How it slips away

Time is such a fragile thing.  I have had to reexamine how I value my time, what I do with it and how I place importance on the things I have chosen to spend my time on.  For one thing, if you notice the date of my last blog entry, it was almost a month ago!  A month, really?  How does a whole month slip by?  It is really easy to just skim through life sometimes without really delving in to the beauty of it.  So this post will be a catch up.  I'll try to do it chronologically, but my memory is terrible so.... :)

This week at our church we are having VBS.  I usually do nursery, but felt this year it wasn't what I was supposed to do.  This year I am helping with recreation.  And let me tell you what a blessing it has been.  Getting to see the kids laughing and having fun with the silly games brings a simplistic joy to my heart.  It most assuredly makes the 90+ degree weather bearable. 

This past weekend I hosted the second annual Backpack for Kids Charity Yard Sale.  We made 376.00 last year and this year made 500.00.  My brother Wayne and my mom gave me almost 200.00 of that before the yard sale even started!  I had so much help for it, it made me realize even more how blessed I am.  My sisters helped, one of my sisters co-workers, my brother, husband, father, mother, church friends and even some of the kids came and pitched in!  I wish that this money didn't need to be given to this cause, but it does exist.  Kids go home from school on Friday not knowing if they will eat anything of sustenance (or anything at all) all weekend.  Without the backpacks of food, lots of kids would go hungry.  There are lots of causes in this world, but God has laid hunger on mine.  I can't imagine those babies with growling bellies, knowing that there is no relief in sight for those hunger pains.

I thank you all for taking the time to read what I write.  I will make myself sit and write more often.  It really is cathartic for me to do this.  And somehow lets me feel more connected, even though some of you I'll never meet. 

Lots of love.
Christina

Thank God

Tonight if I should die what will I
Have to do? Just claim my reward
And know that I love you.
Never forget the things I’ve taught you please.
Know how much I’ve prayed for you
God has a plan for your life if
Only you follow his will. And if I should
Die tonight, know I’ll love you still.

You have a ministry too!

A few years ago, if someone would have told me that I could clean and still be doing work for God I would have laughed (inwardly of course) at them.  I never really understood what having your own ministry for God is. 

Those of you that are involved in a church body (and if you are not, you really should) may not even be aware of all the opportunities to serve God that exist.  The first thing to do when seeking a ministry is to make sure you are doing what God has called you to do and not just what you think will make Him happy.  God has a specific purpose for each of us.  Not everyone is called to do every job.  We are all parts of the body.  Some are the knees (prayer warriors), some are the mouths (speakers, singers,), some are the hands (people who help in a physical way) (please note, these are just my interpretations of the body).  But EVERYONE has a job to do.  You need to ask God where He needs you.  Be aware of where He is working and then join Him. 

There are several ministries in each congregation I am sure.  I can give you a few examples of the ones at our church and what they do.  Ask your church if you have this program and if you think God is calling you to do that, join Him.

• AWANA program is a ministry for children children of any age.  There are lessons for kids ages 1-13/14.  Bible verses are taught, missions education is taught, good social interaction with kids and adults that love God.
• Vacation Bible School (VBS) is done (at my church and I assume all others) during the summer break for kids.  The age range is similar to that of AWANA.  Again they will learn about God, Jesus and how to accept Jesus' gift of salvation.  It usually lasts 1 week.
• GROW Team is a group of people who go out on neighborhood visits to shut-ins, people in need of salvation and sick people.  They also (at our church) send out cards of sympathy, get well cards, and encouragement cards.
• Bible Studies are awesome ways to get involved.  Sometimes (and this really should say always)  the pastor has so much their plate that they don't always have time to host bible studies.  Guess what, you have a home, and a bible, you have a perfect setup for a bible study.  Or you could meet at chruch as well.
• WMU is a group for ladies who are interested in missions.  See my post about WMU and what they do.
• Church Cleaning Crews do just that.  They clean the church.  Now I know some churches pay for this service, and we used to do that.  But having volunteers from our congreation to do this has saved us lots of money and also given us a new way to fellowship.
• Sunday school teachers teach a Bible lesson on (usually) Sunday mornings.  Our church has a different teacher for all ages groups.  That gives a lot of opportunity for you to work with God.

Now please note, these are just a few.  There are also things you can do like taking up food, clothing, and hygiene items for your local food bank, homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters.  Any way you can get out in the community and spread God's love is a ministry.  It doesn't just have to be in the church.  Take a walk around your neighborhood and bring a Bible, and some tracks with you.  Introduce yourself to people, get to know them and their situation.  People are in need of God and we are called to show them His love.  How will they know if someone doesn't move to show them. 

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly [is] great, but the labourers [are] few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. ~Luke 10:2

Bradley

When I look upon your angelic face
It is barely visible there
Time is slowly erasing the pain
That came from everywhere

A baby yet, a hurt so old
My soul aches for you
If only I could erase these years
Make your reality untrue

Life is getting better
You're a soldier young boy
The war you've been through
Will surely end with joy

You're surrounded by love
You can be a child now
No more shaky branches
You're standing on a firm bough

Count Your Many Blessings

Name them one by one, Count your many blessings see what God has done...

That was one line of one of my favorite hymns growing up.  I am so blessed, and I know as do many of us, I take those blessings for granted sometimes.  This day, Christmas day, I want to reflect on all the blessings that I have, and some of those that I've lost so as not to take anymore for granted.

This year for Christmas, instead of getting my babies a bunch of toys and things that would eventually wear and tear, I decided to give them the gift of giving.  Together Jakob, Kayleigh and I created homemade Christmas cards and took them to our local nursing home to pass out to all the residents.  Each time one of my children handed out a card and told the recipient "Merry Christmas", I felt God's spirit in my heart swell up.  Not from pride, but from love.  I was so happy that my children were not only participating, but fussing about who got to hand out the next card.  Each person that got a card stopped what they were doing, and if their hands still worked, opened the card and read it right then. 

Many of the residents of the home no longer have relatives to visit them.  Some are all alone in the world.  I got to share my children with some very weary, loving people.  To see my children and interact with them made them smile.  The whole building got a card (even a few of the workers) and it might have cost a whopping 3 dollars in construction paper. 

Christmas isn't about what you spend, it isn't even about you or your kids.  Christmas is about God's son.  Jesus' life was giving.  He gave of his time, and he gave his life.  Make next Christmas about giving of something besides extravagant toys.  Show your children the true meaning of Christmas.  They won't forget it and neither will you.

Winter Wonderland

IT'S HERE!!!!!!!  What some refer to as "the white death", I prefer to call "God's Cold Blanket"... whatever your nickname, it has reached my area of Kentucky in a BIG way.  I'd estimate we have at least 4 inches.  School was cancelled today, and preemptive cancelled for tomorrow.  The kids have had a super day, we did some math homework from workbooks I bought at the store.  Trying to give them a little school on a snow day won't kill them.

But for the most part, it's been a play for-all free for all.  Kayleigh has helped me wash dishes and do a load or two of laundry.  And we also got some of our home made Christmas cards made.  It will take us quite a few days to get them all finished.  But it will be great when we get to deliver them. 

On Christmas eve or Christmas day, the kids and I are going to take the cards that we've made to our local nursing home and pass them out to the residents.  I hope that the messages of God's love my children wrote on the cards can bring a smile and a sense of love to the people that receive them. 

A few of the people in residence there don't have anyone (family or friend) to come visit them.  And one thing most all of them love are children.  So I thought it would be great to share mine with them for a bit.  Who knows, maybe someone in the home hasn't accepted Jesus as their Saviour and we can help them do that.

Anywho... I am glad for a little time with my kiddos.  It has been great.

A Blog to Be Inspired By

Sometimes God places someone in your life completely unexpectedly.  Seemingly random, seemingly meaningless.  And then in awhile, you say “Ahhhh I gotcha now God”.  Today was one of those days for me. 
This morning I started off by working on my Experiencing God homework and this is the last week.  Day 3 of week 12 talks about your children and how they are yours for reason.  That each step you take with them should be led by God.  Never looked at it like that before.  Never thought of it like that before. 
When I first started this blog, I went up to the button at the top that says next blog, clicked it, and read over the blog I was brought to.  One of those “seemingly random” blogs was “The Daily Poop :)”.  Cute title huh?  Anyway, an anonymous poster wrote her a nasty comment about the upcoming child she is carrying, saying that she shouldn’t be having another when she is not in a financial place to do so and that she has children with special needs already.  Her response to that really spoke to my soul.  I believe that God placed her blog on my radar for this very important day. 
Sandy, I thank God for you. 

http://blessedfam.blogspot.com/

Wow I could use some help…

I have realized, although not just now, that I will never win the honor of “World’s Best Parent”.  I’m mostly okay with that, the kids probably aren’t.  I have asked God for patience, but I’ve not noticed a big change in that area as of yet.  Maybe there is a reason for that.  I know that I get upset over things that would only upset an old woman, but try as I might I cannot make myself not get frustrated. 

Do you think I could get points for at least acknowledging that I am impatient?  But I am not just impatient with kids, it is with adults too.  I love to be punctual.  I love to be more than punctual.  My day goes horribly if I am late for anything.  Why is that?  It reminds me of an old country song by Alabama “I’m in a hurry to get things done, I rush and rush until life’s no fun”.  And it seems like if I know this I  could change it, but for the life of me I haven’t mastered it yet.

SO this is my written plea for God to help me be more patient.  I know that He hears my prayers, but it never hurts to have it in writing. 

Use it or Lose it

Sometimes we go through life and we miss tons of opportunities that we don’t even recognize.  Today I think I actually saw one and took it.  Here’s the story:
This week (albeit the shortest school week ever) is my daughters week to be star student.  During this week the child gets to bring in photos of themselves and family, mementos and a special toy.  My sweet angel has a dolphin on her dresser and it is a cute statue, except for the broken fin.  She wanted to take it and me, wanting to protect her from ridicule, said no at first.  But then I remembered where she had gotten it from.  Here in Kentucky there is a special home in Casey County called the Galilean Home.  This is a very special place that was founded by a husband and wife (Sandy and Jerry Tucker).  Since they first felt God’s calling for this ministry, they have adopted hundreds of children from all over the world.  They take no federal funding and every penny they have is donated or earned from one of the businesses on or around the property.  One of these is the store where Kayleigh got this dolphin with the broken fin.  Sandy passed away and so now it is Jerry and his MANY children that run the home.  They have adopted children who without them would have perished in their home land.  Boys and girls with limbs blown off from hidden land mines, and many children with developmental delays have been adopted.  There is also a ministry called “Born Free” where the Tuckers take in babies that are born in prison or babies that have mothers in prison and take care of them (free of charge) until the mom gets out or the child turns 18.  Isn’t that awesome?  That is God’s love.
So without a mini lightening bolt from God, reminding me of a way I could help my daughter be witness of God’s love, an opportunity could have been lost.  I wrote a letter for her teacher to read to tell why she bought this dolphin already broken and where it came from.
God gives us opportunities to share His love daily, we just have to be aware of our lives enough to see them.  Below is a link to the Galilean Home website.  Please check it out.

http://www.galileanhome.org/