This week the blog is going to take on a little bit different direction! I am going to try and share on a lot more of a personal level. I just finished a great devotional time with God and I can’t tell you ‘what’ exactly, but I know that God is up to something in our lives. (Although I do have some ideas!) I know that He has amazing plans that He is getting us ready for. I heard, felt and experienced God this morning in a fresh new way and I am so excited about His inviting us to adventure with Him. Please pray for me this week, as I seek to hear from Him, yield to Him and share Him with others.
I love each one of you and thank you for your prayers and I am so glad that we get to do this thing called life together. The enemy would seek to depress and discourage us, but He that is in us is greater than he that is in this world! I just get the feeling that if I am hearing God is such a special way, that many of you must be hearing from Him also! God wants to use us to accomplish some amazing things for His Kingdom. I am looking forward to an amazing week for all of us – don’t miss out on what God has for you and for others through you.
I plan on spending some special time in extended prayer and study of the Word today and this week- pray that I will be protected from the distracting attacks of the enemy and that I will hear and see what it is that God is speaking into our lives!
Well I have to go and fill up the gas tank on Joy’s car – I overheard her say she needed to get gas today and thought I would surprise her with a tank already filled up when she gets in her car this morning. It actually was God’s idea – I am just trying to listen and obey! Don’t forget to ask God how you can show love to your special someone and then do what He tells you! It is going to be a real God Blessed Week! Press On!
Michael Joe Harvell 
Change of direction is a could thing! What blessings would we miss out on by not following God’s direction????? I believe we all need a baseball bat & trash can so we can beat out those distractions. (if you’ve seen Frieproof then you know what I mean). Satan’s distractions and road blocks can be overcomed by those of us who have a relationship with Christ by speaking HIS name and claiming HIS power over Satan. I know that Satan has tried really hard to distract me from my daily devotions so I am not only going to pray for MJ but for all of us as well. Can ‘pure’ spiritual growth happen without a change of direction? Darryl Hobbs is right – we all need to know each others salvation experience. Knowing what God has done for others only enhances HIS mighty power, grace & mercy.
I’m lovin’ life with God thru Northwood, Amen!
Actually this morning at 4:00am I walked the dog. We have this 70lb boxer that we crate at night and he started barking at this time. Usually Jan gets up with him, (sometimes it’s like having a baby again). I was actually awake when I heard him bark, and then I heard the Lord say why don’t you go ahead and walk him, so I did. This morning Jan got to stay in bed, and I done something that he would normally do. Jan thanked me for doing this. I hope this showed him that I love him, since I am not one who easily volunteers to walk the dog! Thank you Michael Joe for giving us the CHALLENGE. Lynn Bowen
MJ, thank you for who you are and what you are doing for Northwood. I can really see spiritual growth in my family and that pleases me so much. I really like the Love Dare challenge. I did pray about what to do for Jim today so …..I allowed him to sleep in this morning. I usually wake him up early(not on purpose) when I go out to walk and he isn’t crazy about that. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds. I love a challenge. Keeping you in my prayers. Old enough to be your Mother…..Jerri
AMEN!…… How sweet to know we have a pastor who actually ‘walks the walk’ & not just ‘talks the talk’. As you mature in your relationship with the Lord & your precious mate, we are all BLESSED.! (We know you can’t keep from sharing the joy of what the LORD is teaching you each day.) How wonderful to have a pastor & church body who loves, prays & supports each other on this challenging journey called “Life.”. Blessings & love, Pat Goss
Since we have been coming to Northwood, I’ve seen so many wonderful changes in myself and my family. Barry and Tabby started coming before Kaylee, Thomas and myself moved up here. When I would come to see Barry, we would go to church. Once I moved here with the kids and we made a decision to stay at Northwood, our whole lives changed. I thought that I was saved, but I wasn’t. My children were saved and through them and my “new” family I was saved.. I wanted what they had. Seeing my children having a relationship with God made me want to have what they were experiencing. Peace, joy and just plain fun. Note to parents: we learn from our children too!!!! Mine and Barrys’ past isn’t what you call Christian like. Our present and our future is! I know being a Christian is what I want for all my family and friends. It isn’t easy. Last week I told MJ that my partners at my shop were finally getting it and then on Friday night, one of them just fell apart and blames God for the bad things in her life. Ya’ll I didn’t know what to say other then this is not true that God wants her to go to him and let him handle things for her. She is mad at God for suddenly taking her mom away a year ago, just when their relationship was turning around for the good.. I need praying partners for this. This is new territory for me. God led me to my work place, and I have been praying and asking why. I had been thinking about leaving, but now I know why I am there. I have too be is wittness and plant my seeds, so these young women will know what an awesome God we worship and the things that all possible with him.!!!! Pray that they hear Gods words through mine and that they use them and feel them in their hearts!!!!!!! On the Love Dare. Thank you Michael Joe, Barry washed the dishes after dinner lastnight(in need of a dishwasher-ours died!) and cleaned the kitchen. he is wonderful. We’ll be married 2 years tomorrow. I needed him to do somethings with me this morning, but instead never said a word about them and sent him hunting with his dad. Our parents aren’t here forever, so spend time when you can… All my love and prayers to everyone at Northwood and my God guide us in the “new direction” he has plans for… jerilynn