I finally have internet! Woot, woot! I know a ton of people are wanting to see pictures of our new house and I promise I'll post some as soon as I get some unpacking done. It is super cute...way more than I expected and we love it. From the outside, it looks very small but it has way more room than the apartment and I don't have a crazy neighbor beating on my floor! Bonus!
We arrived safely in Union City about 6:30 PM Friday after a great trip. The weather was beautiful, basically no construction and we just had God's favor the whole way. Pastor Tommy had a huge crew waiting for us to unload. What took us 12 hours to pack on Thursday took about 50 minutes to unload! What a nice way to be greeted! I don't think I carried anything that night.
Saturday was a flurry of preparing for Sunday, two meetings and trying to return the moving truck to a very hard to find place. Oh well, we got to see some Kentucky country side in the process.
Sunday was the most amazing day in all the time I have been in ministry. Pastor Tommy asked me to greet the congregation right at the beginning of service and then leave for children's church. I was a little nervous but was so pleased he wanted everyone to be sure and know who I was. It was their first "Friends and Family" day and he had been encouraging the church to invite people for several weeks. We had such a HUGE turnout! The normal attendance between both services is about 200 but Sunday we had 328! The children's church staff said a big Sunday in the kid's department was about 25 and we had 90!! We had a total of 26 kids ask Jesus into their hearts and 3 adults for 29 salvations! PTL...God is so GOOD. I was so humbled and in awe of how He blessed the day and brought in so many people that I spontaneously would burst into tears.
Today was my first day in the office and it already feels like I've been on staff for a long time. It's so hard to explain...I know it's a God thing. I miss you all so much and can't wait to see everyone in person again but am so happy to be here. I owe soooo many phone calls and I promise to get back to you in a day or two. Right now I am exhausted and can hardly keep my eyes open. I have not done much unpacking and normally that would have me NUTS, but I don't care...I just want to sleeeeeeep. :) I LOVE my new opportunity....can't call it a job...it's too much fun to be work!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Tennessee is Amazing!
Posted by Lori Eilers at 8:23 PM 5 comments
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Blog Break
Well gang, tomorrow is truck loading day! If you have a desire to heft some boxes around, give me a call! We could use a couple more guys to load. I don't imagine I'll be blogging for a few days. The next post will be from Union City, Tennessee! I'll post pics of the new house for the many who have asked. I can't wait to see it myself since we will live in it for at least a year.
Squeezing in two more goodbye dinners and finishing up work at Des Moines First today. Randy was doing a happy dance as he left for his last day on the job. Please pray that God reveals his new job soon. We aren't worried...just waiting for God's timing. He is faithful to finish what He starts!
This isn't goodbye...just see ya later.
Posted by Lori Eilers at 8:29 AM 3 comments
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
More Goodbye Pics
Leighton and Dallon with little Milly Esther
Jen, Chance and Garrett at our Joe's Crab Shack date!
My T.A.L.K. tribe. They are the cream of the crop in children's ministry in central Iowa!
Gonna start a T.A.L.K. in Tennessee!
Our beautiful niece, Amanda
Posted by Lori Eilers at 7:33 AM 0 comments
Saying Goodbye
Posted by Lori Eilers at 6:12 AM 2 comments
Friday, September 19, 2008
Random Thoughts and Maybe a Rant
My mind seems to be traveling several different paths these days and it gets a little interesting when the paths criss cross but you all have been there!
At this time next Friday, we will be driving to Union City. I feel like I've been waiting several weeks to go "home." Can't wait to see the house we are living in. Kinda funny that we rented a house sight unseen but it will be great.
God is opening some incredible doors for our son. He has accomplished more in his ministry calling at his young age than some will accomplish in a twenty year span. We sat up late last night brain storming some ideas and it was so cool how God was inspiring us at midnight and His presence was so evident. I know I am biased, but my son is an amazing man of God.
There will be a surprise guest at tomorrow's open house that you won't want to miss!!! Hope y'all are planning to stop by. Bring tissues for me.
The Lord has brought about a couple more miracles and I am in awe of how He meets the smallest and largest of needs. Every detail is important to Him. I stand in humble awe of His grace and love for a flawed sinner such as me.
I LOVE my T.A.L.K. (teaching and loving kids) tribe. It was so great to connect with them one last time yesterday! Picture and more to follow.
I'm SICK of political ads! I know we all are...let's just vote already! The media is at an all time frustrating, ignorant level! Don't get me started. Money, taxes, economy, education, foreign policy, Iraq, all that aside...I do NOT vote for baby killers. nuf said!
How about we pass a law that requires the nation to take a Dave Ramsey financial class and maybe our ideas of money management would get lined up correctly. Let's include financial institutions of America. Duh, people. Stop spending money that you don't have.
I can't wait for the new season of Survivor! I know, I know...get a life. Randy ~ You can just eat a big bowl of shut the heck up!
I miss my cat!
Why does my apartment smell like cardboard?
I love the book of James. My former pastor, Pastor Ray Weets, said this about James..."James was written to help us in our everyday living ~ trusting God no matter what!"
I ate an entire Big Mac the other day and then I was so full I about died. Bad Lori! It tasted awesome!
Today, I am finally using a gift certificate I got for a one hour massage. Looking forward to that!
I love my hunky man...thanks for working so hard on packing, baby.
Have a wonderful weekend and see you at the party.
Posted by Lori Eilers at 7:59 AM 1 comments
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Season of Growth
Can I just try to put into words some of the things I'm learning and re-learning about me and my relationship with Jesus? It's times like this that I wish I had a way with words like Mark Batterson or Perry Noble. I've been telling everyone that will listen for more than 10 seconds about this season in our lives because I want to show people how REAL God is and how His promises are true and definitely for today.
My biggest lesson in all this process of accepting my new ministry opportunity is something I hope I can pass on to my little circle of influence. The JOY outweighs the FEAR! By tons! Most of us have this fear of the unknown...well, except maybe friends like Pastor Josh or Mark Main who are adventure driven folks. :) I have always struggled with change and God has rocked my world with change since September of 2004 when we left Berean. I hope it doesn't ever take me that long to fully understand something from God again! I embrace it now...go with the flow and trust Jesus in a new and deeper way. If it's a God change, it's a good change.
I told Randy that I feel so incredibly happy and at peace about our move. I still cry sometimes when I think about a certain person or child that I will miss so much but please don't take this wrong...I still want to go to Tennessee when that happens. When we live in obedience, God brings an indescribable joy that fills your heart. If you feel the Lord is asking you to do something that makes you get sick to your stomach nervous or you know will rock your world...hang on, take baby steps and know His ways are always better than our ways. It's like when we are working out and building or rebuilding muscle. We lift weights and it breaks down the fat, makes us sore and stiff but if we keep working at it the results are amazing. We'll be physically stronger and mentally sharper and just feel oh so much better. Our body runs more efficiently, we sleep better, look better and honor God with keeping healthy. Same goes for lifting those spiritual weights. Buck up and deal with the sore so you can get to the prize! JOY!
Posted by Lori Eilers at 7:19 AM 3 comments
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Givin' God the Glory
Most of you who read this know about all the miraculous things God has been doing in our lives but I felt compelled to make a list and share it with the blog world. It's not about Him loving us more than someone else, or that we are somehow "super Christians" that are being rewarded, it's about living out Deuteronomy Chapter 28:1-14...the blessings for obedience. It's an ongoing lesson for me and maybe you have perfected obedience but not I said the fly! I like to think I always obey the voice of God, but who am I fooling. I'm a human with flaws but He is somehow molding me to be a smidgen more like Him each day.
Anywho....Jesus has been working overtime at the Eilers' house! I'm gonna back the truck up a bit for those who need to catch up so if you are current with news...sorry. We leave the wonderful state of Iowa in 13 days to embark on a mission from God. Union City, Tennessee is the destination and reaching the city with the love of Christ is our focus.
Miracles:
The week before we went to interview at UC First Assembly of God, my mom-dar kicked in big time with the huge concern, "If I move to Tennessee, where is Keaton gonna live?" God answered that prayer with Keaton receiving an offer to live with some very good friends for FREE. He will live in a beautiful home with people I love and trust who believe in Keaton and want to support his ministry. I could go to UC and focus on whether it was where God wanted us to pastor and not worry about my boy.
God confirmed over and over again while we were in Union City that it was where we were supposed to be! I could list at least twenty comments that Pastor Tommy alone said that struck me straight in the heart. I cannot wait to serve as this man's children's pastor and help to make his ministry dreams come true. I think we are gonna made a great team as we have such like minds, thoughts and ideas in ministry. I kept looking for the "red flag" and it never came....not one hesitation! I asked very detailed questions of the leadership in the church and every answer another "yes" in my heart.
Pastor Tommy's wife, Deana, (we are gonna be trouble together! :) ) found us a very nice little house to rent. It price was awesome, and she got first dibs on it as the Lord lined it up for her to be the first person to call about the new listing in the paper. It needed a refrigerator, washer and dryer and in less than 24 hours, God provided all three appliances for FREE! The landlord agreed to rent to us without meeting us face to face, we just talked over the phone and God gave us favor.
We needed $1000 for the deposit and the Sept. rent. It may as well been $10,000 cuz we didn't have it. On Monday, we received a wonderful gift of $200 and we were excited to see God moving. I needed to mail the check but we decided to wait a little longer to see what else would happen. By Thursday morning, I told Randy we have to mail the check today! I wrote it out and put it in the mail and said to the Lord, "I'm mailing this by faith and believe that by the time this check gets to Union City, you will have provided the money." That was about 10 AM....at 7 PM we got a check for the rest of the money! God is so good and we are so thankful for two families that heard the voice of God and gave from their hearts. All of you who were praying had a part in that miracle also. Some were meant to intercede while others were meant to take action. Every part is crucial! Thank you so much.
When we arrive in UC, it will already be a couple days away from paying rent on the new place again. When Pastor Tommy found out we had to pay for a full month's rent already to secure the house, he said that the church would pay our October rent! Thank the Lord, and I hadn't even asked for that one. The church has been knocking themselves out looking for ways to help and make the move easier. I even get to attend a ladies retreat in October that our church is organizing.
It's been awesome, too, how we are getting to connect with a lot of friends before we take off. I got to say goodbye to my Des Moines Christian friends at the last chapel I did. My Parkview buddy, Jim, had a little gathering at his house for a few of us that are close. I've been able to squeeze in some coffee and lunch dates and hope to do a couple more. We had dinner with Laureen and Devon (I'm plotting a way to pack Devon in my suitcase). My pal Jen Yates is hosting the open house next Saturday...YOU had better be there. :) We are gonna have dinner with the Kimmers and the Adamsons and I'm gonna squeeze the stuffin' out of all of them. I'm also trying to get to one of the Seven Projects Keaton is speaking at my last week here. Stink...when am I gonna pack? :) I think I may need to take up Jenn and Cale's offer to help pack.
We will be about the same distance from Micaela, just south instead of north, so I praise God my girl will still be with us for breaks and holidays. She might even be in UC in October. Woot, woot!
We have three big things we are still praying for:
To find out where Randy's new job is. We KNOW he has one....God just hasn't showed us where.
To have favor with the apartment place and not have to pay October rent since our lease is not officially up until October 31.
For Keaton's Missionary Associate status to be completed by the Assembly of God Missions Dept. so he can begin to raise a little financial support to do what he feels God has called him to do for the next two or three years. He did start his part time job at the Apple Store and is loving it but hasn't gotten a pay check yet.
Isn't God amazing? Be encouraged that He really does answer prayer. Yes, sometimes He says yes, sometimes no and sometimes wait...but He does answer. I'm so thankful He chose me to minister to kids and has given me this opportunity to serve.
Posted by Lori Eilers at 10:11 PM 3 comments
Friday, September 12, 2008
India Disaster
I don't know about you but I heard about a major flooding disaster in India yesterday that I can't believe I didn't hear about on the news. I guess maybe with all of our own hurricanes and political (excuse my crude word) crap, it wasn't too news worthy here. But...4 million people lost their homes and 100,00 people were killed.
It's a long story but I was talking to another children's pastor friend of mine who worked with our Assembly of God missionaries, Jonathon and Erica Barthalow, while they were all here in Iowa. I got the story from Rob and I felt compelled to get a hold of Pastor Jonathon and see what we can do to help. The Barthalows are originally from Memphis, TN and he is going to be there in October. Our new church in Union City supports them monthly so I called Pastor Tommy to see if the church could help, too.
I got a call from Pastor Jonathon last night all the way from India (thanks to Facebook) and he filled me in about the disaster and he wanted to know how in the world we are going to Tennessee. :) Of course, I had to tell him the amazing story. Here are a couple links you can check out and pray about finding a way to be of help.
http://indiadisasterrelief.org
Pastor Jonathon's blog http://web.mac.com/barthalowsinindia
Posted by Lori Eilers at 6:06 AM 2 comments
Thursday, September 11, 2008
If You Work in Children's Ministry...You'll Understand
Okay, this is strictly for fun...not that I have ever had any problems where I have served as the children's pastor, but these are too funny. The list is by Roger Fields, a well known children's ministry leader with an awesome web site full of resources for the crazy peeps that minister to kids. Http://www.kidzblitz.com
IF CHILDREN'S PASTORS RULED...by roger fields
The church water fountain would dispense Kool Aid.
Hymns would have motions.
The adult service would have a flashing light signaling when children’s church was out so the pastor could dismiss the adults.
Children’s Pastors would be well paid and Senior Pastors would get a cracker and juice allowance.
The Senior Pastor would have to put up with YOUR kid.
Nursery duty would be mandatory for all choir members.
Ushers would pass out animal crackers.
Puppets would staff the church welcome center.
People being baptized would be allowed to splash.
Greeters would wear full body costumes and do balloon sculpting.
Every Sunday you could poke your head into the adult service and bark out, “Keep it quiet!” and they would obey.
Church staff meetings would be held at Chuck E. Cheese.
It would be considered harmless fun to wear cowboy gear and blast holes into the church grand piano while yelling “yee haw.”
Adults would raise their hands during the sermon and ask the Senior Pastor for permission to go to the bathroom.
Church boards could only say one phrase: “Go ahead, we don’t care how much it costs.”
The Senior Pastor would get permission from the Children’s Pastor before adding any new worship services or scheduling any special events.
Puppets would come up with their own skits.
The church tithes would go to the children’s department first. Any money left over would be dispensed in small increments to the general fund.
When people got saved in the adult service the Senior Pastor would fire off a confetti cannon.
The adult service would have to use the sound system with the high-pitched hum.
Children’s workers that didn’t show up would be fined. At the end of the year you could use the money to go to the Bahamas while they ran VBS for you. (sweeeet)
Posted by Lori Eilers at 6:22 AM 2 comments
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Happy and Sad
I almost forgot to share this. When we were in Sioux City a couple weeks ago, we got to see the baby squirrel my sister-in-law, Shelley, rescued. When she got him, he was so new he didn't have any fur just pink skin. Even in the pics I took, his eyes were still not open. She has to feed him with an eye dropper every couple of hours. She gives him puppy formula. He was sooo cute. I loved holding him. Not too many people can say they have held a baby squirrel.
Posted by Lori Eilers at 10:04 PM 0 comments
The Dude Can Preach!
I've been listening to some of the pod casts from my new pastor and he can flat out preach! I really enjoy his style, so passionate...not yelling but so excited. Like me, he did not grow up in the church and unlike most full time pastors, he was saved as a 30 year old law enforcement officer. So his coming to know Christ at a little bit older than most people, he has this intense desire to make up for lost time. When you meet him, it's hard to imagine him doing anything else but pastoring. Pastor Tommy has a huge heart for lost and hurting people and is very passionate about discipleship! People coming to know Jesus is most important, obviously, but he is as equally concerned about their growth in their relationship with the Lord. It's a fine line in churches to be successful at both leading people to Christ and then helping them grow. I'm feeling pretty excited and confident at the balance that Union City First Assembly seems to have going. Two weeks and two days......
Posted by Lori Eilers at 3:28 PM 0 comments
Sunday, September 07, 2008
What Will I Miss About Iowa?
I was thinking....dangerous, I know. What am I going to miss about Iowa and the Des Moines area? Obviously, family and friends but there are a few more things.....
Iowa sweet corn fresh from the field.
Panera on every corner. (I'll have to travel an hour for Panera when we get to UC)
Drooling at the Brighton store at Jordan Creek.
Snow and 50 degrees below zero. HaHaHa, don't believe that for a second!
Starbuck's and Target on every corner.
My boy. Sniff, sniff....
All the churches we've served at and been a part of.
Des Moines Christian School.
Parkview Middle School.
Watching "my kids" grow up first hand. You had better send me pictures!
Fareway.
Anderson Erickson products. You just can't get better chip dip than AE!! Come on!
I'm sure as soon as I post this, I'll think of something else but most of all I'll miss YOU!
Posted by Lori Eilers at 6:49 AM 7 comments
Friday, September 05, 2008
The Party is ON!!
Hey y'all....I'm practicing. :) We have the party plans happening. One of my dearest friends, Jen Yates, is hosting a going away open house for us. It's an appetizer and dessert event at our apartment party room. So save Saturday, Sept. 20 to stop by between 2:00 PM and somewhere around 6:00 PM (we'll stay and talk all night if ya want to!) to give us a hug and pray with us. If you'd like to bring some munchies along, you're welcome but don't feel obligated. (Mandy C. makes crazy good desserts! And some Drew Stinson BBQ sauce wouldn't hurt my feelings! Is Amy's chicken and rice an appetizer? Hee Hee!)
Enter PointeWest Apartments through the door at 4601 Pleasant St. in West Des Moines. Buzz the party room to get in. Follow the hall past the office to your left and when you hit the pool, hang a left. The kids are welcome - you better not show up without "my kids"!!!
We'll be sending some invites, too but pass the word cuz we want to see everybody! God is doing some amazing things in our lives and we want to thank you all for your prayers and support. We are torn in some ways about the move. How do you leave soooo many wonderful friends and family members? How do we leave Keaton here in Iowa? How do I leave all "my kids"? We do it with confidence that we are obeying God's best plan for us and that He is meeting all the needs; physical, emotional, and spiritual. There may be tears but there will be rejoicing, too. Hope y'all can make it at least for a few minutes!
Posted by Lori Eilers at 10:23 AM 4 comments
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Feeling So Much Love!
Posted by Lori Eilers at 3:07 PM 4 comments