Can you contain your contentment?

"I'm so excited," she rushed up to her friend and said, "I love my six year-old van with the dirt outside and inside an inch thick! I love my home, with the overflowing laundry room, lack of sprinkler system and messy kitchen. And although my kids are driving me crazy at home this summer, they are just so wonderful and cute when they argue! And did you see my flip flops, they are three years old and I'm still wearing them! I'm overdo to have my hair highlighted, but you know the grey looks kinda blonde! Isn't it all so great, my life is well...perfect!"

The last series in our lessons on character was on contentment.

It makes me think how much I really take every little thing we have for granted. I wonder how things would change if we stopped complaining to one another and internally to ourselves and reversed the thoughts we have when we feel life isn't adding up for us.

Instead of complaining of the lack of something, what if we are grateful for having so much very more than we really need and may even deserve.

So, if it was me as the woman talking to her friend, I can be grateful for our van that has more memories than dust molecolules will ever acumulate. And just today, I got it washed for free because I had the right combination of birthday month and sticker color!

The laundry room is overflowing, because I've been a bit busy with activities with my family which I would never trade and we have more than enough clothes!

No sprinkler system, I need to pray more for rain, or turn on the hose and let the kids have some water fights.

Our kitchen is messy indeed, we feast like kings compared to 99 percent of the world's population. Our kids are unbelievable wonderful and their small tiffs now and then mean they have a normal sibling relationship. I dearly love having them home for the summer!

I have an awesome pair of flip flops! I got them on sale, they were a bit pricey for flip flops, but at the end of the season sale, they were affordable and apparently well worth it! I've worn them and worn them and they still have a long life ahead of them!

I really thought I was dodging a bullet on the hair highlights, I commented to my precious hairdresser that I didn't need to come as often, only to find out the reason is because of greying! I'd call that premature, but you all know how old I am!

No one's life is perfect, but I have an amazing husband and wonderful kids, great extended family and we are so very blessed for everything!

"For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it." 1 Tim 6:7

Where has the time gone?

Good day class,
It has been a quite active few weeks...from the Men's Retreat, Ladies Night, Beast Feast, and many of us in and out of town.  I hope everyone has been doing well.  I don't have many updates for the class, but to just remind you all of the departmental fellowship this week.

If you haven't signed up for anything, please let me know and I'll forward it on.  Looking forward to seeing you Friday!

Dean

Character: do you have it or are you one?

"He is such a character". "She has so much character." Hmmmm. Which one describes you? Actually, saying someone is a character is a form of endearment in our family. It usually means someone has an extra dose of personality. You have heard the term, "character counts", we are studying the endangered parts of character the next five weeks in our Life Group. Today we looked at courage and how that courage fights our fear. Courage in the areas of spiritual, moral and relational. God equips us fully and relays this fact to us in 2 Timothy 1:7 - "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (ESV). Beginning Sunday, May 1st, we will explore the other five areas of endangered character including discipline, confidence, patience, endurance and contentment. Join us at 9:15ish for class, to learn more about character, and possibly meet a few! Allison

Quick Update

Class, I hope everyone is having a great week.  Continue to be in prayer for each other as we all are in a busy time of the year. 

Garrett has concluded our study on Praise and will be leading us into a new study about Character.  Please plan on kicking off this study with us this Sunday, April 18th. 

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday.  Take care and God Bless!

Dean

Praise You In This Storm

In this morning's class, Sarah mentioned one family's cling to the song by Casting Crowns, "I Will Praise You In This Storm."  If you don't know the lyrics or have not heard the song, here are the lyrics:

I was sure by now
God you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as You mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will life my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Wow!

What a great class this week?  We were blessed with a couple of visitors and great attendance. 

I hope everyone is doing well this week.  Continue to pray for your class members from the prayer request list that I'll be forwarding shortly, as well as the updates provided by Sarah the past couple of days.  A big thanks for her contribution in keeping us updated regardless of the situation.

For those not going to Cloudcroft next weekend, you should have received an email from Christy about LIFE fellowship.  Also, for that Sunday, Dan from the GAP class has agreed to fill in and teach our class. 

Thanks for all you do and your committement to the Lord and Southcrest.  See you soon.

Dean

Say Y-E-S to VBS!

Southcrest VBS is coming up June 6 to 10, it is time to save the date! It is a great time for kids to experience God in a way that is tailor made for their age through crafts, games, videos and lessons. The kids always enjoy it immensely and such a large undertaking does not go without a lot of work from the church staff and volunteers. So save the date for your kids and contact Pam with the children's ministry department and see what you can do to help! Danny Henderson has the exact figures, but VBS is still one of the number one ways that children learn about our Savior and make a decision to follow Christ. Now that is a reason to say Y-E-S!

The Real Housewives of Lubbock County

There is no glitz and no glam here, just a group of women seeking God, learning from one another, and praying for their families. A group of women from Southcrest recently finished the book study Feminine Appeal, the seven virtues of a Godly wife and mother.

It was a wonderful time spent each time we gathered together. I think what stands out the most is how much we laughed. There were a number of funny stories, silly issues and comedic relief shared by the group. Not only did we laugh, but we weren't laughing at the expense of anyone. It was truly good clean fun learning about each others lives and trials as wives and mothers.

There was positive contribution, there was mutual support and there was a desire and want for women to come closer to God. And through that love their husbands and children in a Titus 2 way.

It was inspirational and hopeful, it helped us all change little things about how we do things, even for a time. It was a time making new friends and deepening relationships with those we have known. As this study has come to an end, (just in time for baseball season), I know each person and those who could not come are looking forward to the next opportunity to share and be together.

One thing is to be sure as members of this group gather together, if there was to be a photograph, we wouldn't be holding perfect apples, juicy apples or glitzy oranges...we would be holding Bibles. And that my friends is reality!

Allison

It's always for a good cause!

This week our God Money study focused on generosity. It all goes hand in hand, getting out of debt frees you up to give more and to give generously.

It always seems there are worthy causes to give to, whether it is helping during the Holidays, contributing to a building fund or buying a treat from a scout troop, all causes are worthy ones!

Following spiritual disciplines of spending wisely, saving and eliminating debt gives us the freedom to give...and give BIG!

Dr. Rick Garner went over four giving personalities:
The Tipper - I don't have enough, but give what I can
The Tither - I have just enough and give
The Giver - I have more than enough and give freely
The Steward - It is all God's!

Can you imagine hearing a story, a sermon, a mission request, answer the knock of a neighborhood child, and be able to give and give freely. It will greatly benefit our spirit as much as whom we give whom/what we financial bless.

Join us tomorrow at Southcrest at 9:15 as we wrap up the study of God Money. Join us for worship service and the kids can attend "Big Gig"; a fun and interactive church for elementary aged kids.

Allison

Heads or Tails?

Can you make heads or tails of your personal finance? Visit a class at Southcrest as we continue the God Money study on Sunday, February 20, for Biblical answers. "A faithful man will be richly blessed," Proverbs 28:20a.

This past week focused on saving. Rick Garner states in the study, "Savings is the belief that God has a better future planned." That is a new perspective in savings...at least for me.

When we combined finances after we got married, my way of managing money made my husband break out into hives. Well, I should say, my lack of management of my finances physically made him ill. We are now a team and on the same side, I am glad to report, (not nearly, as much antihistamine is needed!) as we make plans for saving and such.

God Money points people to save for emergencies, major purchases and to build wealth. Saving is self-discipline and results add up as the account balance rises.

One popular strategy is to set up an automatic payment to a savings account during each pay period. It is pre-planned, automatic and as easy as flipping a coin!

Are you shackled by shekels?

"...and the borrower is slave of the lender," Proverbs 22:7

The book of Proverbs is full of wonderful biblical advice that expresses truth through illustration.

We know this advice to be true, as debt can be an all-encompassing cloud that makes you lose sleep at night. This week's study of God Money looked at debt, how to manage it, and more importantly keeping it under control.

If you own your home, you have debt. This is not 'bad' debt. A home represents shelter for your family and will become an appreciating asset that will bring return.

'Bad' debt is mindless spending. This could be at the grocery store, a convenience store, the mall or my husband's favorite example...Sonic, (just a mere $2 and change for a route 44).

Dr. Rick Garner also classified uncontrollable debt due to unforeseen circumstances, perhaps like an illness or severe emergency.

Controlling spending via, (let us all say this together with a smile)...a budget will help free up some cash to spend down on debt.

As those debts disappear, imagine how you will feel! The vice grip of tension will subside and you can feel some true joy!

A shekel was the standard of weight and value used by Hebrews. When it became a coined piece of money, a shekel was equal to about 2 pounds of our money. That makes the Sonic run a bit heavier, (I opted for a medium today!).

God Money continues this Sunday (2/13/11) around the principle of saving.

God Money...a study of dollars and sense.

God Money...does that sound like two opposing forces in your life. Many feel the pull of trying to be a good steward of God's time, talent and finances. We also feel the push of the world telling us what to do to achieve happiness with our dollars.



Southcrest Baptist Church has embarked on a church wide study of God Money for the beginning of 2011. In addition to studying a great curriculum from Dr. Rick Garner, Sunday school classes have combined. This allows a more seasoned life group to share experiences with a younger life group.



It is a great pairing in our class. Many of us looking forward to our family's futures have the opportunity to learn from others who have been there. Christian families who have put their children through college or who will embark on retirement.



This week's study focused on setting goals and developing a plan to achieve goals. Otherwise known as a budget. Planning is a tough thing for me personally. My husband comes by it naturally, and he actually enjoys speadsheets! But hey, it is a new year, a new study, a new me! Right?



"If it isn't written down, it isn't a goal, it is a wish," the teacher commented. Very true, (I suspect he likes spreadsheets too!). What do you wish for? Do you wish to spend more time with God? Do you wish for better family dynamics? Do you wish for improved finances? Putting a pencil to paper is a transition from a wish to a goal. In the area of finance, that is a budget.



I cannot help but think there has to be some freedom in the discipline of it all. Planning may help avoid a number of accounting pitfalls and may help us tackle a problem in the eye of a financial storm.



Make PLANS to join us for our next session, (Sunday, Feb. 6, 9:15-ish) about purposeful spending and debt. "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself," Matt 6:34. Dr. Garner reminds us, "Jesus said do not worry...not...do not plan."

Welcome

We just launched our class blog.  While there is currently not much "blogged," we invite you to give the class and Southcrest a try.  We are currently in the middle of stewardship study called God Money, but it's never too late to start getting plugged in. 

More details on the class are forthcoming. 

In Him,
Dean