MATTHEW 6:34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own

I have been clinging to this verse on the days I feel emotionally overwhelmed… so much to do, So many decisions to make, So many what if’s, hopes and unknowns.  So much is left up to the last minute, timing and ultimately God’s Will.  I am taking one day at a time right now and really trying hard to not “worry about tomorrow” and just focusing on what is here and now in the immediate present.  Having gone thru a move with the company before, I have learned there is so little planning you can actually do.  It is an experience that has to unfold as it goes.  With each unfolding, come new challenges, new questions and answers.  I have learned not to worry “too much” about the future what ifs, as they will still be there in the future - I do however enjoy planning and preparing to alleviate some future troubles or difficulties.

Philippians 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light."

I have been emailing back and forth with someone that lives in Abu Dhabi, I mentioned her before in a previous post.  I am thankful for the contact and know that this is the Lord’s way of putting my heart at ease and allowing me prepare for a world of difference and change.

here are some pictures she shared with me of the neighborhood that she lives in and we will also most likely live.

  

here are the “Villas”   they look similar to a condo here in the US.  except the terracotta roof and stucco walls.. which i love

this is the pool in the gated community of villas.. it looks like top right has tennis courts?

oh dear, this is a total radical change from what I am used to.  My kitchen is absolutely glorious here in Sugar Land. I better enjoy it while I can.  ^^this is what all of the kitchens look like since all the villas are identical.  Surprisingly I am most bummed about the electric cook top.. I have been so spoiled by my gas stove. Yes, that is the washer/dryer you see in there.  Seriously the kitchen makes me want to cry.

Here is my kitchen now:

   

Oh how I will miss you.

Pioneer Woman is having COOKIE WEEK

 

these recipes will surely get you thru the holiday season.. see link below!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/12/cookie-week/

Advent Conspiracy - Love This!

*copied from their website: http://www.adventconspiracy.org/

Give "Presence"
The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.
So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.
And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?
What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?
Welcome to Advent Conspiracy


* Charles and I have decided to start early about keeping the meaning of Christmas first and foremost with our family.  We have asked Santa Clause to only send Audrey & Will 3 gifts each year since baby Jesus recieved 3 gifts.  We feel that this limit will keep the holiday from escalating into a  gimme gimme gimme season.  We also will require Audrey to choose 3 toys that she is willing to part with for other children that are in need.  I plan on taking her & her 3 old toys to a donation center and let her hand them over.  We will make a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve, let her decorate it and then read the Christmas story out of her children's bible.   We hope that by starting early we can instill some of this as our tradition and hopefully keep the excessiveness at bay.  Wish us luck!

Devotional

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Failing Forward
Renee Swope



"The steps of a [woman] are established by the Lord, and He delights in [her] way. When [she] falls, [she] will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds [her] hand." Psalm 37:23-24 (NASB)

I admire, maybe even envy, people who aren't afraid to fail. You know, those people who see personal setbacks as another goal to conquer. People who don't even consider defeat when they blow it.

I wish I were that kind of person. But honestly, I am not always so courageous in the face of failure.

Failure is painful. It's embarrassing. And sometimes it makes me want to give up, mainly on myself.

God is teaching me a lot about failing. In fact, He is giving me a little push these days, to fail forward.

This week He's been challenging me to determine in my heart and mind that I am a work in progress and move forward even when I have a setback. He is reminding me that I am a woman who is becoming all He created her to be.

A woman who is growing.A woman who is getting better and better each day.A woman who is not perfect - but who tries to surrender to God's perfect love and perfect power at work in her.Failing forward...after I shoot harsh words across the room to "shoosh" my child when he announces that the yogurt in our near empty refrigerator has expired and there is nothing to eat! That is, after I'd just opened the large container of perfectly good yogurt, eaten some myself and served it to his brother for a snack.

Failing forward...after I criticize my husband and realize I failed to honor my man, again. Instead I've added to an already stressful day for the husband and father who just brought home groceries.

Failing forward...after I let myself be "too busy" to take the time to encourage, sit with, talk to, and listen to my always-giving-and-forgiving-mom who stopped by unexpectedly this afternoon.
Failing forward...after I tell God that a certain ministry assignment is too stinkin' hard so I can't do it because surely I don't have what it takes.

Every time I fail to be the woman God calls me to be, or the woman I expect myself to be, God reminds me of the progress we've made. Because, even though I may not be who I want to be, I am not who I used to be!And I get that much closer to who I am meant to be every time I fail forward.

Dear Lord, I am so thankful that with Your help, I can fail forward!! I don't have to see my setbacks as a step back. In fact they can lead me forward if I let them. Today, I will take Your hand and trust Your heart as You pull me back up again and use my failures to help me become the woman You created me to be. In Jesus' Name, amen.

I always enjoy these devotionals that are automatically emailed to me each morning.. what a way to start the day! :)

The Reason for the Season

It is super easy to get distracted this time of year with gift buying, decorating and Christmas parties... Lets choose to keep our hearts focused on Christ during this Christmas Season.
Here's one way to do it: our church, Southside Fellowship, has provided an easy to print-out advent booklet to prepare our hearts for the celebration of our Savior's birth.. Click Here


Here are some links to incorporate the kiddos:
http://www.sermons4kids.com/advent_calendar_manger_scene.pdf

this site has lots of great activities and lessons: Sermons for Kids

a list of bible verses for each day:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/adventwreath.htm

This one is a cute color page type advent wreath:
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/mpaperadvent.htm


Christmas Blessings!!

Prayers for Jesse Lane Fudge

Please take the time to read about this special little guy - his family is very close to ours and he will be undergoing a major heart surgery tomorrow - The information below was sent out by his grandmother Christi, one of my mom's best friends. At the very bottom there are specific prayer requests for tomorrow's surgery - although I'm not smart enough understand all the terminology, God understands and knows what this little guy needs.

Jesse Lane is scheduled for heart surgery in Boston tomorrow, November 20. He is doing very well at the moment and has been a very healthy little boy for the last 2 1/2 years - thanks to the many blessings you prayed for!Some of you know already, but I will try to explain as much as I can aboutwhat he is going to have. (Feel free to stop here and just know that your prayers on Jesse Lane's behalf are all I am asking.)

Jesse Lane was born without the pulmonary 'trunk' which is the 'hose' that funnels blood to the lungs from the heart. He also does not have any significantwalls inside his heart, so the blue blood is mixed with the red blood. This meansthat his blood does not get enough oxygen to his body. His condition is called'Heterotaxy with Right sidedness' or 'Asplenia(Ivemarks syndrome - outdated term). Many of his organs are not where they should be inside of his body. He does not have a spleen which is more important than I always thought, especially for babies. It puts him at greater risk of infection. The spleen, we can do nothing about. But as he grows older, his body should handleinfections better. His first 3 surgeries were just to get a blood supply to his lungs. These shunts are crude and temporary - but they have been the gift of life to Jesse Lane. A new connection to the lungs to get permanent blood flow is now needed. Equally important - the red blood needs to be separated from the blue blood so that he can grow more normally. His oxygen saturation on room air is 72 - 78 %most of the time. On oxygen, he can get about 82 %. (Normal is 99-100 %)

In this surgery, the doctors will try to do several things to 're-plumb' our sweet boy.The surgery that is usually done on these children in some form is not a possibility for Jesse Lane because of how many things are in the wrong place or missing. Dr. John Mayer at Boston Children's Hospital believes he can do something else for Jesse Laneand that now is the right time. We have tremendous faith in him, as he has a wonderful reputation and I know that he is doing this because he believes he can be successful.

Please keep Jesse Lane and his mom and dad, Laura and Lane and his little brother, Michael Aiden, in your prayers. I also ask that you pray especially for Dr. Mayer. We are so grateful that God has blessed him with this gift and that he was placed in Jesse Lane's life.

Here are some specific prayer requests from his mother, Laura:

1. A "baffle" between the left ventricle and his misplaced aorta will be possible.

2. The "AV node" will not be paralyzed or jeopardized during the procedure. This would require a permanent pacemaker that would have to be internally placed and changed every 8-9 years.

3. That whatever the surgeon decides to do Thursday will be in accordance with God's will and that he will be diligent in his decision-making. No doubt he will. Dr. Mayer is a Christian man.

" Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

love,

God's Will = Our Son

As you all know, we are expecting a baby in early March... four short months away. The Lord is letting us borrow a son
{I think mainly to just drive Charles crazy- ha!}. I say, "letting us borrow" because as you know.. this child, as well as all of us, belong to Him - We are His: (Deuteronomy 10:14). My prayer for our son was: God you already know his name; you know everything about his life and everything he will say and do... As you continue to knit him together in my womb, please guide me and reveal to me what you have already chosen to call him.

The Answer:
William Charles

No, God didn't shout out to me this sweet name after my prayer - we needed to listen to the tugging of the Holy Spirit as we had a list of names we couldn't possibly narrow down on our own - (especially with these pregnancy hormones.. totally indecisive!) We have been talking about names a lot in our house this week back and forth on which ones to choose in front of Audrey. One early morning immediately after praying this - I went into her room and after singing the itsy bitsy spider {with hand motions and all} she looked up at me and out of no prompting or anything said, "Will" and in true 2 year old style repeated it about 10 times. WOW. I think that was the fastest answered prayer I've ever had!... She also tells me that she has a baby in her tummy too - so, who knows! ;) ha! Nevertheless, We felt a strong peace about the name after that!

William is Charles' grandfather's name: who Charles had the blessing of growing up close to and spent countless hours talking to and learning from. Today Charles still talks to his grandfather quite often (unfortunately probably more often than his own mother!) and looks to him for wisdom and Godly counsel. I was pretty stumped on what to do on the middle name and thankfully got some guidance from others on what to do... We love his name and have such a peace in knowing that this is what he is to be called.

Blessings from our family:

God's Charles, God's Christa,

God's Audrey & God's Will.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

today's devotional

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined? Hebrews 12:7

Divine discipline--what does it mean? It means that God is faithfully molding you into the image of his Son. He is showing you who he is--and how much he loves you.

5 1/2 minutes

my friend, jennie sent this video to me today and i thought it was too cool not too share.. {keep in mind that they are doing all of this with only white gloves and a black light... super creative!} enjoy! p.s. turn my blog music off first

(scroll all the way to the bottom and hit the pause button)

Proverbs 31 Wife

Thought I'd share a daily devotional my mother in law sent me today - here's to you stay at home mamas!
June 13, 2008
Oppressive Tasks?
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Long hours. Thankless tasks. No breaks. To our modern ears, it seems like being a housewife is an oppressive job. In Proverbs 31 we get a different picture. The homemaker described here isn't seeking self-fulfillment. She isn't interested in advancing her career, having her own bank account, or being known for her personal accomplishments. Instead, she doesn't seem to worry about her own interests and needs at all, focusing instead on the practical needs of her husband and children. The Bible tells us about this woman:

• She and her husband have food to eat and enough to share with others.
• Her husband's crazy about her.
• He brags to his friends about her.
• She's well dressed.
• She's emotionally stable.
• Her children honor and praise her.

Doesn't sound like an oppressed woman to me. Why not take some time to give Proverbs 31 a fresh look yourself? With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

So here's the score:
Proverbs 31 wife: 6
Me: 1 (we have plenty of food) .. I've got work to do! :) ha ha

Blessed To Be A Blessing

Since Charles and I have been married we've been faithful tithers.. actually before we were married - We know that it is very clear in the bible to give 10% to the Lord (thru the church) regardless if you "like" what they do with it. It is an act of faith fullness... However, there are the occasions that you come across money that you did not earn or you just come across some money unexpectedly and it was sort of a gray area for us.. what do you do? Charles was given a nice sum of money to assist with our move that we got weeks ago and we've just realized that we possibly should have tithed on that... I told Charles, "when in doubt, just tithe".. but he wanted to seek wisdom on the situation so he called his dad. His dad gave him good advice, "If the government sees it as income then it is and you should tithe on it." So we did (still tithing to our church in Katy, b/c we haven't joined one here yet). The very next morning, we got an email from our realtor stating that the Earnest Money that was tied up from the sale of our house (that busted out -another long story) had been released to us. WOW! The dollar amount was almost exactly the same as our house note in Katy. This is no coincidence - the people that we are dealing with were dead set on not giving us a dime and wanted to take legal actions.. for them to just change their minds was all God.
Malachi 3:10
" Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

Matthew 25:21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

Happy Mother's Day

Here is a devotional that I got the other day and saved it for this weekend:

“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise.Ephesians 6:2
The camera zooms in on the celebrating athlete . . . “Hi Mom!” he mouths with a grin and a wave . . . and it’s not even Mother’s Day.
Of all the annual celebrations, perhaps none is more sentimentalized or commercialized than Mother’s Day. Card shops, restaurants, florists, and others do a booming business, and pastors recognize the oldest, youngest, and everything-in-between mothers in the congregation. The telephone company reports its highest usage during this day. Interestingly, Father’s Day also ranks among the highest number of calls made—collect calls, that is!
It would be easy to take a cynical view and shoot down our holiday rituals. After all, we do seem to idealize mothers . . . and what about the feelings of those who aren’t mothers or who can’t be?
But I won’t take that route. Despite the excesses of the day, I believe that Mother’s Day is needed now more than ever.
First of all, consider how important these women are. For nine months they carried us as we grew, bending them out of shape, living off their food, and constantly kicking and moving. And they endured the terrible pain of birth to bring us safely into the world. Then the real work began as they diapered, fed, comforted, disciplined, and taught us. As is usually the case, I never really began to appreciate my mother until Gail and I had our first child. The demands of parenting seem endless.
But it is also important to celebrate Mother’s Day because of the current attitude of society. With misguided feminists continually denigrating motherhood, mothers and housewives can feel like second-class citizens who somehow have been cheated out of a meaningful career. And with abortion-on-demand in vogue, many women are choosing to kill rather than to accept the responsibilities of rearing a child. We need to tell mothers that they are important and to celebrate their presence.
The truth is that there is no higher calling than to be a parent—to bear, teach, and guide children; to make a home, a place of acceptance and love.
Toward the end of her life my mother had Alzheimer’s disease. She knew she had five children, but she didn’t remember giving birth or the details of bringing them up and of bringing them to faith in Christ. But I remembered. And I thank God for this godly woman who, with my dad, made parenting special.
So thanks, Mom—and thank you, Christian mothers everywhere—for choosing life, for guiding lives, for taking your call seriously. Happy Mother’s Day!

she Says - He Says

- Thanks mom for sending this.. exactly what I needed today (and everyday)

She says: (that's me) He says: (that's God)

'It's impossible' All things are possible Luke 18:27

'I'm too tired' I will give you rest Matthew 11:28-30

'Nobody really loves me' I love you John 3:1 6 & John 3:34

'I can't go on' My grace is sufficient II Corinthians 12:9 , Psalm 91:15

'I can't figure things out' I will direct your steps Proverbs 3:5- 6

'I can't do it' You can do all things Philippians 4:13

'I'm not able' I am able II Corinthians 9:8

'It's not worth it' It will be worth it Roman 8:28

'I can't forgive myself' I Forgive you I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1

'I can't manage' I will supply all your needs Philippians 4:19

'I'm afraid' I have not given you a spirit of fear II Timothy 1:7

'I'm always worried and frustrated' Cast all your cares on ME I Peter 5:7

'I'm not smart enough' I give you wisdom I Corinthians 1:30

'I feel all alone' I will never leave you or forsake you Hebrews 13:5

Trust in God's Plans

my daily devotionals have been spot on.. was this one written for me??? just substitute the word "dream house" for "dream church, dream friends, dream life..."
click on the picture if you want to sign up for a devotional to go to your email...

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”Jeremiah 29:11
A friend of mine moved from the Nashville area to Chicago. She left behind her dream house. Although she was excited about her husband’s promotion, she didn’t want to move. She had found at the end of her rainbow a house that she loved, and it was in Tennessee, not in Illinois.
As they drove away, all she could see in the rearview mirror was that wonderful and cozy home. It had become her security and her identity. It was the place where she belonged. But in the process of that move and relocation, she discovered some important truths. “My security does not come from a house. Real security comes from trusting God. I will never grow if I always stay in my comfort zones. Spiritual maturity comes in learning to depend on God to meet my needs. Things should not be held too tightly. They can keep me from embracing what God has planned for me.”
God’s plan is the expression of his love. Never in our lives will God ever express his plan except as an expression of his perfect love. God always has our best interests at heart. He’ll take any situation a person is going through, even if it is a terrible one, and will use it for a good, overall purpose in one’s life.
When God is at work, it always involves risks and changes and new ventures. Why? Because God wants his people to live by faith. We need to trust in God, not in a company; to find security in God, not in a home; to depend on God, not on friends and relatives.
God’s plan is prosperous and hope-filled, one that will work for people’s benefit. God desires that his people trust in his plan. He has not abandoned his people. He nourishes hope. He will satisfy life. He brings fulfillment.

GOOD FRIDAY

I found this article early this morning.. had to share with you -

Good Friday is the solemn commemoration of the passion and death of Jesus Christ. This day is the most sorrowful of any day in the history of the world for Christians. Jesus, innocent and without sin, freely offered His life for the redemption of the sins of the entire world.How is this possible? How can the sacrifice of one man be enough to redeem the gruesome sins of mankind? The sacrifice on the cross was the offering of God Himself. God, the almighty and infinite master of the universe made an infinite offering by His sacrifice on the cross. Our sins, though many and serious are finite. They are limited, though they are numerous. We cannot count them. They are too many, but God, knowing and seeing all knows all of our sins.His sacrifice is an eternal one, by which we receive an eternal reward. By our sins beginning in the Garden of Eden and continuing throughout the history of humanity, we sentenced ourselves to separation from God for eternity. God is perfect, and through our sins, we blemished ourselves such that we could not be united with God in Heaven.God, however, is compassionate and gave us a redemption from our sins. The death of Jesus on the Cross is the eternal sacrifice that removes the eternal consequences of our sinful nature. Christ in His mercy opened the Gates of Heaven for us.There are many who freely choose to reject this gift. There are also many who accept it. Regardless of our response to this offering of His life, the gift was generously offered for the redemption of all. This gift is the manifestation of perfect love. Jesus was innocent of all sin. He gave the most precious gift that anyone could give: His Life. For, as it says in the Gospel of John, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.” (John 15:13).This is the day when that famous verse, quoted in all corners of the world, written on signs at sporting events, and written on the hearts of all mankind came to fulfillment. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”Let us not forget this amazing gift. Let us not reject this gift whether outright or through our sinfulness. Our Lord spared no pain, retained no shred of human dignity. He was scourged, crowned with thorns, spat upon, made to carry a cross through the streets, filled with a hostile crowd, nailed to a cross and killed for our sins. There is no sacrifice we can make that can even compare to His. For though we suffer, we are sinful. Our Lord was perfect and was tortured and killed for us.For though He died to redeem our sins, we must still accept this gift in our lives. We must live for Christ.

"The fears of the wicked will all come true; so will the hopes of the godly. Proverbs 10:24"

"Sometimes it seems that the only people who prosper are the ones who use selfish means for selfish ends. But you can be assured they'll be judged someday for their actions--as the righteous will be judged for theirs. Which side would you rather be on?"

I don't know if I've ever noticed this verse before.. have you?! (It came to me through an online devotional that is emailed daily)

Keepers of the Home

I have been frantically cleaning for days - You really don't think your house is messy or dirty until you have to "put it on the market." I'm not the housewife who just loves to clean... I'm thinking that they are a dying breed because I only know a couple of gals who actually enjoy it. Anyways, this has been exhausting looking at every nook and cranny and trying to see it through someone elses' eyes - Try it - You'll see a whole new world of clutter you never noticed before! It is nice, however, living in a house that has an organized pantry, closets and laundry room - they look great! When I was cleaning out my side of the closet I had 4 trash bags FULL of clothes, 1 bag of shoes, 1 bag of old purses and Charles came up with a bag of clothes too! We brought them to Katy Christian Ministries and it felt so good to dump all of that stuff out of my house.. I'm kinda on a roll now and I'm wanting to get rid of lots of stuff - things at one point I HAD to have - now I'm just giving away.. makes me rethink impulsive purchases!! Also during my cleaning I came across this little card - it was given to me by another Fluor wife and it was attached to many recipes..
It says:

We, the Keepers of the Home,

have accepted God's life long challenge

with the guidance of our Heavenly Father, our Christ, and the Holy Spirit

"to love (our) husbands

to love (our) children,

to be self-controlled and pure,

to take care of (our) homes

to be kind,

and to be obedient to (our) husbands,

so that the word of God not be dishonored"

Titus 2:4-5 (from several translations)

This is what God expects of us as housewives and "keepers of the home." We are commanded to love our hubbies (even when we don't feel like it), love our kiddos (even when they are whining all day), to have self control (not to spend all their money or give in to many indulgences), to be pure (to know the grass ain't any greener with another hubby), to take care of our homes (literally to cook, clean & do laundry), to be kind (not to complain, gripe or snap at the hubby or kids - but to lift them up and encourage them), to be obedient to hubbies (follow their lead - don't be controlling)... It was encouraging to me to read this today and I hope it encourages all of you as well~ It is a pretty big statement for us to follow; It holds true 2,000 years ago and still holds true today - isn't God good?! :o)
Luv,
Christa

Know His Ways and we'll know ours

Charles sent me this online devotional this morning. The timing is perfect, since we had to discuss and decide some details about our move last night. We thought the deal would have been "sweeter" than it turns out to be and we are trying to figure out some financial things with his HR dept... it is just so hard to know what to do:

Though the Bible never uses the word guidance, it does speak of a Guide. We may seek guidance, but God provides something better—himself. Many of us struggle to understand and discern God’s guidance for our lives. We ask questions like: Should I marry or not? Should I marry this person or that person? Should I have another child? Should I join this church or that one? Which profession should I follow? What job should I take? Is my present line of work the one to stay in? Herein lies the major distortion of knowing and doing God’s will. Does God lead and direct in these areas? Yes. Does he come out and overtly tell us what to do? Rarely. So how does God guide us? Consider these principles: God’s guidance concerns itself more with our steps than our overall journey. God’s guidance is more preoccupied with the present than with the future. God’s guidance has less to do with geography and more to do with morality. God’s guidance is more interested in our character than our comfort. God’s guidance is not insider information. God’s guidance is that we pursue the Guide more than guidance. In seeking God, his plan will be revealed. His way will lead back through his Word. If the step is more critical than the journey, and the present is of greater consequence than the future, and the Guide more essential than the guidance, what is needed? We need to know the right step to take. We need to know what we must do in the present. We need to know the Guide. God does not guide us magically; he guides us relationally. Therefore, the Bible must be studied so we may become acquainted with the ways and thoughts of God. God’s aim is that we become his companions who walk with him. He already knows us. Now he wants us to understand and know him. The more we understand him, the more real our relationship will be with him and the more likely we are to keep in step with him in the direction he is taking us.

Prayer Please

Please pray for my cousin and his wife. She is 30 weeks pregnant and went into labor yesterday. They were able to stop the contractions; however she is already a centimeter dilated and her cervix is thinning. They have an active 10-month-old at home (yes the're gonna be close brothers!) and she is going to be on bed rest - which can pose a real challenge since she stays at home with him. Please just pause right now and ask the Lord to place His mighty hand upon their sweet unborn little boy, Henry. Ask that he allows Henry to grow and develop enough in her womb so he will be strong and healthy at birth. Thank you fellow warriors - I appreciate it.

James

At church we are doing a series on the book of James - If anyone is interested in hearing about this awesome series you can click the logo to listen to or watch any of the sermons.. pretty cool!