Life

Can I just say that it has been a long month in the Griffith household! We had to say see ya later to our sweet Maw Maw. I won't say goodbye or that we lost her because I will see her again and I know exactly where she is! She is sitting at the feet of our Lord...praising Him! It makes me smile to think of that. But still, we will miss her. I thought just the other day of a question I would have liked to ask her...Her funeral was beautiful. One of the sweetest I've ever attended with lots and lots of sweet words about a very special lady who touched not only her family for many generations, but who also touched her community!

I have been dealing with the Lord on a matter that I just can't seem to make public but a struggle He has convicted my heart about for years now. I feel very defeated in this area of my life. I so want victory in it so that I can scream to the world...I FINALLY beat this one...only thru JESUS...Him and Him alone.

Scott and I have also, as I've said in earlier posts, heard lots of messages this summer and even up to today about doing life with people. Pouring into their lives. I've known for many years now that God had a call on our lives together. I dreamed and searched for the vision for years. Thinking it would be a fulltime position or something "bigger" than Jane MO...do you know what I've learned...it IS big when God calls you...no matter the place you are called to serve. For some God does allow them to be paid staff positions...but for MOST of us...we are the lay people...with a call also...to serve and volunteer and love and pour ourselves into the lives of others...it has taken God a long time to get this thru my hard head but I get it and I'm honored to serve Him anywhere but most especially in Jane MO at Emmanuel Baptist Church...for HIS glory.

The holidays are coming upon us fast and I'm so looking forward to the Ball family coming home...I miss them so much lately...maybe because another one is on the way and I'm not there to see the tummy progress! I must admit I'm missing my baby girl as well...the emptiness of her room has gotten to me the last few weeks. But I'm thankful for 3 fine son in laws who all love my daughters the way Christ loves the church.

...Before you go...

Before you go there are somethings I want you to know. You have inspired me! You have taught me so many things over the years. You have loved me and accepted me and forgiven me over the years and for that I will always be grateful. You have been a woman of joy and grace, a woman that has lived out faith before me.

You loved my kids and started for first 3 of them out on their first Bible Stories. I think their love for Jesus may very well have started setting at your feet in Sunday School.

Because of you I can make apple butter, jelly, canned tomatoes, canned green beans and can even short of make a baby quilt now.

I'll always remember you when Scott gets stressed and says, "Well Sugar", or when my grand kids ask for a cookie from the cookie jar and when I think of heaven.

I pray in these last days and hours you know just how loved you and the legacy of love and godliness you leave behind in each of us.

I just had to say it before you go. I love you Maw maw

Weddings, babies and the future...

I have put off a post about my baby's wedding...I can't really say why. It has been a very odd feeling...her getting married and leaving the nest...I'm still not sure I'll find the words to express the emotions that I've had...she was the last of my girls to be home with me...and I believe we are great friends...I miss giggling with her at night...talking about the Lord with her...and watching her excitment for life in general...while I miss those things that I hold very dear to my heart...it is as if...this has been her destiny all along and so her being with Thomas is a very natural thing...I've shed no tears...(not that I haven't thought about it)...I look forward to their future together...does it sound crazy to say this feels like wearing a comfortable pair of warm socks...it just is...and is suppose to be...

Cassie called last week and shared the news with us that we will be grandparents again in May...this will be #4 for them....and before anyone says WOW to me...remember I also have 4...it is a great number...that way there doesn't have to be a middle child (Yeah for Landy!!!) I look forward to this one as much as I did for Ayden...the first one...already wondering what it will be...who it will look like...and praying it will act like Cassie...cause the others  sure don't!!!! What this one will do for the Lord...you know all the important questions...

This morning...thank YOU LORD!

This morning was great...I got to sleep in a bit...go for a walk..and then it was time to finish the housework I SHOULD have finished yesterday...but I was home alone and decided to be lazy just a little bit longer....so I did...and I got to see the most wonderful sight I could have imagined...my sweet father-in-law on his tractor...this is a picture of him...

Why is that such a big deal...we are rapidly approaching Oct...which will be the make of one year...that expect for a few dr appointments Willie was not able to leave the farm...or ride the 4 wheeler or the tractor...his was in so much pain...with no answers for such a long long time...we prayed for answers that simply seemed to not come as we watched him...get weaker and weaker and more discouraged by the day...Christmas came with such a odd "feeling" with the Griffith family last year...a feeling we didn't or don't really discuss...but one that we were very much afraid of....then the week following Christmas came the diagnosis of cancer...such a scary word...and many months of watching poppa fight and yet seem so defeat...but the strength that Linda...prayed over him...and willed into him...was amazing to watch...she said during this time..."I'm the mouth of this family but his is the glue...I think she sells herself short just a tad!...I think maybe out of the that mouth comes a little glue too!!!!

As, over all, a family who knows the Lord, we would agree that we understand that when we pray...asking God to heal people...that HE always hears...and He always heals...just sometimes not the way we, in our flesh desire...but He hears just the same...for the healing HE has brought our poppa's way we are so thankful...as Christmas approaches as again this year for the Griffith family...I believe there will be another "feeling"...a feeling of gratitude...of thankfulness...and I pray a feeling of "awe" and praise for the Lord..and his mercies that are new every morning...and for THIS morning and the the sight I got to see...THANK YOU LORD!

A Trip to St. Louis

We took our students on a mission trip to St. Louis. The trip is an arm of Global Encounter Ministries and is an amazing opportunity for students and adults alike. The Griffith household would highly recommend this trip. The students have to opportunity to be on mission for the Lord as well as setting under some very intense and intentional teaching for a week.

We have witnessed out students change a great deal this week. I believe with all my heart most of them are ready to move to another level with the Lord. It is such an honor to watch God move in the lives of our young people. I'm so thankful that I get to share in their lives. They don't know it but they teach me way more than I could ever teach them!

We worked in North St. Louis at Joshua Generation. We had about 32 kids on Monday but on the 2nd day we doubled that number. We had a few challenges as did every ministry site that week but we had an amazing week...witnessing 8 students coming to know the Lord. We also made new friends, and was able to love on children that desperately needed someone to love them, hug them and tell them how valuable they are to this world! Jesus Christ died for them and desires to have a relationship with them. Our students, I know, can each one close their eyes and still see the face of those kids...and the face of the one that touched their individual heart!

Our students shared Sunday night at our home church...such a BLESSING! Teenagers are so real and not afraid, like we adults, to be vulnerable and honest...if you missed this night you missed witnessing the evidence of God and His power in the lives of the students He has blessed Emmanual with!

God has been teaching me personally many things in the last several months. Our Pastor has been preaching thru the book of Hebrews...and God has used that book in a great way in my life. Then we go to St. Louis and the teaching was also very...what word would I use...impacting! Life changing...I'm learning more and more every year I live that God's word is put out there...we can learn or we can not...but if I choose not to hear...I stop with the Lord...been there done that and don't want that again...

just a few lessons I've learned:
-people won't care about the Gospel if they think we don't care about them
-we are to be the fragrance of Jesus Christ
-are those dear to me...the Christian subculture or the lost?
-I must have compassion...not just on Sunday...Christ was moved with compassion
-hospitality...give up for others...we must do life with people...we must!
-we must meet them on their truff...not on ours!
-reputation...people "hear" our talk but they "see" our walk everyday...what reputation in the community do I have...what reputations does our church have? Are we meeting needs in our community?
-it's not about the numbers...if we can't care about the 1 we don't care about the many!
-am I really hungry for the Lord?
-how long has it been since I've said I'm running hard after God?
-Is going to be about Him or me...I'm the one who makes that choice
IF I'M NEVER HUNGRY FOR GOD THAT SHOULD TELL ME SOMETHING!
-stop pursing religion and start pursing Jesus Christ
-so many of us desire the "power" of the resurrection but we do not want to experience death to self in Christ!
-Jesus requires my life...NOT sunday services, a mission trip, hands raised in worship...my life!
-IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL OBEY ME....Christ has spoken to me...will I obey or will I not...

So much to digest in a short week...God has spoken and I'm ready...whatever that means..I'm not gonna lie...I'm excited and I'm scared...but I'm ready

Another couple of Birthday's...

I usually write something for the birthday people in my life on their birthday but as usual I'm a little behind...trying to find the words from my heart this year...

Scott and Michael shared another birthday on the 23rd. Michael is an amazing young man. In the past year he has graduated college, run the farm thru the winter and started his first "grown up" job. (started to write adult...afraid someone would question what "kind" of adult..hehehehe). His grandfather was diagnoised with cancer this winter just after he graduated. He had planned to then start a new job but was needed on the farm. With all the kids taking turns at the hospital with Willie and Linda...Michael was truly a God send to the family...knowing the cows were feed, ice on the ponds broken and any other odd jobs needed. I don't know what we would have done with out him and I can't remember if we told him thank you and we are so proud of you for the sacrifice you gave during those months. As his family, we tease him so much about being "tight" but it is a good thing because he had saved and during the winter he was still able to pay his bills.

So to you Michael, I'm so proud to call you my son. Thank you for all you do for me...and thank you for the song you wrote me for Mother's Day this year...you know why it meant so much to me...but right back at you....YOU ARE LOVED!

For my sweet husband WHO IS 49 this year! I love you so much! I remember thinking when we were dating and first married...we'd never be old...but if we were...we'd be wise...NOT...this to has been a challenging year for him...work is slow but steady...I've watched him choose to trust God on a whole new level this year with his father's illness...we've been lucky for the most part as a family to not have to face alot of serious illness...and this is the first so close for Scott...and again...his faith...has pushed him thru...those days I saw him...scared...worried...not sure what to say...he would trust in the Lord...praying faithfully for not only Willie's healing but his ability to fight this worrible disease mentally...

I an say one thing for sure...we as a family...have learned to appreciate each other even more this year...and the friends and the community around us...so to Scott and Michael I don't want it to go unsaid...I love you both and I APPRECIATE you both so much! While you butt heads most days about the way to do something or make something or fix something...you share so many of the same qualities...you both love very deeply...you both have such a sense of protecting or caring for those close to you...you both have an incredible work ethic...and you both love the Lord with a passion....happy birthday to 2 of my most favorite men!

Revival Week

Our revival has offically started this week, however, I would say God has been speaking to His people in a new a fresh way for several weeks...or atleast He has been to me...I'm learning to see Him in a new, fresh way...I remember being saved so many, many years ago...then I remember 16 years ago people teaching me what it means to have that personal...daily walk with Him, you know the one where you ask His opinions on everything, every decision...honestly I must confess for the first 5 years of my salvation experience I feel cheated...but all glory to the Lord...He sent people into our lives to teach us more about Him...and now...He is doing this again...new revelations! I amazes me that the created of all...would desire us to know and understand Him more...but He does...not for us..but for HIS glory...so that our lives will not be good...but will attest to who He is... It has been a long hard winter...in many ways for me and I know others this year...I don't just mean physcially but emotionally and spiritually as well...and it is as if the Lord Himself has reached down from Heaven, raised my chin...said look at me my child...look at me...I pray I will stop being like the apostle Paul...looking at the waves crashing around me but will be faithful to look to the One who controls the waves... Join us at Emmauel Baptist Church...the revival services begin at 6:30 tonight and tomorrow...Sunday, sunday school is at 9:30 and morning services are at 10:45...a year ago I would have said come, give Jesus a try but no more can I say that...the blessed truth is we believe Him or we don't but He is there...come