Children of Praise Joys

Jessica singing "I'm Sorry" during the Royal Kids of the Kingdom II Musical on April 29, 2007.


Inland Lighthouse Church was blessed with a cute and funny performance from our Children of Praise. The kids worked hard on this play written by Sis. Kim Ballestero. They sang really well and all the kids did an awesome job!! They shared the 5 step plan of salvation with over 400 people on Sunday morning!!! I am slightly predjudice, I know, but Jessica did such an awesome job on her song about asking God for forgiveness! Oh, I don't have a picture of him yet, but my little guy, Justin, had a solo part as well! He did an incredible job telling about how God came down and became a child just like us. I was a very Holy Ghost proud mama!!!

In the audience was my bible study lady, Lillian, her daughter Kathleen and grandchildren Dustin and Destinee. They seemed to enjoy the service and stayed afterwards for our family day potluck and activities. I see them again in the morning and covet your prayers!

After the kids musical, Bro. Arlo Moelenpah spoke to us about creation and science, particularly about the dinosaurs and "pre-historic" man. It was awesome! I love learning more about how science works with the Bible!! He is coming again this week and then will take questions and return to answer them in two weeks!! I can't wait!!!!!!!

Isn't She Lovely? :)

Update:
My dear friend, Holly, also had a picture of my sweet lil' guy and she shared it with me. He is the one holding the mic. He did such a fantastic job!!! GO, Justin!!!

P.S. Holly's gorgeous older son, Ian, is in the aqua shirt and right behind him (on his right) is her other gorgeous kid, Zachary!! They both had speaking AND singing parts and did WONDERFUL!!! See, I can brag about other kids than my own. Even if mine were somewhat "better" LOL

Thank you, Holly for all the pics of my babies!!! Love ya!!!

Bible Study Joy!!!!!!

I gave my first solo Bible study on Tuesday morning of this week!!!!!!!!!! Through a survey that we, Inland Lighthouse Church, have been doing on Saturday outreach, we contacted a lady named Lillian. She was interested in a Bible study. So, I was asked if I could teach it. I wanted to say no, not because I am ashamed of my God but because I have never done this alone!!! I don't feel qualified to "instruct" someone about the Bible, primarily because I honestly have not studied it enough!!! But the Bible study coordinator prevailed and I scheduled the study.

Tuesday morning Marissa and I drove to Lytle Creek and met Lillian and her daughter, Kathleen. We had a nice time studying the Word and they even want me to come again next week!!!

Please pray that I find time to immerse myself MORE in the Word and that I can study to show myself approved!! I have to admit it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!! I didn't fumble and stutter but we were studying about something I have been learning about since my first toddler class, the creation and the first man's sin. :)

Sharing Good News

Good evening, everyone. Once again, it has been a few days since my last blog entry. Unfortunately, sickness has struck me and I have been laid up, fevered up, and specifically, fed up with the flu! I started feeling ill Tuesday night and by Wednesday morning, I was feeling like death warmed over. I have missed two days of classes!! Woe is me!

Yesterday, I ventured out for a rehearsal with the Nostalgia Singers, a choir of senior citizens that love to sing old music. While at the rehearsal, I talked to a gentleman, Kenny Snyder, and found out that he has been diagnosed with cancer and scheduled for surgery on Wednesday of next week. I encouraged him and promised that our church would be praying for his surgery and recovery. He is a sweet gentleman and was very thankful for the prayers.

This morning I called my English professor to inform her of my forthcoming absence and found out that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer! She found out over spring break and is already scheduled for surgery next Friday! Needless to say, I was astounded! She is young, most likely in her 50's and judging by her voice, scared! I immediately told her about my grandmother and her battle with the same disease just this last August. My grandmother is in wonderful health and is recovering well. Professor Howard and I spoke for a while and I believe I was able to lift her spirits and give her some hope for her future. As we closed our conversation, I told her I would be praying for her and she was very appreciative.

As I type this, I wonder if I am part of the Nostalgia group and attending school just to encourage these two people? I know that when I prayed about whether or not to accompany a secular choir that I felt very strong about the possibilities for being a witness for Christ. I hope that this is the case!!! It has been exciting to see different ones come and visit our church!! I have also met a lady who is the Activities Director for a retirement home the Nostalgia group performs for. She is currently attending an Apostolic church in Redlands and has family who doesn't want to drive that far and who are looking for a church!!! Of course, I invited them to ours!!!!! :)

So, sharing the good news about Who my God is and what He has done has been an exciting addition to an otherwise sick (pun intended) week!!! Thank You, Lord for these opportunities and may I continue to follow Your leading and be a light for You!!!

Friends and Food Joys

There is nothing like getting together with likeminded ladies and fellowshipping while enjoying a meal. Today, my english instructor did not show and so my class and I left. I was overJOYed!! I finally had a day to try and invite someone over for lunch.

So I got on the phone and invited several friends. Marissa and I made homemade potato cheese soup. It was YUMMY!!! Everyone had a second bowl (they were small) and we had a very nice relaxing visit. Katie was not able to make it but Maureen, with her onboard twins baking, Sarah and little Miss Natalya, and Tiffany came to fellowship. For a scrumptious desert, Marissa quickly baked some banana bread!!. I wish I had a picture to share but alas, I was too busy visiting and cooking to think of a camera.

Now, I have a confession: I have been wanting to do a luncheon for a while but I always talked myself out of it because my home isn't big and fancy!! However, last Friday night at Ladies' Fellowship, Sis. Linda Jones spoke about being a good hostess and one of the things she covered was waiting to invite people until everything is perfect and how that will NEVER happen!!! She said to get organized and step out and GO FOR IT!!! SOOOOO, today I did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joys of Family and Friends

As some of you will have noticed, Sister Karla Holley and I have been blogging back and forth regarding mutual friends, family and connections to things in the past. This made me start thinking about the family of God. Isn't it awesome that God gives us brothers and sisters of like minds to share our lives with? And isn't it neat how we are all connected?

I was sharing a little of this thought with my daughters this morning at breakfast. I told them that when I was unable to meet their needs God has provided "sisters" for them to talk to. My girls both piped up and said that I am always able to help them but I told them I want them to remember for the future when as teens they may not feel like I am listening or such. I can remember many times as a teen when I would sit down with someone other than my mom and glean spiritual and practical wisdom from them. I want that for my kids!!!!

I found this song/poem online and think you will agree that it describes God's family!

Family, Friends and Fellowship

He gave you arms to hold me up - when I am falling down

He gave you lips to cheer me up - when storms are all around

He gave you songs to fill me up - when words will never do

For this family, oh Father I thank you!

He gave you tears to cry with me - when I am filled with grief

He gave you joy to laugh with me - when I find relief

He gave you eyes to watch over me - as I walk the narrow way

For this family, Father I thank you today!

Family Friends and Fellowship keep me going strong

There’s always someone by my side - I know that I belong

To a family bound for glory land, I find myself at ease

’Cause this family who loves Jesus, has His peace!

He gave you tears to cry with me - when I am filled with grief

He gave you joy to laugh with me - when I find relief

And because you love Jesus, I can trust you to love me too!

For this family, oh, Father I thank you!

For this family, oh, Father I thank you!

song- 2002 Marquita Lawson

And one of the awesome parts is that while YOU are doing all the above for ME, I am doing the same for YOU!!!!

A NEW song for you to enJOY

A friend and I ran into each other at the supermarket recently.
She shared a song with me that she had just found.
It is SO powerful!

You can hear it at www.dovebrothersquartet.com and I promise you will love it!
My 10 year old sits at the computer and sings this song over and over and over. I hope she is getting the message!!! I think we will sing it together with my other daughter in the near future.

Talking to my friend yesterday, she told me that she sang the song last week and the Holy Ghost fell and she ended up singing for 45 minutes! The saints were greatly moved by the simple message of this song!! It is called "I Can Pray."

Here it is:
You say, “I’m not able I’m too young or I’m too old.
And I can’t sing or teach and no title do I hold.
Lord, What can I do? For I want to do my part
And I want to help the hurting with all of my heart.”

I can pray until the walls come down
til there’s healing all around
that’s something I can do
I can pray in my secret place
calling on your name
that’s something I can do
I can pray

My family shows no interest, my child is gone so far
Tho’ I try my best to reach them, their hearts just seem so hard
Lord, what can I do to help bring them back to you
For my family’s lost and dying and my words can not get through

Spoken:
You may not be a preacher You may not be a Sunday school teacher
You may not be able to sing But friend there is something that we all can do


You can pray in your secret place
calling on His name
that’s something you can do
You can pray
I can pray
We can pray

I can pray
You can pray
I know you hear us Lord when we pray

We will pray
I will pray
Will You pray?


The Dove Brothers are a great quartet and although Southern Gospel is NOT my favorite music, I have GREATLY enjoyed the songs you can listen to via their website!!!!! May God bless them and bring them into ALL Truth!!

Let's PRAY!!!!

Birthday Joy

This weekend my hubby and I celebrate our xx'th birthdays. Okay, I am NOT ashamed of my age so......it is 38 years since our births!!! I have to say that I get asked all the time how old I am and no one, NO one, gets my age right when I make them guess!! I am always being told I look like I am in my early 20's, occasionally someone will guess early 30's. It is exciting to know that if I continue to age gracefully, when I am in my 60's everyone will think I am in my late 40's or early 50's!!!! YEAH!

My hubby is a tax baby and I was born on the 16th. It is unusual for such close birthdays, I know, however, my girls have birthdays a day apart as well. They will celebrate their 13th (yes, Marissa will officially be a teen) and 11th birthdays on October 5th and 4th respectively. Justin is the lucky one who has a solo birthday in March!!! :-) (However, he does have a close friend who celebrates his birthday on the 11th, Logan Booker, and Justin's is on the 12th.)

Anyhow, do you have birthdays that are close together like the McVay's??

God Is At The Window!

The Duck &the Devil

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it.

He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes" But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?"

So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help" She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

Thought for the day and every day thereafter?
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)...whatever it is...You need to know that- God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.

Always remember: God is at the window! When Jesus died on the cross; he was thinking of you!

P.S. Author Unknown