Honduras! :)

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been almost 4 years since I last went to Honduras.  Going there was such an amazing part of my life.  Being able to go, help and serve these wonderful people who are longing to hear the Good News that Christ has to offer them, giving them hope for their future.
A couple of years ago I was incredibly blessed to be able to sponsor a child who lived on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  Her name is Josselin.  We prayed together through letters back and forth and we sent pictures to each other.  It was so breath-taking to see how just a couple of dollars could feed, clothe and provide medical attention and an education for this little girl. When I was at Faith Home, our General Baptist care center for children, I met this little girl, her name was Emerita.  She was one of the cutest little girls (of course at Faith Home, they are all so adorable, you just want to take them all home with you, if you could).  She was attached to me that week when we were around the kids.  I just wanted to stay longer just to keep being there for her.  It was  fun just to be able to hang out with the children and play with them.

Going on the medical teams were so amazing to be apart of I’m so glad I was able to experience that.  Being able to see how these people live, but yet  how grateful that they are when they are provided medical treatment for, maybe even, the first time in their lives.  Even to be able to provide a church service for them and to be able to share with them the gospel for possible the first time in their lives. 
Then, going on a Vacation Bible School/Construction team we got to teach the kids and play with them during VBS time and then help with much needed repairs, maintenance and chores around Faith Home.  It was so awesome just to be able to be helpful and to be able to accomplish “much needed tasks and repairs”  around the property.  Being able to share the Love of Christ with children in the schools off-campus in the smaller towns was great, just to see their smiling faces when we walked in to teach and play with them.
I loved being able to travel to Honduras and I hope to be able to return and be able help out again.  It was such an amazing experience!!!
“Shine your light let the whole world see…”

Pursuing the Arts!

Galations 6:4-5 --> Make careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself.  Don't compare yourself with others.  Each of you must take responsibilty for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
      I was reading in one of my devotionals by Rebecca St. James this past week and this part of her writing just really seemed to pull everything together, she states....
     "We can just settle for the status quo in our spiritual growth or the way we choose to express it.  Our culture is moving incredibly fast.  We have to move with the times, staying on our toes so we don't become irrelevant.  You can opt to just coast along, doing the same old, same old. It's safer, less risky, but 'where's the adventure?' 'where's the 'sieze the day' mentality in that?'  I don't know about you, but I'm not a coasting kind of girl.  God has created us to enjoy life to its fullest and he delights himself in our creative pursuits!"
     Now I don't know about your but I am totally with Rebecca on this one.  I'm not a coasting kind of girl I want to get out there and do all I can to share with people, to reach people through whatever God has blessed me with to do.  To use my creative pursuits to do the work assigned to me by my Heavenly Father.  :)   I love the "sieze the day" mentality part, because sometimes we seem to just want to think that someone else will do it, and it doesn't really matter.  But if we have that "sieze the day" mentality and we are not afraid to show it we can try anything with our talents that delight our Lord!  We can show people the love of Christ!  And, here's the beauty of it....we don't have to be perfect!  It's great that we don't have to compare ourselves to others, that God loves us for who we are as individuals!  And, he loves when we can give everything to him as we use our creativity he has given us. :)
      Exodus 31:3-5, tells us of Moses and how he was instructed by God to design the arc of the convenant.  God provided Moses with the skills to do this task.  How awesome is it to be able empowered by God to complete such a task.  Then, what about Solomon in 2 Chronicles 2:13-14, building the temple in Jerusalum.  Using their talents provided by their creator to finish the work assigned to them by God. 
       God has blessed us with specific talents, but how can we use them to glorify God?  Developing our gifts and using our creativity in such a way the delights our Father in Heaven and it lets His Great Love shine down through us and to the people we are sharing with.
Sieze the day!!!

Life’s a climb!

Music is apart of our lives.  Each and everyday many of us listen to the radio, a cd/iPod, or a media playlist.  But when that one song comes up that just happens to define that point in your life as of right then, it can really make you stop and really think about the lyrics that go with the music of that one song. 
The song, ‘The Climb” has come up many times, and the lyrics to this song just seem to pin point so many struggles and difficulties that we face everyday.  Because, there always seems to…
“be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb”
Sometimes it seems as if I’m reaching and reaching as far as I can and I still come up short.  Sometimes it seems as if I try and try and give it my all and there is still that upward battle.  But it’s what I can learn from staying strong and  pursuing through the uphill battle, and  it may take a long time to get there, but it is defiantly worth it every time I climb higher and take another step!
“I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"
Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking
But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high”
But because I know I can keep trying and never giving up and keep praying and stay strong in faith of my Heavenly Fathers plans for my life.  And with the support of family, friends and my church family, I know that the struggles I face, I am not alone….
“The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on
'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!
Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa”
Even being knocked down, I know I can get back up again and keep on climbing.  Just keep pushing on and climbing that mountain.  I’ve heard this several times this past year, “don’t tell God how big your mountains are, tell you mountains how big your God is, and your God will move your mountains!

This Is The Stuff Lyric Video

Beautiful

After first hearing this song, Beautiful for Me by Nichole Nordeman; and nearly crying all the way through it, I just had to post the lyrics and share it.   It say’s so much about how we see ourselves.  And, as I was listening to this song, my computer music was on shuffle and the next song to play was Francesca Battistelli’s; Beautiful, Beautiful.  Maybe there’s a theme here?

Every girl young and old has to face her own reflection
Twirl around, stare it down
What’s the mirror gonna say
With some luck, you’ll measure up
But you might not hold a candle to the rest
“Is that your best?” says the mirror to the mess
But there’s a whisper in the noise
Can you hear a little voice
and he says
(Chorus)
Has anybody told you you’re beautiful?
You might agree if you could see what I see
Oh
‘Cuz everything about you is incredible
You should have seen me smile the day that I made you beautiful for me

If it’s true beauty lies in the eye of the beholder
What my life and what’s inside to give him something to behold
I want a heart that’s captivating
I wanna hear my Father say

(Chorus)
Close your eyes
Look inside
Let me see the you that you’ve been trying to hide
Long ago, I made you so very beautiful
So I ought to know you’re beautiful

(Chorus)
You’re so beautiful
Beautiful for me
So beautiful for me

“Call on Jesus”

“I call to God; GOD will help me.”
(Psalm 55:16)

When we feel like we are all alone and there is no one we feel we can turn to we can always call on God for help, and He will help us through anything.
I love this song because all we need to do is to “Call on Jesus.”:

“But when I call on Jesus,
All things are possible!
I can mount on wings like eagles and soar.
When I call on Jesus,
Mountains are gonna fall!
'Cause He'll move heaven and earth
to come rescue me when I call.”*

When we call on Jesus and let our light shine for Christ everywhere we go, we are letting people out in the world today know and see the love we have for Christ, so that they will come to know Him and praise Him with all of their heart and soul.

But we can’t let our light shine by itself, we need to go out there and light other people’s candles and let their light shine with ours. But often we need God’s help, to reach others. So if we call on God, God will help us, and we are Never Alone.

“And though I cannot see You
And I can't explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You've placed in my life
We cannot separate
'Cause You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen”

Because when one candle is lit in one small corner of a room, not much light comes from it. But when you disperse 20, 30 or 40 more candles around the room, and use that one candle to start lighting them and then next candle lights the next and then the next…the darkness of the room is filled with light and brightness. So if we show God’s love to even just one person, that person will know God’s love and shine on another person, and they will call on Jesus, to help their light shine to another person.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
(Psalm 119:105)

(*Songs “Call on Jesus” from the album of Nicole C. Mullen and “Never Alone” from the album Barlowgirl)

Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year!

Well, it’s that time again!  It’s Christmas time and time to start a brand new year!  As we say good-bye to another year gone by we said a warm wintery Hello to the new year 2011!  Wow! To think about everything that has happened in this century so far and how much we have learned in the past 10 years! 
The memories we have made with old friends and even new ones that we may have just met this year.  We’ve accomplished goals and maybe even created new ones.  We’ve started new careers and made new plans for ourselves.  I’ve had many friends who have become engaged and have been recently married and some who have had their first child.
Though being approximatly 2,000 miles away from those college and post college friends  that I left behind in Indiana, it’s great knowing that I can stay in contact with them over the phone/Facebook/email.  Even though looking at pictures of everyone sometimes brings me to tears as I think about all the good times we’ve had, and how much I miss them!
Even thinking about the new friendships I have made with the friends that I’ve been blessed with working on this new church planting ministry.  We’ve been able to reach so many different people through music and drama and just by being able to create relationships around us and spread the good news about how wonderful a relationship with Christ is!  I look forward to the many adventures we have together through what God has plan for our lives.  It’s going to be such a great adventure!
Starting new career paths is always a scary thing to do.  But starting a business with MaryKay has been a huge challenge for me!  But it as been extremely worthwhile for me every step of the day.  It’s allowing me to get out there and meet new people and try new things.  I’ve met so many new friends that I have been blessed to work with through this new business endeavor.  They have helped me overcome my fears and accomplish my goals.  I am so blessed to be about to work with these wonderful people that I can call friends! 
I could not have accomplished anything with out the love of God with me!  He is always there in my good days and my bad ones.  When I am feeling lonely, I can run to his arms and just feel comforted.  Whether I am in my quiet time or worshiping in our Sunday service.  For as Philippians 4:13 says, for I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.  And God gives me daily strength to make it through each and everyday.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  And as I look at this verse over and over again I am reminded that God knows what is best for me, he knows where my career path leads and he knows who that “future husband” is for me.  So as I continue to study God’s word and dig deeper into the scriptures and live out the word of God by telling people, performing dramas or maybe just by helping people.  I can be assured that I am still growing and learning more day by day.

Second Chance

Second ChanceBy:  Tami Gregor

Have you ever felt like the Samaritan woman in the Bible?  Asking yourself why would Jesus talk to me?  And why would he ask me to get a drink of water for him?  Jesus answers the Samaritan woman by telling her of the Gift that God has for her.  “Where can I get this gift?”  Asked the Samaritan woman.  She asks again, please sir…give me some of that water!  Then I will never be thirsty again. 

John 4:1-30 is where Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman.  See before, the Samaritan woman lived with five different men, the Jews looked down upon her, she was a woman and she didn’t have the cleanest reputation.

When the Samaritan woman met Jesus, she was then offered a safe, healthy and empowered life, unexpectedly.

After she met Jesus, she saw the love and mercy that Jesus offered her that she had never seen before and certainly didn’t deserve.  She left her water by the well and went and told everyone what Jesus had done.

Sometimes its hard when you think you have just totally messed up your life and no one can love you.  You have done so much wrong and your faith has just slipped away little by little.  But something happens and you see the life you have led flash before your eyes, and suddenly right where you are, you bow your head and pray, for maybe the first time, or for the first time in a long time.  You ask God to take control of this life you are leading and change it.

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live or what you have done.  Salvation is there for one and all.  Embrace the relationship that Christ has for you!

As it says in Jeremiah 29:11, God knows the plans He has set forth for your life .  Embrace Him.

God is a God of second chances.  Take that chance.

Grace and Peace to you all!

I am Free!

Freedom By:  Tami Gregor

“So if the Son has set you free, you will be free indeed.”  (John 8:36)

We have the free rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but we also have the freedom to choose Christ as our Savior.  Choosing Christ is a different kind of free; that can never be taken from you!

We have the choice to get up on Sunday mornings and evenings to attend a worship service, or attend a worship service or Bible Study during the week and the freedom to read God’s word without being thrown into jail!

If you get up out of a warm bed and a good nights sleep.  If you ate breakfast or even just had a cup of coffee in the morning.  If you got up and walked out to your car and drove to church, work or to a friends house.  You’re not only luckier than over half the population in America, but you are considered rich to millions of people in other countries!

We have the freedom to choose Christ as our Savior.  We have the freedom to tell the world that “I Choose You.”  I choose today to live for God and I choose today to do something about my faith.

Some show their faith through singing, some through acting.  Some write their feelings on paper, in a novel, in a poem, in a song or maybe even in a script.  Others preach the gospel; whether it is in a small church or a heavily populated seminar. Some lend a helping hand to those in need and some are gifted through prayer.  How are you showing your faith?Are you putting your faith into action?What can you do to help that person on your mind?|How do you want to show your love for Christ and show that you choose Him?

 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

“for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Romans 10:13)

Life, Liberty, Speech, Press, and Religion, we have all of these freedoms and rights in this country, but the freedom to choose Jesus Christ as our Savior and to worship God through out our lives, is the best kind of freedom that is ever given to us because no one can ever take it from you, no matter what.

Christ died over 2000 years ago for our sins to that we could spend eternity in Heaven with Him; all we have to do is ask for forgiveness.  Christ died for all of us so we might be free and live for Him. 

LOVE
my
Indiana FRIENDS!!! :)

Called to Worship

I was reading my daily devotion from a Rebecca St. James book one day and it was just an amazing way of stating how we are called into worshiping God.  She states, "that God does not call us to be robots.  He gave us a choice."  God wants us to be joyful as we worship Him.  He wants to see smiles upon our faces and loving hearts.  Every time we worship God we are in awe of everything that he has done in our lives, he gives us the desire to raise our hands and praise his name!  When we focus on God, and take our eyes off of  ourselves we can truly worship our Wonderful maker! :)  Rebecca St. James puts it an amazing way, she says that whether we "lead or participate in worship, none of us are called to be a star -- God has called us to be servants." 

                                         

As we worship God with all our hearts we are desiring that personal relationship with Him.  We want to be able to give him everything we have and will be, because "he is all I want, he is everything," I love that way the song "Everything" states that Christ is all that we desire! :)  We want to be able to feel the extravagant love of Christ and be able to share his love with everyone around us. 

I've done a skit, titled 'Best Friends' about two little girls one of them a shy new girl, Mallory, and the other a hyperactive girl, Tami.  When the Mallory is sitting by herself talking to nobody, Tami, who has lived in the town her whole life comes up to talk to her.  She talks about how she does so much playing and reading her Children's Bible everyday! Her excitement is so high and full of joy that her new friend, Mallory, is now very intriged by this excitement, and now wants to know more about this sudden joy and burst of energy, that comes from this hyperactive new friend of hers.  When we share Christ with those around us, he is with us, in a smile, touch or voice, he is there to help us meet those needs of others. 

"Your love is extravagant, Your friendship, it is intimate, I feel I'm moving to the rhythm of Your grace, Your fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place, Cause Your love is extravagant..."  (Your Love is Extrabagant by Casting Crowns)