90th birthday! In fact, the entire Harwell extended family flew in from all over (Florida, Georgia, and New York) to celebrate with her. We stayed through Friday and took advantage of all the time we had with Grandpa Ernie (who will be 92 in a few months) and Grandma Lula. They are both quite sharp and active for their age! They are also both followers of Jesus, and it is so evident in their lives. They are generous, loving, and patient. They put relationships first. They have welcomed me into the family like I've always been there! I was blessed by my time with them, and I am so thankful for them. Josh's love for people, for life, and for Jesus is a reflection of the family that he grew up in.

We flew home early Friday morning in time for a quick nap and then headed to Carrollton, GA for my cousins wedding. Josh was a groomsman, and I had the honor of singing. I sat on the second row after my song, watching Joel say his vows to his new wife April, and I couldn't help but cry! (I thought one day I'd stop crying at weddings, but that hasn't happened yet!) These were tears of joy as I recalled the many times I had prayed for God to bring Joel a wonderful woman into his life--those prayers have been answered! I'm thankful we could share that day with Joel and April.

I don't ever want to be guilty of not telling and showing my family that I love them. That's why Josh and I make it a point to rejoice with them in good times (like Grandma's birthday and Joel's wedding) or mourn with them in hard times (Romans 12:15)! Don't let this day pass you by without letting someone in your family know how much you love them! Who in your family are you thankful for? Who do you need to make sure knows that you are thankful for them?

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart...." Philippians 1:3-7b

Digging In....

2009-07-15T14:56:00.004-04:00

Daniel and I are fortunate to be involved in a couples small group at church. We meet each week and just walk through a book of the Bible, verse by verse. We dig in, cross reference, look up meanings, and do all we can to decipher what a verse means and how it applies to our life. We began studying Colossians in April. It is now July 15 and we just finished Colossians 3:12-17. WOW! But, I love doing it this way. We take the time to read for knowledge and application as opposed to reading a wealth of information!

Check out what Colossians 3:12-17 says:
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

We talked in our group about how in those verses, it is all a process.....a journey. We dont make a one time decision to be compassionate and then Boom.....we are always compassionate. It is a choice daily of dying to ourselves and letting Christ have complete control of every part of our lives. For it is only by Him and through Him that I can be compassionate, gentle, patient, forgiving, bearing of others, etc. I am so thankful that He is with me in this journey of life and He is molding me to be more and more like Him everyday. But that molding happens as I dig into His word and let the word of Christ dwell in me. I cant apply truths to my life that I dont read. So what about you, are you digging into God's word. If not, why not? You dont have to read a whole book at a time. We dont - we just read 5 verses - 5 powerful, life changing verses. Start today and dig into His word.

This Is The Day

2009-07-08T07:54:00.006-04:00

This past weekend, my family and I enjoyed a wonderful 4th of July. We were fortunate enough to be able to borrow a golf cart from a friend and take the boys to the parade. That evening, we packed a picnic and went with Dusty and Amy Walker over to the Flat Creek Golf Course to enjoy the fireworks. While we waited for the fireworks to begin, the boys played Bocce with friends, we played Corn Hole (an amazing game) with Dusty and Amy, played football and frisbee, ate our picnic, and just enjoyed time together.

My family: Daniel, Joshua, & Caleb up front...Jackson and I in the back!

Dusty and Amy Walker

As the fireworks began, it was so wonderful to watch the faces of my children. Jackson, who is only 10 months old, saw fireworks for the first time. He was mesmerized by the colors that lit up the sky. Caleb, at 4, just sat in my lap and would yell "Green!" each time he saw a green one, because that was his favorite color. And Joshua, sitting by his friends, just thought it was the greatest thing he has ever seen in his whole life - all of 7 years. :) Times like that remind me of their innocence and their pure love of life. Everything is new and exciting. Whatever they are doing is the greatest thing they have ever done!

As believers, I think we need to have that same mind set about each day that God gives us. We should be thrilled to have another day to serve Him, another day to worship Him, another day to tell someone else about Him. Wont you live today like it is the greatest day of your whole life?

"Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning." Lamentations 3:22-23

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

PowerPlant 2009

2009-07-06T14:51:00.018-04:00

PowerPlant 2009 was an amazing trip! On Friday morning, we met at the church and then hit the road shortly after for Spartenburg, South Carolina to work with a local church plant. Our job was to put on a youth basketball skills camp in order to connect with young kids in the community and share the love of Christ. One thing I think all of us learned on this trip is that sharing your faith doesn't always mean that you have to be talking about your faith...sometimes just taking time to pour into the lives of others by taking time for them and loving on them goes a really, really long way!

Daniel's van...getting ready to leave!

Leigh Anne's van full of students:

Along the way, we stopped to grab a bite to eat and give everyone a chance to stretch our legs before driving the last part of the trip to South Carolina.

Valerie, Taylor, and Leigh Anne grabbed CFA:

Daniel, Nate, Evan & the rest of the guys at the DQ:

...and the girls eating their ice cream!

Grace & Tessie:

Once we were back in the van, it wasn't long until we were the first church to arrive for the weekend. We unloaded our bags, set up our rooms, and then ate our first dinner together. After dinner each night, we met in a building called The Storehouse for "The Gathering", a time to sing praise and worship and then listen to Pastor Art speak before breaking up into our individual church groups for Devo time.

Each morning, we met back in the Storehouse to listen to the Evangelism speaker who taught us how to share our faith and a Power Plant teacher who taught us what a church plant is and what it takes to set one up. Shortly after the speakers, we'd have lunch and then head off to our individual church plant projects for the rest of the day. Yay, Hoop Skills '09!

In the Storehouse, wearing our PowerPlant '09 shirts:

On Sunday, we went to church at our church plant and then had a "planning day" so we could get ready for the basketball camp and figure out what our individual jobs would be each day at the camp.

Upstairs at Connection Fellowship:

Ha! Poor Connor got stuck taking a pic with a leader (me):

The Boss:

Connor & Corinne:

Alex & Corinne:

Hunter & Amy:

Two of the fav kids wearing their Hoop Skills '09 t-shirts:

More camp kids:

Coach Grace watching out for her team:

Hunter & Connor teaching their Bible Story during snack time:

CB, Corinne, & Connor with Lessie:

At one point, Harrision got ahold of the camera and took a self-portrait:

...and took pictures of LA and several others while they weren't looking!

Hunter laughing with Jared, our church plant leader's son:

Thumbs up for Hoop Skills '09:

On our free night, we went to eat at Johnny Rockets and then hung out at Frankie's fun park where everyone played laser tag, raced the go carts and played putt putt golf.

Johnny Rockets:

Evan & the girls: Blair, Tessie, & Grace

Nate, Harrison, & Nathan (the church planter's other son):

Daniel, Brandon, Trey, Hunter, CB, and Jared:

LA, Valerie, and Sha-tay-tay:

Hunter & Garrett (one of the fav kids) on the last day.

I think Hunter was teaching him to say "What's up, Bro?!"

Harrison was exhausted and wiped out in the van on the way to dinner in "the ghetto" as Nate called it:

Valerie and Taylor, riding the escalators:

While we were walking around the mall, we found this booth that simulated hurricane force winds. You stand inside of it while the wind gets stronger and stronger and stronger until it reaches 78 mph. Several of the kids took a turn getting their faces blown off!

Nate, Blair, and Grace got a new hair do...and look a little wind blown:

Part of the PowerPlant Crew:

Headed back to the church for the last "Gathering". Do we look tired or what?

Brandon & Trey, chillin on the ride back:

On the last night, we had one last Devo time and one more "Gathering" with everyone from all of the churches. We all talked about what lessons we'd learned in the week, what it meant to take all this home with us and how not to just have this mission "high" and then return to "normal" when we got home. We also started the packing process since we were leaving really early the next morning!

Valerie & Amy at the last Devo session:

A beautiful night to spend talking about what we learned this week:

Grace & Corinne:

LA & Harrison:

Nate & Daniel:

The room where the bomb went off! Oh wait...no...that was just the girl's room! ha!

I miss the PowerPlant group already and hope and pray that the things we learned this week aren't quickly forgotten. I had a blast with everyone on the team and I know each of us walked away with our own lessons and memories. For those of you who went, I'd love it if you'd leave a comment about something you want to remember from this trip, a funny story, or maybe tell people about why you'd recommend serving on a mission!

Summer Favs....

2009-07-01T20:07:00.003-04:00

One thing the boys and I have been doing a lot of this summer is going to the pool. On hot summer days, the only way to be outside without spontaneously combusting is to be in the pool or close by the pool so you can quickly get in. It is quite a process to get myself ready as well as 3 young children ready to go to the pool. You have to help everyone get their bathing suits on, lather everyone with sunscreen, and then pack a bag filled with towels, more sunscreen, goggles, noodles, water squirters, diving sticks, baby floats, hats, sunglasses, life jackets for the kids that cant swim, juice boxes, and ofcourse....food! Some of our favorites to pig out on by the pool are cheetos, fritos, cheerios (for Jackson), grapes, watermelon, strawberries, oreos, etc. Not a whole lot healthy in that list except for the fruit. Our favorite things to drink are water, pink lemonade, and grape koolaid. What is your favorite thing to eat and drink on a hot summer day?

Amazing

2009-06-24T06:42:00.006-04:00

Hey everyone. It is Jessica - your Wednesday blogger!! :) Hope you all are having a great summer. We have been quite busy around our home. We went to beach camp in Orange Beach, AL last week. After we got home from camp, we turned right around and left for Lake Lure, NC. It is a place in the mountains, just outside of Asheville. My brothers and their families, as well as my mom went for 2 days. It was nice to get away and spend time with my family. On Saturday, we went to a place called Chimney Rock Park. There are lots of hiking trails, huge rocks, caves......perfect for boys! We went hiking on one trail called Hickory Nut Falls. It was a 1.5 mile hike and at the end of the trail was....

A beautiful waterfall!!

We were able to climb down on the rocks, take our shoes off and stand in the water. While we were down there, we looked straight up to the top of the waterfall. Standing there feeling the water mist my face, seeing a rainbow reflection as the sunlight hit the water, and seeing the massive rocks - it was an amazing sight. I was in awe of our God and the beauty of His creation. What a wonderful God we serve!!

Thoughts from group

2009-06-23T12:25:00.010-04:00

Hey, I'm sure I've mentioned this before but i love my small group. We have a great time. We laugh, we share, we dive into the Word together... I LOVE IT. Here is just another insight from group Monday night.

So here's the question... are you growing more like Christ?

Summer Lovin'

2009-06-10T09:28:00.000-04:00

We just returned from visiting Daniel's parents last week. They live in Wilmington, which is on the east coast of North Carolina. They live in the same home that Daniel grew up in, and it is 5 miles from the beach. Daniel's dad has lived that close to the beach almost his entire life and up until one week ago had never owned his own boat. Well, now he does. While we were home, we got to help him break it in. What fun! Riding on the water, going over the wake of other people's boats after they come by and hearing our boys scream with excitement, anchoring the boat and watching the boys swim and play in the water, trying to catch fish and hermit crabs, having a picnic lunch on the boat and then feeding the fish and birds our leftover bread, seeing a dolphin swim right by you while riding in the boat......nothing is better!

Joshua and Caleb enjoying Papa's boat

The Wards on the boat

Joshua jumping those waves

Caleb posing for a picture while digging in the sand

Jackson's first trip to the beach......and he loved it!!

Spending time at the beach or on a boat with my family is the picture perfect summer day for me. What is your favorite thing to do during the summer?

Front row seat to see God in action...

2009-06-08T22:19:00.005-04:00

Tonight I wanted to tell you about something that happened tonight. I had a great chance to watch God in action... Best part about God moving in the lives of people is that He often lets us be there to see it.

Would you join me in praying for this young man?

Is there someone you would like to pray for that God would do the same for them?

In the locker room.....

2009-05-27T14:29:00.004-04:00

I know I have told you all this before - I love to watch the show Jon and Kate + 8. Mostly because it is really funny to see all the things those kids do and say and know that my kids do the exact same things. Also, it gives me great encouragement that I can mother 3 kids. I dont know how they do it with 8!! :)

Daniel and I were laughing about the show and thinking up names for what our show would be titled if anyone ever called us and wanted to document our family. That will not happen, but we were laughing about it any way. Here are some we thought of....

1. Daniel and Jessica + 3
2. The Ward Boys + 1 Momma
3. In the Locker Room (one of my favs.... it is so true!)
4. A Basketball Team - 1
5. Me and the Boys
6. Wrestling Camp

If your family were picked to be on a reality tv show that documented your life, what would you call it?

Blessed to have you...

2009-05-26T23:53:00.002-04:00

I was thinking about how blessed I am to have folks to walk through life with. Our community group here at Dogwood is wonderful. Now that I think about it God has really blessed me with a bunch of folks that love Him and are a great encouragement to me.

Who are you thankful for? Have you told them lately? Well do it now!!!

Seniors and Shaving Cream

2009-05-21T16:06:00.004-04:00

Hey, everyone - this is Leigh Anne! I hope that exams are going well...I can remember the stress that came with exams and the relief I experienced after they were over. Keep pressing on - you can do it!

We've got some really great things planned for THIS SUNDAY NIGHT at DSM that you won't want to miss. Take a study break, and join us!

First, it is SENIOR NIGHT. We're continuing our "Wire" series, and Daniel will be talking pretty directly to the class of 2009! If you are a SENIOR please join us - we have some special things planned for you. If you're not a Senior, don't worry if you arent a senior...you will get to "listen in" and get some great wisdom for your own life, but also have a great time! We hope you'll come and support your friends who are graduating!

Second...dun dun dun....is the SHAVING CREAM WAR! Yes, ladies and gentleman, it's here! We'll start the war at 7:30 PM behind the building. Here's what you need to bring:

1. Dark clothes that you don't mind messing up
2. A towel for clean up

We'll bring the shaving cream and a hose to wash you off. Please note that once you've become drenched in shaving cream, you will not be allowed to go back in the building!

We can't wait to see you! Who will be there?

Overwhelmed?

2009-05-20T08:28:00.000-04:00

This past week has been a blur. I flew home to NC last Friday to see my uncle. He has been battling cancer for the last 7 months. I knew that this would be the last time I would see him here on this earth, so I wanted to get home as fast as I could. I flew home and was able to spend 2 days with him before he went home to be with the Lord. Then right after he passed away, we were consumed with family, funeral arrangements, visitation, the funeral, and then the following day drove 8 hours back to GA with Daniel and the boys. I was so overwhelmed with stuff that the gravity of all that I saw and experienced is just now beginning to sink in. Seeing him fight for every breath, reading him scripture and praying for him by his bed, helping my mom (his sister), my aunt and my cousins, standing in the 3 1/2 hour line to greet people at the visitation, experiencing the pain of losing him at his funeral coupled with the joy of knowing where he is at this very moment. It is a lot to take in. It is overwhelming. It is consuming. I cant imagine dealing with all of this without the Lord. He is my Rock, my shield, my comfort. He takes my hurts, hears my prayers, walks with me in my grief. One promise of scripture that He gave me this past week is .......

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:21-23

No matter what overwhelms you, He is there. He loves you and wants His best for you. It may not be the death of a loved one that you are dealing with. Maybe it is exams, a family member is sick, deciding what to do after you graduate, a relationship or friendship......whatever it is, He is there. He desires to walk with you and help you in this journey. Wont you let Him? What passage of scripture helps you when you are overwhelmed?

2009-05-06T10:57:00.003-04:00

Sorry i missed the Tuesday blog everyone. Jess and I had a chance to go out on a date with another couple last night! That never happens so it was great! MORE about that on another post... So I'm blogging today about something we all need to be mindful of. Check it out.

In case the verse was hard to read due to the low video quality, it was Matthew 7:24. Have a great week!

A Loooooooong Monday: Not actually In the office with Daniel

2009-05-04T23:26:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone this is my late entry for monday. sorry I didnt get it done sooner. I am actually filming this in my house in the bedroom. Maybe some day I'll give you the Daniel home tour... like MTV cribs except our house isnt big or fancy or expensive or interesting to look at...

Mondays are tough!!! So how was yours???

What makes your Monday really bad? OR MAYBE you LOVE Mondays! Let us know...

Favorite Qualities?

2009-05-01T21:37:00.002-04:00

I don't know about you, but sometimes life surprises me. Sometimes people surprise me. But God...well, He never surprises me. Now, that's not to say that He never surpasses my expectations because He does, but what I mean by that is that He is who He says He is, He does what He says He'll do! I don't know about you, but those qualities alone - being real and being reliable - are the two of the greatest reasons that I can think of to serve Him.

What are your reasons for serving? For loving Him?

Choosing Forgiveness

2009-04-30T23:38:00.005-04:00

"Act your way into a new way of feeling."

I’ve heard my dad say that statement countless times. He’ll be the first to tell you that it’s not his original idea - Jesus introduced this truth a long time ago! Imagine the freedom we would find from bitterness and unforgivenss if we began practicing this concept in our relationships to those who have hurt us or refused to forgive us. Check out what Jesus says in Luke 6:27-36:

27“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ lend to ’sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Want to know something? I’ve tried this tactic, and it actually works! I’ve also failed at this miserably. It’s not easy, nor is it a quick fix; it takes a lot of discipline and a surrender to the Holy Spirit’s power living through us moment by moment, day by day. My favorite part of this passage is verses 32-35 because Jesus takes the truth to the next level. He basically says, “Love that person, do good to them, bless them, and pray for them…but expect nothing in return!” True forgiveness God’s way means that we forgive and don’t expect them to forgive us. Difficult? I think so.

What are your thoughts?

-Leigh Anne

I Passed ........

2009-04-29T21:23:00.004-04:00

Last week, all five members of our family got a stomach bug. Joshua and Caleb got it first - within 30 minutes of each other. Then the next day, Jackson had his turn. Two days after Jackson, Daniel and I got it - both within an hour of each other. We were really sick, and when both parents are sick at the same time, it is really hard to manage 3 kids. Scariest part of the day for me was when I passed out....literally. I remember walking down the hallway headed to the bathroom. Daniel tells me that I called out to him and said "Daniel, I'm gonna pass ......." and as I started to say the word out, I began to fall. Even as he lay in the bed sick himself, he jumped up and caught me just before I hit the floor. The next thing I remember is Daniel telling me "I'm gonna sit you on the floor." After I sat there for a while, he helped me back in the bed, got me some diet coke (brought over to our house by Amy......thanks Amy!!) and then I began to feel much better.

I am thankful Daniel was home and was there to catch me. (Thanks Daniel!!) Also, I am very thankful that the boys were not home. Mrs. Fran Plunkett had taken them to the park for us so we could rest and not have to worry about them atleast for a couple of hours. She stepped in and helped at just the moment we really needed her. (So thanks Mrs Fran!!) Then that afternoon all 3 boys went to my neighbors house so we could have a few more hours to rest. She fed them dinner and brought them home that night just before they had to go to bed. (Thanks April!!) Living so far from family (8 hours), we feel extremely blessed to have friends in our lives that will step in and help at a moments notice. When is a time in your life where someone stepped in to help you?

MONDAY: In the office with Daniel

2009-04-27T16:04:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! I'm back in the office today. Got a lot going on but one thought has been repeatedly coming up in my life. Mr. Titus mentioned it last night in the message at DSM.

I would love your thoguhts so please comment.

Also if you missed DSM last night the podcast is up and you can hear the message in its entirety. Click here to go to the link. http://www.dsmstudents.com/346709.ihtml

Copy Me ........

2009-04-22T11:52:00.004-04:00

Having 3 boys, there is always something going on - light saber fights, tball games, building lego ships, nerf gun wars, wrestling matches, etc. One thing they do that tends to aggravate each other is copying what the other one is saying. Caleb, who just turned 4, we have to explain what things mean to him a lot. The other afternoon we were riding in the van heading to see the movie Monsters VS Aliens, and anything Joshua said, Caleb would repeat. Joshua said "I am so excited that we are going to see Monsters VS Aliens!" and then Caleb would say "I am so excited that we are going to see Monsters VS Aliens!". And this would go on and on and on and on!! Eventually Joshua said "Caleb, why are you copying me?" Then in the most honest statement, Caleb said "I'm not copying you Joshua. I just want to say exactly what you say." To which Joshua responded....."That's copying!" It was quite funny to hear them banter back and forth and for Caleb to figure out what the word copy means. He just wanted to do exactly what his brother did and say exactly what his brother said.

That got me thinking about our relationship with Christ. God the Father wants us to become more and more like His Son Jesus. Our thoughts, our actions, our words.....everything. Jesus doesnt get annoyed when we say what He said, or when we act as He would have acted, it brings Him honor. When we "copy Him", that is the evidence of a changed life. A life that He has control over. One where we have laid down our choices, our will, our desires and said "God, my life is Yours to do with whatever you choose!" When people look at my life, I want to be that copycat of My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What about when people look at your life? Who do they see you copying?

Monday: NOT in the Office with Daniel

2009-04-20T23:42:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone. I am back!!! Well not really back. I'm out of town. I had to go check on a mission trip location for this summer. Its gonna be exciting... I'm excited just checking it out. I know i look tired in the video but I promise I REALLY am excited.

Have a great week and i will see you soon.

Hey tomorrow I'll try and do a blog about our current series. I would love your input.

The greatest gift?

2009-04-15T07:24:00.002-04:00

Yesterday Caleb turned 4 years old. All he wanted to do for his birthday is go to Chick-fil-a with some friends from church. He wanted to have dinner with them and then play on the playground. :) When it came time to open the presents, he was thrilled. He had a smile so big from the time he opened the card until he pulled out the present. Then with a high pitched, excited voice he would say thank you to the person that gave him the gift. One of his favorites was a Bakugan toy. (I think his older brother was glad he got that gift too!) It is a ball that transforms into some creature and can battle. All of the boys in our neighborhood have them and Caleb has been wanting some too.

That got me thinking, what was the greatest gift you ever received? Either a birthday gift, a Christmas gift, or an anytime gift? Why was it your favorite?

Counting Down.....

2009-04-01T10:49:00.002-04:00

Hey guys! It is Jessica again and I am your blogger for Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week. Only 3 more days and then you are on spring break!! YEAH!! Atleast for one week, you dont have to worry about tests, homework, or getting up early!

When I was in school, we always went to the beach for Spring Break. Either Myrtle Beach in South Carolina or Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina. I would go with my family and friends! We would lounge on the beach all day and then go eat great seafood at night! Unfortunately I had to do lots of my lounging under an umbrella because of my extreme white skin!! No tanning for this red head. Also during the week there was always a heated game of putt putt, and lots of shopping!! It was just a nice time to relax and not worry about anything!

What are you guys doing for Spring Break? Where are you going? What places are you looking forward to eating at? What kinds of things will you do on your break? Tell me, I would love to hear all about it! Have a relaxing week next week!

Monday: In the Office With Daniel

2009-03-30T17:45:00.004-04:00

Hey good Monday to you...
So here is the deal, I need your help. Please take a look at this video and get me your thoughts. We need the creative juices to flow...

Thanks.

Talent Show

2009-03-29T15:47:00.004-04:00

Hey ya'll, it's Amy! I might be stealing a little of Daniel and Jessica's thunder, but I wanted to share the video with you from Joshua's talent show on Friday night. Dusty and I went to support Joshua along with some others from DSM like Jonathan Lyons and Austin Eure! He did great and we really enjoyed seeing him do his thing! I don't know about you, but as a 7 year old, you couldn't have talked me into getting on a stage in front of that many people for anything!!!

Dusty and I waiting on the show to begin!

When the Daniel initially began to play the guitar for Joshua, the microphone wasn't picking up the sound. Then, when the mic finally did get turned on...there was a loud "feedback" through the speaker system causing Joshua to throw up his hands and loudly proclaim into his microphone, "This is a disaster!" Of course, the audience got a good laugh out of that...but as soon as everything was in working order, Joshua gave a pretty great rendition of David Cook's song...even with a "frog" in his throat on the second verse.

Our own future American Idol and his proud parents!

Before the show, Daniel said that Joshua was about seconds from not going out on stage...he was intimidated and scared, but he managed to do it anyway! Even though I wanted to use today's post to share Joshua's big moment with you, I also wanted to take the opportunity to ask you if there is anything in your life that you were scared to take a risk on but you did and it paid off?

Handwritten Treasure.....

2009-03-25T13:52:00.004-04:00

My dad was one of my favorite people. He was a hard worker, quite the jokester, full of love and very generous. He died 12 years ago, when I was 21. There is not a day that goes by that I dont miss him terribly. I often wonder ...... what would he think of my boys and what kind of mom does he think I am? What kinds of things would he do with the boys? What little jokes would they have together, what stories would he tell them, what games would they play? All the while, I know he would have been the best grandfather!! Any item that I find that was his is an instant treasure to me - especially things with his handwriting on it. Cards he gave me when I was little, notes written in his Bible, even gas receipts with his signature. Silly maybe, but seeing words that he wrote reminds me even now of his great love for me and what a wonderful dad he was.

Our heavenly Father has given us a treasure as well - one that He wrote out of love for us - His Word. The Bible was written for us and it contains words of love, promises, and is the truth that we need as we go through this journey called life! You can see the fingerprints of Christ all throughout Scripture and see how God's plan from the beginning was to rescue us from our sin, reconcile us back to Him, and all the while bring glory and honor to Himself! What a great, loving, God we serve.

Just as items with my dad's handwriting on it are treasures to me, so is God's word. I love the promises I find in scripture. One of my favorites is "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31.

What is one of your favorite verses?

Embarrassing...

2009-03-24T16:09:00.004-04:00

Hey so as you can imagine I tend to act way before I think. In this quick video I talk about a time when I was way embarrassed becasue of a mistaken identity. Check it out.

Have a great day!!! What is one of your most embarrassing moments?

Monday: In The Office With Daniel

2009-03-23T17:03:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone, ever wonder what I do all week? Well specifically on Mondays? Well wonder no more. Here is a quick look at the whats happening in the office today.

Actually its a shameless plug for the Riot Week Mission Project!!! But check it out anyway...

So what did you you do today? Let me know...

Called To Be Bold...

2009-03-20T15:41:00.001-04:00

Hi guys! It's Amy...

This morning I had the opportunity to speak to approximately 250 kids at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes function called "Cold Pizza" at Rising Starr. I got involved with FCA as an 8th grader and went to monthly meetings and continued in it all the way up through my college years. To be able to pour back into an organization that poured into me was exciting! Scary, but exciting. I kept telling myself that no matter how nervous I was to speak in front of so many people (and kids can be brutal), if I just made myself do it two or three times, I'd get used to it and it wouldn't be that hard anymore. Isn't that sort of the way it is with everything in life...taking that first step is one of - if not the - hardest parts?

You can imagine how hard it is to talk to that many 6-8th graders for 15 minutes and actually hold their attention, but I walked away feeling pretty good about it! The topic I picked was "Influence" and how we have good and bad influences in our lives and it's important to be very aware of who (and what) we let be a part of our lives. For my example, I took one of the biggest athletes and asked him to stand up in a chair. I stayed where I was on the ground and asked him to try to pull me up. Of course, having gravity and solid footing on my side gave me a lot of leverage and I was easily able to pull this kid down to my level. Then I went on to explain how that example was a lot like the influences in our lives...it's easier to be pulled down than pull someone up...and we also have to be aware of what kind of influence we are on others.

Initially, I started out thinking how much I wanted to be relevant to all of the kids, but then I realized as I prepared and prayed about it that if I was relevant to only one kid there...I'd fulfilled my purpose. I feel sure that the Lord was working on someone there and I can only hope and pray that my words planted a seed inside of them to do right.

I'm curious, what is something you feel like God has asked (or is asking) for you to step out of your comfort zone and do? What made you finally take the leap - or if you haven't yet, what's holding you back? I know that's a really personal thing to ask, but I'd really love to know if you want to share!!!

Unconditional Love....

2009-03-18T07:55:00.004-04:00

How many of you love watching Reality TV? I know we watch it in our home. In fact, just the other night, Daniel and I were watching Jon and Kate + 8. One reason I love to watch that show is that it gives me more confidence on raising the 3 boys that I have - 3 kids to raise is better than 8!! :) We could not help but to laugh at all of the funny things that happened with those kids. The things they said, what they did, how they interacted with each other, it was all so funny. I looked at Daniel and asked "Could you imagine our family being on TV and everything being recorded all the time?" Like for example......Last week, Caleb and Joshua were playing on the zipline outside. It was Joshua's turn to go, so while he was riding the zipline, I went and got the stroller for Jackson to sit in. I put Jackson in the stroller and immediately went back to the zipline to help Caleb - he cant quite reach on his own yet!! When I got back and was helping Caleb up, Joshua said that Caleb had gone pee-pee in the yard by the tree. Now this tree is in our front yard right by the road. So he was flashing the whole world......well not really because none of our neighbors were outside right then. BUT, if they had been, they would have seen my 3 year old going to the bathroom. So, I had a talk with Caleb and told him if you need to go to the bathroom, walk inside and use the potty!!!!

The very next day, Caleb and Joshua were on the playground in our backyard playing with our neighbors next door - 2 girls and 1 boy. They were all playing in the sandbox - and I am keeping an eye on them from my kitchen window. As I come and check on them, I see Caleb standing on the playground, pants around his ankles, going potty. Immediately I yelled his name and told him to get inside. We discussed all the many reasons why not to peepee outside......there were other kids watching him, he was pottying on the playground where everyone plays, and the most important reason is because one day earlier I had told him not to!!!

Shows like Jon and Kate + 8 keep us watching because we see real life being displayed on TV - the good and the bad. But, if the TV cameras were to come into our home, I would be embarassed to have the whole world see my son pee pee in the yard. In this world, we try and paint a great picture about life - we are all smiles, everything is perfect.....when most of the time it is not. One of the great things about Jesus is that He sees every part of us - the good and the bad, and still He loves us. I am thankful that His love is not based on my actions, but His love is just that....love. No strings, no checklist, given freely for each of us. "But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

2009-03-17T16:14:00.004-04:00

It's Tuesday: In the office with Daniel.

Yeah I know, that's supposed to be Monday but I took the day off to spend with the family. Well Dnow is over and i think it was a pretty good deal. Everyone I spoke with said they were challenged and learned a lot. We had our share time on Sunday at Crabapple but I wanted to give you another chance - a few days later - to express your thoughts about Dnow.

See you all Sunday nigth for DSM. Dont forget Spring Break Mission trip is coming up and Vertical sign up has begun.

Learning and Growing...

2009-03-15T19:13:00.004-04:00

Hey ya'll, it's Amy and I thought I would do a Sunday post since I skipped on Friday! My husband, Dusty, and I were a host home for Senior guys and we went into the weekend hoping we could give them a place to relax, get deep in God's Word, and with each other. It never really crossed my mind that I would learn so much from them!

I learned...

...that I was wrong for assuming that this was a generation that couldn't (or wouldn't) carry the torch!

...that while we may be limited in what we can do, God is not! He is still very much God, even in a world that seems to acknowledge Him less and less.

...that hearing an auditorium packed full of hundreds of teens singing about their passionate love for Jesus can literally bring you to tears of joy!

Chad, Brandon, Dylan, Austin, Taylor, Ryan (the college leader),
David, and Joseph (aka Fro-Joe)

Hanging out and making duct tape D-Now bracelets...

Silent until time for worship!
Chad saying goodbye to the pups

What was the most important thing ya'll learned this weekend? Did anything about the weekend surprise you? I really, really want to hear about it! Will you share it with me?

Anxiety.....

2009-03-11T07:08:00.006-04:00

According to Websters Dictionary, the definition of the word anxiety is - painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill. Many people get anxious over many things - sometimes trivial things and sometimes life changing things. Have you ever gotten anxious over any of these situations....

1. Grades
2. Decisions about college
3. Family struggles
4. A job
5. Balancing your time between school, a job, family, and friends
6. Sickness - either you are sick or someone close to you is sick
7. Relationships with friends or dating relationships
8. What house you are staying at during D-NOW weekend.
9. Will you know anyone in the house you are staying at during D-NOW weekend

Maybe you had not thought about any of those things on that list but now that you have read them are extremely anxious! Anxiety makes our minds uneasy and our hearts heavy. That is contradictory to the abundant life that Jesus tells us we can have on this earth. In fact, Philippians 4:4-7 says "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Paul is reminding us in this passage (one that He was writing from prison), that the Lord is near. God is not far off in the heavens hovering over us. He lives in our hearts and is with us and near us everyday and in every circumstance. Because of that, we dont need to be anxious about anything. We need to pray to Him, tell Him our concerns, fears, joys, and let Him be in control. In doing that comes great freedom, abundant life, and unexplainable peace.

I hope you all are living in that peace today and everyday. Have a great weekend at D-NOW! I cant wait to see and hear all God will do in your lives!

Expecting Big Things...

2009-03-10T17:41:00.006-04:00

Hey everyone. Busy week right? Hope you are pumped about Dnow weekend coming up. We have a great group signed up. I saw the shirts today and they are pretty cool too.

Check back here and I may show them to you before Dnow... (Sneak Peak) How exciting!!!

Here's a little thought about Dnow and how you can pray for it.

It's Monday: "In the Office With Daniel"

2009-03-09T17:09:00.006-04:00

DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week,

DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week,

DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week, DNOW week!

Investment in Eternity...

2009-03-06T15:18:00.001-05:00

If I died today, I'm honestly not sure what my legacy would be. Not that I want to die any time soon or anything, but have you ever wondered what people would say about you if you were gone? What would the friends, family, acquaintances, classmates, or co-workers you interact with have to say about you? Would they say you were a loving person? giving? thoughtful? Would they say that you loved the Lord and you invested in those around you? Or would people remember you for words that were hurtful or selfish or that you were a gossip? If you took an honest look at who you are...how you act...how you treat others...the things you think...and what you say...the things you talk about with your friends...would you like what you see? Would you feel good about the legacy you would leave behind?

If not, what can you change today? What do you think He would see in you that's displeasing? On the flip side, if you really think you are on the right track, let me encourage you to "stay the course". Be intentional in your walk with Christ...a good relationship with Him doesn't just happen. Stay focused. Do right. Dig into the Word. Get discipled. Seek out people who hold you accountable to do what is good and correct you in love and kindness.

I, personally, don't want to be someone who leaves nothing behind when my life is finished. More than anything I want to hear the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant" at the end of the time God has given me here on earth.

How about you?

D-Now 2009!!!

2009-03-05T23:21:00.004-05:00

Well, Thursday is almost over, but I (Leigh Anne) wanted to post before it was Friday! I have to be honest - I don't have a lot on my mind other than...DISCIPLE NOW!!! If you've noticed it's been my facebook status at least once a day for the last week and I've been bugging a lot of you to SIGN UP! Well...I'm not stopping! I've been accused of being bossy a few times in my life, but I feel like this is something important to be bossy about. :)

If you are wanting to be a part of the weekend, please go to http://www.dsmstudents.com/356345.ihtml and sign up with credit card for $55. It is one week from tomorrow (March 13-15)!

Do you want to know how many years I've been doing D-Nows? Well, I'm not very good at math, but I did a little subtracting tonight and figured out that this will be about my 15th D-Now!!!! How many D-Nows have you been apart of??? Maybe you need to add this year's to your list!!

Lessons learned and Memories Made...

2009-03-04T09:07:00.007-05:00

I grew up in church. Everytime the doors were open, we were there. The only thing that kept me from going to church was sickness. My family even sat on the same pew every Sunday - 3rd pew from the front, middle section on the left hand side. :-) My youth group was one of the biggest in the town. At the time, my thought was, I love going because all of my friends are there. That was very true, but God also taught me many things about Himself. He constantly showed His love for me, He gave me comfort, peace, and patience when my father was battling cancer, and He guided me in many decisions I had to make about college, dating, etc. I am thankful for that time in my youth group, not just for the relationships that were developed with my friends, but more importantly for the relationship I found with Jesus!

Disciple Now is an event in student ministry where you can build those relationships with each other as well as deepen your walk with Christ. Or, it can be the weekend where you meet Jesus for the very first time. It is a powerful, life changing weekend where God can show you many things about Himself and His great love for you! I hope you will decide to come this year. For those of you that have been in the past, what is one of your favorite DNow memories?

** If you would like to sign up, you can go by the church office and talk to Susan or Leigh Anne, or you can sign up online. Click here http://dsmstudents.com/356344.ihtml for more information or to sign up!!

Stay Focused

2009-03-03T15:48:00.005-05:00

Hey everyone,
I just started talking and thinking on this one and it got a little long. SO you will notice a break midway through where I cut some out. You still get the point but just wanted you to know there was some editing.

Have a good week. Invite a friend to come check us out on the blog.

DW

Monday: "In The Office With Daniel"

2009-03-02T16:20:00.002-05:00

...And His Snow Boots!!!!

Don't forget to sign up for DNOW! Time is running out!

Never in a million years......

2009-02-25T08:48:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone. This is Jessica and I hope your Wednesday is going well. Joshua came home from school on Monday and was only in the house all of 1.3 seconds when he was searching through his book bag ready to show me something exciting. He pulls out a purple piece of paper and at the top it reads "Willis Road Elementary School Talent Show". He said "Mom, I want to do this. I want to be in the school talent show." As he is telling me all about it, he is getting a pencil and beginning to fill out this form to sign himself up to sing at the school wide talent show.

Daniel and I were talking about it later that night and his response was "I think that is great that he wants to do this. When I was his age, never in a million years, would you have caught me signing up to do something in front of so many people." Ofcourse now he stands in front of people all the time preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. That got me thinking about the time when I was 7 and my family went to Disney World. My mom left me at the entrance to Space Mountain with a Disney World employee so she could ride on the ride with my brothers. (They would not ride without her and I would not ride at all - so she had to leave me with another adult to go with my brothers). Never in a million years would you have found me on a roller coaster when I was 7, let alone a roller coaster that was in the dark like Space Mountain. However, now, I will get on any roller coaster and have the time of my life.

In my life I have learned never to say never! God might have me doing something that I think I cant do in order to show me that He desires to use me for His glory. And, not only does He want to use me, but He gives me all I need to accomplish anything He wants me to do. I just need to stop being fearful, stop saying "never" and just be available.

So what is the thing that you have said "never in a million years to" and then now find yourself doing that very thing?

Cut them some slack...

2009-02-24T12:51:00.004-05:00

Thoughts along the journey. Real life application from Paul's letter to the Philippians.

Who are the people in your life that you could cut a little more slack?

Monday: "In The Office with Daniel"

2009-02-23T14:10:00.004-05:00

We thought it would be a good idea to show you where I work during the week. Yes, I actually do work during the week (for those of you that thing pastors only work on Sundays).

So here's the tour of the office...

Getting Real...

2009-02-20T16:32:00.006-05:00

Hey, it's Amy, and I get the pleasure of being your regularly scheduled Friday blogger. Daniel and I originally planned on me trying to post a couple times per week but we had to reaccess the situation and take another approach when I started feeling overwhelmed...life has gotten so busy lately that I had to ask for help.

Speaking of help, I must confess that I find it really hard to let people "in" when I'm struggling or need support of some sort. More than anything, I hate to feel like I'm a burden to anyone - even in the little things! Going to Daniel to ask for support with the blog was a great decision and took a huge load off my heart and mind!

I've found that being honest with people about where you are at is always the best policy! Even better is being real with God about what you are thinking and feeling! Personally, I have days where I talk to the Lord and I say to Him, "Really? Seriously? I don't get you..." and I have other days where I go before Him in awe of who He is and what He's done in my life. Every now and then, I can finally see all of the puzzle pieces that have fallen into place and it all seems to make sense. I've learned there are times to just be honest and tell Him you are struggling and times when we need to take the time to praise Him for what He has done for us!

I hope you have a lot of reasons to praise Him right now! Can you think of any? Or if you're are struggling today...find someone who will pray with you (I will!)...or just sit down and talk to God. Tell Him what your needs are, what your questions are, what your hurts are. I can assure you that He doesn't expect perfection...or He would have been finished with me a looooong time ago. I honestly believe there is nothing He wants more than YOU right where you are at!

Happy Friday!

Cain and Abel

2009-02-19T13:34:00.006-05:00

It's Leigh Anne again, and I wanted to share a little bit from what God has been teaching me this week. I'm in the midst of studying the book of Genesis right now. This week, part of my study was on the story of Cain and Abel from chapter 4. I can't tell you how many times I have read Genesis and stories like Cain and Abel, yet I am still growing in my understanding of who God is and how he relates to me when I study them. I am so thankful that God's Word is so renewing!

Anyway, Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain was basically a farmer and Abel a shepherd. The story focuses in on the offerings that they brought before the Lord. Abel brought the "firstling" of his flock - the fattest, best animal he could find. Cain brought fruit...and that is about as specific as the text gets. It doesn't say he brought the best of the land or anything -- it just says that he brought fruit. According to Hebrews 11:4, the difference between the offerings is that Abel brought his offering with great faith:

"It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith."

What is faith? Faith is the conviction or belief in something unseen. Faith is the hope that God is who he says he is, and therefore, we live like we believe in him! Unfortunately, Cain brought his offering with a lack of faith and a really selfish attitude. In the end, Cain was so jealous of his brother Abel's right standing with God that he murdered him. His real character was revealed.

Do you get it? God found favor on Abel, not because of his actions, but because of his heart!

Are you living like Cain? Angry, insecure, jealous, or hard-hearted towards God or those walking with God? Doing things because you have to? Or are you like Abel? You genuinely love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength? You want to give him the best you have?

God's Word tells us that from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Basically, whatever is in your heart is bound to come out. It did for Abel. It also did for Cain...and it wasn't pretty.

What is in your heart? Is there anything that you would be ashamed of if it came out? A lot to think about, isn't it?

Yummy to My Tummy.......

2009-02-18T11:17:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! This is Jessica and I am writing this blog from Garner, North Carolina. I grew up here and love coming home. I like coming home to see family, relax, and to EAT!! There are many restuarants in Garner (where I grew up) and in Wilmington (where Daniel and I were married) that serve amazing food. Every time we come home, we have to "get our food fix" and go to these restuarants. Check out some of our favorites.......

The Oceanic in Wilmington, NC - serves the BEST crab dip & fried shrimp

Ragazzi's in Garner, NC - serves cheese sticks that are Yummy and HUGE! We have lovingly changed their name to cheese logs! :-)

J Michael's Philly Deli in Wilmington, NC - serves the most outstanding cheesesteaks!!

Sweet Carolina Gourmet in Garner, NC - serves the best homemade cookies I have ever eaten! My favorite are the white chocolate macadamia nut cookies!

Imagine being away from home for an extended period of time. When you were finally able to return home, what would be the first place you would want to go eat? What place reminds you of home?

Feeling sick...

2009-02-17T13:24:00.002-05:00

Video Blog #2:

Have a great break. See you this Sunday at DSM.

Daniel

2009-02-16T16:10:00.004-05:00

It's Monday... and time for the first installment of: "In the office with Daniel".

Thanks Jonanthan for joining me for the first video. If you would like to be on a episode of In the office with Daniel, stop by on any Monday.

Group

2009-02-12T16:22:00.004-05:00

Hey! It's Leigh Anne, and I'm excited about posting every Thursday. Sometimes I might be serious and other times a little silly. Either way, I love that I get to do my journey with all of you!

One of my favorite parts of student ministry is lunch. Not my lunch break (even thought that can be pretty fun), but when I get to go have lunch with YOU GUYS. Today I went to Landmark and got to see Becca, Betty, Joy and Nate! It was great to see them and meet some of their friends.

The highlight of my week so far (besides lunch at LCS, of course) was our couples small group that meets on Thursday nights. We just connected with several young couples at Dogwood and recently started a group. We all are in similar life stages and have a lot to talk about when it comes to the things of God. This small group is very special to Josh and I because it gives us community and accountability with people who are walking through some of the same things that we are.

Are you plugged into a small group at DSM? It is a great way to have support on your journey. If you are, what about it encourages you? If you are not, what is holding you back?

Don't Hide.....

2009-02-11T16:26:00.008-05:00

Being a mother of 3 boys, I have lots of jobs – teacher, nurse, disciplinarian, playmate, mediator, chef, maid, etc. And with all of those, the job that I seem to have the most is a nurse. Band aids make everything better – along with a kiss and a chocolate chip cookie! :-) Yesterday, Jackson had his first casualty at the hand of his big brother Caleb. Caleb is quite independent and loves to “help” me with Jackson. We were outside, and Jackson was buckled in the stroller. Caleb insisted on wanting to push him around all by himself. I stressed the importance of keeping the stroller on the deck and not going too far because he could fall down the steps. Caleb was being very good about pushing him slowly. He would push him a little bit, then stop and talk to him for a minute. Push a little more, talk a little more. The more comfortable he got with his job of pushing Jackson, the faster he would push him, and the less he was paying attention to what he was doing. I turned away from them for ½ second and the next thing I know Jackson is crying and so is Caleb. Caleb had gotten too close to the edge of the deck, the wheels of the stroller had gone over the edge, and Jackson had fallen face down into a pile of leaves. Thankfully the seat belt of the stroller worked exceptionally well, there were lots of leaves to break his fall, and there was only one small step from the deck to the ground!! Caleb yelled for my help but in the process of yelling for me to help Jackson, he ran and hid around the corner because he thought that with this incident, would most certainly bring about punishment. I ran and quickly rescued Jackson from the leaves as Caleb peered around the corner, crying and saying “Mommy, I am SO sorry!” Knowing that Caleb did not intentionally hurt his brother, I called him over to me hugged him, and told him that it would be all right. Aside from the scratch on Jackson’s head, he was just fine. I tried to explain to Caleb that when something like that happens, you cant go and hide, you have to help Jackson. In that, I thought about us and our walk with the Lord. How many times do we try to run and hide from God when we do something wrong. He sees everything, and even when we do something terrible, He is right there, ready to dry our tears, and forgive us if we just ask.

Be Encouraged...

2009-02-10T17:02:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone its me Daniel. I thought i would try something new. Let me know what you think.

Thoughts About God...

2009-02-05T16:15:00.007-05:00

My husband and I kennel Cooper, our Lab with anxiety issues, every night because if we don't we can't sleep. Every noise wakes her up and she growls under her breath or barks, she gets up and down out of bed, and makes it impossible for us to get the rest we need. But if we put her in her kennel where she can't get out, she seems to feel "safe" and both Cooper and my husband and I get the sleep that we need. The only noise she makes during the night then is when she wakes up and whines because she hates to be away from us...she longs to be with us. What she doesn't realize is that what seems like punishment is actually only for her good. As I laid there listening to her cry before she feel asleep last night, my heart just ached for her. I can't explain why its best for her...can't make her understand...it just is. I longed to comfort her, but to do so would only confuse her more.

And then it hit me...

How similar must the Lord feel when I cry out to him? I thank Him for the prayers that He does answer, how I see Him in all parts of my life...but there is an area that I wonder where He is. Why does He seem to stay "silent" in this part of my life? But it dawned on me last night (as I was thinking about Cooper) that whatever His reason, whatever His purpose...I'm sure that it is only for my good. My favorite verse comes to mind:

Psalm 119:65-68: Do good to your servant according to your work, O Lord. Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees."

Has God taught you anything lately? What made you stop and think?

Next Question, Please!

2009-01-21T20:55:00.002-05:00

I saw this idea on another blog called Without Wax and thought it might be an easy way to break the ice around here! I think it could be really fun and I could learn a lot about ya'll!

How it works:
I'll start by asking a question and the first person that reads it and feels like participating will answer the question by commenting and ask a question for the next commenter and so on.

********MUY IMPORTANTE********* read this before participating:
So this works like it's supposed to, if you click on the comments and there are 10 comments, make sure to put that you are answering #10 just in case someone comments while you are mid-process. Otherwise it, could get confusing. I guess that if a few go through at the same time, the next commenter gets to chose which question they want to answer! It will look something like this:

A: #10 - insert answer to the previous question
Q: insert new question here for next commenter

I bet the questions and answers could get quite interesting. I'll start!

Q: If you were given a million dollars today, what would be the FIRST thing you would do?

Roll Call...

2009-01-18T21:36:00.003-05:00

It was good to talk with ya'll tonight and meet a few of you! Let me know you stopped by...

Getting Back To It...

2009-01-14T21:42:00.002-05:00

The holidays are over and time slipped up on me before I realized it! It's time to get back to blogging...

Daniel is giving me the opportunity to introduce myself to you - in person - on Sunday at DSM! I can't wait to "meet" you and give you a chance to get to know me as well. See you there!

On Pause for the Holidays

2008-12-24T11:32:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to pop in and let you know that I'm in Dallas for the holidays with my family so I'm putting the blog "on pause" until the New Year! My time here is so short I just want to soak up every second!

Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

He Knows...

2008-12-18T14:26:00.000-05:00

A friend sent me this email earlier in the week and I thought I'd share. It's pretty great!

"Some two thousand years ago, in a sleepy town in Judea, God did something revolutionary. Rather than offering a voice of concern to a weary world, God did something beyond what anyone could have ever dreamed or imagined.

In Jesus, the Word, the voice, comes to dwell among us.

In the incarnation, we celebrate the reality that God knows and cares enough about people that He chose to dwell among us in a very physical and present sort of way. The unseen God of Israelite history was now the seen God. The invisible made visible.

We are told in the Scriptures that in Jesus "we saw the glory of the one and only." In other words, Jesus was putting God on display. You want to see what God is like? You want to see how to live in harmony with the Creator? Look at Jesus. He is the way and the truth and the life.

In the incarnation is found a large message from God to you and me: I know.

I know what you're going through.

I know what it is like.

I know how you are feeling.

I know.

So wherever you find yourself this day, no matter what circumstances you may find yourself in, know that there is a God who knows. Feeling alone? He knows. Feeling overwhelmed? He knows. Feeling as if you just cannot go on? He knows. Feeling like there is no one who understands? He knows. He's been there too. In Jesus, He knows.

He knows. He knows. He knows."

Bible Breakdown

2008-12-17T14:30:00.002-05:00

When I was in high school, I attended a weekly Bible study and the theme verse of our group was Titus 2:7. It's a verse that has stuck with me all these years...I can still quote it word for word and it's something I try to align my thoughts and actions against even now. I wanted to pass it on for you to think on this week.

"In everything, set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing to say about us." - Titus 2:7

Breaking it down:
In the first sentence, it says to "set them an example" and then in the last sentence it makes reference to "us". Who do you think "them" is? What do you think "us" refers to?

Do you think that teaching means getting up in front of people, like maybe a teacher in the classroom? Or do you think it could mean "teaching" as a reference to living out what you say you believe?

So what's the application?
My personal opinion about Titus 2:7 is that it's a call for our life to line up with what we claim to believe. If I claim to be a Christ-follower, I should want my life to look (and truly be) a reflection of who He is. The problem with saying that you are a Believer and then acting just like someone who doesn't believe is that it discredits your walk with Christ...and when your walk is discredited, so is your example as a Christian. Although there is no way we can be perfect about this...we are going to mess up...we are going to give in to temptation...the best thing we can do is to continually line up our actions against God's word and His example. If it doesn't line up, then we gotta get it right - and quick!

Final thought:
Don't be the excuse that people need to turn away from God! Don't give them an opportunity to look into your life and say, "What's so different about that guy or that girl?" Make people wonder what it is about you...

Can't Wait...

2008-12-16T14:02:00.003-05:00

My family goes to see a movie on Christmas Day in the afternoon and Marley and Me is our #1 must see this year! I came across a Facebook application earlier today where you can download an adoptable Marley. Click here to check it out!

What about you? Anything you can't wait to see or would recommend?

All I Need...

2008-12-15T21:18:00.003-05:00

Somehow the music of Shawn McDonald always soothes my soul... I thought I'd share one of my favorites, so if you aren't familiar with this Christian artist, check him out here.

2008-12-10T20:35:00.001-05:00

I know you can't tell it by the picture, but our lab, Tucker, is a very, very happy dog right now. He loves being vacuumed and it helps us keep up with the never-ending hair that comes with having two labs in the house.

Sounds crazy, but if your dog isn't terrified of the vacuum...it's worth giving it a try! And guess what else we do that the dogs totally love? After the vacuuming, we rub them down with a dryer sheet so not only do we suck up the hair and dirt, we make them smell good. It's like giving them a bath without all the effort! I highly recommend it!

Christmas Survey

2008-12-09T13:36:00.002-05:00

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Definitely Hot Chocolate. Whipped egg drink freaks me out!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Definitely wrapped.

3. Colored light on house/tree or white? I like all white....

4. Do you hang mistletoe? YES!

5. When do you put your decorations up? The day after Thanksgiving. This year our stuff is in boxes and I don't know where they are, thought!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Definitely sweet potato casserole! I could live on a deserted island with a pan of that stuff and be as happy as could be.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Opening our Christmas Eve gift from my parents. It took me until I was in high school to realize it was always pajamas.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I'm not sure really. I don't remember the incident so it must not have traumatized me too much.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We used to open just one but now we open all the gifts on Christmas Eve and then get up and celebrate Christmas day with a big breakfast (our favorite meal!)

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Depends on my mood

11. Snow. Love it or dread it? Love it! But only for a few days. It makes me laugh that my dogs try to eat it!

12. Can you ice skate? Barely. I need a helmet.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? No...guess not.

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays for you? Family.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? cookies

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I've only been married for 3 Christmas' now so I need to start some. Got any ideas?

17. What tops your Christmas tree? An angel

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Definitely giving. I get really awkward and can't fake it if I don't like something. So I'm not a big receiver. It scares me.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Winter Wonderland

20. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck? Yuck. Not a fan of peppermint

21. What do you want for Christmas? to go to Dallas to see my family! I miss them!

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party? No, we haven't lived anywhere long enough to have friends to do that with! That's changing hopefully!

23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ's? Are you kidding? Pajamas all the way!

24. Do you own a Santa hat? Ummm, I do, but it's for our dogs. Ha! They hate it!

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with? We swap each year...my family one Christmas, my husband's the next.

I tag anyone that's reading...leave me a comment so I can come over and check yours out!

Sunday Summary: The Perfect Gift

2008-12-08T14:00:00.010-05:00

With only 16 days left before Christmas, I must confess that I'm one of those slackers that haven't even started shopping for my gifts yet! I've had the best intentions, but all season long I've let one day pass, then another and then another. Oh if only I could spread the "gift" of procrastination and people would actually appreciate it. Ha! Riiiight.

For those of you who weren't at DSM last night, Daniel gave a list of the Top 10 things NOT to buy as Christmas gifts. They were:

10. Coasters with your picture on them

9. A singing toothbrush

8. fake dog poop

7. socks (or worse...underwear!)

6. a mix c.d. that you sang all of the songs instead of the artist

5. Encyclopedia set of Star Wars (huh?)

4. sausage sampler of the month (I've actually gotten this one! Yuck!)

3. gift certificate to your orthodontist

2. a dead hamster (oh, do I have a story I could tell for that one!)

1. nose and ear hair clipper shaped like a finger (eewww!)

Let's just say that not a single one of those would be any one's "Perfect Gift". Or let's hope anyway! Listening to all those horrible/funny gifts got me thinking about what makes up a "Perfect Gift". Daniel described that well when he said the Perfect Gift is JUST what we need at JUST the right moment! A test being postponed, a call from a friend when you needed to hear their voice, etc...those may not be material things, but they definitely mattered to us at the time!

Around this time of year at church, we keep hearing a story that some of us have heard since childhood...the story of Christmas. It's too easy to get numb to it or forget about it or gloss over it in all of the hustle and bustle. But the thing that's important to remember at this time, is that God carefully evaluated and decided on a gift that was perfect for us...His salvation! Something we can't earn or pick up in the "sale" aisle after the holidays on 20% markdown. It's something that He chose specifically for us and it's a free gift. A gift that we needed at JUST the moment it was given to us...and all that we had to do to deserve was believe in His incredible grace.

Again, if you missed DSM, you can head over to the Podcast section of the student page and hear it there. You might just read Ephesians 2:1-8 and evaluate what those verses mean to you. Past that, keep in mind that even though this is a fun and magical time of year (or hopefully), there is a deeper meaning behind it all...

Thoughts to ponder or comment on (hint hint):
-Is it hard for you to remember what the season is about this time of year?
-Does your family have any traditions that honor God's gift of salvation to us in the form of a baby? Do you enjoy them?
-Is it a hard concept to wrap your mind around? That a baby was a gift sent to save us?

Just to clarify, it's great if you've got the reason behind Christmas down and feel pretty good about it. But I also hope you know its okay to have questions and to wonder how the whole concept of grace, salvation, and a baby all fit together in the big picture. I know I have in the past. That's just part of this thing we're referring to as The Journey.

Why Join The DSM Journey?

2008-12-07T10:13:00.005-05:00

Why would you want to take the time to read this blog? Why get involved? Who is the person writing this and why do I care what they have to say? Those are questions you might be asking yourself now that you've taken the time to wander over to DSM's new blog, The Journey.

Well, let me answer a few of those questions for you right off the bat:

Why would you want to take the time to read this blog?
The Journey is going to be a place where we explore our feelings about life, Christianity, relationships, and other things that affect you on a daily basis. It's a place to have more community, more fellowship, and to take more steps along your journey.

Why get involved?
Because it gives you a chance to have an opinion and to give your feedback about issues that are important to you. It's also a place where, hopefully, I talk about things you want to know. Ask questions. Give opinions. Get to know each other. Be honest. Be real.

When should I come back to THE JOURNEY?
Every day if you can. Even on the days I haven't posted, you can still catch up on the comments that others left.

On Mondays, I plan on posting a "Sunday Summary" that will catch you up on what Daniel talked about at DSM for those that missed it. If I forget anything that you feel is important, please feel free to comment and add it. Or if you want to bring something up about DSM or ask questions...do it! You can help each other dig into the details that I missed.

On Wednesdays, I'm going to do a "Bible Breakdown" where I take a verse, apply it to real life, and ask you a couple questions.

And then on the other days, I may just post about random thoughts and ideas. I'm going to post surveys for you to answer and I'm figuring out how to add a prayer request section so you can know what's going on with your fellow DSMers. The more you comment, the more I'll write.

Who is writing this?
Well, I think I'll save that for another post. I'd like to know more about you first. I want to know who is reading and I'm also dying to have a few "followers" over on the top right of this screen! What do you want to hear more about? What would make you come back to read? What issues are most applicable to you on a daily basis.

Let's get started: comment and let me know!