100 year age difference

This is Tyler’s great great aunt Coye who is 100 years old! They are spending an early thanksgiving together.

Cant sleep

I don’t know what it is about travelling west to east but I have the hardest time getting back on schedule. Today was a big day on many levels and I believe was a milestone Sunday for me as a pastor and for the future of our church. I totally surrendered to the Lord and asked Him to use me today. I think part of me not being able to sleep is that I am still riding that high.

God is so abundantly good. Literally…period

I was listening to my message, as I have done for so long, and found such encouragement…when I forget that it is actually speaking, that’s when I know for a fact that God took over…

New paint on our new house

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that we have new paint on our new house! It really looks great! If you are not from Texas, you may not know why our windows look black. Those are solar screens that you install to lower the energy consumsion of your house. 8 years of marriage, 4 children, 10 houses layer….and we are beginning to feel settled! Thank you God!

Neiman marcus downtown Dallas Christmas lighting

Storytime Elmo @ the Coates’

The girl’s Aunt Leigh and Uncle Dan sent them Elmo live yesterday in the mail. I didn’t know what all of the fuss was about it but now I get it. It is a very cool toy and captures the attention of a 6 year old down to 5 months.

Plate change

Finally street legal in Tx. Didn’t know I was emotionally tied to my plates

Thought I would share

I was in a time of sermon preparation this afternoon and read this passage as I have many times. There was a calming peace that came over me as I meditated on each of these words:

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

In a reflective, devotional way, what strikes you about this passage? I am not asking you what you “think” it means or what it “means to you.” Maybe I will ask it this way…”as you reflect on this passage, what thoughts come to your mind?”

Aware

Yes, I am fully aware that my posts have been very scattered and random. This is due in part to the fact that I am still in a state of transition. There have been some immediate situations that I have had to address, however, all is going well. We have closed on our home and have been in it for 10 days. It is kinda crazy though because there are no blinds on the windows….but there will be soon…. they should be up this week. The house gets scraped on and caulked today and painted next weekend. We have painted the girls room and will paint two others and do a little demo in the living room…that is just the home side of things. Ella turns 6 today….amazing how time passes yet I can remember almost every day of her life. I am excited for her and her growth in the Lord. 

We have all of our positions filled as of this coming week. I had to do some outsourcing and combining but to a substantial savings in the end. Paint and carpet is going in and the new cleaning service will help maintain the ascetic value of the building…both inside and out. A new playground and the support and training of small group hosts will be the next thing on the plate as well as the launching of a new “vintage” service which will be very classical in style….and theres more…- 

Excited to be used “FULLY” by God….for so much of the past few years I seemed like a ball of potential just sitting there wasting as if “on call.” I was being pinched at Saddleback but never ever squeezed…God has moved my family on to a place where we can make a difference. I am grateful daily…