Lent...not found in the dryer.

This week has been a tremendous blessing in the life of the Coopers.  We are observing Lent for the first time in our good 'ole Baptist history.  Trinity has blessed us with an amazing family, supportive friends, and challenging endeavors in our spiritual journey... Here is one:

Wednesday evening we participated in the Ash Wednesday service and my heart was truly opened and recognized with Christ what is really going on here--- We are living a life that portrays His suffering, salvation, and freedom.  He chose me, He chose you- to reveal to others what happened on the cross and then three days later. Pretty big task if I do say so myself.

So, this Lenten season we received ashes on our foreheads-- but what was that for? It's about repentence; it's about mourning the tragedy that saved my life.  I've been blessed to be studying within my counseling courses some of the aspects of grieving and how incredibly healthy this is for life.  We also are encouraged to "give something up".  Not as a punishment, or a chance to complain about one more thing, but as a sacrifice--a sacrifice that is ultimately about us drawing nearer to our Creator by engaging in quality time with Him in the absence of something we often replace Him with.

The Coopers have given up eating out.  This is quite a challenge for us fast-paced, lovers of convenience, and novice cooks.  We have actually been so blessed this week, already!! We have spent more time together, cooking and experimenting in new meals. Okay, so you may be thinking how does that bring you closer to Christ??  Well, I am reminded with every conversation with my husband of the love God has for me, because He uses Laine to show love to me more times than not.  I also feel so refreshed and encouraged to dig deeper after spending time with Laine.  It's been good and it's only been a few days!

I love learning new things and watching God transform my life and lives around me.

This week we have some BIG things happening in the lives our students.  Wednesday we are hoping to have a larger than usual crowd at our youth service! This frightens me, but reminds me that God is in control--and no, I cannot handle the crowd, but HE can and WILL.  Also, this coming weekend we are taking 6 lovely ladies to a conference in Nashville. Pray that God will instill in them leadership and passions to serve.

Anticipating and EXPECTING my God to show up and do BIG things this week...

So blessed!

This verse has spoken to me tremendously this week: "That day, when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Mark 4:35  Boy did Jesus ever go over to the other side. He went to outcasted, hurting, tragically lonesome, devastated, sick, annoying people... That's where we all should be heading.  Let's go.

'Lil Coop... the dog.

In the world of blogging, people are custom to the frequent blog about their cute, adorable, little children.  Well, this makes me jealous.. not jealous enough to do anything about it... but jealous enough to blog about my dog.  Yep, I have a dog-- thought I would definitely have a child before I would let a dog step foot into my house.

So, his name is Griswald, in lieu of the Christmas season when he made his way into our lives.  Grizzy was found lurking around Trinity United Methodist Church, my place of employment, for nearly a week.  Finally, Joey (pastor) lured him in  using his dog whisperer voice.  I was convinced by Joey and Laurinda that we needed a dog.  I thought for one night, in the spirit of Christmas, sure.. I can give in for just one night.  When he came for his visit, he surprised us by letting us know when he needed to go outside and even a few meaningless tricks he seemed to know.  Surely he was someone's precious dog gone missing.

A visit to the vet let us know that he didn't have a chip to tell us where home was... we made some phone calls.. waited and waited..

It's history from there.  Little Grizzy went home to IL for Christmas and was officially intiated into the Sasser/Cooper families.

He's the only extra mouth we will be feeding for awhile.  A long while...  

Here he is: 

Sorry about his eyes... he always has zombie eyes in pictures.  He's cute, huh?!?

We do love him :) 

Prayers

This past Sunday we took the youth to see "To Save A Life"... A very powerful movie that I feel touched them in a very deep, passionate way.  We are going to begin a new study on Wednesdays, talking about how much our lives influence those around us.  How can we be more conscious of the affect we have? Of the love we are sharing, or not sharing?  What do we want our lives to be about? 

I believe God is going to do something big and great in the lives of the teenagers here.  I believe our God is big enough!  He is, completely, without a doubt.  I'm ready to see Him move.  Pray for the students-- I mean pray big, believing that God can tranform their lives, and their minds to the likeness of Christ.

Pray for the people of Haiti... I still cannot get them out of my mind, and I pray I never will.  Tonight we boxed over 2,000 health kits and I was so inspired to see people coming together to form this unity called Love.  I pray that with each wash cloth, bar of soap, tooth brush, etc-- that these people will truly feel the grace of God in their lives... the protection He covers them in... and the hope He has laid forth for them.

Pray for my sweet husband. That God will continue to reveal his plan for his master's degree & that the influence he is having on the children at Heath is life-changing.  Pray that his passion never ceases.  Pray that I can love him better everyday.

Pray for me... that I will hand over all things to my Father each morning.  That he can make all things new in my life and that I don't grow weary in serving in Him.  Pray for what I am studying, that it won't just be words on a page, but these words will transform my attitude and heart into a true servant, desiring to show love through healing counsel to others, with Christ working through me and in me in all that I do.

Just pray.  Always pray.  Never stop.  :-)  He's a good God that wants to talk, wants us to listen, wants us to depend on Him, humble ourselves before Him, desire Him, dwell in His presence, love like Him, act like Him, and just be more and more like Christ everyday.  He wants us!! We are desired by the One that created the universe! So cool.