This past Sunday I was telling a teenager at our church how proud I was to see him there for service. I know that his parents have had a tough time with him lately. He is going through a rebellious stage and they aren’t sure how to control him. He told me thank you but that he would only be there for Sunday morning & Wednesday night. He said ‘I told my Mom & Dad that I would go to church with them on Sunday mornings & Wednesday nights but that I wasn’t coming on Sunday nights.’
Hmmm I wonder what my parents would have said if I told them I wasn’t going to do something. I can’t even imagine the wrath. Oh, and just for the record, my Dad and Mom didn’t spank me. I think I would have rather received a spanking. My Dad would get down the Bible and teach us. Before I had time to utter another word I would feel so condemned by my actions.
When this child told me his concession to church, with his Mom standing right there, I was left dumbfounded. I didn’t even reply because I didn’t know what to say. Now, I realize that I could have said many things like ‘What if God only answered your prayers on Sunday morning, and Wednesday night?’ or ‘What if your Mom & Dad only fed you on Sunday morning, and Wednesday night?’ What would you have said?
What would you do if this were your child? Please help me to pray.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
American Quilters Society Quilt Show
Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to the quilt show here in Knoxville. It was amazing but I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
International Sue Bonnets
I love black and white quilts!! This one has just a little burst of color. Do you see it?
The appliqué on this was gorgeous.
These are just a few of the pics I took. I'm sorry they don't do justice to the quality of the quilts. I was using my iPhone to take pictures.
I'll have more tomorrow.
-Blessings
Krista
International Sue Bonnets
I love black and white quilts!! This one has just a little burst of color. Do you see it?
The appliqué on this was gorgeous.
These are just a few of the pics I took. I'm sorry they don't do justice to the quality of the quilts. I was using my iPhone to take pictures.
I'll have more tomorrow.
-Blessings
Krista
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Daily Devotion
I was sent this link today in my daily devotion. http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/currenttrendscolumns/leadershipweekly/minuteseternity.html It brought back a ton of memories and tears.
On December 22nd 1994, I lost my 3rd child. Believe it or not, I am at a loss for words. I am not like the people in this article that carried the baby to term and were able to hold it. No, my baby died in my womb. I was about 12 weeks pregnant when the baby died, and my body didn’t try to miscarry. I would have carried the baby to term, but it wouldn’t have been a live birth. If I remember correctly, I believe my due date would have been in June of 1995, but we chose to have the doctor take it that December.
I was never able to hold my baby or name it. I’ve always thought it would have been a boy, but I don’t know. After testing the doctors told me I lost the baby because of what is called ‘Trisomy 13’. Most babies born with this defect do not make it to term, and if they do they usually don’t live long. A trisomy pregnancy can be many different things depending on which chromosome has three instead of the normal two. The result could be anything from a cleft palate to down syndrome to dwarfism.
It took me years to grieve. At first it seemed like it didn’t happen to me. I was separate from this tragedy that occurred in our life. Then one day I was sitting in church and someone was singing a song about Jesus’ have a rocking chair, and I lost it! Yes, I mean sobbing, bellering, squalling, lost it… It was almost 2 years after I lost the baby. I had to leave the sanctuary. Charlie took me home and it was like it had just happened.
I know that God has a plan. I always wanted to have at least four kids, but I guess that wasn’t in God’s plan. I have two children that I have watched become wonderful young adults. Different people have different ideas about when a baby has a soul and I don’t want to get into that discussion. Suffice it to say, it makes me feel peace to believe that I have a child that I’ll meet in Heaven.
~Blessings
Krista
On December 22nd 1994, I lost my 3rd child. Believe it or not, I am at a loss for words. I am not like the people in this article that carried the baby to term and were able to hold it. No, my baby died in my womb. I was about 12 weeks pregnant when the baby died, and my body didn’t try to miscarry. I would have carried the baby to term, but it wouldn’t have been a live birth. If I remember correctly, I believe my due date would have been in June of 1995, but we chose to have the doctor take it that December.
I was never able to hold my baby or name it. I’ve always thought it would have been a boy, but I don’t know. After testing the doctors told me I lost the baby because of what is called ‘Trisomy 13’. Most babies born with this defect do not make it to term, and if they do they usually don’t live long. A trisomy pregnancy can be many different things depending on which chromosome has three instead of the normal two. The result could be anything from a cleft palate to down syndrome to dwarfism.
It took me years to grieve. At first it seemed like it didn’t happen to me. I was separate from this tragedy that occurred in our life. Then one day I was sitting in church and someone was singing a song about Jesus’ have a rocking chair, and I lost it! Yes, I mean sobbing, bellering, squalling, lost it… It was almost 2 years after I lost the baby. I had to leave the sanctuary. Charlie took me home and it was like it had just happened.
I know that God has a plan. I always wanted to have at least four kids, but I guess that wasn’t in God’s plan. I have two children that I have watched become wonderful young adults. Different people have different ideas about when a baby has a soul and I don’t want to get into that discussion. Suffice it to say, it makes me feel peace to believe that I have a child that I’ll meet in Heaven.
~Blessings
Krista
Thursday, June 23, 2011
What do teenagers need from youth ministry?
This is a subject near & dear to my heart. For the last 16 years Charlie & I have worked in the youth department of our organization. We started out working with fundraising for the youth but then our work progressed into something more. Charlie currently serves as Youth Pastor at the Claxton church of our organization. Working with young people can be very rewarding because you can see when you make a difference in their life. However, it can also be the most challenging. It’s very difficult to find that niche that will combat the entertainment that youth find in the world today. Our biggest challenge seems to be how do you get them to a church event when there is a football game at the school or some other exciting event on the same night? Do you offer video games & pizza, or go-karts & hamburgers just to attract them to a church event instead of an event the world offers then try to have a small devotional while you have their attention? We’ve done this in the past but we’ve always felt that it just wasn’t enough. What were we teaching these young people about the word of God?
As I said we’ve been working in youth ministry for 16 years and we’ve watched an entire generation become adults. The teenagers we started with are now parents and we have their children in our youth department. Looking back the youth that we had the most impact on are the ones we took to camp each summer. Camp Awanita, one week in the summer away from worldly distractions. No cell phones, no television, no radios, no video games, only each other and the Word of God. Yes, we would play games but they were always Faith building games. We watched these teenagers walk away knowing something they could build their life on. The challenge we had was only a few would come. If I remember correctly our highest number was 56. I think our last trip to Camp Awanita was in 2006. Our interested numbers have become so small that it isn’t cost effective. There are too many other offerings in the summer that the teenagers of today are pulled to like sports camps & band camps. I’ve heard many parents say we can’t afford both, and I’ve raised two teenagers so I understand that. I’ve also been told ‘If my child doesn’t go to this sports camp then they will have to sit the bench during the next season.’ They think this sports camp will make a drastic change in their child’s life; making them a better player. What they don’t realize is that a Christian Camp will make them a better Christian and could firmly plant their child on the Rock, Christ Jesus!
For years I’ve watched mega churches attract youth with things our small church just couldn’t afford; parties, pizza every Friday night, big trips, large youth centers, concerts, etc. We’ve had parents in our church want us to spend a large chunk of our budget to take their kids to amusement parks, beaches, etc., and we’ve really struggled with this because we keep coming back to where is the Word in all this foolishness. I’ve had people say ‘Well it’s good for those kids who might run with the bad crowd to be with the good crowd and it doesn’t matter what you are doing with them.’ ‘Keep them off the streets.’ I understand that to some extent; however what are you teaching them? Are you helping them lay the groundwork to become good adults or are you just teaching them life isn’t ‘fun’ without some kind of party?
I thought we were alone in this struggle then I received an email that led me to a discussion about youth ministry. I realized that we are not the only people that have seen our youth become young adults without a foundation in the church. They don’t know the Word. They are now just looking for the next party or event. I would like all my friends to read this article. It is very enlightening, and makes me to know we are not alone in feeling that our youth of today is being ‘amused to death’. Christianity Today
I think you’ll like it. Come back to my blog, comment and let me know what you think. Do you agree?
- Blessings
Krista
As I said we’ve been working in youth ministry for 16 years and we’ve watched an entire generation become adults. The teenagers we started with are now parents and we have their children in our youth department. Looking back the youth that we had the most impact on are the ones we took to camp each summer. Camp Awanita, one week in the summer away from worldly distractions. No cell phones, no television, no radios, no video games, only each other and the Word of God. Yes, we would play games but they were always Faith building games. We watched these teenagers walk away knowing something they could build their life on. The challenge we had was only a few would come. If I remember correctly our highest number was 56. I think our last trip to Camp Awanita was in 2006. Our interested numbers have become so small that it isn’t cost effective. There are too many other offerings in the summer that the teenagers of today are pulled to like sports camps & band camps. I’ve heard many parents say we can’t afford both, and I’ve raised two teenagers so I understand that. I’ve also been told ‘If my child doesn’t go to this sports camp then they will have to sit the bench during the next season.’ They think this sports camp will make a drastic change in their child’s life; making them a better player. What they don’t realize is that a Christian Camp will make them a better Christian and could firmly plant their child on the Rock, Christ Jesus!
For years I’ve watched mega churches attract youth with things our small church just couldn’t afford; parties, pizza every Friday night, big trips, large youth centers, concerts, etc. We’ve had parents in our church want us to spend a large chunk of our budget to take their kids to amusement parks, beaches, etc., and we’ve really struggled with this because we keep coming back to where is the Word in all this foolishness. I’ve had people say ‘Well it’s good for those kids who might run with the bad crowd to be with the good crowd and it doesn’t matter what you are doing with them.’ ‘Keep them off the streets.’ I understand that to some extent; however what are you teaching them? Are you helping them lay the groundwork to become good adults or are you just teaching them life isn’t ‘fun’ without some kind of party?
I thought we were alone in this struggle then I received an email that led me to a discussion about youth ministry. I realized that we are not the only people that have seen our youth become young adults without a foundation in the church. They don’t know the Word. They are now just looking for the next party or event. I would like all my friends to read this article. It is very enlightening, and makes me to know we are not alone in feeling that our youth of today is being ‘amused to death’. Christianity Today
I think you’ll like it. Come back to my blog, comment and let me know what you think. Do you agree?
- Blessings
Krista
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Stepping Out on Faith
Do you remember in the Indiana Jones movie when he is going after the Holy Grail? He could see it. It was almost within his grasp, but between him & the Holy Grail was a chasm. It appeared that if he took a step he would fall into oblivion. Before he took that first step he picked up a handful of sand and sprinkled it across the void. The sand landed and showed the path.
Are you standing at the edge of your chasm? Can you see your prize but you can’t obtain it because you are unable to see the path? Let Jesus show you the path. Step out on Faith. His promises are sure.
This reminds me of the place in the Bible where Jesus was walking on the water towards the disciples’ boat (Matthew 14). When the disciples saw Jesus they thought he was a spirit, but Peter said to him “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” Jesus said one word to Peter “Come.” The next verse says that Peter walked on the water. He stepped out on faith in Jesus’ word. At that moment he had no doubt that he would walk on the water. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, his prize, then he walked on the water. When he took his eyes off his prize he started to sink.
Sometimes the path is only revealed one step at a time. Do your children or husband in my case play video games? Mine do. I’ve watched them play many games and in several of those games the path will be unseen, but as they take a step the block will appear under their feet. Sometimes they misjudge where they should step, the block doesn’t appear and they fall to their demise. Many times in our path towards our goal only the next step is revealed and not the entire path. Sometimes I catch myself wishing I could see into the future; especially now that my children are embarking on their adult paths. That isn’t the plan. I’m sure if the entire path was revealed we would become overwhelmed, and get wrapped up in fear and worry. Remember Jesus’ knows our path. We should live our life for him, keeping our eyes on him, and take our steps in faith; stepping forward in trust and obedience. If we were to take our eyes off Jesus, and take the wrong step, remember that Jesus will save us just like he did Peter that day on the water. Just don’t let the fear of falling keep you from taking the step.
- Blessings
Krista
Are you standing at the edge of your chasm? Can you see your prize but you can’t obtain it because you are unable to see the path? Let Jesus show you the path. Step out on Faith. His promises are sure.
This reminds me of the place in the Bible where Jesus was walking on the water towards the disciples’ boat (Matthew 14). When the disciples saw Jesus they thought he was a spirit, but Peter said to him “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” Jesus said one word to Peter “Come.” The next verse says that Peter walked on the water. He stepped out on faith in Jesus’ word. At that moment he had no doubt that he would walk on the water. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, his prize, then he walked on the water. When he took his eyes off his prize he started to sink.
Sometimes the path is only revealed one step at a time. Do your children or husband in my case play video games? Mine do. I’ve watched them play many games and in several of those games the path will be unseen, but as they take a step the block will appear under their feet. Sometimes they misjudge where they should step, the block doesn’t appear and they fall to their demise. Many times in our path towards our goal only the next step is revealed and not the entire path. Sometimes I catch myself wishing I could see into the future; especially now that my children are embarking on their adult paths. That isn’t the plan. I’m sure if the entire path was revealed we would become overwhelmed, and get wrapped up in fear and worry. Remember Jesus’ knows our path. We should live our life for him, keeping our eyes on him, and take our steps in faith; stepping forward in trust and obedience. If we were to take our eyes off Jesus, and take the wrong step, remember that Jesus will save us just like he did Peter that day on the water. Just don’t let the fear of falling keep you from taking the step.
- Blessings
Krista
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
My Baby Girl
Yesterday I wrote about my baby boy so today I thought I’d write about my baby girl.
Mary Elizabeth, the ‘date’ she was born had always been a day of sorrow for me. You see her ‘birth’day is March 18. My granddaddy died on March 18, 1977, and then my Mama Mary Dell died on March 18, 1990. In my mind it was only fitting that when I went to my doctor’s appointment the morning of March 18, 1993 that the doctor would tell me that my baby girl was in distress. He said if I didn’t deliver soon that her life was in danger. I was only 19 at the time and completely alone. Charlie was on his way to a job 2 hours away in Atlanta, and my Mother was 2 hours away in Knoxville TN. Being the stubborn person that I am I told the doctor that I would not let him induce labor or give me a C-Section and that if she was meant to die or if she was meant to live then so be it. Well she is just as stubborn as I am because at 6:30 that night she was born in to this world completely natural.
There are so many things that I could say about my daughter. She is the child of my heart. She is the one who will walk up and give me a hug just when I need it. I remember when she was about 3 years old, she looked up at me with those big blue eyes and said “Mama, will you be my best friend?” She had on her favorite outfit. The one with the lady bugs on it! She wanted to wear that outfit everyday to preschool. She has always been my best friend. We go shopping together. We have our nails done together. We have our hair cut together. You get the point.
Beth is one of those people that loves completely. When she decides you can be a part of her bubble then you are truly blessed. However, she doesn’t love easily. She was born during a time in my life where I thought I was all alone. I wouldn’t let anyone close for fear that they would hurt me. I think I passed that feeling on to her. She doesn’t let many people get to know her. She appears to be a quiet person when you first meet her, but give her a little bit and she’ll talk your ear off!
She is extremely creative. When she picks up her sketch pad & pencil it’s like magic comes from her fingertips. I love to watch her catch that perfect moment by drawing or on camera. I’m not sure whose side of the family all this creativity came from but she is very talented. My grandfather was a sign maker. He created signs by putting pencil to paper long before computer graphics where around. I’d like to think that she inherited her creativity from him. I know he’d like that too!
This fall she’ll be spreading her wings. It is time… She has been accepted to Maryville College on an art scholarship. I know she’ll be successful. She has decided to live at home during her freshman year, but I know that it won’t be too long before she decides to move out to. I just don’t want to accept it. She is my baby! When she was young she would hide behind me when people would come up. I would continue to ‘hide’ her if I could but I know that would handicap her in this world because I won’t always be there to shield her. It’s hard to explain…I’ve just always wanted to keep her safe not letting the mean people of this world hurt my baby.
I’ve prayed her entire life that God would send her a special man that would love her so completely, taking care of her even more than I have. I’ve prayed that that man would be a God fearing person. I’ve prayed that he would be someone who will dedicate their life and marriage to God’s service. Now, it doesn’t have to be anytime soon, but I know that she is at that time of her life where she wants and needs her special someone.
I came home a few weeks ago and she was sitting at the table with her bible, a book, and a notepad. She was reading a devotional called “A Lady in Waiting”. She was cross-referencing the book with her KJV bible. The book is about becoming God’s best while you are waiting for Mr. Right. The book explores Ruth from the Bible, and by doing that you learn the characteristics that every woman of God should develop. I went to my room that day and prayed thanking God that my daughter wanted to be a woman of God! Not many in this day want God in their lives. I’m thankful that my daughter has had Godly women to pattern her life after. I’ve by no means been the perfect role model, but I have been forgiven, and thankfully God does use me to work for him. She has also had wonderful grandmothers, aunts, and other church women that have helped guide her.
Today, I am praying that my daughter will find her path in life, and that the Lord will give her contentment. I pray that God will send her true friends, and not those that just pass fleetingly through your life. I pray that God will keep molding her Mr. Right until he is just the man that Beth needs. I pray that she will always be my baby. Most of all, I pray that God will protect her and guide her throughout her life.
-Blessings
Krista
Monday, June 13, 2011
Posts from my iPhone
I'm sure that this app has been around for a while but I just found it. I am really excited that I can start blogging again. I don't have a home computer anymore and that is why my blog posts have been so infrequent. I hope that this will help me get back into the habit of blogging. It might take me a few days to get used to it!! I've been following all my friends blogs through google reader but it is so hard to post a comment. I am going to search for a blog reader app too. Surely there is one out there...
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