Friday, December 10, 2010

2/1 Info./Update

I don't know how much I have shared, but one of our group members is serving our country in Afghanistan now.  I feel really funny sharing about this stuff because I don't want to cause any harm to him or his family.  After talking with Elizabeth, she said it was ok to share different things she sends because she has already "screened" them.  I guess I am just funny about this stuff since I work for the federal government - all those times I took the Anti-terriorism training has paid off!

First, I would like to share a few prayer requests from Elizabeth -

* Please pray for the family of Corporal Chad Wade.  Cpl Wade was with 2/1 in Afghanistan and gave the ultimate sacrafice.  His wife, Katie, as well as all his loved ones need prayers as they face this very difficult time.  Please lift them up in your daily prayers.

*Lt. Glavey lost both legs, but we THANK and PRAISE GOD for the life we still have.  Lt. Glavey is now back in San Diego recovering at the Naval hospital and progressing very well.

Thank you all for all the prayers and please continue to pray for Jeremy and the others safety as we go through this deployment. Daily prayers are the most important thing any of us can do for Jeremy and all those who serve. Also, I know some of you have seen about 3/5 in Afghanistan and some of you weren't sure if that is Jeremy's unit. Now you know he is in 2/1, not 3/5, but 3/5 needs all your prayers as well. They have had many many losses and injuries and all those families as well as the marines still there need your prayers. 3/5 is also a Marine infantry battallion in  Afghanistan in the same area as 2/1. Thank you all again for continued prayers for Jeremy and all the Marines and all those serving.

She also shared this article with us - http://www.stripes.com/news/marines-fear-toy-guns-could-bring-real-problems-in-afghanistan-1.127969

After reading this article it really makes you think about what it is like to be a solider in a war zone.  How do you decide what to do about the toy guns?  Do you buy them to get them off the market and risk more coming in?  Do you let anyone buy them and then risk encountering them at a later time?

Thank you for your prayers!  I know all of the 2/1 soliders and their families appreciate it!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Praying for the Impossible

One of the highlights of my week is getting together with small group!  I just enjoy talking, catching up with everyone and talking about our Lord!  We did not have Michael's handy dandy question/scripture sheets and I normally use that as a base for the blog post.  I think Michael had just out done himself the week before by priniting it in color - ha!

I think Melissa summed up our lesson pretty well - pray for the impossible to happen; nothing is too big for our God and our scripture was Genesis 15:1 - 6.

As we talked about Abraham and Sarah, one question came to mind - if God has a plan for us, why do pray?  Why do we ask for God to do certain things when we already know He has our future planned?  Any thoughts from anybody?  I think it would be interesting to do a study on prayer and God's will in our lives.

Okie doke - on to a short work week!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Walk by Faith

As I was driving to work this morning I heard the song, "Walk by Faith," by Jeremy Camp.  It made me think about what we talked about last week.  We have to walk by faith when answering the call of Jesus.

The lyrics read as ~

Would I believe you when you would say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to win my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Answering the Call

Let me start by saying sorry this has taken me so long to write.  I had all the intentions in the world of writing last Thursday but it just didn't happen (and hasn't happened since).  Also, we missed you, Jason and Kristen!

Last Wednesday we talked about answering the call.  The question was asked has there ever been a time in your life when had to make a big decision?  I think we can all answer yes.  For us, one of our big decisions was deciding to move to Mobile.  It was only after a lot of prayer that we were able to make the decision.  Then after we made the decision to move everything started to fall into place, like our house sold in a week and a half and I found a job without really even looking and it paid for our move.

One of the points Pastor Mark brought up during the sermon was that just because you feel a call to ministry doesn't mean you need to jump in right away; there is training involved.  Just like you can't say, "hey, I want to be a doctor", and then the next day start practicing medicine.

After getting to reflect on what we had talked about I started thinking about how we made this big decision in 2008 and there have been a couple of other "big" things we have decided on but nothing really like the move.  Just because I don't have a "big" decision to make doesn't mean I don't need to be constantly seeking God's will for my life.  It should be a daily thing.  I should be looking at what does God want me to do today, this week, this month, this year, this lifetime and what am I doing to make that happen.

Ok, I guess that is about it.  Hope to see everyone tomorrow night!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Harvest Sunday

Last night it was just the White's and Wright's.  We missed everyone else but had a good time visiting and learning together.  Our topic stemmed from Sunday's "Harvest" message and our small group scripture came from Acts.  We talked about 4 different Holy Spirit encounters.

Melissa raised a very interesting question that really hit home for me, "do you believe 'once saved, always saved'".  I think we all agreed yes, that once we are saved, we are always saved.  But then you get into are you really saved or are one of the seedlings that fell in the rocky soil?  Are you one of the ones who is truly sorry but you do not make a change in your life?  Are you bearing fruit?  While we all sin and we will always continue to do so, are we actively seeking God?

Back to the 4 encounters - I thought it was neat that the Holy Spirit spoke differently in each encounter.  God uses each of us differently and just because we are going through the same thing as someone else, it doesn't mean God is going to use us in the same way or speak to us in the same way.  I think Michael said it great - we are each to have a relationship with God.  Relationships in our normal, day to day lives is different for each of us and so is our relationship with God.

What an awesome God we serve!

Scripture from the week:
Acts 19 : 1 - 7
Acts 2 : 1- 8
Acts 2: 36 - 39
Acts 8 : 14 - 17
Acts 10 : 44 - 48
Ephesians 1 : 13 - 14
1st Corinthians 12 : 4 - 11

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Down on the Farm

The Fall Festival Tailgate was today - wahoo!  We had a great time "down on the farm"!  All of our hard work paid off!  We even won the "Heartburn Award" thanks to Melissa's gourmet buffalo pigs in a blanket.  Thanks to everyone for making it so fun!  I can't wait to see what we do next year.  **If you had your taken with our animal backdrop and would like to see the pics, click on the album to the right.





Welcome!

Hi!  We are the White 242 Group at the Church on the Eastern Shore in Fairhope, AL. 


Michael and Melissa White, our fearless leaders


The Woerner's - Jason, Kristen, Charlie and Gus

Amber, Reed, and Caden Hawkins


Jeremy, Elizabeth, Hayden and Gavin Collins


Brad, LeeAnn, and Paige Wright