MMerge

Mom's Moment #3- Natural Consequences

2011-07-06T14:35:00.004-05:00

It's always been said that "One of the greatest teachers in life is LIFE ITSELF." In life and in parenting i have found this to be true. Life experience and experiencing life is such a wonderful teaching tool for us as parents and for children.
I have always wanted my kids to stay little as long as possible. We have really tried to maximize the time we have together with the kids and as a family unit. We have seen and experienced that natural consequences are one of the best teachers, whether they are experiencing consequences that are pleasant or one's that are not so pleasant, none-the-less they are better remembered. When teaching about hot water or the hot stove we actually let our children experiment with 'hot'. We did not burn them or just watch them burn themselves. We would say this or that was hot and allow them to get close enough to feel the warmth until they realized it was something that could hurt them. We have tried to teach responsibility for things like playing with fire and fireworks, sports and academics, doing this from a very young age. Most of us desire to keep the ones we love from pain, discouragement, loss or disappointment. However, we have found that trying to control so many things and the outcome shelters them from life and real life life experiences. That' s not always easy when you don't want them to untie the strings that connect your heart to theirs as is does when our children are so small and impressionable. However, allowing them to experience some pain, discomfort, loss of pets or people and the joy of success and the agony of defeat are wonderful teachers. Trying to protect them and not communicating together through these issues hinders the maturity and the lessons life is supposed to teach. Often times the experience itself is the disciple for difficult things and in many cases we don't need to exasperate the issue by implementing our own standard of disciple or punishment on top of the life lesson. At times our silences is what is most necessary. My husband is great at this. I always want to make sure they have learned the lesson, often with too much explanation. Yet i see the wisdom in keeping silent.
I pray for you as you continue on your parenting journey. A journey that is never done. A journey that is so worth every inch of effort or inconvenience it affords. Keep persevering and doing the best you can, God smiles at all your efforts to raise your children in a pleasing way.

Happy Parenting!

Mom's Moment #2- Orientation

2011-07-06T14:20:00.003-05:00

Having eyes to see is only some of the picture. I read in a book one time to pray for the orientation of each child's heart. This has really stuck with me over the years. You know we have a lot of influence over our children as they grow but we won't be able to fully control them or direct their hearts. That is God's job and a work they will have to work out in and of themselves. I do think it is very significant though to pray for the orientation of their hearts, that they would be driven in the "right" directions and be steered clear of "fatal" things. I always have prayed that their hearts would be oriented toward Christ. i have prayed that my children would desire the things that He desires. As we are about to celebrate the baptism of our second son I am so proud to see this fruit of some of our prayers and influence.
Shepherding our children's hearts is not easy work. Taking the time to discover where there heart is or where there heart was, when making this or that decision takes time. A lot of time sometimes. We are having to learn, especially as our children are growing older that just cut and dry punishment is sometime futile if we don't get to the "heart of the matter" as they say. The big "why" questions. What were they thinking at the moment they did that or said that? Were they thinking of others when they did that and said that? Did they consider how that was going to effect others when they acted that way? Was that showing love or selfishness? Were they putting others first or themselves first in that? And one of the biggest questions in our household is.....was that a compassionate response in that situation? All of these questions get somewhere. Even if you think you aren't getting through these questions can make the child think deeper than just reactions and responses. It cuts to the heart.
I hope that as we grow in parenting we will remember that these are little hearts we are shepherding not just little people under our control.

Happy Parenting!
Myra

Mom Moments

2011-07-05T06:49:00.004-05:00

Being a mom definitely has it's advantages. Beginning with the incredible experience only women can share of birthing a baby. What a miracle and life changing situation. There is also the advantage of the love between mother and child, the intimacy that is immediately brought to life at conception. The growing bond as your child grows in your womb and begins to move around inside you.
However, if all of us Mom's are honest, being a mom also had it's disadvantages and times of inconveniences. The pains of pregnancy and birth and learning to nurse your child. The raging hormones through 9 months and the months after as your body begins to recover. The sleepless nights and mood changes that come from not sleeping, hormones and the experience and pressure being a mom adds to your life. These are just a few of the disadvantages of birthing a child not considering any complications you might have. Add those in and the stress and emotional toll children have on your body, mind and spirit can be overwhelming.
With my six children each experience has been different and has had it's different advantages and disadvantages. However, i wouldn't exchange any of it for anything in the world. It has shaped me, grown me and given me life experience that only it can produce in our lives. Experiences teaches us. Whether for the good, bad or ugly.
From the beginning some things I discovered that made having six children possible are numerous. Perseverance being one. Persevering through pregnancy, especially at those times when having another child was definitely not in our deck of cards. Perseverance through nursing when it was so painful for months that it would make your toes curl up at latch on. Perseverance through the pain of not being able to nurse a child. Perseverance through the raging hormonal processes. Perseverance through the sleepless nights, the endless crying, the constant feedings, the uneasiness and uncertain of Motherhood at first with each new child and the challenges Motherhood brings. We aren't instantly experienced Mothers, it's a process, an ever changing journey.
The fed-wake -sleep cycle. For those of you out there just beginning, this strategy has saved my life and sanity! Beginning around 10 weeks or shortly after once the baby is beginning to stay awake for shorts amounts of time, i chose a schedule over demand feeding. I would feed my infant every 2 1/2 to 3 hours, wake the baby up after the feeding by changing the diaper, giving a bath, talking to the baby or whatever works to arouse your child out of sleep. Then keep the baby awake for 15-20 minutes or as long as possible and then put the baby down for a nap, to sleep until the next feeding. Waking your baby if she/he sleeps past the 3 hour mark. This cycle established sleep and feeding rhythms that the infant then begins to grow into. This has helped me so much! This has ensured that by 12-18 weeks my babies have slept through the night and been great sleepers and nappers. I would really have lost my sanity if this cycle was not taught to me from the very beginning. Sleep deprivation is a very dangerous thing. It's pretty amazing what your body does without appropriate amounts of sleep.
Child centered parenting is also a trap i did not want to fall into. I wanted to maintain a healthy relationship with my spouse and my children. I wanted my priorities to be in line. I didn't want our children to dictate my every move and decision making abilities. I wanted as a mom and my husband as a dad to call the shots while still maintaining a bent ear to my children and what they had to say. We try to always consider what the children say they need or want but at the same time it can be very dangerous to allow the child/or children to be in control and at the center of all things. This can destroy a marriage over time.
A listening ear is so important as well in the growing relationship between husband and wife and children and parents. Everyone of us wants and needs to be heard.
As difficult as parenthood is the pros most definitely out way the cons. It's an experience unparalleled in this life. It's a miracle in and of itself to grow and birth a child. However, we need tools. Tools to do the job, tools to refine us as parents. I would like to spend some time in my next few posts to share the tools that have helped me as a mom and women in this day and time. I would love to hear back from you moms and dads regarding what has had the greatest impact on you as a parent. What stands out to you that has helped make a difference in your parenting for the better. What question might you have? There is always so much we can learn from each other.

Happy Parenting!
Myra

His Glory

2011-06-10T16:35:00.005-05:00

A sweet friend texted me today in a time of need, it read, 'Joshua 1:9, "Do not be afraid or dismayed today for i am with you wherever you go" His presence is your PEACE.' The next text read, 'Ps. 55:22, "as you cast every one of your cares on the Lord today, He will sustain you." ' Isn't it great when the Lord uses His word and His people to speak right to where you are and what your needs are at that time? And i don't just think he does this for Christians. I think it's especially neat when He manifests Himself and what He is about to those that do not believe in Him. To me it expresses the ultimate, that He IS love. I've been reading a book lately called Could It Be This Simple? A Biblical Model For Healing The Mind, and it has brought some new light to who God really is for me and what makes Him so powerful, strong and glorious. I supposed I related His great and mighty power to His glory and though they do go hand in hand, His power is not what makes Him most glorious, it's his love! So if His love is what makes Him so incredibly glorious how awesome must His love really be?! I quote, "The power isn't what is most important. Instead, it is the trustworthiness of the One who possesses all the power. It is the demonstration of His source of divine glory. For example, although God is all-powerful, He can never be provoked-even in the most abusive and horrendous circumstance-to use His power for self-interest. When humanity fully recognizes this, it will restore trust and regenerate love, and we will then open our hearts and minds to Him for healing and restoration."

Are you being touched, restored and healed by the love of God and through the love of others? What does that look like and how can you position yourself in a place to receive it?

Thank you my sweet friend for being LOVE to me today!

Waiting to Be Radically Changed

2011-05-16T09:15:00.001-05:00

Waiting........i find it some of the hardest work to do. Whether you are waiting for the bus, a train, a cup of coffee, your food in a fast food line, waiting for the sun to shine or the rain to clear, waiting for school to start or school to recess for the summer. Waiting is work! Patient waiting is even mor difficult, especially in the culture we live in today. Waiting is NOT something people have time for.
What frustrates you the most about waiting? What frustrates you most about you feeling about having to wait? How do you feel when people are waiting on you.
I have often and still am waiting for this to happen or that to take place. I'm looking for the big breakthrough and waiting and waiting and waiting for something or someone to make that happen, often FOR me. Daivd Platt has a new book out after his orginal Radical, this new one is called Radical Together and i think it is a book that would really open our eyes to what God wants to do around us and for His Kingdom and Glory.
Now i have quite often thought of myself(myra) as a Radical but according to Pastor David Platt "you can never be radical enough". You also can not work hard enough to produce the fruit that is biblically described as attainable. God 's grace is what causes a radical to "chill out" and cause the hardest of working to "bear much fruit". Are you bearing fruit and thanking God for the grace that gives you that harvest? Are you making an impact for Christ and His Kingdom and thanking God for the energy He gives for you to be so "radical"? I know for me, i don't thank him enough for GRACE. Grace is something very difficult for me to grasp. I know what it is and i have heard it used umpteen million times to describe how God deals with us but putting it into active play in my everyday life is often a challenge. I DO know that without this grace i would NOT be sitting where i this very day. I would NOT be who i am today. I cannot function well and in health without it. Grace is a word and a concept that i need more study on, in knowledge and in everyday action. So, how do we, how do you GROW in Grace? How do your concepts of grace effect your everyday life? How does God's grace bestowed to you translate out into the world, as a friend often says, "What does that LOOK like"?
Now today and in the days to come, "May the GRACE of the Lord Jesus be with you!" 2 Corinthians 16:23

A New Addition

2011-02-20T08:03:00.007-06:00

RUTH GRACE JACKSON was born January 21, 2011 at 9:06pm! We are now a family of EIGHT ! John accidentally got cut out of this picture. Soon we will get another one with all of us.

RUTH is just as precious as all the others and everyone is so smitten by her! Being pregnant with your 6th child is an arduous event, or at least is was for me. I had to endure more this pregnancy than any of the others. I had more minor difficulties with this pregnancy, more irritability, more sleeping and just more of a distaste for the whole process this time. I loved being pregnant, for the most part, with all the other children but this one was different. Even the labor and delivery were a different experience and I just prayed for the endurance and patience to get through the hospital stay. When i did arrive back at my safe haven, my home, little by little I began to feel better. The Lord is faithful and "an ever present help in times of trouble". He saw us through. Once home, my heart began to melt all over again for this new precious little life entrusted to us. I was beginning to wonder if it would. Through my pregnancy as my friends were having babies all around me I would catch myself looking at them and their newborns and saying to myself about my situation, "Oh no, not again. I'm going to have to do all of that, all over again". And honestly, at that time, there weren't pleasant feelings going on as i viewed the happiness of all the new moms.

Matt and I had both wanted a lot of children. This was something we talked about as we dated, married and began our family. However, you just never know how things will play out in life or what each new addition will bring. "Many are the plans of man, but the Lord's plans prevail". Thankfully, the Lord has seen fit to bless us over and over. We have 6 wonderful, healthy, happy children, the maximum number we mentioned when dreaming realisticlly about our family. We don't know what the future will hold for us or our family but personally I think i would now be content if I didn't birth any more :)!!! Though that thought has some sadness attached to it, child bearing for women at some point must come to an end. At this point in our process i can't imagine NOT having anymore babies but I can't imagine having anymore either. I must admit however that in the above picture, even if John were not accidentally cut out, it doesn't look like a lot of children to me. We don't look like a BIG family. It looks kinda like a small family to me, looks like there might need to be a few more added. Adoption is always an option and another thing that Matt and I have dreamed and talked about for the future. But for now........WE are BLESSED and CONTENT, VERY CONTENT :)

Thank you everyone for your love, prayers, gifts and blessings on/to us!

Powerlessness....

2010-04-09T18:27:00.003-05:00

Went to a small group Tues. night with my sister. We were directed toward these new devo's from the Life Recovery Bible, they are GOOD.

This one is REALLY GOOD, i thought i would share.

Bible Reading Job 6:2-13
Step 1 : We admitted that we were powerless over our problems-that our lives had become unmanageable.

There are times when we are so confused and overwhelmed by the pain in our life that we wish we could die. No matter what we do, we are powerless to change things for the better. The weight of the pain and sadness seems too heavy to bear. We can't see why our heart doesn't break and allow death to free us.

Job felt that way. He'd lost everything, even though HE HAD ALWAYS DONE WHAT WAS RIGHT. His ten children were dead. He had lost his business, his riches, and his health. And all this happened in a matter of days! He was left with a sharp-tongued wife and three friends who blamed him for his own misfortune. Job cried out, "if my misery could be wieighd and my troubles be put on the scales, they would outweigh all the Sands of the sea....Oh, that i might have my request, that God would grant my desire. I wish he would crush me. I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me....I don't have the strength to endure. I have nothing to live for. Do i have the strength of a stone? Is my body made of bronze? No , I am utterly helpless, without any chance of success"(job 6:2-3, 8-9, 11-13)

Job didn't know that the END OF HIS LIFE WOULD BE EVEN BETTER THAN THE BEGINNING. God eventually restored everything Job had lost, and then some. "Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life" (job 42:17) Even when we're pressed to the point of death, there is STILL HOPE that our life will change. Our recovery could be so complete that the finaly lines written about us might read: "At last he or she died, after living a long, full life." We must remember: LIFE CAN BE GOOD AGAIN!

April Virtue: FRIENDSHIP

2010-04-09T18:24:00.003-05:00

FRIENDSHIP!

Spending Time with Someone you Trust and Enjoy

I LOVE new virtues to work on every month. This one should be good! There's something to be said for the old saying, "Friendships make the world go round" :) I don't know what i'd do without mine.

We have been spending the week this week visiting family and friends, cultivating some of the relationships that mean the most to us.

"A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when trouble comes." Proverbs 17:17

A Difficult Balance

2010-04-01T08:31:00.002-05:00

This was good for me to read/hear today. As i struggle with the balance of giving too much or not giving enough. How do you strike the balance concerning this issue?

HEARTINESS V. HEARTLESSNESS TOWARDS OTHERS

"It is Christ . . . who also maketh intercession for us." "The Spirit . . . maketh intercession for the saints." Romans 8:34, 27
Do we need any more argument than this to become intercessors - that Christ "ever liveth to make intercession;" that the Holy Spirit "maketh intercession for the saints"? Are we living in such a vital relationship to our fellow men that we do the work of intercession as the Spirit-taught children of God?
Begin with the circumstances we are in - our homes, our business, our country, the present crisis as it touches us and others - are these things crushing us? Are they badgering us out of the presence of God and leaving us no time for worship? Then let us call a halt, and get into such living relationship with God that our relationship to others may be maintained on the line of intercession whereby God works His marvels.

Beware of outstripping God by your very longing to do His will. We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, consequently we get so burdened with persons and with difficulties that we do not worship God, we do not intercede. If once the burden and the pressure come upon us and we are not in the worshipping attitude, it will produce not only hardness toward God but despair in our own souls.
God continually introduces us to people for whom we have no affinity, and unless we are worshipping God, the most natural thing to do is to treat them heartlessly, to give them a text like the jab of a spear, or leave them with a rapped-out counsel of God and go.
A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to Our Lord.
Are we in the direct line of the intercession of our Lord and of the Holy Spirit?

2010-03-31T08:40:00.001-05:00

When i first began my journey toward Christ as a woman, then wife and mom, this is who i looked to. I read everything she wrote that i could get my hands on. Here's her devo for today.

Title: Pick Up Your Cross
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Jesus invites us to be his disciples. If we choose to accept his loving invitation, we must understand that there are certain conditions to be fulfilled. One of them is a willingness to accept the cross. Is this a once-for-all taking up of one particular burden? I don't think so. It seems to me that my "cross" is each particular occasion when I am given the chance to "die"--that is, to offer up my own will whenever it crosses Christ's. This happens very often. A disagreement with my husband can cause an argument and harsh words, even if the matter is ridiculously small--"When are you going to get that dashboard light fixed in the car?" I have already mentioned the light three times. It may be time to keep my mouth shut, but I don't want to keep my mouth shut. Here, then, is a chance to die. A decision which affects both of us may be a fairly big one, but we find ourselves on two sides of the fence. One of us, then, must "die." It is never easy for me. Shall I make excuses for myself (that's the way I am; it's my personality; it's the way I was raised; I'm tired; I can't hack it; it doesn't turn me on; you don't understand)--or shall I pick up this cross?
Perhaps my illustration seems to trivialize the cross of Christ. His was so unimaginably greater. What cross could I possibly take up which would be analogous? Just here is the lesson for me: when Jesus took up his cross, He was saying yes with all his being to the will of the Father. If I am unwilling to say yes in even a very little thing, how shall I accept a more painful thing? What sort of practice does it take for a disciple to learn to follow the Crucified? A friend hurts us, a plan goes awry, an effort fails--small things indeed. But then cancer strikes, a daughter marries unwisely, a business folds, a wife abandons her home and family. The call still comes to us: Take up your cross and come with Me. With You, Lord? Yes, with Me. Will You give me strength and show me the way? That was my promise--is it my custom to break promises?

Jewish Passover

2010-03-30T08:13:00.003-05:00

I checked the calendar again this morning, as i like to do at the start of each new day. I trudged to it wondering, "what will today hold"? I noticed right away that typed in black on my calendar it said JEWISH PASSOVER. I immediately thought "something we should celebrate". The family talked quickly over Jewish Passover as everyone was preparing to embark on the day. I'm thankful Matt and James are alive and here! They are both first borns and the Jews celebrate Passover each year to commemorate the angel of death PASSING OVER their homes and sparing the first born sons of those who painted blood on their doorposts thousands of years ago.
WOW. How times change and if we are not careful our thinking shallows over time. Can you imagine something like that happening today in the world we live in here in America? What would the response and the reactions be?
I've had a most meaningful Lenten Season this year. I'm thankful God has allowed me to experience new things and gain some new perspectives. I'm thankful i still have a blog, though fb has caused me to neglect it more and more. For me, giving up facebook, for the most part, during this Lenten Season has helped me communicate more with others in other ways.

I pray this Season that God will reveal Himself, His Ways and His plans for you, to you, in a new way this coming week and weekend, especially.

Looks Like ONE day is NOW

2010-03-18T10:11:00.003-05:00

I have always said that I would LOVE to run a marathon one day. I have always hoped to accomplish that dream and see if i could train and put my love and gift of running to good use. Well this year, I've finally been successful in training all year for the Nashville Marathon next month!
I am "Running for Life" on behalf of Relay for Life and MMerge Ministries, Inc.

Would you be interested in sponsoring me?
I'm "Running for Life" on April 24th in The Music City Marathon, Nashville, Tn. Proceeds go to Relay For Life and MMerge Ministries(75% of proceeds to Relay for Life). Donations of any amount are now being taken. If you sponsor me more than $2.00 per mile you recieve a t-shirt with your business name on the back that runners from McMinnville will wear on race day. The T-shirt designs are being finished up this week and will be posted soon. If interested you may donate here or make checks payable to MMerge Ministries and send to 138 Club Dr. McMinnville, Tn. 37110

It would be awesome if you would give to a great cause and help me achieve a dream! If you don't feel led to give please pray for me as i continue this last month of training. That i would be wise in my eating, training and preparation. Also, that my body(especially my knees) would carry me through!
Thanks!
Myra

2010-03-06T09:31:00.001-06:00

March: HONESTY!

Choosing to be truthful in whatever you say and do.
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. Proverbs 12:22

This month we will be focusing on the virtue of HONESTY, one of my favorites!
Why is HONESTY one of my favorites? I think because it was a virtue I REALLY had to WORK on growing up :)
As most of us have probably learned in one way or another, HONESTY is VERY important in life. It’s a building block to so many other things, like a brick in a wall that when taken out can crumble the whole wall.

Here’s something we’ll be discussing with our kids this month:Richard Nixon has almost completed his first term as president when members of the team working on his re-election broke into the opposing political party’s headquarters to spy on them. Nixon and his staff attempted to cover up the break-in. Then Nixon denied knowing anything about it. When people found out what had happened, they started a process to have Nixon removed from the presidency.

What do you think?
How was Nixon dishonest?
How might things have been different if President Nixon hadn’t tried to cover up the break-in?
Have you ever had a hard time trusting someone because of a lie they told you?
If you chose to tell a lie, what might it do to the way people think about you?

Taken from March Family Times Pact www.familytimes.org

No Reservations

2010-03-01T11:17:00.001-06:00

"For all that has been, thanks. For that shall be, yes" Prayer of Dag Hammarskjold

B. Manning says "Reckless confidence for me is the unshakable conviction that Jesus and the Father love me in a way that defies imagination. It means to accept without reservations all that the Abba of Jesus has ordained for my life, to have the attitued of Jesus when he prayed in the Garden, "Not my wil but yours be done."

Now that is living by faith = no reservations!

Posted via email from MMerge's posterous

I Fight Like a Girl Breast Cancer Shirt from Zazzle.com

2010-02-09T17:02:00.002-06:00

I Fight Like a Girl Breast Cancer Shirt from Zazzle.com

how cute are these t-shirts! what girl wouldn't look good in one or want one for VALENTINE'S DAY!? yes guys, it's comin up soon and you can buy all the girls in your life one of these "fight like a girl" shirts and support a good cause! Come on, nows the time! don't wait, you might forget and then not have a good gift!... No man should wanna be in that boat :)

your purchase of a shirt and your donation go to help Relay For Life. MMerge Ministries is joining efforts to help support and sponsor a friend of ours whose husband passed away. MMerge Ministries does not recieve anything on your purchase, it all goes to Relay For Life, helping to fight and find a cure for cancer!

To place an order go to our fb page at MMerge Inc. or Myra Jackson on fb. on just give me a call at 931-273-5802
Thanks for your support!!

February Virtue

2010-02-08T21:26:00.004-06:00

HONOR
a small word with profound meaning and action

"Letting someone know you see how valuable they really are." Honor.

Love each other deeply. Honor one another more than yourselves. Romans 12:10

Wow. What does that LOOK like?

We will be studying Honor this month at home and with your church family. We will work on in our home and in our community loving deeply, honoring others and letting them know how valuable they really are.

John-John got us off to a good start last week by writing a thank you note to our postal carrier. Letting him know that we appreciated him and his service to us and others. The kids also wanted to thank the snow plows and the trash men! I second that! Since moving into the city limits that has been one of the biggest blessings, having my trash picked up! I just love it!

Think of others in your life and around you that make like "easier" for you and show them HONOR!

Crazy Love

2010-01-27T05:26:00.002-06:00

Friends,
This is not a new book but relatively new. Crazy Love by Francis Chan. i read it in 3 days so i know if you don't have time to read it you could at least watch the short videos on www.crazylovebook.com if you haven't already. Wow! it will get you thinking and leave you wondering!

Abundant Blessings and Eternal Hope,
Myra

Spiritual Discipline

2010-01-11T08:29:00.003-06:00

Our Virtue for the month is Discipline. We are studying spiritual disciplines with our family and with the kids and youth at Liberty. Last night we talked about scripture memorization with the kids and it was amazing how quickly they can memorize scripture, if only we parents would take more time and help them with that. I am constantly looking for and thinking about ways to do more family ministry and less kids or youth ministry, but constantly come back to the fact that the parents must want to do it and be doing it at home. What will it take for the messed up situation in our churches to change. Discipleship starting with the Parents!

I got this email this morning from Chip Kirk and he has some great thoughts about reading the bible. What if parents would read the bible more? that would help...

Soul Food: Reading the Bible

It’s no surprise that the Bible, as the saying goes, is the best selling, but least-read

book in the world. Even among committed Christians the Bible is a neglected book:

nibbled, but rarely eaten, acknowledged but unabsorbed.—R.N. Frost

Unless we discipline ourselves to get up earlier to read our Bibles, we probably won’t.

Unless we discipline ourselves to read our Bibles instead of watch TV, we probably

won’t. Unless we discipline ourselves to read our Bibles instead of surf the web, we

probably won’t. Will we, then, discipline ourselves to read our Bibles? Our answer to

that question reveals a lot about us.—Chip Kirk

Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night,

so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous

and successful.—Joshua 1:8

Soul Food is a side dish of www.chipkirk.com

Posted via email from MMerge's posterous

Should Advent be more about the 2nd coming than the 1st?

2009-12-14T11:04:00.001-06:00

I had an interesting thought this morning as I read an article about advent on the Relevant Magazine website http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/features/19167-the-final-countdown.

Should Christians get more excited during Advent and Christmas about the second coming of Christ than the First? I mean, I love to think about the first coming of Christ, the Creator of the world becoming a baby, the messiah's birth, the first worship services, etc, but that is history. As a follower of Christ, shouldn't my hope and life be more tied to the future than the past? I can learn from the past, but I'm living for the future. So maybe I should focus more on the second coming than the first during Christmas. I wonder how things would change if we started that shift? I mean do we even have a time in the year that we really celebrate or think about the return of the Messiah? Maybe that is something we should do all the time or the rest of the time, other than Christmas and Easter, but it doesn't seem like many Christians think or talk about it much.

In a society that is scheduled by the next holiday, I think it interesting that we Christians join in on so many pagan or national holidays so much more than the important events of the Church. The biggest event of all is yet to come, maybe that is why we don't celebrate it, but is certainly something to get excited about (and ready for).

Every year I ask God to show me something new about Christmas, so this year I'm focusing on the Second Advent - waiting in expectation for the return of the Messiah and the start of a whole new time and society. Of course this quickly reminds me that I need to share this hope and expectation with those who don't know or have it yet so that they will experience it too. This Christmas may we share the love of our God, that came as a baby, died as our Savior, and will Return again as the King of the ages.

On a side note, my kids are really enjoying a lego advent calendar this year where one kids gets to open a little door each morning and gets a little lego person or thing. It really helps count down the days till Christmas, just wish we could count down the days till the second coming. I guess thats the beauty of it. We don't know when so we need to think like it is today and/or in 100's of years.

Posted via email from MMerge's posterous

Oswald's Wisdom

2009-11-15T07:33:00.002-06:00

Q:? What is the difference b/t "interfering in other people's lives" and being the hand and feet of Christ? After reading the following devo. from Oswald Chambers, i would love to hear your comments on the balance you find b/t interfering and serving others.

"Lord, what shall this man do? . . What is that to thee(you)? Follow thou Me." John 21:21,2

One of our severest lessons comes from the stubborn refusal to see that we must not interfere in other people's lives. It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with God's order for others.

You see a certain person suffering, and you say - He shall not suffer, and I will see that he does not. You put your hand straight in front of God's permissive will to prevent it, and God says - "What is that to thee(you)?" If there is stagnation(for you) spiritually, never allow it to go on, but get into God's presence and find out the reason for it. Possibly you will find it is because you have been interfering in the life of another; proposing things you had no right to propose; advising when you had no right to advise. When you do have to give advice to another, God will advise through you with the direct understanding of His Spirit; your part is to be so rightly related to God that His discernment comes through you all the time for the blessing of another soul.

Most of us live on the borders of consciousness - consciously serving, consciously devoted to God. All this is immature, it is not the real life yet. The mature stage is the life of a child which is never conscious; we become so abandoned to God that the consciousness of being used never enters in. When we are consciously being used as broken bread and poured-out wine, there is another stage to be reached, where all consciousness of ourselves and of what God is doing through us is eliminated. A saint is never consciously a saint; a saint is consciously dependent on God.

What are your thoughts?

Cooperation

2009-11-12T21:45:00.003-06:00

November! The Holidays Begin! I love this time of year. The weather is still warm enough to enjoy outdoor time while the wind blows in the anticipation of Winter.

For our virtue study this month November is the month of Cooperation. We will have ample opportunity to study and put this virtue into practice as we rake and move leaves, continue the various house projects and prepare and welcome friends and family for the Thanksgiving Holidays.

We are also pleased to announce that Matt has accepted a position at Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church, here in McMinnville, Tn. as Christian Education Associate.

How do You Celebrate Halloween?

2009-10-27T21:41:00.002-05:00

B.B.4.B. is Barrel Burnings For Bibles

Recently in the news, a pastor and church advertised it was having an event on Halloween Night and Burning Bibles and other important Christian Lit. just b/c they didn't think it was "of God".
We here at MMerge Ministries were "inspired by God" to counteract this event by holding an alternative Halloween burning of all your extra, unneeded and unnecessary stuff, that is a hindrance to you and your walk with God. This could be anything and everything depending on how you look, read and interpret this....a magazine, movie, music, clothes, or simply some things that bother, hurt or haunt you that you want to write down and throw in the fire and put in the past...could even be character issues or habits you struggle with.

Who: YOU, Come to burn or to fellowship :)
Where: 138 Club Dr. Mc Minnville
When: Meal starts at 6pm
What: We'll burn all night if we have to!
Pinata for the kids! Costumes welcome or come as you are. This is a FREE event, no cost, no donations required. Donations or proceeds(if given) will go to translating and distributing bibles to those in lands/places that may have never received the Word of God in their language. This probably won't be in KJV so if you have an issue with that, buy a KJV and ship it!

We have personally attended these type of events a couple of times in our lives. It was an opportunity for us as we were growing spiritually to rid our lives of some junk that didn't need to be there. At one time i remember doing away with certain cds, books, movies, magazines, immodest or inappropriate clothing. At other times it was an opportunity to write down issues that were holding us back. Emotional, physical, mental or spiritual issues that we knew we were struggling with and needed victory over. We would write those down, anonymously, pray and claim victory over those and put the papers into the fire. Symbolic yet memorable ways to show and remember a time or commitment of getting rid of unhealthiness and growing toward a more Christ-like life.

However, we also want to take the time to celebrate, fellowship and have fun together on Sat. night. There will be Chili and dogs, drinks and goodies. Fun and games for the kids.

How Low Can You Go? Did you hear about the VMA's?

2009-09-17T09:41:00.001-05:00

Every year MTV makes the news for something at the VMA's. There is a great Youth Ministry site that reviews them and gives some good thoughts as it applies to Family, Youth, and society. If you have kids they have heard about it already. If you don't know what is going on, you need to. Read the article and be willing and ready to engage with the upcoming generation.

http://www.thesource4ym.com/youthculturewindow/article.asp?id=93

Posted via email from MMerge's posterous

NASA - Hubble ERO Images

2009-09-09T14:23:00.001-05:00

NASA - Hubble ERO Images

Shared via AddThis

Amazing pictures from Hubble

September: WISDOM, who doesn't need a little more of that!?!

2009-09-02T05:55:00.001-05:00

A new month and that means a new virtue for us here at the Jackson house.

WISDOM: Finding out what YOU should do and DOING it.

"wisdom is learned and growing when you find out what you should do (with help from God others) AND act wisely too!" -J.J.

Our verse to memorize, copy, live, breath, succeed, fail at and discuss the month is:
"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowlege him, and he will make your paths straight." Prov. 3:5-6
.....the memorization of this vs. for us will be easy, it's the rest that complicates things :)

Our prayer is that we are and you will be WISER and more FULL of WISDOM at the end of the month. The only way to try and succeed is PRACTICE, the keys: CONSISTENT PRACTICE and getting back up when we fail.

less wise than i wish i was,
Myra

September 2009

2009-09-02T05:05:00.002-05:00

The Summer Newsletter has just gone out! If you did not recieve it and would like to, subscribe on the right side of the page to recieve our FREE news. If you are subscribed and did not recieve it, please let us know. Many of you have changed email addresses but we do not have your new email address, pls. update us!

Summer News 2009: Amazing LOVE!
Subscribe to read more.

Enjoy Parenting

2009-08-27T11:43:00.001-05:00

THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott Noelle
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove

       The Attraction Parenting PATH Program is
       guaranteed to reduce parental STRESS and increase
       parental JOY significantly within 30 days! See...
       http://www.enjoyparenting.com/path/info

:: Unconditional Presence: The Oak Tree ::

Imagine a great Oak Tree. It knows where it stands,
and it holds powerfully to its position. But it
doesn't defend its position -- it's simply *there*.

You can drive a car into the massive trunk of the
Oak Tree, and the car will be smashed while the tree
remains standing. It's not standing *against* you, and
it doesn't take your destructive behavior personally.
It just remains rooted... focused... present.
Unconditionally.

Now imagine that *you* are the Oak Tree... How does it
feel to be so powerfully positioned? Isn't it nice to
know that no one can uproot you? Would you even bother
to resist? Or would you simply relax and enjoy being
right where you want to be?

Next time you feel "uprooted" by your child's
behavior, emotions, or any other conditions, remember
the unconditional presence of the Oak Tree. Stand
rooted in the ground of infinite Well-Being.

There is nothing to resist... All is well.

http://dailygroove.net/oak-tree

Get "The Daily Groove" BOOK!
http://www.enjoyparenting.com/book

Feel free to forward this message to your friends!
(Please include this paragraph and everything above.)
Copyright (c) 2009 by Scott Noelle

Posted via email from MMerge's posterous

Good thoughts from a friend

2009-08-17T08:54:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine puts out some inspirational thoughts called Soul Food. They are really good. I thought I'd share them with you and encourage you to sign up at his website.

Soul Food: Down Home Morsels for the Hungry Soul

He who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.—1 Corinthians 6:17

We must realize that we start with facts and not with feelings. The fact is, because
Christ’s Spirit and my spirit are one spirit, I am already intimate with Christ and
Christ is already intimate with me. We must learn to respond properly to that
positional fact so that our practice mirrors our position. In light of the fact of our
position in Christ we don’t need to wake up this morning and say, “I’m going to
try to be intimate with Christ today,” but “I am already intimate with Christ today,
and by moment-by-moment acts of faith I’ll practice that reality. I’ll live and act
each moment like it is true.”—Chip Kirk

Fifteen pounds per inch of air pressure are now pressing on my body. I do not feel
that pressure nor do I have to work up the faith to believe that there are 15 pounds
per inch of air pressure so that I can breathe. I could try to hold my breath until I
felt that pressure, but that would be both ridiculous and futile. So, I simply breathe.
Moment-by-moment I practice the presence of air as a matter of fact, and I breathe
and, subsequently, experience life.—Chip Kirk

Soul Food is a side dish of www.chipkirk.com

Posted via email from MMerge's posterous

August Virtue : LOVE

2009-08-05T16:03:00.002-05:00

Choosing to Give Someone Your Time and Friendship No Matter What!

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is th first commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself.' " Matthew 22:37-39

This is the virtue and verse that we will be practicing, memorizing and studying this month. What does this virtue and verse mean to you?

Join us in making August LOVE month!

Wellness Tips

2009-08-05T16:00:00.002-05:00

McMinnville Parks and Recreation August 2009 Community Wellness Tip & Activities

ReminderWellness Tip:
Realize that anything worth doing is worth doing badly. Challenge and novelty are key elements of happiness. The brain is stimulated by surprise, and successfully dealing with an unexpected situation gives a powerful sense of satisfaction. People who do new things -- learn a game, travel to unfamiliar places -- are happier than people who stick to familiar activities that they already do well. "Enjoy the fun of failure" and tackle some daunting goal.

Activities Reminder:
Smokin in McMinnville- August 14th and 15th at the McMinnville Civic Center. Come out and enjoy this fun filled activity!

McMinnville Triathlon- August 29th. Volunteers needed for this fun fitness event. Call the Civic Center at 931-473-1212.

Check out all of the activities with the McMinnville Parks andRecreation at www.mcminnvilletenn.com and follow the links to Parks and Recreation.
McMinnville Parks and Recreation500 Garfield St.McMinnville, TN37110

A GREAT DAY!

2009-08-02T16:29:00.001-05:00

Download now or watch on posterous

09 aug 2 baptisms.wmv (19521 KB)

Today I, Matt, had the awesome opportunity to baptize a friend, my nephew and two of my sons. It is so amazing that in the middle of my wondering what in the world God is doing with me, he does things I would never have expected. I was visiting with Thomas yesterday and talking about how he is starting over in life and been through so much and he said to me "is there any reason I shouldn't get baptized?" I told him the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40) and how he asked the same question. We decided to do it today. I went home and told our family and the three Wyatt cousins that are visiting. I asked if any of them wanted to be baptized and John-Cole said he wanted to too. Johnathan, our youngest has said he wanted to everytime I have asked since he was little, but he is six now and after some talk we decided he really wants this for the right reasons. James also came this morning and said he wanted to as well. So this morning Thomas went to Christ Family Church and invited them and we met them out there after our family worship time. It was a great day. May God continue to surprise us and be the center of our lives!

Posted via email from MMerge's posterous

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-03T23:51:00.004-05:00

Enjoy the 4th of July with MMerge Ministries!!!

If you live in or around McMinnville, You are invited to come enjoy the City Fireworks with us. Now that we live right across the street from the Civic Center we have some of the best seats in town for the show. Bring your Lawn Chairs or blankets, we'll have the drinks (Water, Lemonade, and Coffee) ready.

Matt and Myra Jackson

138 Club Dr, McMinnville

Posted via email from MMerge's posterous

McMinnville Soccer Camp

2009-06-05T14:33:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone with kids in McMinnville, I will be coaching a Soccer camp next week at Pistole park for kids ages 4-12, Tuesday through Friday!!! June 9th - 12th!!

This will be done during McPOW which is a local youth ministry mission week so I will have youth from area churches helping lead the camp.

The cost is only $10 and that includes lunch. It will be from 10am - till 1pm. call or email me if you have questions or to sign up.

Posted via email from MMerge's posterous

McMinnville Parks and Recreation-May Wellness Tip

2009-05-05T10:44:00.002-05:00

May Wellness Tip

Find a Life PurposeFeed the spiritual side of you by finding something you're passionate about, something that makes you want to get up in the morning to do.
Try gardening, or volunteering at a local school or nursing home, or do something else that thrills you. It will keep you well, balanced and happy!

Get up wanting to see what your day brings you... or find another job or interest where you do! (Tip: Go to bed telling yourself that you'll wake up refreshed and ready have a great day!)

Check out the McMinnville Parks and Recreation website at http://www.mcminnvilletenn.com/ and follow the links to Parks and Recreation. We've got plenty of fun, affordable, family oriented activities to help you stay motivated!

Kristie Sanders, MS, MBA

Wellness Specialist

McMinnville Parks and Recreation

500 Garfield Street

McMinnville, TN 37110

931-473-1212

Get Fit McMinnville !!

MMerge Services Expanded and Detailed List

2009-05-04T11:14:00.004-05:00

MMerge Ministries Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organzation, serving Warren Co. Tn and beyond.

Services include:

Consulations for you and your family
Behavioral Consulting(see a behavior you don't like in your child or spouse? Ask us about it! We'll do what we can to help build better habits in you and the ones you love!)
Applied Behavioral Analysis Services(on consulting basis only...includes I.E.P.)
Developmental Disability Specialilst
Motivational Speaking
Financial Analysis for your personal or business affairs
Mentor, Mediation and discipleship
Worship/Song leadingScriptual
TeachingHealth and Nutrition counseling
Home School counsel and instruction
P.R. work in helping to get your business on the cutting edge
TutoringSoccer instruction(as time allows) private lessons
Practical Living Skills

And coming soon!!! FREE WIFI and Coffeehouse!!!
138 Club DriveMcMinnville, Tn 37110
or call for more info. 931-273-5797
to donate to MMerge Ministries, Inc. go to the donate button on this site. Thank you for your support.

Mother's Day May 10th

2009-05-04T09:39:00.004-05:00

Mother's Day is FAST approaching....have you thought about how you will honor your mom this year? What about that special woman who has impacted your life in some way? Well we have the Perfect gift for you and very affordable, hand made with loving care. A gift that will bring a smile that means a thousand words of affection!

Hand Made Jewelry for under $5.00

138 Club Drive

McMinnville, Tn 37110

come by to view or purchase

call 931-273-5802 to place an order

or pay by PayPal on this site

ChrisCross by Charlie Glendining

2009-04-13T14:28:00.003-05:00

A New Perspective This Easter
I am on a constant search for fresh/new perspectives on recurrent Holidays. I don't like to get stale. Well i read this on a friends blog.

Here we are... the darkness before the dawn. Ever since our men were boys we've been making a cross out of the Christmas tree we saved all winter. I just did it half an hour ago. The smell of the evergreen as I lopped off the branches put me right back in the living room during the weeks before Christmas. What a violence to do to such a wonderful memory! Maybe Mary felt that way at the cross to see the tender little feet of her son that she used to kiss while He slept now violently nailed to the cross. We lose sight... no... actually never CAN really understand His innocence.

Coming through Lent and entering into Easter is a paradox. This balancing act between the joy of Christ's nativity and the despair of His passion is to try to reconcile both Alpha and Omega. It is an irony that electrifies the brain: like grabbing both the positive and negative poles of a battery at the same time. But ONLY through embracing both His birth and His death and resurrection simultaneously, can we see that all events of our lives—both good and bad—show us the completeness of who Christ wants to become in each of us.

Denying or rejecting the bad and seeking only the good is a desperate yearning forsomething that isn't real. Just as God never gives His Spirit in part, when we seek Him in part—only in the good times—we create a partial void in our spirit and actually deny the complete Christ... at least the whole of who He wants to become in us. In other words, by claiming only the good things to be of God, that partial emptiness becomes a kind of poison that masquerades as virtue. Those bad things, then become a way WE can suffer for a God Who isn't all-powerful.What a denial of His complete omniscience! If He is the God of good things, then He must also be the God of bad. He orchestrates ALL THINGS. This is surely disturbing and comforting at the same time: this restless peace we experience when we realize that God is in complete control—even, and ESPECIALLY in the midst of our suffering.

Ten years ago, I read the heart rending story about Corey Anderson, the nine-year-old boy who, on February 25, 1999, died in a blizzard while looking for his dog. The immediate similarity between his selfless act and Christ's shedding the comforts of heaven to walk into our world, actually into the very the jaws of hell to find us, was even more striking when I found out that Corey walked out his front door into a blinding snow storm on a Thursday night—his Gethsemani—and they discovered his body in a thicket 200 yards from his homeon Sunday. Three days and three nights: Christ's suffering from Gethsemani to the resurrection and Jonah's suffering the terrors in the belly of a whale.

But the most striking revelation was an aspect rarely considered when we look at the body of a grown man suffering on a cross. It's hard to fully comprehend Christ's innocence because of our own sinful paradigm. We see, fastened to this cross, an adult. He can deal with it. He's tough. He's a man. He's powerful. Omnipotent. He's God.

But Corey's death makes us ache for the death of a child—the very death of innocence. If it is easier to grieve the death of this nine-year-old boy, how much more innocent was Jesus when He died for us, and how can we really understand the true impact of His death unless we continually mix the images of Christmas and Easter?

What if we were to visualize the unthinkable image of of a crucified baby? Too unthinkable to even mention?...maybe then we are on the right track.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A RESTLESS PEACE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For He made Him Who knew no sin TO BE sin for us..." - 2 COR. 5:21

It is a God-like grace that seeks the lost in sacrifice;
That fords the sill and walks into the silent teeth.
Blinded, not by fear but by a perfect love for the beloved,
His courage found its sticking place and ours, a silent grief.

What child is this who laid to rest in such a manger bed?
How desperate, this, a brush of bitter myrrh his womb?
What awful grace of Christ is this: to die in innocence,
And sleep, thou infant life, in this cold thicket tomb?

Three days, three nights did torment's pale and bloodless choirQuench hope inside the belly of Gethsemani.But hope it was that wrapped my guilt in swadling clothes,His shroud—my womb—a safety born of agony.Now, here in Lent, the balance of the manger and the grave,Our hearts contain a restless peace to gain His loss.We grieve the rage of sin that smote His upturned baby's face;That plucked Him from His Mother's breast,To nail Him to His Father's cros

Where are we going?

2009-04-11T19:17:00.003-05:00

Honestly, until this week I have felt like we didn't know what would happen next, but now at least it seems that God has supplied for me to stay in the insurance business. That allows us to walk forward with the idea of staying here in McMinnville, possibly buying the house we are in, considering what ministry we can do through our location and more. God is leading and we are trying to follow. We watched a DVD with some friends this past monday that really spoke to me about approaching each day with openness to whatever God wants to do. This is so often said, but hardly practiced. That is what it seems God is teaching me. I trust that he will take us where we need to go. Please pray with us about where we are going with our ministry.

What a week!

2009-04-11T15:22:00.001-05:00

Well this was my last week of "Validation" in the insurance business. I will find out next Wednesday officially if I made it, but I'm pretty sure I did thanks to some friends and a move of God. On Tuesday I was still way behind and was shown the numbers by my boss. He said "it would take a miracle." Well, It was great to see it all come together and to continue to watch God supply in many ways. I some much more giving God the glory for it all than anything for me. This week was clearly Gods work not mine.

It did however come down to the last day, and as I was out running around getting forms signed and making sure I had done all I could do, there was a big storm blowing through. This seemed fitting, that something would try to keep it from happening, but It would work out anyway.

Here is a picture from when I went out to my Friend Craig's house after the storm to get one final paper signed. The pole sticking out of the ground and other poles laying further down and the first of many pieces of their trampoline that was anchored down, but fell victim to the winds of the storm.

We also had my sister Hannah and her Husband Daniel visiting this past week. Unfortunately, when Daniel arrived he was sick and after a visit to our great Doc. we found out he has Mono, so while he re-cooperated, I sold insurance, the boys started their baseball seasons, and life kept on going with the usual amounts of stress, love, excitement, and more.

Hope everyone has a great Resurrection Sunday.

What a challenge to separate the pagan from the religious, from the real meaning of this weekend! It has been better for us to not have to worry so much about the religous and to instead enjoy the relationships God has given us. May the Lord of Life reveal his power to us all, whether it be in a church service, a conversation, a storm, or a any other way He desires. Just don't miss it!

Posted via email from MMerge's posterous

Was Good Friday Really "Good"

2009-04-10T08:11:00.003-05:00

embedding was disabled so i couldn't post the video here but go watch this today in honor of the One we should cry out to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOb8ihacSM4

It's difficult for me to "celebrate, Good Friday" as good. Good things are usually a lot of fun for me and i usually don't have a problem "celebrating" things. However, every year as Good Friday approaches, I balk. I must take rememberance of in order to grasp and look at Good Friday.

Title: Apportioned Limitations
Author: Elisabeth Elliot

The God who determined the measurements of the foundations of the earth sets limitations to the scope of our work. And His SON's work. It is always tempting to measure ourselves by one another, but this easily leads to boasting or despair. It is our business to find the sphere of service allotted to us, and do all that He has appointed us to do within that sphere, not "commending ourselves."

Paul said, "We will keep to the limits God has apportioned us" (2 Cor 10:13 RSV). Today, on Good Friday, the day Jesus was captured, tortured and began his sentencing leading to his death, it's hard to see "limits". He pretty much gave all, willingly. But Jesus did that(he did keep to the limits God had apportioned him)--willing to become a helpless, newborn baby, to be a growing child, an adolescent, a man, each stage bounded by its peculiar strictures, yet each offering adequate scope in which to glorify his Father. And He went to the furthest limit apportioned, being tortured and sacrificed and crucified for us!
Lord, glorify yourself through me and in the place You've set me. Let me not covet another's place or work or glory. from www.elizabetheliott.org/devotional
italics mine.

Do You Taste Like Chocolate

2009-04-09T07:33:00.002-05:00

This made me laugh and smile inside and out, all at the same time! Good morning and Enjoy! Go out today and "Let Your Light Shine"!

For Those Who Suffer Great Losses

2009-04-07T06:17:00.002-05:00

Here's an exerpt from a devotion i read: http://www.elisabethelliot.org/devotional.html

If resurrection is a fact--and there would be no Easter if it were not--then there is no situation so hopeless, no horizon so black, that God cannot there "find His glory." The truth is that without those ruined hopes, without that death, without the suffering that He called inevitable, the glory itself would be impossible. Why the universe is so arranged we must leave to the One who arranged it, but that it is so we are bound to believe.

And when we find ourselves most hopeless, the road most taxing, we may also find that it is then that the Risen Christ catches up to us on the way, better than our dreams, beyond all our hopes. For it is He--not His gifts, not His power, not what He can do for us, but He Himself--who comes and makes Himself known to us. And this is the one pure joy for those who sorrow.

And yet... and yet we sorrow. The glorious fact of the resurrection is the very heart of our faith. We believe it. We bank all our hopes on it. And yet we sorrow. It is still appointed unto man once to die, and those who are left must grieve--not as those without hope, for the beloved will be resurrected. The "ultimate contradiction," however, seems very far in the future. There is no incongruity in the human tears and the pure joy of the presence of Christ, for He wept human tears too.

a note E.E. wrote to a friend who had just lost a child.
"Your little note was waiting for us when we returned yesterday from Canada. How our hearts went running to you, weeping with you, wishing we could see your faces and tell you our sympathies. Yet it is 'no strange thing' that has happened to you, as Peter said in his epistle (1 Peter 4:12) it gives you a share in Christ's suffering. To me this is one of the deepest but most comforting of all the mysteries of suffering. Not only does He enter into grief in the fullest understanding, suffer with us and for us, but in the very depths of sorrow He allows us, in His mercy, to enter into His; gives us a share, permits us the high privilege of 'filling up, that which is lacking (Colossians 1:24) in His own. He makes, in other words, something redemptive out of our broken hearts, if those hearts are offered up to Him. We are told that He will never despise a broken heart. It is an acceptable sacrifice when offered wholly to Him for His transfiguration. Oh, there is so much for us to learn here, but it will not be learned in a day or a week. Level after level must be plumbed as we walk with the Shepherd, and He will do His purifying, purging, forging, shaping work in us, that we may be shaped to the image of Christ himself. Such shaping takes a hammer, a chisel, and a file--painful tools, a painful process.

"Jesus learned obedience by the things which He suffered, not by the things which He enjoyed. In order to fit you both for His purposes both here and in eternity, He has lent you this sorrow. But He bears the heavier end of the Cross laid upon you!

I'm thankful this morning that LIFE can be given to dead things!

The Un-church part 1

2009-03-31T10:29:00.001-05:00

Did any of you ever play The UnGame?

I remember playing it as a kid. Its a game that really isn't a game, but rather a way to ask people random questions and get to know each other.

So my friend Will and I have been talking about all these people we know that desire to follow Christ, but are not going to church. We even want to get some of these people together and I think he called them Unchurch people. I thought that was funny at first, cause when I was "in the church" I always thought of the "unchurched" people as "lost" people. I never considered that there where unchurched people (people not in church) that were Christians. Now I realize there are a lot of us.

I read a blog at http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/archives/2009/03/we_hate_church.html about a church that is trying to use a billboard to reach out to the "unchurched" people and it got me thinking again. I want to start thinking out loud and anyone that wants to join it is welcome.

How do we be the church without becoming like all the institutionalized religious organizations that call themselves the church??????

I personnally love the people of God, following Christ and want to share the grace of God with others (Chistian or not), but don't want to be a part of a church right now. There are some major problems in the church and I have been a part of them. I call it "the professionalization of the church." There has got to be a way to be the church without becoming another religious meeting. I think it would look a lot more like it did in Acts (meeting together, living together, growing together). I also think there is even a way to be a paid minister in this situation without being the paid professional that takes the place of everyone else to do ministry.

So many thoughts on my mind on this topic. Join the discussion and we'll see where it goes.

Posted via email from MMerge's posterous

Blah....

2009-03-16T17:26:00.006-05:00

To seek a place of rest

to grasp for hope or glory

this is the daily task

I fight or avoid again

I'm glad and thankful mostly

but missing something still

content but wanting more

"La Vie Est Dure"

Peace, patience, strength and grace needed today!

50 Million Killed in 36 years

2009-02-28T14:46:00.002-06:00

WOW! That's a lot of babies......this letter/article came through my inbox today and though it is all too lengthy to share here, this part i found worth sharing.

The Roe(in roe vs. wade case) Justices.....didn't anticipate "the policy imposed by the Court to be an unmitigated disaster. In the thirty-six years since Roe and Doe, abortion has taken the lives of more than fifty million unborn victims--each a distinct, unique, precious human being. It has done immeasurable moral, psychological, and sometimes physical harm to women who are so very often, and in so many respects, truly abortion's "secondary victims."
It has corrupted physicians and nurses by turning healers into killers. It has undermined the moral authority of the law by its injustice. It has abetted irresponsible--even predatory--male sexual behavior. Far from reducing the rate of out-of-wedlock births, particularly to poor women, illegitimacy has skyrocketed in the age of abortion. Now the abortion license has metastasized into widespread elite support for deadly embryo experimentation and even, in my home state of New Jersey, to the express legalization of the horrific and grisly practice of fetal farming--the creation of human beings by cloning or other processes for the purpose of harvesting their tissues and organs at any point up to birth for experimentation and transplantation."

Of course, from the pro-life vantage point, success on the judicial front is only the prelude to the larger political struggle over abortion. If Roe is reversed, the result will be to return the matter to the domain of ordinary democratic deliberation for resolution by the state legislatures or the Congress. The burden will then be on the pro-life movement to win the struggle for the soul of the nation. We must, with God's help, persuade our fellow citizens to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence by bringing the unborn fully within the protection of our laws.

On this score, we have a marvelous model in the great anti-slavery crusader William Wilberforce. When he began his work against the monstrous evil of chattel slavery, the odds appeared to be long against abolition. He was attacked by partisans of the slave power as a zealot, a religious fanatic and, most perversely, an enemy of freedom. He was, they said, imposing his religious values on others. If he didn't like slavery, well, no one was forcing him to own slaves. He should mind his own business and stay out of other people's affairs. Less vitriolic critics said that he was unrealistic. He was a dreamer. He was making impossible demands. Does any of this sound familiar?

Wilberforce refused to be intimidated. He would allow nothing to deter him from his mission of Christian charity to free the slaves and end the practice of slavery. He was undaunted by the ridicule often heaped upon him.

A more recent hero, Mother Teresa of Calcutta reminded us during her final visit to the United States that prayer is the most powerful weapon in the pro-life arsenal. Wilberforce would certainly agree. We must ask God's forgiveness for our great national sin of abandoning the unborn to the crime of abortion and implore His guidance and assistance in recalling the nation to its founding ideals of liberty and justice for all. While not all pro-life citizens are in a position to be activists or exercise leadership in the social and political spheres, all are able to participate in the prayer effort, and no one's prayers are superfluous."

*thoughts from Dr. James Dobson in his newsletter and thoughts shared from Professor Robert P. George. Professor George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. He is a member of the President's Council on Bioethics and previously served on the United States Commission on Civil Rights. He also sits on the editorial board of Public Discourse.

things that make me go "hummmmmmmmmm". what do you think?

An Opportunity You Might not Want to Miss......

2009-02-22T12:47:00.002-06:00

Hundreds of Fathers and Daughters Will Gather This March in Georgia on
Friday, February 20, 2009 10:15 AM
From: "Vision Forum" familyvision@lists.visionforum.com(to see full graphics and ad.)

Father and Daughter Retreat — Limited Space Available!

Join Dr. Voddie Baucham, Doug Phillips, Scott Brown, Geoff Botkin and a Panel of Visionary Young Ladies for the Father and Daughter Event of the Year!

The average father in America spends less than ten minutes a day with his daughter. He knows little about her life or her heart. He can quote detailed sports statistics and daily gas prices, but he has little or nothing to say of eternal value to his little girl when the two of them are alone — which is almost never. Is it any wonder that the average daughter is emotionally and spiritually disconnected from her father? She invests her own time in the pursuit of fantasy, peers, boys — anything that will fill the gaping hole created by the absence of godly, fatherly manhood in her life.

This father-daughter deficit has helped to place our nation in a cultural depression so great that we are suffering from the most significant family crisis in the history of our country. But that is only half the story.

Here is the other half: Christian families are in the business of defying popular trends and statistics. Spurred on by the Scripture’s discipleship directives, more and more fathers are setting aside the distractions of the world and are pursuing their daughters’ hearts. And when God turns the hearts of fathers to their daughters and daughters to their fathers, He is “mak[ing] ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).

where & when:
That is why hundreds of fathers and daughters will be coming to the world-famous Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, March 27-29 for the 2009 Vision Forum Ministries Father and Daughter Retreat.

A Time of Celebration
The Father and Daughter Retreat is a time of learning and fellowship, but it is also a time for celebration. Fathers and daughters can enjoy the world famous Callaway Butterfly Gardens; they will have time to enjoy long, meaningful walks; and, and they will participate in our Father and Daughter event Games.

A favorite part of this celebration has always been our signature “high tea.” Fathers and Daughters come dressed in their best as they enjoy a beautifully catered event, complete with assorted fine English teas, scones, tarts, cucumber sandwiches, and pastries. Each attendee is given their very own porcelain teacup to take home as a memento of this special occasion.

‘What He Must Be... If He Wants to Marry My Daughter’
This is the title of Dr. Voddie Baucham’s new book from which he will be drawing his messages at this year’s retreat. He is joined by Doug Phillips, Geoff Botkin and Scott Brown for the most powerful line-up of messages in the history of this event. Young ladies in attendance at this year’s retreat will also hear the testimonies of visionary daughters: Jasmine Baucham, as well as Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin (authors of So Much More, and hosts of The Return of the Daughters).

Fundamental questions will be addressed:

Register Now — Space is Limited!

© 2009 Vision Forum Ministries, 4719 Blanco Road, San Antonio, Texas 78212. All Rights Reserved.

MMerge Inc. is NOW on FACEBOOK, friend us!!

2009-02-20T11:58:00.002-06:00

Friend us on Facebook and join the MMerge Ministries, Inc. Group. We'll still post here to the blog for those of you that aren't on facebook, however, we are finding that facebook is a very effective and vastly used tool for networking and ministry!

Also, the 25 Random things about you note has circulated around the WORLD and my inbox enough times that i finally took some time to respond. I won't paste the entire note here...you can find that on facebook by friending Myra Micah Periwinkle Johnson Jackson but here's a taste of my randomness:

(copied from my facebook notes page)
ok, here it is.......
1. I like to brush my teeth in the shower, it's warmer
2. I'm greedy but for more kids than the general public accepts as "normal" :)
3. I like everything SEE THRU, except clothes of course, that shows that yes i am paranoid and modest and want you to be too :) modest that is...
4. I am more random than your averag JOE or JESSE in my case and yes that is a name i wantd to use for our fourth child but couldn't b/c Jesse Jackson just would NOT have worked for her or me. one of the sweetest youth girls i know is a Jesse, I wished i could have named Rebekah after her.
5. My next children's names WILL be Jeremiah and Joanna Jackson, twins from Africa, i hope, pray and am trusting the Lord for this one!!! Miracles do happen and stranger things than this have already, in our lives.
6. I want one child from EVERY continent and a penguin from Antartica.....no money to do it but i BELIEVE and have EXPERIENCED, YAWEH(God) always have, always will and always continues to provide for me and my family and my friends and all those who are loved and called according to HIS purposes.
7. I think faster than a speeding bullet, people tell me, and act faster than others usually want to, most of the time. it drives my husband, dad and most of my family crazy!!!
8. And when people don't think, act, listen or operate on my time table I tend to get alittle.......lets say.....UPSET???? IRRITATED????? HIGHLY ANNOYED at times????? IMPATIENT????? UGLY????? BRATTY acting??? did i cover it all folks that know me well?
9. *edited*, actually deleted
10. I must have IRISH SPRING bar soap in the reg. flavor AND moisturizing body wash with sponge in the shower at ALL times or else it's just not that good but i'll survive trust me. i have to go DAYS w/o a shower sometimes and i've been on mission trips to a 3rd world country and other places i have survived to tell about w/o showering or brushing my teeth AND sleeping with the largest insect flying things I have EVER seen b4 in my life and yes those were in my bed when i woke up in the middle of the night. And YES, i freaked out!!! But not near as much as i have FRRREAKED out in the last year, trust me there too, it has been bad, that bad. Well worse i guess........
to be continued if you want it to be......

Enjoy your weekend folks and spend some good, quality time with your family, that doesn't include just going to "church" together for an hour on Sunday morning :) You have to "go the extra mile" if that is the case for you and yours and quality time. Adventure OUTDOORS/INDOORS together!!

OR....visit www.jellytelly.com today or this weekend with your pre-school- elementary aged kids, grandkids, nieces, newphews or your nieces and newphews friends :)

Divinely Led

2009-02-11T07:37:00.002-06:00

It's pretty astonishing to me how many times i have been tagged with that 25 random things about me note on facebook. I really do want to respond b/c 2 of my friends responses have inspired me to but i can't put that ahead of some personal requests. It's funny isn't it? Ask someone to tell you 25 random things about THEMSELVES and they will respond pretty fast and send it ALL OVER THE WORLD. But ask someone to tell you one thing random about someone else or unique about someone they should know deeply and they have to "think on it for a few days". That's pretty backwards thinking/acting in my world. The world I live in puts personal relationships with others ahead of random antedotes about myself. I am not saying this to point fingers or judge but to say this........look up the TINY WOMAN w/ the GIANT LEGS, google her and you will be AMAZED!! She does NOT live in the world we live in. Well she does, she's lives in Europe but she is planets away from the kosher lives we WALK/RUN/talk through and take advantage of everyday.
This person is phenominial! Her UNIQUENESS is 1 of a KIND and each and everyone of us is just as unique. i don't know the exact % but i think around 60% of us if not more, i'm trying to be fair here, have a HARDER time finding it due to buried internal depths and hurts of our lives........i encourage us all after watching that life changing life story to DIG DEEP and DISCOVER....YOUR 1 of a kind UNIQUENESS and GIFT to us all. Your 1 cell difference than ANYONE else but MISTAKE? A MUTATE? NOT HIS FATE. HE made each on GREAT and HE makes NOT 1 MISTAKE.

LIVE ON! LIVE STRONG! LIVE YOU!!!!! THE YOU-NESS OF YOU IS FABULOUSLY TRUE!

Summer Proposal

2009-02-11T07:35:00.001-06:00

Thank you all who have given your input and gotten involved to help! Here's what was proposed at the meeting last night.

Dear Major and Board of the city of McMinnville, Tn,

We, the citizens of McMinnville, Tn and surrounding counties would like to propose an addition to the purchase of the Gilley Pool passes this summer. We would like to request an additional option to be added to the Gilley Pool Summer Pool Passes. With this addition, we understand there will be added cost to the current cost of the Gilley Pool passes. We would like to propose an increase of somewhere within 75-85 dollars to be added on to the current price of this summers pool passes. We would like this price increase to include use of the whole Recreation Center, not just the outside facilities but the inside facilities as well. The gym, weight/workout-room, tennis court, raquet ball court, ping pong and other tables that are played on for games, inside walking areas, and upstairs areas for play. We would like to propose that when you acquire you pool pass, you may chose to pay for an individual pass/plan, family pass or deluxe individual/family package, which would include the "extra" inside benefits. Each of these categories or packages would be represented by a different color pass or different color stickers for identification and protection purposes, along with the picture i.d. on your pass.

The price increase for deluxe passes would not include extra rooms or "special" reservations/activities or events, that the Recreation Center puts on or requires special reservations or "extra" payments for. This proposal would in essence be a combination pass of what is already available for a civic center indoor 6 month pass and an already established pool pass. This proposal would be a new purchase price for a combination usage. With the exception of those that already have exsisting Civic Center indoor passes currently. Those patrons could be provided the opportunity to "add on" the "extra" to their currently held pass, possibly with a slight discount if they have been faithful members of any length of time. They could recieve their discount just like the rest of us by purchasing "early bird" specials with an added incentive for their already faithful membership deeming the county and economy can withstand "early bird specials" this year, understandly so, if not.

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to a great summer of increased sales and usage for the city of McMinnville and our surrounding neighbors that also use our facilities regularly.

Other noted recommendations: an early morning swim lane during water aerobics time and to have special member "nights" druing the summer months the pool is open as an additional incentive for deluxe pass holders. Once the swimming season is over, those deluxe members can chose to remain as indoor 6 month Recreation Center members or cancel completely.

Signed,

Matt and Myra Jackson
Co-Directors
MMerge Ministries, Inc.
McMinnville, Tn 37110
931-273-5802 or
find us on the web. www.mmerge.blogspot.com for all your family resource needs.

I need/want your help, PLEASE, it could only take a sec!!

2009-02-07T08:00:00.002-06:00

Way #1 you could help: if you haven't noticed or checked out www.jellytelly.com WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? ok i know, it's been a busy week but now IT'S THE WEEKEND!! make some time to relax, slow down and spend a few minutes with you kids watchin this great stuff, way BETTER than any Sat. morning cartoons my kids usually watch, take time to check it out before another Busy week starts and help me spread the word THANKS!

Way #2: Help me begin to make my dreams/goals start heading toward a reality. I have always wanted to write, i have always loved to write and i've always said that "one day i should write a book" well the research phase is beginning now. If you have known me or even just met me for any length of time you are who i want to help me!!! Please help me by completeing the following statement in the comment section.

i have known myra since __________(give a general date or amount of time) and she __________________________________________________________________. (no more than 7 sentences and all those that are from way back in the day, please keep it clean and appropriate, THANKS :)!!! You never know, one day 10 years from now your statements might be mentioned in my published LIFE STORY !!!

Thanks my FRIENDS, you FUEL me!!!
Myra

if you haven't friended us on facebook, please do!
Matt Jackson
Myra Micah Periwinkle Johnson Jackson

Another "Bit" on Jelly Telly

2009-02-06T23:48:00.000-06:00

Who Doesn't Like a FREE gift?

2009-02-05T16:32:00.002-06:00

www.jellytelly.com www.jellytelly.com
WOW! During the sometimes dull, cold and LONG winter months i am constantly looking for things to HELP and SPICE UP our homeschool rountine, well our life for that matter! It is around Jan/Feb. each year that we notice DRAG and Attitudes popping up in the Jackson Household due to all the "together time" and lack of time outdoors :)
CAN ANYONE OUT THERE RELATE???? Well if so and even if not, YOU HAVE GOT TO CHECK THIS OUT!
www.jellytelly.com and please spread the word! i know a number of you are tapped into vast networks of people that can help promote this and that would appreciate this resource as well. Anyone/everyone else out there please spread this link around to your friends, family, church leaders(children's/youth pastors), homeschool groups/friends,etc.

This is also a great homeschool resource!! We watched it this morning and all just laughed together infront of the computer screen and LEARNED ALOT TOO!!! we learned biblical truths and scientific facts and none of us even knew school could be this cool :)
so join us each week day as we learn and grow with these great biblical and educational videos. And theres fun games too! It is going to be FREE for the next two months, they have dropped the subscription cost inorder to promote more and recruit more users for the next several months.
www.jellytelly.com My kids look forward to getting up and seeing the next days videos. It's been a new fresh inspiring way to begin our day! And i hope you enjoy it to! I also have some invested interest in promoting this site.......The creator Phil Vischer is a friend of my sisters. Phil Vischer is the creator of Veggie Tales which has gotten bought out now and is being run by someone else. In order for Phil to continue making a living and using his God given talents to minister to kids he needs our support, even if it's just sending masses of people to use the site for free for the next several months! Phil and his family are inspiring followers of Christ, with an above average way of relating God given truths in biblical ways that make a lasting and eternal difference for all!
join me and others in supporting www.jellytelly.com
Thanks and enjoy! Have family time tonight and watch Thursdays videos they were great! Or have fun Friday tomorrow and watch them all :) There's even one for the weekend that you can watch sometime Sat. or Sun.

Blessings!

A New Year, a New Plan

2009-01-17T13:15:00.016-06:00

Dear Friends,
To attempt to describe the last year or so of our lives is more than anyone of us wants to go into or read about :) and as For most of you, you have followed along closely enough to know that it has been a rocky, unsteady and uncertain road. A few things have cleared up in the last month but we are still trying to come out of the fog that has characterized our lives for many, many years. The fog of LIFE that characterizes and mars many. The same LIFE that also gives hope, grace, forgiveness, and second chances. To all of you in our lives that have reached out in our direction during this most difficult time, THANK YOU! The bits of encouragement, the senses of hope, the glimpses of grace, the meaningful smiles, pats on the back and intercession on our behalf, have been VITAL lifelines during a time of great pain and loss.

We are beginning to rebuild. After selling almost everything, giving the rest away, and coming up $5,000.00 of the $21,000.00 short, we decided in great heartache to abandon the full-time missionary plan with Operation Mobilization. We could have continued to fund raise four more months to make up the difference but due to the stress and strain of an already drained and dying situation and family life, we decided that was not the best plan. Embarrassed and feeling very humiliated we hesitantly contacted all of our gracious supporters, explained the situation and returned funds. Then we proceeded to work on a plan C, whatever that was and whatever that looked like we just couldn't be sure of at that point, but we HAD to get up each day and try to put one foot in front of the other and do the things we knew how to do. Matt began to look for jobs and i began to try to turn my attention back to the children and homeschooling.

Thankfully, at this point it is all still a blur. By the grace and divine intervention of a God that loves us more than we can grasp, Matt has a new job and a quickly progressing career as an insurance agent with American General, one of the biggest insurance companies in the country. This job and new direction has been a HUGE blessing, comfort and driving force for us in a world that has been crumbling faster than we can pick up the pieces. I sense that Matt is just as much of a God-send to them as we feel like they are to us!

Doing what I could under the circumstances, the kids are still growing, learning and thriving in an environment that has not really been conducive to those things. Again, a divine intervention from a God that parents, teaches and holds when we as earthly parents are unable to do so. I am continually AMAZED at the awesomeness of God when I observe or spend time interacting with my 5 INCREDIBLE children. I am blessed, not necessarily b/c of anything that i have done, not b/c of anything great that i possess but strictly b/c i love and serve and desire to please the most amazing FATHER, a FATHER i cannot even grasp at most of the time.

So Matt is working, Myra is @ home most of the time teaching and mothering and the boys are so glad it's INDOOR soccer season again. We are currently leasing a wonderful old place with lots of charm and character right in town. A very convenient location with lots of space and lots of potential. Lord willing we keep on keeping on here we'd like to buy sometime this summer. But again, it's still all such a blur,raw and very much still mold able plan C. It's just time we proceed in this LIFE of ours with GREAT CAUTION yet full of FAITH, HOPE and TRUST in the God who has not been at all surprised by the happenings that have cost us almost everything.

Matt stated a week or so ago that this has been the most difficult time of our lives and i would have to agree. Yet never were we out of His sight, His hand or His plan. He has allowed us to be tempted, sifted, shaken and crumbled but not yet destroyed. And by His grace and His great measure will we rise again and say "Blessed be the name of the Lord." He gives and takes away but my heart still will say "Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Therefore now, there is no condemnation for those who love the Lord! We are once again trying to hold our heads high and live out loud a life that says, "Ye thou i walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil"! It might take us a few more weeks, months, maybe even a year or so but we will once again walk without shame, guilt or regret. We will once again be able to love and forgive b/c He first loved and forgave us.

We love you and are eternally thankful for the gift of relationships with you!

-The Jackson 7, still in Tn.

James 8, loves sports, math, history, geography, the great outdoors, animals, cooking pancakes for the family at least 2x a week and figuring things out!

Josiah 7, loves people, arts, food and being sensitive and creative.

Johnathan Paul 5, loves anything/everything his brothers love and anything he can beat his siblings at. He's strong and sure and deeply connected.

Rebekah 3, loves LIFE, animals, reading, drawing, dressing up and being as tough as the boys sometimes too.

Rachel 2, loves still being the baby and every one's attention b/c she is so!

The Price of Peace

2009-01-06T07:14:00.005-06:00

Several posts back as Matt shared a bit of the struggles we have been facing, he asked for prayers for peace during our Holiday Season. Peaceful is not exactly how we would describe our Holiday Season, however, we feel peace growing and we appreciate your prayers and the experience of peace we sense that is coming along. There is always a price to pay for peace and though it hasn't been easy, hopefully after coming through all this alittle more, we will continue to say that the price(s) we have paid will have been worth it all. It brings peace to know that Matt has flown through the training process at his new job and has already made a sale! It brings peace to know that through his job he has been able to contact and touch base with so many that have touched our lives before. It brings peace to know that he is motivated and enjoying what he is doing each day and sees it as a gift from God and an opportunity to expand. It brings peace to be settling into a wonderful home and beginning to feel organized again. I won't go into all the things that still don't promote peace in our lives and that can/could counteract all the peace I mentioned above, we are just trying to focus on the "peaceful" things right now.

New Info.

Matt's Employer: AIG American General, McMinnville, Tn 37110

The Man to call for all your Life and Accident Insurance or Annuity Needs(personal or business affairs)

Our New Address:

138 Club Dr.

McMinnville, Tn 37110

our p.o. box is still being used as well

over the holidays we also moved my mom in with us...she now lives in the back of the house we are currently in. We are currently leasing the whole building and we moved to the front of the home and mom is in the 2.5 bedroom apt we were in previously. We continue to work on and define "boundaries for peace" :)

New Year, No Limits

2009-01-01T08:07:00.008-06:00

Last night as we rung in the New Year alone yet all together we watched a show on ESPN entitled New Year, No Limits. We witnessed along with MILLIONS of others, a couple of guys defy limits. Defying the Odds is definately Challenging, Intense, Fearful, Freeing, Dangerous, Risky, Exhilerating, Expensive, Death Defying, A Push to the next new level and painful. YET WORTH IT ALL, i bet those guys and millions of others would say.
One young guy succeeded in a back flip with a truck and the other jumped a motorcycle 100ft. up in the air, landed ontop of a building and then jumped back down, with a broken hand I think but all in one piece non-the-less. These were some death defying, one of a kind/time tricks my friends!
We've also had some firsts occur recently in our lives and have felt a bit like we've defyed or defined the "odds" that we believe will lead us into a limitless future!

Remember, with God all things are Possible and there really are No Limits, for with Him who can be against us? We pray for you and yours a New Year with Death Defying Results!
Happy New Year 2009!!!

2009 Brings a new perspective to our lives. We are in a new place, a new time, a new home, a new focus, direction and Matt has a new career. We have looked forward to burying 2008 and beginning 2009.

What a day, what a week, what a life...

2008-12-13T22:09:00.003-06:00

Today, the boys and I went up to a friends nursery to find a Christmas tree. It was a lot of fun. It was up in the hills/ mountains here and the snow was still on the ground. It was a challenge driving through the fields in the Volvo station wagon, but we made it and found a great tree.

This week, I was supposed to start selling Life Insurance for AIG American General. However, paperwork didn't make it in time, so I had another week off. It was a good and bad situation because I need to get back to work, but also needed the week to finish painting the big apartment in the front of the house and move all our stuff from the back to the front. we have just about finished it just in time.

As for life, its been hard for a while, but we are making it. We would appreciate your prayers for some of life to settle down and to find some peace during the holiday season. We are tired of moving, living without knowing, and feeling like we don't know why or what is going on.

Loving Genuinely and finding Joy in the process

2008-11-28T18:11:00.004-06:00

I passed my life and health insurance license test on Tuesday, so I was set to start working this next week, then another opportunity came up this week in a managerial position in the food industry (I haven't been offered it yet, just interviewed). I am asking my self, how can I serve God in the world, enjoy life, supply for my family, and be around and supportive for my wife. The following paragraphs reminded me that I can simplify some of the decisions and trust that God will use me and us wherever I go.I Continue to be challenged by this blog at http://www.simplechurchjournal.com/ They have been publishing chapters from a book that you can download for free. In this chapter they were talking about evangelism and how messed up it has become. Obviously there is so much that the church needs to re-evaluate and this is a huge area. However, for me this is hitting home in other ways. I long to know the heart of God for my life, for my family, and to share it with the world. I think I can do it in either way, whether selling life insurance or being a manager of people.

Love Genuinely
Although Jesus said that Christians would be known by their love, this is almost universally not the case today. We are more often known for our self-righteousness and judgmental attitudes. Furthermore, most un-Christians believe we care more about “making converts” than about them as people. I heard an atheist share that, having made friends with a Christian, he felt the need to ask him, “Am I truly your friend or am I just your project?” This suggests that people may have the perception that Christians tend to look at them as “objects to convert” rather than people that they care deeply about.
Yet, the joy that Jesus has called us to, is to is to simply love others. That’s it. No strings attached. When we recognize the people that God has called us to (including those we are already living among) then we are free to unleash creative ways to just love others genuinely and generously.

Discover Your Own Gifts and Passions
As we live among those we are called to, listening to God’s voice, loving those we are with, we can begin to uncover our own passions and spiritual gifts. We become more and more dynamic as our unique abilities are unleashed outside of the church walls. Many of us have been trained to use our spiritual gifts inside church buildings. How much more powerful to see those same gifts (and more) unleashed as we live a life that is engaging a lost world.
God’s heart is that all will know him. Our joy is to find our unique and created way to join him in that passion. Reaching out to others and using our own gifts and abilities to love them reflects the very life Jesus lived.

Cast Your Vote, Your Voice Matters!

2008-11-17T20:38:00.002-06:00

I keep a running list of topics I would like to blog about and sometimes instead of picking one myself or being drawn to one topic or the other, I like to get other opinions. So what would you like to read about next? If you care, I'd love to have your input for one of the following topics.

Irreconcilable Differences

How to lead or follow for that matter if you are tied up

Balancing the Scales

I'll give it a few days before tallying the votes.

Happy Fall!

For my outspoken Brother... love ya Bro!

2008-11-12T19:04:00.006-06:00

I have appreciated my brother speaking up recently on some issues that he feels strongly about and while I don't agree with him on certain points, I still love him and look forward to hearing from him in the future. One of my favorite blogs deals with the issue of how to love but still disagree. here are some quotes, check the whole blog if you like.

"...If the body of Christ is going to demonstrate herself today in the corporate majesty of her collaboration and cooperation then Jesus will have to be our only focus and loving others will be our motivation, not a demand for conformity..."

"...Jesus asked us to love as we follow him; he didn’t ask us to agree. If we have to agree to love, then what hope have we? If a group has to all think alike to have fellowship then they have pitched a tent at some stage of the journey and will not grow on to know him. In most groups I’ve known, conformity has been the goal. Someone needs to set the standard for the group and people either go along or go away. Neither leads to the reality of Christ expressed among his people..."

"...So here is the problem today. Too many people think they alone are right and anyone who disagrees with them is a threat to their world. And it only takes one person like that in a group to destroy its ability to live, love and grow together. Until we have enough brothers and sisters that have a passion for truth that does not outrun their calling to love others, the body of Christ will continue to be fractured and impotent in the world. And they’ll have to have enough love to lovingly stand up to those who would be divisive among the family by demanding everyone think like they do..."

Quotes from lifestream.org blog titled "If you ever wonder why..."

James wonders why...

The fuel of Desperation by Matt Tullos

2008-11-09T15:30:00.002-06:00

Great thoughts from my Friend Matt at www.tullos.org (I hope you don't mind me putting it on here Matt)

The fuel of Desperation leads us to the end of ourselves and into the presence of God.

Are you desperate yet?

It moves all the petty chips of our life into his hands

The fuel of desperation is a realization that we can never be good enough, never strong enough, to live a life of independence from God.

Are you desperate yet?

The fuel of desperation helps us realize that we are powerless against our own sin and that our
only hope is in God. In God alone.

Are you desperate yet?

The fuel of desperation compels us to open up our closets, or treasures, our secret wounds, our addictions because pride is no longer an option for us.

The fuel of desperation is coming to the cold realization that god is real, that He is holy and that he is the only for you.

The fuel of desperation is smelling the pig slop on your ankles and realizing that there is a father who is just beyond the western horizon of your soul.

The fuel of desperation involves a face down submission, spread eagle submission to God’s presence.

Are you Desperate?

A week in Pictures

2008-11-09T11:08:00.004-06:00

I just found a cool application on the google picasa photo program that lets you put whatever pictures you want into a collage. So here are the pictures from the last week in a collage.

The Gathering Tonight

2008-11-08T10:47:00.002-06:00

Kung Po Chicken, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Shrimp Lo Mein, Beef and Brocolli, General Tso's Chicken... any of this sound good to you?????

If so come join us tonight at 5:30.

We are getting together for some Chinese Take Out! If you have a favorite Chinese food, let us know. We will order it all and pick it up. All you have to do is come hang out and eat. We would like to have an idea of who is coming so please RSVP by Friday afternoon.

Cost: $3 per person Bring friends and family!

Where: The Jacksons - 138 Club Drive

yuàn shàng dì zhù fú nĭ hé nĭ de ài rén yŏng yuăn cì fú yú nĭ men:

God bless you and yours and surround you ever with His blessing

Walking on the Greenway

2008-11-06T14:40:00.008-06:00

We went to Riverfront park today to walk the greenway and I forgot the camera, so I had to resort to the camera on the cellphone. It a beautiful day and so warm that we didn't want to miss out

James found a vine that seemed to be used for swinging like Tarzan and gave it a try. Actually, John-John was the willing one to try it out, then James went for it after him.

Being Church

2008-11-04T16:56:00.003-06:00

I read a great article/ chapter today at www.simplechurchjournal.com and found out it comes from a free downloadable book at www.simplechurchrevolution.com .

Here's what caught me...

Being Church

My Filipino friend, Molong Nacua, wrote an excellent article entitled “Being Church” that reminds us of the true meaning of “church:”

Church is where Christ lives, not the place where we meet. It is Christ-empowered people, a kingdom of priests for the purpose of winning against the works of the devil and establishing God's Kingdom (1 Cor. 3:17; Matt. 18:19; Ex. 19:6)… Christianity is not about doing church, but being the church. Church is not some place to go to participate in, but it is about being who you are in Christ and thus experiencing His real life in you. Your Christianity was never defined by attending a particular church. It is defined by Christ in you. In other words, you are a Christian 24/7, not because you participate in a two-hour worship service, but because Christ lives in you every minute of every day.

November 08 Update

2008-11-02T16:31:00.004-06:00

The weather here in Middle Tn. is beginning to turn cool and the landscape is ablaze with colors. Fall has arrived in full force and it's beautiful here! Matt is continuing to search out different job opportunities such as, teaching/coaching or selling life insurance for a time. Our time off here has provided us with the opportunity to work more now through our non-profit organization, MMerge Ministries, than we were before. We have been hosting weekly family gatherings each Saturday and mentoring during the week. Our new home is convientently located right in the middle of town and we have noticed it is much more accessable for the community kids to find us and drop in often. We also just learned that we will have the opportunity to use or occupy the entire building we are in come December. This whole house/building was a country club clubhouse in the past that they have divided up into 3 separate apartments. Though this is more than we can afford right now, it would give us the ability to host much bigger gatherings, functions and activities. The front of the house is very spacious with a huge great room and 5 other bedrooms. We would like to open it back up some and use the apartment we are living in now(2.5 bedrooms) to house people that are in need of a place. So again it seems for now that we are staying in McMinnville and seeing God lead us down a new road. We see now that we never would have been able to do this type of ministry if we had not gone through the whole process of selling most everything we had and preparing to go to the mission field. Well, actually we are in a mission field, just not with OM, rather with MMerge Ministries in Middle Tennesse. We continue to homeschool our 5 children and we are actively involved in the leadership of the local homeschool group. Myra continues to take on a few cases at a time in the area of Behavioral Consulting through the ministry and we continue to look for opportunities of involvement in the community.

Gathering @ The Movies

2008-10-30T19:57:00.002-05:00

Every year we have to decide how to deal with Halloween. In the past we have hosted dinners and fall activities. This year we have decided to just do something else and we wanted to invite you to join us.

We will be going to the movies on Friday night to see "High School Musical 3." Obviously, this movie isn't for everyone, but our kids like it and its rated "G". You may want to just come and go to a different movie. We will meet at the Three Star Cinema around 6:45. We will not be doing anything on Sat. night this week, but we are getting excited about the Thankgiving and Christmas season and how we can Gather and celebrate it in different ways together.

If you haven't researched Halloween, it's origins, and a Christians response, I would encourage you to do so. There are lots of websites that talk about it. Weigh them out and decide where you stand.
We are all in the same boat, in striving to be "in the world, but not of it." We are thankful for a group of people like you to share life and the journey with.

We'd love to see you friday night or just stop by some time,
Have a great weekend,

Matt and Myra Jackson
MMerge

Still Here

2008-10-25T08:29:00.007-05:00

Reading through the Psalms. I'm stuck in the 50's with the Psalms and not movin' very fast but gleaning some things. This is what struck me today....
Psalm 56 verses 3-4
When I am afraid(or hurt, disappointed, uncertain, fearful, threatened, add your own struggle here)
I will trust in YOU. In God, whose word I praise, in God I TRUST; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Verses 12-13
I am under vows to YOU, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you.
For YOU have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

My personal prayer:
Lord, I will trust in you. I have trusted in you. My trust in you has saved me. Help me to hang onto and TRUST YOU more. Help me PRIZE your word more and turn to it more instead of turning to others in my times of need. I feel as though I am under vows to so many but only ONE is most important...my vows to you. I am also under vows to my husband, children, family, friends and work responsibilities. How do these play out, where do they lie in the line of my priorities and where should they be? In all or some of these at certain times I must confess I feel "prone to wander, prone to leave the God and things I love. Take my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above."

The Gathering - Oct. 25

2008-10-23T13:23:00.006-05:00

GAME NIGHT!

Come and get your game on and enjoy some chili too.

Date: October 25th, 2008
Time: 5:30 PM
Place: Will and Allison Terry's 109 Rebel Hill Street

This week "THE GATHERING" will be a game night at the Terry's House. Bring your favorite game or just come and join the fun. Some will be large group games for whoever wants to play and others may want to play in small groups or just hang around.

We have two people making chili already. If you want to bring Chili let us know, if not bring a side for the chili such as fritos, cheese, sour cream, etc., and/or dessert. Drinks and the rest are taken care of.

CALL or EMAIL for more info - Bring a friend. Bring your family!

If you are not on the mailing list for THE GATHERING and would like to keep up with where, what and when each week, click the link on the side to sign up and you will get an email.

And the Winner IS......

2008-10-21T12:56:00.002-05:00

Matthew Woodard!!
This is a type of Assassin Bug called a Wheel Bug.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_bug

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin_bug

October 21, 2008 12:36 PM

Anne, you called right after him but did post first, however, I think he wins the Bug Prize and you win the Chigger prize...stayed tuned for details of the prizes and when you should expect it. THANKS for playing and now we have a science lesson for this afternoon :)

Prize for figuring out what kind of bug this is!!

2008-10-21T11:26:00.003-05:00

We found this bug outside today. We are not sure what kind of bug it is and need some help. We tried quickly looking it up in our Peterson's First Guide to Insects but couldn't find it. If you can figure it out, we'll come up with a prize.

Rob Bell Interview at RelevantMagazine.com

2008-10-20T10:31:00.006-05:00

This is just a clip from an interview that Relevant Magazine did with Rob Bell about his new book "Jesus wants to save Christians." - Looks like a good book, but you can't be afraid to think out of the religous box the church seems to be stuck in. Check it out

As the title of the book suggests, Jesus Wants To Save Christians. In your opinion, what are the biggest things we need saving from?

Boredom. Which is really despair in its non-caffeinated form. And boxes. Where we live in fear and where we put those who unsettle us.

You describe the plan of God for the church to be a gift to the world. Many people today would say that the church is anything but. What are some crucial changes that our churches need to make to become a Eucharist that is broken and poured out for the world?

1. Master the art of doubt. Faith needs it to survive.

2. Surrender the compulsive need to constantly remind people that according to your worldview you're going to heaven forever when you die and they're going to burn in hell forever.

3. Celebrate the good and the true and the beautiful wherever and whenever you find it regardless of the label it wears or the person it comes from or the place you found it. All things are yours.

4. Remember that the tax collectors and prostitutes loved to feast with Jesus and the religious establishment gossiped about him and dissected his teachings and questioned his commitment to orthodoxy and eventually had him killed. There's a lesson for us there.

Camping Pics

2008-10-19T20:51:00.004-05:00

We had a good, quick, cold, bonding, tiring, camping trip this weekend. Here's a few pics.

It was cold this morning.
The boys had a blast. Yea, that's our big ol' tent in the background.
Horseshoe bend is right at the end of Center hill lake. it was foggy this morning, then it cleared and the water was steaming. Beautiful place and day. Thank You God!

Josiah trying to get some more heat out of the fire.

Gathering - CAMP OUT!

2008-10-16T14:33:00.003-05:00

The Gathering - CAMP OUT! October 18th, 2008

WE ARE GOING CAMPING THIS WEEK! Come join us at Horseshoe bend (Directions and info) in Rock Island. We will be going out Saturday evening (eating around 6pm) and coming back sometime Sunday. I need to reserve campsites so please let me know if you are coming. You could also just come for the evening. Each family will be responsible for their own tents, sleeping bags, etc. If we can all bring some snacks and sides to share, we will get burgers and dogs and the "fixins". On Sunday morning we will have a small worship gathering for those interested or you could pack up and make it back to your regular fellowship.

If you would like to get our "Gathering" emails click the sign-up for our newsletters link at the side or email me. Some of you may be getting it, but it's not getting through, so check your spam folder for mail from us.

FamilyTimes - In our desire to strengthen our family we have been having a family worship time either on Wed. or Sunday or both. We are using the Familytimes packs that we used at CFC. You can subscribe if you would like to do the same at www.familytimes.org. If a few of us start using the same material, we could also use it as a focus sometimes for our weekly gathering. For example, the theme for the month of November is Gratitude. In each pack you get a listening CD with stuff for kids and parents. You get a weekly bible story and a weekly discussion guide. It is a great way to grow together as a family. This past year we also made calendars at Christmas for the next year with birthdays for family and friends included. We used the Familytimes theme virtue and verse on each month. If you would like us to make these for you, please let us know. Obviously there is a small cost for paper, ink and supplies. These might be a great gift for your family and friends and a good way to get them thinking about incorporating virtue and character into their family lives too.

This camping trip is a big adventure for us. We have never camped as a whole family and it promises to be full of new experiences and fun. If you have extra camping gear or need camping gear let us know and we will see if we can get more people to go.

Where I've Been and Where I'm Still At

2008-10-12T10:39:00.002-05:00

I've been stuck on Psalm 51 for awhile now, like 3 weeks if not more. For some reason I just can't move from there. Guess there's a message for me in there somewhere. Funny thing is I've gotten several messages from it in the weeks I've been there and continue to get them. Guess I'll just stay here til I feel like I can move on to the next Psalm. Anyway, there was also this reading that went along with it that I thought I would post. Hope it speaks to someone else as powerfully as it has spoken to me. (Underlining, bold and italics are mine as well as the questions for reflection).

Losing The Way

From top to bottom, our society is success oriented, however one may define that in terms of one's own goals. Christians are not immune; "Everything comes out okay for christians," and "The King's kids are always winners", these are misleading slogans to live by. We develop unrealistic expectations of the Christian life and of ourselves; and then when our wings get broken, we think failure ends our usefulness.
For those of use who know too well the salt taste of failure, it helps to remember that even the great ones of the faith failed, yet God continued to use them, often in a deeper ways after their fall.

Some of David's greatest writings came after his greatest mistakess. God called him "a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). Abraham lied, perhaps to save his skin, yet he is the towering example of faith for 3 major religions and is called "God's friends" (James 2:23).

It is those who have plumbed the depths of failure to whom God invariably gives the call to shepherd others. This is not a call given only to the gifted, the highly trained, or the polished as such. Without a bitter experience of their own inadequacy and poverty, they are quite unfitted to bear the burden of spiritual ministry. It takes a person who has discovered something of the measure of his own weakness to be patient with the foibles of others.

Too often we live in a quid-pro-quo relationship with God: "I've been faithful to you, I've worked hard, so please give me this or that." Or, "I've failed again; I can't expect any blessings." We forget that the WHOLE of our life is GRACE.

Too many sincere Christians, facing their failures, berate themselves unmercifully and keep asking God for forgiveness. Each of us should memorize, hang on our mirror, and make forever our own the ringing truth: "There is now no (repeat NO) condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

Not only does he not condemn us; he even brings blessings from the ashes of our failures.
author: Gini Andrews

Questions for reflection:
1. What do you consider some of your greatest failures or what comes to mind when you think of how you have failed (jot these down)?

2. When you have failed, do you feel as though people have encouraged you and helped to lift you up OR judged, condemned and punished you? (often times we will translate how people have treated ius into the thinking of ,that is how God is or would treat us and often times, most times, that couldn't be farther from the truth)

3. Do you tend to want to redeem your mistakes or quit and do something else?

4. Is it "ok" to lie if you are saving your own skin or someone elses?

5. Is honesty (complete honesty) always "the best policy"?

6. Do you have a healthy understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses inorder for both of those to be used for your good and the good of others?

7. If a quid-pro-quo relationship is not the way, then how do we attain a life well lived and a life flowing with blessings recieved and blessings given away?

8. WOW! What do you think about the statement "....the whole of our life is grace."?

9. Do you berate yourself unmercifully and keep asking for forgiveness? Is that necessary? Healthy? And would God speak to you like you speak to yourself in that way?

*remember these important points.....there is no condemnation! AND he not only condemns us, he even brings blessings from the ashes of our failures! Cool!

Have a BLessed Day and Rest of the Week,
myra

The Gathering

2008-10-09T08:39:00.004-05:00

The GatheringOctober 11th, 2008

We had a great time getting together this past week and we want to keep "The Gathering" going. We hope this becomes a special time for families and friends to get together for food, fun times, and growing relationships. A few details may change every week. We will keep you posted via email and post it on the blog. Though the place or focus may change, the purpose remains the same - to integrate families into everyday life.

When: THIS SATURDAY - Oct 11th @ 5pm

WHERE: Our house (138 Club Dr)

MENU: Lasagna, Salad, Sides, and Dessert

FOCUS: The Heart of the Family

Right now we have three families making (or buying) Lasgna to bring. We would like one or two more otherwise just bring sides and/or desserts.
Feel free to bring family or friends.

Have a great week and we hope to see ya Saturday.

"Quote"

2008-10-05T22:48:00.002-05:00

What are your thoughts on T.O. 's statement today,"God used me for His glory today and that's all there is to it, Reality is where Glory resides"?

give your feedback....

What a Word- Determination!

2008-10-01T16:35:00.004-05:00

October Theme: DETERMINATION
Deciding it's Worth IT to Finish What You've Started
2 Corinthians 8:11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

I am so excited, blessed and encouraged by this new month, new theme, new meaning and new verse. This theme couldn't have come at a better time for us. It's only Oct. 1st and I'm already inspired!

I love determination, I love the word, the meaning, the spelling of it, I just love everything about it and I can't wait to learn more as we study it ALL month!! I know I will grow as I study, read, learn, meditate and am open to what God has to say to me this month, not just regarding this new word, theme and verse but about our lives in general and I hope you'll come along and GROW with us!

Be Determined!

myra

A Banquet of Praise

2008-10-01T07:46:00.002-05:00

How important are our sacrifices anyway and what are they? What do we say we "sacrifice" for Him or in His name only to be made to feel good that we are "sacrificing". Does God accept that or even want that for that matter?

See Ps. 50 for what He really wants from us and what he doesn't. Hint: I had to read the Message version to understand

Your comments after you read are requested :)

Have a blessed day and remember, read your stress-less checklist :)

A New Washer and A New Outlook on Life

2008-10-01T00:23:00.003-05:00

This is the second time I have gotten a new washer(it's the same washer twice) and have had a new lease on life. Ok, is that possible??? That a new washer(and honestly a lot of other things my sister gave me today) can change a girls world and redeem a very desperate situation/person? I'm sick ya'll. Good night, I'm tired too...HA ! sick and tired! It's no lie and if I don't get more sleep I'm going to be sicker and tireder(b/ Iknow that is not correct grammer, Imeant to do that).

I've got to go print out and ask myself the stress questions of which I know I've already got to say NO to several, especially the sleep one and saying No to things I need to say No to, like blogging and facebooking all night long, that is NOT healthy but I already confessed I was sick and tired, and I've also already confessed I DO NOT like rules or conformity so I can't keep that list to a T or that would be conformity :) Doesn't confession count for something and turn a bunch of my No's to Yes's on the checklist....I think so but what do I know I didn't make up the list and can't ask the lady that did. I need to go to bed so I can check yes on that one tomorrow. Goodnight

Stressed?

2008-09-30T08:00:00.004-05:00

Questions to ask yourself daily.....and if your me, to ask yourself 3x daily.
by Deborah Smith Pegues

1. Did I take the time to become clear on the nature and core reason why a certain stiuation threatens to stress me today?

2. Did I strenghten my spritual foundation by connectin with God through prayer, Bible reading and meditation?

3. Did I avoid foods that provide NO nourishment?

4. Did I sleep at least seven to eight hours that night before?

5. Did I engage in a physcial activity for at least 20-30 minutes?

6. Did my actions align with my core values relative to God, Family, etc.........

7. did I schedule my day to include only a few versus numerous major takes?

8. Did I spend within my budget?

9. Did I resist the temptation to do wrong in any way? ahhh....resist the temptation, today?

10. Did I make an effort to enjoy today rather than focusing totally on the future?

11. Did I say no to a request that would have distracted me from my goal or purpose?

12. Did I exhibit flexibility, even though I wanted things done my way?

13. Did I delegate a task rather than doing it myself?

14. did I evaluate my expectation when someone frustrated me?

15. Did I attempt to resolve conflict today by running away, exploding, or handling it God's way?

16. Did I make a decision to forgive and release the past?

17. Did I take appropriate breaks today?

My suggestion is that you print these out and have one by your bedside for the morning before you get out of bed, one in a kitchen area and one in your work area or at your office. At least that's my plan anyway, these are incredible tools for a life well lived! And if you didn't know I'm definately always looking to improve mine.

I succumbed......

2008-09-29T14:52:00.002-05:00

my facebook name: myra micah periwinkle jackson or johnson, I was so tired when I joined I don't know if I spelled periwinkle with one "r" or two so you might have to try it either way. What is the exact periwinkle spelling and definition anyway?

Personal info: when I was little my dad would call me myra micah periwinkle pickle star johnson and i wanted that to be my facebook name but they said it was too long......jerks :)

friend me! I think i have a new addiction :)

Simple Yet Profound.....Clutter......

2008-09-29T03:32:00.006-05:00

I have a friend that just posted this today.....i think she was simply just trying to recount her day for her records and her family and friends but it just resonated with me in a way that I thought I wanted to share it here for my records and those interested enough to read it. I emailed her to let her know how much this post spoke to me.....this is so my life over the past 6-8 months....beginning with the mess part all the way to the end.....except for one thing, I have a love/hate relationship with Sundays(some of you will understand that)....Saturdays is now my ultimate favorite day of the week(after all Sat. is the Sabbath anyway right? :) .....and sometimes SUNDAYS, just depends :) Ok, I digress...as you read, take careful note of the bold part near the bottom of her post, read it a few times and tell me what that says to you. I'll post more on what it says to me after I've had some sleep, which isn't happening as much as i need it to be. w/o further adoo:

"I love Sunday's! Usually it is a day for rest and spending time with family and friends. Though part of today I spent doing just that the other part I had a mess. This morning before Church I thought I would hang up some clothes in the closet - harmless right - well as I went on to the next job that needed attention I heard a big crash. I knew before I looked what had happened.
I knew that someday that rod would say enough is enough - You have to many clothes - lots that you don't even wear. Get rid someone else could be putting them to good use. So after Church, lunch at Mom's and a friends birthday party I came home to a mess. By the way the birthday party was great - Her girl had a Girls Birthday Band - they were so cute. We had cake and ice cream of course - my kids always love that. Even though Hannah didn't want to leave we had to come home a face the mountain of clothes waiting for us.
It's good to go though things every so often because we really don't realize all the stuff we pile up over time. I think God is just telling me Clean up Get rid and Be happy. Sometimes we can get so cluttered in our lives that we miss out on the joy of living and God's grace. I pray that I will be more thankful, helpful to my friends and joyful. God loves me and you what more do we need.

Keep looking ahead and loving each other
and God will take care of us,"

Ok, I'm off to try and get to sleep AGAIN! remember comment on what you think the bold part(or any part of her post really) means or what it means to/for you.....lets get a dialogue going as b/ would say!! b/ whatcha think dude, profound or am i just a few fries short of a happy meal? Or maybe being slow and REALLY hard headed is my problem....i'll catch up ya'll just wait for me and cheer me on :)
Peace out and prayerfully to sleep land, Lord willing!

Top 10 Reason to Sell Everything You Own and Be Willing to go to the Mission Field

2008-09-27T03:10:00.002-05:00

10. it's time to declutter

9. it's just stuff anyway

8. it's time to go "see" the world

7. it helps get you out of debt

6. it supplies lots of other people with things they want or need

5. it teaches your kids to hold "things" loosely and "give" willingly

4. we didn't need, want or care for most of that stuff anyway

3. it frees you up

2. you might not have to go after all AND the number 1. reason to sell everything you own and be willing to go to the Mission Field.......

1. it won't be hard to find christmas presents for everyone this year!

it's good to have a sense of humor about these things ya know.....not easy but necessary.

I Actually Won Something!

2008-09-27T01:26:00.002-05:00

Ok, not much has actually made me smile lately but this did........today or yesterday I can't remember which I get the following email, entitled: YOU WIN

Hey Myra, you won the giveaway. Congratulations. I'm sure that I should have your mailing address somewhere, but I don't know where. Can you e-mail that to me? Thanks. Hope you guys are doing well.
b/

Here's what I won: http://th.eophil.us/ Scroll down 4 or 5 posts to the post entitled Book Giveaway AND mark this site on your reader cause this guy has some good stuff to say, read about and discuss!! Not to mention HE GIVES STUFF AWAY FREE!!! AND PAYS THE POSTAGE! What a guy, what a guy....and thanks Kirsten for laughing....matt said you guys probably just wanted us to have it, like maybe we needed to read it or something. I guess that means he(matt) didn't think my caption was very funny...oh well, his wasn't either :) I'm just stoked I won and it made me smile, that's a feat lately, ask matt. Thanks /'s!!!

Is this the Moment?

2008-09-25T11:00:00.004-05:00

"What if you knew somewhere in front of you was a moment that would change your life forever, a moment rich with potential, a moment filled with endless possibilities? What if you knew that there was a moment coming, a divine moment, one where God would meet you in such a way that nothing would be the same again? What if there was a moment, a defining moment, where the choices you made determined the course and momentum of your future? How would you treat that moment? How would you prepare for it? How would you identify it?"
From Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus

I believe we are in the midst of the moment, but it is hard to see. I can't wait to look back on it. May God lead our choices today and onward!

God's Playground

2008-09-22T21:24:00.004-05:00

There really is so much out there to discover!

I've been reading lately on the Charlotte Mason stlye of homeschooling. I have attempted to read some of her stuff over the years always to get discouraged with it due to the depth of the reading. She was way more intellectual then I will ever be, yet I am continually drawn back to her methods because I believe them to be so true. So this year, I am back again trying to glean and apply what I can to our daily routine. One of the biggest challenges this week has been to have the children get from 4-6 hours a day outside. We've always been out-doorsy but if you think about your day and all you do 4-6 hours outside is a great deal of time outdoors. However, I must say since Sat. we've accomplished it!

We are also incorporating nature walks into our daily routine, taking our nature journals along to jot down what we see, hear, discover or would like to draw, trace or rub drawing. This week we are studying leaves.

Wonderworks TN

2008-09-19T13:04:00.005-05:00

We got away for two days recently and were blessed with tickets to wonderworks. it was a cool discovery-type museum and had a dinner show. The dinner show would have been good, but it was made much better by the fact that we were involved in a few parts of the show. All the kids started the show up on the stage for a fun rendition of the hokie-pokie. Then I was brought up with four other guys and we were seated on four buckets and told to lean back on each other, then they took the buckets out. It was very strenuous, but I'm sure funny for the audience to see us straining. Josiah was the hit of the night as he was brought up and used to help the guy balance spining plates. As you can see he was holding three plates at one time. The funnest part happened before that as the guy was preparing Josiah to balance the first plate on his finger, he was trying to get him to keep his finger straight and firm, so in the process had Josiah looking away and the guy started acting like he was going to put his nose on Josiah's finger and get his nose picked. When he was done and we were all rolling in laughter. The guy told Josiah what he was doing and asked "Is this the finger you use to pick your nose?" Josiah said "No." Then the guy asked "so what finger do you use?" and Josiah proceeded to show the whole audience his middle finger. Ahhh, the innocence of our kids. I wish I would have got that on video, it would have made a youtube favorite.

Another Trip to.......

2008-09-13T06:54:00.004-05:00

The Largest Tree House in the World! If you'd like to go with us we'll head out from our house around 3pm tomorrow (SUNDAY). Pack a picnic dinner if you want. Should return back around dark.

Late Birthday Post

2008-09-04T21:18:00.006-05:00

Some very sweet friends of mine gave an a GREAT birthday present a few weeks back....a swedish massage....and it was the bomb!!! I recommend it, highly...here's the site....
http://www.transformyourself.massagetherapy.com/

And while I'm remembering my great, relaxing, birthday present here's a few shots that a friend took that night....Thanks Toree! Kirsten and Coty, can you send me the pics you took?!?

What John-John was Singing for Breakfast

2008-09-04T08:11:00.002-05:00

I took alittle longer to get up and going this morning. Around 8am we started talking about eating breakfast and this is what John-John started singing...."we are hungry...we are hungry..." I just had to find the song and include it....nice way to start the morning!

I had fun acting like a kid again today

2008-09-01T22:07:00.003-05:00

Got up, made french toast then loaded up the van and headed out.

Matthew Woodard joined us for a hike up to the quarry on Viola Hwy behind a friends house. yea, that's where we took the pic back in the fall that is at the top of our blog. When we went before, we saw the caves, but not the lake. this time we found the lake, and weren't expecting to swim, but we couldn't resist, so we jumped in. Matthew, James, John-John and I swam to the other side. I helped the boys on the way over, then told them I'd pay them a buck if they would swim all the way back by themselves. They both did it. Then we explored the caves and headed back home for lunch.

Got home for lunch and naps, then went swimming for the last time at the Gilley Pool this summer. Our family has all gotten into the diving boards for the last few days. Myra has gotten back to doing one and a halfs, and flips with twists. I've had fun with flips, back flips and trying to get my dive from the high board looking good. All the kids go off the two lower boards, but I have to get Rachel after she jumps in. the rest go at it. Johnathan loves the high dive. Bekah is doing great at swimming and Rachel is close. I hate that we have to wait till next year.

This evening we had some people over for my Birthday dinner. I grilled out burgers, dogs, and Ribs. it was good. Vicki made a great chocolate cake and the fosters brought a chocolate cream pie.

It was a great day, thanks to all that joined in the fun. Thank You Myra for loving me and making it all happen. May we all learn to live like kids more often. Enjoy life, Love God, make the most of your time with loved ones!

Happy Birthday Izzy!

2008-08-31T22:56:00.002-05:00

Izzy! Happy Birthday!! I'm sorry we didn't get to talk to you today. We hope you got our message and that you had a great birthday! Sorry we couldn't be there to celebrate with you but we were thinking about you all day. We love you and celebrate with you the LIFE God has given you and that we can share life together! Your present will be in the mail soon, I'll mail it this week.

Good times, Great Love

2008-08-31T21:35:00.005-05:00

Some recent trips with our family and friends.

Happy Labor Day!

Enjoy your times together!

ooopppsss....cut the song off. Due to tech. difficulties and how late it was getting that done, we'll just leave it how it is :)

"Your Love Oh Lord"

2008-08-28T08:00:00.002-05:00

After reading Ps. 57 this morning, I was led to this song and then found this video.
What is family? Who is your family? How can we be family, not just to our immediate family but to others too, especially those that need one?

I'm so thankful that I have a wonderful family, not just my husband, kids and extended family but so many others that I consider "family"! Thanks for loving us!

....as we wait upon the Lord......

2008-08-24T07:56:00.002-05:00

My study this morning was Ps. 51....this is where i was lead....

Thank you Lord for your mercy, unfailing love, great compassion and your cleansing process.
"For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me....."

"Cleans me with hyssop and I will be clean, wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bone you have crushed rejoice."

Lord, we continue to wait upon you to reveal Yourself and your ways to us.

A wedding, friends and Horace Burgess

2008-08-20T22:21:00.003-05:00

These are some "happy" moments from the last few weeks at Hannah and Daniels wedding reception, a friends birthday party and todays adventure with the Lawlers to "the largest treehouse in the world" built by Horace Burgess of Crossville, TN. It is over 97 feet high, 10 stories, 8000 sq. feet and 15 years of ministry. We want to go back again soon for those interested in taking a trip.

A Lesson In Waiting

2008-08-14T15:17:00.006-05:00

Currently Reading: The Calvary Road by Roy Hession....a must read for all of us!

Another one of my journal entries: I wrote this one prior to this very difficult week. Sadly I failed my own advice here this week, so I have added in my confessions of this week to what I had written last week. However, I still think it's good advice and truth I will contiue to try to practice and play out in my life, not perfectly, obviously but I'll keep trying.

Waiting....ugggg...it must be one of the hardest things in life i have to do or have to learn to do. Hopefully I'm learning but I know I haven't mastered it yet b/c i struggle so badly with it and am often caught red handed at "jumping the gun" or "biting at the bit to jump the gun".

We've definitely had and are having some lessons/issues in waiting lately.
What have you had to wait for lately or long term? What are you currently waiting for? How do you react or respond to waiting?

What about the struggle of saying the right thing at the right time and in the right way? Another BIG HUGE weakness of mine. How do you do in lessons/issues of humility or of allowing the person(s) to learn the lesson the hard way b/c they wouldn't, couldn't or don't know how to listen? Or maybe you just knew they wouldn't listen or what you had to say wouldn't make a difference? Or maybe b/c you've been told not to say that at that time to that person.

When people are involved and people getting hurt are involved(myself included) I tend to get too emotionally and relationally involved, especially if I see "sin" that is going on or might happen or might could be prevented or helped if I spoke up, sometimes even before I have removed the plank from my own eye. 1st step: remove the plank in your own eye first before preceeding ahead, if possible(Matthew 7:3-5) How do you determine when you should let the Holy Spirit be the Holy Spirit and do His job in speaking to that person and when you should speak up? It's a difficult determination for me and one I mess up on all the time. In these situations and in situations where I think I could help or am just willing to help, too willing sometimes, EVERYTHING in my body, my being, my mind, heart, soul and spirit, everything in me wants to come bursting forth like fire out of a dragons mouth to STOP the sin or devastatingly damaging or potentially damaging results, and sometimes it does, right or wrong or for good or bad sometimes "I" just happen. All of a sudden The intense BATTLE for my mouth and commitment comes rushing forward as two rams crashing forward butting heads for the approval of the Master of Creation.
My intense desire to set wrong, right. My overly aggressive nature of rooting sin out at its very core begins to burn so deep, so strong and so passionately that it has now boiled to an extremely dangerously disastrously point.......Now again MY sin is rearing it's ugly head. Which sin is worse, theirs or now mine? Which sin will do the most amount of damage? Which sin will do the least amount of damage? And how do I help in this situation instead of making it worse than it already is? And then in THAT quiet, quick moment(if I take it or take the time to ask) of me internally asking the Master of Creation these questions I hear HIS answer.......I hear his answer b/c so far(in some situations sometimes) I have waited, I have so far remained calm, I have so far not acted rashly and so far I have been asking 1 trusted friend....when we do that His answer comes when we ask, His answer to.....BE QUIET now and WAIT. But I don't/can't/haven't all the time act(ed) according to the above perscription, especially in the last week. I'd been making progress in this area, I had thought. I'd been trying and getting some good results and I will continue to try, repent and try, repent and try.
WHAT LORD??? Did you say BE QUIET? Be Quiet about this obvious sin being played out like a very strange play right before my very eyes? Be Quiet? Do not confront this sin right here and right now? And the answer again.....Be Quiet and Wait. He says to me it will get confronted, it will not go unchecked but now is not the time. My timing is perfect and my plan most effective. you will have a time later to make a greater impact re: the sin you see in this very moment and in their lives and yours but you must wait. If you don't wait it will not be rooted out but only scratch the surface and resurface continually. Or be made worse by the timing and manner in which you proceed. Wait my child, wait.......so here I sit, waiting....waiting but peaceful. Peaceful that God's timing, plans and our future personally and with others are a harvest waiting to be brought in exponentially.

The Beginnings of a Song?

2008-08-14T15:06:00.002-05:00

On the way home from our trip down south a week or so ago I wrote a few things.......here's part of one of my journal entries.

The main question I have for everyone....the question of the day....the question of my purpose and being here on earth is this......

Would anyone, anyone in their right mind tell Jesus, our Perfect Lamb, our Lord and Savior, our Messiah, our One Way, the Way, Truth and Life, their saving Grace, their second chance, their Redeemer and Friend, Your beginning and End......would any1 of us tell him.....

You took on too much???

Not me my friend, not me!

I can only breath out through saturated hearts and checks

On my knees w/ unworthiness and thankfulness

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you My friend.

Olympics, A New Job and A Win for the City!

2008-08-12T21:32:00.003-05:00

We are lovin' the Olympics and our study of it! It brings excitement and interest to learning everyday. I am most amazed with the swimming so far and man! is Michael Phelps determined and dedicated or what?!? INSPIRING HUH?! So far we have the count of total metals as follows: USA is in the lead with a total of 22 total metals, China next with 20 and in 3rd is S. Korea with a total of 12 metals.

Thanks to a very good friend I now have a 3 month membership to the top gym in town. The first day we went to get our membership and work out I got hired to teach aerobics classes. USA GYM teaching Mon, Wed. and Sat. mornings. Low Impact on Mon. and Wed. and I think a mixture of things on Sat. morning. Come join us and Get Fit McMinnville!! I've also begun training for the 1/2 marathon they will be having here in McMinnville in Oct. I'm so stoked about it! I was supposed to run in one this past April in Nashville but due to our extenuating and changing circumstances wasn't able to. The gym has now become my second home.

I engaged in my first political/city admin. meeting/hearing tonight. I LOVED IT! I don't know why my dad didn't encourage me more in this area due to his experience and expertise but I'm glad I got involved. You see we, along with lots of other people bought pool passes in the beginning of the summer to be used until Labor Day. We've had pool passes for the last 4 years or so and we've always been able to use our pool passes all summer and when school starts back, after school and on the weekend until the pool closes on Labor Day. Due to some difficult financial times and bad budgeting our city recently made some cuts and one of those cuts was to close the pool every afternoon now and only have the pool open on the weekends from now on until Labor Day. Well, that's not what we paid for and no one informed any of us of that. So I decided to get involved, drew up a letter and petition and submitted tonight. They called a special meeting right after the regularly scheduled meetings and the POOL WILL REOPEN FOR AFTER SCHOOL HOURS BEGINNING MONDAY AFTERNOON!!! How cool is that! See sometimes we can make a difference. Many, most people were saying I was just wasting my time and that they weren't going to do anything about it. Well it never hurts to try. So all of you out there, to THANK THE CITY, GO TO THE POOL AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ONCE IT REOPENS AND BUY FROM CONCESSIONS! Also support Meals on Wheels, The Senior Center and Main St. McMinnville as they are in need of financial help. I'll do my part, you do yours and together we can make a difference! Wow, do I sound like a politician...that's scary but my dad might be proud :)

Big Party with a "Big" cover

2008-08-07T22:27:00.001-05:00

WHO: Youth and friends
WHEN: 6:00pm Friday - 8/8/08
WHAT: Watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, hang out and eat (chinese food cause the Olympics are in China but we'll get a few pizzas too)
WHERE: 138 Club Dr. Apt. 2 = the back of main brick house (Sunset Court Apartments - across from Civic center ball fields)
WHY: it's something fun to do with people who are fun to be with

BIG COVER: $5 (for food and drinks), bring a snack and/or dessert, your own seat (like the chinese you might be sitting on the floor, so bring a pillow or something), and wear something to represent a country or something chinese.

If you have any chinese, Olympic or American decorations (flags, souveniers, stacking dolls, blankets, etc.) please bring them and we'll take a dollar off your cover charge.

NO CHOPSTICKS NEEDED, We have got that covered.
Questions: call or email
Looking forward to seeing ya here!!