Frozen in Time

This is a common sight around our city-old empty buildings that have been left to rot and ruin. It's so heartbreaking because there are so many fabulous old buildings that bring so much character to this town, if only someone would breathe new life into them...make them useful and productive again. Something that can serve the community once more. But so many of them remain like this. Frozen in time.

But here's the thing. The people here are the same way. I mentioned before this is a town that seems to be drying up and dying because all the young people flee so it's full of citizens of the older generations and they of course tend to be stuck in their ways and see no real need for much change. Again, heartbreaking when they are missing out on so much more life, and here's a perfect example:

The church I attend is a Muskogee institution, it was built in 1903 and I think some of our members helped start this church!(Okay so they were infants and their parents helped start it, but you get the idea some of these people have gone to this church their whole lives-literally.) My Mom always jokes about a member of her Sunday School class who is always fussing about our preacher's "antics." Now we are beyond blessed to have a spirit filled believer leading this church. Lance is younger, so he has a lot of fresh, new ideas that break a lot of the typical molds (we are Baptists, if that tells you anything!) But I never leave a service he leads without feeling inspired and closer to God. He is also very accessible and very transparent in his weakness and shortcomings. In short this man is one of the most genuine men of God I have met in my life.

But back to my Mother's classmate, as funny I have found these comments in the past I find them funny no more because you see, I thought this person was just a bit uncomfortable by some of the things Lance does, but after a conversation they had with my mother last night I see that it's much deeper than that. This person really dislikes his teaching, and wishes he would go elsewhere. Knowing however that he is here to stay-at least for the immediate future-they refuse to seek out another church that might better suit their needs because they have attended this church since they were a baby.

Frozen. In. Time

I grieve for this person because I cannot imagine they are getting fed at all with that attitude so what is becoming of their relationship with God? Is there any growth, any new life? Or is it becoming stagnant? And it makes me grieve for the church because I see the potential it has to impact and change this city-but how can we as a body become all that God has in store for us if many of the congregants are hanging on so tightly to the past and not willing to trust God enough to take a chance and break out of their comfort zones?

Today is Good Friday. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice in the face of great opposition from leaders who were more determined to hang on to the past, the law and their assumptions rather than experience a personal encounter with the God they claimed to serve. Sunday we get to celebrate the Resurrection, the fulfilment of the law which broke all the molds, called people out of their complacency and ushered in new life for us in our relationship with God while on earth and eternal life thereafter.

So I ask you today, are you frozen in time or are you looking for more? If you don't already know him, find a church this Easter, and find Jesus. He alone can breathe new life into you, make you useful and productive. A person with purpose who can serve those around them; and I promise-you won't miss the past one bit.

Muskogee's Untold Story

I live in a small town in OK, 45 min outside of Tulsa. There's no Starbucks, no Target and worst of all no Fudruckers! There's not much to do here. It is certainly not the kind of town I ever imagined myself settling down in. It's a town that is drying up and dying. Filled with wonderful old Victorian houses and beautiful buildings, most of them are boarded up or very neglected-even if they are still occupied. Most of the population is an older generation-the youth leave here in droves in search of more excitement and more opportunity. I can't really put a finger on WHY this little town seems to have no future; lack of pride, finances, or just plain old giving a darn. The people and local government seem to lack these things and so much more.



Still, this is the town where I will raise my son. The place he will grow up, learn about life, love and God and he deserves the best this city has to offer. He deserves to love and appreciate his hometown-not despise it and count the days until he too can run out into the world to find a better life.


And despite the spirit of desolation & apathy that seems to hang over this city and most of it's occupants, there is a strong core of people here who believe that "greater things have yet to come, and greater things are STILL to be done in this city!" We know who is the God of this city and we are completely confidant that HE has big plans for our little corner of the universe, that this is really just the beginning of Muskogee's untold story...



So instead of complaining about what this city lacks, we have decided to start praying for what it needs and looking for the beauty that lies in this city and that my friends is what I plan to share with you from now on! Here are just a few things that caught my eye today:

It's one of those days

When the world is caving in cause people you love are in a bind and you are helpless to do anything for them. I am just so grateful for God at times like this, knowing that He alone is in control of it all, soothes my soul. We were blindsided but He saw it all coming and is holding us in His hands. How will He answer prayers and bring good out of this mess I have no clue but I know without a doubt He will.

"Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing. Power and majesty praise to the king. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your name. I sing for joy at the work of your hands, forever I'll love you, forever I'll stand. NOTHING compares to the promise I have in you."

Just some thoughts

Haven't blogged in awhile. Too busy surfing the net, playing on Babyfit and getting obsessed with Facebook. That site is all about time suckage, you get drawn in so easily to all the things you can send to your friends and don't even get me started on all the quizzes I waste time on.

It's really disappointing when something doesn't live up to the hype created around it. Recently I have been watching some older, "classic" films that have really blown. Just to name a few, Taxi Driver, Mutiny on the Bounty and today Scarface. Really they were boring and just so over rated.

Ben is 4 months old now and just more and more amazing everyday. He's so funny and smart and just developing new skills everyday. His strongest skill? Keeping mommy wrapped around his little finger.

So Thanksgiving is just a few days away, I'm having two dinners, one with my sister and her family on Wednesday and then with my husband and his parents on Thursday. I can't wait to stuff my face with all the yummy food! But mostly I am thankful for my family, and friends and the chance to spend time with them to celebrate the season!

Seriously?

I went to Target in Tulsa over the weekend because we had some gift cards we needed to use and I was VERY disappointed by their baby section in general but mostly by the lack of BOY clothes. They had like 1 1/2 racks of boy stuff and a flopitygazillion racks of girl clothes. Whats up with that? I mean I know most boys are not as into clothes as girls are but i want my kid to have cute clothes, why do these people think Moms only want to buy cute stuff for girl babies? I am offended on behalf of all the male children everywhere. Steve said "Well women like to dress their little princesses and the ones who didn't have girls don't care enough about their boys to give a hoot.." He's so cynical sometimes, but looking at that selection it kinda made me wonder if he's right!

Ben had his first sleepover with his grandparents Saturday night so Steve and I could have date night. He did great but I missed him so much. Steve and I have our one year wedding anniversary coming up and are planning a weekend getaway so this was a dry run. I am one of those girls that always over packs so he made fun of me for all the stuff I sent to his mom's for "just one night." I kept telling him this time I'm not over packing-it's stuff he really needs. He says he dreads the day he has to pack the car with both our stuff!! HA!

Another day

Ben has become the biggest titty baby the last few days. He wants to be held non-stop and I don't mind it so much except that its hard to listen to him cry when I am doing important things like using the potty.

Speaking of the potty one of my cats has been using Steve's bathmat as their personal latrine and so we just got rid of it and today they peed directly on the tile. I will strangle the litter bugger if I catch them....(not really, don't call the ASPCA on me.)

I am enjoying being a SAHM mom but am starting to think I need a hobby or something, I'm feeling restless. But maybe it's because summer is over and I missed it. Because of the pregnancy and stuff I didn't do anything outdoorsy and don't even have a tan for the first time in like forever so I feel blah. Even though I love fall....

Not much else to report, just enjoying the return of the new TV season.

Milestones and Musings....

So Ben turned 2 months old today!!! Can't believe how the time has flown and how much I adore this child...his smiles take my breath away.

So my musings for today are that I broke my stinking cell phone. I have a REd Treo 680. It's my cool RED phone that I love and I dropped it and cracked the screen so there is no fixing it. ARGH! Luckily since I used to work for AT&T I have another phone in reserve so I don't have to buy a new one.

And whoever decided to put TV shows on the internet for online viewing is a genius! I accidentaly erased last nights episode of Fringe but at least I can still watch it......