Miraculous Hay Delivery :)

My poor horse, Lovey, has been out of hay for months due to the hay shortage here. Despite doubling his grain ration, he continues to lose weight. I even started putting corn oil in his feed! I told the medical crew from Healing Place Church on Friday about this. Well on Sunday morning, a trailer with 20 round bales of hay parked with a busted tire in the church parking lot right beside the dental unit. David who drove the dental unit laid hands on the hay, praying I would get some of that hay.
After church I decided to be gutsy and left a card with my phone # in the trailer hitch. After I went to lunch, I got a call. The family purchased the hay in Arkansas and was driving back home past Nashville to deliver the hay to their cattle. They already blew a tire in West Memphis where they lost 2 bales. Keep in mind each bale weighs 1,000 pounds and they were hauling 22 bales! They had been through a lot! After all of that, they cheerfully offered to deliver a bale to my horse. Of course I paid for it, but it certainly saved me a delivery fee and having to continue the search for hay! What a blessing! I'm in awe of how God cares about our every desire, even for my horse to have hay!

Servolution

On Saturday, January 26th, The Life Church of Memphis launched Servolution. We drove just 15 minutes to the Hollywood community in the 38108 zip code. This zip code is deadlier for babies than Vietnam, El Salvador and Iran. According to The Commercial Appeal, "Infant mortality is the barometer of a community's ills: poverty, pollution, crime, lack of education, access to health care and safe, affordable housing."
To combat these ills and bless this community, we held a block party with free hamburgers and hot dogs, games and ID badges for kids, trash pickup, and medical and dental care. Despite cold weather, we had a blast serving this community, Cordova and Collierville! Over 300 volunteers participated in Servolution, 40 of those in the medical outreach alone.
Dr.Cheri and Joseph LeBlanc along with assistants Ann and David drove 6hrs from Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge to help with Servolution. Their mobile medical and dental units Ele (Eleos meaning compassion) and Mo (Mowpheth meaning miracle) were amazing! Our team cared for 39 people in just over 2 hours, providing free medical screenings, flu vaccines, teeth cleaning, tooth extractions, health education, and prayer. Though we would have done the work to make a difference in one life, the numbers show the great need in that community. For that reason, Servolution will continue.


The following is a great report from Therese Gibson, prayer partner on the medical team:



Mary and Rubin are two people we prayed for who lost their 31year old son in October. They are both overcoming the lost and have recently redicated their hearts to Jesus. Mary was so thankful that we were there, she said if it wasn't for the medical team she wouldn't have know she was diabetic. We were able to pray and encourage them to keep seeking God because He understands the pain of losing a son.

Please pray for God to continue showing us how we can be a blessing to those in need around us. I am so blessed to be a part of a church that takes action to make a difference in our city, nation, and world!

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

Surprise #1: January 4th 5:30pm
While Heather and I are assembling Go Global packets, I hear the beep of the front door. I look up to see my mom taking a picture of my shocked expression! Just as I'm thinking, "what in the world?" I realize, oh my birthday is in 2 days. That's why she came! I really didn't think she would be able to drive that far just for my birthday. We had a great time together, and of course she jumped right in to serve at the church alongside me.
Surprise #2: January 6th 11:45am
While I'm jumping around during worship in Kids Life, I feel an arm around my waist. I quickly look behind me and scream with excitement and surprise as I see my sister Debbie and my nieces Katie and Abby! I've been wanting them to visit me and The Life Church ever since I moved here 2 yrs ago. She's a very busy lady! I cannot think of a better birthday present than enjoying my church with my mom, Debbie, Katie, and Abby. And they loved the church! Debbie asked, "When will your church be coming to Arnold, MO?"
Surprise #3 January 6th 1:30pm
My buddy Aubrey wanted to take me out to Jim and Nicks for my birthday. I thought, yum for sure! My mom went ahead to get a table. As I walk into the restaurant, I see a big cake, a happy birthday balloon, and best of all people I love sitting around the table. I was so moved that I cried! This was a busy day for our church so I am especially thankful for my friends, family, and pastors taking the time to celebrate with me. Thanks everyone and thank you Mom and Aubrey for organizing! I love you all!

Ahhhh! Monster!

I always thought God gave me a wonderful gift of connecting with children. Well, I discovered yesterday that's not always the case. I was running in Shelby farms and looked up to the top of a hill to see a bundled 3yr old pointing at me yelling, ahhhhhh monster!!! I mean I know I am a rather large being and do not wear makeup when I run, but seriously. I just laughed as I ran by him clinging to his father's leg.

Later in the day, I rode my horse, Lovey (Paint My Love). At 16 hands, he's no small creature either. He even clears jumps with ease (see picture). There happened to be some metal fencing lying on the ground at the end of the arena. He spotted it and pranced around, terrified of the metal monster lying prostrate, preparing for attack.

Both circumstances were ridiculous. The child and my horse had no reason to be fearful. Do you ever wonder if God looks at us in the same way? He sees the complete picture and knows there is nothing to fear. As we start a new year, many of us are excited to start over and plan an exciting future. However, many of us also fear the unknown. I guess worry is a better word. You know the worries: What if I'm not accepted into college? Will I get that promotion? Will I ever get married? What if I have to pay more taxes this year? What if I don't have enough money for retirement? Is this airplane safe? What good is a seat cushion that doubles as a floatation device anyway? How ridiculous is all this worry to God? Jeremiah 29:11 says:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

When I find myself worrying about the future rather that trusting in God, I also remind myself of this verse in Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

The Message version:

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.