Testimony - Love Granbury - Kayla

Hello, my name is Kayla, and I was one of the many youth that participated in the Love Granbury weekend. The Love Granbury weekend was where youth from different churches across Granbury participated in random acts of kindness throughout the town. We did things such as: mow lawns, highway cleanup, run a full service gas station and help people out with their groceries, just to name a few.

One of the things that I did was hand out water bottles on the square. As we handed them out we would usually say things like, “Jesus loves you!” or “God bless”. Some of the responses that we received were really surprising. We heard people say things from, “Oh, thank you so much, keep living for Christ!” to “What do you mean it’s free? I don’t get it, no really how much is it?”. Some people even stopped to talk to us for awhile, usually saying things like, “Why are you doing this?”, and that just gave us a better opportunity to speak with them about God.

The one other thing that I did was help in the cleanup of yards that were basically destroyed by the floods that came earlier this year. I was amazed to see the horrible condition in which some of these homes were. A few of the homes were actually picked up by the water and moved to the other side of their lot. To mow some of these yards, first we had to clean up all the trash in the yard itself. When the water rose, it was actually in these houses and brought almost everything out into the yard itself. We picked up not only trash, but also in the midst of all the litter were things like, old Polaroid Christmas pictures, and other priceless family pictures that at one time probably meant a lot to the family members who lived there. But all of these items our now sitting in their yard, just waiting to be destroyed by the Texas heat.

I guess that the main thing that I learned from this experience was that this happened in our own city, not another state, not across the world, but in our own city. It really shows you that there are mission opportunities all around us. We just won’t take the time and look for them.
I came into Granbury Love weekend not really knowing what it was all about. In the end, I realized that there are so many people in this world who don’t know our loving Savior. I also learned that you don’t have to go to Africa or some other foreign place to find people who are desperate to know him. I thought that this was a great event, and I hope that we realize that we can do this any day of the year. My prayer is that we would strive every day to reach out and do the little things that make a big difference.

Kayla

Prayer Requests...

Please pray for the following:

1) Josh Fant & all involved..... he has blinked his eyes and nodded. They have found a medicine that they think might help him. He is surrounded by numerous family and friends. And Fox 4 - our local news will continue to follow his story.

2) Found out last night that my mom's brother Joe has prostate cancer. Joe has been a pastor for many, many years. Most of the time as a bi-vocational pastor.

3) A couple of other pastors who are going thru a really hard time right now.

4) Hubby's brother David. I'll leave it that he is a Marine.

5) Joy..... no not a person.... that more individuals will find joy in living life because of Jesus Christ. Not happiness... JOY! (Thanks Leonard)

Stay tuned..... A testimony about Love Granbury from Kayla coming up!

Josh's Story...

Josh Fant's story is going to be on Fox 4 at 9 and 10.

At this moment.. he is still hanging on.. They say there's nothing else they can do for him.

Keep praying!

URGENT Prayer Request Update

Josh Fant is a freshman in college. Within the next hour or two he is expected to pass on.

Please continue to pray for this family and all involved.

Urgent Prayer Request

Please pray for Josh Fant. He passed out during baseball practice last night & is now in a major fight with his body. He is Mo's best guy friend.

Life Itself.

Life Itself is a song by Aaron Shust. As I sat in the parking lot of the front circle of the highly secure gated community waiting for Trav's bus to arrive.... I spent time talking with Lisa via cell phone.

In the midst of her continuing battle with Lyme Disease.... Lisa's love for the Lord is beyond encouraging. While we no longer physically live close..... it is like we're in the room with each other. I'm not really sure who encourages who more.... With the type of real friendship we have.... it can be exchanged freely and without reservation.

I ask that you continue to pray for Lisa and her family. The battle is raging strong right now and the outlook of her husband being without a job in a couple of months is becoming more of a reality.

Life Itself..... Lisa would tell you that the Lord is good to her. Amen Lisa.... Amen!

Keep Singing...

Last night as I was studying.... the phone rang. On the other end of the phone was a woman who I had not talked with in a couple of months. Every time I've thought about stopping by to see her (them).. there's been a vehicle in the driveway. She's given me permission to come by even if she has company but, I try to limit visits like that. So... she rang... I went....



I will not share the details of our conversation except to say..... This woman lives with her husband who has been ill for many years now. While she is physically healthy, she considers herself homebound like her husband. As we sat in the kitchen drinking white tea out of china cups..... I couldn't help but think of a song by Mercy Me called "Keep Singing"......



Her dedication to her husband is beyond words. Yet, it is her love for God that keeps her singing more than any thing else. Actually? I believe it is His love for them both that truly creates the music in the silence.



This color represents the artist in her that uses charcoal to create masterpieces. Some thing she has time for since they are homebound.

It's OFFICIAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Today has found me making a stunning announcement.....










Austin misses his brothers who are back in school today! He's only been up an hour... lol

Trav, his dad and the Smithee

They are on their way to the Ranger game courtesy of a certain pitcher that the Smithee knows.

Remember I said what a HUGE Texas fan Trav is.... Yep..... He's going to a Ranger/Mariner game all decked out in what else..... Texas gear... and not the Ranger type.... lol

This is totally cool... Trav is our sports nut. His dad loves him so much that he literally stopped being the lawn pastor to be his 13 year-old son's dad when we got the call at 4:30 p.m.

As I said.... they are on their way NOW. Yes, I know school starts tomorrow at 8:25 a.m. A boy is only thirteen once in his life..... There are times when going to bed late is acceptable... and priceless.. You should have seen Trav's smile!

Thank You Lord for the blessings that come out of the blue when we're least expecting them. Thank you for the Smithee, his wife, their daughters and some pitcher too!

And thank You Lord that for as much as Trav's dad loves him... YOU love him even more.

Trav & Marissa's Story

Thirteen years ago two babies were born. One was a girl. One was a boy. The girl was born first. Years later they became friends through their church. One day their moms were talking in the workroom while preparing for VBS. Trav's mom mentioned that he had a birthday coming up soon. Marissa's mom asked when. "August" was the reply. And so the story goes.... it turns out they were born on the same exact day. Marissa is older than Trav by a few hours. It is with permission that I share this story.....

There's been one thing about Trav that has embarrassed him for a few years. There has also been something about Marissa as well. Circumstances in life brought about the need to be in a grade at school twice. Speaking here for Trav.... he had started school a year early on purpose due to his mother's (my) health and for his own well-being at the time. It was planned before he started school that he would do 1st grade twice. If you ask Marissa - she can tell her part of the story...... Regardless of the circumstances.... they were each convinced that it was some thing to be ashamed of and a source of embarrassment... Until it was discovered that the other one had gone through the same thing. And suddenly......

One thing that held them back in their own minds..... was set free to fly. It helped them both to accept that it is okay to go through a grade twice... There is no shame in it. It also goes to show the extent of God's grace and mercy..... He knew that they each would need a friend to come along that had experienced such a thing to help them to move on and let go. To truly be the 7th graders that they are now..... today.... Not last year had they not repeated a grade... But tomorrow as they walk into the doors of their middle schools.

Today at the "End of the World" party, the fact that they had been in a grade twice was not what gave the party its name..... It is the fact that school starts at 8:25 a.m. in the morning. Trav and Marissa were sang to and there was a huge birthday cake that was devoured by the students and adults who participated. Those students were primarily 7th and 8th graders.

His mercies are new every morning. And today there are two thirteen year-olds whose true bond is the love of God and theirs for Him. We are thankful for their lives and the friendships that have come with them.

And yes... pics are still to come....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRAV & MARISSA!

Happy 13th Birthday to our middle son Travis! You're an awesome kid! (Did I ever mention that Trav is a HUGE Texas fan? Notice the orange?)

Happy 13th Birthday to our sweet friend Marissa!

Their story later today along with some totally embarrassing pics......

WE LOVE YOU!

Testimony - Daniel S.

While in Pikeville Kentucky I was given the opportunity to meet some of the friendliest people I might ever come in contact with. The people of the hills of Kentucky are not rich. By most American standards they are considered very poor. However, besides their lack of material possessions, they do not show it. It was a real blessing for me to spend a week with people who, even though they have little, live as though they have everything. We did repairs on the house of a widow named Ms. Bevins. Her house was in bad shape. The mountain was literally about to fall on it, and her patio was so rotted that a few of us fell through it at times. Yet even though she had no money or nice things, she had a smile on her face and a great attitude. Her generosity went beyond what she was even reasonably capable of giving. An example being the three meals she cooked for us even though she was not required, let alone financially able to provide anything for us. It was clear to see where her generosity came from, for just as the widow with three mites, she gave to serve her Lord. After introducing ourselves as from Texas she asked us if we were from the area that had been experiencing flooding and upon hearing that we were expressed how glad she was that we were ok and that she had been praying every day for the victims of the Texas flooding. It was amazing to see how God worked it out that before we even arrived to help Ms. Bevins she had been praying for us not knowing we were the ones who would be coming.

Daniel S.

People. Life. Living. Loving.

People: Park and I saw hundreds yesterday. The contacts made, doors opened, and etc..... Not to mention the hugs from some of the little children we met through Healthy Kids. It was a great way to utilize 4 hours of a day. At one point, a man walked up to me while I was talking with a woman. I thought he wanted to speak with her. He didn't. After the woman walked away, the man said to me, "You're Larry's daughter aren't you?" He then went on to share with me about his friendship with my dad. He talked about the fact that he still misses him every single day. We hugged a couple of times. He said, "One thing I always appreciated about your dad was the initiative he took in inviting people to do things.. like play golf." He then proceeded to talk about the fact that he doesn't play much any more because no one ever really calls him to. This is where it's funny... I then said, "This is where I am like my dad was... Why don't you take the initiative yourself?" He hugged me again with huge tears in his eyes. And we both laughed. Park and I are thankful and grateful for the privilege and blessing of being a part of yesterday's huge community event.

Life: Grandma and the three grandsons that live with her went to one of the golf courses in our highly secure gated community this morning. The boys all wanted to play some golf. You should have seen the purple golf cart driving out of the driveway with the four of them. I'm not sure who was smiling more.... While there, Austin saw one of his sponsors for mission trip. They also saw several of their adult friends... Golf? I don't claim to understand the attraction to the game itself.... I do understand about the friendships that can be made as a result. Our lives are full of them from all over the US. Yet, it never really has been about golf. For those who don't know.... my parents had a golf ministry. Mom will say that she still does and the boys do too.

Living: Please make note of the names that post here. As I've stated before... different people have been and will continue to be invited to post here. These are individuals who are a part of living life in the ways in which we're connected. God is good!

Loving: Earlier the lawn pastor and I were talking about what I was going to be cooking for dinner before he headed off. He loving said to me, "You know? I think we need to invite your mom and Hoover to eat dinner with us." Hoover had surgery earlier this week.... and there's this running thing about casseroles. As a part of loving my husband, my mother and even Hoover..... I will be fixing and serving dinner to seven tonight. Actually? I think it all has more to do with the love of God.

People. Life. Living. Loving. - Do you give thanks every day for each of these?

Prayer Request

Please pray for Noel and her family. Noel attends SFA and was hit by a truck. Her parents are members of our church.

More details as I get them. Request via Katie.

Rumor Report!

Rumor has it that our SP, John, was seen in his workout clothes last night. It has been reported by a couple of the students in the student ministry that this was "just plain weird."

The rumor is true. The report is true. "Just plain weird".... well, personally, I think if he were to wear his workout clothes on Sunday morning... now THAT would be "just plain weird."

This has been a public service announcement.

Conversations. Laughter. Excitement.

Late this afternoon, I set out on the golf cart. There are some women and men around the highly secure gated community who I visit from time to time. Frankly? It was overdue. Here's just a tad of the adventure...

1) A wild kitty cat. She was determined that she needed to play with my foot while talking with one of her owners. It didn't stop us from having a really good heartfelt conversation.

2) A man hiding out in his home office because he couldn't come out..... Even though I was technically visiting his wife... I had a question to ask him before I left. Let's just say that I never saw his face... just heard his voice. His wife and I just laughed when we realized why he couldn't come out. He didn't have any pants/shorts in that room. That's what people get for working at home in their underwear! (And no..... I won't be sharing his name... well, except that I shared it with hubby of course.)

3) There were two men standing in a yard talking. I thought to myself that one would immediately call hubby upon seeing me drive by. Sure enough...... Good thing I was in the golf cart..... I couldn't have possibly been speeding.

4) Excitement...... Well, actually that occurred after I left the highly secure gated community this evening. Been given permission to go somewhere tomorrow and do something that I had been praying about! I know many others have been praying about it as well. Keep praying!

Speaking of prayers...... The woman of the house just returned. She drove some today and plans on driving some tomorrow too. While I enjoy being a chauffeur among the many hats I wear and am thankful to do so.... Her driving any at all is an answer to prayers. Keep praying!

Why Don't I Part II

Okay.. Now I'm truly having to laugh...... I had just finished writing that last all too important post when Park came into the room.....

Why don't I take them to the driving range? I did... I did....

Life is weird people. Two out of the three boys had no interest in playing golf just a couple of days ago. Austin found his clubs in the attic yesterday. We thought his grandpa had sold them over a year ago. Guess he thought either Austin would change his mind about playing golf and would want them or that they would serve Trav's needs one day. It is a blessing that he did not sell them.

As the three boys were getting out of the golf cart..... a man walked up and gave them the rest of his bucket of balls. They then proceeded to line up in order from oldest to youngest and started smacking away..... I sat in the purple golf cart in the shade just smiling. While I do not have a golfing bone in my entire body.....

Life is a gift that keeps on giving even when it is least expected.

Why Don't I?

The last couple of days I've been asked why don't I __________. For those who have asked or are wondering here ya go.......

1) Why don't I share the lessons I teach on Sunday mornings here on the blog? That's not what I am supposed to do at this time. That may change but not for right now.

2) Why don't I share more about the girls/women in my group? I do as I think it is appropriate for me to do so.

3) Why don't I write the book? Again...... The book isn't to be written yet. I'm good with that.

4) Why don't I share more about grief and grieving? We all express and experience these differently. I do share at times and other times silence is more golden.

5) Why don't I work for certain organizations/ministries? Because they require traveling and that is not something that my family needs right now.

Okay... Now look at your own lives and ask yourself..... Why don't I _________? Otherwise... I might have to ask you....... (read: laugh people... life is a gift)

Testimony - Krystal H

wow....its hard to sum it all up into one big story. God has done amazing things for me lately, and always had just i havent always noticed it was a good thing. Well...i have grown up in church all my life. My parents didnt have a very good childhood, and wanted to make sure that we got that experience they never did. When i went to student life camp this year, God just amazed me. He opened my eyes, and i have never felt so connected to him. I got the chance to get a lot closer to some of the youth that i never really talked to. He just spoke to my heart, and made me realize i needed to stop doing some of the things i was doing. I had a hard time for awhile with God. I was one of those people who just thought the bible was just another book, and what if all this heaven and hell stuff is just some myth people believed in? Well i got some help. My mom found some things that really helped me. I didnt want to believe that God loved me, because of all the rejection i have had in the past. But i know God loves me. Its hard each and every day to make sure I'm living my life the way i should be. Many of you know that I live at HHF. That has been a whole new struggle and experience in itself. Even though i gave MANY things up when i moved, i believe this is where i should be. I think lots of people need me here. One of the things i still struggle with is accepting that God has to test my faith. That has been the hardest thing for me. But I'm reading the bible more and more each day. I have a lot of questions, but I'm trying to figure them out still keeping in mind that I'm never going to know all the answers. God is just amazing. Mission Trip was a very good thing for me. It was fun and exciting getting to see God work through us and through the little things. For example, like when we were able to cut all the pieces of our house perfectly to fit in place. I now have a new view on "when things go bad". On mission trip, Shelley was supposed to get us vans so we could drive around and get to the places where we needed to go. But God had a different plan. One of the other churches offered to help us in that situation. They said they felt it was God's calling to drive us around. I just think to myself....if we would have had our own vans, that other church wouldn't have felt like they did what God wanted them to. Then they ended up having a whole other crew of their won to help us finish our house, and they had all the other supplies with them that we couldn't bring with us. So the job got done a lot easier, and we all thought that we weren't able to do anything. Now when something goes wrong, i just think to myself....well there is a reason this didnt turn out. God has a better thing planned. If you don't listen to God, he has this funny way of putting things in front of you until you listen to him. It takes a lot longer, but in the end you will end up doing what he asked you to in the first place, plus all the things you went through. So save yourself some hard times, and listen to God the first time he asks you to do something. He knows what hes talking about. Another thing on mission trip that was JUST AMAZING was that our whole youth group got along. We fell out of our normal "clicks" and just all had fun together. Now our youth group is ONE WHOLE. I love it! I thank God for these trips we get to have to serve him, and get closer together as a family of one. Lakeside has made me feel so much better and welcome. I never had a church like that. Youth group is a MAJOR part of my life and my heart. I don't know what i would do without you guys. I love you so much, and thanks for being there for me. I'm still learning and listening to what God has to teach me. It's fun and exciting, and I've never been so connected with God. I love him with all my heart....my complete everything. Another thing he has taught me is not to worry about who you are going to be with. He will give you someone when the time is right. True friendship is the most important of all. Be patient...don't rush into things. True love waits when the love's for real. The choice is in HIS hands....

Thank you,
Krystal H (JEREMIAH 29:11)

Whispered and Shouted.

Our trip to Amarillo last week was definitely successful. The Lord really used the time we were away to speak into our lives. The time with hubby's parents was good for all of us. His dad was sick... yet.. especially with that..... His presence was felt... no doubt... Just as it is sitting here right now... this moment...

When hubby first suggested that we go to his folks' to see them and as a vacation... I must confess - I was not excited. Hubby kept gently talking to me about it.... HE changed my heart with whispers. Little did I know what the week would hold.... Man, I love it when that happens.

I am a mother to three boys and yet have also been in a season of being like a mother to my own mother. For those of you who keep telling me to put her in "time out" - I know you understand what I mean. Going to Amarillo meant not being here for days/nights.... My weaknesses were totally dependent upon His mercy. What's new there??

On our very first night there.... hubby took a walk with Park, his mom, and the dogs. I sat on the balcony alone with the night air gently blowing.... Little did I know what the Lord was truly up to.... It is like peeling back layers of an onion. It can smell... make one cry... and yet can be used for recipes to satisfy the soul... Man, I love it when He exposes yet another layer...

While out on their walk, they came upon a man and his wife. Park and his grandmama returned. Hubby didn't for a while. In truth... I got a little tick. I faced it later.... I was being selfish. Here we were on this trip that I hadn't really wanted to take and hubby was off somewhere. I should have known there were reasons why.... HE always knows better than I do....

We spent time over the course of being there with this man, woman, her mom who lives with them and their twin sons. I won't share all about them except to say this..... they had been completely turned off from God. Yet, by the time we said goodbye to them on Thursday night.... hugs were given all around and the "Your family is welcome here any time" was said to us.

We ventured out numerous times to look around Amarillo and to shop. Some of the time we had the boys with us and other times it was just hubby and his wife. We all enjoy going to Lifeway stores. We truthfully can spend hours there if we're not careful. I had passed by a section on our first trip in there and had seen some material that I thought looked like a possibility for my group. When hubby and I were sent out of the house on Friday so grandmama and the boys could make our anniversary cake - I finally decided to purchase said material. I started reading it and without a doubt - will be using it..... In fact, I started talking with the girls about it yesterday morning. It was the deepest class we've had as of yet... Hmmmm the trip that I really hadn't wanted to take ended up yielding something that I had been looking for and praying about... Man, He is soooooo good like that.

As I mentioned in the first paragraph, Art was sick while we were there. He wasn't just sick... He had pneumonia. I knew he had it when sitting at the table for dinner that first night - I could hear that all too familiar sound. And he didn't get onto me for feeding Sarah and Sally under the table. Park said to me at one point.... "I'm not scared of you getting sick any more mom." Hubby used to freak out when I was around anyone who was sick... especially with pneumonia that once was the great enemy. It's amazing how an enemy can turn into more blessings and some of the greatest learning moments of life and living. God is so loving that way.....

Where we live..... we do the cleaning, cooking and etc. This past week... I wasn't allowed to do any of that. Neither really was hubby.... This was good for us. Weird and hard at times and yet good for us. It was a vacation in those areas. It truthfully caught me off guard. Man, I love it when He surprises me like that. It was refreshing.... and yet, as strange as it may sound... I came away appreciating cleaning and cooking even more. Now THAT has to be Him.....

Our time with hubby's parents went the best it has in years. They had asked us to come and visit them. I had to ask forgiveness for not wanting to go when their asking was definitely an answer to many, many prayers prayed. Confession and forgiveness are tremendous blessings... and do more for life and living than we can honestly ever truly grasp.

There were times of shouting... One night as we sat on the back porch which happens to be on a ladies' tee box of the golf course they live on.... Sarah was let off her leash... and boy did she ever run after those rabbits! Watching her run free and then come back when her master shouted for her to return to him.... Volumes spoken... and heard clearly.

These were just some of the moments... And I am thankful and grateful beyond measure..... More to come.....

What is He whispering and shouting in your own life?