A Thankful Giveaway!!!

Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone. I hope everyone consumed more than expected, napped a plenty, then loved on your families like they deserved to be loved. This Sunday, pastor is going to focus on what he is thankful for. I thought it would be fun to do the same here, only this time YOU will do the sharing!!! In the comments below, tell us what you are thankful for. To encourage your participation, we have our first ever giveaway! Everyone who leaves a comment will be registered to win the print below. I am so excited to give back to Evangel. Your support and encouragement means so much. I guess that means I am thankful for YOU!

Oh, I almost forgot. The giveaway closes Saturday, December 6th. 

Happy Fall Y'all!

Idols, Craft Stores, and Mother Teresa

When I was younger, I thought gods (or idols) were an old testament thing. I actually remember thinking to myself how lucky we were not to have to worry about that commandment. No golden lambs in my house, so I was good to go. You can imagine the look on my face when I had that "ah ha" moment.

I am pretty sure I said a bad word.

The idea that I was worshiping things was beyond my scope of reason. And if I were honest with myself, I had more than one god in my life. Anything that I put before God is an idol. So let's see here, where do I begin?

job...check
kids...check
exercise...check
things...check
money to buy the things...double check
I even really liked me some craft stores. I'm not sure this was a genuine idol, but for todays illustration...check

At one point, I can honestly say that I believed in God, I knew Jesus died for my sins, but I was a Sunday morning Christian.

Sunday morning Christians have a lot of idols.

So here I am in 2014. Are all of my idols are gone? Nope, although I do have the craft store thing under control.

I think what helps me the most is that I have kind of learned what the red flags are for me. If I have to defend the action...it could be an idol. If I look at the bank summary and see too many expenditures...it could be an idol. And if it becomes the rule and not the exception, it might be an idol.

Idols never completely go away. Except for maybe Mother Teresa. I wonder if they had craft stores in Calcutta???

The Lenten Project: Day 19

Tomorrow is day 20, halfway to Easter. I don't know about you, but I am exhausted.  Up 'till now, it has been all about me. I think it is time we talk about you! In the comments below, I want everyone to share their past 3 weeks with God.


Did you vow to work on your relationship with God? Share it!


Did today's sermon on spiritual warfare really speak to you?  Share it!


Are you experiencing a renewed marriage because of our last series? Share it!


Struggling with something completely unrelated to any of the above? Share that too!




Don't leave me here talking to myself. Let's start a conversation...and keep it going!

The Lenten Project: Day 15

I thought I should check in. We haven't talked much the last few days. I have had tons going on at work and home is always crazy. (Sometimes good crazy, sometimes bad crazy.) But y'all don't want to hear about that, you want to hear about day 15.


15 sounds like such a big number.


15 is a big number if your talking about the number of kids you have. 15 is a small number if it's the number of dollars you won in the lottery. And 15 is a bad number if it is the seed of your team in the bracket. But what is 15 to me?


If I had to sum up my experience thus far in one word, it would be good.


Good can sound underwhelming, but it was sufficient for Genesis 1:31. "God saw all that he made, and it was very good..."


The past couple of weeks I have prayed just like always, but somehow God and I seem closer. There are brief moments of intimacy that I can't even describe, but I really don't want to. Those moments have been few, but they are forever mine.


And they were very good.

The Lenten Project: Day 9

Yesterday was a terrible day at work. The kind of day that makes you go to your car at lunch and cry. But in those tears, there was healing. And, of course, God and I had a long talk. It went something like "I can't do this anymore". He just listened. I said "What am I supposed to do". He just listened. I say nothing and the tears just fell. He listened even more.


Days like yesterday are hard. Not just for us, but for God too. He hates to see his children upset. And even though it would be so easy for Him just to wave his hand and make it all go away, He knows He won't.


He just listens.


It's in His listening that I get encouragement. It's in His listening that I feel hope. And it's in his listening that I get answers.


On day 9, I just want to say thank you to God for listening.

The Lenten Project: Day 6

Today, the words of a great philosopher keep running through my mind. It goes something like "I would do anything for love, I'd run right into hell and back. I would do anything for love, I would never lie to you and that's a fact. I would do anything for love, but I won't do that." The Philosopher's name is Meatloaf, and it still rings true today.


You see, I think every single one of us have a "but I won't do that" with God. It's the thing that's rarely spoken. That's why it is so dangerous, we justify it away.


About a year ago mine went to the tune of "I'm not a morning person, God couldn't want me to go to a small group before 7:00 am....in the morning....every week." And yet I kept having this feeling that I should go. Today, that group means the world to me. I can't imagine my life without them and I dread the weeks that I have to miss.


What else am I missing out on because I know better than God??? I have reflected on this all day and still don't know. To be honest, it's probably not one thing, but a list longer than a giraffe's neck. But it feels good to have it on my radar. It's not that I have to say yes to every offer that's made, more like I know to look for the ache when I do say no. With prayer, reflection, and a little Holy Spirit thrown in, I will have something way better than any Meatloaf.

The Lenten Project: Day 4

God introduced me to an amazing lady today at the UMW spring event. Her name is Mary Alice Parmley and I will never forget her. The Holy Spirit radiated from her as she moved onto the stage. Her daughter was by her side every step of the way. You see, she had to be. At 79 walking onto that stage was no easy feat. They got her settled into a chair on the stage and she read her children's book called Traveler to us.


It was the first children's book she had ever written.


The kids from the nursery had gathered around her to listen. Then, when she was done she called one of the little boys over to her. She leaned toward him, put her hand on his arm and said "I love you." She had never met him before, but when she said those words, the entire room knew she meant it.


After she was done, I went over to meet her. I really don't know why, I just wanted to. I knelt down on the floor next to her and she immediately gave me a hug. I told her about my own love of writing. Then we talked about how Traveler was written on the back of an envelope; and, that was where she did all of her writing. She insisted that I should do the same. President Lincoln did all of his writing on the back of envelopes. If it was good enough for him, it should be good enough for me. (I will smile about that for weeks.) As I was getting up to walk away, she pointed at me and said, "never give up, I mean it... never give up".


Those words were spoken by her, but came from God. You will never convince me otherwise.

The Lenten Project: Day 2

Today was a good day. Nothing extreme, but certainly a good day. I did have a moment this morning that made me smile. I am pretty sure God was smiling too. We do that sometimes, smile in tandem.


I have a Bible app on my phone called You Version. With it comes a daily verse and I love this feature. They are completely random and more than once God has used this to speak to me. Today was one of those days.


The verse was Isaiah 61:7. Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.


After what seemed like a defeat yesterday, this came as a music to my soul. Every day comes to us a fresh, and He wanted me to remember that. He knows my words before they are spoken, and still he gives me a double portion.


Disappoints are a part of life, But that can not be my focus. Everlasting joy is not a thing of the past, it is right here and now. If I'm not careful, I'll miss out on the joy trying to fix what He has already forgiven me for.


I don't know if God just smiled or not, but I sure know that I just did.

The Lenten Project: Day 1

I hopped out of bed this morning, excited and terrified at the same time. Today was my kickoff, the beginning of a new me. Jesus girl 2.0. if you will.


I arrived to work with ashes on my forehead and a spring in my step. The ashes on my forehead would have been more impactful if they weren't lost in a sea of red bangs. Aside from that, I was ready for whatever God had in store for me.


It was mid morning and time for soda thirty. Translation: Soda thirty is when a group of us venture out for a pop. This lead to the conversation I would replay in my head the rest of the day. Someone asked me if I gave up anything for lent.


I said no.


Technically, I said "no not really". Which was true. I had not given up anything traditional. Anyway, this was my pact with God and it was none of their concern.


Except I am blogging about it and it is in no way a secret.


So why didn't I tell my friends.....my non "churchy" friends, that is. I have told a number of people about my plan. So why did I hesitate?


To tell you the truth I don't know why, but I have 40 days to figure it out.

The Lenten Project

I have been thinking a lot about Lent this year. I don’t know why, so it must be a God thing. I can’t shake the idea that God wants me to do something, but what? Eat fish on Fridays, give up Diet Coke, or maybe just go to an extra church service.

That just feels inadequate. What if this Lent marked the beginning of a new season in my life? What could I do to strengthen my relationship with Jesus, the one who gave up everything for me? What if I finally decided to “let go and let God”?

Here is what I decided. For the 40 days of this Lenten season, I will focus on the self in self-denial. I give Jesus free reign in my heart, my head, and my soul. What better sacrifice than the very thing we all cling to, control.

But I really don’t want to do this alone, so I ask you all to join me. I will be blogging my daily progress and I would love for you all to share your experiences in the comments section. After all, wherever two or more gather online, He is with us…..or something like that.

 So, join me in a change of focus, where the one life that we will be changing is our own.

Upcoming Events February Edition

Want an opportunity to fellowship with others? Are you busy running kids to church and school activities? Do you have meetings on Wednesday nights? Boy do we have an opportunity for you!!! Starting in February, meals are available on Wednesday night from 5:30 to 7:00 pm (come and go) in the Family Life Center. Free will offering - Open to ALL. To help us know how much food to prepare email Becky by noon each Tuesday at zibell84@gmail.com.

February 5 - Walking Taco's

February 12 - Baked Potato Bar/Salad

February 19 - Chili

February 26 - Spaghetti/Salad

Come check it out, it is guaranteed to be special!