December

It is hard to believe that the year is almost over.  This is my favorite time of the year.  We celebrate the Birth of our Lord and Saviour.  There is no better time! 

I was talking with my 12 year old daughter last night about the meaning of Christmas and how commercial everything has gotten.  People seem to have this inane drive to out do each other when they are gifting and it is mind boggling.  I LOVE small, homemade gifts.  They mean so much more to me than a sweater or a scarf. 

I haven't decided what I am doing for my extended family yet.  Hubby and I have differing opinions on this.  There are some underlying issues there though that cause the differing opinions, it's somewhat complicated.  I'll share that one of these days.

Right now, I am just trying to stay in His will for my life and to do all I can do to glorify Him with my every day life.  It amazes me how hard that is though.  There are soooo many worldly influences that it is so tempting to drop back into my old ways and thinking.  I find myself there all too often.  I try not to beat myself up about it though, because God is right there with me when I "snap out of it" and get back on the right track. 

I appreciate prayers as we are in between churches again.  I'm not sure what is going on, but I am waiting for direction.  I feel like I am being pulled back to my old church and I am having a hard time with obeying.  To be honest, it has been so nice to be home on a Sunday morning, but yet, I feel this nagging pull that I should be out and at church.  Prayer is needed in this situation and I pray that you will ask that the Lord makes things clear for me and for my family.

I have to share a miracle with you.  My boss came into my office a couple of weeks ago and told me this story.

He has a friend whose sister lost her 4 year old to cancer not too long ago.  The sister is railing at God as to why her baby had to go and has really lost all faith in God.  Not a good situation!  The family is devout Catholic, so this is really tragic for them.  Well, just recently, they found out their 13 year old son has a rare form of cancer.  They figured it out when he was injured playing sports and just wouldn't get better.  They saw the best doctor in Indiana for the cancer and were given a few options.  Well, with the family being as religious as they are, they brought in a trained healer.  The lady trained with Irish Nuns for several years in the art of healing.  She laid hands on him and prayed over him in the spots that he had tumors.  He went back to the doctor a week or so later and two of the 3 tumors were gone.  GONE!  How amazing is that!!  What a miracle!!  When they told the healer that two of the 3 were gone, she said of course they are, the other one will be gone in a couple of days too.  WOW!

So, I said to my boss, you know what.  Do you know why that all happened?  It was to restore mom's faith.  I sincerely believe God used that situation to work in mom's heart!  I also believe that the absolute and unwavering faith of the healer has touched so many.  Just look at this:  my boss shared it with me, I shared it with my husband and also posted the story on Facebook (I have 100 or so friends).  Now I am posting it here and perhaps you will share the story.  That's how He works!  What a story to use for witness!  Yowza! 

It truly touched me.  Obviously, because I am here sharing it with you, but just think about what it would be like to have the absolute, undoubting, unwavering faith of that healer!  I have it sometimes in some situations, but there are more times that my doubting Thomas side shows. 

Lord, I pray that you will help me and all who are reading this to have that unfailing, unwavering and absolute faith the healer has.  I pray Lord that everything we do will be done to your glory and that you will be praised in all that we do and say.  Lord, I thank you for the blessings that you have given me and these dear readers.  It is in your will and grace that I pray. Amen.

If you have a similar story or something you wish to share, please feel free to do so in my comments.  I would love to read your stories!

Hello friends!

We've been sooooooooooo busy!  No time for blogging for sure.  I have some time today because my baby girl is home sick with tonsilitis, a sinus infection and ear infection.  YIKES!  Twelve year olds can be really whiny when they don't feel well.  :-D  Please pray that the antibiotics work and she doesn't have to have her tonsils removed.  Eeps!

We've had some challenges with her and going to school.  I am hoping that this doesn't set her back.  Prayer for her schooling would be great as well.

I'll tell you one of my go to verses during these trials recently has been Psalm 18:2, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."  I am really leaning on Him heavily right now.  The school problems have caused financial problems and it just snowballs from there.  I have handed it all over to Him to get us through this valley...it really seems like a deep and wide one.  I hope there is an up side soon!

Thank you in advance for your prayers!!

In His Love,
Valerie

Long Time

It's been a long time since I have made an entry and I apologize for that.  Life has been super busy lately with Soccer, Girl Scouts, work and a brand new church.

Our new church is awesome!  Our daughter is in love with the children's program and we've been volunteering some in the children's ministry.  Visit www.harmonyofavon.com to find out more about our new church.

It's late and I don't have much to write, I hope to be back with a devotion soon.  Stay tuned!

Testing mobile blogging

Birthday Party 1_0003.wmv

This is a film that my 11 year old created. They have been talking about and watching stop motion videos in class. She got a digital camera and some Squinkies for Christmas, so she decided to film a birthday party. Enjoy! There are more to come I am sure!

Making a change

I have mixed feelings today.  We visited a new church today.  We love our old church and all of the people there, but we were feeling stagnant and our daughter was not getting what she needed from her Sunday School class.  She came out of her Sunday school class very excited and on fire.  What a blessing!  She didn't complain at all.  My husband actually got up before I did and went to church with us!  He hasn't been going lately and this was a HUGE blessing today!

We feel that we are following God's direction to move on to somewhere that we can grow and draw closer to Him.  I'm sad and very excited at the same time.  Have you ever had to make this type of decision in your Christian life?  Please share your comments.

Serving God's People

On Sunday, my daughter and I went with our Girl Scout troop to work in a local church Soup Kitchen in our inner city.  My co-leader and I decided that the girls needed to learn to serve others and what a wonderful way to do it!  The experience was truly a blessing for us.  We served 297 people a hot lunch complete with bread, dessert and some pantry items to take with them.  It was a great learning experience for all of us and we will definitely be doing it again!  I've had a burden to do that for quite awhile and never "had the time" as none of us do.  So we just buckled down and went for it.  What a JOY!  Many of the folks were homeless and many thanked us for being there.  That's not why we were there, but it was nice that we were able to provide a smile and a little comfort for them.  God is so good and it is awesome when you let yourself be used by Him.  I am so proud of the girls, especially mine.  She has such a servant's heart that she just jumped right in there and helped where help was needed.  From carrying trays, to getting drinks, to wrapping silverware, to drying dishes to folding up chairs, she was there ready and willing to work.  What a blessing she is to me!

If you can, please find a local soup kitchen or food pantry that you can volunteer in.  It is a truly enriching experience and your presence will bless a lot of people!