Hi!
I just wanted to let you all know that I am leaving again tomorrow for a week at Sr. High Camp at Camp Bethel near Wellfleet, NE. with our whole family including Steven.
I was to stay home for a quiet week but the Lord had other plans for me. Like getting out of my comfort zone!!
So pray for me as I teach the Bible Lessons each morning at 11:30. The theme for the week is God's Glorious Appearing. My topics are The Rapture, What happens to unbelievers during the Tribulation and their eternal destination and The Believer's Hope of Rewards and an eternal home in Heaven.
I have been teaching the books of Revelation and Daniel to a group of 70 year old women for the past 4 years so the Lord knew I was prepared. I spent the last two days praying and working on my lessons and they finally came together late this afternoon.
I have us packed so we can leave right after lunch tomorrow.
I would appreciate your prayers as I am obedient to the Lord and that what I have to share will speak to the hearts of these teenagers.
I will write again when I return.
Blessings,
Deb
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Finally Home!
Hi!
I was so excited to pull into our drive way last night and to be finally home. These past two weeks have been full of fun but there is no place like home.
Our last trip on Friday and Saturday took us to Omaha to meet up with an old class mate of Jon's. It was great to meet another one of his friends after being married almost 20 years.
It got me to thinking about connecting with some of my childhood friends again. I have found that Face Book has been a great way to do that. We spent the night in Omaha and then drove to Altoona, Iowa to pick up Jon's mom. She had been with her daughter for two weeks. It was good to hear how she really enjoyed her time away and she while ther she also got to see her grand daughter and great grand daughter too. Having a break from being her sole care giver gave us the time we needed to do some of our own traveling and for the three of us to reconnect before our busy summer begins.
Steven our intern with Moody and Village Missions arrives tomorrow for his 10 weeks with us. We are looking forward to what the Lord will do through him and us as we build into each others lives this summer. Our church is excited to also!
This week one of the devotionals I read during my quiet time spoke directly to me about resting in the Lord. I wanted to share it with you as we embark on a busy summer in each of our lives.
Resting in the Lord
"I'd love to do that for you, but I can't add one more thing to my schedule." We've all either heard this, said this, or both. We never seem to have enough time, do we? How are you handling the pressures of life? With peace or panic? I liken our lives to a "huricane of hyperactivity." And that's not always a good thing. The fact is, when we're running around in circles, we're not doing as the Bible says when it calls us to "rest in the Lord" (Psalm 37:7) Is your relationship with Jesus your first priority? Or are you just too busy to sit at His feet and enjoy His presence? The christian whos heart and soul are at rest is a christian who embraes this truth of scripture: Our time are in God's hands.
Lord, thank You for the gift of time. Help me use it in ways that honor and glorify You. Give me wisdom to know when to let go of my schedule, concentrate on Your guidance, and help others.
Amen
This is my prayer for myself and or you all.
Hope you have a great week!
Deb
I was so excited to pull into our drive way last night and to be finally home. These past two weeks have been full of fun but there is no place like home.
Our last trip on Friday and Saturday took us to Omaha to meet up with an old class mate of Jon's. It was great to meet another one of his friends after being married almost 20 years.
It got me to thinking about connecting with some of my childhood friends again. I have found that Face Book has been a great way to do that. We spent the night in Omaha and then drove to Altoona, Iowa to pick up Jon's mom. She had been with her daughter for two weeks. It was good to hear how she really enjoyed her time away and she while ther she also got to see her grand daughter and great grand daughter too. Having a break from being her sole care giver gave us the time we needed to do some of our own traveling and for the three of us to reconnect before our busy summer begins.
Steven our intern with Moody and Village Missions arrives tomorrow for his 10 weeks with us. We are looking forward to what the Lord will do through him and us as we build into each others lives this summer. Our church is excited to also!
This week one of the devotionals I read during my quiet time spoke directly to me about resting in the Lord. I wanted to share it with you as we embark on a busy summer in each of our lives.
Resting in the Lord
"I'd love to do that for you, but I can't add one more thing to my schedule." We've all either heard this, said this, or both. We never seem to have enough time, do we? How are you handling the pressures of life? With peace or panic? I liken our lives to a "huricane of hyperactivity." And that's not always a good thing. The fact is, when we're running around in circles, we're not doing as the Bible says when it calls us to "rest in the Lord" (Psalm 37:7) Is your relationship with Jesus your first priority? Or are you just too busy to sit at His feet and enjoy His presence? The christian whos heart and soul are at rest is a christian who embraes this truth of scripture: Our time are in God's hands.
Lord, thank You for the gift of time. Help me use it in ways that honor and glorify You. Give me wisdom to know when to let go of my schedule, concentrate on Your guidance, and help others.
Amen
This is my prayer for myself and or you all.
Hope you have a great week!
Deb
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Celebrations...
Hi!
I am running behind this week as we have spent seven of the past 14 days gone from home and we leave tomorrow to go pick up Jon's mom who has been visiting her daughter the last two weeks.
This past weekend we were invited to two celebrations. The first one was a graduation celebration. Jon was asked by the graduating class at Heartland Christian School in Colby, KS to be their comencement speaker. It was so fun to see Hannah's friends who were just in grade school six years ago, graduate. Jon shared a powerful message on God gives us four gifts and with those four gifts we have responsabilities. The first gift is His word, the second is Salvation, the third is His prescence in the life of the believer and the fourth is the calling on a believer's life. The three responsabilites in response to these gifts are 1. Dedicate ourselves to God and His Word, 2. Dedicate ourselves to Godly Living, 3. Dedicate ourselves to Godly Ministry.
It was a good reminder for me. Sometimes I can get so caught up in the day to day things that keep me so busy that I don't take the time to think or even thank Him for the gifts He has given to me.
The second celebration was a 25th Wedding renewal of their vows ceremony of some of our dear friends. Their eldest son who is a Sr in Bible College preformed the ceremony. What a joyous occasion to see a couple who are still in love after all these years. The vows they wrote were different than the ones they wrote many years ago, but they were written about what they had learned about one another hrougout these past 25 years. I had tears streaming down my face because far to often today couples are selfish and walk out on this covenant relationship before God. Jon and I do alot of marital counseling in our ministry. We hear alot of he said she said ugly stuff. Very rarely do we hear the good stuff, the stuff that you overlook because you love the other person, the stuff that says I'm sorry or will you please forgive me. The stuff that can hold a marriage together even during the trials of life. That is the stuff we heard last Sunday afternoon. Jon and I will be married 20 years this summer and I can truly say that I love him more today than the day I said I do so long ago. That is the good stuff!
Hope you have a great week and that you will find Joy in your journey.
Blessings,
Deb
I am running behind this week as we have spent seven of the past 14 days gone from home and we leave tomorrow to go pick up Jon's mom who has been visiting her daughter the last two weeks.
This past weekend we were invited to two celebrations. The first one was a graduation celebration. Jon was asked by the graduating class at Heartland Christian School in Colby, KS to be their comencement speaker. It was so fun to see Hannah's friends who were just in grade school six years ago, graduate. Jon shared a powerful message on God gives us four gifts and with those four gifts we have responsabilities. The first gift is His word, the second is Salvation, the third is His prescence in the life of the believer and the fourth is the calling on a believer's life. The three responsabilites in response to these gifts are 1. Dedicate ourselves to God and His Word, 2. Dedicate ourselves to Godly Living, 3. Dedicate ourselves to Godly Ministry.
It was a good reminder for me. Sometimes I can get so caught up in the day to day things that keep me so busy that I don't take the time to think or even thank Him for the gifts He has given to me.
The second celebration was a 25th Wedding renewal of their vows ceremony of some of our dear friends. Their eldest son who is a Sr in Bible College preformed the ceremony. What a joyous occasion to see a couple who are still in love after all these years. The vows they wrote were different than the ones they wrote many years ago, but they were written about what they had learned about one another hrougout these past 25 years. I had tears streaming down my face because far to often today couples are selfish and walk out on this covenant relationship before God. Jon and I do alot of marital counseling in our ministry. We hear alot of he said she said ugly stuff. Very rarely do we hear the good stuff, the stuff that you overlook because you love the other person, the stuff that says I'm sorry or will you please forgive me. The stuff that can hold a marriage together even during the trials of life. That is the stuff we heard last Sunday afternoon. Jon and I will be married 20 years this summer and I can truly say that I love him more today than the day I said I do so long ago. That is the good stuff!
Hope you have a great week and that you will find Joy in your journey.
Blessings,
Deb
Monday, May 11, 2009
Attitude
Hi!
Today we had our monthly VM pastor's fellowship. The following was shared and then in my devotions today I came across the attitude helpers. I pray that it will speak to you as it has to me.
Attitude by Charles Swindoll
"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company.. a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past.. we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes."
Attitude helpers:
1. Pray for those you serve and for yourself.
2. Pray specifically about your attitude toward your work.
3. Make a list of verses that encourage you in joy.
4. Do your work unto the Lord.
5. Tackle each task creatively.
6. Be energetic.
7. Look for the benefits-this will lighten your load.
8. Value each day one step at a time.
How will you live today? How closely will you walk with God?
Incorporate these attitude helpers into your life. When you choose to live with a willing, happy heart, you become a source of God-given joy to all! Desire to be all that God wants you to be!
Praying you will have a great week in our Lord!
Blessings,
Deb
Today we had our monthly VM pastor's fellowship. The following was shared and then in my devotions today I came across the attitude helpers. I pray that it will speak to you as it has to me.
Attitude by Charles Swindoll
"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company.. a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past.. we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes."
Attitude helpers:
1. Pray for those you serve and for yourself.
2. Pray specifically about your attitude toward your work.
3. Make a list of verses that encourage you in joy.
4. Do your work unto the Lord.
5. Tackle each task creatively.
6. Be energetic.
7. Look for the benefits-this will lighten your load.
8. Value each day one step at a time.
How will you live today? How closely will you walk with God?
Incorporate these attitude helpers into your life. When you choose to live with a willing, happy heart, you become a source of God-given joy to all! Desire to be all that God wants you to be!
Praying you will have a great week in our Lord!
Blessings,
Deb
Sunday, May 3, 2009
For I know the plans I have for You.
Hi!
This past week has been a week of challenge for me. I am typically a person who will say yes to about almost anything as long as it is biblical. So you can probably guess that at times I take on too much. Our ladies guest night was Friday Night and I was in charge of the program and the decorating. Two things that I love to do and fall into my gifts. I sometimes have a hard time asking for help so I just thought it would be easier to just do it all myself. WRONG...
I overdid and now am reaping the consequences of not asking for help. It is my own fault. As I cried out to the Lord He once again answered me with putting a song in my head from long ago. "He's still working on me to make me all He wants me to be... In my heartI cried not again Lord! What is it going to take for me to listen. He once again answered me with scripture "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 a hope and a future."
In the stillness of my heart I knew the answer was clear. To stop relying on my own self to accomplish things but to rely on Him. By not asking for help I miss the opportunity for others to be blessed using their gifts. By not asking for help I get myself so worn out that I am no good for my family. By not asking for help I am not relying on the Lord's provision to provide the help needed.
The cry of my heart is to live in obedience to His plan for me. So that He will prosper me and not harm me so I can enjoy the hope He gives and the future He wants for me.
The last stanza of that song says "How lovely and patient He must be. He's still working on me."
I pray that you will also enjoy the hope and future that He wants for each of you as you live in obedience to His plan.
Blessings,
Deb
This past week has been a week of challenge for me. I am typically a person who will say yes to about almost anything as long as it is biblical. So you can probably guess that at times I take on too much. Our ladies guest night was Friday Night and I was in charge of the program and the decorating. Two things that I love to do and fall into my gifts. I sometimes have a hard time asking for help so I just thought it would be easier to just do it all myself. WRONG...
I overdid and now am reaping the consequences of not asking for help. It is my own fault. As I cried out to the Lord He once again answered me with putting a song in my head from long ago. "He's still working on me to make me all He wants me to be... In my heartI cried not again Lord! What is it going to take for me to listen. He once again answered me with scripture "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 a hope and a future."
In the stillness of my heart I knew the answer was clear. To stop relying on my own self to accomplish things but to rely on Him. By not asking for help I miss the opportunity for others to be blessed using their gifts. By not asking for help I get myself so worn out that I am no good for my family. By not asking for help I am not relying on the Lord's provision to provide the help needed.
The cry of my heart is to live in obedience to His plan for me. So that He will prosper me and not harm me so I can enjoy the hope He gives and the future He wants for me.
The last stanza of that song says "How lovely and patient He must be. He's still working on me."
I pray that you will also enjoy the hope and future that He wants for each of you as you live in obedience to His plan.
Blessings,
Deb
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