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 Welcome to 2010!
I know. I know. With it being 2010, you are expecting me to write about New Year's resolutions or broken promise or shattered dreams, but oddly enough, I am not going to. Did that make you curious enough to keep reading? I want to talk to you about a problem that I have. I like to call it the "Someone Else Will Do It" syndrome. Or SEWDI for short. It happens with the trash, the recycling, the washing of the clothes, the picking up of my clothes, the washing of the cars, the filling of the gas tanks...you get the point. You see a need and you think to yourself "SEWDI." Right? I was shopping with my oldest daughter and as we were pulling out of the parking lot, we saw these guys who obviously had a dead battery and needed a jump. And I thought to myself "SEWDI." But then I realized...maybe I should be that someone. Maybe I should be that someone that helps. So I backed up, gave them a jump and then we were on our merry way. My daughter asked me why I jumped out and helped them and I told her that it is what I am suppose to do. It is what we, as Christians, are called to do. I was just answering a call that God gave me. But here is the problem. It is Sunday School. I need volunteers and even though we made a cool video with Mattress Mac, people saw that video and thought to themselves "Self, what an amazing video. That was pretty cool. But SEWDI." No one else did. I still need volunteers. Our Sunday School classes use around 300 volunteers a Sunday. About 150 each hour we offer Sunday School. You don't have to teach. You don't have to sing. You don't have to be a Bible scholar. You get to ask easy questions to kids, in some areas you get to feed them goldfish (you can have some as well!) and you get to hang out with them for an hour. Come check it out. See if you like it. You can volunteer every other Sunday if you would like. But I challenge you to answer this call. Instead of reading this and thinking "SEWDI" email one of the directors below and tell them that you are interested and would like more info. Tell them that you would like to answer God's call. You be that someone.
Under His mercy,
Eric
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PreK- Kindergarten
Lisa Keil - Director
 Picture of the day...
I
have never been good at journaling, but love the idea of being able to
look back over the year and see what has happened in my life and ways I
have grown. I was talking with a close friend and she told me how she
was bad about journaling too so she started taking a picture a day.
So, last March, on my birthday, I started taking a picture a day!
It's so fun to look back at those pictures and see what has happened
over the past year but also see and be reminded in ways that I have
grown. This past year was so good and God has taught me things that I
will never forget. There were times my faith was tested and things
were hard, but looking back I wouldn't change anything. It was in
those times that I grew the most and my relationship with Christ was
deepened and I am so thankful for that!
I
am so excited for this New Year and excited for what God will bring!
I've never been real big on "New Years Resolutions" (probably because I
end up breaking them) but I know this year I want to serve God more, I
want to want Him more and love people like HE loves them. One of my
favorite verses is Matthew 22:37 "Love the Lord your God with all your
heart, soul, mind and strength." That's what I want...and not only want
that...but DO it.
So what's your New Years Resolution?
http://www.flickr.com/people/lisadarlene/
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Planet 56 - 5th & 6th grade
Sandra Huskey - Director
I just bought a brand new spiral notebook. It is full of
possibilities; A blank space of potential. I love new notebooks, journals, scrapbooks. I covet them and promise them (and
myself) "this time I really will make good use of you!" I have numerous unused scrapbooks and I
even have a brand new unused baby book that I bought for my youngest
child. He is now 10.
I love brand new years too. They are also full of
possibilities and potential. I
make promises to myself and to the new year. I shout resolutions that proclaim "this time I really will
make good use of you!"
The other day on Facebook, I posted that on a walk with my
son I had so much I wanted to discuss and so much he didn't
want to hear. I told my son I was
going to keep talking anyway. One
of my Facebook friends (and a member of this church) replied, "God probably feels the
same way about us!"
That
comment really made me think. I
wonder if God looks at me as full of possibilities and potential. I wonder if he says, "there is so much
I want to discuss with you, but you don't want to hear." I wonder if he also says, "But I'm
going to keep talking to you anyway!"
Those
who know me know I love to talk. I
can talk to anyone. I talk to God
too....but in all my flurry and hurry, I rarely slow down to listen to him. Psalm
46:10 reads "Be still, and know that I am God!"
Being
still is not something that comes naturally or easily for me. I jump from activity to activity; I use
my hands when I talk; my mind is always thinking of the next thing I need to
accomplish. I'm not really sure
what would happen if I suddenly stopped.
Can I really put the brakes on the fast lane of my life?
I
am intrigued by Being Still. It is
one of my New Year's Resolutions. I really want God to make good use of me and
my new year!
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Sunday School Registration
 Click Here to Register your child today for Sunday School 2009/2010! We have hundreds of children coming in and out of our doors every Sunday morning for the exciting and age-appropriate activities. To help speed our Sunday morning along and get to know your child, please register your child(ren) ahead of time for the appropriate age group.
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Elementary
Veronica Dillon - Director
Ready or not, 2010 is here. Wow -
another year flies by! Why does it always seem like that? This
Christmas I was able to create a photo album for my Mother-In-Law,
Margaret. It contains 232 pictures; all the special events in 2009.
There was more pictures to add, but the limit on the photo album was 98
pages. And after seeing how many more events and pictures were left
out; I start to realize how much was done, traveled, and accomplished
in just one year. Not only was it funny to go through so many goofy
pictures, but also very eye opening how quickly I forget and take for
granted so many tiny and special moments. So I start to look back at
all the events and was amazed at three things: 1. My kids are getting
so big, 2. Did so many things I had already forgotten about, and 3. God
is amazing. In all honesty I feel like I am in warp speed, trying to
cram each second with something to do. Not happy unless there is a full
calendar with appointments, activities, and to do lists. I try so hard
to fill our life with things to do, yet I forget to pause and smell the
flowers along the way. Desktop pictures do not count - there is no
scent there! Creating this album helped me to slow down, take a deep
breath and remember what is important. I saw God in a few pictures;
like in the blue bonnets in Chappell Hill, in the beautiful golden hue
sunset at the farm house, and in the smile of my kiddos. So out of all
the time spent playing at the lake, watching the Dallas Cowboys play in
their new stadium, going to run meets, attending school events, and
such - where did God fit in? Need to get back to the basics - just like
Andy preached: read your bible, fast often, and always pray. Take the
time to fall in love with God - enjoy that precious time with your
creator, grow passionate about His message, and make time to share
God's love. I need to slow down and admire the sunsets and smell the
flowers we have been blessed with. In 2010 I am sure it will be just as
busy as 2009, but I hope to always remember to slow down, take a moment
to give God the honor and glory He deserves.
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
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The Loft - Kids Church
Jill Albert - Director
I guess this is the time of year where we make New Year's Resolutions and hope and pray that we stick with them. I usually do not make resolutions, but I do like to look back on the year. I like to know if I have become more like the person I hoped I'd be. As I rack my brain, to try to remember this time last year, I realize just how blessed I am. I have three very healthy and vibrant children, a husband who loves me, and a job where I serve our Lord and the families of the community. And though, I have been blessed with these, I still felt the grip of grief. We lost loved ones this year, and though they are with the Lord, my heart is still heavy with thought of them being gone. Each day has had it's own challenges and triumphs. Am I who I hoped to be? I don't think so. I think that everyday of every year that will be my journey. My journey to be who God desires me to be. My journey of a servant, a wife and a mother. This past year, I have been blessed with the things of this world, but I must constantly remind myself, that those things are not everlasting. Psalm 119:33-40, talks about following God until the end, putting the worthless things away. That is my hope for 2010, that I will focus on God's Word and live the journey He has carved for me.
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Special Blessings Coordinator
Katie Corley
"Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; meditate on and talk of all His wondrous works and devoutly praise them!"
1 Chronicles 16:9
It's
hard to believe it is 2010! Praise the Lord for all he has done and
continues to do for us! I pray that the new year brings you joy and
blessings beyond measure. I truly feel the measure of God's love when
I work with your children and see your smiling faces on Sundays and
beyond. There is no greater love than the love of Christ and I see
that in your children's eyes. Thank you for sharing that with me each
week. You my friend are a valued precious gift from God and I look
forward to sharing the next year with you! Be sure to come to the play
date January 15th in Safari Stop! I know God has many things in store for us in 2010. Thank you for
welcoming me on board this adventure and for your support in 2009.
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