Coffee Break

for just a moment. It has been non stop since we've gotten to Blowing Rock, NC for the SnoCraze 2010 with the Blythe Island Youth Group. This is the first youth trip I have taken as an adult & I must say that I now am in awe at what my youth pastors and mentors did for me. Not to mention the countless counselors and pastors that do this everyday in all different churches. I have a new respect for what they do. As a mom I thought...oh, what's a few more "youth". Ha! The dynamics are incredible and there is a life that just oozes when they are all together. It's a great synergy. So to any and all that work with youth ~ Thank you & if you don't, but have a youth...you need to thank those who work in the ministry. OK, this will probably be my only post until we get back Saturday night, but I wanted to let you know that we are doing well and the kids are having a great time. ~Peace & Blessings~ Jen

is very taxing. Have you ever been attacked so much that you don't even want to try to fight anymore. Been there done that...what are you to do. Remember that the only way to defeat the enemy is to engage the enemy. We have to fight. I have been struggling all morning with thoughts that just need to be captured and contained...they need to be destroyed to be honest, but they are there nonetheless. You know that Satan knows our every weakness. He just loves to use them against us too. To make you and I feel unworthy or that it's just not worth it any more to "try" to be "good". That is when you engage & fight! Let your prayer partner or best friend know what is going on inside your head. Don't be afraid to speak the truth of the matter with those you trust. They won't judge you, but they can help you defeat the temptations that you struggle with. The 2nd thing I'll say to do is memorize scripture that can help you during an attack. A good ...

is an age old question. I don't really know why, the Bible tells us in many ways how to treat one another & how to work through conflict. One of my favorite verses on the matter is Matthew 18:15. Matthew 18:15; “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over." There is much that we can learn from this one verse. The first is to not talk about the conflict with anyone else UNTIL you speak to the one that you have a conflict with. It does not matter if it's hurt feelings, or they stole from you, or you may feel as though they just wrong you in some way...do not speak about the situation to ANYONE until you speak to that person. I honestly believe that this one action alone could stop a lot of negative repercussions. The second lesson we can learn from this verse is to not speak in anger. Present your case to the one who is involved and give them time to process the situation fr...

is actually part of the 10 commandments so why do we tend to look at it as an option? The reason this is on my mind is well...first of all it's almost 10pm and I'm still overwhelmed with all the "things" I "have" to do. Do I really need to do them right now? No. And I know this, but there is some internal voice screaming at me that I won't have "enough time" to do these things tomorrow. Really? I am beginning to wonder if I really do try to do too much. Then I look at all the time that I waste and abuse and the answer is no. No I don't have too much to do, I am just not using the time that God has given me wisely. So what to do, and how do I take my day of rest. and really is the day of rest just related to the one day? One of the things that I try to do is not get on the computer on the weekends and I spend time with my family. Sunday is church...all day. Is it really rest though? Yes and no. It is rest because I am spending time readi...

I was very very tired this morning as I got into work. I went out last night to a Christmas function & then grabbed a bite to eat, but 0430 comes way too early no matter who you are. So as I was struggling to focus I grabbed up one of the magazines that we have here at the station. There was a real good article in the Dec 2010 issue of STV (Sharing the Victory). The ability to not be busy. Now that is a wild concept. We always assume that if we are "busy" then we aren't being "lazy". I beg to differ. In many ways I believe that we GET "Busy" in order to not deal with what is really IMPORTANT. Honestly now, ask yourself these questions... 1. What is more important...the dishes or 5 minutes of "play time" with the kids? 2. What's more important...going to church (for the sake of being seen) or staying home with a sick family member? 3. What is more important...answering your always ringing phone or spending 20 minutes in the Word ...

So...Bart & I asked, where did the band The Afters get their name? Thanks Preston for emailing us the answer & in a quick manner! What a blessing to have listeners that listen and help out...you know we really don't know it all ;-)! What’s behind the name The Afters, though? Josh: It has a couple different meanings. We like to think of it as a term for how after, like in this life, for important events – whether it’s birth, death, ya know — life changing things – or things like 911 or the hurricanes we had in the past year. These events in our lives emerge and change people. After all those things, you can see God’s hand how God is always in control no matter what we encounter. And … it’s also a term for desert. There’s another cool meaning, like in parts of England and Ireland, it’s a term for something that happens after a formal wedding or a banquet and if you can’t afford the formal thing, you can go to the afters where everyone is invited http://www.soundgrid.net/2...