let's MOVE!

I love seeing people that are not self-involved. They look around them at those that are hurting, experiencing tragedy, and pain and they want to do something about it. We all at times stop for a minute and realize that we are blessed and we do want to help other people but we don't have the opportunity, time, money....(excuses are endless) Here's a link to a challenge for churches to help raise money for those affected by the storms in recent days. I get excited to see people that step out of their little box, their little world, and realize that more is going on around them and WE, all of us, are responsible for helping, loving, caring, doing something about it! God's Word says it! We need to get out of our bubbles and stop putting so much emphasis on the things that are not eternal and that only last for a mere second, and let's put our energy, money, time, prayers, and take our families with us to start being aware of what is going on around us. Let's do God's work, and let's focus on what is eternal. That is all that matters.

If you attend Grace Community Church, we will be participating in this challenge this Sunday. Hope to see you there!
Thanks for all you do each week in the lives of children and parents!! You are all amazing!! Please take a look at this link and pray about your part as our church takes part in this challenge this Sunday......


http://caseygraham.org/tornado-tithe-challenge-strategy/#--

church today

Love me some Francis!!.....

http://vimeo.com/10825354//

Trust in His wisdom, even when it looks dark

Almost everything I am reading about or listening to lately is focused on trusting God through tough times and through situations we don't understand.....this is a great blog about that as well. I am learning for my first reaction when crazy things happen is not to stress or get angry but to trust and look for what God is trying to teach me...He's always trying to teach me something. So thankful He loves me enough to change me.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/11/15/what-god-is-up-to-when-life-is-hard/

No Time to Lay Down- Running to Your Arms

God has been doing a lot of work in my life the past couple of weeks which is what He does I think at times when things are the hardest and things are not going how you think they should be. The last two weeks have been a series of events that I would not have chosen to happen. Things have gone wrong and things have been taken away....everyone has an idea of the way they think their lives should go and when things don't, we all react in different ways. I am one to shrink up, push people away, escape from the world, and shut down. I had that temptation on Wednesday morning when I woke up feeling hopeless and confused. I opened the Word and began to pray and the Holy Spirit pushed me out of the bed (I know that sounds weird, but I didn't do it on my own!!) and I got ready and went to work. Throughout that morning I connected with several friends, accomplished a lot at work, and the Lord began to speak to me. I realized what an idiot I've been!! Wasted so much time when things didn't go my way or something was taken from me.....just feeling sorry for myself and what use was I to anyone around me, or more importantly to God?? I decided that I would not waste another minute of my life in regret. God has a plan for me, for my life, but even for today. And I dishonor Him when I spend time thinking about what I don't have instead of working on what He has for me to accomplish that day. Wednesday ended up being a great day. I had some great conversations with friends, I spent some amazing time with my daughter, and more importantly, I realized that I needed to change. My reactions to disappoint in life will not be to shrink away anymore but to move forward and fight for the day that God has given to me. It doesn't mean that there isn't sadness, tears, or moments of pain. But it's what we do with those emotions that count. The world has taught us a different way to deal with our emotions and it's all lies. We need to run to Jesus every time......
I was also talking to a friend and I was reminded that when things are taken away from us it's hard but it can be an opportunity to realize that whatever it was is not God and can never replace Him. And He is the only one that will ever satisfy completely. We read about it and we sing about it but it's made real when we experience it. I've been listening to this song a lot lately.....I'm running to Your arms, the riches of Your love will always be enough. Nothing compares to Your embrace......Nothing compares. NOTHING. If we can get that through our heads then when we experience loss, pain, heartbreak, betrayal....we know we can move on and still have all that we need. It's not just words, it's not just a song. It's truth.

So thankful for Brandon Reed and the college ministry at GCC....check this out!!

http://aquacollegeministry.com/

Everyone has a story to share!!!!!

http://www.michaelbayne.net/2011/02/gcom-familieswe-want-to-hear-your-story.html

Blessings & Good Times the Past 6 mos....