What a blessing!

Happy Monday everyone! I want to start off by saying how much of a blessing I received this weekend spending Friday evening and Saturday morning with some wonderful friends and my Savior. We laughed, we cried, and we talked and talked and talked. I had the added blessing of delivering the cinnamon pancake mixes to the Ronald McDonald House and the First Light Shelter. They both appreciated the mixes.
I hope you all have marked your calendar for the FOLD dates and times. We begin with lunch at Habenaros in Hueytown. Also, the Ladies Bible Study begins on Sunday, September 19th at 4:30 in the Fellowship Hall. We will be doing Priscilla Shirer's study "One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land."
Last but NOT least, go ahead and put it on your calendar!!!! March 5th - Ladies Weekend with Babbie Mason! Tell all your friends and make plans now to be there!
I want you all to know how much I love you and appreciate you. You are truly a blessing to me.
Hope to see you at PGHS for the Brock Gill event Wednesday night. Don't miss it.
In His service,
Julie

Grace

Last night's service was so worshipful. If you were able to be a part of the service last night you know what I am talking about. Every note played and every word spoken or sung was amazing. "Evidence of Grace" was exactly that; all through the service there was evidence of God's amazing grace! If any of you are ever looking for a really good book to read pick up the Dr. David Jeremiah book Captured by Grace. I read it a couple of years ago and it shed some light on just how far-reaching God's amazing grace really is. Last night when we got to the song "Your Grace Still Amazes Me" with Susan and Jerry singing it, oh man, I barely made it through the song. This was the clincher for me:
(Speaking of God's grace) "It's deeper, it's wider, it's stronger, it's higher, than anything my eyes can see. Your grace still amazes me, Your love is still a mystery. Each day I fall on my knees because Your grace still amazes me." We all have experienced His amazing grace in different ways. Many times we tend to use "grace" and "mercy" interchangeably. But they aren't - MERCY is not getting what you do deserve. GRACE is getting what you do not deserve. I encourage you to think of all the things you do not deserve but received (grace) and all the punishments you do deserved but did not receive (mercy). That makes me fall to my knees because His grace amazes me.
On a different note, I want to say a big "THANK YOU" to all of you who brought school supplies to help Jefferson County Board of Education supply some families that were in need. I have a trunk full of supplies!! This was sent to me by way of Kim Tyra: "Mrs. Linda Hurt, wanted me to make sure I shared with you and the church how much of a blessing the supplies have been. She has had a 'steady stream' of families needing help. She said several times how much of a blessing the supplies are and have been. She showed me the supplies that were left on the shelves…..not too many."
I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed week and I hope to see you at the retreat this weekend. It's not too late to register!!! I cannot wait! Love you all and see you soon.

Comfort

When you hear or read the word "comfort" what comes to mind? Comfort from this heat? Comfort when you are struggling? Comfort when you are hurting? Comfort when all bills are paid and there might be a little left over? Comfort from some high heels that are just too adorable to not wear? Comfort after a long day with all that life has thrown at you? That is one word that God has been echoing back at me for a few weeks now. What is true comfort? I believe it is what God gives us when we release everything we hold in our hands, in our hearts, and in our minds that we want to control. We, as women, love security and too often we think we need to control situations in order to feel secure and feel comfortable. Two weeks ago Bro. Daven preached on the Church at Smyrna and how God knew their struggles; an intimate knowledge of their struggles. They were told there was an expiration date for those struggles and there IS an expiration date for OUR struggles. Then yesterday Russell taught on II Corintians 1 about comfort; how we are comforted and we are to comfort others. THEN Billy preached yesterday about the disciples trying to ride out a storm in the boat. Jesus was there with them through the entire storm; he walked on the water in the midst of the storm. When Peter stepped out to walk on the water (IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM) it wasn't until he took his eyes off Jesus that he began to sink in the storm. The Bible is full of symbolism (my favorite part of English Lit) and these are all wonderful examples of how we need to let go of everything in our hands, our hearts, and in our minds and let God handle it. He knows what He is doing. Let Go and Let God! He will be right there with you and will give you comfort during those trials and storms. I just finished another book by Karen Kingsbury "Take One" and it kept referring to a verse that I have come to hold onto lately. James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Count it all joy, my sisters.
One last reminder - Sweet Life Cafe'...don't forget to sign up. I have got to have a head count prior to the 20th!! Spread the word! I hope you can come.
I won't be at church Sunday; I will be in Minneapolis visiting my sister!!! I am flying up there this Thursday (pray for me, I haven't flown in a long time) and we will drive back to Bham next Monday and Tuesday. My sister has lived there for about 3 years and I've not had a chance to visit. I am looking forward to the time with her and the cooler temps! The highs have been around 80 degrees. :)
Love you all. See you soon!