February 2012 Overview

The month of February was completely opposite of January. This month was not as hectic and lacked all the busyness of January (thankfully). Although the month was not as busy there are some highlights and blessings that need to be recalled

Blessing #1
Steve and I were able to attend the annual Sweetheart Banquet. We had such a wonderful time and count it a blessing to be a part of such a great church family. I am so thankful that God has placed these couples in our church. Each and every one of them have such a great love for the Lord.

Blessing #2
Pastor Sargent gave me a book titled, "The One Thing You Can't Do When You Get To Heaven" by Mark Cahill. This book really fires up the Christian who either needs to get busy soul-winning and/or encourages the soul-winner to keep keeping on. I'm not a big reader, so usually any book that has large print and pictures is a book for me. This particular book had neither, but the way the author writes made the book and easy read and I am all for that!

Blessing #3
A wise man recently said to me, "Problems are made to be solved". I am so thankful for knowing someone who is willing to walk through a problem with me, all the while exhibiting compassion, graciousness and patience. THANK YOU.

Blessing #4
God gave me another book to read, "Choosing Gratitude" by Nancy DeMoss. This book is really showing me how important gratitude is and how it must be a part of me, DAILY!

Blessing #5
Steve and I celebrated our 29th Wedding Anniversary. This man is such a blessing to me and I thank the Lord for bringing him into my life, even when I really had no idea what I was getting into when I married him so many years ago. I LOVE YOU STEVER!

Blessing #6
I made it through a 90 day fitness routine called, Power90 by Tony Horton. Just recently Tony Horton said, "What does health and fitness mean? Health is eating right and Fitness is exercise". It takes more than motivation to make a lifestyle change it takes COMMITMENT. I thank the LORD for giving me a desire to live a healthier lifestyle and by leading me to Shakeology (http://myshakeology.com/sherrivaughn) and fitness routines that help reshape my body (http://beachbodycoach.com/sherrivaughn).

Blessing #7
I am thankful for friends who love me despite me. I am thankful for those who offer to listen in times of need, and I am thankful for those who forgive me when I don't show up for dinner [so, so sorry Raquel :( ].

Blessing #8
I thank the Lord for the opportunity he gives me to worship him. This past Sunday evening, Steve and I were able to sing a special, and even though our voices were raw, we thank God for giving the folks in the congregation, "spiritual ears" to hear with.

Well I guess that will do it for now. March is coming, March is coming, woot woot!

29 Years Ago Today...

29 Years ago today, I said "I Will" to my high school sweetheart. It is amazing how the LORD can take two separate hearts and knit them together perfectly. Our marriage and our love would not be what it is today if it wasn't for Jesus.

A strong marriage is liken to a 3-corded rope. Each strand is strong, but when all three are knotted together the rope is even stronger. Thank you Lord for my husband, and the life you have given us together. I love this man more today than when I married him, and I know that my love for him is going to continue to grow stronger the longer we are together, LORD willing, of course.

Choosing Gratitude - A Challenge

I am in the process of reading a book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss called, "Choosing Gratitude". I just started reading this book a few nights ago and what a challenge it has been to me already as I discover how easy it is for me to gripe and complain instead of being thankful, gracious and grateful.

God's timing is perfect in all things. Let me take you back to Wednesday and give you some history. I have been battling a particular problem for several weeks now. So much so, that I found myself becoming physically ill and angry about my circumstances. I might be going out on a limb here, but I think it would be safe to say that at least one time in your life you may have experienced a situation similar to this.

My pastor's wife could see I was troubled and offered to listen. The thing is, I was so angry about my circumstance I felt like I would have unwound at such a high rate of speed that I would not have made any sense;even worse I feared I would be in the flesh. This is not a side that anybody should ever have to see, trust me.

That afternoon a shipment of books arrived. I opened up the box and what was the very first book on top? Yes, you guessed it! CHOOSING GRATITUDE! I picked up the book, thumbed through a few pages and read an excerpt from the pages that smote my heart. Do you think I can find that paragraph now? No, but isn't that just how the Lord works to get your attention?

Nevertheless, I picked up the book, paid for it and brought it home and began reading it (after I had finished "One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven" by Mark Cahill - by the way, another great book every Christian should read).

So far I am a third of the way through the book and I ran across a challenge the author gives to the reader to cultivate gratitude. The 30-day challenge is two-fold: 1) For the next 30 days purpose to say nothing negative about your husband to him or to anyone else, and 2) Over the course of the next 30 days express at least one thing that you admire or appreciate about your husband to either him or somebody else.

If not your husband than maybe pick someone who you are having a hard time getting along with or may be hard to love in Christ. It is so easy for us (because of our sin nature) to pop off something negative when we are are feeling hurt, distraught, ignored or even put out.

This book has more to offer than this challenge. It helps the reader understand there is a cycle - guilt - grace - gratitude. It helps the reader question their level of thankfulness and if it is not where it ought to be, then what has crept in to steal it? In many cases the lack of thankfulness or GRATITUDE is the root of many other sins that creep into our lives.

Trust me when I say it is a book worth reading, but beware it will challenge your heart.

Playmates

Since our Joey passed away a few years back, every once in awhile Steve and I toy with the idea of getting Levi a buddy to pal around with. We have looked at Shepherd's, Doodle dogs and now the latest and greatest "the Boxer".

This is Luke Agape, no he is not our dog, he belongs to the Majors. Whenever the Majors come over the mountains both Luke and his sidekick, Chipper, get to come along too. They love to play together, but Luke has another playmate when he visits and I bet you can guess who it is or who it is not ....



The Majors have even got us a book on "Dummies for Boxers". I don't know folks. I am not sure if I am ready to train another dog and if you ask Levi, he says, 'no-way', things are good the way they are. Steve wants a playmate and I want to be able to travel without worrying who will take care of the dogs. Oh well, this quandary too shall pass.

Sweetheart Banquet 2012

On Thursday, February 16 twenty couples of Bible Baptist Church attended the annual Sweetheart Banquet. This year the couples met at the CPO Club (Chief Petty Officers Club) for an evening of fellowship, while giving are hard working and always lovable SPG's a year off. We were challenge by Bro. Geist in the Word, regarding 'charity', games were played, timed, timed, did I mentioned timed, and scored by Bro. Kiesel. I can't take the pressure of timed activities, but surprisingly, Steve and I did very well. I guess that's what makes us 'one'. The dinner was exceptional and wouldn't have been complete without the large, juicy, chocolate covered strawberries that were prepared for dessert. They were so YUMMY!

I think what I like best about events like this is that you usually end up sitting by couples you don't normally hang around. This year Steve and I had the pleasure to spend the evening with the Hopper's, Hunt's and Sheppard's. These couples know how to have fun and we truly enjoyed getting to know them even better.

There is nothing better than spending an evening around God's people!