Living the New Life

This has been an interesting week so far.  I have spent a good bit of time trying to get our services on itunes through this site.  After a lot of time, I learned that while we can post our services on itunes, it is not going to be the quality that I desire for it to be.  I will have to move my blog to wordpress.org if we are going to have our album art and other information available.  I don’t really know what I am going to do.  If you have any advice, I am open for some feedback.

We had two people give make a commitment to Christ during the service.  That is awesome. 

BTW, My weight loss is now over 27lbs.

Please be in prayer for Sarah and I tomorrow around 2:15.  Thanks

This is a link to this week’s message.  We are in the process of having it on itunes.  Let me know what you think.

http://ryancarnes.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/no-bread-in-the-house-of-god.mp3

It has been a great day.  If not for a few rain showers ( that we needed) it might have been perfect.  Sarah was off work today due to it being a holiday for state employees.  Bethany had school but we kept Andrew with us.  I did some studying this morning and then we went and walked.  Since I made my first goal on my diet, today was treat day–We went to my favorite Mexican restaurant and I ate some good food.  I noticed two things- 1)  I was full a lot quicker 2) I have been dried out the rest of the day.

After it stopped raining, we went and walked again.  If I am going to eat a lot, then I have to exercise a lot.  For supper I was back to my love affair with lean cuisine.  I am now about to go walking again.  It is my day off and I can do what I want to!

Advice for the day:  Never hand your 2 year old little brother a big rock when He is standing above you.  This is advice that Bethany will probably listen to from now on.

Today was a different kind of day at New Life.  I really didn’t feel it (emotionally), and I knew that I had a hard sermon, and then the praise team were having a little difficulty with a song, and on and on.

We had 125 in attendance but we had so many regular out that it disturbs me.  My message was on No Bread in the House.  I had many people tell me that they were challenged by it.  We had several requests for copies.  Does that mean anything? 

I will give a quick update on my diet.  I have lost over 25 lbs.  I hit my first goal so today Sarah and I are going to our favorite Mexican restaurant.  I can’t wait for some guacamole dip.  After I am done eating, I plan on walking a few miles!

Blessings!

I write this today not knowing what to really say.  On Sunday we announced at the church that we were expecting a third child.  We had known for a few weeks, but we waited to tell anyone because of 1) We were shocked, 2) We wanted to tell our parents first.  Having had two children already with no major complications we were not even considering that something could happen.  We were shocked, shaken, and taken off guard on Wednesday. 

On Wednesday, Sarah and I went to have the first sonogram of the new baby.  After going to several different rooms and different procedures the Doctor told us that they were unable to detect a heartbeat.  He then wanted Sarah to have something called a pre-abortion.  That is an option that we are not considering.

I will try to put into words what I really don’t want to talk about for you guys.  It is hard.  It does hurt.  I am numb.  What was a feeling of excitement has turned into uncertainty at best and mourning at worst.    We could see the baby, but to hear someone tell you that it is not alive is gut wrenching to say the least.  I have wondered if Moses felt that way when He could see the promised land, but not be aloud to cross over and enjoy it.

Sarah is a tower of faith.  I know that God does miracles, but I also know that there are times that He is silent.  I believe that He can speak life back into the womb.  I am praying for a miracle, but I am also praying for my family.  My words are having a hard time expressing how I feel. 

I feel better today and Sarah does too.  I am not sure how we will feel tomorrow or the next.  Let me say that God is so real to us.  He is here and has been the entire way.  I do not feel alone whatsoever.  Someone asked me what the next step was.  The answer is simple, we will continue serving through the good and bad, joy and sorrow, victory and loss.  We are believing for a miracle, but we are preparing for every situation.  I love each and every one of you that reads and thank you in advance for your prayers for me and my family.  God Bless!

I was out of town last week when Andrew turned two.  We are going to be celebrating his birthday with a party this weekend.  I have no idea what in the world we are doing for food.  I would be willing to bet that it is Pizza Hut and cake!

What is completely amazing is the fact that Andrew and Bethany are totally different from one another.  Bethany is a talker and Andrew is not.  Bethany can sit in front of a TV for hours while the longest that Andrew had ever watched TV for is 7 minutes and that was at 5 in the morning this week when he was zoned out.  The boy just never stops! 

Sarah and I have been blessed with two loving children and we are thrilled for that.  So on Saturday afternoon we are going to throw down playground style.

The morning started good as the praise team was rocking.  It truly was a great set yesterday.  I finished up the series “Hand of God” by talking about the loving, tender hand of God.  We had 137 in attendance and overall a good morning.

Last night, I spoke about picking up the towel-  Jesus came, Jesus returned-  In between He washed feet.  He came to serve, not be served.  I spoke about how Christ humbled Himself to the position of a slave and washed feet.  In our class we went old school.  We had a feet washing!

After service, I rushed to Macon to the hospital to be with Julie Moore and her family.  Her husband Trey has been in a really bad dirt bike accident and He needs a miracle.  He has brain and back injuries.  Their young son saw the whole accident.  Please lift up the entire family in your prayers.

This was dropped in my spirit for someone this weekend, and I thought that I would share it here:

When the Lords begins to work in our lives and calls us to change our direction, we must be careful who we share that word with.  Not everyone will be happy about what God is doing in your life.  There are times that we have to keep what God has placed within us quiet, until the appointed time that we can release it.

Jesus was born as the Savior of the world, but they still had to hide Him because someone (Herod) was out to kill Him.  He gifts were kept hidden until the appointed time for His ministry to begin.  When a woman becomes pregnant with child, she has the child inside of her from the conception moment, but for the child to survive she must wait for the development process to take its course.

Be careful who you share what with.  There are Herod’s out there what want nothing more than to kill the vision and purpose that God has placed into your heart.  That is why you should keep your gifts hidden while they grow.

I want to challenge you to change the way you go about life.  Work less- seek God more.  The Bible tells us to give Him our firstfruits.  While I know that many of us are extremely busy, I dare you to take the first hour of your day and give it to Him (in worship, in study, and in prayer).  I believe that God will honor your offering to HIm and lighten the strain and burden of your day.  God Bless you in your adventure!

I was meeting with a couple this afternoon at the church when I suddenly thought about the time.  It was 3:14.  The problem with that time is that I am supposed to pick up my daughter at 2:30 from school.  The school had called my cell phone, my home, my office and still did not get in contact with me.  My secretary thought that I had left (my cell was on my desk) to pick her up.  When I realized what had happened a very sick feeling came over me. 

The sick feeling that I felt today does not compare to those who will one day realize that they followed after the wrong things, and have left behind the most important treasure of all—-Jesus.