My Husband's Hand: To Tweet or not to Tweet?

I have been looking into all the different social media outlets and trying to discover the benefits of each one.

This week I will be looking at Facebook and twitter. A lot of the older people they may be wondering, what is twitter? The truth of the matter is that social media is here to stay, you could hand a three year old a mobile device and they could probably do a better job of navigating and using it than most older people.

The things that can be done on these two social media platforms are huge. As a pastor the simple things that we can do with twitter and Facebook alone are huge! Just say you have half of your congregation on facebook, and a quarter of them on twitter. Realistically you can reach 75% of your church in matter of minutes.

If, for example, you hear of a family who could use some help moving into a new house, bam throw it out there in social media, and see how fast you get some people to come help you.

As a pastor you only get to spend a few hours a week with different individuals. But, thanks to social media, a pastor can know follow, everyone in his church (everyone with social media), and in a way be with them all week knowing what is going on in there lives. You can get reminders from Facebook of when peoples birthdays are and you can see if they are doing something that may need some help with, the list goes on.

I think one thing that is so great about twitter, Facebook and Instagram is the fact that we get to know people better.

A Quick example:

I just this morning saw that one of my Facebook friends loves nascar and that they are having a baby. Just in one morning found out two different things that are pretty big in this individuals life.

That alone is one of the biggest things about social networks like these that I really like from a pastor's position.

Like I said, you can quickly reach everyone in the church, or other people you know. The power of prayer is huge. The good, old prayer chain is great but can take awhile to call everyone up, and to catch everyone by phone. Now being able to send out a message, or tweet about a prayer request can be so fast. In matter of minutes you can have hundreds of people praying for something.

 Social media can be such a huge task in ministry if we allow it to be. Like I have said many times though, it is a tool, and shouldn’t be our main focus when comes to ministry. We need to spend time face to face with people, and not allow social networking to be the only connection we have with people.

So tweet or not to tweet?

I think as people in ministry we need to take advantage of any of these things, and figure out best ways to use them to help expand God’s Kingdom.

Sunday Style

I have found a new love: JCPennys. I have recently purchased 2 skirts (costing over $100 total) for less than $10. Seriously, they had a $1.97 rack yesterday, people! 

Now, go hop in your car and cruise on over to your local JCP and stock up. Then, come back and finish this post! :) 

I have been in search of a cute, modest, professional, stylish, kid friendly outfit to wear to Jimmy's credentialing interview and ceremony. Boy oh boy! Why didn't anyone tell me about the versatility and classic look of the pencil skirt? I am in love! 

I am testing out one of my outfit choices for church today...

breastfeeding friendly? Check!

Pop of color? Check!

Comfortable? Check!

Stylish? Check!

Modest? Check!

I think this is a winner... 

and a blooper for you- it was FREEZING out there!

Skirt-Worthington | JCPennys
Shirt- Mossimo black scoop neck |Target
Scarf- Old Navy
Sweater- WetSeal
Shoes- HotKiss

UPDATE : we're a little fruity...

I spent the afternoon with this little love bug... we didn't do much of anything out of the ordinary. We played with blocks, he nursed and we went for a walk! 

We are beyond ready for spring!

he's quite the explorer these days...

and I just love his handsome smile, decorated with five teethe!

I was so lucky to spend the evening with my true valentine!

We sipped pomegranate  cherry juice from the same glasses we used at our wedding; adorned with strawberry hearts!

I had a DIY fondue set! 

we answered 100 questions and chatted for over an hour.

**You can find the list of questions here!**

I drew this card for Jimmy. hehe!

we did not stray from our diet (aside from the chocolate dip, but the fruit cancels that out, right??)

we finished the night watching The Butler! it was wonderful!

**DIPS**

Chocolate:

8 oz heavy whipping cream brought to a slight boil, 1 bag of chocolate chips, stir continuously.

Strawberry & Raspberry: 

I blended about 1 cup raspberries and one cup strawberries (Both from the freezer section, thawed.) 

After the berries are all pureed. Pour the mixture into a sauce pan and turn on medium heat, stir regularly!

 In a separate bowl mix a few Tbs water with some cornstarch (I honestly don't know how much of either, but just enough so that the cornstarch dissolves) 

Once the berry mixture is hot, slowly add cornstarch mixture, stirring continuously, until it reaches your desired thickness. I also added a tiny bit of sugar because it was REALLY bitter! 

Happy Valentines Day! 

Printables (invitation and place cards) from The Dating Divas.

High Five for Friday!

1. I got a trim and added bangs to my new do! I usually cut bangs in once a year and then let them grow out!

2. James also got two hair cuts. One on sunday morning before church and one sunday night in the tub because he was wiggly and tired the first go around and needed touched up!

3. We are officially looking at a position in Wyoming as senior pastors and we are in the process of planning a trip out that way next month! our first family "vacation".

4. James had his first case of "i'm so tired i'm just going to sleep right here right now!" it was presh.

5. Tonight is valentines day and I have a fondue party planned for the hubs and I! I am VERY excited!! you can find the awesome printables here.

how was your week??
~paige

Morning Thoughts over Coffee

As I sit here sipping my coffee, tossing thoughts about our future back and forth in my head, I am burdened. Burdened with worry. I look to Luke chapter 12 and am finding peace.

Let me back up...

As you all know from this post we are currently in search of a church to pastor. To say this is a difficult decision would be an understatement. I thought it was going to be SO FUN.. FALSE ..here I sit worrying about HOUSING?!
seriously? Of all the things I could use my time doing, this is NOT what I want to be stuck on!

I believe God will give both Jimmy and I a sense of peace when the right church comes up. I believe He will open doors that need to be opened and firmly shut the ones we should not enter. But Currently? Currently I could not feel farther from peace...

As a mom, as a wife, as a human I can't help but think where will we LIVE? The current town we are considering is my husbands dream. It would so perfectly fit his passions. I know he could flourish as a pastor in this little town.

so why are my heels dug in?

Shouldn't I feel the same way?

WHY AM I SO WORRIED?

Is it because there are NO rental listings for homes to be found on the internet? (seriously, none whatsoever.)

Jesus says in chapter 12 of the book of Luke, "DO NOT worry about your life." Don't worry about what you will eat, don't worry about what you will wear. "Life is more than food and the body is more than clothing."

Oh such sweet words. Words I need to embrace. If this is where God wants us, we will have a home. We will have ALL of our needs met and be blessed beyond measure for following our calling and living within His will for our lives.

So, to all you worrying moms out there, STOP.
I need to stop, right now.

Everything about this place screams our names, yet here I sit, worrying about things that God has had under control since long before the thoughts popped into my little brain.

This post is in no way a commitment to said community, but my expression and declaration to be open minded and trust that God will both provide for our EVERY need and fill me with a peace beyond understanding, a peace only the Mighty Creator can provide.

I am excited to visit this community and to hopefully see our potential new home (literally) and to see what doors God opens for our little family!

What is your "housing" on this Wednesday morning? Give it to God and get on with the greater things this day has to offer, because worrying is NOT one of them!

Lord, I pray that You will allow me to break free from this burden of worry that has overtaken me. I pray that You will open my eyes to the need in this community. If this is where we go from here, I pray that I have the strength to trust, embrace and grow with the calling you have placed on our hearts and lives!

~Paige

just a boy!

it's what's for breakfast

James absolutely LOVES toast. He would eat it for every meal if I let him! In an effort to change up his breakfast routine, my friend Chelsey gave me this recipe. It provides both a heathy dose of banana as well as some protein from the peanut butter, with NO added sugar! 

What you need:

2 eggs

1 Cup peanut butter

2 ripe bananas

1/2 tsp baking soda

1tsp Vanilla

(I doubled the recipe and froze some!)

mix it all together...

bake for about 10 minutes at 400...

viola! 

safe to say James enjoyed them ....

-Paige