"EVERYTHING FINE IN 2009!"
This keeps ringing in my ears, so I wanted to share it with you on our new website. I trust our Father to bring it to pass! I believe God has ordained it for your family and mine and for our church. Isn't God good?
Also, God keeps reminding me that we are not exempt from the work that is required, as all this will be accomplished through the power of God working in each one of us. Yet, I am reminded that as we labor and pray in faith we will experience the fulfillment of God's promises and plans. I must also tell you that it will not be small--God has big plans. He is our great and mighty God, and 2009 is our year of BIG FAITH.
On a more personal note:
We (Shyrl, Evan, Eric, Angie, Abbey Sue, Sugarbear and Miley) enjoyed Grandma Marie and Grandpa Bruce in the woods of the Florida panhandle this past week. Scott and Leah flew to Virginia for a ski trip with Leah's family, and also drove to Washington, D.C. to take in the national sights. Scott returned with a new found passion for snow skiing, and Leah tells us she will try again the next time she gets near snow—pretty good for a Florida native who has never skied before!
Grandmother feed us well with good country cooking; in fact Evan became adept at mentioning something he wanted to eat and then we would see Grandma at the stove putting together another tasty dish. For a while there, I thought we might need to run all the way back home to work off all those goodies the two of then cooked up.
Grandpa loves land and so we were able to roam the 164 acres of his homestead in northern Florida. We fished in his lake and caught our dinner. A new calf was born the second day and was a beautiful sight with his cream color and white star on his forehead. Grandpa’s observation of the new calf was, “His daddy left his mark on him”, and one could see the big black daddy bull’s large white patch on his forehead.
Our puppy dogs really enjoyed running and playing over the land as we harvested the last of the pecans the strong winter winds had blown down. It was fun to be outside a lot even in 40 degree cold! (That's cold for us Florida natives!)
Whether rain or cold, Eric, Angie and Evan covered the land on ATVs and enjoyed good target practice in the back forty. Between the eating, fishing, motor biking and shooting, it was nice to visit and catch up on all we miss because we don’t get to see my parents often enough. Evan was quick to thank me for making that long trek, and he added that we should go there at least once every year and maybe even more if he could talk me into making that long drive.
Even though it was nice to enjoy the country, we looked forward to coming together with our church family to kickoff this Fine Year of 2009 and to enjoy God’s Word and our church family. Surely, the Word of God, brings strength, peace and blessings as it runs swiftly through us. We have kept the Real Love Campaign close to our hearts over the past two months, and now we are very excited to see God’s plan set in motion for Family Christian Center and the harvest to come!
I think the following scripture says it best for Family Christian Center; may it edify and encourage you for your family, too.
Psalm 147:13-15 NIV
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your people within you.
14 He grants peace to your borders
and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
I encourage you to take time to rest in God and enjoy your family as you begin this new year of adventure. I am looking forward to hearing from you, but until then please know that ya’ll are in our thoughts and prayers!
All my love,
Pastor Shyrl
Posted on
Thu, January 1, 2009
by Pastor Shyrl