From My Heart...

My word for this year is FAITH. Unless your FAITH is firm, I cannot make you stand firm. Isaiah 7:9b NLT My word for 2014 was TRUST. The definition of FAITH is complete trust or confidence in someone or something. So FAITH is the same as trust... I admit, I was offended! I always pray and ask God to give me a word that I can cling to for the entire coming year, a word that is going to define me and grow my relationship with my King. Why would God give me practically the same word two years in a row!? Did I not trust you enough last year God?! As 2015 started Satan wasted no time in carrying over his non-sense attacks from last year on our family. As I began to meditate on Isaiah 7:9, I began to look at my FAITH. What exactly does God mean when He says he cannot make me stand firm unless my FAITH is firm? I read my Bible everyday, I pray every day. How is my FAITH not firm?! Recently our family was hit hard, possibly the hardest we have ever been hit so far. My FAITH ...

This year we have been shaken. We have been shaken by the hand of God, at times to our core. As I reflect back over 2014 I am reminded that we needed to be shaken, we needed to be removed from our cozy box, even our children, so that our TRUST in our Maker could grow. I knew last December when God gave me the word TRUST that 2014 would not be an easy year, but never in my wildest, biggest imagination could I ever have dreamed that it would be what it was. Before CHRISTmas break 2013 my son's first grade teacher mentioned that he was having a hard time reading. Soon after the first of the year, 2014, she told me she talked to the Dyslexia teacher and they thought he needed to be tested. Also after the break I went to work as a full time sub in the Pre-K class as the aide for the remainder of the semester. I have been a stay at home mom for 10 years, and although this does not seem that major, it hit me deep! I really do not know how all of you working moms do it!! Things got bus...

TRUST (tr st) n. 1. Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing. 2. Custody; care. 3. Something committed into the care of another; charge. 4. a. The condition and resulting obligation of having confidence placed in one. b. One in which confidence is placed. 5. Reliance on something in the future; hope. TRUST v. 1. To have or place reliance; depend: Trust in the Lord. Trust to destiny. 2. To be confident; hope. (definitions from www.thefreedictionary.com )  Synonyms for TRUST: confidence, faith   According to www.answers.yahoo.com the KJV Bible says the word TRUST 181 times.   It was just a few days into the month of December that the thought of a new word or verse for the upcoming new year began to creep into my mind. There have been so many times this year that I have clung to Psalm 105:4, Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him., that I was not ready to...

June 27, 2013 Daily Scripture (exactly as it was sent): Until God opens the next door...praise him in the hallway! 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ... Give THANKS in all circumstances; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. This morning we went to Pastor Kapapa's house to do some plumbing work. The guys got his family a toilet plumbed inside their house! :) We then went back to Simukale Village to feed and play with the kids. I would've taken every kid out there a pb&j sandwich but I was told it just wasn't possible! We did take extra and give to the cooks though. They said they were nice (so they liked them)! They love trying American food. Grace took some candy (sweets is what they call it) to give to the kids- she got mobbed and Miss Gaylene had to save her. Pastor Kapapa's kids came with us today. I think Grace liked having them there because they speak English and Tonga. One girl, named Veronica, followed Grace every where, she is 13 and speaks good English...

June 26, 2013 Daily Scripture text (exactly as it was sent): But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Amen!!!! Isaiah 40:31 NLT Have a blessed day! When we got to Monze we checked into our motel-Southern Comfort- not like any motel I've ever seen- had one room huts with grass roofs- yes they were quite cute! (The British say quite a lot so I think I might have picked up on it!-Giggle :)-) OK...Then we headed straight to the village of Simikale. We visited a school there and worked with Luyando Kids Club. They cook a meal and feed some of the kids. Before the bus even stopped the kids were crowding the bus! They are fascinated by Americans!! We immediately started helping wash dishes and pump water. We were able to play games with the kids and love on them. Every single one is so precious!! We met kids as young as 4 years up to 13 years, and a few little babie...

June 24-25, 2013 Daily Scripture (June 24) (typed exactly as it was sent): HAPPY MONDAY :)! The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:17 Have a blessed day! Daily Scripture (June 25) (typed exactly as it was sent): Sometimes bad things in life open your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. GOD is good.... Have a wonderful Tuesday! Love you We arrived at the airport early today- did not want to miss our flight (giggle)! When we went to get our tickets we found out the airline canceled our flight! NOT JOKING!!! At this point we were saying OK GOD?! There was another flight leaving an hour after when ours was supposed to leave and they just happen to have enough seats for the 12 of us! YEA GOD!! We flew eleven hours to Johannesburg, ran through customs and the airport there so we would not miss our next flight since we left late! Then another 2 1/2 hours to Lusaka, then we stayed the n...

June 23, 2013 (No daily scripture on the weekends) We had another day of touring. Today Gaylene, Rusty, Cade, Cody, Grace and I went to Windsor. We toured the Windsor Castle. It was quite fabulous! I enjoyed this part of London more than the other. It was more laid back- not as much hustle and bustle. They have cobblestone streets and pubs every where. It was a little romantic! Maybe someday Cody and I will come back and visit a nice little bed and breakfast. We leave tomorrow for Johannesburg then on to Zambia. I absolutely CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on those precious babies!! I am a little sad that our days in the village have been cut short but I do know that it is all in God's hands and is not without cause! Oh yes- we also found out Pastor Kappapa forgot to reserve our bus tickets to get us from Lusaka to Monze, so if we had left London when we planned then we would not have had a ride...hmmm another God thing!?