Devotional: Ye Are As Graves Which Appear Not

In my devotions, I read this verse and it stuck out to me.  "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them."  Luke 11:44

Is that me?  Is that you?  What Jesus was saying was inward, the Pharisees were harboring death.  Anger, bitterness, jealousy, hate.  What evil thing are you holding inside where no one can see?  

Do you have something in your heart that creates death to your spirit and soul yet someone can walk right past you and never know?

Take care of it today.  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your true heart and then ask forgiveness and seek restoration.

It is a wonderful day to start anew!

Church Administration: Activity Planning Sheet and Procedure for your Church

Church administration is a very important part of your church and its ministries.  

One of the most recent things we created for our ministries was an Activity Planning Sheet.  It was becoming a necessary thing having multiple events for multiple groups.  This would be ministries like teen group, ladies ministries, the senior group of your church (Ours is JOY - Just Older Youth), childrens' ministries such as Awana, etc., Sunday School classes, Connection Groups (small groups-ours is our Wednesday evening adult classes), College and Career (ours is Turning Point).  Basically any group that wants to host an activity under the umbrella of your church.

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The following is what was sent to our ministry leaders regarding the planning sheet...

I am asking for you to add one item as administrators or secretaries to your ministries. Attached you will find the SVBC Activity Planning Sheet.  

Using this sheet will enable the following:

1.  Pastor Eric will be aware and also approve all activities that go on in the SVBC ministries.

2.  There will be no conflicting activities between ministries and the church wide calendar.  

3.  It will be one simple system that all ministries will be able to utilize and creates uniformity in our church office.

4.  It encourages accountability on your part as a leader to plan well in advance and prepare for your ministry.

You can e-mail me this form at the above e-mail address.  You may also put this form in my box at the church office.  

The time guidelines Pastor would like you to follow as when to have your activities submitted to the church office:

January activities - Nov. 15

February activities - Dec. 15

March activities - Jan. 15

April activities - Feb. 15

May activities - March 15

June activities - April 15

July activities - May 15

August activities - June 15

September activities - July 15

October activities - August 15

November activities - Sept. 15

December activities - Oct. 15

Pastor realizes that there may be last minute smaller events that you may want to do. For example: Have your Sunday School class in the park. We ask that these are submitted at least 7 days in advance.  This is especially important if you are off campus.  

PLEASE do not announce your activity until your activity sheet has been approved.  

Thank you so much for getting on board with this new procedure!  If you have any questions, let me know.

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I have included our activity planning sheet as a reference for you to use or adapt for your ministry.

Activity Planning Sheet

Is Your Life Drought and Fire?

Yesterday, we took friends from Indiana that were in Reno on their honeymoon up to Lake Tahoe.  He is not able to drive because of seizures and she was not comfortable driving in the mountains.  So a day trip it was!

The main site we went to see was Emerald Bay and Eagle Falls.  Usually this area is rushing with water.  Yet there was none.  Many months of drought...a couple winters of just not enough snow.

And then the fires...this is the Cascade Fire near Emerald Bay.  Smoke...drought.

Sometimes, I feel like this in my life.  There are periods of drought.  Financially, emotionally, spiritually, physically.  There are times the fire hits your life and you may feel that you won't survive.   The smoke is choking out clarity in the situations in your life.

Sometimes, you may not have answers.  Other people may not even have the answers.

But then in those times of drought and fire, I think of these verses:

"I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah."  Psalm 143:6

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;"  Psalm 63:1

"For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:" Isaiah 44:3

And just after we saw the smoke from the fire...and the dry land where the waterfall used to be...it started raining.  It was like God was saying...I know your soul is thirsty.  Here is water for your thirsty soul.

Seek Him.  The drought may last for a season but God will send the rain again.  The smoke may cloud your life for a period.  Then God will blow it away and make things clear.  Wait on Him.  He is good.  He is God.

I Choose Facing the Giants...

Last night, we had our last Family Movie Night at our church for our Family Emphasis Quarter.  My husband and I originally planned to watch Mercy Rule with Kirk Cameron.  After watching it at home, my husband said to me, "I was disappointed.  They didn't say anything about God.  It was all about them working it out in their own way."  We then decided to watch Facing the Giants instead.

While watching Facing the Giants last night, I thought about the difference in the main characters of these two movies.  They both go through extremely difficult personal situations yet handle them in two completely different ways.  The son in Mercy Rule tried to figure out why the coach wouldn't play him.  It came down to him needing to play as a team player and not just for himself.

Good stuff.  I don't deny that.  Team players are extremely important in families, corporations and yes, churches!  

Then you saw in Facing the Giants...another group of players.  Yet this coach emphasized God.  They would and could do nothing without God.  It wasn't about being a team and working together.  It was about depending on God for their strength and ability.  

It was about getting God on your team!

I got goosebumps.  I cried many times.  That movie just gets me.  God is all over in every facet of their lives.

And facing your fears and giants.  Both men in the movie faced losing their jobs.  Big life stuff.  How do I handle the big life stuff?  Last night, I woke up thinking and worrying about some big stuff.  It was a great reminder to me to handle it like Coach.  

I can't control the big things.  HE CAN!

Pray.  Give it to God.  And expect great miracles.  

Change It Up! Plan a Birthday Activity

Birthdays.  Something that happens every year.  Something that could get very expensive. Sometimes, we think that a traditional birthday party is the only thing to do.  

What about a birthday activity?

With sources such as Groupon, Living Social and Deal Chicken...there are very inexpensive fun outings that would be great for a birthday activity.

We had a birthday activity for our daughter, Autumn, who is turning 9 next week.  I found a deal on Deal Chicken for four admissions and skate rental to our local roller skating rink as well as four slices of pizza and four sodas.  She got to invite three friends.  She invited her sister, Addie and two friends from church.  The skating was for 2 1/2 hours and the girls had an absolute blast!

And it only cost me $18.  No cleaning and cooking to prepare for a party. No decorations to worry about.  And just 6 cupcakes that we brought to have while skating.

It was such a great idea that I got one for Sierra's 7th birthday coming up in October as well!  Maybe this will be a yearly event.  LOL!  

Check out your local deals for ideas in your city!

Field Trip - National Championship Air Races

Last Friday, we took the kids on a home school field trip to the National Championship Air Races in Reno.  This is a super event!  Being a home school group, we not only were able to get free admission, we also were allowed into the pit area.  

You can walk around and see all the planes up close.  Sit in the stands and watch the races or the demonstrations.  Have some garlic french fries (and $3 bottles of water!  LOL!).  Talk to pilots.  It is a great event for all ages - again, our city is awesome for family events!

One of their favorite parts is to sit in planes like this.  Yes, pretty neat!

Of course, a great event wouldn't be complete without the Star Spangled Banner!

My favorite of the air races each year is this part.  This year, it was the Patriots.  A-mazing!

And the kids...they loved learning how to fly an aircraft. :)

"Man Should Find Nothing After Him"

I have been doing a Bible reading plan on Fear.  Monday, my husband and I were sitting on our deck on the porch swing having our coffee and chatting.  I read this verse and it just jumped out at me.

Ecclesiastes 7:14  "In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him."

I pondered this verse - it intrigued me.  

God brings about days of prosperity as well as adversity.  Days of smooth waters and days of storms.  Days of laughter and nights of tears.  

And guess who is at the end of it all?  God.  Do we have to seek for anything or anyone?  Just God.  He is the answer for the end of every question.

I find this very comforting.  For I always know where to find the answer.  

I can know in good times and bad...the answer is God.

Recipe: Crock Pot Buffalo Ranch Wings

Football season has arrived!  What is most important in football season is not who wins but the food involved. ;)  Jenny gave me this recipe that is tasty and easy!  

Crock Pot Buffalo Ranch Wings

1 bottle Frank's buffalo wing sauce

1 packet Hidden Valley ranch dressing

3 lbs. chicken wings (or boneless, skinless breasts if you aren't a wing fan)

Cook on high for 3-4 hours.  

Go Dolphins!  :)

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."  Psalms 19:1

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."  Psalms 24:1

"And God saw everything that he had made,and behold, it was very good..."

Genesis 1:31a

"And why take ye thought for raiment?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;"

Matthew 6:28

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."  Isaiah 40:8

The Great Reno Balloon Races 2014

It's balloon time!  Every year, Reno hosts The Great Reno Balloon Race.  It is a huge event which began 33 years ago and one of my very favorites.  Over 100 balloons participate with over 140,000 people attending.  The brisk September morning is perfect as the sun comes over the mountains in the east.  

Brave souls come early for the Dawn Patrol which begins at 5am.  I was lucky to get these guys there by 6:15.  LOL!

In most events that we attend here in Reno, I love that they have the Star Spangled Banner and our flag that flies!  In this event, the balloon ascends with the flag under it while it is being sung.  

Then the balloons start coming up all around you.  

Everyone was a little grouchy except for Mommy.  LOL!

As you can see, the balloons are inflated all around you!

Love the fish couple!

One of my favorite shots to take is when the balloons are right over you.

One of the unique balloons this year - the chili peppers!

Just beautiful!

This guy got up early just for me. :)

The dog balloon was so big it had to wait until the others ascended and even then it took awhile!

The fire heating up the balloon.

What a wonderful, delightful event in Reno!  Well worth coming to see and experience.  

Afterwards, we went to Bordertown for a home-cooked breakfast - biscuits and gravy and omelets. :)