October 2010 "Manners Effect My Testimony for the Lord"

Well, I am NOT a writer, but I do like to talk and I love to reminisce wonderful times, so I figured I should be able to come up with something for this month's 'review'. :o) The week of the JEWELS meeting was packed with activities!! 'Homecoming Sunday' kicked off revival through Wednesday, my family had planned a camping trip Thursday to Saturday, with the JEWELS meeting in the middle of that, Friday night, a birthday party for my daughter Saturday evening, then there we were to Sunday again!! So while we were out rustic (yes, that means no power, no plumbing, and sleeping in tents) camping I headed to the shower house to clean up before we left for the meeting. Earlier that morning, I had gotten the keys from my husband and went to the parking area to get something out of the truck. I thought I had left them on the table at the camp site. So, when I asked Mat for the truck keys and he says he didn't get them back. OK, looking... looking... searching the campsite, searching the trail, searching the bathrooms, the parking lot, my jacket and any other place I could think of for the next hour and 15 minutes! (I was suppose to be getting rid of the campfire smell right now!) It was time to go. I jumped in the van with my mom and sister and headed toward the last place we could think to check, the park office. I was praying someone had found them and turned them in, SURELY that is where they were!! NOPE!! I told my mom to drop me off at the campground, that it was starting to get dark and I just couldn't leave without finding those keys. As I was walking down the trail, I was thinking "of course... this is something I really enjoy and now I don't get to go... grumble, grumble, grumble..." My eyes still fixed on the ground, I got back down to the lake to my husband and the kids. Mat looks at me and asks what I doing there. I told him I had lost the keys and couldn't find them anywhere. He started with "When was..." (taps his pants pocket at the same time), looks up at me and.... Yup, there they were!! Why, Why does this stuff happen?? Well, Romans 8:28 says 'everything works together for good... ' , so whatever the reason was I will find out some day! I called my mom to let her know the precious keys were found and she said they were turning around and coming to get me. Yay! Thanks to my sister, who provided me with a shower and a wonderful cup of coffee at her house (all in about 15 minutes), we made it to the meeting just short of 7:00! :o)
The meeting started with one of our sweet, church ladies testimony of how the Lord used her 4 year old daughter to bring her to Christ. I love to hear these stories and look forward to hearing more in the upcoming meetings! Hannah Roth reminded us of how our manners effect our testimonies for the Lord.

Manners is a way in which something is done; a usual way of acting; doing the right thing at the right time. Manners is a road map for society, and the key is being thoughtful and thinking before you act. This takes work and doesn't come easily.

Our testimony makes a statement. The evidence of what we believe. Character is a trait or quality that someone possesses. Manners build our character!
Mt 5:16- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Mt 7:12- Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
There is always a positive and negative way of doing things. If we are using good manners from our hearts and through the love of the Lord, we will have a testimony that will be pleasing unto Him!

Thanks, Hannah, for the great reminder and something we can ponder on this month!
We can't have a meeting without refreshments! Certainly can't go wrong with cream cheese frosting on spice cake brought by Mary Jane and Mrs. Belcher's 'pumpkin dip' with teddy grahams was amazing! I think we need that recipe!! Mrs. Wanda Whitlock brought several beautiful holiday table decorations for us to view and even put one together for us to watch how it all happens! She certainly is talented!
It was a great meeting! I'm so thankful that the Lord worked everything out and allowed me to attend... in spite of the keys fiasco! I love visiting with the ladies of FBC and hope to develop a closer relationship with them.

-Krista Lanham

~ Daughter and Mother ~

~ Tea Time ~

~ This is how it is done! ~

~ Pretty prize for a pretty girl! ~

~ 'JEWELS' ~