Hello to all!!! It has been a long time since the last update. I have to admit, I have been slack on the blog and on picture uploads!! I guess I have been on Facebook too much!! Anyway, we've had a great month. Our youth had their Impact Weekend 2 weeks ago and that was a blast. If you have never done a video scavenger hunt I suggest you give it a try. I will attempt to get some of the funniest ones uploaded soon!! The kids did everything from a hoe down to going for free ice cream in our PJ's!! They learned how tobecome a TUPOS and that really is greek to me!! In the greek language, tupos means to be impacted and to leave and impact. I pray that weekend will be a lasting tupos on all who participated.
Max and Sam are doing well and we are very much looking forward to taking a trip down to Florida over spring break. Not to Disney but just a relaxing, do nothing but play in the sand, family time vacation.
Well, I hope you all have some cool spring plans in store as well. Whether you're going to the beach, mountains or to the backyard, take the time to praise the Lord for our freedom in Christ to enjoy our time here on this earth!!

Snow Days

I'd like to say thanks to all of you who have prayed for Ashley. She was able to go home from the hospital today!! God is so good. Just thought I would update that for starters!
We have enjoyed our long weekend!! If I had only known I would have gone to Disney!! We did have fun hanging out at home with the kids though. Sam saw snow falling for the very first time and Max could not remember actually watching it snow. You know, snow days bring out all the neighbors and so it was good to catch up with everyone! Hope you were able to do the same in your neighborhoods! We have had blast looking at all the snowmen kids (and adults) built. Max was so busy sledding, he had no time for a snowman! Anyway, here are a few pics of our adventure. Have a great week!!

Prayer for Ashley

I am writing this to ask my friends to pray with our family for Ashley T. Wilkerson. She is my cousins wife. Isaac and Ashley were married in October of last year just a week after we brought Sam home! She has been diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia and is in ICU at Regional. She is on a ventilator and will likely remain in ICU through the weekend if not longer. Please pray for God's healing. She has underlying medical conditions that could make it harder for her to fight the pneumonia. Pray for her family as they spend their days at the hospital. Pray for peace and rest. Pray for Isaac as he stays by his wife's side. Thanks so much to my friends whom I know will pray with me. "Heal me , O Lord, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise!" Jeremiah 17:14. "Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power" Psalm 21:13.

The Scepter

I just wanted to share a quick word on something I learned in bible study last week. I am in the middle of Esther, the latest Beth Moore study, and have really enjoyed it! Thank you, Alyssa, for inviting me!! Anyway, I don't have time to go into the whole book of Esther so you'll have to read it for yourself but... here's the part I loved last week.

Esther 5: 1-3 "Now it came about on the third day (of the Jews in Susa fasting and praying) that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace in front of the kings rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace. When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the tip of the scepter. Then the king said to her, "What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you."

The facilitator of our study is Brenda Blankenship. Each week she tries to give us a little something to remind us of a main point of that weeks lesson. Last week we each received a little heart scepter. Now, this was really a little Valentine floral pick but instead of a flower, each one had a red heart on the end. They look like little velvet heart wands but we called them scepters. She explained that during the week she had thought about the king extending the scepter to Esther. Esther was in a life or death situation. She hadn't been invited to come before the king and according to the law, she could be punished by immediate death for disobedience!! The only way for her to remain before the king was to have him extend the golden scepter to her, allowing her to appear before him with her need. Here's the point. We are all in a life and death situation before our King. If we place our faith and trust in Jesus, the King of Kings, we accept the scepter of life that has been extended to us. Jesus offers grace to cover our sins and allows us to have an audience with HIM!! From that point on we can boldly approach the throne of God with our requests. We don't have to put on a front or pretend to be dressed in perfection. We don't have to worry about being struck down with a bolt of lightning. We don't have to wonder if we will find favor in His sight! Jesus doesn't just extend a scepter to us, He extends His heart, His forgiveness and His love. Isn't our King amazing??? Love to you all!!
Shannon

Taste and See!

Dave and I recently visited Atlanta. We attended a conference but we also had the opportunity to visit with my sister, Amber and her husband Carey. They have just moved to Atlanta and so we all decided to take in some of the sites of the city. We ate at some great restaurants, marveled over the view from their 20th floor pad in downtown Atlanta, and we toured the World of Coke. Now, I know that Coca Cola is popular. I mean it is as much a part of our culture as toilet paper! But to have it's own tourist attraction right beside the largest aquarium in the US was a bit much. I have to admit that, as a teenager, Coke was the big craze. For my 14th birthday I received a Coca Cola shirt, Coca Cola Swatch watch and even Coca Cola jeans! I was a little Coke crazy myself!! That being said, I was interested in finding out about this World of Coke! The cost to get through the door is $15. Was it worth it?

Upon entering, you are greeted by beautiful murals and huge wooden coke bottles depicting all sorts of cultural artwork. You are then ushered into a room filled with an abundance of Coca Cola memorabilia from as early as the turn of the century. The story of Coke is displayed beautifully through artwork, historical information, and even the science of making the cola. But the best part of the whole thing is the Tasting Center. The first thing you notice are huge cylinders of light which represent different areas of the globe such as Asia, Europe or South America. In all there were about 6 different stations and each one had a soda fountain with Coca Cola products found locally in those areas. Cups were abundant and you could taste the fizzy liquid until your heart's (or stomach's) content! And so we did!! There were flavors like Bibo, Inca Kola, Fanta, Frutonic, Limelite, Vitingo and Vegitabeta (yes, it is a vegetable based soft drink and Dave and Amber liked it!) It was so much fun to experience all the flavors! Some of you are saying, okay Shannon, get to the point, so I will.

Psalm 34:8 says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. " I was reminded of this verse while we were on the way home that day. Just another example of how God can use everyday things to speak to us. It was impressed upon me that I will never know what great things He has for me unless I am willing to try what He asks me too! In ministry, we have many opportunities to be involved in what God is doing in our church, our schools and our community. The problem is many times we don't accept the challenge. Maybe you think you're not the right fit, you fear that someone else would do a better job. Or maybe you just don't think you would like that particular part of ministry. But how will we truly know unless we taste and see? How do you know you don't like it if you don't try it!! God says taste and see but the second part of that is "blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." Just last week, one of our church members gave us definitions of refuge. He said a refuge is a shelter or protection. That is the part of the verse that pulls it all together! When you taste what God is offering to you, He will be your stronghold or protector to cover over you while you are doing His will and work! He says, "Here's you're opportunity, go ahead, take a chance on it, see how I will watch over you and help you! Don't miss out on this blessing because it is good!!" Hebrews chapter 6, beginning in verse 9, talks about the better things that accompany our salvation. The very things we can taste! I pray that as you examine the passage in it's entirety, God will weave all this together. God says here that we are heirs of His promise, that He doesn't change and He cannot lie! When He says "taste and see" way back in Psalm, it is just as true here in Hebrews and in our lives today! He wants to bless you! You have hope in Him and your soul is anchored in heaven because of Jesus. With this kind of refuge, we need to exercise our faith and trust God to bless the work He has called us to! Taste and see that the Lord is good. God is the "real thing" ! And I think $15 was a pretty good deal for a priceless word from God!

Chillipepper

Just wanted to show you some of our awesome young men and women!! They are the greatest!!! Please pray that God will continue working in their lives as they seek to serve Him. They want so much to stay committed to God's plan and not their own and we know how much stands against them. So please pray for our youth as well as those at your church. You can be the intercessor they need!! Thank you and God bless!!

We just got back from taking the best youth group in the world (well, some of them couldn't make it but they are still included as part of the greatest group) to ChilliPepper in Pigeon Forge, TN. It was excellent conference and we are so grateful to the Maiolo's for allowing us to stay at The Cedars...it was the most awesome cabin in TN!!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! Everyone should go out and buy cd's by Down Here, Laura Story and Fee. Cool songs with strong messages and God all over them!!! If you have the chance to be involved with the youth from your church you should jump at it! Remember when you were there and think what most influenced you? Be a mentor, be a friend, be a role model, hold them accountable...they need you!!!! And if you are a parent of a youth, they may not act like they need these same things from you but they do!!!!!! If you have never checked out Concoxions Ministry, you should. Bill Cox does and excellent job. Go to www.concoxions.com. Kurt Cloninger, Duffy Robbins...they still have what it takes after years in ministry/youth ministry. I can't say enough!! If you want your kids to go to a summer camp, tell your youth pastor about SeeSalt and send them, you won't be disappointed!!
I know I have rambled but this weekend was great!!!!!! Spend some time making an investment in a teenager, your return will be a hundred fold!!! Say a prayer for the youth at your church tonight, they need it. Say a prayer for the youth pastor (and his wife if he has one!!) He really needs it!!! Love you all!!!