The Girl is C-R-A-Z-Y

When you have a night of tornado watches, and flash flood warnings most people cuddle up in bed with a good book and the flashlight. Not my child! She decided to make up her face and scare the mess out of me! We are all fine, only a few limbs down here and there, but I'm ready for the rain to end and for the sun to shine! Granted I won't be bored with Nicki around to entertain me!

A Few Good Men and Women!

I am soo excited about our upcoming SlimeTime event, especially the opportunity to connect with our community. But I'm even more excited about seeing my girls in their costumes! I can always count on them for a good laugh and for pitching in when needed. The last time they were in a costume was this summer for VBS. They were my hero's! Quisha (who does not know yet that she will be the yellow light bulb) will be doing crafts with the kids. And Nicki (who has already started looking for a purple wig and "diva" catsuit) will be doing the face painting. Which is right up her alley since she loves playing with make-up! But having said all of that I am still in need of a few good men to step up to the plate and be the Dewd Drop, Fizz The Beaker and Max the Battery! Any takers? LOL

Dare To Dream, But Don't Forget God In The Process!

So many of you prayed for our ministry last week and for our "Dare To Dream" Event. I thought I would share a few pictures and also say thank you. At one point it did not seem like we would be able to pull it off (we had people backing out left and right). In the end I think I (along with our speaker) learned a valuable lesson. Anything worth having takes some time. Not everyone will see the vision until they "see" the vision. But even if that does not happen you still have to move forward. The last night of the event I got to catch the end of Pastor Steven Furtick's 24 hour message based on his new book  "Sun Stand Still". It was a "AHA" moment for me. Sometimes you have to go out on a limb to fufill your dreams. Having that kind of faith starts with believing that God can and will fufill your impossible dreams. Basically you need to have faith tell the sun stands still! I wrote down some notes from his sermon and shared them at church. I thought I would share them here also in the hope that it would bless someone in the same way that it blessed me.

1) When you’re down to nothing, God is up to something. 2) If you keep your hands open to God, you will always have everything you need to fulfill what God has put you in the position to do. 3) Don't put your faith in the strategy; put your faith in the Savior! 4) Until God is all that we have, we don't realize that He's all that we need! 5) Hearing the word initiates faith. Speaking the word activates faith. Doing the word demonstrates your faith 6) God can take the worst news of your life and convert it into the greatest opportunity for Him to shine through you."

Last week I was so focused on the process, that I almost missed the blessings. Daring to Dream is always a good thing, but when you dream don't forget to include God!

Sunday Mind Dump (photo style)!

1)Been feeling under the weather all week, but when your a mom and a pastors wife well.....there is no time for that!

2) Especially when your daughter is celebrating her 26th birthday. Happy Birthday Quisha!

3) Nothing makes a girl feel better then a little TLC from her mom, only problem is my mom was being a clown and didn't want me to lean on her. In the words of my daughter Nicki..how rude (in the end she relented)! LOL

4) I think Quisha enjoyed most of her birthday. She especially enjoyed hanging out with her sister and cousin after the party was over. I love the bond these girls have. They have learned to be there for each other through thick and thin (just like the relationship I have with their mom's)!

5) We are gearing up for our two day "Dare To Dream" event for the youth at WABC. I had this bright idea to film the kids talking about their dreams for the future. Oh my goodness it has been fun listening to them. No need to worry that they are not dreaming big! These kids have some major dreams! And I'm loving every moment of it! Hoping they will be a example for other youth their age to follow!

6) The kids were learning about Hero's today in children's church. God, Jesus,their Mom or Dad were at the top of the list!

7) Its no secret I'm not a big fan of summer, so the change in weather has been like Christmas for me. So what do you do when Christmas comes around? Why you decorate of course!

8) I started last year decorating for the fall inside the house so this year I thought I would expand to the front porch.

9) Speaking of porches have you been following the JustOne Conference over at Leading and Loving It? If so have you found your porch? If not you have to check out the conference this week. Lori will be hosting, and has some great ladies lined up to speak.

10) We also started registrations for the Leading and Loving It Pastor's Wives Retreat that will be held in Nashville in May. I'm telling you this is one retreat you will not want to miss. I can't wait to meet you all!

Monumental Moments

There are moments in your life when you hit a brick wall. When you realize that the path you are taking is not working for you. I hit that wall a few weeks ago. To read more about my journey visit me as I guest blog here. Thank you Shelley for the opportunity!

Just Being Me!

I feel like I need to make a disclaimer. This is my blog, and I have the right to post and share whatever I feel comfortable posting here. I have had a blog so long that I sometime forget that not everyone gets it. Let alone me, my random tweets, or even my facebook status. And you know what...I'm ok with that. Each of us have the choice to choose what we will and will not share with the "outside" world. When my children were younger I was very careful who I shared my blog with. I didn't use their "government" name, and for many years I refused to post our last name anywhere on line (hence how the name DisneyCyndi first started). Years later my children are grown and are as visible on-line if not more then their old mom is. My husband is now a pastor of a church and its a given that someone will run across my blogs (yes I have more then one), facebook page, or twitter account. Nothing I say here (or there) is the opinion of anyone except myself.

I do think before speaking (sometime) and I am not one to put down other people so you will not see any name bashing from me. But I'm a pretty transparent person and just like my blog says....I'm just Cyndi....Mother, wife, women's leader, youth advisor, friend, sister...who is just trying to be the me that God created me to be! I'm a daughter of the king, and the only person I am interested in pleasing is my father God! So if you love me, I love and thank you. If you don't, well I still love and thank you because that is what Jesus has called me to do.

Praying for L-O-V-E

I can still remember the day the towers came down in New York, still recall watching the tv as the first and then the second tower fell. I still recall when the report came in about the pentagon, and then about the plane in PA. I find it hard to watch the replays or even look at the pictures. But still I remember. I also remember what this country was like in the days, weeks and months following this event. And that is what I wish we all remembered today. It seems that our country has gone backwards rather then forward. Hate seems to be rampid everywhere. That love and concern we once had for each other seems to have disappeared and in its place is anger, intolerance, hatred, an increase in racism, and even those of us who call ourselves "Christians" seem to have forget the one commandment Jesus said we must all possess. And that is love for one another. Corinthians 13:2 says If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

So today as we mark the 9th anniversary of 9:11 I am praying that we as a people learn to show love towards each other. Love our families, our friends, our church, our community and yes even those who seem different from us. Pastor Rick Warren tweeted a few days ago - "If u see anyone bleeding, u don't ask "Are u a Believer? Muslim? Atheist? Gay? Illegal? U just HELP them, like Jesus did!" I think its easier to hate then it is to love. But that is exactly what God has called us to do. Love wins over hate any day of the week. I choose to love! What about you?

Sunday Mind Dump (through the eyes of the pastor's wife)!

Wow, its been so long since I did a post like this not even sure where to begin!

1)There has been a lot going on over my summer. Did way to much traveling, and loved every minute of it. Only problem was my body didn't care much for it! And the most surprising part of all was how much I missed Marc (despite the fact that he messed up my picture).

2) Was away from WABC quite a bit, but with the fall coming, comes more events to keep me busy (not that I wasn't busy over the summer, most of that just happened to be personal). We have a youth/church revival coming up, and in October I will once again walk to raise money for cancer research.

3) This week Marc performed a wedding ceremony for a very special couple. Weddings and Baby dedications are his favorite part of being a pastor!

4) My youngest daughter Nicki got to see herself on the big screen today. Its serial seeing your child in a movie theatre and seeing her name run with the credits at the end. So proud of her. This is officially her last year of college. In May we will have the second person in our family receive a college degree. I could just bust!

5) After being out of work for almost a year my oldest daughter Quisha will be returning to the classroom in the fall to teach! She has taken a position at her old school. We are giving thanks to God for his many blessings.

6)In November Marc will have been at WABC for two years (almost three if you count his year as interim). The road has not been easy, but we are committed to seeing lives changed and souls saved in the community God has placed us at.

7) This week we gave away backpacks to those in our community. I was so proud of the young lady who is heading this up. Nicole has such a sweet spirit, and I know God will bless her efforts.

8) For the first time (since we have been at WABC) we will host a Fall Harvest at WABC for the families in our church and those in our community. I ran events like this for years while Marc and I were Youth Directors. Kind of took a back seat to Youth Ministry this year, but I am picking it back up this fall as an advisor until at which time God sends us a youth pastor (something I am praying fervently for).

9) I had a great time at the Women of Faith Conference in DC. Still amazed at how God met me right where I was and whispered a few things in my heart.

10) You will get to hear more about that soon. My friend Shelley Hendricks asked me to be a part of a group of great ladies who will guest blog over this month on her website (still in shock that she asked me, but very honored). I think my post is set to go up on the 15th!

11) Speaking of Conferences...have you marked your datebook for the JustOne Conference? If not get cracking. And while you are at it....mark these dates down and get ready to join Lori and the other Leading and Loving It Ladies in Nashville next May. I will be there with bells on!

The Act of Giving!

Today I watched as a young lady in our church gave her all to ministry. I can tell from talking to her that God has placed in her heart a special love for serving those in need. To often we see "ministry" as something confined within the walls of the church. God clearly states in his word that we are called to take care of those in need. And by Jesus own actions we know that he placed a high value in reaching out to hurting, loss souls. Many of which were far from God, and disconnected from what we would call organised religion. Romans 12:13 states "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality". "God's people does not just pertain to those who know him. We are all God's people. And those of us who do know him must learn to reach beyond our own needs, our own comfort zone, and reach out with grace and love towards others.

Today we opened up the doors of our church to families who may never step through our door again, but that does not matter as much as the commandments given by God. First in foremost we are here to please him, to do his bidding, to fulfill his purpose for our life. Nothing else matters! Thank you Nicole for showing the love of God to those in need. And for practicing hospitality!

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Live, Laugh, Love......I Dare You!

Last month my life seemed to be filled with lots of ups and downs. Obstacles seemed to cross my path everywhere I turned. Then last week after attending the WOF Conference I started seeing some things in a new light. Decided to open my eyes and see the blessings, not the things I considered a curse. Boy, does having a different attitude make a difference in your life.

I recently ran across a quote book that someone had given me as a gift a few years back. It was filled with quotes that had so touched me that I spent a few weeks posting some on my scrapblog. If you have noticed my facebook status lately you will have seen a few of them. My favorite one was too long to share there (and way to long for twitter) so I thought I would share it here. Hopefully it will bring someone as much encouragement as it has bought me.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light,not our darkness that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and famous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest in the glory of God that is within us. Its not just in some of us; its in everyone. And when we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others". Marianne Williamson

I find it funny that I encourage my girls each day to live out their dreams, explore life to the fullest. Live, Laugh and Love...Yet I refuse to follow that same advice for my life! My daughter Nicki recently took her first ride on a motorcycle. She did it without fear, with a free and open spirit. How had I developed that gift in my child, but not in myself? Are you living life to the fullest? What's holding you back? The life you live just might change the life of someone else. So what are you waiting for...soar high, live life, dream big. I Dare you! Heck I double dog dare you!