Buddies

O

O K -- I know this is a little blurry -- but it was really early --dark-thirty!

Yesterday morning Campbell woke up at 5:00 and couldn't understand why Nana and Papa weren't up too.
Once I came down with coffee for Bethany and me -- she sneaked past the kiddie gate and headed upstairs to see her Papa -- he was sound asleep and the room was dark -- NO PROBLEM -- surely he was ready to play -- she was!!!! She bounced down the hall calling his name.

They have their routine -- she wants to sit BESIDE her Papa- not on his lap or on the arm of the chair-- they  --feed the doggies snacks and eat soda crackers - and looks for all her favorite animals on the computer.  Pappa tells her lots of stories and they play make believe.

This is certainly Papa's favorite video text:

Don't know who loves it more --one thing for sure they're Best Buds!!!

Whenever I come across something I want to remember - I put it on my blog -- This was in yesterday's e-devo and I want to keep it close. 

I can relate to this,


"Deprive your soul of spiritual water, and it will tell you. Dehydrated hearts send desperate messages. Snarling tempers. Waves of worry. Growing guilt and fear. Hopelessness. Resentment. Loneliness. Insecurity.



But you don’t have to live with a dehydrated heart. God invites you to treat your thirsty soul as you would treat your physical thirst. Just visit the WELL and drink deeply."

Max Lucado, Come Thirsty

"When we are spiritually hungry, the same truth applies. We have a tendency to compromise our judgment and set aside our convictions. We grumble and complain about our lives. We look to other people and other stuff to meet our needs." 

Gwen Smith



“Come, all who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!”  55:1

Isaiah, the Prophet




Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14, NIV).   


David
 

Weekly Favs

Marshall's hard work in research has reaped great results -- as of this past week -- he is a published author in the International Journal of Vascular Medicine.Marshall's article on his present research was accepted!!!  -- 

The Day After

This phrase of the verse grabbed me this week

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 NKJV   

Roy Lessin calls Crucifixion Day -- Jesus' best day

He was looking forward to Friday -- because of what He would be able to do for me!!!

 

But what was going on that Saturday FOLLOWING Christ's crucifixion?
Where was His Spirit?
He said to the thief that on that very day he'd be with Him in Paradise. . . Who did He connect with there? --
Did He have a big reunion Abraham, Moses, Elijah and all those people who went before?  Did they finally begin to see the big picture about what it was really all about?

  Lazarus had just been to Paradise before that Saturday in the tomb -- Did the folks he met there ask Jesus about the guy who didn't stay very long? 

I am thinking that Sabbath was the blackest, bleakest, saddest day of the disciples lives -- the Bible said they went back to fishing -- they must have been overwhelmed with disappointment

YET -- I believe there was so much going on in the realm of Heaven --and in Paradise where Jesus was.


THERE still is--- as Jesus sits there, just to the right of GOD the Father speaking to Him  for us -- about us.

Just wondering

Before Passover – the Israelites had to ready themselves.  Last week I revisited several Old Testament passages remembering verses we had lived off of the 12 years in preparation for our move. 

One thing caught my attention-- so many times, before a special celebration or God-encounter, He would tell them to wash their clothes in preparation -– What is it about dealing with our dirty laundry that is important to God?

They had been walking around that dusty desert and were a grimy bunch – they had spent so much time in the wilderness – the Bible says their clothes and shoes did not wear out – but doesn’t say their clothes were dazzling white – or that they weren’t a smelly bunch of folks.

When we put on fresh clean clothes – don’t we feel all brand new? – Don't we have more positive energy?

Could this have been symbol of being washed and fully clean through redemption?

Or than in Christ all things become new?

Celebrating Passover with Paislee and Roman

In your heart -- set aside tomorrow to remember that final Passover Jesus shared with his special friends -- remember that as He was breaking the bread and serving up the lamb --He knew HE was the PASSOVER LAMB... 

Dedication

We've been in the building four months and during that time we've put down roots and made ourselves at home -- but it was time to DEDICATE this very special place to GOD and give it up to him for the work HE wants to do on this property.


We packed the place with 230 this am -- people we just met yesterday --all of us --and former members who came back for our special day -- 5 people gave their life to Christ this weekend. 

"We are living a promise fulfilled" -

Mondo gave a rousing communion, Mark Daughtery prayed a prayer of dedication and Terry gave the message of Life and Love from the parable of the Mustard Seed.  It is Palm Sunday and just as Jesus prepared his disciples for ministry during His last week on earth -- Terry called our Church Family to live LOVE as we do ministry from this place.

Marty invited any who had ever sung on a praise team to join the group

Afterwards we circled the Tree of Life for a Dedicatory prayer and commission to service that Ron had so capably prepared.

To complete this special moment -- beautiful white doves were released to circle the property.  It was AWE - inspiring!!!

These teens are the heartbeat of our Church family -!!!!

Father - Son Bonding time -- one tired little cow poke!!!

 We enjoyed a great time of fellowship and fun . . .

From here . . . it's onward and upward!!!!!

Celebrate!!!!

These two guys have been working towards this dream for a long time.

You both embody the Spirit of Welcome!!! 

My favorite parts of the day??? --
seeing old friends --Amy coming from Katy, TX, Tracie flying in from North Carolina
and Leanna coming from Columbia, MO --and my cousin Mauri and his wife who helped us start LifePark --

      -- watching the kids  play and have such a great time--

                      ---sharing this time of serving with these special folks we love so much ---
         
    ------ Everybody working so very hard for so many months -- 
I'm still grinning about watching Joel spray down all the kids with the water hose -- I really think that was the biggest attraction of the whole day in that 85 degree weather.


There were prayers of dedication and special words from the mayor and his wife encouraging the neighbors who visited to know that they could receive hope and help from this Church family.

Somebody had a great time!!!!

We would pick an 85 degree day to ask you to dress up in those hot suits!!!

Joel kept the kids wet for an hour -- what a cool way to meet our neighbors!!!

Butchers Nacho Stand -- You two are awesome!!!

Phillip is always serving!!1

Mitzi makes you beautiful!!!

"Stay Dusty" closed out the day's celebration -- Roman loves watching Dad and Singing along!

What a wonderful surprise - -Thanks Church Family for the Getaway!!!

Thanks Michael for bringing all your critters!!!

You can always find Donna with the babies!


 

I want to give a special thanks to some people who kept the food coming and made the day run smoothly --

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Jamie and Teri --

Michelle, Cody, Kayla and Aaron

Our two furry friends

April who kept the food comin'     

And Lora who ran the many kid activities and was takin' all the pics
so we don't have one of her!

Cecil -- thanks for keeping the electricity on -- getting the stands up -- and putting it all back together
and all the behinds scenes stuff you do all the time!

Has anybody seen Cecil???

Celebration Week - Friday

Terry and I were working on a time-line for Teri last night (You all will love the powerpoint she has put together) – Looking back at all the various happenings in the past 12 ½ years was certainly a revealer of all our Father has done in this time.  We have had a wonderful past and a glorious future awaits us!!!!

Tomorrow and Sunday are going to be one of those events in the history of our church family

The words “day of preparation” have been in my mind these past 24 hours – so I did a search and saw that it was mentioned in each gospel as the day Jesus was crucified –.  I have been seeing this week as a preparation time. 

It was also time to ready themselves for the Sabbath –to honor and give glory to God.  The Israelites had their special yearly festivals and every now and then had a Jubilee!!!   

Josh7 – They were told to consecrate themselves in preparation for tomorrow ( a special event that God was going to perform)

Let’s think of today as a day of preparation – let’s ask for those wonderful memories of all HE’s done in our lives – let’s reconcile relationships and ask for HIS love to flow through us.  Let’s spend time in prayer.

.  I think one of your greatest joys this weekend will be watching the kids play on our property.  It was for me on Sunday as we worked another clean-up day –watching  the Jenkins and Rays kids playing and helping all afternoon in HIS beautiful park –

 I’m including a picture of last night’s Kids’ Univ. beginning their garden – they had a blast in this park!!! 

My mind has gone back to several verses this week that guided and sustained us during this 12 year journey . . .

Deut 7:7  The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. (THAT SOUNDS LIKE US)

8  But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

9       Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. (THAT’S ALL THOSE THAT WE ARE PREPARING THIS PLACE FOR)

AND . . . .

Deut 10:17  For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

18  He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.

19  And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.

20  Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.

21  He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Can’t wait for us to celebrate together all weekend!

Love you,

Jan & Terry

Celebration Week - Thursday

We shared some memories yesterday from past years of this Spiritual Journey we’ve been on with God these 12 ½ years . . .

This was a favorite verse that strengthened us along the way –

—  BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE STRENGTH IS IN YOU WHO HAVE SET THEIR HEARTS ON PILGRIMAGE.  Psa. 84:5

And this one always comes to my mind and spirit when the schedule is packed with lots of last-minute details to prepare for

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together," (Colossians 1:17 NIV).

It’s going to be a wonderful Celebration weekend – it’s Palm Sunday and in preparation for Resurrection Sunday – Reflect on HIM before Saturday and read about all he did and taught his last week on earth. HIS was a packed week just like we’ve experienced.

Let’s remember why we are part of a Church Body in the first place – to be HIS hands and feet and mouth to a dying world. . . to be HIS hands and feet and mouth to West Tulsa -- This weekend we get a chance to do that.

Love you so,

Jan & Terry

Celebration Week - Wednesday

While we were still at our South Tulsa Campus – we trekked along with the Israelites on what we termed “Alltogether” Family Nights – we compared our journey to this place with those of God’s People in Egypt.  We watched them as they traveled and learned from their lives --  We had pivotal lessons that we saw as parallel to the times we were in as a Church Family.  We “floated boats on the Nile”  “endured the plagues”  “had a contest to create burning bushes”– “tried to get water from the rock” –“tasted something like manna” -- celebrated a Passover Meal and built shelters as we celebrated the Feast of the Tabernacles together.    

These were verses we committed during those Exodus Lessons

—  Lord YOU have been our dwelling place throughout all generations –Psalm 90:1

—  I have been with you wherever you have gone.  I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.  1 Chron 17 :9

—  I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary  among them forever.  My dwelling place will be with them;  I will be their God and they will be my people. Ezek. 37:26

We praise God for the journey of Life we have traveled up to this point – Lord, we are so blessed to come to this point – we are so very blessed to be Family together.  Thank you for all the sacrifices each and everyone has made.  Thank you Father that we are a FOREVER FAMILY.

Jan & Terry

Celebration Week - Tuesday

This week -- Terry and I are calling Celebration Week and yesterday morning
shared the verse below from Deut. 8

The Israelites had so many Celebrations and feast days -- it was always
important that they prepare themselves right before their festival for what
the Lord was going to do   Guard your heart -- protect your relationships
and above ALL celebrate our God all week long as we get ready!!  We've
prayed for your health and the health of your families!!!  We're praying
for many to come.

These verses I think speak to what we have witnessed and what we will
experience --

Deut 8

 Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him and
revering him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a
land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys
and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees,
pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce
and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

We are where we are because of HIS mighty works and the help of all those
who've partnered with us through the years to bring us to this place!

Thus far the LORD has helped (led) us!!!  and He called the Place Ebenezer.  1 Sam 7:12

We love you all so very much and are blessed to partner with you!
Jan& Terry

Weekly Favorite - Campbell's Telling her Babies What to Do. . .

C told her baby  "SAY CHEESE, BABY" before this photo shoot!


She's also been heard saying   "PRAY, FROGGIE!" to one of her bedtime buddies.  

BTW, she's teaching this baby bedtime prayers.