Timeless Text Messages

Tomorrow I will be celebrating my One Year Blogiversary. That's right, I've been blogging for a whole year. Amazing. Posted in excess of 100 posts and over 5000 hits. Wow! But I must tell you that the first 100 hits were me checking out my site. And many of those hits were due to my blog title. Everyone wants to know about text messages. Ahhh, but numbers are not everything. I have made many new friends in the blogosphere. And I have branched out to posting on a couple of different sites and doing some video stuff too.

Today's video is a pastor friend of mine, Linda Pledge. She along with her husband Joel, pastor Crossroads A/G in Humboldt,TN. You can find them at www.lifeatcrossroadsag.com.

RevGal Singing Owl brings this week's Friday Five.
Brrrr! Baby, it’s COLD outside! At least that is the case where I am this morning. We are in a January deep freeze. Have a cup of hot tea and tackle five easy seasonal questions.

1. What is the thermometer reading at your house this morning? Early morning was supposed to be about 18 degrees. When I managed to get up it was a breezy 28 degrees.
2. Snow—love it or hate it? I don't mind looking at it from a distance. A couple of inches is no big deal. I never liked it when it was so deep that it was like driving through a tunnel. This happened when they would plow and pile it up on both sides of the road and in the median. That was in Durango, Colorado. So glad that I moved back to West Tennesse where there is never more than a couple of inches for a couple of days at a time.
3. What is winter like where you are? I would call it moderate. We usually don't have any snow til this time of year. Temperatures have ranged from the high teens to up in the 60's from November til now.
4. Do you like winter sports? No. Any good stories? Well, I did reluctantly take the youth group to Purgatory Ski Resort one time. I sat in the lodge drinking hot chocolate and coffee all day. They tried every possible way to get me out there on the slopes. My main rebuttal went something like this; "I am grown now. I have bills to pay. You'll understand, one day.
5. What is your favorite season, and why? I have always been partial to the summer time. Most everything is green. I enjoy yard work and being outdoors. Summers were great in Colorado. It never got much over 80 degrees where we lived. Swimming in the river behind my in-laws was a real treat.
Bonus: Share a favorite winter pick-me-up. A recipe, an activity, or whatever. Vacationing to Phoenix. If I could afford it, I would spend all my winters there. Oh, but don't ever go for the 4th of July. Another story for another day.

One evening last week, CWGIII called me. He said, "when am I going to see you?" My heart just melted. I was disappointed that I was at work and couldn't go at that very moment. I assured him that his uncle and I would be up for a visit as soon as possible.

Sunday after church we made the 60 mile trek to Paris. We even did the drive through thing for lunch. I knew my golden boy would waiting. Notice I didn't say patiently waiting. He always greets me with a list of stuff to do while I am there. I cherish the time we have together.

The first thing we did; he rode the skateboard and I watched. He likes sports but he needs to work on his balance skills. Instead of skating standing up, he rode the board sitting down. I tried to help him ride it the right way, but that was too restrictive for him. Soon we were both sweaty and winded so we went inside to cool off.

Then he showed me an effortless and painless way to skate. He had a new game for his Xbox. We designed our own skating park. We gave the skater and his board a new look. Then his hands began a frenzy of motion. His hands seem to be more coordinated than his legs. I patted his back and played with his hair all the while he worked the controls. That's how we played.

You see, it wasn't what we did that was important. It was that we did it together. I know he would love to wrestle the way we used to when he was smaller. He would be overjoyed if I lived close by and could play everyday. I would be too. But things change as we age. Quality becomes more important than quality. He may not know that now, but he will in time.

Sometimes I hear God saying, "when am I going to see you?" He knows all and sees all, but His desire is to fellowship with me. He has things He wants to tell me. He wants to hear my prayers. My time with Him is sometimes limited by circumstances. Yet I know that I find time for those who are important to me. If I only have a few minutes, they need to be quality minutes. He does not require a certain quantity of time, just my whole life. I must give Him quality time.

When will I see Him? When He comes for His bride. I want to be ready. How about you?

Originally posted at Beneath The Ivy Wreath.

Well it had to be didn't it, love them or hate them I bet you've been asked about New Year resolutions. So with no more fuss here is this weeks Friday Five; brought to you from Sally.

1. Do you make New Year resolutions? I used to, but not anymore.
2. Is this something you take seriously, or is it a bit of fun? Oh yeah, it is serious business, that's why I don't make them anymore. Life is too short to be serious everyday 365 days a year.
3. Share one goal for 2008. At the close of 2008, I would like to have something to show for all the money I will have spent.
4. Money is no barrier, share one wild/ impossible dream for 2008. I would take a trip to Africa and spend some time doing missions work and/or assisting a medical team.
5. Someone wants to publish a story of your year in 2008, what will the title of that book be?
How Cala got out of Her Comfort Zone.

Message delivered by Apostle Mark Perry Watch Night Service at Liberty Hall Full Gospel Church Text Scriptures: Proverbs 14:12, John 14:6, Revelation 2:1-5
Part One

Apostle Perry asked the congregation, "how many of you have done what you have been called to do in 2007?" Then asked, "how many of you have fallen short in 2007?" He compared our short comings to being on the right track but on the wrong train. Speaking of John 14:6 he said, Jesus did not deny the fact that there is a way that seems right to man, but He said, "I am the Way." Then he shared a paraphrase of Matthew 25:33-46. With that, he said folks are caught up in the mechanics of church, but not doing kingdom work.

Referring to the church of Ephesus, he said the church has gotten caught up in protocol and lost focus on what kingdom work is supposed to be. True kingdom work is to win souls and meet the needs of others. Jesus commended the church on their works, but still had somewhat against them. Apostle Perry said that the church that has lost its first love (agape) therefore it is without brotherly love (phileo). And this loss is because it is too caught up in lover's love/lust (eros).

Jesus presented kingdom work in very clear terms in Matthew 7:22-24. Then Apostle Perry added that there are some folks that can feed the hungry and clothe the naked yet despise the church. They are on the right track but on the wrong train. From there he cited IIChronicles 7:14 and reminded the congregation that the scriptures were referring to the God's people not the dope dealer, the harlot, or thug.

He exhorted the body to be real and to examine themselves. He said that we could do more than what we have been doing. For example, we can call and check on absentees. We are wrong when we think Jesus can't have anything against us. We are much like the church of Ephesus. We do some good works, but we can do more. We can get back to doing the kingdom work of winning souls. Then he talked about being pruned so we can bear more fruit. He added IJohn 3:16-18 which exposes those who call themselves Christians but fail to do kingdom work.