#SweetDreams

 Last night was the first message in our new series, #SweetDreams. We are talking about what keeps you up at night? Last night was "worry". Let's be honest, we are all worry-worts at one time or another.

The opposite of trusting in God is worrying. Worrying leads to stress but trusting in God leads to rest.

When we worry, it gives small problems a big shadow.

So, what will help you sleep at night? God's word. We will toss & turn until we learn to be still and & pray.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

We worry so much because we pray so little. When we pray much, we will worry little.

Prayer is the cure for worry. When we pray, we tell God that He is strong enough, good enough, and near.

Anxiety weighs down the heart. Proverbs 12:25

Worship kills worry.

Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Psalm 116:164 **Try it** Information + Application = Transformation 

God not only takes away your sin, but He can take away your worry. You will never have peace if you never have Jesus.

7 Months!

Weight: 14.9 lbs

Diaper Size: 2s during the day & 3s at night. She had been wetting the bed every night and my genius friend Ginny suggested going up a size a night (thank you ;)

Clothing size: 6-9M

Eye Color: Blue

Favorite Toy: Mirrors!

Sleeping Habits: I think we may have a winning schedule going. For the beginning of the month, we still weren't sleeping much. However now, she's been getting in about 2 good 1-2 hr naps a day and an occasional cat nap in the early evening. She's also been sleeping from about 8pm (when we are home...an occasional 9-10pm bedtime when we are out) until about 8AM. Occasionally she will wake up around 2AM but go back to sleep fairly easily.

Words: Mama...actually it's just "mamamamama" Haha!

Best Moments: SLEEPING finally :-)

Hard Moments: Her poor bathroom skills. It's so painful to watch her go poop. She's not quite used to the solid poop yet!

Fun Info: Brooklynn is so attentive. She pays attention to everything and watches everyone. She's sure to make you feel self conscious about yourself. She tries so hard to scoot and get places but just can't and that frustrates her so much! She loves peek-a-boo and anyone that will give her the littlest bit of attention. She'd rather eat table food than her own food. She's started drinking some water and loves it! Her favorite foods are: sweet potatoes, fruit, & anything sweet (like her daddy) She also for some reason finds excitement in watching tennis...haven't figured that one out yet. She loves being bounced and thrown in the air...basically just keep her moving and she's a happy camper. 

Take Two

In our series at Alive, Take Two, we've seen God do immeasurably more than we could have ever imagined...in such a little time. If you've missed any of the messages from this series, I can catch you up :)

Week 2
Most people live by this motto: "I can do whatever I want, live however I want to, because of grace." Grace has become people's excuse to sin. Grace should give us a desire for holy living not an excuse to keep on sinning. 

Grace isn't our license to do as we please but it gives us the power to live as we should.

A changed life appreciates grace. Why play with something Jesus died for?

When you're a Christian, sin shouldn't fit you. It should be uncomfortable.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galations 2:20

Week 3

On our worst days, God still gives us grace.

Our response to God's grace should be our obedience to His ways. No human could ever do for us what He has already done for us! God doesn't want us to oney Him because He said so but because it's our response to His love & grace.

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. Titus 2:!1

No one is excluded from God's grace.

Grace = what everyone needs, no one can earn, and only God can give. 

When you say "no" to sin, you are saying "yes" to God!

Our greatest motivation is what He's done.

Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6

Grace is FREE but not a license to do as we please!

What will you do in response to what He's done for you?

In the past three weeks at Alive, we've seen 120 students, 61 new faces,  5 SALVATIONS, & 3 REDEDICATIONS! 

Take Two

This is a great occasion! I can finally get back to regular blogging now that we've become homeowners and have internet at our fingertips. This also means that I can start posting our Alive series' on Thursdays. So, if you missed the Alive kickoff last night, you missed a free donut, food, a free T, excellent worship, and an on-point message. Here's the spark-note version of what you missed!

As followers of Christ, we get more than one take in life. We are the people of the second (and third, fourth, fifth, etc.) chance. So, if GRACE allows more than one take, what are you doing with your second chance? 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—Ephesians 2:8

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time - 2 Timothy 1:9

GRACE is GODS PART while FAITH is OUR PART. We can say we believe in Jesus but until we put our faith in Him and act upon our belief, we are no better than the demons...for they believe in Jesus they just haven't put their faith in Him.

"God didn't spare His son from us but gave Him up for us."

"GRACE is a GIFT that cost the giver EVERYTHING but cost the receiver NOTHING."

"If you could earn GRACE, then you would get the glory...and since we can't earn it, we can't lose it."

"Anything we do should be in response to what God has done for us."

What are you doing with your "take two"?

Last night, Alive saw 83 students, 25 FIRST-TIMERS, & 1 SALVATION!

6 Months

Weight: 13.9 lbs :) 24" long

Diaper Size: 2

Clothing size: 3-6M and some 6M

Eye Color: Blue

Favorite Toy: Tags!

Sleeping Habits: As of very recently, she's been a great sleeper! We put her down anywhere between 8 & 9 and she's even sleeping anywhere from 7am-8am! She's been napping a lot throughout the day taking either a bunch of cat naps or two 2hr naps. I'm not complainin'!

Best Moments: She's starting to act more like a "human" and less of a doll! 

Hard Moments: Recently just trying to move into our house and entertain her at the same time!

Fun Info: She loves food...except green beans! She will let anyone hold her (which is an A+ for mama!) She laughs and smiles 95% of the time! She's like her daddy and gets bored easily ;-) She's happier around people and when she's out and about! Still loves lights, the TV and the phone!

5 Months

Diaper Size: 2

Clothing size: 3M or 3-6M...Some shrunken 9M ;)

Eye Color: Blue

Favorite Toy: Anything she can shove in her mouth

Sleeping Habits: Hmm My girl doesn't need sleep. Haha. She will sometimes get in a good morning or afternoon nap and if not she will sleep 30 minutes off and on during the day. At night, she goes down anywhere between 8 & 9 and she will wake up screaming bloody murder sometimes at 1am and sometimes at 4am. Talk about a wake up call! She will then get fed and go back down until around 8.

Best Moments: She's getting ticklish so she'll laugh a lot when you go for her belly or armpits. 

Hard Moments: Still just her sleeping habits...especially the "no-nap" days.

Fun Info: She loves men...sorry, ladies, and the TV. She will grab your phone if you aren't paying attention! She has discovered how to grab her feet and can roll from her stomach to her back. She gets frustrated because she can't get up and go! She's tried blueberries, bananas and organic rice cereal. The blueberries were a hit until they came back out the other end :-/ When she's tired she rubs her face and when she sleeps, she sleeps with her arms over her face. And lastly, she's gonna have crazy abs all the kicking that she does...she's already put a hole in her pack n play from her ninja kicks.

4 Months

Diaper Size: 2

Clothing size: 3M or 3-6M

Eye Color: Blue

Favorite Toy: Her play mat

Sleeping Habits: Haha! Ever since we moved, she has no sleep schedule...actually, there's no schedule at all. Some nights she'll sleep till 5 but lately it had been 3am then every three hours after that. However, last night she slept from 8:30PM-7:15AM. We're just rollin' with the punches over here. She also has only been cat-napping throughout the day instead of her usual 3-hr naps. It's her world...we all just live in it :)

Best Moments: Her new noises. She's discovered her lips and loves making motor boat noises. 

Hard Moments: Definefely the lack of sleep!

Fun Info: She loves looking at herself in the mirror, grabbing at things, laughing, blowing "bubbles", chewing on anything you put near her mouth, and beginning to roll over! She also gets very upset when people don't pay her any attention (she obviously doesn't get that from me)!