The Sparrow Spot

Travels

2009-05-04T05:42:00.000-07:00

How is everyone?

This weekend was a lot of fun. Sister Jackie Zimmerman and I traveled to Michie and Milan, Tennessee, for a Ladies' Day and a boost. So I thought I'd tell you about our journey.

We left on Friday afternoon around 3:00 for Jackson, Tennessee, which is a somewhat decent "halfway" point between the two cities. Normally, it would have taken probably around 5 1/2 hours to make the trip, however, the weather was horrendous. (Thanks, by the way, to all who were praying for us, because we really needed it.) We had to stop a few times because the rain was so heavy that literally you couldn't see the road. And it was daylight. The very last time we stopped before arriving in Jackson was at an Arby's...which was inside of a truck stop. But it was very nice. Suddenly as we were enjoying our meal, a voice comes over the loud speaker and says,

"NOW SERVING SHOWER CUSTOMER NUMBER 68, PLEASE USE SHOWER NUMBER 3. NOW SERVING SHOWER CUSTOMER NUMBER 68, PLEASE USE SHOWER NUMBER 3."

It reminded me of being at the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport trams, and as you approach a concourse, you hear this pleasant, poised voice say, "NOW APPROACHING CONCOURSE D, AS IN DAVID. PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE EXIT AT ALL TIMES." While eating Arby's! Ha!

We finally arrived in Jackson probably around 8 local time to a nice hotel and comfy bed. Then the next morning, it was off the Michie for the Ladies' Day.

It was really an encouragement to be there! Probably about 25 ladies attended, if I estimated correctly. Sister Leslei Moncreif used the theme "That Your Joy May Be Full," and there were four different speakers with the topics Joy Is a Requirement, Joy through Trials, Joy Must Be Visible, and Joy in the Word. Then Sister Jackie preached in the afternoon about how our love for one another affects the fullness of our joy. It was really good. The church building was an old bar (or, "joint," as Brother McElmore told me in only the way he can) but it was nicely decorated and you just felt right at home. The only sign I found of this building's days of old was the horseshoe suspended from a pulley that served as a weight to hold the restroom door open when unoccupied. Ha! Pretty wild. I must confess, as much as I love to travel, I have typically avoided going in places that are out in the middle of nowhere, and especially where my cell phone has no signal. But it is amazing how the Lord has completely taken that aversion from me, and being in Michie on Saturday was definitely proof of that. It was so cool to be able to fellowship with the ladies there. They are quite a ways further from everyone else in Tennessee, and it was an honor to encourage them and show them that they are loved.

The next morning we headed off to Milan. Milan is only about 30 minutes from Jackson, and the drive was pretty easy. Of course, I say that because I wasn't the one driving. Anyway, it SEEMED easy. The Sunday School lesson and service were very good. Again, good fellowship and such a privilege to have been there! Sister Jackie and I both gave a boost, then we dismissed and chatted for a few minutes before hitting the road to come home.

And thank the LORD that all the rain and severe weather that was supposed to hit the area went further south on Sunday. Of course, I hope the other areas were not hit too hard with it. We made it all the way to Nashville before running into any really hard rain, but it didn't seem to last too long, and by the time we reached Murfreesboro it had slacked off. I think we made it home around 8:30 last night.

Well there you have it. The Chronicles of a State Booster, Part Two. But before I go, here's a good picture for you:

That's right...Bucksnort. There is actually a town with that name. I tried to take a picture of the exit sign on I-40 that said "Bucksnort", but my camera didn't take it fast enough. I had heard of it before, but just in case any of you hear me mention it, and don't believe it actually exists, here's some proof.

Have a glorious week! Until the next time.

*Shanna*

Buzz - Buzz

2009-04-23T12:04:00.000-07:00

I am a busy little bumblebee...

Just buzzing by to say...

How ya BEE???

:o)

*Shanna*

The City of RESPONSIBILITY...Welcomes You

2009-04-06T05:40:00.000-07:00

I am sad to report that I may have to find Blue another home. We really don't have a lot of room for him to just run around fancy free where I live. As of Saturday night, he has officially been tied up. :o( I know he hates that, but unfortunately, there have been a few incidents over the last few weeks that just may get out of control if something else isn't done.

Thankfully, no one has been bitten or attacked. You see, apparently one of our neighbors has been complaining about Blue. I was not aware of any of the incidents that have taken place until this weekend. The neighbor was supposed to call me last week and discuss things with me, but she did not. Meanwhile, I'm hearing about it from another neighbor's perspective - who, by the way, is at odds with the other neighbor - so by her accounts, Blue is not doing any harm at all. (Did you get that?) I found out Saturday afternoon that Blue attacked a smaller dog. I have seen him do that before, and have attempted training him so that it isn't a problem. However, I took on Blue from an owner who I belive was mistreating him, because apparently this same person has had other dogs with whom people have had issues. You know the old saying - old habits die hard. Poor Blue. That's exactly what I've been dealing with over the last stretch of time. He really needs someone to work with him constantly, and I've come to realize that I just don't have the time he needs. Besides that, it breaks my heart that he has become the center of controversy between two neighbors - which apparently has been into play long before I moved into the neighborhood - where one seems to use him as a scapegoat. That's just not fair. So I have decided to pursue finding him another home where he can be taken care of the way he should be.

Sure - he is just a dog, but he's MY dog. That means if something serious were to occur, guess who's responsible??? That's right! So why not do the responsible thing now, and consider the saftey of all involved? Not to mention, this whole feuding between my neighbors could easily result in someone killing Blue, and there is no need for things to get to that level. Boy, I tell you. Whoever said good fences make good neighbors must have known a thing or two.

Well anyway, all these things are just LIFE, aren't they? So we might as well deal with them and MOVE ON. After all, the city of MATURITY awaits....

*Shanna*

Transparency

2009-03-31T08:39:00.001-07:00

Let me forewarn you that this blog is going to contain some very personal things. I am typically an EXTREMELY private person - as those who know me well already know - but I just felt I needed to open up a little and share a few thoughts with you.

So here goes...

I think it was about two Sundays ago, I was on my way to church service. I was praying, and asking the Lord about certain things that were on my heart, and reached a place in that prayer where I was just in tears. I have felt such a call to a sacrificial trust in the Lord since the last General Assembly, and feel like I am SO FAR away from that! I asked the Lord why, when it comes to certain things, is it seemingly SO HARD to trust Him?! It should be quite simple, really. So then I squalled, "Lord, what's wrong with me that I can't trust you?! I mean, there HAS to be a reason why. There has to be something lurking around in my heart and mind that creates such a hindrance, and causes me to only go so far with respect to certain things. I want to know what it is, Lord, so we can deal with it and move on!" If any of you have ever prayed anything like that, you know how you feel in those moments - without an answer, vulnerable, and just begging God to just wave His hand and *ZAP* you're changed in an instant.

As I was trying to wipe my tears away so I could see the road and drive, the thought came to my mind that trusting the Lord comes from KNOWING HIM. And you know, I have to confess - although I was saved for the first time at age 11 - that would be close to 21 years ago - and have attended church and been around Christian people ever since - the fact is that I had not completely, totally, surrendered my life to Him until August 2008 - some 20 years later. If you do the math, that has only been 7 months ago.

What I'm saying is that I have really, truly, genuinely only been in a journey with the Lord for 7 months. Now sure, it is possible to get to know the Lord very deeply within 7 months. And learn a lot about the Word, and how to live it. But trust is a completely different concept. Sure, we all know in our minds that we can trust the Lord. But I have realized that trusting in Him from the heart takes living it out day by day. After all, it's about being totally persuaded that He really is trustworthy, just as He says.

And ever since Sis. Smith began the Ladies' Bible study "Lord, Change Me," I feel as though heaven has me under a microscope. I suppose this realization is all a part of the CHANGE PROCESS. Well if that's the case, so be it. If I have spent so many years of my walk with the Lord living according to the same old patterns of thinking, then obviously He is trying to renew my mind, because that's where it all starts.

Well anyway, I tried to keep it as brief as possible. Thanks for taking the time to read this. And thanks for your prayers. I am a piece of work y'all!!!

*Shanna*

It's Friday Again!

2009-03-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

And I'm so glad!

Our youth convention last weekend was GREAT! You may have read other blogs about it already, but the theme was "I Am Determined to Hold Out 'Till the End". It was a much needed time of hearing the Word and seeking the Lord in the altar.

This weekend is going to be another busy one. Well, not too bad, actually. Tomorrow morning is our local church's monthly service at the nursing home. There's usually a good turnout - both from the church and the home. I tell you, getting the chance to minister to those folks really helps put things into perspective. What really encourages me is how much they love to sing! There are usually five that ask to sing specials every time we're there. But that's just fine with us! And then there are those who aren't really aware of what's going on, but every now and then, it's as if the Lord touches their hearts somehow, because you can see it on their faces.

Then after the service, we will be cleaning the fellowship hall. Hopefully it won't take too long. :o)

And then...off to an auction and chili supper. So in comparison to a few past weekends this year, this one will be a BREEZE. Hope you have a good one, too! Until next time!

*Shanna*

Did I Mention Our God Is the Bomb???

2009-03-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

I was leaving a comment on Sis. Smith's blog, testifying of what He did for me last night, and I was almost going to let the day go by without saying a word about it.

Basically, yesterday I had a bad headache. It hadn't reached the point of being just absolutely unbearable yet, but I could tell it was quickly headed in that direction. But the Lord had prompted me to fast, and I wanted to obey Him and follow through. Fasting is SOOOO HARD with a headache! But God is faithful. So by the grace of God, He helped me grab ahold of every ounce of faith I could muster, and I prayed, "Lord, you know you have led me into this fast, and I want to be faithful to obey what You have required of me. Please take away the pain, and increase my faith to trust you wholeheartedly, no matter how badly it hurts." I fell asleep, reminding myself of the Lord's faithfulness, and reaffirming my trust in Him. And this morning, I woke up bright and early, ready to face the day, TOTALLY PAIN-FREE!

I have come to realize that if we can't trust the Lord, then who CAN we trust? For my own life, I have felt for some time that the Lord is calling me to a deeper level of trust in Him. And I know I'm not the only one. I'm talking about a level of trust where even in pain, we wait on deliverance from the Lord. And if it doesn't come and we happen to die in the process, trusting that awaking in His arms in heaven was His will. My friends, times are not getting any easier, and there WILL come a day when the world's methods will only be available in exchange for our souls. It is in our best interest to allow our walk with the Lord to reach a level where our confidence is ONLY in Him. We have to get there.

WE HAVE TO GET THERE!!!!!

Now that I'm off my soapbox...

Please remember the TN Youth Convention in your prayers this weekend. The theme is "I Am Determined to Hold Out till the End." I can't really explain it, but I feel way down deep on the inside that this Youth Convention is going to be one of the most explosive one we've seen. So pray for us. As many from other states have expressed, we desperately need a move of the Holy Ghost in our midst.

Anyway - until next time. Enjoy your weekend!

*Shanna*

Our God is the Bomb

2009-03-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you that the Lord answers prayer. But I often wonder sometimes why it seems he answers in "Lazarus" time? (You know, FOUR DAYS LATE!) :o) Yes, I know, He really is an on-time God. And truthfully, in my case, I still have five days to spare, so the answer is not "late" at all.

I have a part on program at our upcoming Youth Convention. I have known about it for just over two weeks now. But as soon as I found out, I began praying for the Lord's inspiration. It seemed that no inspiration whatsoever was coming! But last night - five days before D-day - I prayed a simple prayer, and here I am...with INSPIRATION! Praise the Lord! As a matter of fact, there was a certain thing I needed, and the Lord laid on my heart exactly where to go to get it. So I went where I was led to go, asked for what I needed, and the response was, "Is that all?" :o)

As I sometimes say, perhaps this is nothing exciting to many of you that are reading. But it's just simply amazing when you feel a leading, you KNOW it's the Lord, and the next step is to continue praying and watch Him work. Situations such as these are super faith boosters. After all, if we can learn to trust Him in the small things, great things are just ahead. I am expecting marvelous things during this Youth Convention!

So as you pray this week, please remember Sister Kim and the TN Youth Convention taking place this weekend.

*Shanna*

Have a Good Weekend

2009-03-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

Howdy everyone - just wanted to send you greetings and wish you a gloriously blessed weekend!

Truthfully, I almost wrote earlier this morning while I was feeling not so great, but it just would have been to complain about people and how immature they can be sometimes.

But I decided to get over myself, and spare you from having to read a whole blog of complaining. I'm glad I did. Because one of my personal pet peeves are naggers, whiners, and complainers. And I surely don't want to be guilty of being a kettle calling a pot black by posting a list of my own complaints.

Anyway - yakkety, schmakkety! Tomorrow is Saturday! Of course, it won't exactly be a FREE Saturday, as I am planning to use the day to prepare for Sunday School and the Youth Convention next weekend. This week was super busy, and I was left with less preparation time than I would normally have during the course of a week. So it is to my advantage to seize the day and use the time wisely to keep my sanity. So as I've already said...hope you each have a gloriously blessed weekend. Chat with you later!

*Shanna*

Here's the Latest

2009-03-09T10:06:00.001-07:00

Well...

I survived the weekend. I had already purposed, since I had no major plans and have been fighting this stupid cold goofiness for a little close to three weeks now, that I was going to stay home on Saturday and get as much rest as possible. And I am happy to report, that I did just that. Let me tell you, I'm so glad I did, because I felt absolutely, tee-totally, super-duper MISERABLE! Every time I attempted to get up, get dressed, make the bed, and just do simple little activities, I had to stop only after seconds, and lie back down again. ICK! I HATE feeling like that! Because Saturday was SUCH a beautiful, warm, breezy day, and I wanted to be OUTSIDE! Anyway...all I could do was just keep trying to at least get out of bed, even though I wasn't going anywhere, and finally around noon, I gave up. I figured if the plan was not to go anywhere anyway, then what on earth am I stressing for? So I just went with the feeling, curled up under the blanket, and went back to sleep...until almost 4:00. No doubt I needed that. (You think?!) When I woke up, I was feeling a little better, so I got up and got ready to go to the Mission Crusade happening at Zion Hill. And I made it! Thank the Lord!

Now, the Crusade was really good. Sister Bishop was the guest speaker, she also spoke on Friday night. Friday's message was about the return of the Lord, and making sure we're ready for it. Here was my favorite verse she preached about:

2Pe 3:11 ¶ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Right before she read that scripture, she said, "The Bible asks a sobering question..." And it truly is. I can't speak for anyone else, but my heart was gripped immediately. It's like the Lord is reminding us all that we already know that the end is inevitable. Some - still not all - in the world are looking around, noticing the "signs of the times," and are just beginning to scratch their heads and begin to consider that an end is near. But they are still living as though it is far off, and that time is forever on their side. But WE - God's chosen - already knowing that the end is not only inevitable, but NEAR - should be living as though the Lord could return at any moment. We have known since we first believed that our Lord was going to return. It is not new knowledge or revelation for us. So how much more of a difference should be SEEN in OUR lives?

On Saturday night, Sister Bishop preached about the Holy Ghost. I know there were at least three present at Saturday night's service who were seeking the Holy Ghost. Amazingly, as I prayed with others, I began feeling so much better, and I was so glad I made the effort to attend. The Lord is always faithful to go with us, if we just take a simple step of faith. There was such a sweet spirit there, and I'm sure Sunday services went well also - I haven't heard any reports as of yet.

As for our local church services, the Lord was so present. Especially on Sunday night. I distinctly remember the time was 7:15 when our pastor had finished preaching, and we had said the first closing prayer. Then we began worshipping, and prayed again, and had some testimonies, and the next thing we knew it was 8:25 or so. I just love services like those! The Lord really moved in our midst, and we're just expecting more mighty moves to come!

You know, I almost titled this entry, "I Have Nothing to Report," but when I started typing, it turns out I had more to say than I originally thought. So thanks for stopping by! Chat with you again soon!

*Shanna*

A Quick Hello

2009-03-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

Hello!

I'm taking a VERY quick break to send greetings to all my friends in Blogland.

Our Eastern TN District Convention was this weekend, and it was a very good one. Brothers Werkheiser and Smith both preached outstanding messages. Unfortunately, my memory is not helping me right now to give you a summary, so I'll try to remember to get my notes and share them with you sometime this week.

Also - I really need your prayers. My body is feeling that icky sick feeling again. That old devil is such a liar!!!!! I want so badly to stand on the Word of God and trust Him totally that this won't even materialize.

Anyway - I'll check back in with you later on. Have a blessed day and week. Until next time!

*Shanna*

25 Tidbits

2009-02-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

Hi all!

I have been tagged—er, rather, I asked to be tagged (thanks, Kasey!) to share 25 random interesting facts about me. I read Kasey's, and just thought it might be neat to jump on the bandwagon. So, here goes...

(1) I always tell people my name is "Shanna...like Anna" to help them pronounce it correctly.
(2) I am fluent in Spanish.
(3) One of my favorite pastimes as a child was roller skating.
(4) In the 10th and 11th grade, I won first place in an interpretive reading contest.
(5) I was the fourth grade spelling bee champion at my elementary school. It was only a school-wide spelling bee.
(6) I went to Fields of the Wood at age seven, long before I had any clue about the Church.
(7) My first and only trip outside of the United States was December 2007 to Costa Rica, to serve as an interpreter for the National Convention there.
(8) My hair is naturally curly, but when it was shoulder length, I straightened it.
(9) I became a widow at 23 yrs. old in 2001 after three short months of marriage, but I never have, and still don't, call myself a widow.
(10) My husband was 17 years my senior.
(11) My favorite colors are purple, blue, and lime green - but I'm ALWAYS wearing brown.
(12) I went to college, graduated with a Bachelor's in Accounting with intentions of becoming a CPA, until God introduced me to His plan for my life.
(13) I am REALLY enjoying God's plan for my life!
(14) I had lazy eye corrective surgery at age 6.
(15) At age four, I fell off of the ladder of an eight-foot high slide, but did not feel myself hit the ground, and suffered no injuries whatsoever. I am convinced an angel caught me, or at least the Lord reached out of heaven and put down a giant cushion to break my fall!
(16) Also at age four, my mom was backing out of a parking space at the grocery store, and I fell out of the car. Again, no injuries.
(17) I played the piano for a church choir for the first time when I was 14.
(18) My mom's inspiration for my name came from Shana Alexander. She just added an extra n to mine (Shanna) and changed the pronunciation to Shanna ("...like Anna." :o) But because of this, I have aunts in New Jersey that call me "Shayna."
(19) I love to travel. So far, I've been to Costa Rica, New Jersey, New York, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Montana, California, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. I have been to Disney World 4 times. My dream vacation would be to the country of Italy, and the Mediterranean region.
(20) When it comes to fried chicken, I will only eat my dad's. And in my opinion, his cooking is the absolute best in the world. You can ask anyone who knows me.
(21) Although I'm an only child, I am not spoiled by any means.
(22) There are quite a few things that make my happy, but I'd have to say cheesecake tops the list, followed by dark chocolate. And man, oh man, when the two are mixed together....talk about being REALLY happy!
(23) Someone once told me that I look like Grace Jones. Anyone who has seen her knows that is NOT a compliment!
(24) In January of this year, I FINALLY answered the call into the ministry, and was set forth as a lay minister.

And finally....

(25) I love coffee. But I don't drink it to wake up. I drink it because I like the flavor.

Man, it's a bit of a challenge to think of things to share about yourself! But still fun. So I tag...

Sis. Smith
Becki
Sis. Tammi A.
Sis. Tammy W.
...And whoever else happens to read this blog and want to participate.

Have a great Monday! Until next time.

*Shanna*

CFA Chicken Noodle Soup...

2009-02-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

...would have been much better than feeling like I was run over by a freight train.

BUT...

I am feeling better today????? Well, a little. At least able to get out of bed and work for a few hours. This is still nothing like what I felt last year. So for that, I am thankful. But just to let you know, Tuesday by lunch time, the last thing on my mind was eating anything at all. I went from scratchy throat to just about giving up the ghost in a few short hours. Yeah. Well, maybe not really, so don't anyone get scared on me. But I did feel pretty crummy, and ended up going home shortly before lunch. Thank the LORD for sick time! It sure comes in handy for times like these. I was able to catch a few cat naps throughout the afternoon. By 4:00, I had decided if I wasn't going to sleep, I might as well get up and go to Bible study, right? So that's what I did. And it was such a blessing. We're going through the book "Lord, Change Me." There were probably 13 in attendance. Our discussion centered around chapter two, in which the author explains how the Lord led her to be changed by asking for the Lord's wisdom, and how to obtain that wisdom through the study of God's word by reading only until the Lord speaks, then stopping (waiting) when He does, and praying, asking what He wants us to know. How profound!

Well by the time I got home, I was feeling icky again, so I got ready for bed and tried to go to sleep. I think I woke up four different times during the night, feeling worse each time. By the time 6:30 am rolled around, there was no way I could even roll out of bed. It was rough. I did try, though, to no avail. I slept throughout the day, and even tried to get up and get ready for church. Again, to no avail. I tried eating soup, oranges, cheese and crackers - and all of that helped some. So finally, around 11:00 last night, I went to sleep, and slept until about 6 this morning. When I got up, it took me a good long while to get ready, because I felt like I was moving in slow motion. Finally, it was 9:30 when I left the house this morning.

So, how do I feel now? Still icky, but nothing like yesterday. I can function somewhat, and am trusting that by the end of the day, I'll be all right. I appreciate all of you who have been praying for me. I am a firm believer in divine healing, and just because it doesn't happen right away does not by any means change the Word of God! So we're just going to keep on praying and trusting the Lord in spite of how things appear.

Hope you've had a good week. The weekend is just around the corner, and guess what yours truly is doing this Saturday?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

:o)

*Shanna*

It's Chick-Fil-A Day!

2009-02-17T06:00:00.001-08:00

We have arrived at yet another Lunch Club Tuesday at HQ. Today's venture??? Chick-Fil-A. Last year, one of the high schools sold discount cards to various restaurants and shops in the area, and the Chick-Fil-A discount was receive a free Chick-Fil-A sandwich with the purchase of large fries and a large drink.

(For the sake of brevity, Chick-Fil-A will henceforth be referred to in this blog as CFA.)

Anyway...my favorite thing to order has typically been either the nuggets or the CFA club. But it just so happens my throat is sore today, so I may just have to settle for soup. :o( What a disappointment!!!! I mean, eating soup at CFA just TOTALLY changes the joy of the experience for me! Oh well...I distinctly remember at exactly last year this time, I had the flu. There was no CFA, no leaving the house, no playing with the dog, no being out in civilization for a whole week. That was the pits. So I suppose a scratchy throat and CFA Chicken Noodle soup will not be so bad. :o)

Let's see, other news...

Valentine's Day was pretty typical. My favorite part was being able to sleep in and do absolutely nothing for a good part of the day. Of course, because I'm so accustomed to getting up early, "sleeping in" for me usually means 7:30 or 8:00 am. But in spite of that it was quite a treat, since the last few Saturdays have been full of activity.

Our Sunday services were great, especially the evening message on making it in. Brother Butler always blesses us and preaches from the heart. There was such a sweet spirit there Sunday night. It was almost as though if we had decided to stay all night, the Lord would have kept moving. Don't you just love those types of services? *sigh* He always knows what we need. There's just no one like Him.

Well I surely hope you all enjoy a blessed day in the Lord. Please join me in prayer to fight off this nasty cold or whatever it is that is trying to overtake my immune system. No doubt I'll have a good report to share soon!

Also, remember to pray for Brother Ard, Dupre, Smith, Oscar, and for Sister Smith as they travel Wednesday to Venezuela. We are living in some really exciting times. The Lord is conquering the enemy's territory every day. It won't be long until His return!

*Shanna*

Well Hello There!

2009-02-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

Greetings to all!

I can't seem to remember to bring the SD card with the Super Bowl Saturday pictures on it. Perhaps SOMEDAY...but in the meantime, I just heard a few moments ago that the schools dismissed early because of the high winds (20 mph) and rain (if you count sprinkling as rain) that we are experiencing at the moment. Now, I did hear in the forecast this morning that we could have thunderstorms today. And they could surely come. But I have NEVER heard of dismissing school for the possibility of thunderstorms. Have you?

Then again, I realize SOME of you feel we should have school with five feet of snow on the ground and sub-zero temps. But that's neither here nor there. :o)

The HQ building project seems to be moving along nicely. Praise the Lord! There is now a sidewalk all the way around the building, and concrete steps with side railing into the front entrance. It looks absolutely beautiful. What a day of rejoicing that will be when everything is completed!

Last Saturday was the Western Tennessee District Convention, which was very good! Each state auxiliary coordinator/booster gave a powerful boost, and Brother Smith preached a good message about unity. No doubt, one we need desperately to hear. Then, we had good fellowship and food prepared by the members of the Antioch church. I think I arrived home around 7:30 pm. Of course, I enjoyed the drive to Antioch (Nashville Metro Area), since I'm absolutely in love with the Nashville area. I always said if I knew I weren't called here to Cleveland, I would be there in a heartbeat. But a gal can visit, right? :o)

Well that's all the tidings from here for now. Have great midweek services, and I'll be in touch again soon.

*Shanna*

You'll Just Have to Wait

2009-02-04T05:50:00.000-08:00

Sorry to report that yours truly has left the SD card with Super Bowl Saturday pictures on it at home. So until I remember to bring it with me...you'll have to see a couple of snow pictures.

As you can see, the roads were just wet. Some of the area secondary roads (like the one I live on), though, did ice over once the temperature dropped. And it was a mess driving on that road the next day. But in spite of that, it was certainly a nice treat. We certainly don't get snow much around here, so it's always beautiful when we do.

Well...except for the 4-foot blizzard of '93. It was beautiful, but you can only stand to be without power and cooped up in the house for so long. :o)

Enjoy your day! Super Bowl Saturday posting and photos to follow soon!

*Shanna*

Preparing for Another Busy Saturday

2009-01-30T05:56:00.001-08:00

Perhaps not busy by the standards of many.

BUT...

Tomorrow, our state VLB Booster has planned a state-wide youth activity called Super Bowl Saturday. In reality, it has nothing to do with the actual Super Bowl, other than it's the same weekend. It's actually a way to boost and be excited about Reaching the Nations through Publications (aka - "The Printer Project"). Our Booster issued a challenge to all the local churches for each gleaner and VLB to raise $25, $50, or $100 each. $25 represents a safety, $50 a field goal, and $100 a touchdown. There will be food, games, and "Coaches Meetings," followed by an evening VLB service. It's going to be a lot of fun. What I really appreciate about our Booster is that she is able to gear our youth activities toward all ages, and there's just no way for anyone to feel left out.

So we'll be hitting the happy trail around 12 p.m. our time - MUCH better than the 7 a.m. when we attended the Alabama/Tennessee music workshop! So at the very least, I will be able to sleep in...a little.

I'll take my camera and try to get a few shots, and will tell you all about it sometime next week. Have a great day and weekend!

*Shanna*

The Weekend

2009-01-27T05:42:00.000-08:00

Greetings to all!

This past weekend was a really good one. I can't tell you how happy I was to see Friday get here. Not sure why. Perhaps just ready for the weekend.

Of course, it's not like I just sat around and did nothing. Saturday was a full day indeed. It started off with our local church's monthly service at the nursing home. Then our local VLB's met for lunch, then off to work on our commercial project for an upcoming TN state youth function. Then, we had a chili cook-off in the evening as a fundraiser for Reaching the Nations through Publication. Six pots of chili were entered, and we raised about $160. I thought that was pretty good, considering about 12 people attended. And in case you're wondering which pot of chili won? You'll never believe mine did! (I'm still in shock, quite honestly...) I guess miracles really DO happen, huh? :o)

Our Sunday services were good, also. Our pastor's message was entitled "The Goal of Perfection." He talked about how the perfect man does not say he is perfect, or even know it. If so, he wouldn't be perfect. In his message, he asked the rhetorical question, "What is in my life that could be keeping me from wholly following the Lord to perfection?" Perfection means to be just like Jesus, which means I must deny myself and be blameless. God requires this standard of each one of us.

Sunday evening, Brother Butler preached a really good message about sanctification. The title was simply, "Are You Sanctified?" He mentioned that the devil does not like holy living or preaching about holiness. We need to GET UP and walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4). He ended the message with the song, "Be Careful Little Eyes/Ears/Lips/Hands/Feet".

There's just no way I can do either of these messages any justice by this blog. Of course, you know me and my jumbled summaries. :o)

Other than that, not much else is occurring around these parts. Hope you all enjoy your day, I'll check in with you again soon.

*Shanna*

Just a Typical Thursday

2009-01-22T09:51:00.000-08:00

Now that the snow has melted, and the temperature has warmed up, there is absolutely nothing to report at the moment.

So for now, this is just a greeting to everyone in Blogland.

*Shanna*

More on the Revival, Part II

2009-01-20T05:40:00.000-08:00

Here are the remaining messages from our revival last week. Well, at least TWO of those messages, seeing as I have lost my notes from the third one...And of course, as I have mentioned before, my notes may be slightly jumbled because it's really hard to take down much when the messages are so good!

"Power for Service"
Scripture references: Luke 24:49; Acts 1; John 14:16,17; 1 Cor 3:16,17; John 16:7,8; Hebrews 3:17-19; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 10:44,45; Acts 19:6
Notes: Many modern definitions of the Holy Ghost take away from who He really is. Tarrying (waiting for the Lord) is very important when seeking the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will not dwell in an unclean temple. The ministry of the Holy Ghost is more than just a shout, it is to give power for service to testify and be a true witness. Also the Holy Ghost convinces (convicts) the heart. We should be sure our motives are pure whenever we are seeking God.

Untitled (or at least, I didn't write one down!) - I believe this one was my favorite
Scripture references: Rom 9:20; Gen. 32:24-31
Notes: We should learn to be content in whatever state. Bro. Smith shared the story of Fannie J. Crosby, who became blind at six weeks old. She was blind her entire life, but was never bitter about her condition. So what's our excuse? Jacob wrestled with an angel and left with a limp. But yet God used that limp to remind him where his dependence came from. Moses had trouble speaking. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, but without it, he would not have been able to know the grace of God, and what the power of Christ resting upon him really meant. Sometimes God leaves us "handicapped" to prove His strength in the middle of our weaknesses. It is time for all of us to praise God for our handicaps instead of making excuses for them.

We concluded this particular service around the altar singing, "Blessed Assurance," one of Ms. Crosby's hymns. Isn't it amazing how someone who seemingly has a reason to grumble and complain about how life is going for her could write such profound lyrics?

It's too bad I've misplaced the other notes from the last service. But when I find them, I'll be sure to post those as well.

In the meantime, we received a slight dusting of snow last night. And of course, they have closed all of the surrounding schools. I'll try to share a couple of photos with you as soon as I can. Have a gloriously blessed day today!

*Shanna*

Just Checking In

2009-01-19T12:44:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

I have been super crazy busy, so haven't had a chance to finish my postings on the revival. But just know that the Lord visited us in such a marvellous way. It was and still is much needed, no doubt.

The weekend was fun. Believe it or not, I was up at 5 a.m. on Saturday morning to leave for Bessemer, Alabama with Sister Smith and Brother John Farmer for a music workshop. It was quite a blast! I really enjoyed myself, and consider it to have been worth it to get such an early start. I really enjoyed getting to meet so many new people!

Well anyway, this is the rapid version of the latest happenings. Oh by the way - in case you haven't heard, our temps dropped to 7 degrees on Thursday night. What am I talking about? Of course you've heard, because there seem to be some mockers out there in Blogland who think us Southerners are soft for not being able to handle the cold.

lol :o)

*Shanna*

More on the Revival

2009-01-14T10:21:00.000-08:00

It has been very rich. Sometimes I get so caught up into listening that I do not write many notes. So I'll have to give you MY recap of the messages we've heard so far:

"How Shall We Escape?"
Scripture references: Heb. 1; Heb. 2:1-3
Notes: Talks about giving the more earnest heed. "Heed" suggests a warning, and "earnest" suggests that the need to heed is pressing because of immediate danger. The devil no doubt wants what we've heard to slip away, so that he can utterly destroy us.

"Repent or Perish"
Scripture references: Lu. 13; Ro. 1:18; Ro. 3:23; Ez. 18:30-31; Is. 55:7; Lu. 3:3-9; Ro. 14:17; Ex. 9:23; 2 Co. 7:10; Ps. 51:3-4; Mic. 7:19; Jas. 2:15-16
Notes: The crooked places must be made straight. Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost = Salvation, Sanctification, and baptism with the Holy Ghost.

"The Destiny of Sinners Is Eternal Damnation and the Lake of Fire"
Scripture references: Ps. 9:17; Ps. 5:4-5; 1 Co. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Mt. 9:6; Ec. 11:3; John 12:25; 2 Co. 5:10; Lu. 16:20-31; Mr. 9:43; Mt. 25:46
Notes: A couple of common thoughts shared among people about hell: (1) God is love and wouldn't send people there, (2) Hell is a temporary place for discipline. God never intended hell to be for the saints, only for sinners. But it is a real place without escape.

"Sanctification"
Scripture references: 1 Pet. 1:16; 1 Jn. 4:17; 1 Thes. 3:12; 1 Thes. 4:1-6; 1 Thes. 5:23; Ps. 42:1
Notes: "Be ye holy" is not a suggestion, but rather a commandment. Sanctification means abounding in God's love. We are to follow after holiness.

We have enjoyed a very good spirit thus far in the revival. However, there is still a realm of a visitation from the Lord that we have yet to press into. There is such a desperate need for revival, and we have just GOT to get there. These are the end times, and there is a new level of power and commitment that our walk with the Lord will require just to make it.

I hope to have more reports over the next couple of days. I will try to take more notes! :o) Until the next time!

*Shanna*

Revival

2009-01-12T13:01:00.001-08:00

It's awesome!

I'll tell you more about it when I actually have time to SIT and BLOG.

:o)

Shanna

Heart's Treasure

2009-01-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

So how has everyone been?

Well, here I have found myself yet again with not much to report. As for the weather here, the rain has let up slightly. The sun is shining today, and I believe the temperature is around 45 degrees. And would you believe, I actually stepped outside and wished it were summer? Apparently, I'm just delusional, because all who know me know very well that summer and I just don't jive.

That reminds me of a conversation I had with a brother in the Church, who a few months ago, asked how I was doing on a particular day. My reply was, "Fine, just tired of the rain." And then he said, "Oh, I tell you, even when we're doing well, we always find something to complain about, don't we?"

Ouch.

But you know, it really made me think. There I was, healthy, happy (for a change, because at that time, I really wasn't very happy overall), and alive - which is much better than most could say - but yet disgruntled because of a little rain????

Isn't it amazing how the flesh is never satisfied with ANYTHING? No wonder the Word says that it can't be subject to the law of God, EVER, and admonishes us to walk in the SPIRIT instead. If we followed our flesh and its affections and lusts, which can never be content, imagine the quick destruction in which we would find ourselves. Classic example, of course, are the children of Israel. They complained about practically everything under the sun - Moses, manna, wilderness, etc - and God's divine leading, until it finally caught up with them, and they succumbed to idolatry as a result. Even though simple statements about not liking the rain, the cold, the heat, or anything else, may seem light in comparison, it still only attests to a degree of dissatisfaction deep down on the inside of the heart. After all, everything we say, including our complaints and murmurings, originates from the heart.

Lu 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Like I always say...perhaps this doesn't apply to any of YOU, but as for ME...

Lord, help me to find contentment in everything, and cast this "evil treasure" far away from my heart.

In Jesus' name - amen.

A Couple of Really Cute Photos

2009-01-07T10:44:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

I am a little too busy to blog these days, but thought I would at least show you some really cute photos of Blue. Hope you enjoy them, and I'll be in touch again soon. I promise! :o)

*Shanna*

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T09:46:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

Take Up Thy Cross

2008-12-30T05:48:00.000-08:00

Lu 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Mt 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Lu 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

I hope this blog will make sense.

It's so interesting how periodically, we find ourselves at a major crossroads. (Appropriately named.) It's like, the Lord seems to bring things into our path that just seem SO PERFECT. And we think, "This just HAS to be the will of God..." because it just seems to fit every answer to every prayer of the heart, that only the Lord hears. You know - the ones you pray silently at the altar, hiding the petition in your heart before the Lord, not sharing it with anyone. I'm talking about THOSE prayers. Well, the Lord had answered one of mine, I had thought. But it turns out that He had other plans in mind. During the course of the last few weeks, I began to feel as though the Lord was leading in a different direction than I had originally thought. At first, I must confess, I was crushed in my heart, and I whined before the Lord about it. I cried so many tears, I didn't think I had any left. My heart was so heavy, and so disoriented, because I just didn't understand. It just didn't make sense to me whatsoever. Then, I began to realize...

If I'm not willing to give something up - no matter what it is - for the Lord, then I really don't need it in my life anyway. When Jesus asked Peter, "Lovest thou me more than these?" Jesus was really asking, "Do you love Me enough and are you willing to lay it all down and follow Me wherever I am leading you, no matter what it may cost?" Basically, the Lord is asking me, "Shanna, lovest thou Me more than _________?" Of course, He knows the answer. He knows whether or not when I arrive at the next docking station of my spiritual walk, whether or not ________ would keep me from being fully, 100% dedicated to Him and only Him. Only He really knows. But obviously, He sees fit for His will and good pleasure for me to lay it at His feet as a sacrifice. And no matter how uncomfortable the sacrifice may seem:

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

I'm telling you, if I have ever needed the grace of God working strongly in my life, I surely need it now. I mean, I REALLY need it RIGHT NOW. But, isn't that what being a servant of the Most High God is all about? When Jesus ransomed me, it was not with some obsolete foreign currency that has no value in the world's monetary system. It was with His own blood. He gave His best for me, so what's a little sacrifice of my self will in comparison? If I'm not willing to give up the simplest thing for Him, then I am not a faithful steward of my life anyway, and who knows what else I'd be willing to hoard in exchange for my soul???

I feel very strongly that the Lord is calling each and every one of us to this level of sacrifice. Because when Jesus challenged Peter about his level of love toward the Lord, it was the beginning of a new level of power and anointing for Peter and the Church as a whole. Somehow in that exchange between Peter and the Lord, it was made known to Peter's heart that his degree of surrender and sacrifice to the Lord had to go deeper. Sure, he walked with Jesus as a disciple, witnessed His power, felt the agony of His crucifixion, but even still, he had a deeper place to go. Jesus was pulling for Peter, and wanted so badly for him to make it - as He does for all of us. No doubt, that's why he could say:

2Pe 3:9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The Lord places us in these valleys of decision; these crossroads; these Gethsemane's - because He wants us to make it. Not only does He want us to make it, He wants us to have power and victory all the way, not just to slide in by the skin of our teeth. Though our natural mind can't conceive the divine purpose and plan behind it all:

Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Every single thing the Lord does in our lives knits together and forms this awesome picture of what the Lord calls "good." The Church is called to perfection. We are all called to perfection as individuals. That's His purpose. So He knows what it will take to accomplish that purpose. I was so blessed by Brother Smith's article in the Evening Light this month, "Purity Before Power." Part of being pure is being rid of self will. It's our own will that contaminates us and leaves us defiled before the Lord. And the Lord knows that, which is why He ordains our steps the way He does - so that we are walking in His divine protection from the corruption that our flesh and the enemy would love to destroy us with. It is always in our best interest - excuse me, let me talk to myself for a moment - it is always in my best interest to follow the leading of the Holy Ghost, because He is the One who knows the will of the Father, and can reveal it to my heart, and guide me in it. He's the only One. In moments where my natural mind wants to question, or my flesh wants to resist, that's where I must fall to my face before the Lord and allow His grace to abound more and more.

Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

There is more grace to be given. Thank the Lord He is an ever present help in trouble. Thank the Lord I do not have to walk this road alone, even though it may feel sometimes as though I am alone. Thank the Lord that He is not a man that He should lie, that He cannot lie, and that it is IMPOSSIBLE for Him to lie. His Word is settled forever. My expectation is from Him. He alone is my rock, salvation, and defense, I shall not be moved.

So I say to all of you - take courage. The Lord is fully aware of every season of our lives, and nothing catches Him by surprise. He knows exactly where we are and where we're headed. His grace is more than enough for us to make it along the crossroads, and to stay there as long as He sees fit.

*Shanna*

It's 64 Degrees!!!!

2008-12-27T10:49:00.001-08:00

I have on a short-sleeved blouse today.

*sigh*

I suppose it does feel pretty good, but usually this means some super-icy temps are dead ahead. Yes, Sister Smith, we are a long way from snow at the present moment. Maybe in January??? :o) Or it could be in March like it was in the "Blizzard of '93." Not sure I could do that again. Funny thing, I've heard a few complain about the weather in Tennessee, how the temperature fluctuations are so wacky during the month of December. But probably once January rolls around, we can say goodbye to warmth until April or so. We'll see.

Anyhoo - you guys are blessed to hear from me yet again during the weekend! :o) Hope you enjoyed your Christmas!

*Shanna*

Mad Props to the Popcorn...um...Treats

2008-12-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

My Dear Blogging Comrades,

It was brought to my attention that I failed to mention the popcorn...um...treats that we had for our HQ goody day. So, I thought I would mention...

We had popcorn, um, treats, for our HQ goody day on Monday. They were intended to be popcorn balls, but a minor snafu kept them from maintaining their round shape. They were very sweet, but very good. So sweet, as a matter of fact, that if I had eaten more than two, there's no doubt I'd spend Christmas bouncing all over the place from a serious sugar high. :o) And since I'm at my mom and dad's, I'm sure they are grateful I only ate one. :o) At HQ we were joking about their color because it looks like a pea green at first. But of course, their maker informed us that the correct color is "Christmas Green." :o) Since that's the story, and she's sticking to it, that settles it, I suppose. :o)

As for today, I am at my mom and dad's at the moment, listening to some awesome Oscar Peterson jazz Christmas CD. and we're all feeling pretty Christmasy around here. Just need one more thing - SNOW! (To all my friends in the west - I'm still waiting for you to send some...)

Well Merry Christmas yet again! I may have another chance or two to blog over the weekend, so I guess you'll be hearing from me again soon. ;o)

*Shanna*

I Only THOUGHT It Was Cold...

2008-12-22T10:36:00.000-08:00

All together now...

***Brrrrrrr!!!!!!***

When I went outside this morning to start my car and feed Blue, the temperature was officially 14 degrees. I just KNEW I would arrive at work with icicles hanging from my ears and stuck in my hair. But it wasn't that bad. After all, I am able to type this blog, right? Anyway, it was a brisk start to the week, to say the least. But Sister Smith's homemade cider sure made it all better! As for our goodies this morning, today's spread included tostadas, potato soup, cornbread, chicken cheese ball, veggie tray, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, sandwich rolls, Sister Smith's cider, and of course, there may be something I'm leaving out. But it was all very good. Well, I should say it IS very good, because we usually munch all day long. (As a matter of fact, I'm going to go back downstairs and grab a quick snack before returning to work.)

Our Christmas program last night was a real blessing. Our local church congregation is relatively small, with an average attendance of perhaps 10-15 people, if that. But with the Zion Hill Church also in attendance, I believe every single pew was completely full. It really did my heart so much good to hear all those voices singing. Imagine what heaven will be like!

I suppose my lunch hour is over, and I should be getting back to work now. (Gotta get that snack!) Thanks for stopping in! I'll try to blog again tomorrow before we close the office for Christmas, or maybe during the holiday. But just in case I don't get the opportunity, I surely hope your holiday is very special and richly blessed. Until next time!

*Shanna*

The End of the New Week...Already

2008-12-19T09:14:00.001-08:00

Well...although I am tickled to greet you with...

HAPPY FRIDAY!

...I regret to inform you that nothing spectacular and exciting has happened, that has kept me too busy to blog. But just to keep you up to speed, here have been the week's happenings:

Tuesday - the Headquarters staff had our Christmas dinner. This is only my second one, since I've only been here almost two years. (Can you believe it??? My, how the time does fly.) I really enjoyed it, though. We did a gift exchange, well, sort of. It's more like, as our name is drawn, we just pick out a wrapped gift. Only those who wrapped them know what they are. And guess what I got? An electric griddle! How cool is that? I have always wanted one, because I think they are so awesome! So you know what that means, right? Yep, I'll actually be cooking every two weeks now, instead of only about once per month. :o)

Wednesday - a pretty typical day. Ate, worked, went to Church, slept.

Thursday - another pretty typical day, except my computer at work was having SERIOUS issues. I was working along, just minding my own business, when suddenly - it appeared - the blue screen of death. And every time I restarted, within 10 minutes, it had returned. This happened three different times before I called for help. And THEN...I couldn't get it to operate in what's called "safe mode", because it would act like it was going to work, then take me back to a utility menu. Goofy machine! So that knocked me out of getting anything productive done while here at work. So Brother Kryss worked like crazy to try and get it back up and running again. At first, it was thought that I had lost everything on my hard drive. So I took an early lunch, in hopes that everything would be back to "normal" upon my return. Not so, not so. Whatever was going on, my computer basically decided it just might give up the ghost. At the end of the day, Brother Kryss had done all he could do, and tried again this morning.

We did have our weekly VLB Bible study, also, about idolatry, with some really good discussion. Then it was off to the house for some shut-eye.

And then we have...

Today - as I said in the beginning, HAPPY FRIDAY! Brother Kryss was able to restore my hard drive, but the prognosis is not good. It probably doesn't have much life left. Poor thing. But at least I can get some good work done today!

As for Blue - he is Blue. Nothing new to report with him. He is just as entertaining as ever. By the way - our neighbor with the Rottweilers has relocated them all to another location. Not sure where that is, but at the very least, we can all rest more easily now.

So that's it, in a nutshell. This weekend's plans? I'm meeting a few friends I used to work with on Saturday for lunch, and Sunday evening is our Christmas program at our local church. Then Monday is yet another great goody day at Headquarters, and for this one, I'll be making pigs-in-a-blanket, chicken cheese ball, and maybe something else. But we'll see. :o)

Have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

*Shanna*

A New Week

2008-12-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

I can't believe another weekend has come and gone. On Saturday, we had a going-away shindig for the roomie that is moving out. My sausage balls turned out o.k., I suppose. I think I went a little Bisquick crazy, because that's all I tasted. Of course, everyone else thought they were fine. I guess that means they were fine. :o)

On Sunday morning, our pastor preached about Jesus being the bread of heaven. What a powerful message that was. His main passage of scripture was taken from John chapter 6, where Jesus is explaining to the Jews that He is the bread of life. Their fathers ate manna in the wilderness and died, but He is the bread sent down from heaven that is alive. Part of our pastor's exposition on that verse - "He ain't just any kind of bread." :o) But what really touched my heart, though, was verse 67, when Jesus asks the twelve, "Will ye also go away?" I can only imagine the heartache Jesus must have felt in that moment. Earlier, He had quite a following, but it was determined they were only following Him for the food. And then, Jesus was really trying so hard to help them understand who He is, and to give them the spiritual food they needed, but they couldn't get past eating of His flesh and drinking His blood. So they just up and left. Then, the rhetorical question (don't you just LOVE those?) was posed to our congregation - will we become offended and murmur against the Word of God, and leave everything behind?

What a question.

I don't know about anyone else, but I felt such a fear of God overshadow me. It's almost as if the Lord was reminding us of how important continuing on with Him really is. In spite of how our flesh may not necessarily want to hear what the Word says, it is still for our good, and ultimately determines where our soul will end up at the end of our lives.

On Sunday night, our local church went to the Zion Hill local church to watch their Christmas program. It was really good! Every one on program did an outstanding job. I can't remember what the title of the play was, but it was narrated in poetry style, and each character had a small speaking part, and there were a couple of songs in between narrations. I'm not sure I'm doing any justice to this play in my description of it - but anyway, it really was good. (By the way - good job on the costumes, Sister Smith!) Then afterwards, we enjoyed some good food and fellowship. It was a great Sunday.

And here we are on Monday already. Unbelievable. And tomorrow evening is our staff Christmas dinner. Christmas day and 2009 will be here before the lamb can even shake his little tail. :o) Hope each of you have a glorious day. Until the next posting!

*Shanna*

Friday Sunshine

2008-12-12T09:40:00.000-08:00

Woo hoo! It's Friday, the sun is shining, my dog is no longer tied up...

I say today's a GREAT day, what about you?

:o)

Seriously, after two straight days of torrential downpours, it surely is nice to see the sunshine again. Of course, with the clearing skies comes colder temperatures. This morning, I left for work in 32-degree weather, and tonight's forecast is 20-25 degrees for the low. I'm sure glad I'll be indoors.

Oh yeah - tomorrow, we're having a little get together at our house, for which I'll be making sausage balls. Piece of cake! Like I said, I'm always encouraged to make things that I know I can do, and that people actually like. What a concept!

Anyway, hope you all enjoy your afternoon, and your weekend. :o)

*Shanna*

Happenings

2008-12-11T06:03:00.001-08:00

It has rained nonstop over the last two days. Right now, it is absolutely pouring down rain. But rain is a usual occurrence that isn't really worth blogging too much about.

However...

On Wednesday morning, I awoke after a long sleepless night. I am typically one who has no trouble sleeping, mind you. So I decided I was going to sleep an extra hour before attempting to go to work. The PLAN was to arrive at work just before devotions at 9:00 a.m. Well, it turned out that I was not able to get into the bathroom to begin getting ready, as our other roomie beat me to it. As I was waiting my turn, Audrey (owner of the house) knocks on my bedroom door, and says I need to go outside right away and bring Blue into the house. Here's what had happened - the two rottweilers at the end of the street were loose. They are a male and a female, and the female rot had just killed Scotchie, a.k.a. "Blue's Girlfriend." So here I go, outside, trying to help nab my already shaken up pooch and lure him into the house. Needless to say, it had been raining all night long, the ground was super muddy, he was super wet, and our attempts to catch him were unsuccessful. So Audrey drove up to her grandmother's house, and he followed her there (thankfully), where the rottweilers' owner's dad was trying to catch the male, who was still on the loose.

I found out later that the male is relatively calm. Of course, when you SEE a 250-pound muscular rottweiler face to face, "calm" is not quite the first word that pops into your mind to describe him, right?

So, I just went into the house and proceeded to get ready for work. The clothes I was wearing were all wet and muddy, thanks to Blue, so of course, they went straight into the laundry. I finally arrived at work around 9:40 a.m. - not too far after my projected time of arrival. Audrey called me a little later, and informed me that they were able to finally catch Blue. Her mother just called him, and he went right to her. That little stinker! She also told me that someone else shot the female rottweiler. I remember, as we were trying to catch my pooch, we did hear gunshots in the distance. So I suppose that's when it happened. Apparently, someone called the police and animal control, so Audrey's mom tied Blue up, and I'm glad she did. He will probably be tied up for a few days, until all of this clears up. By the way - as far as I know, the rottweiler owners were gone while all of this was taking place. So I'm not sure how all of that panned out.

And there you have it. It was quite an eventful morning Wednesday, to say the least. But at least no humans were hurt, and things seem to have returned to some form of "normal."

Whatever that is.

Ode to the SUCCESSFUL Pasta Salad and the Great Weekend

2008-12-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

Can we all say, "Praise the LORD!"

I'm sure most of you probably have nailed making great pasta salad, but you must remember, I am a chef-in-training, and must rejoice upon accomplishing anything deemed a success. :o)

It turned out I didn't have to make sausage balls, which was perfectly O.K. with me. I did make a pasta salad, though, and by all accounts, it was very good. The funny thing is that even though I was pleased with it, I really didn't care too much for its flavor. Can you believe that? Am I wild or what? :o) I finally make something that everyone likes who has tried it, and I don't like it. I think it was the over abundance of Parmesan and feta cheeses. I feel if I had added something like artichoke hearts, and perhaps a little oregano or basil, it may have been perfect. Oh well. At the very least, I know I can do it, and will definitely be trying it again. So the final word is, it was a success, as far as I'm concerned.

Our church dinner on Saturday was really good. We had a turnout of about 3o people, and served turkey, dressing, sausage balls, cakes, pies, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, green beans, rice/bean/cheese casserole, and I'm sure I'm leaving something out. But we had quite a spread, and really good fellowship. But boy, was it cold. Yeah, yeah, I know...cold for us here in Tennessee is anything cooler that about 45 degrees. I believe it was about 28 when the sun was setting on Saturday. Not only could I see my breath, but I could feel my ears and fingers detaching themselves from my body. Brrrr!!!! And by the time I got home, I'm sure it had dropped to about 25. Again - Brrrr!!! There was a time when I could stand frigid temps. But I have noticed that every year it becomes harder to cope with. I will maintain, though, that I would much rather have cold than the horrible humidity of the summer. There's just no relief from that stuff!

Our services on Sunday were wonderful. In the morning, our pastor preached "Beware of Ravenous Wolves." The Lord placed this message on his heart many months ago, even before he came to our local church. Essentially, it was that we still need to be careful, as the ravenous wolves that the Bible talks about can still enter in, and even are in the fold right now. We should each be careful not to be one! It was one of those messages that we really need to hear, and really pricks your heart at the same time. What stood out to me the most is that the devil comes in with deception just at the moment things seems to have "settled down." So of course, that's when we should be on our guard the most. The Lord is so good to us! He really does want each of us to make it, and I know that's why he inspires our ministry with such anointed messages. Even so, Lord, prick my heart.

Our evening service was so sweet with the presence of the Lord, as we celebrated a communion and feetwashing. Personally, I have never felt such gratitude in my own heart for the sacrifice that the Lord made for us. My prayer is that I will never take His love for me for granted.

Well, it was good to fill you in on all the latest. I suppose someone will comment at some point, and at least let me know you're still alive and kicking. I'm sure most of you have other more exciting things to report than I do, but you can't say I haven't been blogging! :o)

*Shanna*

Happy Friday

2008-12-05T07:56:00.001-08:00

There's not much to report around these parts today, except that today is Friday.

Yay!

Hope you have a great one!

*Shanna*

There Shall Be Showers of Dressing

2008-12-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving dinner was an enjoyable event. My dressing did turn out at least edible, but not exactly what I was going for. I know, however, what my error was, so I'll just have to try it again. One of my other roommates also made dressing, and although it had a different taste, it was all right. And that's all I'm saying about that. The sweet potato casserole turned out great, except the poor marshmallows were burned to smithereens because they were also cooking in the oven with a squash casserole and macaroni and cheese. I asked someone to watch them for me while I dolled myself up for our company, but the poor "watchperson" had other things to tend after at the same time, that made keeping an eye on my marshmallows a little difficult. Bless her heart. It really was a stressful day, so I can understand how those things happen. But the sweet potatoes tasted wonderfully! But I'm going to try cooking it again, this time watching the marshmallow myself, just to get a feel for how long it takes for them to get done. As for the collard greens, I think they were the best. I found a really good recipe and used it as a guide. Apparently of all that I had made, that was the favorite. So I'll definitely be making those again some day.

Notice I said, "some day." I believe I've had my share of cooking for at least a couple of weeks, anyway. Of course, this weekend is our church's Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner. We'll just be having finger foods, which is right up my alley. I have volunteered pasta salad and sausage balls, which I know beyond the shadow of a doubt I can make! So it will be a breeze.

Well thanks so much for all your encouragement concerning the cooking thing. I'm just going to have to get more practice in, or else my poor future husband and children just may starve! :o)

Enjoy your day today!

*Shanna*

Welcome!

2008-12-04T15:04:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

Since I've already blogged about it being the week of Thanksgiving...and you all already know I'll be making cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, and collard greens for Thursday's dinner...I'm not sure what else to say except...

Welcome to my new blogspot! :o)

Since for some reason, I was unable to import all my postings and pictures from the other location (even though Blogger told me I could!), of course it's practically as if I'm starting from scratch. But I guess that doesn't really matter, right? The point is that I'm still blogging! :o)

So I'll be in touch again soon. Enjoy your holiday!

*Shanna*