Asking my greatest supporters to pray for me!

          Hello sweet daughters and other sisters in Christ!

• I’m asking my greatest supporters to pray for me in ministry!

            You might have noticed but God has moved me from life in "24/7 ministry" as a wife,   mom, and homeschool teacher through a maze of life experiences...INTO FULL-TIME expanded MINISTRY sponsored by God’s blessing- our retirement. Yes, Dad is doing the same!  We are thankful that you all and yours!

1. To the family for the family-                                                                                               -As I help Granddaddy publish his book, complete his manuscript and photo     gathering plus scanning as soon as possible!  It will be amazing blessing to him, to our families, and to many others!
2. Within our Church:                                                                                                        -Children's Ministry:  For God continue to give me wisdom as I plan children’s ministry. I am willing to do so to support precious families, just like you all, Trying to love their children well and follow God with all the  grace they can receive. As you know, I love teaching children about the Lord and his word and helping them connect with Jesus! Also, they are blessed to also have three mom-volunteer-teachers on our teaching team who have a similar passion and one retired teacher who is awesome and serves faithfully!
3. Pregnancy Center:                                                                                                           *One of our PRCE clients is in labor today.  She is single, a diligent worker - so sweet. She has been in a few of the prenatal classes that I have substituted for recently on Tuesdays and attends attended a couple of the Bible studies Bill taught (note Dave Truncale teaches them, now, since Bill does Parenting. Dave is so sweet and compassionate, too!!!!). She started coming to our church about three weeks ago. One of our ladies at church is going to be with her in labor today. Her family is out of state and she’s new to Baytown. I definitely am too sickly to go to the hospital. Prayers for a safe delivery, and God’s grace, provision, and work in her life going forward. She is very precious!                                                                                        -My weekly client Intake interviews at the center! Every week, I am so blessed to listen and impart hope, however the Spirit shows me their needs. It seems so easy to just go Prayerfully, listen, and share with them services available, the word of God to meet their needs, offers for classes and material support, and review community services to meet so precious needs. I invite them to call the Pregnancy Center and ask to meet with me if I can help them in any other way or if they need to talk. Christy Allen is usually the next one they talk to o in person as they get a ultrasound. So sweet and encouraging, too! 4. Evangelism with a Spanish church.  
4. Evangelism in Baytown!                                                                                                -God recently opened a door to do an evangelism event this week with a Spanish church. Pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and wisdom for me plus healing that I may be able to go. I’ll tell you more if it turns out good!

            Kids list to pray for grandma:

1. Making(publishing) granddaddy’s book promptly!
2. Plan good lessons for the kids at church so they can learn to follow God well.
3. Pregnancy Center: listen well to the ladies and help them.
4. Speaks the gospel to people that God leads her to this week! God will open their ears to hear and believe in Jesus!

Hope4Today

 

Hope4Today!  This "note" of inspiration was written October 21, 2006, but saved for the right time to share it with you.  You have heard these truths before, but I am posting them now for your refreshment and Hope4Today! 

"I thought I would share with you some truths that have come across my path recently and are so wonderful to me. 

As I pondered several scriptures that have been meaningful, I began to jot them down in list form because it seemed like they might have a common message to me from the Lord—and they did.

I Cor.1 and chapter 8

I Pet.1

Philippians1-3

In I Cor. 1, Paul thanks God for the ‘grace’ given to them;  that grace seems to be that they are enriched by Him in their gifts and have no lack in their gifts.  Then Paul exhorts them (strongly encouraging them) to “all speak the same thing, be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”  -sounds like unity.

Paul reminds them that the message is not centered on the preachers, but on the message of the gospel; he expounds about the idea that it is not with the BEST words, but the message of  “the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”.

 "Focus"  came to my mind.  Keep our focus on the primary message.  Since I am reading Philippians with the high school kids, I remembered that in chapter 2, we read “Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

 He was focused on his goal and shares his KEY for attaining it:

Paul says in Phil. 3, that he counts all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection,….

How? …by  “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as be “perfect” (saved by faith in Christ), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

Good words, right?  But, people are hard to be at unity with, even and especially in the church.  This is Paul’s words to Christians.  As I considered the trials that rise up with me and my loved ones, or sisters and brothers in Christ that I love, I can find myself at “dis-unity”  before I know it.  True for all people, but God is saying that our priorities get too mixed up.  We are to put the past behind us, daily,  continually, and focus on the ”mark” of our high calling in Christ.  

I Peter tells us that “our  trials are precious- more precious than gold,” ….why?  because in them “praise and honor and glory” will be found in them at the day of the appearing of Jesus Christ.  That is where Christ shines in us - right in the middle of trials!  

 GOOD THOUGHT:  This is a win/win life! 

When all goes well, we enjoy it.  Peace is great, life is more fun for everyone, especially us sanguines who just love it when everyone is having fun.

When life blows up in my face, one way or another, be it tension, financial needs, conflict, etc.,  that is when I am to WAIT on the Lord for grace to respond as he would have me to and He is glorified.   Do what God would say to do in that situation.  Everyone who sees the situation, notices that the Godly conduct is out of place.  It doesn’t fit!  How is it done?  By His grace.  Why should we? ..when they……?  We should, because He did what it took for me when he knew people did not care, and He knew I would disappoint Him greatly.   I owe love to you! And love to others.  In this decency, God is Glorified because it takes His grace and power in us to believe that it is worth is and to want glory to go to Jesus instead of the instant gratification of winning a fight or “putting someone in their place” with our words, etc.

Face it, we will always have the good days and bad days, good times and bad times.  It is wonderful that the bad times, hard times, etc. do not have to be a total waste of time and life.  God redeems them, recycles them, uses them to bring beauty to our lives and others and ultimately to Himself.  No other so-called deity even claims to do such wonders. 

Grace is mentioned in several of the verses and Paul wishes it upon them.  Rather, he prays that they will have grace, and commends them for certain “grace” that they do have.  He exhorts them that they would share in his grace.  Uhmmm.  Seems to be an option.  Interesting that they must receive grace to serve, to give; we look to God for grace to fill the cavities in our heart.  His provision in our soul and mind is His grace and it empowers us and enables us to think His thoughts and follow His will.

Well, may His grace be given to each of you to meet your needs in this time and season of your lives, my VERY PRECIOUS daughters!  What gifts you are to me!  I am so proud of each of you and I love you."  These words are not eloquent, but they are life giving.

May His grace be with you, sisters and daughters in faith!  I love you, too, and treasure the privilege to encourage you and share secrets and keys to the Kingdom that God has given to me!  

Mom & Sister in Christ

 

The Word of God... does what?

 “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

As women, we stand before God,  precious and individual.

May you ponder the Scriptures below and allow them to seep deep into your

soul and spirit.  The Word of God gives light and value to

the relationships and roles we find ourselves in.  It is the Word of God

that enables us to understand ourselves and how to follow Him in our daily lives. 

Reflection on who you are:

Who are you before God and others? 

What roles do you fill daily? 

How is the Word meant to “fit” into your life?

Which part of Me is supposed to be affected?

What phase of life am I in? single, married, elderly parents, toddlers at home, teens at home, entrepreneur, retired…

Consider some roles and applications of the Scriptures below to your life and world.

I am ____________________________, a CHILD of the MOST HIGH GOD, my creator, a member of the body of Christ,  a U.S. citizen, Texan, & ______________(city resident). The daughter of  _______________________   & _____________________________, the daughter-in-law of    __________________________&__________________________, the/a sister of ________________,_________________, _________________,    ________________,______________,&___________, 1st cousins of ________,_______,_________,_______,_______,______,_______,&______, sister-in-law to ___,___,___,____,____,___,____,&____ a neighbor  to ___________________, next door &    __________________________on the other side, with    __________________________across the street, &                others nearby, I am the wife (in the future) of _____________________________­­­_ , mother to _________________________, _______________________,     ____________________ &______________________. I own ____________________________ company, or  I am an employee, with ____________________ as my boss, co-worker with _______________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ _________________________ & others, a friend of ____,____,_____,____,____,____, & ____. I am a member/attendee of  ___________________________  Church! I am a member of the Body of Christ, those around the world! THE WORD OF GOD Hebrews 4:12 says “The Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of  soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”.           Heb. 4:1 We are warned to fear unless we fall short of the ability to enter into God’s rest because we do not mix God’s Word with faith, as those who went before us.  Heb. 4:11  We are instructed to “labor” to enter into rest so that we do not fall into the same pattern of unbelief. *UNIVERSAL TRUTH.  Our thoughts and intents significant.            I Pet.2:2  Desire the pure milk of the Word, that ye may grow by it,…   *The Word of God can be understood and received for immediate growth,    as is milk for babies.    *Peter addresses “all soujourners”: no gender or age limitations, etc!   *His Word is a source of growth.     Vs. 5  Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy                      priesthood,                    to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.            *We are part of something big!   Vs. 7,8  Unto …them who are disobedient, “he” is a stone of stumbling,             and a rock of offense, even to them who stumble at the word, being             disobedient…             *The Word is of offensive to the disobedient…           II Peter 1:3,4   God has given us great and precious promises, that by these            ye might be partakers of the divine nature…                  *As God's child, we have promises that pertain to the various things              we do and who we are.                  Through faith in God's Word, we are given His divine nature.             II Tim 3:16, 17          *The Word is profitable …it is our guide daily.  It brings                              balance, perspective, conscience, and more.         John 17: 15, 16     *Truth         I John 2:14            *Abides in us         Rom. 12:1,2          *Transforms, renews our minds        Luke 10: 38-42      *Needed        Luke 8:18              *Take heed how you hear!  God’s Word is clearly given to all, not to a select group.  It addresses many issues and circumstances of women (as well as men and children). We find new pleasures, joys, limits, and work as we seek to follow Him.          James 1:22-25              22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.            23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.                                     24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.                       25 But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and perseveres,  being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.                                                                                    Mark 9:23  May we be like the desperate father who asked Jesus to heal his son!          Jesus asked, “Do you believe? All things are possible to those who believe.” He replied, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”