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Parents & Kids,
Mrs. Angie found a cool new website from the creator of Veggie Tales. You have to go check it out. It has some great and FUN ways to learn Bible stories and Bible facts. Calling Quizzers, You can check out Joshua, Judges and Ruth at this site too. Enjoy!
It has been such a busy month, with the Pumpkin Patch, Fall Festival and Trunk-or-Treat. This morning I ran away to spend some time with God, just reading His Word. I was reading 1 Samuel 17 in preparation for Sunday morning’s lesson. I’ve read it a hundred times, but this time it came to life for me. Reading the story aloud to myself in Starbucks, I got so excited at David’s disdain for the haughty Philistine who mocked God’s people. David showed ‘NO FEAR’ when it came to defending his God’s honor. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that God would protect him against this giant. NOTHING IS TOO BIG FOR GOD. “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:37 I love when Israel’s king, Saul, gave David his armor (what and honor) and David tries it on and says, “I cannot go in these, cause I am not used to them” and he takes it off and goes with what he knows; his staff, 5 smooth stones and his sling. He stepped up to the challenge, when no one else would, to defend the honor of his GOD with such CONFIDENCE!!! “45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47) When David ran toward the battle line to meet Goliath I wanted to jump up out of my seat and yell, ‘GO DAVID, GO’! But I didn’t. I controlled myself. How FUN and EXCITING it is to serve a God who protects us when we step out in faith to honor & serve Him. I am excited to keep on reading His Word and living by faith.
To God be the glory! This week has been AWESOME at (VBS) Crocodile Dock. We’ve only done VBS twice, but this one goes on the record books as being THE BEST ONE TO DATE.
We had 53 children in attendance last night and new children keep arriving. They are so excited and are truly enjoying themselves. While having all of this FUN, they are also hearing God’s word and experiencing His love for them through lessons and through volunteers.
I have to BRAG on our TEENS who are doing a fabulous job! They take their roles very seriously. They are involved in every aspect of VBS from playing games to praying with children. Crocodile Dock is where fearless kids shine God’s light and these teens are shining His light all over the place. It is a beautiful sight that warms the soul. It brings tears to my eyes. Thank you LORD!
The sacrifices it takes to make VBS happen are worth it all. Testimonies of God’s blessings have been incredible. Children have given their life to Christ. One child brought her neighbor with her to VBS and the neighbor accepted Jesus as her Savior. The girl who brought her neighbor was blessed realizing that inviting her had changed her life forever. NOW THAT’S BIG STUFF!!!
I think Pastor Wayne is going to kiss and Aligator!!!!! I will be providing a picture of this, so stay tuned!
Hey, if you looking for things to do with your kids, take a look at the First Coast Parents website www.firstcoastparent.com or pick up their FREE magazine at the library or other places around town. When I look at this magazine it gets me all excited about the possibilities of activities I can do with my family and even the kids at church. If you haven’t heard of this cool family resource, check it out.
This is my wonderful family at our church Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 22nd. Since I was in charge of the event, we didn’t have much time together. If it weren’t for these pictures, I wouldn’t have been able to see Hailey hunt for her first Easter Eggs. I am so glad they were there with me!
We had a great turnout. There were over 1,000 eggs, 30 kids ranging from infant - 5th grade, 7 new families and 88 people joined us for lunch. We didn’t quite make my personal goal of 100 kids, but we did share the Good News of Jesus with the children and their families before the Easter Egg Hunt. The seed of salvation was planted and God was blessed. God is good!
Next year, I say we shoot for 1,000 kids. It is the number the Lord is shouting at me!!!!“Jesus looked at the disciples and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Let’s answer the call and make an impact on this community we live in by sharing the love of Jesus with everyone we come into contact 
with. This year there will be several opportunities for us to proclaim the good news as we move into our new church home on CR210. As time allows and as God calls you, come ready to serve and share during those opportunities.
with. This year there will be several opportunities for us to proclaim the good news as we move into our new church home on CR210. As time allows and as God calls you, come ready to serve and share during those opportunities. 
I confess my sin to you all. I am addicted to TV. Not educational, informational and/or helpful programs. I will take anything that has sound to drown out the silence. When I am home alone, I feel the need to turn it on.
Now that I am a stay at home mom, I find the tv is on all day long. Living this way has made my life feel empty. It leaves me with no time to stop and 
listen to God’s voice to guide and direct me through my day. (I need that to survive.) I also find myself chained to the tv. I can’t run errands, can’t take a walk, can’t read a book, can’t take extended time out to pray and read God’s Word. All this, because I need to stay within eye and ear shot of that stinky tv.
I woke up on Friday, March 14th saying to myself that this is no way to live, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!! I spent time in prayer and in the Word. I asked God for wisdom. The answer was obvious, but I was struggling. He told me to STOP, COLD TURKEY! So I did!
I tell you what! I have had THE BEST WEEK EVER and I really haven’t missed the noise at all. Now I hear new sounds, the beautiful 
sounds of life all around me. I can hear God’s voice guiding and directing me as I work through the day’s chores. I take the time to listen to my daughter drink her bottle, which pulls on my heart strings. It touches me in a way that is indescribable. (Some of you mommies know this noise!)
Some of the pictures in today’s blog are pictures from a beautiful, sunny day the whole family spent together outside playing in the water, washing the jeep, listening to the birds and visiting with Pastor Laban, Ashley and their dog when they walked by. (This is not the norm at our house, but I would like for it to be.)
It has been a 
wonderful week!
Thank you Jesus for pointing out the things I can change to make my life more fruitful. Ways I can change to have more time with you and my family.
FYI: My week ends on Monday, March 24th and I will not go back to turning the TV on for background noise. I will only allow myself to watch it just a few hours a week.
