Wednesday, November 10, 2010

If you haven't read the book called CRAZY LOVE, you should.  This is a link to one of the videos that really got me thinking.  http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_stop.html

Several weeks ago I heard a sermon that was about the old testament and the traditions that they used to follow.  One of the questions that the preacher asked was, "how would you feel if your son were going to be crucified?"  My first thought was, I know exactly how it feels.  Now, I didn't lose my son in the same cruel way but I do know how it feels.  How sad that I never really related or felt the pain until it happened to me.  God watched his son be beaten to death.  How horrible!!!!!  I've always gone to church since I can remember but the stories that I heard from the bible were simply that.....stories.  I hate to even admit this but they were almost like fairy tales.  I believed that they really happened but I never really fully whole-heartedly connected them to present day.  The closer I get to God, the more I realize how unworthy I am of his generous unmatchable gift.
GBC recently had a Fall Festival on October 30th.  We dressed up and had games and food and candy.  I think there were probably 200 folks that came in the door to participate in the festivities.  It was wonderful.  Bryan and I put together a photo booth with scarecrows, hay, pumpkins and fall leaves.  Bryan loves technology and gadgets so he recently purchased a professional lighting kit for taking photographs.  This is the second year that we have done the photo booth and it was a huge hit last year so we decided that we would continue with it every year.  So, we might as well make it as good as we can.  We took photos of families and printed them out while they were enjoying the other activities.  We would tell them to stop by our table on the way out to pick up their photo.  I can't tell you how many people looked at me and asked, "Is it free", or "It's really free"?  It was a look of shock and astonishment.  That evening when I got home I couldn't stop thinking about that question.  People were so excited about a free picture.  I guess I related it to me telling others about God and their salvation being FREE.  Hello!!!  I need to get as excited to whip out my bible and tell them what God is ready to give them for free.  I think about it a lot and I worry that I will offend people.  I'm ready to forget about offending people.  I need to tell them about GOD so they won't be mad at me when they are in hell wishing I would have told them.
Bryan and I have gone through radical changes over the past year.  We've gotten closer to God than we ever dreamed.  We've still got a long way to go.  And I hear people ask me how much worse could things get in their life? I truly believe that they can always be worse.  And the closer we get to God, the more Satan is going to tempt us and try to get us to believe his evil lies.  I'm more excited than I've ever been about going to church and learning more about our creator.
I'm positive that I wouldn't be where I am if Eden didn't come into our lives and change our hearts 180 degrees.  You see, not only did God's son save my life, my own son is changing my life every day.

8 comments:

  1. Wow. Your final sentence gave me chills. I know I'm blessed by knowing you and Bryan. :)

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  2. We are blessed to know you and Ryan too!!! Thanks, Janette!

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  3. Carrie,

    I am going to say it again~ You guys are amazing. Every time I read something you write on this blog, I am in tears!! What a blessing you and Bryan are!!!!

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  4. Thanks Reagan and Laura!! We are so lucky to have such a wonderful church family.

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  5. Amen, Amen, Amen! Girl, you could be writing my story! Well, parts of it. ;-) It had never occured to me how horrible it was for God to watch His only Son be beaten, taunted and tortured on the cross until we lost Hannah. My prayer has always been "thank you God that Hannah went surrounded by love" just your like your sweet Eden.

    I wish I would have seen you at the fall fest. We were there also to see my cute nephews and nieces! (the Mirick's) You and your husband had an amazing set up and I heard many compliments during the evening. I love your analogy about it being free. Awesome.

    I really leave way too many long comments....

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  6. Hi Aimee! Thanks for your sweet posts! It helps to know im not alone. I'm glad you have been keeping up with us this way.

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  7. What an awesome post Carrie-you are truly amazing and I always love hearing your thoughts! Hugs~

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