I'm a Fantasy Football Loser

I love fantasy football and this season....I stink and not just a whiff of something gross when you live in a house full of boys, I mean a full decomposing, dog poop, pole cat kind of stench.

I had the first round pick in the draft, I chose Jamal Charles...he's injured and out for the season.  These things happen, it's part of the game but this year I've really taken the cake on losing.  I've picked up, dropped, changed defenses, kickers, quarterbacks...so many combinations of things all to no avail.  James keeps asking for me to give up and give him my "good" players....No Way!  I will play to the death, er, end.  And besides...I don't have any good players!  As I'm typing this, none of my players have scored more than single digits today.  My record is 2 - 8 soon to be 2 - 9.  I have no chance for the playoffs but I will keep playing, keep yelling at my players on the tv and kick them to the curb when they don't perform.  Because....I really do love fantasy football.

The Night I Went to Prison

I had been anticipating this night - many prayers, planning and practicing went into preparing to enter this prison chapel and tell 100 men about Jesus' redemption plan and to share in worshiping my King.  I've been doing prison ministry concerts with my church worship team for the last two years.  I've seen many grown men fall to their knees and cry out to our Holy God, it really is a sight to behold, a privilege to be a part of...

This night was a little different, James and I had been asked to come in, him to preach and me to lead worship.  James wasn't too sure about the whole thing and wanted to observe the first time.  I was excited for the opportunity to share praise and worship with these men and to give away the hope that I have in Jesus Christ.  I planned my songs, what scriptures I wanted to use, what words and direction I thought God was leading me and prayed that He would use me for His glory.  And the waiting and countdown began.  My friend, Johnny, that goes in every Friday night to minister and had invited us to go was just as excited (if not more).

We arrived an hour early to set up and we circled up to pray.  Four or five offenders, Johnny, James and myself...and I was in awe.  In awe of God bringing me here, using me in this way.  What an honor.  It may not sound like that big of a deal to some, probably most people would prefer to play on a big stage, a sold out crowd, or somewhere without razor wire.  I could be content doing just this, this is enough for me, God, and I am so thankful.  I believe He has much more in store for me but I don't think I will ever give up prison ministry.

After we prayed, the prison worship band began playing and then men started filing in.  Johnny spoke for a few minutes and then turned it over to me...it really is crazy.  I did a couple songs they knew and even the ones that they didn't know they tried to sing along.  Do you know what 100 men in prison sound like singing 'Holy, Holy, Holy to our Lord God Almighty' sounds like?  It sounds like freedom, it sounds like total abandonment, it sounds like brokenness and healing and so many other beautiful things that are beyond description.  Several men gave their hearts to Jesus.  I'm sure some people think it's only "jailhouse religion" and that may be the case for some...but if one life is changed with the Gospel of Christ...then what an awesome and incredible experience for that one.  A life changed - what's it worth?  The cross of Calvary.  My Jesus died for these men too and they are hungry to know who He is.

Prison ministry isn't for everyone but it's certainly for me and I can't wait to go back.  What a blessing, God is so good to me.  I know this is part of His plan for me, part of my 'anything' journey, the start of something amazing - the start of a ministry with my husband!  Next time, James will preach and I'll get to lead worship with these men again.  Say yes to Jesus, what has He called you to?

T minus 36 hours

In 36 hours I will be in the chapel at Algoa Correctional Center sharing Jesus with a hundred men.  I am beyond excited.  Some people may think I'm crazy for wanting to serve Christ in this way (going into prisons) but this is what God has laid on my heart to do.  This is part of my "anything".  Anything you want from me, Lord, I want to be obedient and surrender to it.

Join me in praying for the hearts of these men, that they will see Christ in me and surrender their lives completely to Him.  May Christ Jesus be exalted and receive all the glory!

What's New?

As you can see, I've been too busy (my curse) to blog.  Here's a brief update on my life since my last post which was in May....sheesh.

June:

• My mom had her first chemo treatment that had me taking her to the emergency room for a 5-6 day hospital stay.
• I went to the National Worship Leaders Conference which was amazing, so thankful for the opportunity.

July:

• A tornado or tornado-like-winds blew through our neck of the woods resulting in lots of damage in my yard, to our shed, my car...we now have a new roof too.  Craziness!
• Our Worship Team did "Praise in the Park" in Laurie, MO.

August:

• This is a big one...I enrolled at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forest, NC) to take online classes for a Worship Ministry Certificate.  I am taking two classes this semester and it has been quite the learning process, like I don't have enough to do or something!
• Cameron decided to go to State Fair Community College, he got a scholarship and is a Music major on his way to becoming a music teacher.  He is just the coolest.
• Moberly Prison Concert - awesome! Every time our band goes to lead these men in worship and into the presence of God is an incredible experience.  Overwhelmed!

September:

• Lots of Worship opportunities - leading CR, the band leading at the City Union Mission Retreat, and I went to Pettis County Jail to lead on Labor Day weekend instead of the 5th Sunday in August.
• James preached at a little church, he did great and is looking for more opportunities.
• On the last day of September my mom called me in the middle of the night and said she thought she needed to go to the hospital. She had a perforated ulcer along with another ulcer which was repaired along with removing her gall bladder.  A 7 day hospital stay in which I stayed almost the entire time, my poor mama is one tough cookie.  It was an amazingly speedy recovery which God receives the glory for, only Him!

October:

• Cameron turned 19!
• I took mom home from the hospital on October 7th.
• Saturday, October 10th - Prison Concert in St. Joe.  Uh-mazing!
• Cameron had his first college concert; we took a good friend of ours (Cameron's boss), Johnny, with us to experience some musical culture.
• More dr appointments with mom but she is doing great, praise the Lord!

Sean couldn't go so I photoshopped him in...

November:

• Christian turned 21 on the 2nd!
• So much more happening this month.

It's been a wild Summer and Fall but I'm glad to have been there for my mom, witness the spiritual growth of my family, especially my boys. God is really working on them and they are coming around, He is so good to me.  I am grateful for the people He has brought into my life and theirs to bring them along.  We have spent the last 3 Friday nights with Christian and his girlfriend, Sydney.  Or they with us, but we so enjoyed having them around.  Later this month I will be going to prison to share my gift of music and the love of Jesus.  James is going with me and we are hoping that this will be the start of a ministry we can do together.  We are so excited to see what God has in store for us!