The importance of community

I was reminded of this today and thought I'd post about it.

God made us for community. Not just for ourselves or our families. We need to reach out and join a local church, a bible based church, and let others impact our lives and vice versa.

We need to rely on one another, to be accountable to each other, to love one another, to hold each other up when we don't have the strength to hold ourselves up and to be His hands and feet when we see others who need His words, love, strength and wisdom. A simple smile, hug, letter, meal or probably 100 other things, can bring someone back from the edge, ledge or end of themselves. Sometimes we never learn of how our lives impact others, but we know they do, as we know our lives have been greatly impacted by others.



"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." ~ Hebrews 10:25, NLT

Today... a day in the life!

Today is a special day for a handful of reasons...

Today is my 8 year work anniversary... not a lifetime, but meeting my previous record
Today is also my DSs last day of high school
Today is also my DDs last day of freshman year
Today is also DSs GFs birthday
Today is a great day to celebrate being alive AND
Today is a great day to donate to Operation Quiet Comfort.

As you know, OQC holds a special place in my heart, because they are a grassroots non-profit, who lets each person help in whatever creative way they can, they don't just ask for monetary donations... but now they are faced with the harsh reality of the current economic times and might virtually close without monetary donations.

You can contribute without spending a dime, here's how:
Login to www.GoodSearch.com
Enter Operation Quiet Comfort in the charity box and press verify
Then proceed to search for whatever stuff you usually search for in the course of a day in your life
Each search generates income for OQC

IF you have the ability to donate any funds to OQC - you can click on the OQC button on either of my blogs or go directly to http://www.OperationQuietComfort.org and click on donate, either thru google or paypal (but there is a fee that paypal charges).

Thanks in advance for your loving support of me and OQC.

Forever!

We know how the story ends, we've read the book. We will live with God forever. This world will fade away and we'll live on. Make the choice! Choose God!

And this world is fading away...But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. ~ 1 John 2:17, NLT

Ahhh, retreat!

What a wonderful maker! Molds us like clay in His hands.

We had a great retreat last weekend. It went too fast! It was rainy but the weather couldn't stop about 250 of us from having a great time.

We were at Silver Spur, a local Christian camp, where we were treated to great food, super company, and a God-loving speaker, Carole Wolaver - boy can she multi-task. Her hands were usually on the clay when she was speaking. She was even throwing pots during the "free time" - what an amazing gift she has. I can barely chew gum and walk at the same time. LOL

There were so many things to do: lectures, card crafting, movies, raffle for some great baskets. Our group of 16 won 5 baskets. Amazing! The food was excellent, the site was lovely even thru the gray haze, the company was interesting and hilarious at times. The art was fantastic - I've never appreciate pottery as much before, probably because I took it for granted as my grandparents used to have a kiln and we would do pottery when we visited them.

I'm already looking forward to next year and plan to visit the church that invited me to attend, last year and again this year, on Mothers Day. I'd like them to meet the family behind the pinched and unbalanced retreat-goer.

I'm still tired and sore, but it was well worth the time. I am feeling more balanced and less pinched. I'm sore because I chose to walk up the hill 3 times, which is a lot more exercise than I usually get in a month :) My calves are just hating me!!!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." ~ Psalms 139:14

The Silent Sermon

I got this in email today, from my father... I thought it was quite good, so enjoy!

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.. Guessing the reason for his preachers visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more.. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow,once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down hi s cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.'

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!
I shall not want ----- that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness --that's Guidance !
For His name sake ----- that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death--that's Testing!
I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!
For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me -----that's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies------that's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life----that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of t he Lord -----that's Security!
Forever ----- that's Eternity!

Face it, God is crazy about you!

Send this to the people you are crazy about.I thought this was pretty special, just like YOU! What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives.

Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”~ John 8:12, NLT

Happy Easter

Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice that all may live eternally with You and the Father. May your church continue to increase daily, in faith an
d in numbers until that day you return again to claim your people. Maranatha!

He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. ~ Matthew 28:6, NLT

Being Joyful

Choose joy! Sounds easy doesn't it? Well sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't, but it is a choice and with God we can lead our minds with our hearts.

Three car accidents in four months? Choose joy! Two flat tires in one week? Choose joy! Coworker that drives you nuts, finally no longer working with you, leaving you all the work to do? Choose joy!

After a tough morning, even before I left the house today... I saw a beautiful rainbow and chose joy! Did you choose joy today?!

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT