Thankfulness

So, October has ended and we are now immersed in "holiday" stuff! The month of praying for revival is officially over and memories of halloween and fall festivals are behind us.  But, now- when we walk into stores to get eggs and milk we find Christmas trees right next to the thanksgiving table cloths.  Mercy!

My brother, Anthony, myself, my Dad, my Mom and brother Kevin

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Growing up I remember wearing towels tied around my neck and putting on whatever mask I could find in our house then going door to door getting things like apples and tootsie rolls in a pillowcase. I remember only going to a hand full of houses because as we would knock on the doors we were invited in for pie, coffee and hot chocolate- we never got very far!  In the big town of Checotah (which is where I went to school) they would have their annual Halloween Carnival in the old gymnasium where the gypsie would read your palm and you would search through the bowl of eyeballs to get the spider ring at the bottom.  We rarely drove into town for this event so I only went one or two times because the 15 minute drive into town was just too far:~) 

Now, I do have to say, I lived in the COUNTRY.  Yep, sure did.  When you hear the country songs on the radio and think "does stuff like this really happen or exist?"- I can assure you- it does.  I lived in a suburb of a small country town- no kidding.  My husband makes fun of it and so does all of his friends.   After they attended our wedding where we hosted our reception in the Volunteer Fire Department community center- they realized how country at heart I truly was.  Our beautiful cake had been created by June- the best chicken frier in all of eastern Oklahoma (if you've been to Junes in Checotah you know exactly what I'm talking about:)  Oh, and did I mention my brother drove us to the reception in a HUGE YELLOW SCHOOL BUS!!!  I still have to pay him back for that-  Good Times!!!!  My kids love to go down to Papa and Nannies house and roam all over their acres on four wheelers.  They change oil in Semi trucks with my dad, crack pecans on the back porch with my mom, kill flies with fly swatters and, I truly think, they have a time every day where they go out and just roll in the dirt because when they come back to our house- they bring proof of the good times with them in their shoes and coats:)

Three men that influenced my life a great deal (and still do but don't tell them.)

Growing up in a rural community had it's negatives (in some peoples eyes).  We didn't have cable in our area back then.  The Country Store (this was literally it's name) was the only place to quickly run to get milk or eggs or bread.  We were miles away from doctors and hospitals.  And the deer always ate whatever my grandparents were growing in their garden.  But the good things about it were countless.

My spiritual journey definitely started in that rural area.  My pastor and his wife, Gary and Sherry McKeen, were also the youth pastors, janitors, grounds keepers, counselors and worship leaders.  Our church was small but it was filled with so much love and God's word.  They took me to my first church camp.  They took me on my first of many mission trips.  They took me to help elderly people in our area with things that needed to be done at their homes.  They taught me that we, as the church- the true body of God, are to serve and to love.  Many nights of revival were spent in that little country church.  Many bible verses were memorized and many bible drills performed (I know, I am OLD SCHOOL!). 

Family, sitting around a table in a fellowship hall,...Just being a family.

Before we would go on a mission trip we would go through spiritual training.  Not one person would go on the trip if they didn't complete the training.  The training included fasting, memorization and sharing your testimony with various people.  When we stepped foot on the bus to go to wherever we were going Gary knew that each one of us was prepared to serve and prepared to tell anyone about God's love through our personal testimony.  As a 7th grader I was equipped to stand in front of a church, give my testimony (which was pure and simple), share scripture and lead people into a personal relationship with my savior. This is when revival started in life.... and I find myself praying for the same revival today.

Three of the greatest and strongest men I know.  My dad, my uncle Don and my uncle Ken

When the team would get hot, sweaty, blistered hands from hammers and drills and hungry we would get grumpy and often this would lead into all out brother and sister type fighting.  When this would happen we would have to stand next to each other and repeat Ephesians 4:32 as many times as Gary would think to be necessary.  This verse says, "be ye kind, one to another.  Tender hearted, forgiving one another, just a God, through Christ's sake, has forgiven us."  And I can guarantee you, after saying this a few times and being lectured by Gary about forgiveness we would cool our jets and get on about our true mission.

I crave small town country life so much.  I realize that I am blessed to live in the beautiful urban Tulsa area.  The people are good with beautiful hearts and spirits.  God is alive in Tulsa and I get to see it every day.    People are hungry here and are searching out a purpose for their lives- aren't we all.....

Revival...... what is it, how does it happen and how do we keep it going?  Many times it is as simple as getting back to our roots, continually training and sharpening our minds for the mission we are on and repeating Ephesians 4:32.  God is good.  His forgiveness is real and His love is pure and simple.