Making a New Christmas Tradition

A few weeks ago in the Women's Bible Study on Wednesday evening we were talking about what Christmas means to each of us. Cathy left us with a thought that evening "What is your Christmas tradition??". Well this has been on my mind every since. I was trying to come up with something that would be a great tradition for me to start in my life and how I could bless someone else.

Saturday evening I was going through my emails and the Freedom Valley Prayer group site was buzzing with excitement of the body of Christ stepping up to help a couple and their three teenage children with some gifts for the children and decorations to make these teenagers Christmas a memorable one.

I felt God toughing on my heart to get involved somehow. My finances like many others are pretty used up over the holidays and I kept wondering how. That's when I made a decision to contribute a gift card for toiletries or groceries. God has blessed me so much this year that I knew that he would make all of this work out.

Sunday morning I went to Walmart and purchased a gift card and took it to church with me for the family. It was a great day of celebrating the love of God through the FVCO and a great message from Gerry with much food for thought. In the evening I went to a traditional Carol sing and home for the evening.

Monday morning came and I went to work as usual. I was no sooner in the door of my plant when my supervisor said he had something for me. It was a gift card for being a first aid person for the year.

Long story short, I started a new tradition of giving to a family that I don't even know and God blessed me back for going the extra mile at work.

Have a great Christmas and remember the Christ is the reason for the season.

Compassion

The past few weeks have been an amazing growth spurt for me. God has been touching my heart and using me in ways that I really never thought possible. Being able to reach out and touch the Bob and Gail's lives has been an experience like no other. I not sure where God is leading me through all of this, but I need to rest in his arms and trust in him. Sometimes I try to analyze everything instead of going with my heart.

God has also been bring me many hurting people. The circumstances and ages vary. In Job 2:13 it is written "Then they sat on the ground with him seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was." Sometimes just sit with someone in silence is the best medicine for them. God has been showing me how to pray, even when I don't know the circumstances. My agenda can be changed at the drop of a hat. sleepless nights.. lots of discernment.. to name a few.

I am not sure what God is doing in me, but I do know for sure that it is for his glory.

Doing God's Work

This has been such an exciting summer grow in my walk with God. I find it amazing how God places people in our path when you really need them. The hardest part sometimes is opening our hearts to them. Harvest Cry was a tool that the Lord used to touch so many. Being a part of this event helped me to be able and willing to lead youth to Reach Workcamp in Niagara Falls, NY.

I know that I am called to be a leader, but sometimes I just want to second guess myself and say who me?? Sometimes I think that everything has to be to perfection, but that is not what God is looking for in us. God wants each of us to be a willing vessel and work together as one body. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-26, Paul writes about the body being made up of many parts. I saw this scripture put into action as two teams of young people united together to take of four layers of roof, replace it, and crap and paint the entire outside of a home in 4.5 days. each of these young people was gifted in a different area and worked together for a common cause. isn't that what God is calling us to?

My challenge to all that read this is to search their hearts and see what God is calling you to do. We all have a place in the body, we just need to be a willing vessel for God to use.

Who Am I?

For the past two months we have been embracing a sermon series on change. The series has boggled my mind and placed much uneasiness in my heart at times. Sometimes I think we want change so badly that we are willing to try to change from the outside in instead of the inside out. In Jeff Leake's teaching this more the one thing that really spoke to me was "Only God sees me accurately, not others." At times I fell that our flesh gets so caught up in what others see, that we forget that it doesn't really matter. Sure all of us want to be liked, but we live for God. God created us and he knows our past, present, and future. We just need to rest and trust in him. He will guide us. Each of us is one of God's masterpieces.(Ephesians 2:10) We each have a calling and no one can fulfill it the way we can.

God has Provided for Me... Now My Commitment To Give To Him

I am so excited about the Hope Initiative. Just thinking about what God is doing here at Freedom Valley gives me goose bumps at times. I have never been a part of anything that wants to reach so many people. How AWESOME. There are a lot of shoes that are going to need to be filled in the next few years as church planting teams go out all over Adams County and beyond from this body. I pray that God gives me direction in what he wants me to do and how to lead, since leadership is one of the gifts that he gave me. I feel so blessed to be part of this vision.

The Lord has also enabled me to give of my finances more than I have ever thought. It is so true that the more I give, the more I receive back in so many ways. I have made a faith promise far greater than I would have ever thought of doing in the past, because I know that God will and has provided for me. In the pat two years, I have gone from having cents left in my accounts at times to having a savings account.

I thank God for each and every one of you that have sowed seed into my life, nurtured me, and have stood by me. My brothers and sisters in Christ mean so much to me!

THANKS!!!!!

How God has Grown Me Through Finances

The past two years have been an incredible faith walk for me with finances. Starting over with a new mortgage, being single again, and back to full time status at work was a little overwhelming. Things seemed to be going very well until I received my mortgage update March 2008. The escrow account was in shortfall and the taxes were going up. Long story made short, my payments were going up $118 a month. Thoughts of refinancing came to mind and I knew in my heart that is was not the right time. I gave the whole situation to God, committed to stand firm in his word, work hard and as much as I needed, continued to serve the body of Christ through my time and tithe.

In Malachi 3:10 it is written: Bring the whole tithe into the store-house that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

The Lord provided me with many ways. The Lord blessed me with more overtime hours than I could have ever imagined. He enabled me to pay my bills in a timely manner, bless others with some items that I was not using at my home, and enabled me to spend down time with friends from other areas of the US. I never gave up the idea of refinancing, but I new that timing was everything. In January 2009, I started watching the interest rates a little more closely and decided that this may be the time. The refinance closing on my home was yesterday. God is so good! I am so looking forward to being able to serve him more and not worrying about the next bill. I know that many others struggle.

I am not sure how all the numbers worked out for 9 months, but they did. Just trust in the Lord.

The Seven Longings of the Human Heart

I never really looked at my experience with Jesus as the bridegroom God according to the seven longings of my heart. The longing for assurance that we are enjoyed, the longing to be fascinated, to be beautiful, to be great, for intimacy with out shame, to make an impact, and to be passionate. I know God loves me, but WOW. He can fill all my needs. It is almost amazing how my spirit has settled down since I have become more center on the Lord and spend more time in his word and not in the world. Doing this reality check on my life and how I use my time and money is creating a yearning in me to learn to grow in my walk in the Lord and do his work.

God has placed many people in my path that I know pray for me often. I can feel those prayers on a daily basis and I thank you all so much. I am so thankful for each of you and cherish your friendships. As the day of the Lord draws near, we ALL need to draw near to him and each other for strength.

Keeping Oil In My Lamp

As I continue on my journey through the "Omega" class, I feel that God keeps gently reminding me that he wants to spend more time with me. I sometimes get so caught up in everything I am doing for for others, that I don't take very good care of me and my relationship with him.

Last weekend I had much needed downtime. How rejuvenated I felt. In Matthew 25, its talks about the ten virgins, 5 wise and 5 foolish. Lord, help me to not get caught up in everything I do and fill my life with your word in devotion each and every day. I know you want to know me more and hold me in your arms in the good and bad times. I have grown so much in my walk with the Lord, that sometimes it seem like I just can't get enough. Help me to decipher his voice in what I am suppose to be doing and not my agenda.

I don't want God to say "I don't know you."

What Is God's Dream For Me

All have to say after this mornings worship service is WOW! I thought I had a vision of what God wanted me to do in 2009, but now my mind is really in sort of a fog. Leading in Divorce Care is part of the puzzle, but is their more? The more I study God's word and share his love with others, the more I question what I am suppose to be when I grow up.

The first two weeks of the "Omega" class has been so eye opening for me. The book of Revelations is actually making some sense. Until now, it just seamed so hard to grasp. I have a better understanding of other scriptures and how the End Times were discussed throughout history. Sometimes... It seems like I just can't get enough. Other times....I feel like I am still stuck in that box screaming and no one can hear me, like the Masters skit this morning.

I am sure as I go through this year God will reveal more to me of his plan for my life. I just need to pray, be patient, and run with vision unless God says NO.

Where Do I Go From Here

I am excited and also nervous about starting, the "Omega Class" on the end times. This is something that I have always wanted to study but never had the opportunity. It seems like the more my walk with the Lord grows, the more I want to learn. I was never one that enjoyed reading any type of book. Know I am more geared to reading, taking classes, and prayer. Watching TV is sort of a noise diversion when I am in the kitchen. When people talk about the weather and news, sometimes I have to ask what? and when?

I love sharing what I am learning with others. I pray that the Lord teaches me how not to be so salty at times. I am so excited about 2009 and all those that are on this journey with me.