No View this week!!

I'm so sad that I missed the message this week. Sunday I helped work the nursery and Monday I headed to see my parents in San Angelo, Texas. The report from others was that it was another great weekend. I'll for sure be in service this Sunday and Monday. I better be because I am speaking. Ty is headed out of town for a mini vacation with his dad. I'm so glad that he is taking a break this weekend. I believe that it is so important that we all take time out to refresh ourselves. I'm writing this blog as I sit in my pajamas at my parents' home. Taking a break from the everyday routine can be exactly what the doctor ordered. Some of you may not be able to leave town but you can take a moment for yourself. I'm reminded of the flight attendants words before every take off. If the oxygen mask falls from above, place one on yourself before attempting to help someone else. Why?? Because if you don't take care of yourself you will be of no use to those around you. So many times we feel selfish if we do something for our self. As a mom, taking a bath or going to a movie with a friend is just not possible. Too much to do. For you fathers out there, you feel guilty for leaving the family while you go on that once a year deer hunt. We all need to take a moment to laugh, to breathe or to just BE!!! I know that when I am refreshed everyone benefits. I'm a better mother, a better wife and a better friend. So to sum it all up; take some time for you. It may be just what you need.

So Blessed!!

It is amazing how fast a week can fly by. We stay busy with the church, Brady's soccer and baseball games, as well as household duties. Through it all I regularly remind myself how blessed I am. As a mom, I catch myself thinking about the days when we will be finished with diapers. I can't wait until Brady can tie his own shoes and Hudson can pour his own apple juice. Has anyone been there? There is a downside to all of these things. With independence comes a closed chapter in my life. Never again will I hear Hudson say, "Change mom." He is speaking of the diaper. Never again will I hear Brady say, "Mom you tie it, I don't know how." Though there will be new things they need from me, like how to drive. Scary!! Certain things will never be again. I guess I say all this to remind us all to enjoy today. We are so very blessed in so many ways. We may all have something in our life that isn't working out right now. But what do we have to be thankful for? The bible says to "be anxious for nothing." Don't worry about what tomorrow holds and don't wish for today to be over. Enjoy NOW!!! It is all we are promised and we are blessed with each moment He gives us. So tie that shoe and change that diaper with a cheeky grin on your face. One day we won't have to do it anymore and we will wish we could.

The View from my Seat!

He did it again!! Ty's message spoke to me even more this week. I am speaking in 2 weeks and the pressure is on. I missed Sunday mornings message because I helped out in kids church but Monday night was incredible. Are you Ready or are you Prepared?? The sermon was about the parable Jesus told in Matthew 25. The virgins were waiting on the bridegroom. All were ready but only a few were prepared. I can honestly do very little to add to this message. I suggest that everyone listen to this sermon (click here). We all have a dream in our heart and a vision for our future but how are we preparing ourselves for when they arrive? God is constantly speaking to us and preparing us for what is to come. We have a choice to listen and obey. Ty and I had a bit of a disagreement prior to this message. I was adamant that "ready" and "prepared" were the same. I walked away last night with a totally different perspective. There are things in my life that I am ready to see God bring about. I am now challenged to make sure I am prepared for when that day comes. God's plans for all of us are bigger than we can even imagine. I don't want to treat God like a magician. "God wave your wand and bring me what I desire." I want to take responsibility and together with God I will see my future prosper. You can too! Dream big, listen for God to speak, and be prepared for the day the bridegroom arrives.

Fresh Apple Cake

2 c. sugar
1/4 c. oil
3 eggs
3 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 T. vanilla
1 c. chopped nuts
2 lg. diced apples

In a mixer combine first 3 ingredients. In a small bowl combine flour, soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add gradually to sugar mixture. It will be very thick. Add vanilla and mix just until combined. Remove mixer from stand and add apples and nuts by hand. Pour into a well greased tube pan. Bake at 350* for exactly 1 hour and 15 minutes.

This is one of my families favorite desserts. We even have it for breakfast with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. I hope you try it and enjoy. By the way, did you know that you are the apple of God's eye?

The View from my Seat!

Easter Sunday was quite a morning. The church was full and the energy was intense. The service started off with an incredible time of Praise and Worship. We are so blessed to have an incredible Praise Team. Ty's message this week was once again very powerful. He didn't title it but I would call it ,"A Bout with Doubt". He opened up by saying that CJC is a doubting church. I may have said it differently, but I know exactly what he is saying. At CJC we are aware that everyone struggles with doubt. No one is an exception. We encourage everyone to ask questions. God is a big God and He can handle the tough questions. Ty spoke on Doubting Thomas and the bad rap he has always had. The fact is, Thomas wasn't afraid to say, "I want to see Him for myself." About two years ago, I started causing trouble with some of my religious friends. I began to ask "Why?." Why do I believe that about this? There were certain things that I wanted God to show me and I wanted to find the answer for myself. I was tired of saying,"It's what I've been taught." or "My grandpa says that's what it means." Ty gave a great illustration using the Texas map. He said you can know where San Antonio and Fredericksburg are on the map but until you have been there for yourself there is no real experience. Ty and I took the boys to Marburger Farms in Fredericksburg 2 years ago. It happens to not even be on the map but we know first hand about this place. We have some of the greatest memories there because we experienced it for ourselves. We can read the Word of God (our map) but never experience its revelations. God does not look down on our doubts and our questions. He looks forward to our time searching Him. Ty ended with a human video and like most of you, I never get tired of them. He did "The Voice of Truth" and it was a great ending to an incredible service. So many people can try to tell us who we are, what we can and can't do, and what God says about that. This message challenged me and I hope it challenges you to be intimate with God. Don't just hear it and believe it, but EXPERIENCE it. God wants you to know Him because you have been with Him.
By the way, Cigi helped Ty with the sermon Monday night and she ROCKS!!!! We are so blessed to have her as our Youth Pastor. God is doing great things in CJC and she is at the top of my list.

What Parents Will Do!

Last night Ty and I volunteered to work the after prom party for the Tatum High School. Our shift was from midnight to 5:00 a.m. Normally I wouldn't do something like this because lack of sleep and me don't mix. I've had several nights without sleep that left my body screaming for mercy.
When we arrived at 11:15 p.m, the kids were having a great time. The prom decor was beautiful and the music was blasting. My understanding was that it took months to plan, hours to set up and a small army to work. While I sat back and observed the evening, one thing kept going over and over in my mind. "What we won't do for our kids". Many fathers, including Ty, sat at make shift casino tables wearing dorky green visors and dealing cards for hours. The moms ran around like Wonder Woman organizing every game and every detail. Not one adult was there last night for themselves. Their goal was to make this one night a lasting memory for these kids.
A love for a child is one of the most beautiful things. I would do anything for my two little men. That is the attitude of most parents I'm sure you will agree. Why is it that we would go to the ends of the Earth for our kids, but we doubt God's effort in our own lives? I'm reminded of the scripture found in Matthew 7:9-11. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Our Father has already given us the most amazing gift ever given. His Son!! But God does not stop there. He continues to bless us and pour out His love every day. Don't be afraid to tell God what you need. Be real with Him and He will be real with you. We are children of the Most High God and there is no limit to what He can and will do for his kids.

The View from my Seat!

Wow! What an amazing message this weekend. God and Ty Bean never cease to amaze me. I know you may think that I am prejudice, but does my husband have a gift or what?? How many of us have read the story of Nicodemus? I've heard that story many times in my life. I've just never heard it that way before. God doesn't want us to "Do" more, He wants us to "Be" lieve. We have to stop trying to buy God's love and acceptance. We need to realize that He first loved us and salvation is a free gift. In many churches today, we have set a standard for what qualifies us as "good enough". No where in scripture does it say we have to be "good enough". Where did we get this theology? When we are walking daily with Christ, Ticks (as Ty calls them), naturally fall off. My favorite quote of this message was, "Human effort does not produce Divine change". God removes what doesn't belong in each one of us. But the more we try, the more we fail. It's like a diet. I start one every Monday. Why? Because I fail every Tuesday. We can't try to stop smoking, stop cussing, start praying, start studying the Word. We have to know God's heart. Talk to Him. Ask Him. Grow with Him. Through our relationship with God, divine change will come. We have to stop beating ourselves up, me included. I am more than enough. I am the King's Kid and so are you. Let God be with you as you drive to work today. Let Him be with you as you make dinner and as you watch your husband clean up. God is in you and He will show you the way.