I Will Exalt You, My God the King

"I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness."

Psalm 145:1-7

I am so excited about all that God is doing in my heart right now that I just had to take a minute or two and share it with you. I was spending time this morning doing my Bible Study and after a while, realized how I had become so engrossed in it. For the first time in quite a while, I am truly excited about my relationship with the Lord. When I asked myself what was different, I realized that it was me. I realized that the Lord had been gracious in answering my prayers to align my heart, my desires, my will, with His. Because for a long time now, I have been fighting Him.

I've known for a while that I have been off. I have been so self focused lately. If you read my past posts about Orlando and such, you will remember how I struggled through those times. Again - reminding myself that "struggling" is nothing less than being disobedient to what God has called you to do. I have pouted about a possible move, having to give up my house, my schedule, my life. What selfishness! What complacency! All that I have is temporary anyway - why hold so tight to it?

As Russell felt the call on his heart to preach the Word of God, all I could think of was how getting back into full time church work was going to totally change everything about our lives! I'm ashamed to even write that. But, I have been asking the Lord to show me His will and to align mine with His. To give me a passion for other people again - for their relationship with our Lord. I have asked Him to use me in spite of me! I'm so thankful that He is not finished with me. That He still desires to use me - to use my life.

What an awesome God we have! I realized today that He has answered this prayer. Try as I might, I cannot make those kind of heart changes. Only God can. Deep down we are all self focused and if it were not for Christ and His love for us, we would all stay there.

I cannot even begin to tell you how thrilled I am about Ocean Park. I have watched my kids become excited about the change. I have felt the change deep within my heart. I can only explain it as a "God thing." God is confirming His call in my life as a Pastor's wife and I am so ready to serve Him - wholeheartedly! God has changed my heart! He has already begun to give me a love for the people at Ocean Park. I am ready to pack up and move across town! I'm not even concerned about my house, the kids, school, etc. as I know that God already has a plan and has it all under control.

The current Pastor's wife at Ocean Park has been the church secretary for the last 31 years and she wants to step down when her husband retires. They have offered the position to me. Russ and I talked and prayed about it. I was concerned at first because I have always been very thankful to be at home with my kids. After some research, we found out that it only requires about 15 hours a week at the church and I can take the kids with me easily. I can set my own schedule each day. Russ looked at me and said, "I think I would really like for you to do this. I'd rather work with you than anyone else - we make a great team." What a neat opportunity for me to not only serve the people at Ocean Park - but to serve my husband.

For the first time in a long time, I can look to our future and say, "I'm ready, Lord - bring on the change. Do whatever you need to do to glorify yourself and use me to enhance your reputation!" And you know, God always "Provides, exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or imagine." (Ephesians 3:20) I get to serve Him at the beach!!!! It doesn't get any better than that! It feels so good to be here again! Our God is truly a patient and awesome God!

New Link

We've had a few people say that the link we gave you for Russell's sermon wasn't working. So, Let's try this. Let me know if this works or not. Sorry - this is trial and error until we get it figured out.

Russell's Sermon

Okay - I think we have something figured out so you can hear Russell's sermon from this past Sunday. Entitled, "New Life in Christ" from Ephesians 2:1-10 and John 11:38-44. The sermon is separated in 2 parts. Part 2 is first and Part 1 is second so be careful which one you click on first.

If you are interested, click here. Enjoy!

Ocean Park Update

Sunday went real well - thanks for praying! Everyone seems very excited about us possibly coming there. One of those God only things happened - every song that was sung went right along with what I was preaching on! The music pastor new the title of the message, but he did not have the text. Very cool. The congregation votes on May 10 to call me as pastor or not. We shall keep you up to date.
Russell


This is Cami - We've been trying all night to upload Russ' sermon so you could hear it - but this blog doesn't support that feature (at least not that I can figure out). Hopefully, we will have it figured out soon and can keep those posted for you. Anyway - Russ did an awesome job! I was very proud. We are very excited about this opportunity and God has done great things in my heart to prepare me for this transition. We can't wait to see what He's going to do next! Thanks again for your prayers......

Made Alive in Christ

This Sunday I will be preaching in view of a call to be pastor of Ocean Park Baptist Church in Jacksonville Beach. Cami has already written about the process that has brought me to this point. I am still amazed that this is happening and I praise God for this opportunity. I will be preaching from Ephesians 2:1-10.

This text pretty much jumped out at me as I began praying for what to preach. Many of you know that Ephesians is my favorite letter of Paul. This particular text is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Here Paul reminds us that we were dead in our sins and totally unable to do anything about it - we were depraved, disobedient, and doomed to face the wrath of a holy God. Then verse four begins with the most beautiful two words ever, "But God!" Those two words changed everything. It was His great love, mercy, and grace that poured on me even when I was dead and raised me up to new life in Christ! I did nothing to earn or bring about my salvation - It was all the work of my loving God through the blood of His dear Son, Jesus Christ.

Many may wonder, "Why not keep teaching school?" After all I do make a difference. The reason is simple - God has called me to preach the message of His grace. This is my passion.

I ask you to pray as I preach on Sunday. I don't want to preach in order to impress or secure a job. I desire to preach in order to give God honor and glory through the sharing of His Word. The church will vote on May 10 - Please pray for clarity and peace as we and the church make this important decision.

On the Path,
Russell

Our Cinderella

Yesterday, I had to stay late at Bible Study and Anne got to go to her "boyfriend's" house. Leif and she met when they were both barely 2 and became instant friends. For Valentine's Day one year, they exchanged photos of each other and they each keep the photos next to their beds. They both talk about how they will marry each other when they grow up. It's all quite innocent and absolutely adorable.

Well, yesterday they played together and they were both sad when I came to pick Anne up. We said our goodbyes and Anne and I got into the van. We were heading to Nana & Papa's house to pick up Jarod. When we arrived, Anne went to get out of the van and we could not find her shoe. I know she had them on when we got in the van - but we searched everywhere for it. No luck. I finally thought I would call Lief's mom to see if it had fallen on the driveway when we got in the car - there was no other explanation! How can you lose a shoe?

Anyway, Sarah said that Lief came running back to the house and said, "Mommy! Annie left her shoe on the driveway!" To which Sarah replied, "Lief, you truly are her Prince Charming as your Princess has left behind her slipper! We will search all the land until we find the fair maiden!"

"But, perhaps this will help?"

God is moving!

I wanted to take a minute and fill you in on all that God is doing. Seems the "current" of God's will is moving us closer and closer to Ocean Park and back into full-time ministry. After almost 12 years of marriage, Russ and I know that when we start thinking alike, when we both have an unexplainable peace and are on the same page, God is working and moving us in a new direction. It almost gets kind of freaky! It's so exciting though! This never happened with the church in Orlando - but it is definitely happening now.

First of all, some of you have expressed concern about Russ leaving the school system. I had those same questions because God is using Him tremendously there. He was sort of excited about all that was happening at the school, but still down because he did not see an opportunity opening to go back into full time ministry. He was very frustrated because he has honestly felt this call in his heart for a few years and yet God closed every door and kept him at the school. One day, I got aggravated with his "attitude" and told him that "he just needed to accept where God had him, look at it as a ministry and get over it." Then, he told me a story - as only Russ can. Straight to the point with applicable word pictures.

He said - "Let's say we have passes to Disney - (okay - so he knows exactly how to get my attention!) We go to Disney all the time and it is our favorite place to go. Nothing else compares. The next year - we cannot renew our passes so we go to a different amusement park. We have a great time while we are there - but it is NOT Disney!" For the first time - I got it. Working at the school for him is great - and he's had fun - and he's had several neat opportunities, but it's not his passion - not his heart. He did a really great job with the Assembly a few weeks ago - but he was SOOOOO frustrated because he couldn't mention God! He couldn't pray! He couldn't quote scripture! He couldn't give those students the REAL Truth! He can give them positive tools all day long, but until their lives are changed by a relationship with Jesus Christ - all he's saying is falling on deaf ears. Yes - God put him there for a purpose. He has touched lives and provided for our family for the last 4 years. But God put a passion in my husband to preach and it will not be stiffled! This is the same Russell that would stand by the side of the road at the age of 9, with his Bible in his hand, and preach to the cars going by his house! Thanks to his latest Disney analogy - I get it!!!!!

So, God has been putting puzzle pieces together all week. I was kind of grumpy about this thing at first, I will have to admit. I guess it's because we will eventually have to move closer to the beach. Now, explain to me exactly what is wrong with that? I LOVE the beach! I grew up close to a beach my whole life. California, Hawaii and Florida. When we lived in Alabama it was the one thing I missed most! My logic often gets in the way of my faith. I just didn't see how we could afford to move to that side of town. If I could afford to live there - I would already be there!

God got a hold of my thinking, of course, and reminded me of my favorite verse. "He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or imagine." Ephesians 3:20 - It's carved in Russell's wedding band for goodness sakes! It's our life verse! I then began to look at this as a huge opportunity for God (who owns everything anyway) to once again go above and beyond my logical thinking. We are excited to see how God will provide for us over and above our expectations concerning our needs.

Let me give you a little history about us and Ocean Park. Russ grew up going to Youth Camp with the youth from this church. Every year, a hand full of churches would get together and all go to Lake Yale together. Even after Russ and I were married, they were still doing this each year and Russ and I would go as Camp Counselors and one year Russ was the Camp Pastor for the week. So, there are a few people from Ocean Park (not on the search committee) that have literally watched Russ grow up. We found out this past week that two of those people have been praying very specifically, for more than 10 years - for Russ to become the Pastor of this church! Now that gives me chill bumps!

We still have not made our final decision. God could still slam this door shut. Please pray with us for wisdom, clarity and that if this is NOT where God wants us - that He will make it obvious. Russell will be preaching there on April 26 and the church will vote May 17. We still have some questions to be answered, but have an exciting peace. We will continue to move forward until God show us differently. We will keep you informed....

On a much lighter note....While working on my blog, Anne walked in looking like this! What a nut!!! I couldn't resist a quick photo!

Ocean Park Update

We again want to thank everyone for your prayers. Keep them up as we are once again facing a major decision.

Russ and I met on Thursday night with the search committee. Basically they were just clarifying some things that they talked with Russ about in the previous meeting. It went well and we left there with them telling us we would hear something, either way, soon. We had no idea how soon.

They called Russell last night around 6:30 and offered him the job as Pastor! Our heads are spinning. We still have many unanswered questions. They want him in place by June 1st. We have not made a decision yet and are fervently praying about it.

Ocean Park is literally on Jacksonville Beach (You can see the ocean from their parking lot!) And it is a good 40 minute drive so it will mean a commute for a while, but they eventually want us to move closer. As you know from when we were being looked at by the church in Orlando, that is a big deal for us with this economy and housing market the way that it is. Fortunately though, we don't have to be in a hurry about it.

We know that God has a plan and we are seeking Him on this. Please pray for clarity, wisdom and discernment. Russ still has a lot of questions. We will, as always, keep you informed......

U.S.S. Yorktown

Jarod and Russell went with the Scout Pack to Charleston, SC. on Sunday. They spent two nights on the U.S.S. Yorktown. I sent the camera with Russ and he came home with over 100 photos! So here are a few of Jarod's favorites that he picked out for you to enjoy......
Getting on the boat......
This was an airplane that they could sit in. Do we have a future pilot in the family?
This is an original Black Sheep Squadron plane from WWII
The Yorktown was responsible for recovering Apollo 8
The U.S.S. Franklin - How fun is that?
Sitting in the Captain's chair on the Yorktown
They also got to go on the USS Clamagore submarine- commissioned in June of 1945
Going up the hatch!
Some of the Pack sitting on the big guns. They got to spin the wheels and make it turn around.
This is a rare River Patrol boat used during the Vietnam War.
Guard station bunker
While touring the Charleston harbor on boat, these dolphins came and played right in front of them. How fun!
Sleeping quarters. Russ slept on the top. During the last night, about 2 am, Russ lost his pillow. Bummer!
Jarod is sad because it's time to come home. What memories!!!
On a different note, Ocean Park Baptist called us on Sunday and wants to meet with both Russ and me on Thursday night at 7. Please continue to pray for God's direction as we once again begin to make decisions about our ministry future. As always - we will keep you informed......

Update

Thanks for all your prayers and words of encouragement for Russell's Assembly this past Friday. It went extremely well! As a matter a fact, it was AWESOME! He did such a great job! I was able to go and watch and as always, he did great! He is always right out there, telling it like it is and the room was quiet! Everyone was really paying attention. His principal and other faculty were highly impressed and even mentioned him "taking it on the road." Again - thanks for your prayers. The notes of encouragement were a big help to Russ as well. We appreciate each of you who took the time to write.

On another note, Jarod and Russ took off today for Patriot's Point in Charleston, SC. They will be staying, with their Scout Pack, on an aircraft carrier for two nights and touring the Fort Sumter area. I don't know who was more excited, Russ or Jarod! Please pray for their travel safety. 6 cars left a little while ago in a caravan up there. Anne and I are having a "girl time" until they return home late Tuesday afternoon. I sent Russ with the camera so we should have fun pictures next time I post.

Thanks!!!!!