Snowball Fight!

We got between 7"-8" of snow yesterday. I am so thankful for some time off from everything that I would normally be doing. It's been nice to get a few much needed things done, but it's also been nice to say, "screw it, I'm NOT doing that today because I don't have to!".

I got to sleep in and spend some much needed time with my lil bro. He is an EMT. He works ALOT (almost 100 hours this week) and he is also working towards becoming a paramedic. I am so proud of him! We don't get to spend a lot of time together.

So, today I was in my room and something kept hitting my window. After the 3rd thump, I looked at and he nailed my window with another snowball. It was ON! Here are a few pics from our snowball fight! The pics make it look good, but we both decided that we were pretty pityful! We stood still for about 5 minutes and threw tons of snowballs and only hit each other like twice....SAD!

We finally got bored and decided to build a snowman! He's awesome!

YAY SNOW! We had a blast!

Bible Study

So, there were some resources that I was given at one time during a Beth Moore study and I thought that I put them in my favorites...I was apparently mistaken.  I went to look up something today. I wanted to know how the original Greek broke down (Ronnie is working) so I did a search and found a pretty awesome website that I thought I would share:  http://biblos.com/

This website ROCKS! Check it out!

Happy Birthday, Tim!

So, tonight, the Mays' family gathered to celebrate Tim's birthday. It was interesting...as always! Ronnie Sr. and Ronnie Lynn had a 'dicussion' as to whether it was better to have a butt and a gut or no butt, a gut and chicken legs.

Ronnie made a model of his father...I photo shopped his head on the 'model' and thought I would share.

Pictures from the Prayer Vigil

JAMES 5:16
"...pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful."

Thanks to Kate for finding the article on last night's prayer service in Cairo. I just wanted to share a few beautiful pictures. Thomas Barker did a great job with the photos.

Tommy's wife Linda...I've named her "Mama Ellis" (if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy). She is a such an example of strengh, faith, hope, and trust in God. (The woman lighting her candle is my mama!)

A sea of light...the beginning of a fire that I pray continues to spread in Cairo.

"Light in the darkness"

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSING FLOW...

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS!

God shows up and then SHOWS OUT

Words cannot even begin to express what I experienced last night.

Cairo has been a divided community for a long time. 'Church folk' get mad about something at one church and then run across town to another church. Now, don't get me wrong, not everyone is this way and many people have friends from various churches, but overall, there has been a lack of unity between churches and, in turn, between believers. How does that happen? How do we get to a point where we are no longer the 'body of Christ', but rather, 1st Baptist, 30th Street, House of Praise, etc...? We focus on the wrong things...that's EXACTLY how we get to that point!

I met with some friends for dinner and we had prayer. We went to the church early and prayed a little more. My prayer has been that this 'event' would be a new beginning for Cairo, that the family would be encouraged and refreshed, and that unity and a sense of community would reign supreme. The last thing that I asked of God was that He show up and show out and boy did He ever! (Church on Sunday morning is going to be incredibly dull in comparison.)

My observation last night was that this 'body of Christ' hadn't had a 'worthy' cause to unite in prayer and praise. Tommy Ellis and his family gave them the 'cause'. However, the talk of the town today is how this should continue because praising and praying to God is cause enough! To that I say, "Praise God!"

Solo

There was a time in my life when I considering pursuing a performance career. Just about everything surrounding a solo artist career appealed to me...traveling, up late, sleep late, sing, wear crazy things that people think are 'cool' just because YOU have it on (even though you look like a fool who can't dress herself!).

Time has changed a LOT of things for me.  Crystal was talking on Sunday night about how she used to not think anything about getting up on stage in front of an auditorium full of people and now she just wonders what was wrong with her. I have to agree that the same is true for me. I mean, I still like to stay up late (I am a night owl) and I like to sleep in (currently I would take 7AM rather than 5AM), I like to travel and I DO like to sing....some things just aren't the same.

I don't want to be gone 24-7 and not be able to remember where home is or what my bed looks like. I am quite fond of my bed! I still think it would be fun to set fashions trends, but that seems to be Ronnie's strength...he predicts that nylon wallets with velcro will be the new hip must have items for guys within 6 months because he just bought one!

So, I have to sing at this benefit tonight for my friend and fellow teacher, but I am just wanting to pick up the phone and insist that Kate and Crystal join me. I feel naked and very uncomfortable without them. It is like when you forget to put on your favorite necklace, or your watch. Something is just missing!

I listened to the videos on our church's website of the three of us and God totally rocks my face off! All of us are talented, but there is NO WAY we would sound like THAT without Him! Pray for me girls and if you don't have anything to do, come and join me at 6PM. My co-dependency beckons you....COME! :-)

A New Car

So, I have been looking for a 2010 Equinox...I wanted Navy Blue, but would settle for Black Granite. The only problem is that one doesn't seem to exist that is built the way that I want it. (I am pretty picky about this one.) This morning I got a phone call from Royal Oaks in Paducah saying that they had one dropped off last night and that I could come and check it out before it hit the lot on Monday. It was pretty darn close to what I had asked for.

I took Ronnie Sr. with me...he LOVES to torture sales people and he's really good at it. But even the powerful, Ronnie Mays couldn't get through to these crazies! They add a $799 charge to all new cars for a vehicle protection package and 3 year warranty. It isn't optional!

I will call back on Monday, but for now it looks as though I should still keep hunting.

Funny thing is, this is the first time that I have wanted to trade but didn't really have to. It's a pretty nice position to be in, but I still left that place with a headache and MY car.

Well, it sure does look like flesh and blood...

Wow! What a week!

Without going into a lot of details, I can tell you that Satan really is NOT happy about God moving in Cairo...and trust me, He is definitely moving! It is so frustrating, thought, when issues arise. I KNOW that I am not fighting against flesh and blood, but sheesh, it most certainly looks like flesh and blood that is acting all screwy and saying stupid things. Why must flesh and blood help Satan out? It would be so much easier to call a spade a spade, if it looked like a spade, but dang it, it doesn't. IT LOOKS LIKE FLESH AND BLOOD!

Stupid Devil.

Moving on.  Please pray for my friend and co-worker, Tommy Ellis. He had a massive stroke on Dec. 19. He is doing ok...much better than anticipated. Also pray for the fundraiser/vigil that will be held this coming week. Pray that people would give abundantly and that a sense of community, a spirit of prayer, and a general love for one another would spread through the streets of Cairo because of this event. Also pray for healing and restoration where there is brokenness.