Happy New Year

On the 1st, while getting ready to go to my sister's house. I walked outside, and right in front of my house, stood a cow with a leg hanging out her back end. Since we moved here I have wanted to see a calf born. The field behind my house is where the dairy cows have their down time. These dairy cows provide milk for Kraft. From the time they are being bred until they calf, they are in our pasture. Most of them like to go off by themselves when they give birth, so I have seen many hours-old calves over the year, but never one being born. This mama stayed within 15 feet of the fence that separated us and gave birth to this cow. I was so excited! Truly, God has spoken to me most over the years through nature. On this day, I was reminded that He is the giver of life and new beginnings. May 2011 bring us closer to Him!


There is a picture below taken within minutes of the birth. If you click it to view large, or look too close, you will see some afterbirth. If you are squeamish, don't look!

September, Then and Now

I have been reading in Romans during my quiet time for a week or so now. Yesterday, I came to chapter 12. I memorized chapter 12 as a teen for a school project, and was thinking it would be fun to see how much of it I remembered...about the first 4 verses...

Yesterday was our anniversary. We have been married 14 years. I have read of people who "divorce" the first years of their marriage after an affair, remarry and start over. Leaving all of it behind them. I understand this in some respects, there are aspects of my marriage before that bring back bad memories with them. Knowing that if we had done some things different, we would have never had that failure in our otherwise good marriage. However, there are very sweet memories in those years too. We talked last night about my pregnancies and our newborn baby years, of memories too sweet to just "forget".

While I was reading Romans 12 yesterday, I was thinking about the verses, the chapter starts out asking us to be "a living sacrifice", it moves into our spiritual gifts, the gifts given to us to do the specific work God has for each of us, the last verses of the chapter are titled, "Behave Like a Christian" in my version. We could break down each verse, and spend all day in these verses. I came to the end of the chapter, the picture above is a picture of the verses in my Bible. I felt at first as if I had been slapped. I do not remember finding these verses in dreadful 07 just weeks after finding out about the affair. I did not expect to be confronted with that date on my anniversary. Those are memories I try to put far from my mind.

Then I read the verses again. God did not mean to slap me, but to show me that we had overcome evil, that we don't have to hold on to vengeance, it is His, and He will repay. I look back at these three years, and I see God's hand all the way through. He has restored my marriage & family stronger than we ever were before, not perfect, but strong. He has gently guided us back into ministry for Him, sending the right people at the right times into our lives.

I wrote this letter for my church this week...church members you are getting a sneak peek...

Dear Church Family,
I just want to write and say thank you. Not only because you have taken such good care of us since I broke my leg. Thank you for being obedient to the Lord when you called us here as your pastor family. You have shown such grace to us, loving us like your own right from the start. I have said over and over that it was like coming home. It feels so good to know you are where you belong, and I pray that each of you in our church family feel that way too, you belong with us, and without you we are missing a piece. You all make it very easy to love you, and we do love you! Thank you all for the cards, emails, meals, the love offering, and especially those of you prayer warriors out there praying faithfully for us each day. You have made these hard weeks much easier for us! Please continue to pray for your pastor & his family as we continue to strive to serve our Lord with our heart, mind, body, & soul!
Love to all,
Heather

Thank you Lord Jesus for overcoming evil with good!

Perspective

So, here's the new cast. The picture doesn't do it justice. It is Florida Gator colors, and I think it's pretty awesome! I had been dreading yesterday's appt. all week. The last one was very painful and this one was guaranteed to be bad also. It's not like you can tell yourself it's not going to hurt when the nurse tells you that each staple will feel similar to having a bee sting and you have 18 staples. Then she informs you that a few will be worse than that!

Well she didn't lie! It was painful, and having the new cast put on was the most pain I have been in to date.

Now for the perspective. As God always does, He showed up yesterday morning.

First, I have to say that dreading & worrying are two different things for me. Yes, I was dreading the appt. but, I did not lose sleep or make my family miserable this last week. (Those for me are sure signs of worry) I constantly asked the Lord to help me through, and relied on Him, knowing that He never asks us to go through more than we can handle.

On the way to the appt., I was sitting in my middle seat listening to the radio. The Jeremy Camp song, This Man, came on. Here is the first verse and chorus.

In only a moment truth
Was seen revealed this mystery
The crown that showed no dignity He wore
And the king was placed for all the world
To show disgrace but only beauty flowed from this place

Would you take the place of this man
Would you take the nails from his hands
Would you take the place of this man
Would you take the nails from his hands

I was overwhelmed with love for my Savior. I thought about how I dreaded the pain of that visit for one week. I knew that I would hurt, but it would only be about 30 minutes tops. I wouldn't be giving my life, suffering agony, humiliation, separation from my Father, and ultimately death.

Wow, put like that a few bee stings are like nothing aren't they?! To further His point, God allowed a man who I am assuming had been in a terrible car accident to be sitting exactly in my spot when J pushed me into the waiting room. He had casts on both legs and one arm. It made me think that although this has been very hard, really it could be so much worse. Then...after my appt. we were walking through W-Mart and a lady walked up to me, she was limping and using a cane, she said that it had been 4 years since her accident. She had broken both of her legs and it was obvious she would never be the same.

I am expected to make a full recovery.

I am grateful!

Blessings!

Sacrifice

I have been down for 3 weeks tomorrow. Today, I lost it for just a little while. I was crying, and feeling useless, sick, stuck in a chair, unable to help J get ready for his dad to come in tomorrow. Just really feeling sorry for myself. I even posted a pitiful "ugh" on Facebook hoping to get some sympathy from my friends. (which I got)

My night, last night, consisted of sleeping from 10-12, waking up miserable, tossing and turning (as much as you can in a recliner) moaning, and asking J to please wake up and move Eli out of our bed and help me try to sleep in it. That move occurred at 1:45. Then I laid there until 2:30 at which time I finally fell asleep. Wide awake and in pain, I had to wake J up at 7, to help me to the restroom. I decided I might as well go back to the recliner and let him sleep awhile. I needed to take some Tylenol, and therefore needed something in my stomach. I asked nicely for some cereal, and I heard him getting it ready for me. He knows that I only like the little spoons when I eat cereal. There were not any clean, and I heard him washing me a little spoon. He didn't say a word about washing the spoon, being exhausted, which he is, he didn't say anything about NEVER getting a whole nights sleep for 3 weeks. About taking care of my potty chair. (I would never do a #2 in there...sorry if that is too much info, but I'm just sayin.) He just gently got me arranged in my chair, got my breakfast, ice water, medicine, the remotes, and asked if he could do anything else for me. He told me he loved me and went back to bed.

This is just one very small example of the sacrifices that J has made over the last 3 weeks. In our almost 14 years of marriage, I have never been down like this. When I had my babies, my mom was there to take care of things until I got back on my feet. He has been down a few times, his stomach ailment, a dirt bike accident, a broken arm, etc. During those times he has been a wonderful patient. Now, he has been a wonderful caretaker, much better than I ever was to him. I hate to admit it, but it has surprised me.

You see, I am a doer, I like to do (almost) all the work around the house. I have never asked him to help out with things like laundry, cooking, etc. Typically, he comes home to a clean house and a warm home cooked meal, and I even make his plate & cut his meat. I don't know why, I just do. And, I love it.

In the last few years many things have changed in our marriage. We have both learned how to love each other better than ever before. One of the things J tells me often is "I love you fervently, and I am going to be by your side taking care of you until the day I die." I have to admit that I have struggled w/ believing that he would really "take care of me". I still have insecurity issues from the past hurts, and often I need to be re-assured. I will look him in the eyes, and ask, "are you sure your in love with me?" Honestly, I can not be told that enough.

One of the lessons God has taught me these last 3 weeks is that J IS going to take care of me. He has spent these weeks hovering over me. Lifting me off the chair, EVERY time I had to get up, bringing my med's and water, making mine & the kids plates before his own, sponge bathing me, doing laundry, dishes, vacuuming, cleaning toilets, putting on my sock & shoe, helping me in and out of the van, emptying my throw-up bowl, caring for/loving our kids, adjusting the pillows under my leg, and many, many more things. He has done all of this patiently, and lovingly. He has not once lost his cool, or made me feel inferior, or like a nuisance. He has told me over and over that he loves me, and right now I am what is most important.

I just want to say, Thank You, J.D., I think you are wonderful!

Mil Besos!

Unnecessary Bondage

God wanted to thump me on the head this morning, and I thought I would share the lesson with you. I was working in the kitchen peeling and chopping apples for a salad, and my mind was wandering. I began thinking about how scared I am to go back to the city where the affair happened. It is only about 25 minutes from me and would be convenient for several things, but I have refused to go back. (I can barely drive by on the highway without anger & tears surfacing)

Anyway, I was thinking about how I feel in bondage to this fear. Meanwhile, Missi was scratching at the front door to be let in. It is a rainy morning, and I was putting it off because I would have to dry her off. I got my cutting done and went to let her in. While I was drying her off, I undid the leash. I finished drying her and walked away. She would normally follow me wherever I was going, but this time she just continued to sit on the towel. I walked into the kitchen and called her and then went back to work. I checked a few minutes later, and she was still just sitting there. I tried to bribe her off the towel with her favorite bear and she wouldn't budge. It was then that I saw the lesson, that leash was lying there beside her, she was free, but had no idea. I decided to take her picture. (look closely and you'll see the leash laying by her) Then I called the kids in, they continued to try to get her to come, she had to be picked up by Karlee and moved before she would realize she is free!

How many of us are sitting in bondage to something God has freed us of?

II Corinthians 10:4-5 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

Revival

Here are some lessons I have been learning the last few weeks. Revival is not an event. It does not start on Sunday morning and run through Wednesday night. It is an action that takes place in our hearts.

For me, revival started the first week our church met in one of our member's home, the 16 of us bowed our heads and poured out our requests to the Lord together. Hearing my sisters & brothers ask for brokenness and healing, started the conviction in my own heart. I have been wrestling with a personal sin for a couple of months now. I would ask the Lord to remove it. I was expecting Him to do something about the situation. I knew I had the sin, I was sorry I had the sin, and I wanted God to remove it WITHOUT surrendering my heart to Him. I wanted the sin amputated, and I did not want to have to go to the hospital or cooperate in any way to have the surgery done.

Our time of meetings this week was set up just for the church body, I am not saying that visitors were not welcome, only that it was supposed to be a time of getting our hearts right and ready for the next big thing God has in store for us. It was not a pack the pews and see how many people are saved event.

I find myself feeling like a limp dishrag so far this week. It is over, and I gave myself physically, having a lot of company and such, but more importantly emotionally, allowing God to speak directly to me, piercing my heart with His two-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12)

Witnessing the new enthusiasm in my church family, I am so excited to see what God is going to do in us and through us!

Would you like to share your last personal revival experience in the comments? I would love to hear your experience!

Blessings,

A Question

One of our Youth Leaders asked the question, "How does uncompromising faith in God make life "worth it"?"

This was my answer:

God has brought me through many storms since I have been a christian. During this time my faith has been building to what it is today, although I am sure I will learn many more lessons before I die, I am at a place in my walk with the Lord where I can honestly say that I trust Him and His decisions for my life. When I was a young christian, J.D. & I went through a very hard couple of years where everything seemed against us. Our babies were fussy or sick so we weren't getting much sleep, J.D. had a strange illness that caused him a lot of pain and me a lot of work to keep up with the house and kids alone, then we had a huge amount of Dr. bills which almost drove us to court, during this time God was working on me and teaching me that He alone is in control. That I can trust Him even in the midst of the worst times of my life. What I also learned is that with the faith I have in God, I have enough. Even when I thought I couldn't go on, He was right there beside me carrying me through. I had enough love, support, peace, and comfort.

If I did not have my faith, life would be miserable! I would say that uncompromising faith in God is not only "worth it" but it is the only way to have joy in our lives!!!

How would you answer the question?

The Gift of a Cow

I feel like this post is going to be all over the place, so get ready...

I have to say that since November 1st, our first official Sunday, I have been busy. I can not tell you how much I have enjoyed it! It is so good to be back in the center of God's will doing what He called us to do. It feels like after a long time in the desert, we are swimming in a refreshing pool.

This morning I had a sweet gift from God.

To understand this, you have to have a little background on me. I LOVE animals, all animals, I always have. God speaks to me often through nature. Also, I have always wanted to live on a farm. I grew up thinking that I would definitely marry someone with land, and animals...especially horses.... Then I fell in love with the biggest city boy you have ever met, and he doesn't even care for most animals. Go figure! Then being a pastor's wife, I felt destined to never have my dream. Parsonages are usually in town next to the church. Even owning our home, J would not be interested in keeping up land.

Well, to my surprise, my parsonage sits on a little hill overlooking a dairy farm full of cows. The best kind of farm because the animals aren't even raised for slaughter!! (not that I'm against that, it just makes it easier for me to name them) :)

So, now I am going to tell you a little about my week. We have a dear deacon in our church, he is a founding member of the church, and he has become most peoples father figure or Papa, depending on your age. He and his wife are those people who draw others to them in an instant bond. He has been in the hospital this last week, on a roller coaster ride of tests and cancer diagnosis, with a heart attack thrown in just for fun. They have reversed the cancer diagnosis, praise the Lord. It has been a busy week of hospital visits.

On Wednesday, I had a call that a dear friend had passed away. He was 92 and lived the sort of life we would all be proud of. He was a war service hero, a good husband and father, served the Lord faithfully, and had a great sense of humor. His wife died a year and a half ago, they had been married for 62 years when she passed. I know that he is home with his Savior and his love and I am happy for him.

Also on Wednesday, I had the privilege of sharing my testimony and just answering some questions for a dear lady in our church. It was a joy to be used by God in this way. She was saved that afternoon. There were many people in the church who shared with her and had been praying for her. She stood before the church yesterday and with tears of joy shared her salvation. What a wonderful Savior we have!

This morning I awoke to my dog barking. I got up to let the little one out and check to see what was going on. I looked out the back door and within feet of the fence was a brand new calf and her mama. She was just learning how to use her legs, stumbling around. Her mama was licking her and she was sniffing around her mama. I just went out and sat on the back deck and watched the miracle before my eyes. Nursing was one of the best things about being a new mother to me, and watching that baby learn to suckle was so sweet. It is a beautiful morning here, after having freezing temperatures with ice and snow, then fog and clouds for a few days, it is gloriously sunny and even warm enough for me to sit out there in just my nightgown. I just had a special time of thanking my Lord. He has given me so many gifts in the last two years. I know that they are abundant blessings for obedience, and I am grateful!

Today, I will go to the funeral of my dear friend, then we will head to the hospital where our new dear friend will go through an extensive surgery. It will be a long day, but I will carry with me how personal God is in my life. When we are aware of His presence, walking closely with Him, there is nothing better.

Blessings,

Yesterday

I have been thinking about yesterday all day today. I want to write about it, but I am not sure I can do it justice. I will try though.

Yesterday was Friend Day at our new church. One night very soon after we moved here, I had a list of ideas for J. We were busy and I didn't get to rattle them off to him until late that night. One of my ideas was to have a Friend Day in December complete with a Christmas message and a meal. He said that sounded good, but it might be too soon to try to pull something that big off. At first he thought we should wait until the spring. The idea quickly grew on him and he set it in motion.

I share with you that it was my idea because it was so special to me to see God's plan in action yesterday. I know that God put that idea in my head, so I am not taking credit for it. My point is that because I brought it up, and J took off with it, then the people stepped up and did the work, we had a very successful day yesterday.

Our congregation has been running between 80 and 100 people lately. J set a goal of 125 for Friend Day. Our people got out and invited and we had 145 in church yesterday morning. A record for a Sunday morning at the church!

When we were singing, I felt overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit's power. I tried to look around to see who was there and just enjoy the sight of a full auditorium but my emotions would take over and the tears would start. I have said it before, I am hard headed and God has been doing overtime to affirm to me our decision to come to this church.

The day started out with 3 baptisms. One teenage girl who was recently saved in Youth Group, and a married couple. This man and his wife have both come to the Lord in the last few weeks. (I was there when she knelt and accepted Christ and it was so wonderful)

J preached a sermon about Jesus, he covered His fulfilled prophesies, birth, life, death, and resurrection. The message was powerful. I am praying that those that were there who needed to accept Christ would not be able to get it out of their minds this week. I think we will still see results from our peoples obedience in the weeks to come.

The meal was overflowing with good food. There was plenty for everyone with enough to spare for the evening meal as well. We are even freezing enough extra ham that will feed us (the church) for our New Year's Eve party.

After a short afternoon, we had a White Elephant Party at 5 p.m. It was a lot of fun and just a great time of celebration after such a super day.

My sister was the only person that was not a regular attender of the church that was there and this is the comment she had for those at the church.

YourSis said...

Tell your church family that we had a blast at the party. I heard a lot of warnings about how ruthless it would be. I hate to ruin any hard-nosed reputations but I think I saw more selfless acts than selfish ones. Iris and I chatted excitedly all the way home. Thank them for a fun time for us.

I hate to say it but I do agree with her...mostly...:)

I have had a few of you tell me that you try to comment on the blog and it doesn't show up. Here is what to do...Before you write your comment click on the down arrow that says Comment as and choose anonymous then write your comment and if you'd like, be sure you sign your name so I know who you are, after you write your comment, click post comment. Part of the fun of a blog is comments so if you are trying I would love to hear from you!

If you are still having problems shoot me an email and I'll try to help.

I hope you have a wonderful evening!

Blessings,

Luke 2 (Another Christmas Flashback)

As long as I can remember Luke 2 has been a part of my Christmas morning. Growing up my dad always read it. The lights were low and the Christmas tree was sparkling. The presents were now ALL under the tree...even the ones I didn't know. As a child it was so hard to focus on what dad was reading between peeking at the presents and my stocking. You could feel our excitement. If my parents had given us a choice to just dig right into those presents and skip the Bible reading, I wonder what I would have chose?

Looking back, I remember far more special times reading the Christmas Story together, than I do special presents. Many times my dad or mom or both would get choked up. Now as adults we are all sappy when we happen to all be together. Our children are sneaking peeks at their presents/stockings and we can feel their excitement...will they look back with fond memories of our Christmas tradition? I hope they will carry it on for many generations.

Luke 2:1-20

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary , his bethrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace goodwill toward men!" So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

"I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people!"

If you are reading today, and you do not know Jesus,and the great joy of being part of His family, and you would like to, please send me an email. I will be happy to share what He has done for me and what He would love to do for you.

Blessings,

Slow Fade

A Beautiful Washing

Last Tuesday night Gayla & Lori had invited all the ladies in the church to a special service. That was all that we knew about it. I saw them arrive early and was really wanting to go over and fellowship with them. I just did not have peace about doing that. I stopped and prayed for them and the service and proceeded to make some bacon wrapped jalapeno's. (I thought we were bringing finger foods, but that was the week before...oh well)

When I went into the auditorium there were chairs set up in a semi-circle. I thought it interesting when all the ladies were there that each chair was filled. It turns out that Gayla & Lori had covered each chair in prayer as well as prayer walking the church.

Gayla started off by saying that this was a foot washing service. Immediately, I thought about the condition of my feet. They had been in my socks & tennis shoes all day. My toe nails had chippy nail polish and had not been clipped in awhile.

Then Gayla started speaking, she shared with us that God had laid this on her heart to do a year and a half ago. She explained how she gave excuses and let her self get in the way of what God wanted her to do. She talked about how she had been miserable in her disobedience and that she was willing to do this hard thing that God had asked of her.

After sharing with us, she asked us to be in prayer for our fellow sisters while she was washing their feet. She knelt before the first lady and began praying as she poured water over her feet and washed them. I was so moved to see her obedient spirit and the ladies each being touched by her humility and prayer. I began to pray with her for my dear sisters. Some I knew and others I did not.

The Holy Spirit was so powerfully moving amongst us. I could feel His presence. All I could think was, this is so beautiful. Over and over I came back to those words. She is beautiful. As Gayla went from one of us to the other I forgot about what my feet looked like, I could not tell you what one of the other ladies feet looked like. I could only think about how our obedience is pleasing to our Heavenly Father. I do not believe there was a dry eye in the house.

If I had known that I was attending a foot washing service, I would have been very nervous. I would have for sure pre-washed my feet and clipped my toe nails. I may have even made an excuse not to go. I'm sure I am not the only one that was there that night that would have felt that way.

I would have missed out on a huge blessing! I am so grateful to Gayla for her obedience. This night made me search my own heart, looking for any area where the Lord has told me to do something and I have made excuses, or reasoned my way out of it.

So often when God asks us to do something, we listen to lies, we hear... you are going to look foolish, or, are you sure that is God telling you to do that. I can not think of one time when I was obedient that I looked back and said oh, I wasn't really supposed to do that, or man I really made a fool of myself. I have never had an obedience regret. I have had plenty of times where I let fear keep me from being obedient and regretted it in a big way.

This night was the start of a bond for me with the ladies of my church that I am looking forward to growing into great things for many years to come.

Thank you, Father, for allowing me to see the beauty of obedience through Gayla's life.

Blessings,

Pounded

My family has been pounded! If you asked me what that was 2 weeks ago, I would have said I have heard of it but I'm not really sure. I had never had the opportunity to pound or be pounded before.

So what is it? Our new church family pounded us with gifts in the form of groceries. On Sunday, J, the kids, and I took a load of stuff to the parsonage and when I walked in there were bags of groceries all over the counters! There were vegetables, baking supplies, canned goods (I can't wait to try all the different homemade jellies and canned garden tomatoes), paper towels & toilet paper, garbage bags, newly picked apples, fresh butchered ground beef from someone's farm, and farm fresh eggs in the fridge. Then yesterday there were two more bags in J's office. Guess what someone did? They had read through my blog and found a couple of my favorite recipes and bought the ingredients to make them! I can make my favorite beans and yummy chocolate cherry cake the week I move in!

My children were even pounded with a $10 Wal-Mart gift card each. What a great way to make us all feel welcome!

Here is the perfect verse for this season in my life~

Ezekiel 34:26
I will make them and the places all around MY Hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.

I love this because our little church sits on a beautiful hill. I pray that we will see His showers of blessings on that hill many times over.

(I hope I am not the only one that is going to sing Showers of Blessings all day now)

A God Thing

The new church was in need of office furniture for the Pastor's office. J & our Worship Leader, Michael, have been doing a lot of research. They thought they found the answer for the desk off of Craigslist. They drove together to the house, the desk was nice and they were going to buy it. Then they tried to get it out of the room. They took the desk apart and removed the doors, it would not go out the door. J leaned to Michael and said, "I think God is trying to tell us something." They left without that desk.

They continued searching and found a set that sounded good. When they went to look J was thrilled with the furniture. When the man heard it was for a church he threw in an office chair and an all in one Dell printer, fax, copier. All for a very reasonable price! If they would have bought that other desk they would have had a very difficult time finding matching pieces and I'm sure it would have cost much more.

Now look at the picture. See how the book shelves and the hutch all go perfectly together? The bookshelf on the left did not come with the furniture J & Michael bought. A couple in our church has the exact same set of furniture! When they realized J would need the extra bookshelf they lovingly donated it. They have had that set for several years. Amazing isn't it?

That's what we call A God Thing!

Have a beautiful Monday!

Bible Study

It has been a couple of years since I gathered with a group of ladies for a Bible Study. I did not realize how much I was missing that. Last night as we looked at David's life together and reflected on the decisions he made during his crossroads, I was reminded that we have those moments each day. Each day our decisions small or large will affect the days to follow. Like our leader pointed out, David's sin could have started with just the "small" sin of feeling tired and deserving. He could have been thinking, Lord I have served you for many years out on the battle field, I'm tired and I deserve a break. That little feeling of I deserve this, could have been the beginning of the slippery slope that led to all of that trouble. I am going to strive to be on guard for that feeling and I hope you will too.

I will leave you with some verses a wise 19 year old shared with us.

Lamentations 3:55-58

I called on Your name, O Lord, from the lowest pit.
You have heard my voice:
Do not hide Your ear from my sighing,
You drew near on the day I called on You, and said,
"Do not fear!"
O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul;
You have redeemed my life.

Praise the Lord, our Redeemer!

Bus Kids

I love bus kids. You know, the kids who are running around the church willy nilly, they don't always flush, they rarely say thank you at potluck, they don't know how to sit still in church, sometimes they are dirty and stinky, rarely do they know the right answers in Sunday School.

My dad started my love for bus kids when I was just a young girl. He captained a route in Jackson, Michigan. I was/am a daddy's girl and just wanted to be with him at first. Often, if I went with him on Saturdays to call on his kids he would buy me a burger or my favorite orange sherbet. What started out as quality time with my dad, would become a passion for these often love starved kids.

A few years ago at FBC we had a tragedy with a couple of our bus kids. Two of our bus kids, a brother and sister were killed in a house fire. It rocked the core of our church. Many who had previously taken the bus kids for granted, or maybe even resented them for their messes and wear and tear on the church, learned to look at them through new eyes.

My mom was a bus kid. Neither of my parents come from christian homes and without a bus ministry who knows if they would have found the Lord. It is because of the faithfulness of those men to go out and bring those children to church, and the openness of the church to allow those sometimes undesirable children to come, that ultimately has led to many, many people coming to know the Lord as their personal Savior. (including me, my siblings, my grandparents, etc.)

The next time you are sitting in church and that row of noisy bus kids is annoying you, or you are dishing out potluck and you don't want them to have all of the food, or the toilet is in need of a plumber AGAIN, the walls need paint AGAIN, the nursery toys are broken AGAIN. Remember, Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." We will never know the impact we will have on those little bus kids or the Kingdom.

Thanks to my dad for the inspiration for this post. Thanks to all of the bus drivers & captains out there. What you are doing is one of the greatest, least recognized ministries out there.

Love your bus kids!

Blessings,

James

I love the book of James in the Bible. When I am in between Bible studies, I typically turn there for a spiritual pick me up. (read, spiritual punch in the gut) I was reading there this morning and these verses are worth sharing!

James 3:16-18
"For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Thinking of self=every evil thing (sin)
Wisdom from above (prayer & bible reading) =PURE PEACE

No choice necessary!

Blessings,
Heather Kay

Peace!!!

I have not had a lot of peace in my life lately. The reason....I have not had my eyes wholly on the Lord. I found myself alone for awhile this evening, and I went to Bible Gateway and did a word search on peace. Here is what I found:

Isaiah 26:3-4
³ You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
⁴ Trust in the LORD forever,
For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

I am committing to get back in my Bible and renew my strong prayer life. I need peace!!

Blessings,
Heather Kay

Blessed Beyond Measure

I have been a really pitiful blogger lately. I so enjoy reading others blog's and I wanted to give back, but, I find myself sorely lacking! My week of doing "nothing" has been interesting. Monday, "nothing" found me taking my daughter shopping for a bathing suit and some summer tops. Tuesday, "nothing" found me allowing my daughter to have a friend spend the night. Wednesday, "n" found me delivering said friend back after lunch. Then J and I went to pick up his paycheck and get some much needed groceries.

Well, when we picked up his paycheck it was $800.00 short of what we expected. I don't know about you, but that made us reconsider eating this week. So, instead of grocery shopping we came back home and sat in our room for a couple hours going over budgets and such and trying to figure out a plan to make it through this month. Then, when I went to get a much needed drink of Diet Dr. Pepper, I found that our fridge was not working. After cleaning out liquid ice cream and throwing away basically everything else out of the freezer, I was ready to put that day to bed. The problem was it was only 6:30. The fridge repair guy is coming at noon today and we will see if the problem is covered by warranty. (praying about that one)

When J and I were about to pray last night we were talking about how blessed we are. Yes, yesterday was a terrible day and our attitudes were not what they should have been all day. However, when we laid our heads on our comfortable, clean, king sized bed, in our comfortable, air conditioned, beautiful house, we are blessed beyond measure! Also, PTL that we did not get groceries only to have no place to put the cold stuff!!

Count your blessings!
Heather Kay

I Am Like A Luna Moth

I do not claim to know much about Luna Moth's, as a matter of fact I googled, Luna Moth, this morning to make sure the spelling was right. I found this beauty on my sisters porch last night. I picked it up thinking it was dead and felt it quiver on my hand. I rode home with it on my hand, it was very still, but I could feel it quivering. When I was just about to pull into my driveway it sprang to life. It was flying around the car and I opened the door and it flew up, around and around, banging into things, and finally landed up here by the light.

I say that I am like this Luna Moth because I also am reaching for the Light. My chief desire is to follow my Savior throughout my life. However, like the Luna I sometimes fly round and round, bumping into things, and becoming dazed and quivering. Then He picks me up, waits patiently for my eyes to adjust, and helps me to get my bearings again.


John 8:12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world, He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

P.S. My daughter said that my readers are going to think I'm some kind of "animal nut" if I keep posting these pictures on my blog. I replied, "well I am".

Your friend,
The Animal Nut