Alayna Turns Five

Alayna celebrated her 5th Birthday with a Garden Party.  We enjoyed sharing brunch with our family and relaxed until it was time to take a dip in the pool and ended the day with a family Cookout.  It was both a relaxing and busy day and unfortunately we didn't take any pictures.  So on her actual

 birthday (4/20) we had a photo shoot outside on our front porch while the kids were playing.

Come and have dinner...

Everyday they continued to meet  together in the temple courts.  They broke bread and ate together in their homes with glad and sincere hearts.  Acts 2:42


It just so happened that I read this verse during my devotional time today.  And it just so happened that it's the verse I chose to write on top of the sign up sheet that I made at church.  The sign up sheet is meant for those that would like to get together for dinner on Tuesday nights at our house.  Not too long ago, the Lord laid on my heart that we should be meeting together more often to fellowship with one another and that the bonds of friendship should be tight among His Body.  


Since then, I have contacted friends I don't speak with often.  It's not that I don't want to.  And it's not that I don't have time to.  I'm just terrible about picking up the phone.  I get nervous.  I don't know what to say.  I wondering if they'll think, why is she calling me.  But I dialed several numbers, and I survived each conversation. Some were short and some were long.  After each conversation, I thought about how God might use it in their lives.  I have also made a point to let people know how thankful I am for their ministry at church.  Without all of us, using what the Lord has blessed us with...His Body would cease to exist.  Talking on the phone and emailing some thank yous is only a small part of doing what the Lord wants us to do.


We read so many times in God's Word that they are getting together and sharing a meal.  So the invitation is out their to join us on Tuesday nights.  Our congregation should have more in common then our Sunday schedule.  We should share more then just a Hello before we worship.  God has selected each of us to be apart of His Body at my church for so many reasons.  We are designed to enjoy each others company.  We are meant to know each other and the work that God wants us to carry out both as individuals and as team.  But if we don't even know each other as a family then how can we effectively pray for one another?  


Families know each other well enough to joke and laugh,  and they know when they need to be on their knees for one another.  My sister and I had fights over clothes and TV.  We talked about boys and kept secrets.  We shared lots of time together playing and growing up.  We saw each other read God's Word.  We knew that we both had a  desire to share God's Word.  We encouraged each other to make the right decisions.  Because we spent time with each other, we knew how to rightly pray for the other.  Since she died I feel like it's my duty to carry out what she and I both know to be true.  God wants his Word spread.  His Family should be growing because they should be spending time together and praying for each other.  


After reading in John this past week, I asked Billy if he knew what Jesus told the disciples when he appeared to them after the resurrection.  After telling them to switch sides of the boat and cast their net in the right direction...he said, "Come and have breakfast."  He wanted to spend time in fellowship.  So "Come and have dinner."  (Just a warning...four kids are very messy...)