A Fun Weekend with Family

This weekend my parents and I went to Auburn to visit my sister. We got to Auburn Friday night and had dinner at one of daddy's favorite places, Mike & Ed's BBQ. On Saturday Andrea and Daddy went to the Auburn game while Momma stayed at Andrea's apartment and I went to Montgomery to spend some time with Mack's Nana. It was a good thing that momma and I didn't go to the game because when Daddy and Andrea came back home they were sunburned. I think Andrea got the worst of it. Needless to say they weren't feeling so great after the game, but they were happy with a win. While we were all gone, Momma made an awesome supper for us to have when we got back. She made ham, mashed potatoes, green means, steamed veggies, rice-a-roni, deviled eggs, and rolls. It was delicious. Here is a picture. Of course you will notice the deviled egg doesn't have the yellow middle. This is because Andrea and I only like the white part of the egg. haha We are weird I know. 

I went to Montgomery during the day to spend some time with Mack's Nana. She will be moving into a new apartment in a few weeks so I went to help her go through a few things and run some errands. Let me just tell you something, I think Mack's Nana has ten times more energy than I do. I could hardly keep up with her. If we could all have the energy like Mack's 94 year old Nana. Whew!!! Nana was so sweet to give Mack and I a few things to have when we are married. Here is a picture of the China Nana gave us.

I cannot tell you how much it means to Mack and I for Nana to give us some of her things. It will all have a special place in our home (wherever that will be, still in the process of looking ha). We ran a few errands downtown and then had a late lunch together. I will always cherish this special day I had with Nana. She is such a blessing. :)

I went back to Auburn late Saturday afternoon. I had to get get back so I could watch the UAB Blazers against the South Carolina Gamecocks. I cannot even tell you how proud I am of this team. They came out ready to play against this SEC team. If you look at the end result you would think South Carolina ran all over UAB, but that was not the case. The Blazers put up a good fight. There were a few mistakes here and there, but overall they played a great game. I do have to say that we were playing against the refs a few times during the game. I have to say this though, our boys NEVER gave up!!!!! It is hard to loose a game, but they have nothing to be ashamed about. Next week the Blazers take on Ohio State and then the following weekend they will have a home game at Legion Field. I think we have a great season ahead of us and have the potential to do great in the conference! GO BLAZERS!!!!

Mack on TV at the game Saturday in South Carolina

Sunday we were able to go to Church of the Highlands Auburn Campus. Pastor Chris is in the middle of a series called "Fresh Air". This series is based off the book that Pastor Chris has written. It was released just a few weeks ago. I am in the middle of reading it and it really hits home. I need a since of fresh air in my relationship with the Lord. I feel we probably all need it at times. The message on Sunday talked about "Attitudes".  When I started to think about my attitude towards things sometimes, I felt as though it was not the attitude that the Lord would want me to have. As Pastor Chris broke down the message, God began to reveal to me the way I should be in situations.  Things aren't always going to be exactly the way you want them to be, but you have a choice to have a good or bad attitude about it. 

Pastor Chris talked about the "End Time Attitudes". He used this verse from 2 Timothy 3:1-3, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, and unforgiving."  This is exactly the condition that our world is in. As he broke down this verse he talked about each of these attitudes individually.

• Ungrateful- focusing on what we want and not thinking about what we already have. Nothing is never enough.
• Unholy- making choices that are polluting our hearts.
• Unloving- Being selfish, not showing unconditional love. Disregard to life.
• Unforgiving- creates a such the life out of you attitude.

I can look at these and see myself at times being like this and I don't like that one bit. You can look at our world and it is sad to say probably a good 80% of people are like this if not more. We need to look at what we can do to have a good attitude. Here are the four solutions that Pastor Chris talked about Sunday.

1. Make the choice every day. - First thing in the morning when you wake up you have to decide you are going to have a great attitude. No matter what you face you are going to look at the brighter side of it. Your attitude can't just take care of itself. Life is 10% of what is happening to you and 90% of how you react to it. We need to choose an attitude like the Lord.
2. Develop a high appreciation for life- So many of us take our lives for granted. We are not promised tomorrow. Why would we want to risk taking our last breath complaining about what is going on and having a bad attitude. We need to be grateful for all that we have and all that is happening to us. 
3. Find something positive in everything- This reminds me of Mack. I think everything I go through and I am having a bad attitude, Mack tries to encourage me and show the brighter side of it. Mack is a person that tries to look on the brighter side of every situation. Pastor Chris mentioned about his Maw Maw Hodges who was older and sick at the time always saying there are people worse off than her. Even though she was going through a hard time, she looked at the brighter side saying there are people out there off a lost worse than her so she was going to be thankful for what condition she was in. Maybe we should all have an attitude like her. You know this doesn't just mean in situations we are in. We need to look at the positive in EVERYTHING and that even means people. We all have a hard time looking at people and getting so angry and judgmental. We should look at the positive side. Also, we never know what someone is going through. We should be a light for them. 
4. Turn everything over to God. - Turn your worst day into an opportunity to give it to God. That is what he wants. He wants us to know we have him to turn to. He knows what is best for us. Just let him take control of it. Pastor Chris gave this scripture from 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you".  Pastor Chris said you can take this scripture and it is pretty much saying  Let go of all your uns (unloving, ungrateful, unholy, unforgiving) and give it to the Lord because he cares for you. 

He ended the message by saying  we need to choose a Christ-like attitude!!!!! The last scripture he read was Philippians 4:6-7. 

This was such a refreshing message. Of course when you leave a great service like that, Satan will do his very best to jump on you. He definitely tried to get the best of me, but I have decided I'm not going to let him. I am standing firm with God and I am going to have a Christ-like attitude. If you get the opportunity. Please watch and listen to Pastor Chris' messages from the Fresh Air Series. Below is a link.  Fresh Air Message Series- Church of the Highlands

If you get a chance, go pick up Pastor Chris' book "Fresh Air". You can find it at all bookstores. For those of you in the Marshall County area, Lambert's Christian Bookstore in Boaz has ordered copies.

Another great thing that has happened at Church of the Highlands is the recording of the new Highlands Worship CD  "Place of Freedom". Yesterday after the service we were able to purchase a copy and let me tell you, it is AMAZING!!!! The spirit of the Lord is all over this CD. You will receive a blessing when you listen to this. It will be available on i-Tunes Tuesday September 18th!!! Be sure to get it!!!

Mack and I both got to end our weekend on a happy note! I went through Birmingham on my way home from Auburn to see Mack and of course to give him the brownies Nana made!!! :)

Mack with the Brownies :) 

Well that is all I have for now. I am sure I will have plenty to blog about. We've got lots going on this week!!! :)