Sabbath Day!

Claude & I are TRYING to get back into taking a day of rest.  Life was pretty hectic for awhile, but we are seriously needing to put into action our Sabbath day.  Now, some folks think that the Sabbath is on Sunday.  Well, actually the Sabbath day given to us from the Bible and is to remind us that God commands us to rest and take a day to reflect on Him.  (Old testament was a specific day, New Testament provided new law!)

Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work... Exodus 23:12

For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Exodus 35:2

There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.  Leviticus 23:3

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.  Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.  Hebrews 4:9-11

So, remember to take a day of rest.  God commands it and we need it!

Friendly reminder!

Last night, we had dinner wit some wonderful friends, the Taylors.  I gotta say, I love these folks!  I miss them.  They used to be PARTners of Discovery church.  We try to get together with them on a regular basis and keep up with what's happening with them.  I'm especially close with Janice because she's going thru the same infertility issues that I've been thru.  So, I can truly sympathize with her.  Anyway, they hadn't seen us in about 2 months, so they were a bit shocked by our weight loss!  She reminded me that I don't see the change as dramatically as those around me.  So this morning, Claude & I went to the gym again.  2 more pounds lost!  I am so excited!  

What's even more exciting is knowing that some people from church are feeling motivated to start losing weight and eating healthy!  I didn't think that Me motivating myself to get healthy would encourage others to do the same.  That's such a cool thing!  To those who are encouraged and motivated, let me know and I will pray for you daily!  

To my friend, Jenn, I will definitely keep you accountable and be praying for you!  I actually have something for you that may help you on your road to getting the family and yourself healthy!  I will bring it to church Sunday!

Need Prayers

Just asking everyone to be praying for Discovery Church for the next few months.  There are some changes coming (no! neither Jason nor Claude is leaving!!!!!!).  Just some changes.  Pray that the congregation will be open and flexible to the changes.  Alot of churches across the country are so set in their "traditions" and "that's the way we do it" philosophy that they miss the blessings God has for them when they go thru the growing pains of life!  I heard a preacher ask some leaders (who were grandparents) how many of them would be willing to give up their lives as a guarantee that their grandchildren would come to know the Lord.  Of course, all of them raised their hands.  Then, he asked them how many of them would be willing to give up their traditional music for the same guarantee.  It made me stop and think about how much "tradition" is in our churches.  Don't misunderstand...I LOVE TRADITIONS!  I just feel like the body of Christ gets so wrapped up in them that we miss God's desire for us to reach the world.  Yes, God doesn't change.  The truth of the Bible doesn't change, but our world and society does change.  The world needs a church that will offer the solid unchanging truth of Jesus Christ without being so wrapped in traditions that we turn people off and close our doors to them.

Pray that the leadership sets a great example for how to grow with change!  Jason and Claude (and the other volunteer leaders) do a fantastic job of encouraging the church family to stay focused on the vision God's given to Discovery.  But no matter what these great men say or do, there will be no growth thru change without the Holy Spirit moving in the hearts of Discovery.  I know my God can do anything!  I just pray that all of us are open to what God wants to do.

strange thoughts from last nite!

Last night, the girls met for the last week of Bible study on the book we've been doing.  I sat down with them and they wanted to know if Claude & I were leaving!  WHAT?!?!?!?!?

OK, so here's how it started:

• I've been secretive about my "senior project".  
• I've texted the youth that they REALLY needed to be at youth for the next 2 weeks.  
• I started off the study with a story about a phone call we got from Lakeland, FL!  
• OH, and to top it off, they've been pestering Claude about WHY they needed to be at youth  So, Claude tells them that I have something to tell them and it's going to make them cry like little babies!!  

"What's going on?" "What's happening?" "Why is it so important for ALL the youth to show up tonight?"  It was a very strange night!  I told the girls that unless God moves us, we are staying PUT!  It made me happy that they would miss us if we did move.  It also made me stop and think about what else God has planned for us, for Discovery Church, and for Greenville, NC.  

Listen to this song.  It's Discovery's theme for 2009 and everytime I hear it, I get chills.  Listen and ask yourself  "What does God have planned for my city?"

Sheila's update

OK...I've been working on a "senior project" and I am having some trouble getting the resources I need.  I am needing pictures of my seniors.  One of my problems is that I don't have alot of NEW pictures of them so I am cramming to get as many as possible in the next 3 weeks!!!!  When I am done with my "project" I will put them up in my blog so you can see what I've been working on!

On a different note, my gym trip this morning was a little bit of a success.  I've lost another 4lbs.  So, I am at 185.  My goal is 160, so I still have a bit to go.  It's starting to slow down, and I told Claude that I don't think I will reach my goal by my birthday at the end of June.  However, I will be done by the end of the summer!  Thanks to everyone who's encouraged me and for all of the compliments!  

Here's One of the projects completed!

So...here is one of several projects that Claude has been working on that we FINALLY finished (after almost 2 weeks!):

The pictures don't really do it justice!  The new children's area is now called "Kid Quarry".  It's suppose to be the entrance to a mining tunnel!  All of the children will start checking in here!  We also have 3 large "mining carts" that will transport the younger children to their classes!!! Claude even wired up some "tunnel" lights that hang down from the center of the mine!   The 0-2 yrs old will be the "Pebbles", the preschoolers will be the "Rolling Stones", and the K5-5th graders will still be "The R.O.C.K".  Get it?!?!?!?  The idea is "upon this rock, the church will be built!  THE FUTURE CHURCH PEOPLE!!!!!  We will be launching all of this the Sunday after Mother's Day!

OK, I also have to share a picture of a great girl in our youth group.  When we first moved up here, Megan was in childrens church.  As a matter of fact, she was our first child in childrens church!  NOW, she is in 8th grade.  We ran into her and some friends at Taco Bell tonight.  She was dressed up for the 8th grade dance, but she didn't want to be normal and go somewhere fancy for dinner.  So, she and her friends opted to go to Taco Bell before the dance!!!  She's a nut, but man...did she look beautiful!  It's such a blessing to see them grow up, isn't it!?!

Anyway, before I start getting mushy, here's the picture!

One more thing I forgot...

Last Wednesday, when we weighed in at the gym, I weighed 191 lbs.  I know you can't believe that I am telling my weight.  But, something I am learning is that the first step of conquering a battle is to admit that there IS a battle.  SO... I have lost 20lbs (you do the math!), but I still have 30lbs more to go.  Well, Friday I wasn't feeling that great and I knew we had a LONG night ahead (more of the project we are working on!), so I skipped the gym.  I know, I know, it sounds like a cop out, but I read in a health magazine that a day off is NOT the end of the world.  And we HAVE been going 5 days a week faithfully!  So, I didn't feel too guilty about it!

Anyway, Friday night was a BAD night for me.  I had some popcorn at the movies, and I ate some fried sweet potato chips with my grilled chicken strips at dinner.  Now, THAT made me feel guilty!  Sunday at church, I was talking with my friend, Kim, and I told her I can see how an alcoholic could "fall off the wagon" because food is my addiction.  It would be so easy for me to fall back into my old eating habits.  

So, Monday morning I went and weighed in...I was nervous about what I had eaten.  SO>>> I lost 2 more pounds!  I am not sure why or how, but I was excited!  I am downed to 189lbs!  

So I have 28 more pounds to go!  Keep on keeping on!!!!!!

What is that?!?

Claude & I have been working alot lately!  We have a project that needs to be done by Mother's Day.  SO, WE ARE COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE!  Anway, here are some pics of what we've been up to!  You'll have to stay tuned for more pics and for the final product!!!