Who Wants to Come????

IWI Worship Conference
In 2004, I had the privilege of attending a phenomenal worship conference in Dallas Texas.

I was living in Nebraska at the time and a close friend and I drove down for a week of worship and training!  It changed my life FOREVER!!!!!

Since then, the conference has down-sized a bit, but is still a powerful experience!

So who wants to meet me in Dallas in July????

If we split a room 2, 3 or 4 ways it won't be too $$$!

I WANT TO GO!!!!! But not alone!!!!

So...

who's in????  =)

go here for more details!

Soup Suppers at the Stephens'

Quite a while ago I started somethin' at our house.

Soup Supper at the Stephens'. 

We used to meet the 1st Saturday night of the month, right after church.

But the we switched to the 1st Friday night of the month.

It began with a few 5-8 college aged girls and some of Dakota's friends.

It then expanded to Kathryn and her boys...

then the Freemans started coming....

And then Jordan braved the highly female populated supper.

Over the past months, I have attempted to invite more boys and a few 

more families.

Last night, we had to switch to the last Friday night of the month 

AND...

IT WAS SO GREAT!!!!!!!

We had a TON of people here!  I mean a ton!!!

We haven't ever had that many people over in our little house before!

Here are a couple of shots that Darrin took with his iphone.

The living room was packed!

Yea, that's the kitchen, packed full!

And so was the table!!! You just can't see it all!

I love these people!

They make me smile!

Make me happy!

My life would be empty without them!

I LOVE SOUP SUPPER NIGHT!!!!

My boys look forward to it, 

I look forward to it!

And there were so many new faces last night!!!

Thank you all for coming and eating with us!

I can't wait to see you next month!!!!

Mid-March Scripture Memory Verse

"Do not repay evil for evil

or insult with insult, but

with blessing,

because

to this

YOU 

were called

so that

You

may inherit

a blessing."

1 Peter 3:9

Swagbucks, what!?!

Ok, here's the thing.

I really don't understand this, but

you should do it! 

Apparently, if you go here and begin

using this browser for your searches, 

you earn real $$$ that can be used at

the GAP, or Macys or airlines.

These friends of mine, really know more

about it!  Go here and here to read more.

So just do it! 

(for the entire 3 of you who read this blog) =)

I already have 5 swagbucks!  Don't know

what I'll do with them, but whatever!

Sign up!  and search the web!! Earn swagbucks!

March 1 Memory Verse

"So do not throw away your confidence; 

it will be richly rewarded, 

you need to persevere

 so that when you have done the will of God, 

you will receive what He has promised."

Hebrews 10:35-36

Easter Idea

This is a great idea for Easter and I wanted to post it early so that anyone who wants it could use it!

RESURRECTION COOKIES!

Read the whole recipe before beginning...try to do together Saturday night before Easter Sunday.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Ingredients:

1 cup whole pecans

3 egg whites

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. vinegar

1 pinch of salt

You need:

Mixing bowl

Wooden spoon

Bible

Zipper baggie

Waxed paper

Cookie Sheet

Tape

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3

Let children smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp into mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.  Read John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to the vinegar.  Eggs represent life.  Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.  Read Luke 23:27

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know and belong to Him.  Read Psalm 34:8 & John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 11-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.  Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by tsp onto waxed paper-covered cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.  Read Matt. 27:65-66

Put cookie sheet in the oven.  Close the door and turn the oven OFF.  Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.  Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.  Read Matt. 27:65-66

Go to bed!  Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.  Read John 16:20 and 22

On Resurrection Morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie!  Notice the cracked surface and take a bit.  The cookies are hollow!  On the first Resurrection Day, Jesus; followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.  Read Matt. 28:1-9

HE HAS RISEN!  HALLELUJAH!!!!