ZOE Weekend

It was such a good weekend here in Fresno with the ZOE Group. They are beautiful folks with Godly hearts. Not perfect, but always seeking to be more like Jesus...

There were so many great moments throughout the weekend. You would hear a different thing with each person you talked to. I think the beauty of a Spirit filled time is that we don't have to manipulate the thing to please everybody or make every person attending happy and fulfilled. That's the job of the Spirit. You provide your heart and the Spirit provides the healing, or the learning, or the loving, or the reconciliation, or the desire to come closer to the Creator. Whatever it was/is that we needed, it was available. It was truly living water.

I had the opportunity to spend concentrated amounts of time with individuals I loved and respected, but hadn't spent much time with. Stephen Bailey, you are a treasure! What a precious soul. And, if you ever get the chance to see Kent Mereness paint...oh my goodness! Go see it!

And, then there are the old friends that feel like you've just wrapped a beautiful quilt around your shoulders. Safe, warm, steadfast. Sally, Jack and Jill, Brandon, Sheryl, Karin, Jason, Eno, and many others! What a blessing to be with you.

I am always proud of our folks for the way they treat the ZOE group as well as those coming to take in the conference. College Church is a place of grace and hospitality. Lee Smith and Bill Barksdale head up a crew of folks that put on the most amazing dinners for the ZOE group. You couldn't get the kind of meal they provide here at any restaurant in the world. It is absolutely the best thing I've ever seen! And, they do it with such love...mmmmm...makes the food taste even better!

And, this year we had over 30 churches represented from 6 different states. That's really cool.

So, if you're not busy next year, start planning now to come be with us on the 4Th weekend of January. You won't be sorry...You will be blessed!

ZOE

I have been thinking about the ZOE Conference coming in just a couple of days to Fresno...

It strikes me that they have consistently given me opportunity to learn new things to apply as I take this journey from earth to heaven. I have often thought about how much I've learned because of their love and constant support and teaching.

But, if I were to be totally honest, it really hasn't been the actual class times that have meant the most. It's the relationships. When you travel together, whether from the same town, the same church, or thousands of miles apart, the load is easier. When there is sadness, you share in that together. When there is enormous confusion or pain, you have friends to lighten the load. When there is joy, it is multiplied because your friends feel that joy with you.

I'm so grateful for this group of people God has delivered to me. They have made my walk so beautiful and sweet because they not only teach it or sing it...they live it. They show themselves to be genuine and Godly...not perfect, never acting as if they have all the answers...they simply say..."Come, walk with us and we'll walk with you...and together, we'll discover Christ crucified, Forgiveness multiplied, and God glorified."

If you aren't busy, stop by and join in the walk this weekend as they share their hearts with us for the 5th Annual ZOE West Coast Conference.

Blessings...

Early Sunday

It is about 6:40 on Sunday morning and the church is very quiet. In fact, it's even still dark outside.

This is one of my favorite times in the whole week. I get to church early, make coffee, make sure things are in order and then go to my office and spend a few minutes with God. It's so quiet. No phones. Nobody in the halls. No noise. Just me and God.

Colossians 3:12
Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Beautiful. He chose us. Beautiful.

ZOE Conference this week in Fresno. Hope to see you all here.

Blessings.

It is hard for me to believe that this beautiful girl is 20 years old today!


I have said this often, but one of the things I will want to say to my God face to face one day, will be that I am so grateful He allowed me to be the mother of these two sweet children. Truly one of my greatest blessings here on earth.


So, Happy Birthday, sweet Ashley. With each year you become more beautiful inside, more passionate about a lost world, and more amazing in gifts and talents. I am so very proud of you!


Have a beautiful day!

Watching...

Isn't it fun just to sit back and see what God is doing?



Isn't it amazing to look down a road you've recently traveled and see a portion of what He was and is doing?



Isn't it delightful to see Him work amazing things in someone specific?



I think God is so awesome. Really, truly awesome.



Let me take a quick minute to say that the Youth Minister He brought us is obviously something Spirit led and divinely handled. Why do we doubt so often? He always comes through...always!



That's just a tiny blip on the radar of the movement He's showing in our church. I'm so grateful for his faithfulness...I'm so thankful for his patience and understanding as He continues to do mighty things in us in spite of our weaknesses.



God, you are so good.

Proverbs 16:3

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

Don't you just love that!?
Now, that's a good resolution.

Blessings.

2008

Happy New Year...



I've had the same resolution for most of my adult life. Obviously, I need to pick a new resolution. One I can feel successful and accomplished about at the end of the year!



What about you? Do you all make resolutions?



Blessings for a healthy 2008 filled with evidence of God working in and around you!