Friends

The most important part of growing up is friends, especially Christian friends. I am sharing photo's of my daughters and their friends.

Home Made I Spy Game

I see a girls scout troop made this for a local children's hospital. I thought  "BAM!" I can do that. This is a great cheap fun challenging game for bus or or junior church.

What you need
Food Coloring, any color, any amt.
2 empty bottles with lids
Rice (1 cup per color of dye)
Zip lock bags
3 tablespoons of water
spare objects to find, I used penny, bobby pin, screw, button, paper clip, key.

Add food coloring and in a ziplock bag. Add rice to bag, mix it up so the rice is fully colored. Air dry on newspaper, spread it out then so it doesn't clump. You want it free flowing in bottles. When rice is dry, place in the bottle, and then the extra objects, Fill the bottles, leaving about an inch from the top. That way you can search for the objects.

Rachel's Blog

My daughter Rachel has a blog, it is set as private. I read this entry last night and was very proud of her and wanted to share it.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2012

Christmas 2012

     Today is the day that Christ is the reason for the season.  This sign can be seen on front yards of many homes across the country.  Many people today think that Christmas is all about presents, Santa Claus, parties, and seeing relatives.  They don't think of the real reason: Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ gave up being seated at the right throne of God to be born as a babe to save this sinful world from his Father's wrath and judgement.  Throughout his life he knew his purpose for being on this earth, he didn't let anything stop from fulfilling this purpose. After his ascension to Heaven, the apostles spread the Gospel and the story of Christ through the world.  Now people do everything possible to get Christ out of Christmas.  They came up with Santa Claus and presents to distract later generations from Christ.  Will you let the world affect you this Christmas season?

What are you thankful for in 2012?

Psalm 26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

1. My salvation, It has been a hard year for me in many areas but having a firm belief and knowledge of my future and my trust and faith in the Lord has helped.

2. My very loving patient Husband

3. My Kids. seriously how many people can say they have no problems with their teens? Mine are such a blessing.

4. My job. It is a good job, and although it isn't what I would choose, it is what God has given me and I appreciate it.

5. My church family. When I got this job, so many teen girls approached me and told me they and their family have been praying for me. People I am not exceptionally close too. I felt so loved beyond words.

There is so much more I can list, but I want also add the following verse, it has stuck close to my heart this year.

Isaiah 12

1 And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Guiding Hand

Today Samantha came to us in tears and shaking. She explained how last year Mr. Eli Schrock showed a presentation in chapel of Cambodia and his work there. Today Preacher preached on God's guiding hand and knowing God's will. Sami surrendered to go to Cambodia, she really believes it is God's will for her to go to Cambodia to be a missionary.

She told me how she needed to start preparing for it. She needs to learn the language and get ready to go. I understand her go to attitude. I recall having it when I was not much older then her. However, Sami is 12 years old. and she has time. Not time to change her mind, but time to prepare. I explained to Samantha if she is really serious about this, then these are the areas she needs to prepare in, it didn't include knowing the language at this point.

You see it is the details in our life that we don't want to work at that will actually prepare us for the service for the King. It is the continuous piano practice, the violin, the flute. It is doing well with our oratory competition so we can speak in front of others, it is having good daily devotions and even obeying. If we can't obey our parents, then we will never obey God when the time comes. Something I learned way late in life.

God does want to use us, but we have to be willing to be used. We do that in taking care of the little things. I as a parent is extremely proud that my daughter has a soft heart for the Lord. I will be proud if she does work on the mission field. My biggest accomplishment isn't that my children work in Fulltime Christian Service. My biggest accomplishment will be helping my child find and do God's perfect will for their life. If that means secular work, so be it.

Bumpersticker

Well it started with a bumper sticker. I have a Mitt  
Romney sticker on my car. I was in Dekalb, Illinois, and Sami was in a business candy selling. This man knocks on my car window, with sign in hand. He told me he made the sign and it was magnetic. He asked me if I would like it. We tried fitting it on the back of my car. It doesn't fit so well, so we placed it on the side.

Finally, after multiple tries I got it to fit on the back. Since then I have been some very peculiar responses. None negative though.

Today alone, I have gotten 3 thumbs up, 2 huge smiles, and someone tailgating me trying to take a picture of it. At first I was paranoid, trying to figure out what was wrong. Then I realize it was all over this sign.

I am unsure how the election will go. But if it is anything like the excitement I have seen, I believe Romney must have many supporters. Ironic, enough, I have yet to see anyone say anything bad about it. That is surprisingly because earlier this summer, we had a Richard Murdock and an AntiObama sticker peeled off my car.

Giving God praise

Last night in family devotions we have discussed giving God praise. We have been reading the book "Nevertheless, I live" By the late Steve Currington.  We are in a section of the book discussing praise. Even when we are going through trials and tough times, we should praise Him.

Well today, I have a praise. I lost my job a month ago. I had to quit because of a hostile work environment antagonized by manager. It was an ugly situation in which I could not make a difference in. The problem we just bought a new car, our other had died. School is starting, so we also have tuition to pay for. That is making us live bare bones until I get reemployed. As a typical female, I worry, how are we going to make this?

So the storms are rising. What can I do? I am a firm believer that as a Christian it is my responsibility to do all I can do. Work at what I can do, but depend on God to make things happen. Not sure if there is a Bible verse to support this view. Do know God in proverbs speaks negatively about the sluggard. I have sent off close to 100 resumes, talked with 2 agency's and went to one job fair. Pretty discouraging after a month. Not much biting.

Then today as I am going through my regular scheduled routine, of pretty much nothing, had a good devotion reading Nehemiah 1.  I went to the bathroom and heard the phone ring. I didn't think much of it. I figured I will get when I get it. It was the first agency I meet with. They asked me if I was available today? Of course I am. So I went to work at a School for 1hr and a half. Then I found out they need me all week, then possibly an indefinite time. Something I don't want to discuss here, it is very temporary.

So as Christian's we often take baby steps. Today I Praise God for my temporary job. But I truly praise Him because in the last week in family devotions, we as a family have been praying that God will give me a job before the end of September. This being September 11th, and I got to work. It is a blessing I can show God does answer prayers to me, and my family. God is so good.
Guess now we will have to pray God please give me a permanent job by the end of September. Please pray with us. God is good all the time, all the time. Praise His name forever and ever.