Children May 3

31 days of prayer for our children~

Love of God's word

Help our children Lord remember that peace belongs to those who love Your instruction.
(Psalm 119:165)

You have to check this car out...

A just got off the phone with a good friend of mine who I have not spoken to in a while... it was so good to hear her voice! She was telling me of this new car coming to america - its pretty wild and pretty tini - but hey what else do we really need most of the time but to get us to work and back... and to do it cheaply right?
Will be cool to hear the critics and the gas companies complain about this car. Gas companies - stick it to 'em.
http://www.smartusa.com/index.html

:)

A little something to think about

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
Helen Keller

Discouragement....

I have to say that discouragement is an easy place to fall into but a hard place to remove yourself from. Many folks tell me that I am full of encouragement. Many times in reality I am not. But I do try my best to project a "Can do" attitude and nothing is impossible because I have seen it many times when things just are not working out or when the road has ended - God shows up and makes something from nothing. Discouragement sometimes is the way "WE" see things.
When you become discouraged – Stop and ask God, “Am I seeing this situation through your eyes, or my own?” “Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ – that's where the action is. See things from His perspective.”

It's so easy to fall into the trap and many times all we need is a new perspective, a new way to look at things and a new set of eyes. Friends, we are where we are for a reason and there is something to learn from all this right now that we are going through. God will see you through this trial and He will teach you what He wants you to learn. Focus on the picture with news eyes, a new vision and remember the teachable moments - not only your teachable moments but also those moments your in for others to see and learn. God has a plan for all things and never are you outside the parameters of those plans. Trust in Him and He will walk with you like a brother.
If you need encouragement - email me or give me a call. I am a good listener and willing to pray with you and lift your name to our Father in heaven.
Look up and change that attitude! God will say when its over~
Keep your eyes on Jesus and not your circumstances.
With love,
Randy~

Children May 2

31 Days of Prayer for our children~

May 2- HOPE

I pray that You, the God of hope, will fill our children with all joy and peace as they trust in You.
(Romans 15:13)

Faith and Deeds

I was scanning the website biblegateway.com this evening looking for something that would stand out with me on how I am feeling these days. See I want to serve Jesus and our church. Many doors have opened since I have taken the steps to do so. Not long ago I too was the one who went to church once in awhile and when someone from the church called to ask me to serve doing something - anything - I had better plans and backed out. I never thought much about it or how important it was until recently. See God wants to use us - not just come to church and share within the walls - He wants us out sharing His word and making a difference in the world. As I have been taking notice the last few months with things at church and how things are setup - I see the excuses I used to use to not go - to not come back. I needed anything - small or big it didn't matter - one excuse is as good as another. So now when I look around our church during setup or the sound guys are working out the last touches and the band is warming up - I want to feel the energy and the excitement that God will make a difference to someone that day! I want to serve to the point where nobody has an excuse and walk out - everything the way each person needs and if that means cleaning the schools toilets and washing the bathroom floors to greeting people who are scared and help ease their fears. Guess what - I will do it because God is worth that effort ~ Lost people are worth that effort.
My son Kyle has a big heart and he recently made a card for the owner of our favorite place to eat - he drew all kinds of pictures and nice things to say on it - he gave that to her last week and it just made her cry she was so happy. Its hanging up now for all to see and it really did make her day - as did his momma and daddy. We got in the car and he looked over at me and said "Daddy, I like to make people happy - did you see how happy she was?" - We all should put ourselves into action and make a difference in some one's life. Sometimes the smallest of things, makes the biggest differences.
I pray I am able to lead at church - to serve before leading and to always be humble - to never ask something of someone that I would not do myself. God can handle the rest of my nerves and my worries. I am in good hands....... where are you today and are you making a difference in someones life?
If not put action behind your faith and get moving......

James 2:14-25

Faith and Deeds

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"^[e] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Children - May 1

What a busy day today - and thankful. Its May 1st in case anyone else can't believe it. Where is time flying? Since its the beginning of the month - I am going to do something a little different for each day this month. God placed this on my heart last week and I have been waiting to get started. Yea - its hard to wait!
Since my kids at Kyles school have made such a BIG difference in my life this year. They all are so special and dear to me - they have opened my eyes to so many things that I would not have experienced at all if God had not placed them in my life. Also the children in my Rock Group are so awesome - all the way from my newest and littlest addition being just 1 year old to my oldest who are teenagers.
I am going to add a blog entry every day this month just for our children. Mine and yours ... because the children were so dear to Jesus. If we could all just have faith like they do.
So with that being said ~ 31 days of prayer:

May 1- Faith - Help our children Lord learn that faith is the reality of what is hoped for and the proof of what is not see. (Hebrews 11:1)