Ladies Night at Freedom

The ladies at Freedom Baptist Church planned a special Ladies Fellowship November 5th, 2009. We were very pleased with the turn out and were especially honored to have so many visitors to enjoy the night with us.

Mrs. Dotty, Mrs. Becky, and Mrs. Barbara did a fantastic job decorating the fellowship hall and the sanctuary.

We all enjoyed Taco Soup, Potato Soup, Sandwiches, Meat and Cheese Trays, Lots of different cheese balls, dips, and desserts.

A gold star ornament lay at each place setting. Everyone took a star home.

Lisa and Bethany Monk were our guest singers.

They did an excellent job on each and every song.

Mrs. Martha Crawford of YES Ministries (her and her husband minister to families in crisis) was our guest speaker. I had heard her speak a couple of years ago and I felt like God had placed her on my heart to invite her to speak at our ladies night. This dear lady is very upbeat and happy; quite jolly! But, she's country as corn-bread! I love to hear her talk and her positive outlook and her love and dependence on God are so obvious and contagious. Here are the notes I took that night as she spoke:

Forgiveness

There are 105 topics on Forgiveness in the Bible.

Matt. 18:21-22, Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Forgiveness is:

Something we do in spite of our own feelings.

It is loving that person and believing they can change.

Decision to throw away the Get Even attitude.

Deciding to keep relationship with person with no strings.

Forgetting who is right and who is wrong.

Setting you and the other person free causes us to change.

We have to die to self.

Matt. 5:44, But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Forgiveness is hard, cost is high, value is higher.

Matt. 6:14-15, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But, if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

We have to CHOOSE to LOVE the people who do us wrong.

We have to CHOOSE to BLESS the people who have hurt us.

We have to CHOOSE to BE GOOD to our enemies.

We have to CHOOSE to PRAY for them as well.

LOVE, BLESS, BE GOOD, PRAY!

Have you ever refused to forgive someone?

Nursing a grudge can cause bitterness and hatred.

Col. 3:13, Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

She gave examples of Joseph and the Prodigal Son...

Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him...The Prodigal Son's father welcomed him home with open arms.

Whose life are you personally affecting because you won't forgive?

God met with us that night. I had prayed that God would give Mrs. Martha just what I needed. Needless to say, the subject of Forgiveness is not an easy one to hear, and especially not an easy one to heed to. I was helped that night, and I thank God for it. After Mrs. Martha spoke, we all met around the altar and had prayer.

Mrs. Becky and Mrs. Dotty then drew names for door prizes.

One of the recipients looking in her goody bag!

A good time was had by all.

New Apartment at Freedom

Bro. Sidney and Bro. Thomas working on bathroom accessories

Bro. Herman and Mrs. Dotty coming down the hall to the apartment

Mrs. Becky, Mrs. Barbara, and Mrs. Dotty making the bed


Bathroom

The comforter set is gorgeous!

Desk

The cross is my favorite piece!

I love the edging on the desk...

TA-DAH!!!

Pretty details even in the bathroom

Mrs. Dotty embroidered the towels to match the

shower curtain rings.

Me sitting on the new sofa bed

Scot and Cale enjoying the afternoon with Hunting/Fishing magazines!

Notice Noelle in the recliner...Nap time!

We live about 45 minutes from the church Scot pastors. We were fine driving back and forth, but the church asked would it help if they added a small apartment to the church for us to stay in on Sunday afternoons. Yesterday was our first Sunday afternoon to enjoy this beautiful apartment. They designed it to where if we should need to spend the night or shower, we could. It's one big room with a bed, desk, sofa bed, 2 recliners, night stand, and lamps. We are going to also add a book shelf, chest, and possibly a TV. There is a bathroom with a tub/shower combo and a nice size closet for linens and clothes. Mrs. Dotty and Mrs. Barbara took me shopping for the furniture and the other things needed for the rooms week before last. I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun I had! I was like a kid in a candy store! We had a budget to go by and we purchased beautiful things and stayed under the budget! I was pleased with the day...I honestly was expecting for it to take ALL day long, but by lunch, we were almost finished! We had purchased furniture which was delivered by the time we got back from shopping, sheets, towels, blankets, a comforter set, shower curtain and accessories, decorations, mirrors, etc. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at O' Charlies. The day was simply marvelous! One night last week, some of us met and arranged all the furniture and got the rooms ready for us to stay in yesterday. We enjoyed our 'lazy' afternoon very much. What a blessing this apartment will be to us and also to visiting evangelists and missionaries for many years to come. God will surely bless the church family for being so thoughtful and for taking such good care of us.

Freedom's Fish Fry

Sat., July 11, our church got together for a fish fry. We all had a wonderful time fellowshipping and of course eating! We met and et! We enjoyed fried fish, frog legs, chicken fingers, fries, hush puppies, slaw, watermelon and homemade ice-cream. Mrs. Dottie made her famous squash puffs which were so yummy. Noelle, Mrs. Dottie, and I formed an assembly line and made fried biscuits. If you've never made these, they are so easy and delicious. We had our grease heated to 350 degrees; cut canned biscuits in half; Mrs. Dottie shaped them in half moon shapes, drop them in grease, keep turned; when brown, take out of grease, drain, roll in sugar and cinnamon or powered sugar, and enjoy! They are also good served with honey! We fried several cans of biscuits and there was not one biscuit left. Most of them were eaten before we even sat down to eat our meal! There was alot of food and I didn't taste anything bad! A good time was had by all!

Mrs. Dottie telling Eddie all about her squash puffs!

Bro. Thomas and Cale battering the fish

Bro. Harold, Scot, Eddie, and Bro. Sidney
(WORKING HARD!)

Bro. Sidney & Bro. Harold
cooking hush-puppies

Me, Mrs. Dottie, Noelle, and Mitzi working in the kitchen.
There were lots of laughing going on in there!

Scot and Novelie (Kay's grandbaby)

Mrs. Inez, Bro. Roy, Mrs. Sue, Mrs. Patricia, and Mrs. Lou

enjoying their conversation!

Kay and Eddie Harold

Mrs. Barbara said it best: "MMMMM-MMMMM"

Our New Church

Freedom Baptist Church

My wonderful pastor

Sunday, May 24, Freedom Baptist Church voted Scot in as their new pastor. We had been without a church for about 9 weeks. A God-called pastor is happiest when he has a church to pastor! We thank God for getting our name to the people at Freedom Baptist Church and for placing us there to serve and work. The members have all been so gracious, generous, and kind.

Teen Camp 2009

Well let us all go back to that old landmark

Let us all go back to that old landmark

Well let us all go back to that old landmark

Let us stay in the service of the Lord

Well let us kneel and pray in the old time way

Let us kneel and pray in the old time way

Well let us kneel and pray in the old time way

He will hear us and be near us

We'll be given bread from Heaven

Tell the story of His glory

It will warn them, it will turn them

It will save this old world from sin and shame

(From The Old Landmark)

Cale went to teen church camp June 1-5 in Alabama. It's the same camp his dad attended when he was a child. After Scot and I married and moved back to Alabama, we would attend the night services at this camp. Now, Scot's generation has children at this camp. Cale had never been to camp, so this mother was a bit concerned. We went to the Wed. night church service last week, and Cale met us with a hug and a smile. I asked him if he needed more money for snacks, and he said, 'No Mom, I've only spent four dollars, they feed you good here! We get seconds!' That was very important to my Cale! He had made new friends, enjoyed classes, singing, and preaching, and had swam, ran, and played alot of basketball. It rained Thursday. They had a mud fight after the rain; and had a 'redneck paintball fight' with marshmallows, mustard, and ketchup. Sorry I missed out on that! I'm thankful for the Light that keeps shining brightly at this wonderful camp each year. I'm glad Cale got to experience the same thing his dad did around 30 years before. Same place, but most importantly, THE SAME GOD!

Cale introduced us to one of his new friends, Ryan, better known as 'Happy'

Youth leader/song leader Jarod with New Union's youth

Mrs. Tammy, Tage, and Bro. Greg

(New Unions Pastor and family)

Revival at New Bethel

Monday night, April 20, Scot preached at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. This is home to me. This is where I was saved and baptized and grew up. This is where Scot surrendered to preach. Scot has preached here before, but never in a revival service. They have built a new sanctuary recently, so I took several pictures. Of course, I had to have a picture of the sign as well. I love these dear people. I've known them for most of my life, which means I hold dear to my heart many precious memories. It's always good to go home!

Pastor William and wife Dee


Bro. Alton and choir

The kids before church began.