How do you pray?

I long to get better at listening to His voice rather than my own. It seems more often than not that i am ready with a long list of thoughts, needs and wants versus a gratitude list revealing my awe, fear and respect of what He has already given! Even more so i should come more often in silence waiting, listening to what His thoughts are.

Maybe the scripture “Pray with out ceasing” I Thes. 5:17, actually means listen without ceasing…???

We have had more snow here this year than what we have had recent years, i must say it has been beautiful though a bit crazy seeing how the children have been out of school so much! 2010 is gone and we are well into 2011 now! But here are a few pics from our winter!

Alford Family December 2010

in front of “Maggie” our Magnolia tree

Snowbuddies!

and of course…snow angels!

As God allows us each new day, we are growing closer to him as individuals and closer to each other as a family.  I pray we will be given many years as a family to grow and be challenged, to share fun times amidst the everyday struggles that some families go through…maybe just maybe we will learn how to seize the day, the moments in time when our souls are open to God’s beauty and His friendship. Whether we dance with Him in the garden while full of roses in bloom with birds perched viewing our meeting on a tree’s branch, or walk on a path covered in soft blanket of white silent snowflakes-He is 100% present and longing for us to want to be with Him. I’m so thankful for his blessings that are many and unique like the snow flakes in our 1.6 acre winter wonderland…I am in wonder and awe of Him!

It’s winter time and cold, but my soul is warm and cozy in His presence.

So in the last post i shared what we all were up to, but i failed to show you our most recent fam pic! Of course i have to say thanks to the Anglens one more time, they rock! We went to the session with the intent of just getting the boys photos done, but there was time to throw us in a few, i’m not sure this particular photo was planned, but they always catch is being us! Check out their website, www.anglenphotography.com, we have never been disappointed with their work, it is well worth the investment to have them take our photos this year!

Thanks for stopping in!

The Alford Crew is looking forward to sharing more updates as the path is lit for our fam in the months and years to come! We love being on mission where we are right now, we are enjoying the mission trips we have taken and are full of anticipation about partnering with each of you to expand the Kingdom!

Chris is Senior Pastor at Litz Manor Baptist Church here in Tennessee, assisting as Pastor of Iglesia Bautista Agua de Vida, a Latino congregation in addition to coaching young church planters in various areas of the country & world! I get the privilege of cheering him on, sometimes assisting with these coaching adventures, I love wearing the “Stay at home Mom” hat…although we technically just sleep at home some weeks!

We actually took a family vacation for the first time in years! We went to Destin, Fla.-got to see our cousins, take in the beach-the Chris had business in Orlando with the SBC, so we got to tag along and sight see and play at the resort like pool the whole week-very relaxing for sure!

The boys are busy with school, sports, youth group and children’s group activities in the community. Connor is 15 aspiring musician and yes folks watch out, he is driving! Cayden is 3/will be 4 December 10, he has an official back seat driver permit (ask Connor)!  :)

We recently made a trip to Mexico to scout out future mission trip projects for our missions team to be a part of. We were so blessed to get to take this trip. Our friend and Director of Missions for our local association, Dr. Dallas Bivins along with his awesome wife Becca arranged the trip and off we were!

My first ever trip “abroad”!Our hosts Bill and Renee Johnson

Bill and Renee’s hospitality was amazing! The ministry God is doing through them is so evident in their community!

Chris brain-stormed with the missions team in Tulum, he also spoke the sermon in Spanish at a local church plant in Playa del Carmen! The worship there was so sweet! The people in Mexico are so hospitable, we had an extraordinary week mixing work with pleasure! A few highlights are below:

Chris speaking in Playa del Carmen

a tiny little creature in a volcanic rock tidal pool on the shores of Cozumel

On mission with the Hills, the Johnsons and the Bivins!

Lighthouse Church worship time, Pastor Terry Hill moved with his dear wife Debbie  from Alaska to be missionaries here in Tulum!

What to do from here?

Work diligently where we are planted here in Tennessee, enjoy teaching the boys how to be on mission here in the USA, and point their boats toward the Lord and His direction for their life! In everything we do, we hope to honor Him, we are so grateful for these life burdens, what a privilege!

What is the burden of your life? Please share so we can partner with you and journey in expanding His Kingdom!

Our little guy, Cayden was getting ready for story time-this is a favorite moment in our household.  A book is read or story is told right before eyelids can’t hold open any longer, then the house is relatively quite! oh, except for the five “i gotta go potty…” breaks and “i would like some water…please”.  AND my favorite—”i need love”…this is code for i need another kiss, hug or i love you. 

How can one resist going in the bedroom and giving more kisses and hugs?

I guess this enhances my inquisition as to why the disciples were so put off by these little ones.  Why the need to rebuke? Were the children swinging off the chandeliers at the mountainside meeting? Were they talking while the adults were talking? Maybe it rained right before this particular gathering and puddles were left in the path way up to where Jesus was sitting…Were they stomping in those puddles and splashing everyone in sight? Were they crying because they didn’t feel well? Maybe they were just being persistent and constantly begging “take me to see this Jesus!”, “take me to see Him, pleeeaaaseeee Mommy!” Maybe they were full of hope and trust because they saw light and love in Jesus and were just drawn to Him!  Do you think maybe because children learn behavior from adults and so many adults were intoxicated with getting to this Jesus guy that it got the children all excited as well?

What can we take from my ramblings? I don’t really know, but children are on my heart today, in particular my children. As a mom, i want to lead my kiddos to Jesus on a constant basis until they realize how easy it is for them to just call on Him anytime and participate in loving Him and His Kingdom.

Do children annoy you? If so, may i ask if you have ever tried to remember what it is like being a child? In many ways children are often expected to grow up and have knowledge that most folks have not and don’t acquire until they are 18 or older. This has been brought to my attention a lot in recent years. Children don’t just know to sit still in big meetings…they have to gradually be taught by the grown-ups (parents leading), the have to learn how to behave at home and in public. Adults need to remember how to be like children from time to time as well…

I’m reminded of a song…”Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world…red brown yellow, black and white, we are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

You see, we are all children of various ages, Jesus loves you and longs for you to come to Him. Will you enter His kingdom?

If you are part of His Kingdom already, would you please continue to encourage children all around you? Bless them with positive words, with love and acceptance, introduce them to Jesus! What a privilege we have! Participate in your community as a mentor at the local boys and girls clubs, be an awana leader at a local church, volunteer to hold babies addicted to drugs and alcohol in the hospital pediatrics unit, take a turn as a chaperone on a school field trip or help coach a soccer, football, maybe a basketball team. Children need us to be adults, but they need to see our zest for life, our ability to be silly and goofy, to believe in a dream or vision bigger than us…

“What breed of dog is she?”  You ask…ya know how peeps combine names together when there is a mixed dog in the fam…well we have come up with Labrabullie…She is English bulldog and Black Labrador.  Harley is one of a kind that’s for sure! We love her although i have never had a dog get into so much…Caesar Milan would pay us a visit to find we work her out, she has 1.6 acre lot to run, romp, tear down trees and chew all in sight on…what more could she ask for? Oh well, needless to say we are all in training right now. Just like children, no two dogs are alike…just b/c one breed is easy to train doesn’t mean they both can’t be great dogs—i miss you Reigna girl…but thankful Harley has joined the Alford crew.

Gotta love jammin’ with big brother Connor

Train time with “Uncle Ross”, Connor and Daddy!

Time with Papi! They look a lot alike!

Daddi-o 

I have the freedom to say or do just about anything i want…but i’m learning that true freedom is having the freedom yet not always saying or doing what i’m feeling…not easy, but WOW- the relief and inner freedom that brings is remarkable!  Some would call it maturity, some may call it avoidance or repressing my feelings, some may not even care…but in our heavily laden instant gratification society i find it (if i may once more use the word…) freeing!

Got freedom?