The Elderly

In working with the elderly in physical therapy home health ,I have had my eyes opened to a generation that is often overlooked and misunderstood. These sweet-speaking individuals are often masking a sadness. They are often very lonely and looking forward to any kind of human contact. Many of them don't enjoy t.v. anymore, are unable to sew or knit due to arthritic joints in the hands, are unable to work outside in the yard or flower beds due to poor mobility, are unable to drive due to poor eyesight, and...therefore....sit lonely for the many long long hours of the day. Many feel like a burden on their families.

These souls are the very ones that Jesus asks us to tend. The strangers that we are to invite in and the sick that we are to look after. A man I am thinking of in particular literally sits in his chair all day long...no t.v., no hobbies, no nothing. He wants so much for me to be able to stay and talk to him as long as I can. He craves human touch and conversation. If there is and elderly person that you know that lives alone, please take 15 minutes to visit with them this week. It will mean more than you will know.

God Revealed in Nature

Lance and I had the privilege of taking this week off from our careers to vacation, and boy, did we enjoy the days! We spent one day hiking up AND DOWN Enchanted Rock near Fredricksburg. The view from the top was amazing. We sat on top of that mountain, prayed, and ate a packed lunch, staring at the expansiveness around us. I said in praying, "Lord, we somehow feel closer to You here." Lance replies back, "Somehow? We ARE closer to Him!" :) We know that God is everywhere, working in and around us. But the special connection you feel when sitting outdoors amongst His nature cannot be doubted. What an amazing artist God is!

The next day we went from being on top of a mountain to being below the land banks on the Colorado River, kayaking. We could feel God again in the light breezes and beautiful beaming sun on our skin. He was touching us with His hand of the elements.

I encourage all who can to take time this week to enjoy God's nature outdoors. You won't be disappointed...His hands are everywhere! Isaiah 6:3 "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"

Visitors

Nell, thank you for bringing your neice to church! Her face was glowing and she seemed to really enjoy being surrounded by people that love the Lord! Your evangelism is inspiring!

Christ LIves!

The Easter rejoicing of "Christ Lives!" shouts in my mind today in replaying this past Thursday evening at the Lexington Homecoming Church Sing. He is, indeed, living in Lexington, a town that celebrates Him and was united by love for Him! He is living in that little blond-headed beauty of a child that sang "Amazing Love," in Phil Richardson in all his enthusiasm, in Lydia and her pitch-perfection, goose-bump raising, heart-and-soul-felt voice belting up to Heaven, in the quiet purity in the voice of the McGill girl, in the on-fire Christian hearts of the young contemporary band members, and, obviously, in each stroke on the piano keys by Ricky Washington and his ability to move (both spiritually and physically) a congregation that is not used to clapping and shouting to the Lord well above "inside voices." And all the others that sent their voices to Heaven in praise and worship that night. Oh yes! Christ lives, He lives, indeed!!!

Anyone out there?

Just wondering if anyone looks at this blog...if you read this, please comment so I know. Create an account by following the instructions given on an earlier post below. Thanks!

Fellow Dinner & Church Sing

Don't forget! Fellowship dinner is this Sunday after church in the Hall. All are welcome free-of-charge to share in food and fellowship.

Next week: Thursday, April 29, 2010 is the area church sing at the Baptist church, 7 pm. It is always so much fun to sing and fellowship together with our neighboring sister churches. You won't want to miss it!!

Love Each Other As I Have Loved You

Hello all! Stressed? Over-worked? Tired? Feeling a little sorry for yourself? Whether you feel it or not, God loves you and wishes you peace this day. One way to feel love is to give it yourself. A favorite scripture of mine is Colossians 3:12-14:
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Your day was blessed the minute your eyes opened this morning. Show gratefulness to God in your thoughts, actions, and words to others today. He loves us to love each other!

Christian Camps / Conference

Upcoming!!

CYF Conference (comp. 9th - 12th) June 20-2

Eigher’s Camp (comp. 8th) June 27-July 3

Chi Rho Camp (comp. 6th& 7th) July 11-17

Junior Camp (comp. 4th & 5th) July 18-23

Beginners Camp (comp. 2nd& 3rd )

Forms may be obtained from the minister, or online at our web site fcclexington.com. Follow link to Bluebonnet Area. FCC offers to pay the registration costs for all camps. Contact Gregory Nichols.

HOW TO BLOG

Well, after attempt after attempt, I found that the best way to blog back (comment) on a blog is to have a google account. Don't be dismayed! The account is absolutely free, no advertising, etc. and is easy to set up. All you have to do is go to "sign in" at the top of the page on our blog site or go to www.blogger.com and create an account. You certainly don't have to include all the details that are available such as interests, hobbies, etc. Once you have an account you are free to comment on our blog page...just click on "comment", write your blog and under "pick a profile" type in your google name. (or if you're signed in for that day already it should work automatically.) I am certainly willing to help anyone that runs across difficulties! Happy blogging! - Jennifer Walch

Palm Sunday worship service

Easter Sunday

Our beautiful sanctuary on Easter morning! It was a joyous celebration with lots of smiles, laughter, fellowship, and praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Pictures on left: Pastor Greg teaching the childrens' sermon. All the children looked so sweet!

Fellowship Dinner Hosts Sign-Up

For whatever reason, I haven't been able to modify our website since our home computer "crashed" and I haven't had a particular browser. Anyway, I have a new computer now and wanted to post our Fellowship Dinner Hosts List that Lisa Stover gave me, oh, 2-3 weeks ago!! It has to be on this blog rather than on the actual website for now until I, with God's help, get it figured out. Lisa, if you're reading this, I'm very sorry that I haven't posted this sooner. --Jennifer Walch

2010:

March/April: Dan & Deb Krutsinger

May/June: Marilyn Pool / Lisa Stover

July/Aug: Mary Atkins & Sam Scoggins

Sept/Oct: Charlotte Tillery / Rhonda & Kayla Janda

Nov/Dec: Geneva & Doug Irby **may be only for Christmas event set-up

2011:

Jan/Feb: Stover Family & Hooper Family

March/April: Melody Hooper/Leigh Kolacek/Lorena Rackley

May/June: Nell Hard & Linda Bradshaw

July/Aug: Mary Atkins & Sam Scoggins

Sept/Oct: Paula Bailey / Lisa Stover

Nov/Dec: Mary Sue Reynolds / Dawn Stefek **may be only for Christmas event set-up

A sincere "Thank You" to everyone who signed up to host fellowship dinners on the two month rotational schedule! Since we had so many volunteers we were able to make a schedule for the next TWO years. Please contact Lisa Stover with any conflicts that arise. --Lisa Stover, Membership Chair, 979-773-4646

God's Covenant With Us

I've been watching a dvd series from Creflo Dollar, a preacher out of Tennessee, that has just really inspired me. This particular series is about God's covenant with us, which started with Abraham, and is known as the Abrahamic covenant. God came to Abraham and promised him that He would be his "abundant compensation," (Genesis 16) his God, his everything. A covenant is more than a contract...God will NEVER go back on His word. Whatever He promises in His word, He WILL do. Because we are seeds of Abraham, if we are in Christ and born again, we are heirs to the same inheritance as promised to Abraham. WE are the other half of the covenant. Because of this, we have to understand that God will give us what we are heirs to, all the promises of the Bible...He has to, He promised. BUT we have to have the same faith that Abraham had...he was "fully persuaded" (Romans 4) that God would deliver. If we are not fully persuaded, if we do not have faith without doubting, (our half of the covenant) then God cannot work with us through the covenant. God is doing His part...it's you and I that aren't. This is why things don't happen in our lives the way we hope. We try to work things out on our own even if we say we believe...trying to "help God out."
I highly recommend this series and believe that it will change you, strengthen you. God is truly able to perform what He says.

Lent Begins

Today is Ash Wednesday and a very important day in my book (and The Book). It begins the 40 days that Jesus spent resisting the evil temptations of Satan in the wilderness. Read Matthew 4:3 and Luke 4:4 for the passages that define these tests by Satan, the producer of lies and scheming. We spend the next 40 days in contemplation of what Jesus went through, mirroring the 40 days that he spent in the wilderness, hungry. We sacrifice to honor his sacrifice and example. Consider giving up something in your life that you lean on but could do without for the next 40 days. Many give up sweets, meat, alcohol, t.v., or the like....experience the closeness with Jesus you will find in limiting your own desires. And that's the crux of it...giving up desires of the flesh to focus on our relationship with Jesus. I hope this time brings you clarity and comfort. We are not the only ones that endure hardship...remember that Jesus suffered the ultimate hardship. Our Saviour. This is for you, Lord!

World Day of Prayer

My home computer is currently "in the shop" so I can't modify our webite with the program I need. However, I wanted to use our blog to remind everyone to put MARCH 5th on the calendar as World Day of Prayer. Our church will be hosting this service at 10:30 a.m. in our fellowship hall and ask all who can to attend. Lisa Stover and Lorena Rackley will be working very hard to prepare for this special day, and the service will prove to be inspirational. More info to come once I get my computer back up and running!

God is still God

I get such inspiration and comfort in listening to 91.1 fm. Recently I heard a sermon in which the preacher said, "On a human's best day he is still a human. On God's worst day (not that He has one) is still God." What motivation to let go and let God do His divine work for us and through us. Food for thought!

Hebrews Chapter 12: Whew, what a lesson!

So, a good friend of mine was giving me his Christian expertise and insight into a problem I was having with patience. He guided me to Hebrews chapter 12 and, believe me, I GOT THE MESSAGE! If I may paraphase God's holy Word: It basically said that if Jesus can face horrendous opposition and sacrifice his body to abuse, pain, and finally death....we don't really have a lot that we can seriously complain about, do we? A little patience with the things we don't understand and the annoyances in our lives seems perfectly appropriate. God's will WILL be done and we are just too human to see the big picture. God is the alpha and the omega..He was present at the beginning and is now and will come again (Revelation 1:8)....we are only here for a very short period of time and wouldn't have a better perspective than Him, huh? Food for thought! It sure helped me this week! Thank God for friends.

Satan is Like a Football Coach

What an analogy! I heard this analogy recently: Satan watches us, studies us, tries to find our weaknesses just like an opposing football team. If we don't play a little defense, we can be overcome in a heartbeat and Satan goes to patting himself on the back. When we feel guilt, obsession, self-pity or selfishness...Satan is watching and ready to make his play. BUT...we can play a little offense, too! The Bible tells us if we command Satan to go away, he HAS to go! (James 4:7) Isn't that refreshing?! Stand strong in your faith this weekend and pray constantly that you may hear God's strategy plan in your ear! It's the Heaven's Heroes against the Satan Snakes...and I've got my bets on the Lord! AMEN!

So, this isn't original, but I heard it on 91.1fm this morning and thought it was too good not to share! The preacher told a story of a little boy who was asking a bodybuilder how his muscles got so big. The bodybuilder replied that he spent hours and hours lifting weights. The boy asked, "And what can you with your muscles?" The bodybuilder responded, "Well, it's easier to show you," and began flexing his muscles in various poses. The boy was quiet...and then said, "So, you spend hours and hours building your muscles just to pose for other people?"
The preacher tied this in to his message, stating that he hoped we did not "go to church, read Bible verses, join in charity functions, etc. just to pose for other people." What food for thought!! Spend the rest of your day working to give back to God!

Have a Little Faith

Lance and I (Jennifer) just finished reading "Have a Little Faith" by Mitch Albom, and we highly recommend it! It is a short book, only 247 pgs on small pages, but is filled to the brim with inspiration and insight for our spiritual lives. It is a true story of the author, who is asked by his childhood rabbi to write his eulogy. This story draws Christians, Jews, and all religions into harmony with each other. I'm sorry to admit this, but I normally don't care to read a book where the author is a different religion than me. I usually wouldn't give it a chance. I have enjoyed all of Mitch Albom's books (he is the author of Tuesdays with Morrie), and I'm telling you, this book is NOT about religion, it's about FAITH. FAITH of two men that are completely different and yet just as strong in their faith about God. It's moving and I hope you'll love it as much as we did! I plan on letting a friend borrow the book this week, but if you are interested in borrowing it...let me know! They also have it a Wal-Mart. As you go into this week, have a little faith that God is going to take care of you if you'll only let him in the driver's seat. LOVE from us!!

Our sanctuary for Christmas, Jesus' birthday...it was so beautiful! Hope you loved it, too, Jesus!

Nell Hard: a woman with the love of Christ and church burning bright in her heart. A true enthusiast of God!

Hmmm...food for thought

The Bible that is falling apart belongs to someone who isn't.

New Year's Resolution: Let's devote more time to God's Word this year instead of focusing on our own. Guaranteed to be life-changing.