Rest

A time for REST. This is what I have heard the Lord say over and over again for the past few months. It was as if He was standing beside me screaming it in my ear so that it would sink into my heart. So, we listened. This past month has been just that; a lot of R&R for our family on the weekends. The last day of August our beautiful church closed her doors. After much prayer our Pastors decided it was time to go our separate ways. Its been devastating in many regards, peaceful in others. This faith family have been through a lot together and was so very close. Yet, the Lord said it's time to separate. Part of me totally understood the Lords direction, part of me doesn't. However, after our last Sunday together weeping, praying, praising Jesus and one last big lunch together, our family decided to rest. We have been to the beach, to the lake, and just hanging out together for the month of September. It has been so fulfilling to just BE family. To love and play with our children. The REST has been so very needed and good. So, now its time to find a new church family. I pray the Lord will place us just where He wants us. I pray that we will be restored and renewed. I pray that He will take our past and use it to shape our future in church, ministry, and as a family. So,here we go. Lord, lead us, guide us, give us direction. We love you and trust you heavenly Father.

A Mission Lesson

Last night was a beautiful night for our family. We got to spend the evening with one incredible young lady on a mission. Christy Barton has been a part of our church body for the past 3-4 years. You can follow her missionary journey here:
http://christyywamupdate.blogspot.com/
She will be leaving to go to Australia on a mission trip with YWAM in a few short weeks. She will be gone for 2 years. So, last night we got the privilege of picking her brain about her trip and teaching our kids about missionaries. After dinner the kids were given a chocolate chip for each question they ask Ms. Christy. The first question asked by Cade, "Can I have a chocolate chip, please?" We all laughed hard. He did what he was supposed to, ask Ms. Christy a question :D Other questions asked were:
How long will you be gone?
What city will you be stationed in?
What will you do while your there?
How can we pray for you while you are there?
What kind of food do they have in Australia? (this sparked a whole silly conversation about vegemite)



Oh Christy, thank you for spending the evening with us! Thank you for sharing your passion with us. Your heart for our Lord Jesus Christ is more beautiful than words can describe. The Best will be praying with you and for you daily! We have been blessed to know you! I know my kids saw Jesus in action in your life last night, and I know they will never forget it. What a treasure the evening was for us all!

The downstairs church and potatoes ...

So, I have decided to some how blog about our new church adventure. This way we will always have a place to look back at it and see where we started:)

Three weeks ago we signed over our church building to The Village, a prison ministry. We had to leave the building for a couple of reasons, the biggest one being that we could not afford it anymore. We left with no where to go and wasn't sure who or what we were to become.
We immediately began meeting in the basement of The Denard's house, affectionately known as "The downstairs church". We are digging in scripture together, praying, and seeking for God's direction for our church. Our church is growing in that basement and life giving relationships are forming. We still don't have the answers, to "what's next?" But the community, the worship and the hunger for God's word are everything that I need right now.
Keith and I recently watched the movie Faith like potatoes. That's what it feels like we are doing right now. Having faith like a potato. You may have to watch that movie to understand that concept, which I highly recommend. This doesn't look anything like traditional church, but the Holy Spirit is there and powerful. He is leading and we are following.

You can read Pastor Rodney's blog about the first service at
http://rodneycalfee.blogspot.com/2010/02/breaking-silencea-new-kind-of.html

His words describe it much better than mine could:)
So next week I get to hear Keith teach on hermeneutics and I can't wait! Yeah, really I can't wait. God has renewed my passion for his word! I do hunger for it and I am being renewed day by day because of it!
Where will be a year from now, 5 years from now, 10 years from now? I really don't know, but I am walking by faith and feeling God's presence as I do so.

"When Jesus crashes in, out comes something beautiful"

So, a few years back Pastor Rodney wrote this song: When Jesus crashes in, out comes something beautiful. Seems like I remember Pastor Brandon having something to do with this song too. I really cant remember, but this song was written and we have come to love it as a church body.

Today at church pastor Rodney sang this song. I began to explain to her that Pastor Rodney had written this song, kind of like she likes to make up songs and write them. She began listening and asked what it means for Jesus to crash into your soul.
At the same time she began asking this great question, her little brother began a crying jealous fit for Mommy. I took Cade, and Chesney went to her Daddy.She began asking him to answer her questions. During worship they began discussing what it means for Jesus to crash into your soul. She told Keith that she wanted to do that, to ask Jesus to live in her heart. So, while all were singing, they bowed their heads and Keith lead her through a prayer of salvation. Our little girl asked Jesus into her heart, right in the middle of worship! She came and told me, then went to her big brother and told him. She walked over to him, hugged and him and whispered, " I asked Jesus into my heart, Britton." Britton say's, "You asked Jesus into your heart? right now?" "Yes, I did." Then you see Britton eyes light up.He leaned over and whispered in her ear, " I have been praying that you would do that. I prayed that during our fast." She looked at him with great surprise and they hugged again. Keith and Chesney went up to tell the church about the mornings events. Pastor Brandon had preached about salvation, and had prayed during prayer time that someone would get saved today.

This month our church had been participating in a 21 day fast. Britton and Chesney had been fasting one dessert a day and praying for a few specific things. I had secretly asked Britton to pray for Chesney's salvation and for her to grow closer to Jesus this year. Keith and I had been praying this as well over the past several months. Chesney had been asking many questions lately and her heart really began changing about a month ago. This Sunday was the day of feasting and the fast was over. It amazes me that this morning she made this decision. Only God could orchestrate such an event. It spoke volumes to my son's heart that the Lord had heard his prayers for his sister. I will never forget the look on his face when he realized that the Lord had answered his prayers.

When Pastor Rodney and Melinda told Claire(Chesney's side kick)that Chesney had decided to follow Jesus, Claire said, " Yeah, so now we are both Krystal's".(or christian).
So, yes our little girl is a Krystal :D It was such a wonderful day. Such joy fills my soul. I am overwhelmed with His love for us!!

Father's Day Memories

This Father's Day was quite different than any other. Daddy preached at a sweet little church in North Birmingham. One of Daddy's hospice patients asked him to preach at their church. This church was a small black congregation. Did I mention the church was small? 8 pews only small;) Every seat was filled! We were told service was to last from 11am to 3pm, so we prayed fervently for excellent behavior from our kids. We took Nana along for some back up help, just in case. *wink* This day was the first day for Daddy to prepare a message to preach in maybe, 6 months or more. He was a wee bit nervous. We had an incredible experience. All greeted us with big hugs and kisses. We sang acapella for over an hour. One lady would begin a song and everyone would join in, then another would start a new song. The children in their church had many responsibilities. They would usher, sing special music, pass out bulletins. They were so proud of the jobs they had been given for worship. It was neat to see kids be so much a part of the worship service. Daddy started preaching around 12:45. He preached such a powerful message about a Fathers role in discipleship with his children and family. It was such an incredible message and service. Daddy wrapped it up around 2pm. The whole church bid us farewell with more hugs and kisses, each of us. Then they packed us up 6 boxes of "homemade cookin"!! It was some good cookin, all right!! We left around 2:30pm. The kids did better than great, and the service flew by. Imagine that! We headed over to Papaw Jim's house to eat our yummy food and wish him Happy Father's day. It was so good to see Daddy preach again!! Britton and Chesney loved the little church and asked if we could visit again real soon. I will never forget this incredible day. Good worship, good preaching, good food, and an awesome Daddy to celebrate!

A Day to Make a Difference

This year our church decided to serve our community for Easter. The Saturday before Easter we all went downtown and did various community service projects along with other churches throughout the city. The Best family went to the downtown Garden and built new planter boxes. You all had such a great time playing in the dirt with your hands and using shovels that were way to big for you!! We made a few new friends while working and the farmers were so gracious to let us pick and eat their freshly grown organic strawberries. Then on Easter Sunday we had a huge Easter party to celebrate that Jesus is risen! We had a huge Easter egg hunt, played fun games, dunked the villagers, jumped on jumpies, ate popcorn and ice cones and worshiped Jesus with many new friends. It was a different way to celebrate Easter and it was very enjoyable!! Here are a few pics from the two different events! A Day to Make A Difference!!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook