Friday Rewind.

Holy Moly can I just tell you that busy is not better, and today as Friday is hitting I crave being a Mary and shoving the Martha 6 feet under.

The last week or so has been insanely busy.

In ministry there is times where you can control your schedule and times where you can't.

I let it get out of balance a little bit this past week and I'm pulling the reigns tight, so if you want a piece of me take a number and I'll see you in March, okay or on Pinterest.

Saturday 4th - House of Prayer in the PM.

Sunday 5th - Church, & Super Bowl Party @ Friends.

Monday 6th - Date Day with my hubby!!! (I preserve that as much as humanly possible!)

Tuesday 7th - Caught up and worked on Valentines & went to grocery store)

Wednesday 8th - Church in the PM

Thursday 9th - Bible Study in AM & Hubby and worship practice in PM

Friday 10th- I spoke at Mops (family time that night @pizza hut and ice cream!)

Saturday 11th - Dinner party at our house for 25 people

Sunday 12th - Church in AM, Soup dinner for missions after service, Valentines Banquet in PM

Monday 13th - B0o only got a date lunch because hubby had to go to mtg. Sectional Council in PM

Tuesday 14th - Valentines Day - I organized my oldest daughters party at school, awards ceremony and family dinner.

Wednesday 15th - Real Life Rally meeting & Church

Thursday 16th - Board Dinner PM

Friday 17th- TODAY ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!

Saturday 18th- Pinewood Derby in the AM, but we are not participating we will go and say hello and have a family day.

Sunday 19th - Church, Business Meeting (annual) PM.

In the middle of this my hubby had a sinus infection that he lovingly passed to me, okay I asked for it. He wouldn't kiss me because he didn't want to get me sick but I MADE his kiss me, and well he's better and I'm not. Bottom Line, MY FAULT.

My youngest got the same thing.

My two older all had puking episodes somewhere in the middle of that.

I am 100% convinced that we all got our sickness ailments because we were run down and exhausted! This momma will be pulling the chains a whole lot tighter and protecting my babies and hubby a whole lot better. I control my calendar, and I should. I understand their are busy seasons, and my husband and I are 100% all in, but if we are exhausted and run down everyone including our family will get left overs.

Balance = Good Thing.

Team player - great thing

However sometimes people on your team need a time out, before they burn out.

I remember in our church planting day's trying very hard not to fill the calendar to overflowing so our volunteers wouldn't burn out.

Busy isn't better.

What's on your calendar that you can purge ?

Are you being intentional with your church calendar ?

Vision.

Have you ever been apart of something that you just got, and understood the importance of ?

I remember when we planted our church, and how we wanted to make the vision that God gave us so clear that our congregation could repeat it and say it within a 30 seconds to anyone who asked. Doing this allowed them to know our hearts, see where we were going, and take ownership.

Love God, Love People, Change The World.

Love God - Using discipleship to grow people's relationship in the Lord, and that everything we do must come under us Loving God.

Loving People - Loving people right were they were. intentionally loving them. How often do you recognize your leaders ? People who greet, run the nursery ? They must feel loved and valued.

Change The World- The great commission going out into the all the world and sharing the gospel.

Could be thru providing quarters at the laundry mat, free childcare, giving water bottles to people when they come out of the bar at 3:00 in the morning. The list is endless, but basically to serve.

I know several churches that have such a "Simple" approach to their vision and church.

WE as a body of believers and ministry leaders complicate things so much .

We have programs for programs and we keep our calendars full and busy.

We spin a bazillion plates at one time praying that one won't hit the floor while the others are all spinning.

However is your vision or lack of vision so complicated that you aren't even taken care of your first responsibilities.

1) Your relationship with the Lord

2) Your relationship with your spouse

3)Your Children

4)Your Ministry/Job

So often #4 dictates #1-#3 umm how backwards ?!?!?

My friend Melissa Elswick recently said in an online conference.

“Tip the scale toward ministering to our family first, our children are our most important disciples. Don’t just say yes to a good thing… say yes to a better thing… your family.”

My friend Angie and her husband planted a church and have had a huge life changing event, but in that so much good has come. I know Jon & Angie will someday be able to share how out of balance people have come in ministry. Check out this post here. If your critical of her thoughts, I can pretty much tell you that's the Holy Spirit tapping on your shoulder saying (cough cough).

So back to my main point - Vision.

Keep it simple. - Great Book to read on this.

Keep it follow able by people in your church.

Become Fearless but Fear the Lord (If God is leading you to do something, but you don't want to ruffle feathers, you will ruffle more by sitting and doing nothing, and you will lead your church to a slow death, and probably your family.)

Most of all Have a Vision. (winning souls isn't just enough, people want to see and understand the "how" behind it, and know what happens once they find Jesus). Not only does a lack of vision not lead the people in your church, but you'll go thru staff so quick because they have nothing to follow.

If you have lost the vision, you have lost the passion or your church is controlling the way you Pastor or lead your doing nothing more than prostituting yourself to believers trying to get them to buy into a mystery of your ministry.

Eventually, you will loose them because they don't know where they are going or what to follow. All ministries in your church should support the main vision of the church, if they don't peace out, that ministry needs to go away!

Last story, I remember when we were felt God leading us to pass off our church plant to someone else. The feeling of starting over, moving or having to go to another church, and learn their problems (all churches have them) was exhausting.

However, I feel so strongly if we would have stayed the church would be falling apart because God was done with us at this church. Staying longer would have been detrimental.

Part of having Vision is realizing when you have done what God asked and when it's time to move on. You may be holding your church back or you could be missing a HUGE blessing God has for you!

Final thoughts - If any of the above is you, it's never to late to shift the tide. Have a simple vision that is the umbrella of your church that all other things fall under. If it's not under the vision umbrella - it's gone.

Don't exhaust yourself, your family, your staff, your friends, and mostly your relationship with the Lord all for the sake of busy, and lack of vision.

Poor Man's Caviar

Several years ago my friend Tami was hosting a garage sale. Well what does any good friend do when she is hosting a garage sale; yes that's right invite all her friends to bring their junk and sell it as well. Well one afternoon at the garage sale Tami brought out some yummy chips and poor man's caviar ??? I was skeptical but now I'm hooked. Most ministry events where I need to bring something quick that feeds a bunch of people I whip this up. It's kinda addicting, okay well some refer to it as crack but that's a crude comparison but it's pretty amazing.

I normally double all the non spicy ingredients so my kids can eat it. Feel free to add more fire to your liking.

First of all do you love Ikea ? I do! It meets so many of my shopping needs in one store. Oh and their cinnamon rolls yup to die for, you should really try one! Well my friend Alisha who is living in Romania was flying into town, and what better to do then go to Ikea when your by the airport! She pointed these bad boys out to me and I love them!!! They are thin laminated type paper cutting boards that clean up oh sooo easy!

Okay so get out your fancy cutting board or one from Ikea for $3 and grab a red/purple onion.

Dice it up really fine,(yes the whole onion) and place in a large bowl. I like to use glass so you can see all the pretty colors.

Then your going to add all the canned stuff to a big bowl.

I double up on the beans and the corn but not the Rotel.

Next chop up a green or red bell pepper.

Then add the crushed garlic, cilantro & red pepper.

Your end results will be a beautiful colorful dip just waiting for you to devour.

This was prior to mixing. If you look below you see a gorgeous photo I took off of this site.

Poor Man's Caviar

1 can black beans drained & rinsed

1 can corn (or 1 1/2 cup frozen corn) drained

1 can rotel tomatoes

1 red onion diced very small

2 cloves garlic crushed

fresh cilantro snipped (add to your taste)

crushed red pepper, start with 1/4 tsp and add as needed

lime juice

1 pepper diced (red, greeen or yellow)

salt to taste

Mix all together and let sit for a few hours to blend flavors. Can be made a day ahead. For more heat, add nore garlic & crushed red pepper.

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Christmas Cards.

Right, I know it's February and a little un-timely, however maybe you will enjoy this and can remember to do this next year.

I by any means didn't invent this idea. A matter of fact I know several families that put them in a basket on their table. We used to do this but little hands would go thru and they would get to messy and out of order.

This year I hole punched all of our christmas cards and put them on a little keychain ring.

Each night we take turns as a family (including the kids) to pray over one of the families.

I love how it gets our children praying for other people. We also keep a journal of needs that we know of, and we pray over them every-night until the prayer has been answered. We also record the praises ! At the end of the year we will rejoice in what God did and continue to pray over the needs in our family, and friends lives.

How are you being intentional about praying over people and teaching your kids to pray ? Would love to hear your ideas!

Birthday Freebies!

Birthday's can be so much fun in the coupon world... if you plan in advance! Below is a list of restaurants and retailers that will bless you with something Free or close to Free on your birthday! So take some time and browse thru the list and see if something sticks out to you and sign up! I'm sure I don't have to even say this but I will because I know someone may get upset, but this list could change at any minute and I have no idea when these businesses will change or take down their "birthday specials". This is just for fun, and I don't get paid a cent to advertise for them.

Restaurant Deals

Auntie Anne's Pretzel ~ Upon Sign up you will get a BOGO deal and on your birthday!

Baskin Robbins ~ Free 2.5 oz scoop of ice cream or a swirl of soft serve!

Benihana's Japanese Restaurant ~ This is amazing! Join the Chef table for free and you will get $30 FREE on your birthday! Yes please!

bd's Mongolian Grill ~ $5 off upon sign up and Free Stir Fry on your birthday.

Carrabba's Italian Grill ~ Free dessert on bday & comp. appetizer upon sign up.

Firehouse Subs ~ Free Medium celebratory sub on bday. Free drink w/purchase of sub upon sign up.

IHOP ~ Free Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity Meal. (amazing eggs, meat and smothered pancakes w/fruit)

McAlister's Deli ~ $5 off coupon

Noodles & Company ~ Free Bowl of Noodles

Romana's Macaroni Grill ~ $5 off upon sign up & Free slice of cake for your birthday

Sonic ~ Free Medium Drink

Souper!Salad! ~ upon sign up 20% off. Free bday lunch or dinner.

Captain D's ~ Kids Sign up for Free Bday treat & I was told adults get one to when signing up for their insider D's club. (You do enter your birthday, so crossing fingers)

Ruby Tuesday's ~ Join their so connected group and receive a free Burger on your birthday!

Retail Deals

Aveda ~ Free gift up to $24 value on bday & free lotion upon sign up

Old Navy ~ $10 off a $50 purchase

Sephora ~ Every year it's different. Last year was lip gloss, year before nail polish.

Enjoy these awesome deals! Let me know in the comments if you find that one of the links doesn't work or the policy has changed! If you know of any other freebies or discounts let me know!

2012.

We have set our goals and they will be hung on the fridge as soon as I get some more ink for my printer. I'm really excited about this year and I hope you are as well!

So after you read and see mine you will see I need some good book ideas. I don't really care for fiction so what's some of your favorite reads ?

A little bit of this and that with picture fun.

Our kids have been out of school since last Wednesday.

We are having a great time.

This week we got a bunch of snow dumped on us in the Rocky Mountain Region.

Monday we got about 9 inches.

Then we got another 7-9 Inches between Wednesday night and today.

It's midnight and just now tapering off. You can see the bottom picture to the left is my three year old and that is the snow at her height.

I don't have many pictures of Connor, because he really doesn't like the cold for to long. He enjoys it for a bit and then loves the hot chocolate afterwards. Secretly I think he goes inside and plays star-wars thru the whole house.

Below is some serious redneck ways of playing in the snow. When we lived in Michigan we had all the snow gear you could possibly think of; sleds, boots, shovels. Well when we moved to Georgia I got rid of most of it and the stuff I didn't get rid of well accidently got left behind in Georgia.

The top picture is my neighbor shoveling his grass ?!?! FOR HIS DOG!!!

Reason #598 why we don't own an animal.

Picture two to the right... Sled in Georgia = Sand box lid as lid in Colorado.

Hey whatever works right ?

The last one on the bottom... doesn't everyone use shovels, and sand buckets when they play in the snow ?