Once a month, a group of Ladies from my church meet to have a devotion and fellowship.  The lady hosting the fellowship give the devotion as well - this month, I am giving the devotion which will be held at our Pastor's house...( I know, I said the lady hosting it....but it is easier fro hubby to keep the children at home than to have to lug them around town with him for four hours.)

Here is a copy of the devotion God has given me to share with my sisters:

God's Blessing, and some of the roles he has for us

We all know that God provides for us.  We are reminded of this by our fellow Christians when we face a hardship.  But, when we hear and see and experience his provision in our lives, it only strengthens and reinforces our belief and trust in him.  This past few weeks, we have witnessed God move in a mighty way.  He took a seemingly impossible situation, and blessed more abundantly than we could imagine.  And not just once. 

For a child of Christ, young of age or old, it is vital that we hear of and recognize God’s provision and blessings.  Growing up, I can only recall one instance of an answered prayer.  My grandmother had a heart attack, and us children were filled with the fear she would not live.  We gathered in my aunt’s bedroom, and three of us grandchildren held hands, cried, and prayed.  She made it through the heart attack, and lived for some years afterwards…but I was not surrounded by a Christian family.  I did not have anyone to reinforce to me that this was an answered prayer from GOD.  The glory of her survival was credited to the Drs who cared for her.

I make it a point of sharing those answered prayers with my children.  An answered prayer can become a testimony, and for a child who has a hard time grasping exactly all God entails, answered prayers make Him real.   These answered prayers help provide a basis for Christian growth – a motivation for knowing and trusting God.  We can grow by fulfilling the roles God has laid out for us.

God’s role for us, the work he has laid before us, is ever changing.  While there are some set roles, ones we will go through irregardless of outside experiences, there are some laid out ones as well:

As a youth, we are to learn, grow, and obey – EPHESIANS 6:1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Constantly through our life we are called to share God with others (Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:)

As a mother, we are called to teach our children (PROVERBS 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.)

As a wife, we are to love, obey, respect our husband (EPHESIANS 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.)

As older ladies, we are to help the younger ladies in our communities (TITUS 2:3-5 The aged women likewise,… That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.)

We are called to ever be working – in and outside our homes (PROVERBS 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.)

In EVERYTHING we are called to abide in Christ (JOHN 15 4-10 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  )

Why? 

Without god, we are nothing….and we can do nothing (Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.)

Men/Women won’t like you when you are not abiding in Christ – as person who isn’t abiding in Christ can suffer all sorts of ailments – irritability, laziness, unhappiness, quick to anger, hard to please, unreasonable, lacking peace and joy.

God will bless us for our obedience.  He will provide for us, care fot us, meet ALL our needs.

I have had a long, emotional day.   I have been prayer off and on throughout this day.   I ask you to join me in praying after you read this entry. 


Tuesday night, on the way home from a ball game, a young family, the Buzzards, and 2 other vehicles were involved in a horrific car accident.  This young family has now lost their little girl, Alyssa.  She has gone on to be with our Lord and Savior at the tender age of 5.  Her brother remains in critical condition. Two other children - a friend, and a younger sibling, are in the hospital in fair condition. 

My heart is breaking for this family.  I do not know them.  Have never before heard of them.  And though I have never been through such tragedy, I am feeling for them as though I know them.  I cannot imagine the pain these parents are feeling.  You can read more about this accident at our local TV station .

Another burden is pressing upon me tonight.  A young mother I know through homeschooling has recently been diagnosed with Leukemia.  She is in the hospital undergoing treatment and has developed Pneumonia.  Daphne and her husband have 5 children.  I imagine these children are hurting deeply right now, missing their mother, and not understanding why she cannot come home.

Please pray for these two families - the Buzzards, and the Davis'.  That God may embrace these families with loving people, comfort their pain, and strengthen them during their struggles. 

Count your Blessings,

Hope

I heard from Ms Wanda this morning....baby Isabelle was abandoned at the hospital by her mother.  Her mother returned the other day, wanting her baby back.   Isabelle has been placed with Wendy and Monte in foster care through DHS.  Permanent custody will be determined later I'm sure.....please continue to pray that God's will be done in the life of this sweet baby, and in her birth mother's life.  And pray that if it is God's will, Wendy and Monte have their heart's desire fulfilled and they be blessed as forever parents to this child.

Blessings,

Hope

Today is a bittersweet day for our family.  Today marks the 'anniversary' of Caleb's new life...the day he was brought home to be with the Lord.  Caleb is my brother in law, my husband's only brother.  He had only begun his life, when the Lord called him home.  I say he had only begun because he had been married a mere 3 months when he passed.  He was in college to be a Deisel Mechanic.  He was just starting out his adult life. 

The night before Caleb died, I had worked the night shift, so I was sleeping when the family called to tell us.  I was awoken to my husband jumping on the bed screaming and shaking "He's Dead!  He's Dead"  I still get tears remembering this.  I couldn't understand what Calvin was saying.  I was so startled, and then I heard it again, loud and clear....and I asked who...and he said "Caleb!!Caleb!!"  I don't know how long I laid there holding my husband as he cried like never I had seen before. 

We made the long flight home to Mississippi a few days later.  And we struggled through the funeral.  But through all this loss, at a time when most people will crumble and curse God, I witnessed a rebirth like I have never seen before.  Famly who had stopped attending church rededicated themselves to the Lord.  Family who held grudges against one another grew closer.  I witnessed my mother in law become the strongest woman I have ever seen, all because she trusted God, and she leaned on Him during this time.  I saw my husband grow even more into a strong father and brother.  I saw my sister in laws trust in God like never before...and felt a closeness to them I had not felt before. 

I encourage you to give your burdens to the Lord.  Don't carry grudges or hurts.  Don't let Satan steal your joy.  Trust and believe that GOD is in control.  That GOD reigns over your life.  Allow GOD to reign over your life - the happy times and the sad times.

Blessings,

Hope

Here is a  lesson plan which does a good job explaining how God works on us, using, of all things, a pumpkin!

I’ve rewrote this lesson plan from it’s original, to simplify it for younger children and to include many of the common salvation verses. The original can be found here http://www.annieshomepage.com/halloweenlesson.html

Feel free to copy and paste this into word and print it out – or you can print it directly from here.

 For this lesson, you will need one pumpkin, a large bowl, and a knife.

Start by talking with the children about pumpkins :This is just a pumpkin.  A plain,old pumpkin.  It is like all the other pumpkins.  It is orange, round, and has seeds inside. 

 Who here wants to carve a pumpkin? 

 Did you know we are like pumpkins?  God is the carver, and we are the pumpkins.  God wants to take all the nastiness (sin) out of us.  Do you know, there is one who wants to take our sin away? 

 Revelations 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

 Does anyone know who that verse is talking about?  Who can take our sin away? (allow the children to answer God) 

Acts 16:31 …”Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

 We all need Jesus to come into our hearts. 

 Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

 What does God say about sin?  What does God say about accepting Jesus into our hearts? 

 Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

 Ask the children for examples of sin.

 Do you know there is only one way you can get to Heaven?   John 3:5 “Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” 

 And only one person who can get you there?

 John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Start carving the pumpkin’s eyes.  We are going to make this pumpkin into something complety different than it was before, just like God does for us.  While carving, describe some of the ugliness that God takes away from us. 

When we allow Jesus into our hearts, we become a new creature.

 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

 Put a candle in the pumpkin and light it.  God wants us all to let our light shine, so that others can see we are Christians.  How can we let our light shine? (by telling others about Jesus)

Matthew 5:14- 16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Sing “This little light of mine” with the children.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Shine all over

[name of town]

I'm gonna let it shine
Shine all over

[name of town]

I'm gonna let it shine
Shine all over

[name of town]

I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

And of course, have a closing prayer.  Ask if any of the children would like to know more about welcoming Jesus into their hearts.  Pray for and with the children.

Blessings,

Hope

How does your family celebrate Halloween?  Or better yet, how do we as Christians emphasize the importance of NOT celebrating Halloween to our children?  I do apologize if this should offend some who participate in Halloween.  Offending is not my intention here.  Sharing the work of the Holy Spirit on me through God’s word, and an alternative to the traditional Halloween are.

Deuteronomy 18:9- 13 "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, [or] that useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.  For all that do these things [are] an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God."

1 Thessalonians 5:22 “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

All appearance - that can be a tough pill to swallow.  Especially when you have little ones who can't see the evil in Halloween. 

We have decided this year to start a new tradition - we allowed the children to decide where we would eat out, and tonight we are taking them out to eat. We are doing this to avoid the trick or treators who will knock on your doors even if all the lights are off in your house.  We also hope to distract the children so the won't be thinking and complaining not being able to trick or treat. 

God Bless,

Hope

Today, I am having a Mom's Devotional followed by a craft for the children.  I would love for this to become a monthly event.  I posted a notice about this on two of the local homsechool yahoo groups I am on, and several ladies contacted me saying they wished they lived closer.  I am sharing the devotional that God gave me with the hope that it touch someone's heart. 

The Value of a Mother

As mom’s, we can often feel overlooked.  We may even feel neglected, or under appreciated.  Our daily tasks of keeping our home in order, tending to family finances, preparing meals, and keeping harmony within our family can wear on us.  We can find comfort in the Lord, because HE knows the plan he has set before us, and before our children.  God gives us some guidelines for parenting, which can strengthen us in difficult times, and steady us in easy times.  

God calls each and every one of us His.  He knows us before we were even concieved he knows our children too -

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee...” Jeremiah 1:5 Often times we forget from whom we came…from God.  It is only through His creation of us that we are here.

While we often think WE are in control, we aren’t.  Proverbs 16:9 “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”  If we step back and give our life to God, all aspects, great and small, he will continue to guide us, and with him leading, we can follow peacefully.

We are to trust in God in all aspects of our lives: Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”  There is a great comfort in knowing that God will provide for us.

Be patient with our children: Ephesians 6:4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” – This goes for us mothers as well.  Beside this verse in my bible, I have written the words ‘Don’t yell Hope’.  Shamefully, I admit I have a tendency to yelling when I become upset.  It is very humbling for me to go back to this verse and realize this is an area I need much growth in. 

Give our children to the Lord – the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:20 “Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord”…  she dedicated this child to the Lord, and at a young age (the bible says after he was weaned), she left him with the priest to be raised so that he would serve the Lord…. could we do that?  We have a hard time trusting our children with a babysitter, and we worry when they are with family, anytime they are away from us.  But Hannah trusted her child to the Lord, trusted that he would be taken care of. 

Teach the child God’s word – Mark 10:13 “ And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them, and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer [allow] the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.”  Surely we as Christian mothers allow our children to see God, but are we doing everything we can to show them God?  Do they hear us pray to him?  Do they see us read our bible?  Are we setting the example for how they should live their lives on?

Blessings,

Hope

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost.

ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS STILL IN CONTROL?

At Church Sunday, I was asked about having a get together for one of the older ladies at church, Mrs. Hewitt.  I believe she is the oldest member, and she is one of the most faithful and loving ladies.  She is quiet, calm, everything you expect to see in a lady. 

I offered to make a cake for the get together.   I thought about making an Angel cake, but ended up settling on a Barbie Princess cake instead.  Although some people might not think a Barbie Princess cake is fitting for a 70 plus lady, I think she'll absolutely love it. 

And of course, the kids LOVED liking the spoons when I was done with them!

Blessings,

Hope

Garrett's Spots are just about gone!  Yeah.....so I'm wondering if it was Chicken Pox....he was vaccinated, and broke out about 2 weeks after the vaccination,  and now this....but this was definetly NOT an allergic reaction to the medicine he was on...I've seen allergic reactions, and this just was not one.....I guess we'll have to wait and see if Isabella breaks out (she's the only one I didn't vaccinate, and I won't).  I never did get a straight answer fromt he Dr as far as how effective the vaccine is, or if/when he will need a booster shot.....

Sadly, if I knew then what I knew now, I would NOT have vaccinated them against the chicken pox.   At the time, I was told they HAD to be vaccinated to go to school, and I had not yet made up my heart to homeschool the boys....

You can follow this link to read more about the Chicken Pox vaccine....now I know, it can be argued that we have made some great advances in medicine due to the use of embryonic cells, but that is not up for debate with me....I FIRMLY oppose abortion for any reason.....whether a person believes in God or not, God put that child within the mother for a reason, and if HE didn't want it there, HE would not have allowed HIS will to be done.  

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee,..."

Isaiah 45:12 "I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, [even] my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. "

http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/tay/tay_20abrchickenpoxvac.html

The following article is a direct publication by the makers of the vaccine, Merck.  The first paragraph descibes how the vaccine was developed.

http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/v/varivax/varivax_pi.pdf

The sad thing behind these vaccines is that we are not told the whole truth.  The fact that it is made using  human embryonic lung cell cultures.  one reason I believe we are not being told this is because MANY parents would NOT allow the vaccination with this information.  Upon reseraching this further, I am appauled to find many more vaccines have been created using embryonic cells....

http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/medical_ethics/me0044.html

The good thing is that some alternatives are being offered at this point.....

http://www.dgwsoft.co.uk/homepages/vaccines/alternatives.htm

I could not however find information about an ethical alternative for the Chicken Pox vaccine....

Blessings,

Hope

Today I was reading in Proverbs, chapter 17.  There is so much good 'stuff' in Proverbs...it can be hard to pick out just one verse that speaks to you.  But today, a verse jumped out at me.  Literaly caught my attention and didn't let go.  Verse 28 : "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise...."

This can be applied to all of our lives on a daily basis....how many times do we react without thinking, or respond without preparing our words.   I am so very guilty of that.  Calvin is forever telling me to 'hear someone out'  or, when I tell him about a situation, he advices me not to say anything.  He is so much wiser than I am. 

Holding our tongues can be a wicked habit we've obtained, reinforced by years of loose lips and lack of discipline....I feel that while I am much better at holdig my tongue, I sometimes do a poor job at it.  It is a habit I developed as a child, which grew bigger as an adult, and now it is a thorn in my side.  A loose tongue can be destructive to friends and loved ones.  Many times, a person's heart has been hurt by simple words.

Blessings,

Hope

My brother called me 2 days ago and left me this message."HOPIE!!  Call me!...I need to borrow a few life jackets!"  

He lives in Fort Kent, about 3 and 1/2 hours north of me.  The St John River had begun to flood and they were evacuating people.  I think he should have asked for more than a life jacket!  Maybe a boat would have been more sufficient. 

In the picture below, you can see the Catholic Church on the left side of the road, and the old Convent, which is now apartment buildings, in the lower right corner.  The St John River is the large river behind the church, and behind the convent i(you can't see it) s part of the much smaller Fish River. 

Sadly, my other brother, who is a Post Master in Fort Kent, had to drive through some water on his way yo work, and Mom told me his car shut down.  The electrical unit is ruined, and it will cost over $500 to fix it!!!  I don't know if his insurance will cover it - let's pray it does. 

http://bangornews.com/news/t/aroostook.aspx?articleid=163746&zoneid=175

At times like these, it is important to remember God's many promises, and that he keeps his promises - "And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This [is] the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that [is] with you, for perpetual generations:.I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:And I will remember my covenant, which [is] between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." Genesis 9:11-15

Rest assured and remember that God promised to never cause a flood so severe as Noah saw, though it might feel like it!

Blessings,

Hope

I want to post some information regarding Salvation. I have been in contact several people who do not understand the term, so I am going to post an article I came upon some time ago.  This is not my work.  I am unable to find the original source for this.  But, it does a good job explaining Salvation.

         What is salvation?

     Salvation is being saved from the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner. 
     A lot of people think that salvation means being saved from yourself or the devil.  But that is not accurate.  All who have sinned against God are under the judgment of God.  This judgment is known as ****ation where God condemns to eternal hell all those who have offended Him by breaking His Law.
      This does not mean that God is unfair.  It shows that God is holy.  God must punish the sinner.  But, He has provided a way of escape so that people will not face His righteous judgment.  This means that God is both holy and loving.  He must manifest each quality equally.  So, being saved from the wrath of God is called salvation.
      Salvation is found in Jesus, and only in Jesus, who is God in flesh (John 1:1,14), and who died for our sins and rose from the dead.  1 Cor. 15:1-4 says...

"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, ² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. ³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,"

     This is how salvation works:  All of us have sinned against God and deserve judgment.  But Jesus never sinned (1 Pet. 2:22).  He lived the Law of God perfectly.  In this He has a perfectly righteous standing before God.  When the corrupt Jewish leaders forced Rome's hand into crucifying Jesus, God used this crucifixion as the means to place the sins of the world upon Jesus (1 Pet. 2:24; 1 John 2:2).  This is when Jesus became sin on our behalf.  2 Cor. 5:21 says,

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

     The crucifixion became the place where Jesus bore our sins in His body and suffered in our place. "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed," (Isaiah 53:5).  Remember, no sinner could please God perfectly and no sinner could offer a perfect sacrifice to God.  Only God in flesh, Jesus, could do that. 
     So, since there is nothing we can do that is righteous before God (Isaiah 64:6 says our righteous deeds are filthy rags), then we cannot please an infinitely holy and righteous God by anything we do.  But, Jesus who is perfectly righteous before God the Father, died in our place.  What we could not do, He did.
     If you want to escape the righteous judgment of God, then you need to trust in the sacrifice of God. You need to be made right before God, by God.  This righteousness of Christ is given to you if you accept him, trust in Him, and believe in what Jesus did.  This is why the Bible says that we are saved by grace through faith.  "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God," (Eph. 2:8).
     When you trust in what Christ has done on the cross, and in no works of your own (since they aren't good enough anyway), then the righteousness of Christ is given to you -- even as your sins were "given" to Jesus.  Its like a trade.  He gets your sin.  You get His righteousness.
Once you have trusted in what Christ has done, then you possess eternal life and you will never face the judgment of God.

 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand," (John 10:27-28).

Blessings,

Hope

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4 :32

     How do you know God is working on you?  I think when the same verse is brought to your attention by 2 different people at 2 different times, and then when the Lord Himself urges you to reflect on this verse, that's a pretty good indicator that God is working on you.  Good!  I need to be worked on.  We all need the steady maintainence that only God can provide us.

     So, if God has directed me to this verse over 3 times lately, what does that mean?   It is time for me to stop, stand still, and listen to God.  What is he trying to tell me?  Why does he want this verse to roll over and over in my heart? 

     I've failed in this area, could this be why?  Could it be that I've lost my temper, or maybe I've been short with someone?  Or, who have I not forgiven?  Who did something to me that upset me, and I couldn't let it go?

     God uses many different ways to teach and guide us, but how are we to learn His ways if we are unwilling to hear them?

     My prayer at this moment to our Heavenly Father:  Lord, I pray that you will cleanse my heart of all sin, of all anger, of all unforgiveness.  Whatever it is that I've chosen to carry, I give to you.  I cannot carry these burdens alone.  I cannot serve you while trying to serve myself.  I know Lord that you will teach me to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving.  Direct me in your ways father.  Amen.

Hope

My children have been watching me.  Before coming home to be a full time mom, I was a travel nurse and worked 3 hours from home.  I would take a position close to Mom and Dad so they could watch the children while I worked.  Before we left our home, I would make sure I had my baggie of gospel tracks.  I usually had the boys pull out 3 or 4 as soon as we go ton the road.  We would leave them at the rest stop, or give them to whomever we met along the way.  Often, the boys would suggest who to give them to.

Either way, whichever it is, they are important.  Little pamphlets designed to be given to people to tell them about Salvation, about God.  Often times, a person will not hear you out when you witness, or will casually listen, but not really hear what you are telling them.  Giving them a track affords the opportunity that when they are alone, they can read through it in the quiet of their home, and perhaps they will allow the Holy Spirit to begin working in their life.

Today, we had a guest preacher.  My boys knew this, but couldn't place his face, so when they saw a stranger come into our little church, they started speaking to him, and offered him a Gospel track, telling him "This is what we give strangers so they will know about God."  My husband had dropped the children off at the church and left to give a ride to an older man who doesn't drive.    I had followed behind with the baby and hadn't made it to church yet.  My boys assumed this man did not know the Lord, and took that opportunity to share with him.  Neither my husband nor I knew of this, until during the service the young preacher shared with the congregation what these two young boys had done. 

The joy that filled my heart at the notion that these tender young souls were concerned enough about others to share Gospel tracks cannot be described.  Often, we rather the kids not see what we are doing, that they might learn a bad behavior.  But this time, I was pleased that the children have been watching!

Hope