COMMON GROUND COFFEE HOUSE #84

Oh We had a wonderful service today! Kids kept wandering in to Sunday School but I think I had 14 children.

We've begun putting a 'prayer request' form in our bulletin where people can ask for prayer for specific needs. First they're laid out on the altar and anyone who feels led can go and pray and then they're gathered up for the Women's Prayer Circle on Monday's and staff to pray over, etc. I had 3 very touching needs. I knew 2 of the families involved.

We also have erected 2 plain white wooden crosses which are on either side of the podium. You write the name of an unsaved friend or loved one in black and commit to witnessing to them or finding someone to witness or go with you. When the person accepts Christ, their name is marked off in red. I could see red marks from my seat on the 5th row today.

I have a lesson to teach to the Sparks this Wednesday night and have 25 mins. to fill and then 5 mins. for closing and lining up for class. I'm thinking of starting off with teaching them their theme song, repeating our motto and then doing the story but nothing has come to me yet as to which story is to be told.

We had 150 in AWANA this past Wednesday night and 140 in our YOUTH GROUP!! God bless Brother Jon and his youth workers!!

 

Blessed Lord's Day everyone!

Diane, we had 12 little chatterboxes in our SS this morning! It seemed like so many after the last few weeks when more than half were in the new Christian class. You could sure tell school had started, and they all wanted to talk about it.

I'm not sure we ever had them completely quiet, but they sure enjoyed talking about Jacob and his troubles with Easu. Even though the story was supposed to end with Jacob using his pillow rock to make an altar, we had to continue on and talk about Jacob's marriage and that Jacob and Easu made peace eventually. For some reason this story caught their imaginations.

I'll pop in and out today. I'm going to clean house and do laundry today so it will be organized enough for Son and I to stay overnight at the hospital tomorrow night. Son sure will be glad to get rid of this headache!

See ya!

 

LOL Cindi! It was the stone pillow and 'Jacob's Ladder dream' that kept mine quiet. I did mention Essau being 'hairy' and they all wanted to tell me about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and someone who fell into hairy chocolate???

I'm SO sleepy! I should take a nap. I should cut the back yard. I should vacuum the floor. I should empty the dishwasher. I should.... but instead I've been reading children's sermons waiting for one to jump out as THE one I'm supposed to do this Wednesday night.

 

Don't know about no "hairy chocolate", but we did have to explain that just because Jacob wasn't hairy and didn't hunt, that it didn't mean he was weak, just different. Only southern kids.....

I've got the laundry started, and a load of dishes done and have even run back to Walmart for laundry detergent that I didn't know I was out of, but I think my folks are going to have to settle for a less than spotless house tomorrow. I think they are going to have to be glad they have clean clothes and a clean kitchen, because the rest of it isn't getting done to fast!

That reminds me, I need to call my MIL and make sure she's going to be around to pick the girls up from school tomorrow.

 

What happens if you j-u-s-t leave 'um at school----you know!!!??? Let 'um "suffer" a while!!

 

Good afternoon all:

Well, this morning we had SS in a different format. The men in one class, the ladies in another. I called for a prayer meeting for the deacons, myself, and other men of the church this morning 1/2 hour before SS (did this last night and we contacted everyone), and the Lord really used that prayer session. And the SS lesson was excellent. It fit in so well with our situation. It was from Daniel 6 where Daniel kept praying despite the kings decree. God really used the lesson Bro. Bobby taught.

The morning worship service was sort of unorganized, but it was good. The people worked so much in harmony together, and I welcomed people to a new beginning in Midland Baptist Church. It was hard to preach the message, and I nearly broke down and cried several times, as did others in the church. It was hard to recall all the good times with others who had decided to leave us. But, it was also healing. It also helped to give us a purpose to stand strong on Biblical principles. I was glad. Couldn't believe the people actually stayed until 1:15 to talk and pray with one another. God bless them! Love still abounds at Midland! Praise the Lord!

Please continue to pray for us.

I may post again this evening.

T

 

(quote by T is taken extremely out of context---here goes Blackbird again!!!)

Funny----it happens to the best of us, doesn't it, T???

 

Tony, sounds like a praise report to me! God uses us in many ways and look how He moved you and Viv to this church for 'such a time as this'!!

Cindi, I thought of that too so didn't mention him not hunting, just that the father could tell them apart by touch and smell. Ewwwwwwwww~ they said!

Last year when I did the story I cut out ladders for every child and dolls from www.makingfriends.com They have angels. I let the children outline with glue and use glitter. Then we put angels coming and going on our ladder! BIG HIT... but I had helpers then.

Next weeks lesson is on how God takes care of the birds and flowers. Think I'll start my search EARLY for a coloring sheet. So many are intricate and discourages these younger kids. Wish Lifeway would supply a coloring sheet with every story.

 

Diane, here is a site that I use quite often for coloring pages and puzzles. Each story is built for multiple age groups, so you just pick out what you need. It seems to have been built for homeschoolers. My kids love the find a word and crossword puzzles. The cross words really help their Bible skills.

Blackbird, if you leave your kids at school longer than 3:15 and the school can't get ahold of anyone they contact DHR(or if you do it more than once). They understand emergencies, but you better be on the phone explaining while you drive!

 

Hey Cindi, you forgot the link!

Blackbird, Cindi is right. State of Georgia says if a parent is 1 hour late picking them up, even from a daycare, you should call DFCS or 911. I know my families have weird hours and emergencies (ministerial calls) but our AWANA booklet that went home with the children told the parents that we would follow through and call the above agencies for any child not picked up within an hour of ending time.

I decided to do 'The Golden Rule' for Wednesday night. Part of our Sparks book is a set of 'Be Kind' rules.

As for next Sunday, if I can't find a good coloring picture, I'm going to print out an Easter basket, remove the eggs, copy it and then have paper flowers the children can color, paste and then in the center we can write things God gives us or hw God cares for us and our needs. If I'm really smart, I'll copy the flowers on color paper and the centers can just be glued on. A paper doily in the background would be pretty. I think that's all in our resource room. I can check during the week.

 

Duh, My mind isn't working well tonight.

Here it is:

http://www.biblestudyplanet.com/kidsstudies.htm

 

Oh Cindi, that one is GREAT! I could have sure used those pictures the last few weeks! I couldn't find 'The Widow's Mite' so had to make my own and never did find one of Jacob's Ladder... and there it is! Thanks SO much! It's a GREAT site!

 

I've used it a bunch! Ya'll are so up on things that I really expected you to say that you already knew about it. I found it one desperate Saturday evening when I didn't have an activity for the next morning. Sometimes the lifeway ones are just not my style.

 

Tony, praise the Lord! Glad to hear the good report.

I know still struggle sometimes with thinking bitter thoughts about people who left my parents' church ... It's hard, but God gives grace.


Well, I had a good Sunday. I love my church down here! I'm really not sure how long it's been since I was on here before, but I joined my church in April. There are many wonderful churches down here, but I'd never felt quite at home in any until I found Trinity.

I'm taking off tomorrow and Tuesday to move some of my stuff and get a head start on learning the twins' routine. It's still kind of hard to believe that I'll be starting a completely new chapter in my life in just a couple of weeks. New job, new home ... I'm excited!!!

Hope you all had a great Sunday.

 

Big Hint Megan, Nap when they nap! LOL With infants, they wake so much at night and with two of them, you may be getting up every hour or so. Is mom nursing?

This is a great time in your life! Enjoy it and praying the Lord bless you over the next 4 or so years as you help raise these children!

 

The twins are bottle fed ... I am assuming when they wake up in the middle of the night, mom and or dad will take care of them ... at least at the start.

I've committed to a year with this family. I may decide I love it so much I want to stay for several more years, but we'll see how the Lord leads.

I'd like to have my own family before too long, but as we all know you have to have a husband for that ... (But we don't talk about that on here ... lol )

Wow, it's warm tonight ...

 

You don't need a man to start a family. Buy a couple of hamsters........

 

(quote by T is taken extremely out of context---here goes Blackbird again!!!)

Funny----it happens to the best of us, doesn't it, T??? </font>[/QUOTE]Blackbird, I don't know what I'd do without you, Brother! Maybe live in peace??? LOL No, seriously, I thank you for your friendship and am open for any suggestions by PM or email. BrotherTony@isp.com. Right now, I'm acting pastor at Midland, and the youth pastor they had a few years back has come back and wants to start trying to get some youth in. I think this church is going to continue to grow and be a lighthouse in the community. God has just separated the silver from the dross (and with most of our congregation being older...we HAVE to be the silver! LOL)

 

Oh, it was definitely a Praise Report! God is good!! When I left the ministry ten years ago, I never thought I would preach again or recover from the hurt from the church split then. But, God's taught Vivian and I a lot...love, patience, and a willingness to serve. I want what is best for Midland Baptist, and they know this. We're starting our search for a pastor, hopefully one who is more dedicated to service than the ones who just left, and will hold true to sound doctrine, feed the flock, and will love ALL of the people in the church, not just the ones who follow him.