Women's Retreat

This weekend I had the pleasure of leading worship for Wall Highway Baptist Church of Madison, Alabama's Women's Retreat. We had a sweet time of fellowship, worship, and study of God's Word. One of the many blessings was to re-connect with friends - Katie Hawkins (who was our speaker), Lori Hubbard (who came with Katie from Stafford, VA as a travel companion) and Cecily Hill (formerly of Stafford and currently serving HIM in the greater Huntsville area).

Another blessing of the weekend was having Seagie Shoemake as my travel companion.  We enjoyed a solid 12 hours of driving together to and fro (although it didn't seem that long!).  :) 

We stayed at the DoubleHead Resort in Town Creek.  Our cabin was on a lake.  Wish we'd had more time to enjoy.

Katie teaching...

Some of our ladies...

Lori and Cecily...  :)

Thank you for your prayers!

Martian Child

Many of you may think this a strange blog post (a movie trailor clip and all), but I must share this movie with you. We watched and wiped tears as we enjoyed this story of an adoption. My heart is tender to God's call to believers to "seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphans and plead the widows cause" (Isaiah 1:17). May we be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us. Please continue to pray for dear friends currently going through the adoption process in Ukraine - Rick & Denise (www.mortonadoption.blogspot.com).

Coming in October! :)

Pre-Order a Copy

Faithful Preaching  Author: Tony Merida What is a preacher? What is preaching? Pastor Tony Merida asks these foundational questions to arrive at this overview of his widely anticipated book, Faithful Preaching: “Faithful preaching is the responsible, passionate, and authentic declaration of the Christ-exalting Scriptures, by the power of the Spirit, for the glory of the Triune God. Expository preaching is the best approach for accurately explaining and applying God’s Word, and for maintaining a God-centered focus in preaching. It also offers wonderful spiritual benefits to both the preacher and congregation. To be faithful expositors today, we must avoid the common problems associated with expository preaching such as boredom, irrelevancy, and Christless messages. Faithful preachers will usher the people through the text passionately and authentically, pointing them to Christ.”

Pray for Pakistan

"For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble.  The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.  But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.  And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts."  Malachi 4:1-3

Read Entire Article...

Pakistan Militants Rape Christian Girl

SANGLA HILL, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) -- A 13-year old impoverished Christian girl in Pakistan's Punjab province was recovering Thursday, February 19, after she was gang raped at gun point by five Islamic extremists, her family told Worthy News.

Family members, speaking on condition that the girl's name would not be identified, said the incident happened February 7 in a village of the Sangla Hill area when she went out to dump trash and relief herself, as most Pakistani villages have no toilets at home.

While on her way to nearby fields two Muslim men, identified as Muhammad Qalla and Muhammad Kakku, allegedly kidnapped her at gun point and forcibly took her to their nearby farmhouse where three other Muslim men were waiting.

"They ruined her chastity one by one for several hours until we reached her. She was in critical condition," a family member said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of revenge attacks.

"Living Proof Live" with Beth Moore

"Living Proof Live" with Beth Moore

is coming to the New Orleans Arena on April 3-4, 2009.

Get your tickets today by calling 1.800.254.2022 or at www.lifeway.com. 

The Steering Committee for the Beth Moore event felt they needed to help provide financial assistance for women who wanted to see Beth Moore, but who could not afford the $60 ticket price.  Two fundraisers are being sponsored to help raise money for the ticket scholarship fund. If you would like more information on the scholarship fund you can email at: neworleanslivingproofscholarship@yahoo.com.  

A Heart of Worship

A dear friend, skilled musician and gifted worship leader forwarded this beautiful article.  To learn more about his ministry check out: www.proskuneo.info.   Below is a segment of what Jim Carattini writes in "Some Melodious Sonnet" posted on Ravi Zacharias'  International Ministries website...

"John Wesley offered his congregation a list of guidelines for singing, even providing encouragement for the one who would claim he could not.  In the preface to Sacred Melody, published in 1761, he wrote, "Sing all... Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you.  If it is a cross to you, take it up and you will find a blessing."  He had in mind both the expression of the community and the heart of the individual.  Sing lustily, sing modestly, and with good courage, he instructed.  Wesley sought to remind all that it takes audacity to approach a God holy and mighty, and boldness to sing a hope weighted in God's glory.  "Above all, sing spiritually," he concluded.  "Have an eye to God in every word you sing.  Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself, or any other creature... [A]ttend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your Heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually." 

Read More...

Valentine's Day Blessing...

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." 1 John 3:1

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

1 John 4:7-11

May you and yours have a wonderful Valentine's Day as you remember God's great love for us exemplified through Christ Jesus.  

Brief Adoption Update

"This God - His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord proves true.  He is a Shield for all who seek Him for Refuge.  For who is God, but the Lord?  And who is a Rock except our God?"  

Psalm 18:30-31

We received word today that our dossier is scheduled to be submitted on March 16th.  Lord willing, we may be on the books to travel to Ukraine one to three months later to meet our child(ren).  Meanwhile, we ask that you continue to pray for our dear friends currently in Ukraine awaiting custody pending their court date tomorrow (www.mortonadoption.blogspot.com). 

Mourn or Mumble?

"Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?  And who shall stand in his holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.  He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God os Jacob."  Psalm 24:4-6

"The awareness of sin used to be our shadow.  Christians hated sin, feared it, fled it, grieved over it.  Some of our grandparents agonized over their sins.  A man who lost his temper might wonder whether he could still even go to Holy Communion.  A woman who for years envied her more attractive and intelligent sister might worry that this sin threatened her very salvation...[and so, they would confess these SPECIFIC sins]... but not any more... where sin is concerned people just mumble now."

- Cornelius Plantiga

Tony used the above quote from Plantiga in his message today on the Lord's Supper.  Wow. May we be a people who bow our hearts and bend our knees in humility before the throne of grace... let us be a repentant people from our sinful pride...  for you, O God are HOLY... Jesus, we are in desperate need of you... may we mourn and repent from our sin and seek Your face for your glory!

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."  Matthew 5:4

The Greatest Scientist

"Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10

It has been a busy week and it is only Wednesday!  I'm sure many of you can relate.  It appears we've all hit the ground in 2009 running!  Amidst all the busyness, we must remember to take time to be still and worship our Creator who reigns supreme over all our craziness.  I hope you will enjoy a segment of February's prayer emphasis on "Science" in YWAM's 2009 Prayer Calendar.  As someone who majored in biology as an undergraduate, this reminded me of many moments in class wanting to fall on my knees in worship of our Great and Glorious God...

"It may surprise some contemporary believers that the director of the Human Genome Project is an evangelical Christian.  This renowned scientist, Francis Collins, looks at his study of human DNA with a different worldview than one might expect.  'The elegance and complexity of the human genome is a source of profound wonder,' he says.  'That wonder only strengthens my faith, as it provides glimpses of aspects of humanity, which God has known all along, but which we are just now beginning to discover.'

Like other scientists through the ages, Collins recognizes that faith and science are not at odds.  As he explains, 'Science explores the natural world.  Faith explores the supernatural world... Does that make them separate and impossible to integrate into one person, one experience, one thought?...No, from my perspective these two world views coexist in me, and in many of you, right now.  We are not torn apart by that; we are not forced into contradictions.  Rather, I believe that we are enriched and blessed.  We have an opportunity to practice science as a form of worship.  We have a chance to see God as the greatest scientist.  As we discover things about the world, we can appreciate the wonders of God's creation.  What a gift it is to be a scientist and be able to do that.'"

YWAM 2009 Prayer Calendar

A tremendous source of encouragement in this journey toward obedience of the Great Commission has been through YWAM's Personal Prayer Diary and Daily Planner.  You can click on the above link for more information.