We often hear the comand for us to Love our Neighbors as Yourself, but do we really know what that means and do we really act on this? I have been afforded the uniqe opportunity this week to see this played out in our lives. As I posted earlier we have really been struggling since I lost my job the week of Thanksgiving, but we have also seen God's provision working through various people. This week we saw God work again through willing people. A church in Corocopalis, PA sent us some giftcards and money after hearing about our situation. We do not know these people nor have we ever met these people. They just heard about a need and decided that they would do something about it. They decided that they would treat us "the neighbors" the way that they would want to be treated. God is showing us generosity through so many different ways that I have to admit I did not think existed anymore. Thank you brothers and sisters of this dear churh that are living the life God called us all to live!
This event in our life has made me re-think my New Years Resolution this year. I know resolutions are kind of goofy, but lets admit that we all try to make them and keep them every year. This year I have decided not to make the same resolution to get fit, because that is something that kind of comes easy for me since I am one of those crazy people that actually likes to work out. No, this year my resolution is this: I want to be more aware of the needs of people around me and make it a natural part of life to offer help. I want to love my neighbors as I would myself and my own family. So I pray that of all my resolutions over the years that God will help me in this endeavor by giving me the discernment to know when there are tru needs and the resources to impact those lives.
Have a Happy New Year and may God bless!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Thoughts
I am so excited this year to be able to sit down with our little boy tonight and read the Christmas Story! We want this to be a family tradition that can bring Christmas back to its true meaning. I would encourage everyone to take a few moments and share the story of Jesus with your kids. If parents are not putting Jesus first during this season, how can we expect our children to focus on anything but a comercialized Christmas? Another good way to share the Christmas Story with the family is by watching the movie "The Nativity" I cannot think of a more beautiful and accurate Christmas movie. It strikes me how poor and unassuming Mary and Joseph are in the movie. The parents of the King of Kings had nothing. They did not stand out in any special way except they were willing to follow wherever God took them. I hope to one day not only be able to pass on the Christmas Story to my children, but to impart in them a Christian heritage that allows them to be open to God's calling in their lives. Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year!
Our First Family Blog
Well here it is....our very first family blog. I only thought about doing this for at least a year! My hope with our blog is to share with others what God is doing in our lives and how our family is learning to trust in Him more as we travel this journey of life.
I was always one of those people that said "I don't have time to blog," but since losing my job the week of Thanksgiving, I am finding more time on my hands and I really felt the desire to share with others our journey. You see I was the main income for our family and when I suddlenly lost my job it was a complete shock for our family. My husband Robbie works for our wonderful church and we have a 3 year old little boy and a brand new additon, a 2 1/2 month old little girl (all three the joys of my life!) So here we are one month before Christmas, a new baby and me still trying to recover from having the baby and we lose almost all income and insurance. As you can imagine I was devistated! How would we survive? How would we pay our bills? How would we get healthcare for our children? We have been through every emotion you can imagine in trying to process why this happened, but one thing I can tell you is that we are now in a position where we have no other choice but to be completely dependent on God. I am not saying that I am good at turning everything over to God- I am kind of a conrol freak when it comes to finances, so this has been really difficult.
God does and is providing! Our family and friends have been so wonderful over the past month. We have even had people that we have never met write letters of encouragement and God has allowed people to bless us through this time. As I was wrapping some Christmas presents last night, I was sruck at how God has provided and blessed us already. We have had no money for Christmas for our kids and here I am somehow wrapping gifts for my kids! Needless to say the tears began to flow when thinking of how God knows the needs of our small little family and has provided not only a few gifts for our kids, but also enough to pay our bills for the month.
God has also brought so many supportive people into our lives. I have been so humbled by this experience and learning how to accept help from people- something that is not easy for me. We are usually the ones helping others and it has just been so emotional to accept the gifts of others. I cried the other day just putting a check in the bank from my parents (God bless them for being there!). We have decided that once God brings us through this time, we want to be the most giving people in the world! Going through a job loss and not knowing where money to pay your bills is going to come from the next week or month has really opened our eyes to the number of people hurting and in the same situations.
So, now that you all know where we are coming from, I am expecting big things from this blog. I am expecting big testimonies of God's grace and what He is teaching us through this and I hope to share how God works in our lives. The bible says" For I know the plans I have for you, decalres the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future" Jer. 29:11. We are claiming the promises of God and we are excied to be able to share how God fulfills those promises in the months to come.
I was always one of those people that said "I don't have time to blog," but since losing my job the week of Thanksgiving, I am finding more time on my hands and I really felt the desire to share with others our journey. You see I was the main income for our family and when I suddlenly lost my job it was a complete shock for our family. My husband Robbie works for our wonderful church and we have a 3 year old little boy and a brand new additon, a 2 1/2 month old little girl (all three the joys of my life!) So here we are one month before Christmas, a new baby and me still trying to recover from having the baby and we lose almost all income and insurance. As you can imagine I was devistated! How would we survive? How would we pay our bills? How would we get healthcare for our children? We have been through every emotion you can imagine in trying to process why this happened, but one thing I can tell you is that we are now in a position where we have no other choice but to be completely dependent on God. I am not saying that I am good at turning everything over to God- I am kind of a conrol freak when it comes to finances, so this has been really difficult.
God does and is providing! Our family and friends have been so wonderful over the past month. We have even had people that we have never met write letters of encouragement and God has allowed people to bless us through this time. As I was wrapping some Christmas presents last night, I was sruck at how God has provided and blessed us already. We have had no money for Christmas for our kids and here I am somehow wrapping gifts for my kids! Needless to say the tears began to flow when thinking of how God knows the needs of our small little family and has provided not only a few gifts for our kids, but also enough to pay our bills for the month.
God has also brought so many supportive people into our lives. I have been so humbled by this experience and learning how to accept help from people- something that is not easy for me. We are usually the ones helping others and it has just been so emotional to accept the gifts of others. I cried the other day just putting a check in the bank from my parents (God bless them for being there!). We have decided that once God brings us through this time, we want to be the most giving people in the world! Going through a job loss and not knowing where money to pay your bills is going to come from the next week or month has really opened our eyes to the number of people hurting and in the same situations.
So, now that you all know where we are coming from, I am expecting big things from this blog. I am expecting big testimonies of God's grace and what He is teaching us through this and I hope to share how God works in our lives. The bible says" For I know the plans I have for you, decalres the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future" Jer. 29:11. We are claiming the promises of God and we are excied to be able to share how God fulfills those promises in the months to come.
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