Luke 14

Brent spoke from Luke 14 in Sunday's sermon about the cost of being Jesus' disciple. And reading through it several times this week, the Lord began to speak to me how we like to take most of what scripture says but not the whole counsel of the Word. It says in verse 27 "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." He didn't say may not, but cannot! Plain & simple. Further down in verse 33 He reiterates this point by rephrasing it, "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he cannot be my disciple." Everything means everything! We pick & choose what that means, but picking & choosing gives you options, & Jesus did not give any options! That means more than just giving up sins, it means giving up your way, your desires, your wants.

This afternoon at prayer, the Lord spoke to me about how much time I spend on the computer whether it's Facebook, emails, this blog, or the time I spend editing pictures to put on these things. This has become an idol in my life! You say an idol - you are crazy!!! But think a minute. What is the definition of an idol? We all think of something that you worship. True, it is. But its also anything that consumes your life or takes your attention away from God or really that consumes more time than doing the work of the Lord. Then I told the Lord but I am reading & studying Your Word. I'm spending a lot of time in prayer & worshiping!!! Then He reminded me of my daughter's visit to India. She said that it was so hard to get the people in that country to realize that God was the One true God, the Only God, b/c they wanted to add Him the list of gods that they already have. God will not be in competition with other gods - isn't that one of the 1st commandments? God doesn't want to be on a list, He doesn't even want to be on the top of the list.... He wants to be the whole list! Which brings me back to my will & Lk 14.

Lk 14 ends with a statement that I find very interesting, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Are we willing to hear the Word of the Lord in its entirety? We complain about not being able to hear Him. That's not b/c He's not talking. It's b/c we won't listen.

Tuesday

Tuesday we went to the NC Aquarium. We couldn't go the last time we were here b/c they were fixing it from a hurricane, so it had been a while since we had been there. It was fun!There was a sweet little waterfall just inside the display area.


















My guys: Dan, Dave, & Andrew. If you look closely, you can see Scott in the background.

Andrew, Aaron, & Dan

This was a neat shot of my guys. Let's see if I can figure out who's who: Dave, Scott, Dan, Aaron, & Andrew










This mushroom shaped figure is a jellyfish.








They also had an outdoor area where you could observe animals in their natural habitate.

...and some not, thank goodness!

After the aquarium, we headed for the beach again.









Sarah is heading out to the water & Mandy enjoying the sun.








Dave, Scott, Sarah, & her cousin, Ashley enjoying the surf.














Dave tried his hand at using Dan's skimmer board.

Dan showed him how it's done.

The girls just hanging out.

We went to Roland's for North Carolina BBQ...Mmmm mmmm!

That evening the younger kids had a Koolaid stand & everyone got together to visit.












Fun times!











The newest member of the family, sweet Nissi!







The gals! Sarah, my cousin, Grace, My cousin's wife, Lisa, my sister, Jacque, Mandy with my niece, Jordan, in the center front.











We ended the night with a swim in the Mickey mouse pool (named after it's shape).

Monday

It is a tradition in our family to go out to eat lunch, as a whole family, the Monday that we are all there. We either ate at Captain Bill's or the Sanitary in Morehead City. This year it was the Sanitary. Yes, you heard me right, it's called the Sanitary. We always have so much fun!We took up 4 tables by the time we were done.



This was the Blocker table where my Dad & Ginnie sat with Craig & Linda on their side & Linda's mom, Aunt Betsy & her boyfriend Bob on the other.










This was the cousins' table with the Kregenow boys one 1 side & the Blocker kids on the other.











This was our table. My sister Jacque joined us, as did some friends of Sarah's from college.










Sarah & her friend Brenna are teachers, & Mandy & Sarah's friend Lori are nurses, so they had much in common, & much to talk about








This was my other sister, Vicki's table. Her grandson, Royce, & hubby, Joe, sat with her. Her son-in-law, Lee sat at the end with all the girls on the other side.

















After we ate, we went out on the restaurant's deck. We used to feed the seagulls out there, but they do not allow that any more.





















These fishing boats were docked right next to the Sanitary. We watched as the boats came & went.












It was such a pretty day.










You always knew you were in the South when you began to see crape myrtles. These are such pretty flowers!



I often think how Betty Kyllonen must enjoy being able to look at these all summer long.

After lunch we headed back to the condo to relax a bit. This is the courtyard at the entrance of our condo.




















That afternoon we did more beach time & more pool time.







Sarah's friends seemed to have a good time visiting.













We went on over to my sister's to have a movie night with just the gals.








While the girls were fixing the TV....











Royce found a buddy to play with.













Royce had a blast at our ladies night! Lol!