Nice visit with the kids

Hey everybody.......

Well, this weekend is drawing to a close....fast! We had a nice visit with our son, Britt, and his wife, Merrida. They were in West Texas for a quick visit (from Nashville, where they live). They have arrived safely back home. Wish we could have visited with them a little longer, but hopefully that will happen next time.
We had a really fun Praise Team Practice on Friday night, too. It is always fun getting together with "family" and Praising God together!!! Can't wait for services this morning......it's gonna be good! GO GOD!
We had our every 2-3 year, Review from the State at work this past week, and we passed with flying colors (NO DEFICIENCIES noted, and they cleared all the ones from the past survey). YEAH! We have such an incredible team at work. Way to go MAHHC!
Hope you have had a great week and weekend.....and an even better one to come!

Have a super-blessed Sunday...............I'm gonna!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

A Word for Lamesa and Dawson County

Have you ever heard that the glass is either half full......or half empty??? Well, to hear some talk right now in West Texas, you would probably have to say they think the glass is half empty. As my pastor would say, they are thinking, speaking and living within a poverty mindset. And (this part goes back to me again) when we do that, we have just shut off the glory realm of the Lord. We must get out of that trap. We (Lamesa/Dawson County and the area) are an Oasis in the Desert. GO GOD! What looks like it just can't be........is. We must continue to ask the Lord to give us spiritual eyes to see this (and He will).
Read the story about the Transformation in Brazil that I have attached. It has many parallels to what is beginning to take place in our midst. There is a move of God happening in Lamesa and Dawson County right now. I pray that each of us are a part of that move, because otherwise, it WILL happen, and move right by and past you. Get in the flow of the River of God (this is a Word from the Lord to myself as much as to anybody). The flow will not just be a trickle. It will not just be ankle deep, but be a WAY over your head, full stream, MIGHTY FLOWING RIVER OF GOD stuff. Prepare your hearts and those of our household. It will come unexpectedly......SUDDENLY......from outta no where and it will be much more and deeper than anyone could have ever imagined. GO GOD! It will touch not only your life, but will go out into and throughout the world.

What an exciting time in the Lord. Put on your prosperity mindsets........it is here......and what are you gonna do about it.....and with it. Don't try to contain it......just jump in (and yes, it will be "way over your head") and move with the flow of it. You will not be directing it......and it will take you to unexpected places......and in a hurry........how exciting. And we get to do it all together! Join in! You don't want to miss it.

WOO HOO! \o/

God's love & mine,
Lauren

BRAZIL STORY LINK

P.S. ~ Immediately after I initially posted this, I spontaneously started singing an old Gloria Estefan (I think.....) song.....only revised.......the song used to be THE RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU......only I was singing: "THE RIVER IS GONNA GET YOU.....THE RIVER IS GONNA GET YOU......THE RIVER IS GONNA GET YOU!"..... Just wanted to share that with you. Have a super-blessed, SUPERNATURAL......full-flowing in the River of God day........I'm gonna!
~lc

TGIF, Y'all!

Hey everybody........

TGIF!!! It has been a HOT week (and the air conditioner is OUT on my car, and being a Home Health nurse that needs my car for my job daily & hubby, Clay, busy in the fields, I haven't been able to get it into the shop......but THIS AFTERNOON is another story.......GO GOD!!!

And to top it off, we are going to Ruidoso for a long weekend. Tomorrow (Saturday) is Clay's birthday, and we've got concert tickets to see Esteban (a flaminco (sp???) spanish guitar player) on Saturday night, and then Father's Day on Sunday. The kids are all doing great, and next week Britt & Merrida will be here.....YEAH!......we can't wait!!! Pray for traveling mercies.

The four baby elk are doing awesome......no new babies or pictures to report or show you. Sorry!

Not much else to say. Have a super-blessed, SUPERNATURAL weekend.

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Baby Elk

Well, there are now FOUR BABY ELK on the Childress Exotic Farm. Above is a couple of pictures of one of them. Their backs stand about 3 feet tall, and between the four of them they range in age from 1-5 days old.

We had a busy weekend here at home. Hope each of you have a super-blessed and SUPERNATURAL week.

God's love & mine,

Nonnie

aka Lauren

Random Firings of the Synapses

Another AWESOME re-blog from Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church:
~Lauren

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Random Firings of the Synapses

Every once in a while I like to share what I'm reading. I love to cross-pollinate by reading books in a variety of disciplines--everything from physics to philosophy to business. Here are some learnings from It's not about the Coffee. I read this because we're looking to expand Ebenezers into a coffeehouse chain. But I think it has applications or implications for spiritual leadership as well.

"If you grow people, the people grow the business."

I think we focus too much energy on church growth. I think it's all about personal growth. It's not about growing a big church. It's about growing big people--people who serve sacrificially, give generously, dream ridiculously, and love gracefully.

"The fundamental task is to achieve smallness within a large organization."

The way to grow larger is to grow smaller via small groups. I honestly don't think God will grow us beyond our ability to disciple people. And if small groups are our primary context for discipleship, then the number of small groups we have will determine our growth potential as a church.

"Have you ever been to an art museum and stood before a great work of art? It captivates you and transports you to a new place. The mythologist Joseph Campbell used to call this epiphany an aesthetic arrest."

I love that concept. And I've always believed that aesthetics are important. Why else would a dozen chapters in Exodus be devoted to the aesthetics of the Tabernacle including the color of the curtains and the exact recipe for the incense? So we need to pay attention to aesthetics whether it's a coffeehouse or a church. But I couldn't help but think about the aesthetic arrest we'll experience when we cross the space-time threshold; get our first glimpse of heaven; and kneel at the feet of Christ. And by the way, I think a spiritually charged atmosphere that is full of faith and grace is the ultimate aesthetic! Read I Corinthians 14:25: "They will fall down on their knees and worship God, declaring, "God is really here among you." That has always been my goal for church.

"At Starbucks, all employees are called partners."

I think language defines the way we think about things. For example, pro-life and anti-abortion are two very different ways of describing the same thing. Different connotations. Do we need a new vocabulary or a new term for what many of us call volunteers?

"We started opening our stores ten minutes before the posted time as a way to say yes to customers even before they placed their order."

I love this! When I played football it was called Lombardi time. If you weren't five minutes early you were late. I think it's part of creating an extra-mile culture! By the way, imagine everyone who attends your church arriving five minutes early one Sunday. What a thought!

Happy A!

I'd like to send a shout-out to my hubby, Clay. Thanks for 26 great years together!!!! (Yes, today is our anniversary.) I am a very blessed woman---thank You, God!

Hope each one of you has an extra-special, SUPERNATURAL day!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren

Lion Chaser's Manifesto

I know this is a repeat, but I just feel that at this point and time in history, we can't read this enough (and do it). Read it.......Know it........Live it! EVERYDAY!

God's love & mine,

Nonnie

aka Lauren

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Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Grab life by the mane. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

Busy Weekend

Hey everybody!!!
Hope you have had a great weekend. It is has been BUSY here.......two graduations (with parties) and an AWESOME Church Service today that lasted until like 1 or 1:15. GO GOD! My niece, Jessica Eaker, in Farmington, NM, left today for Albuquerque, NM today, to start a six-week job there (she graduated from HS last week). GO JESSIE!!! So, tonight is the first "empty-nest" experience for my sis and her hubby, Allen. Pray for them, but I know that they will do fine!
Tomorrow starts a new work-week. Hope you have a great one.....draw outside the lines......don't just "play-it-safe".....but GO FOR IT! Reach for the stars!

I'm gonna!!!

God's love & mine,
Nonnie
aka Lauren