Britt's Sweet 16 is Today!

Happy birthday to a very special girl - our daughter Brittany turns 16 today! Yes, she was actually born on Halloween at 4:31 a.m.

Brittany has grown into quite the young woman. Not only is she beautiful but her beauty comes from her heart. I admire her sweet, loving spirit, her heartfelt laughs, her generous caring nature, and her positive outlook. I also admire her for her integrity, character, tenacity, and dedication. She's a hard worker, a go getter, and never gives up in the face of a challenge. She's also such a smart young lady. (Scott says she's just like her mamma!)

Brittany is just one of those special people who has an internal 'twinkle in her eye.' A fire within her spirit that never goes out. Something I can't quite describe, but for those who know her, you know what I'm talking about. With Brittany, everything comes from deep within, from her heart. She lives deeply. She's no drama queen. She doesn't complain, she doesn't fuss, she's always thinking of others first. She loves life and she lives it to the fullest. She loves people and enjoys socializing. She's our Social Butterfly! She loves school, her friends, and family. She loves hair, makeup, and fashion. Yes, she is a girly girl! But she also LOVES basketball and is a very aggressive player. A game without her getting hurt or hurting an opponent (accidentally) is highly unusual for Brittany. Her teammates nicknamed her "Beast" a couple of years ago. She found out this week that she made the JV Basketball team. We're so proud of her! Though she is highly competitive and aggressive on the court, she's totally opposite of that off the court. She also really loves her church and youth group! But above all of this, she loves Jesus!

Yes, our baby girl is 16 today! It's been a great 16 years and a joy to be her parents. So, to wrap up our birthday blog to our daughter, I would like to share with the rest of you a song that we sing to her, her royal highness, the Basketball Queen. It's a song that I'm sure will totally embarrass her, so please, feel free to memorize the words and sing it to her anytime:-)

BASKETBALL QUEEN (Sung to the tune of ABBA's "DANCING QUEEN")
She can play, She can drive,
having the time of her life
ooohhh
see that girl, watch that score,
she is the Basketball Queen!

Friday nights at Pace High School
The players are ready the fans are cool
mmm where they play the right game
Getting in the swing
You've come to check out the scene

She's in the back girls locker room
She's focused now, her game face on
She walks out onto the court that night
Hungry for a win
The BEAST is ON!

And when she gets the chance
She is the Basketball Queen
Quick and mean
She's only sweet sixteen!
Basketball Queen
Feel the heat from her team
Oh Yeah
She can shoot
She can drive
She's having the time of her life!
See that girl, watch that score
She is the Basketball Queen!

Fall Family Night - Shout Out of Appreciation

I just want to say a great big THANK YOU to everyone who helped with the Fall Family Fun Night. It was awesome! Everyone, especially the kids, really seemed to have a great time! It was such a neat experience and there were so many new faces! Wow, what an evening! Even though I was running around like a crazy woman, it was a blast!

The Hay Ride and the Costume Contests were a great hit. The kids loved them both! Sadly, we ran out of time and didn't get to do the pumpkin painting contest. But, that's ok. It was still a great night all in all! And how about that bonfire in our new fire pit! Oh, it was soooo waaarm! My only other regret is that I wasn't able to take pictures to post to my blog. If anyone has pictures let me know. I'd love to post some of the costumes! And if you didn't witness the costume contest, you missed out. We had some awesome costumes and even a couple of rappers who entertained us with a couple of songs. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we had super heros (Wonder Woman, SuperGirl), we had fairies, princesses, a Southern Belle, policeman, Hippie, astronaut, Starbucks Girl, Cheerleaders, Punk Rockers, Miss Behaved, Prisoners, Cat Woman, Camo Man, Green Man, and so many others.

The winners of the costume contest won gift cards to Baskin Robbins. Our winners were as follows (no names given for safety of children - just costumes)
0 to 5 years old - Policeman
KG through 5th Grade - Southern Belle & Night Princess (Tie); Rappers Snoop Dog 15 cent were the runners up
6th through 12th Grade - CatWoman

All of the children looked just great! It was tough on the judges to decide!

Fall Family Fun Night wouldn't have been possible without some very special people. I don't even know where to start in thanking everyone. You all did so much to help and it turned out just great! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Leaf & Scott, thanks for taking charge of the Hay Ride. That was a big job. Thanks so much to our costume contest judges - Mary, Sidney, Evelyn, Alex, Jessi! I think your job was tough, too. I know it was hard to judge with so many wonderful costumes. The kids' costumes were all so great and very creative! I think the costume contest was a hit...maybe we have a new PCC tradition?

Thanks also to Mary, Buddy, Mr. Robert, Rick, Crystal, Christy, Calvin, Paul T, Shirley, Connie, & Paul W & everyone else who helped out in all kinds of ways! I don't know who did what behind the scenes so please forgive me if I don't mention you. Just know that your hard work is greatly appreciated! (Plus I'm so tired right now - haven't been home before 8:30 p.m. the last two days so my memory ain't so hot.)

But I would be remiss if I also didn't thank my fellow PCC 'cohorts in crime' Renae, Ronnie, & Gene. You guys are awesome - always so supportive and ready to help. It's a joy and an honor to serve alongside of each of you!

Thank you, friends!

In His Love, Cathy

To Be Hannah

Hannah, a woman of the Old Testament, the mother of Samuel. Hannah was a woman of deep conviction, faith, and spiritual character. She was a prayer warrior and loved God. But she was also human. If you aren't familiar with the story of Hannah and how she became the mother of Samuel, give 1 Samuel Chapters 1 & 2 a good read.

You see, Hannah had no children. Her husband had two wives, and the other wife, Penninah, had many children. Not only did Penninah have children, she mocked Hannah for having none. In her desperation to have a child, Hannah made a costly promise - she asked God to give her a child, and if He did, she'd give her child back to Him.

Have you wanted something so badly, needed something so badly, that you 'cut a deal' with God? Did you promise Him something if He would just bless you with that one thing? God is not in the business of bartering. However, He does allow us to make promises to Him, to require something of us, in order to fulfill our request of Him. Perhaps it is to make us recognize the significance of His answer to our prayers, perhaps it's to grow our character, or maybe it is to grow us spiritually. Maybe He allows this so that we recognize that all we are and all we have are His to begin with. Perhaps the answer to that prayer and results of our keeping our promise is designed to bless others as much as, if not more than us. When God answered Hannah's prayer for a son, God delivered on that promise. Samuel was born. When Samuel was weaned (about 3 years old), Hannah kept her promise and delivered Samuel to Eli the priest - thus giving her son over to God. Samuel grew up to become the last judge of Israel, a prophet of God, and annointed two different men as Kings of Israel (Saul, the people's choice, and then David, God's choice). The answer to Hannah's prayer and her fulfillment of her promise worked out not just for Hannah's benefit, but for the benefit of the Nation of Israel...and, incredibly, for us today.

We must be careful in what we promise to God. He may actually take us up on it! So, when we pray, before we promise God anything, we need to make sure we will follow through on that promise no matter how hard or painful it will be for us to keep. And remember, when promising God anything, whatever you promise is already His to begin with.

In His Love,
Cathy

Fall is My Favorite Time of Year

I love the fall! I don't know what it is about the fall that I love so much. I love the cooler temperatures. I love the fall foilage. I love college football...Auburn football. WAREAGLE!!! Yeah, I know, their record isn't as great as in the past. So what? It's Auburn! That is great in and of itself! WAREAGLE! In fact I'm wearing my AUBURN hoodie as I'm typing this. WAREAGLE! Can't say that enough!

I love the fall! I had to laugh today as I got an email at work warning of the cold temperatures expected to hit tonight. It advised us teachers to turn on our heat in the classrooms and set it to 55 to 60 degrees. It then advised us any burning smell was just the heaters kicking back into action and the smell would be due to dust that settled on the heating coils while they were inactive. Well, duh! I love that burning heater smell...it means fall has arrived. I love the fall!

I also love the fall because of fall holidays...Halloween and Thanksgiving. They hold such special memories of my childhood. Memories of my family as I was growing up. Loving memories of my grandparents. Such warmth in those memories. Such comfort. Such unconditional love. This is the type of love I imagine God has for us, only greater. We have continued these warm family traditions with our children. We want them to have the blessings associated with such endearing traditions. These build a strong bridge from one generation to the next. And though loved ones have been lost along the way, and very much missed, I'm so thankful for the legacy of love they instilled in us. Yes, I love the fall!

Not only do I love the fall because of the holidays, but it is full of family celebrations as well. Two of our three children have fall birthdays. Between our immediate and extended family, we have three Sep Birthdays, 4 Oct birthdays (two on Halloween), three Nov birthdays, and 4 Dec birthdays. Our daughter, Britt, is one of the Halloween birthdays. Yep. She was actually born on Halloween, which makes this date even more special to us. She'll be sweet 16 this Friday. Hard to believe! I just love the fall!

I love the fall festivities, hayrides, pumpkins, and bonfires. Fall camping is so much fun! I love the Seafood Festival in my home town, homecoming, and making hand turkeys! Yes, I love the fall!

"For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I love the fall! Grace and peace!

In His Love, Cathy

Sin is like...

A brick wall between you and God. Each time you sin, another layer of brick is added. The more you sin, the more layers of brick are added. The wall becomes higher and higher, coming between you and God. But for each sin you confess and ask forgiveness for, a layer of the wall is removed. Confessing all of your sins to Him who forgives destroys the wall built by sin.

Pretty insightful, huh? I can't take the credit for this analogy. My young sister in Christ, Amelia, shared this as we were discussing sin during our children's Bible Study group on Wednesday night. Amelia is nine, by the way, and a prayer warrior, I might add.

God is doing some amazing things in the hearts of the children of PCC. WEDNESDAY NIGHT CHILDREN'S BIBLE STUDY is IMPACTING LIVES & HEARTS FOR JESUS CHRIST! Invite others to come join us not just on Sunday mornings, but also on Wednesday nights. Children are hungry and thirsty for the Word of God. They are seeking Him just like adults. If your child isn't joining us on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings on a regular basis, please, by all means, get them to church. God loves them and wants them there!

I look forward to seeing you and your child THIS Sunday!
Grace and Peace!
In His Love, Cathy

PCC NEWS - Fall Family Fun Night & Children's Ministry

FALL FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Wednesday, Oct 29 at 6 p.m.

On the agenda: TRUNK OR TREAT,Hay Ride, Bonfire, Costume Parade/Contest, Pumpkin Painting Contest, FOOD!

What to bring: Candy to share for Trunk or Treat, Pumpkin to Paint, Hot Dogs to Grill, & Marshmellows to roast!

What to Wear: Nonscary Costume or Country Fair Attire

In SEARCH OF...VOLUNTEERS WITH A HEART FOR CHRIST & KIDS
The children's ministry is in search of additional teachers and helpers for our successful Wednesday night Kids Bible Study! WE WANT YOU to PLUG INTO an exciting ministry! Contact me, Cathy Denny, if you are interested at 449-8516 (weekdays only before 5 p.m. please.)

Grace and Peace!

In His Love,
Cathy

Renewal

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

We are sinners from birth. Our natural instinct is to please ourselves rather than God. This past Wednesday night, the children learned how even King David, a man after God's own heart, was sinful (having a man killed and stealing his wife). But like David, we can be cleansed of our sins...no matter how bad. We need only ask God to forgive us, to purify our hearts. When we do, He will forgive us, filling our hearts and spirits with new desires and thoughts. Only God can create in us a pure heart and renew us with a steadfast spirit.

In His Love, Cathy

A Comforting Verse

I would like to share a verse that encouraged me through some tough times. I clung to this verse as I was battling cancer and I still cling to it today. I hope it blesses and encourages you as it does me.

"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart;

he is mine forever."

Psalm 74:26

Grace and Peace,

In His Love, Cathy

Not Down for the Count

Okay, so I guess you've noticed that I've not been blogging quite as much lately. There has been so many things happening in my personal life, our family life, at work, at church, and our children's soccer/cross country. I even had a wonderful visit from my mother and niece Jessica last weekend. We've experienced some wonderful blessings lately, but also gone through some personal struggles as well.

As some of you know I've been fighting extremely intense migraines almost on a daily basis. The good news is that I'll be 'heading' in for a CT scan on my head (get it...heading...ok, I'm goofy) and, if nothing abnormal shows up, Iwill begin preventative meds to help control them. Yippee! I can't wait! Finally, DRUGS! (Just kidding!) Frankly, I've become extremely frustrated and downright depressed at times over these stupid migraines. I'm just not one to slow down and I don't do well when I'm 'disabled.' I'm so accustomed to helping others and ministering to others. I don't like it when I'm not available to do so. It's been so frustrating because it's been a month of enduring these intensely painful migraines.

I don't know why my migraines have been such a problem lately. I don't know why I've not been healed of them. After all, like you, I'm about the Lord's work. So why am I suffering with something that prevents me from doing His work? Why haven't these migraines gone away? There isn't time to deal with these things! But do you know what? Even in my suffering, God has a plan.

My health problems are minimum compared to the trials that others are facing. Sometimes we question why we suffer such hardships and troubles. The Bible tells us that God's ways are higher than ours. He says so in His Word, "For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9) Listen, God loves you and me. HE has a plan for YOU. He has a plan for me. HIS plan is better than any plan that we could ever imagine. Like the loving parent, He wants what is best for us. Our lives are full of many wonderful blessings, surprises, and successes. God does bless us so abundantly and I'm thankful for the blessings He's given. But in our lives we also face struggles, pain, affliction, and hurt. We don't know why these things happen to us. We simply live in a broken world and therefore are subject to suffering. But no matter what, we shouldn't allow the external to affect the internal. We must continue to place our faith and trust in our loving God...in The ONE who knows all about our suffering! He is an ever present help in our times of trouble. He's a wonderful God. We can call out to Him and He will answer.

"The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time." Psalm 34:17-19

In His Love, Cathy

Prayer Requests

Pray for a student in my class whose family is going through a serious medical crisis with a young family member.

Pray for a friend's husband who is battling cancer.

Pray for a friend who has feels hopeless.

Pray for a friend who has a tumor.

Pray for several friends who are fighting serious chronic migraines.

Pray for a member of my family who is bipolar and fighting depression as well as health problems.

Pray for these and others who have health issues, problems, and have recently lost loved ones.

Pray for the lost to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Thank you for your prayers.

Grace and Peace.
In His Love, Cathy

What Love Means

What Love means to a 4-8 year old

Slow down for three minutes to read this. It is so worth it. Touching words from the mouth of babes. A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?'

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined See what you think:

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'
Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You ju st know that your name is safe in their mouth.'
Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'
Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to ea t and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'
Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'
Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'
Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'
Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'
Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'
Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'
Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'
Cindy - age 8 (this one reminds me of my dad only it was a dance recital)

'My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'
Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'
Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'
Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'
Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'
Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)
Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'
Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'
Jessica - age 8

And the final one

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

Is God Your Last Resort?

"Again, the Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight...They abandoned the LORD and no longer served him at all.... The Israelites were in great distress. Finally, they cried out to the LORD for help, saying, 'We have sinned aginst you because we have abandoned you as our God and have served the images of Baal.'
The LORD replied, 'Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistiens, the Sidonians, the Amelekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you. Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you from your distress." Judges 10:6, 9b-14

Does God have limits as to how much He will put up with? Does he ever get tired of us and our human fickleness? The Israelites repeatedly sinned, turning away from God and worshipping worthless idols. But when faced with certain annihilation, they always came running back to God to rescue them. Sadly, God was their last resort here. In this passage we see that God isn't so quick to rescue them. God recounts all that He'd done for the Israelites. He was reminding them of all the times HE had rescued them, not the false gods they had worshipped. Then He, the good parent, tells them "NO!" Israel had gone one step too far. He sent them packing back to their false gods. Why? Because God knew their hearts. He knew them inside out. Maybe they had not truly repented and were just giving God lip service. Perhaps they were not truly seeking to change. Maybe their hearts were not fully committed to the LORD. Perhaps it was their attitude, speaking to Him like their worthless idols who were deaf, dumb, and worthless. Perhaps God wanted to drive home a hard lesson.

Now, before we condemn the Israelites for behaving in such a way, we must examine ourselves. If we are truly honest, we too are guilty at times of worshipping things other than God. When we place a HIGHER or EQUAL importance on earthly persuits over God, we have crossed the line of idolatry. ANYTHING that we value as much as (or more than) God IS our idol. Our idol could be money, power, status, connections, or success. Our idol could be our reputations, our good name, our job, our family, our hobby, or our identity. Our idol could also be trusting in earthly things more than God, such as Presidents, leaders, systems, or governments. What do you trust more than God? When we place our trust in the things of this world instead of the God WHO CREATED THIS WORLD, then we are committing idolatry.

God reminds us of all the GREAT THINGS He has done for us. The Bible is full of these reminders. His Word is our spiritual heritage, recounting His Greatest rescue ever - His Son on the Cross for our sins. Should we continue to ignore Him? Do we continue trusting in these worthless earthly idols? How bad does it have to be before we turn to Him? But then, what if we cry out to Him in our darkest hour and He says "No! I've had enough. Go back to your idols for help." But what if those idols - money, power, systems, etc.. - are gone, useless? What then?

Well, let's check out the rest of this passage in Judges.

"But the Israelites pleaded with the LORD and said, 'We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.' Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the LORD. And he was grieved by their misery." Judges 10:15-16

There is a change in attitude in the Israelites in these verses. No longer were they just giving God lip service. They truly repented and turned to God. God loves us. He promises that if we cry out to Him HE will hear us and HE will respond to our need. But, it requires us to truly repent, to put away all other idols and worship Him alone! The last sentence of this passage just really touches my heart. God was grieved by their misery. Wow! Let's stop and picture this. The God of the Universe grieves for our misery! He loves us - and - He grieves - for us!

No, God should not be our last resort. He should be our first and only resort.

In His Love, Cathy

A Life Well Lived

What is a life well lived?

Is it a life that seeks to succeed in this world?
Is it a life that achieves that ultimate dream? You know dream.
The dream where you have the perfect spouse, the perfect children, living in that house behind the little white picket fence.
Your life is perfect. Your marriage great. Your kids are exceptional.
You are super mom or super dad in this dream.
Your life is perfect.
Is this the life well lived?

What is a life well lived?
Is it a life that has the successful career?
You know, the career where you earn respect and climb the corporate ladder.
The life in which you are one day CEO or chairman of the board.
Is it the life in which you, the entrepenaur, have a successful business.
Or maybe a life well lived involves your politcal success or perhaps your political activism on behalf of some greater cause.
Is this the life well lived?

What is a life well lived?
Is it a life that is filled with fame and riches?
Perhaps a life well lived is lived in front of a camera, audience, or on a big screen.
A life well lived might be played out on TV or in movies. Maybe it requires going gold or platinum. Maybe a life isn't well lived unless it wins the Heissman, the MVP, or Olympic Gold. Perhaps a life well lived includes the constant attention of the paparazzi.
Is this the life well lived?

What is a life well lived?
Is it a life that is dedicated to finding a cure for cancer? What about the life that is dedicated to sending men into space. Does it require a Nobel prize? Certainly these are noteworthy achievements. Perhaps a life well lived is lived in service to one's country or serving others in need. Maybe the life well lived advocates human rights or serves his fellow man in need.
Though all noble causes, are these indicators of a life well lived?

What is a life well lived?
A life well lived isn't any of these things.
These aspirations, achievements, and noble causes, though some good, in and of themselves are not a life well lived.
A life well lived is a life lived for Jesus Christ.
A life well lived recognizes its sin and its total dependence on Christ for salvation.
A life well lived is a life that is completely given over to Jesus Christ.
Utter dependence, utter surrender, utter obedience upon THE ONE who is worthy.
Loving the Lord, loving other, and living for Christ -
this is the life well lived.

In His Love, Cathy

This Week in PCC Children's MInistry

WEDNESDAY OCT 15
6:30-7:30 p.m.
His Kidz Bible Study - Room 1 (Kg - 3rd grade)
CHRIST ROCKS! Bible Study - Room 2 (4th-5th Grades)

7:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Children's Outreach & Service Team (Room 1)
Children's Worship Team (Room 2)

SUNDAY, OCT 19
ROCK SOLID CHILDREN's CHURCH offered both services.
PK Class - Room 1 for children 3 years & potty trained through 5 year olds in PK.
KG-4th Grades - Room 2

UPCOMING CHILDREN'S EVENTS
FALL FAMILY FUN NIGHT is Wednesday, OCT 29! JOIN US for a great night of fellowship, fun, & food! We have a lot of great activities planned for you and your family! We're planning to have a hayride, bonfire, pumpkin face painting contest, plus much, much more. Stay tuned for more info in this week's church bulletin and in future emails!

In His Love,
Cathy

All in a Day

Okay, so today was a very different kind of day.

First, I must report, that I FINALLY experienced relief from my migraine this afternoon - thanks to the prayers of my friends. I had gone almost 10 straight days with this migraine...the longest one I've ever experienced. I had a painkiller shot at the doctor, took painkillers for 4 days, and 2 days of Zomig. None of these relieved it. Now, I've gone into all of this detail in order for you to understand the MIRACLE God performed in this. The migraine was finally relieved today at the exact hour my friend Terri and her girls prayed over me. I want to say thank you to everyone who has been praying for me. I've never had such wonderful friends as you all. I am very humbled by your prayers and concern. Thank you.

We had a good lesson tonight in the children's Bible Study. We learned the Parable of the Seed in the Four Soils (Matthew 13). Miss Evelyn came out and helped us tonight. She was WONDERFUL and such a blessing! I owe you, Miss Evelyn, BIG TIME! Even though, our children's Bible Study was good tonight, I just felt 'off.' Maybe it was just all of that painkiller I was on:-)

When I arrived home tonight after church, I found out one of our neighbors had passed away today. He lived down the street and had been suffering from complications due to diabetes. He was only in his 50's. He has two daughters, one is in high school and another in elementary school. My heart goes out to that family. I don't think they expected this. Please pray for them.

Yep, today was a different kind of day.

In His Love, Cathy

Depressing Economy? Don't Worry, Trust God!

No matter who you are, it's hard to miss hearing about the big economic crisis our country is facing. As we were driving home from school today, we were listening to a local Christian station. When the news came on, our youngest son, Michael, asked me to turn up the volume. Why? He wanted to hear what they were saying about our economy! He's worried, like most Americans, about what our country is facing. He's only in 4th grade and worrying about the economy! In a recent poll, almost 60% of Americans believe that we are heading for a depression. That's a higher percentage, on average, than voter turnout in our elections!

Are you worried about the economy? Your investments? Whether the economic bailout will make matters worse, or not? What about your family's economic future? Your retirement? I would be less than truthful if I said I wasn't worried at all. I am concerned. However, there is hope. We find this hope in the words of Jesus Christ himself,

"“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.""Matthew 6:25-34

In this passage, Jesus tells us that God promises to take care of us and provide for all of our needs. No matter what our economy is doing or what our personal financial situation is, we can trust God to supply our needs. But we also have a part to play. First, we are not to worry. Worry immobilizes us, thus making us useless and ineffective as believers. Not to mention, worry affects our relationships with others. Secondly, we are to seek the Kingdom of God first and live righteously. In other words, we are to put God first in our lives, filling our thoughts with His desires, obeying Him, serving Him, and patterning ourselves after the character of Christ.

God does love you. Trust in Him. Don't allow your worries to overcome your life and thoughts. Give your anxieties over to Christ and let go of them. Don't take them back once you give them to Him. AND...instead of focusing on your problems and worries, focus on Christ and living your life in a way that exalts Him! Through Christ you can know the peace and joy that transcends the troubles of this world!

Grace and Peace!

In His Love, Cathy

PCC Children's News & Prayer Request

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS this FALL are FOR Kids
6:30 -7:30 p.m.
HIS KIDZ Bible Study (Kg-3rd) Room 1
CHRIST ROCKS Bible Study (4-5th) Room 2
7:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Outreach & Service Team (Room 1)
Worship Team (Room 2)

Help spread the GOOD NEWS! INVITE friends, neighbors, & children to church this Sunday! LET'S FILL THIS PLACE FOR THE LORD!

SUNDAYS IN OCT/NOV
Children are learning to be real heros - to be people of INTEGRITY and FAITH.

UPCOMING EVENT - FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Join us Wednesday, Oct 29 at 6 p.m. for our FALL FAMILY NIGHT EVENT. We're planning some AWESOME Fall Fun! STAY TUNED!

PRAYER REQUESTS
PRAY for the children's ministry of PCC.
PRAY for GOD's blessing upon this ministry to reach children of PACE for CHRIST.
PRAY for CHILDREN to be SPIRITUALLY transformed!
PRAY for God to send more TEACHERS, HELPERS, and MENTORS.
PRAY for the children's ministry team - the staff, leadership, and volunteers who SO FAITHFULLY serve.
PRAY for GROWTH of this ministry and for the SPIRITUAL GROWTH of children & families.
PRAY for PCC in reaching the lost and discipling believers.
PRAY!

Grace and Peace!
In His Love, Cathy

Homecoming 2008

I wanted to share Homecoming pictures of Brittany & Zach. Don't they look great? Brings tears to our eyes! Not only are they an adorable couple, both love Jesus and live for Him! I am so thankful for each of them! She's not just our little girl anymore! Play the video below for more pics. Be sure to have your speakers turned on:-)

Saturday Morning Reflection

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God,

for my hope is in him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will not be shaken."

Psalm 62:5-6

What a beautiful morning! I love the fall! What a perfect fall Saturday. A wonderful day to enjoy God's creation. The perfect day to be still and know that He is God. I'm planning to enjoy my family today. I hope your day is full of family, fun, and blessings as well. Enjoy!

Grace & Peace!

In His Love, Cathy

Truth in Love

"Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Ephesians 4:14-15

I came across this passage this week as I was preparing for the children's lesson on Sunday. Ephesians 4 speaks of Christians living in unity and how we are to be children of light. So often, we Christians stray from this ideal. Why? Because, though saved by God's Grace, we aren't always so 'graceful' towards other believers. Despite our differences in doctrine, for the most part, we are in agreement on the Nature and Character of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit - The Holy Trinity. We are in agreement that the Bible is the perfect, infallible, inspired WORD of God! We know that we are all members of the BODY OF CHRIST! So why then, do we Christians go around criticizing and judging one another? Why are we so busy pointing out the splinter in our brother's eye when we have a HUMONGOUS LOG sticking out of our own?

Please, let's be real, here. I struggle myself every single day with loving my brothers and sisters the way I should. I'm not just talking about loving my church family, though I do love them very deeply. I'm speaking of ALL my Christian brothers & sisters in this great big world. I don't always agree with their specific interpretations of Scripture, but I can disagree in love. Isn't that what God wants of us? I mean, if we aren't loving each other, despite our differences, then how will the world truly know that we are Children of Light? However, we need to be sure that we are ingrained in God's Truth, putting on the full armor of God, so that we are not tossed about or easily swayed by false teachings. Yet at the same time, we must not confuse loving our brothers & sisters with tolerating false doctrine.

So, instead of passing judgement or criticizing our brothers & sisters, let us "speak the truth in love, growing in everyway more and more like Christ." Love one another this week!

Grace and peace to you!
In His Love, Cathy