What a Forgiving God...

Wow...is all I can say about Sunday. We had a baptism service at 3PM at another church in the area since we are sort of in a make shift building at this point. We had 20 people to baptize and it was sooo amazing. I just knew Sunday was going to be awesome....from the my prayer time before church to getting to service. It was like it was just such a reverent repentent time....moved into a celebration time of who God is and what He has done for us. I was truely amazed at how God worked...When people were getting baptized...people were leaving that baptism pool a new creation..you could just see it. We had thorough teaching on Wednesday night about it and its significance to the believer. We had people who had been baptized who never really understood what they were doing...they were just doing because they knew it was something you do after giving your heart to Jesus. One girl gave her heart to Jesus last year and was baptized last year...but she said, "I did not know what I was doing..the church just said you need to be baptized...but this time I feel God working and I know that I will not be the same...it is almost as if God is plucking up those weeds of sin that have been there for so long." It was truely amazing. I was like I was being baptized all over again!!
Also..some of you know the couple that lives next door to Jason and I...well, they were not Christians and we had tried to share with them for so long...then at the first of this year they started to look at houses to buy..Jason and i was heart broken...like maybe we didn't do enough. Well, nothing seemed to work out for them to buy a house...shortly after that they started coming to church...and soon gave their hearts to the Lord...they are very active and they were both baptized Sunday as well...and you know I was balling the entire time they were being baptized. Ashley admitted to me that they just came because they figured we would leave them alone if they came and then the Lord grabbed their hearts. Isn't it amazing how God works.Most of their family was there to see Ashley and Travis get baptized..and most of them need Jesus also..so we are praying for them as well. Ashley is also pregnant and due around Jan. 6th. She is starting to have some problems so pray for her and the baby. Her little boy is the one AG plays with all the time.
I got baptized at the age of 7 or 8 after asking Jesus into my heart at 6 years old. I can remember sitting by the bed in my house with my Dad and brother, Corey. We ask Jesus to come into our hearts. Corey got baptized before I did because I was scared to go under the water. Funny..huh. Well, the next time it came around..I went ahead because I knew I needed to and Corey had done it...well, I knew what I was doing, but I did not understand the significance of what I was doing. I was just being dunked in water...I was more worried about choking in the water...then my dress was causing problems and I was worried people would see under my dress. Too many worries to get what I was doing. Well, about 4 years ago..Mom and I both got rebaptized because she was baptized as a young child. When we were...I cannot begin to describe to you the difference I felt. It was such a memorable moment in my life...I understood and had prepared my heart...to die to those things inside of me as I was under the water and prepared to come up a new creation...not just transformed..God makes us new..He doesn't rebuild...we are NEW!! How awesome is that!!
Although I was saved at 6 years old...it was a process...I would read my Bible off and on...with my Dad being a preacher and all He would ask us questions to see what God was teaching us...well, I would read just enough to be able to tell him something. I knew I needed to be reading it...but did not make it a priority. I even knew then that I was called to Ministry. I felt that calling so deeply. But I had a long way to go. Well, when I went to college...Rhonda and I went on the journey team retreat...this was at the beginning of our freshmen year...so many people were passionate about God and would read their Bible's and write in their journals about what God was teaching them. They were always sharing with us what God was doing. After that weekend...Rhonda and I would sit on our beds across from each other in New Dorm and do our quite time. I can still remember...that is when God really began to transform me and mold me into more of what He wanted instead of what Amanda was trying to build. It was just a steady growth from there. I can truely say that AU and all the teaching and training along with the friendships helped to transform my live. I guess I really do have to give Eric Pratt credit...all those time he would challenge us and make us do things we really didn't want to do...I understand now why he did those things. I am forever grateful. (EVEN FOR THE PAPERS I HAD TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT DOING SENIOR YEAR!! HAHA!!...still not sure if i actually learned anything from all that though!!)
I challenge you...claim victory in your life today over those things that hold you back from being all that you can be in Christ. What is getting in your way of giving it all to HIM!!

God...and Singing

Well...I have been amazed by God's grace and goodness lately!! I bought this box of prayer cards about 4 years ago...and surprise surprise have not used them a whole lot!! Well...in the last week I have started using these prayer cards in my prayer time and ladies they are rocking my world!! They are divided into catergories..about 30 or so for each..for example stronghold, unbelief, overcoming idlotry...and many many more. Well, honestly when I picked them up..I was desperate for a new twist on things and I thought I don't really deal some of these issues but I will pray them anyway...It is a scripture in the form of a prayer...I pray one catergory a day. I have seen more change in my life in these last few days. It is like I just feel so much more peace. I believe that the enemy wants us to belief that hey we are good like we are...we spend time with God..we do the right things..but we still have some issues in our lives that we did not even realize was there. Also...each and everyday I have been able to share one or more of the scriptures with someone I come in contact with. AG is with me and she is saying, "what you doing?" So she repeats some of them as well. I am determined that she is going to be a prayer warrior!! I encourage you ladies...the scriptures are powerful...pray them and allow God to break some of the stronghold that hold us from our "Promised Land." What is it that is holding us back from that place of rest?
A side note...tonight as I was teaching the children...you know me...no boundaries..just whatever..the kids think I am crazy..I will do anything for them to capture the meaning of the lesson...and really connect with God. Well, tonight Paige was not able to be with me as she normally is...Jason had to help me as I had a full full class. Well, when I decide to bust into song...Paige is there to bail me out and help me keep a tune. Well...don't worry not tonight. Jason is as bad if not worse than I am. He will not take offense, we often sing a little duet in the car and just laugh at the damage. I figure that God didn't bless me with the singing..just the dance moves!! HAHA!! Anyway...as I busted into song tonight I had to cut it short..I had no one to bail me out and it was BAD!!!!! HAHAHA!!! I was cracking up and could not hardly sing. The kids were loving it though!!! I just knew you all would get a kick out of my not so good singing self!! Rhonda..remember when Christi had us singing "real good" in her car that night..we were singing harmony!! HAHA! I also sing very loud during praise and worship at church...I have told people that are around me...I can't sing...but I just love Jesus!!! HAHA! I know they are secretly laughing on the inside!

Hair Cut & Voting

The place that I get AG's haircut is just wonderful. She could not wait to go in when we pulled up. I did not really want to get it cut...BUT...I do have sad news.....some of her curl is leaving us. It is pretty straight and curls around the bottom. People ask me do I use a curling iron and no I do not. I am hoping that some of it stays, but I am not sure that it will. OH WELL. It is still pretty. When we got it trimmed today...some of the curl did bounce back. Her hair is growing sooo fast...hey but she is too. Lately...she has wanted to wear two tails...for two pigtails. Every once in a while we go through this to where everyday she wants tails and then she wants straight hair as she calls it. Too much fun!!
Today when I went to vote..of course we waited for an hour and a half. We were packed with our gear(juice, snack, baby doll, and books) and ready to wait a while...AG did sooo well. People could not beleive it. She was weary by the time we got to the voting booth...she wanted to see....what's that she kept saying...I would not pick her up because I knew she would be touching the screen and I could not vote...Well, she starts to shake the voting booth and has it rocking. Luckily, I knew exactly my votes and had read the ammendments and was just ready to press the screen in all the right places. I was sooo glad to be able to call it done and leave. She is really sooo good..but I tend to forget that at the trying moments. One of her new smart mouth remarks is....when we are not at home and she knows I forgot the spanking spoon and I threaten to spank...she says spankin spoon at home....I have to remind her that God blessed me with a hand that does just the same job. I do not like to use my hand...but in extreme circumstances...it just has to be done.
Just to let everyone know....Haywood mall has their $5.00 Christian bookstore right now until January...Oh how I love that place...It is right outside of Sears. I found lots and lots of books the other day that were great. I got ladies Bible study books for $3.00. That was great!! Amy..you need to make a trip...you would go crazy in there...I just know.

AG's New Prayer....

Hello Everyone....I have not blogged much lately. I have been repremanded, so here goes!!
AG is such a prayer warrior...she is one awesome child...we were eating last night and she touched my head and said heal..Jesus Name...then she hugged me and said love you. It was sooo precious. This was just as my mom had done Sunday as she was praying for some ladies at church..she didn't say heal...but she prayed and then hugged them. It is amazing at what children pick up on!! Now as she prays over her meal....this is her new prayer...Lord, "EW MOTHER", AMAAAAN! I will not explain the "EW MOTHER" part, but I do not think that it needs to be!! HAHA! Then, the AMAAAN is so country. I love it.
When I am on the phone with people and I get off...she says, whoas aaat? For who was that? Country once again! She is forever asking me who people are...most of whom I do not know and What is that? She is very curious and asked lots and lots of questions. But...it is so much fun to talk to her. She can finally carry on a conversation with me.
Thursday...she had her school party and she was a bumble bee...I must say she was very very cute....and I have pictures of course (I am once again having some technical problems with the camera...I think). Anyway...yesturday J was able to get off of work and we rode to the mountains....it was lots of fun. We got homemade fudge and it is very very good. We are still eating on it...it was huge and very rich. It cost $7.00. A little much on price, but worth it! Then, we took a horse and buggy ride, which AG just loved...then, we found the playground, which was the highlight of the day...we had the best time!! This was a huge playground and my child was way brave...which is new for her. She thinks she is grown up even more since starting school. J and I even had fun sliding and acting like kids. AG climbed the rock wall...high for a 2 year old...she made it to the top...with us under her and holding...she kept going down the HUGE slide like nothing. BUT...she will not swing for anything...she doesn't like them anymore and cries. Doesn't make much sense to me, but whatever.
J was much impressed with my playground skills...I told him how we would go to the playground in college....and I was close to getting locked up due to code 42684...but managed to slip by the officers!! HA! They even had an undated seasaw...that was my favorite in elementary school...I would seasaw the entire play time if I could!!
I have some really cool pictures of this as well...but my camera is being hard to deal with. I should have taken the advise of Amy and gotten the other brand camera. I will know next time, it was just a really good sale!! You know me and sales!
Anyway...lots of fun. We were on the road last night, but she did get to dress up for school and got a whole grocery bag full of candy...what 2 year old needs all that? J bagged it and gave it away...it was too tempting to sit and just eat. He is a chocoaholic!! This is the most current and I will try to do better at keeping up!!