Thursday, December 31, 2009

Coming to the end

Yesterday as I walked on my lunch hour I begin to think about the year coming to a close. I started thinking about where Jim and I are in 2009 from where we were in 2002. In January of 2002 living 3 hours from any family, a huge mortgage, a 6 year old and a 1 year old we both became unemployed on the same day. A day I'll never forget it was Jan 4th. As our world begin to turn upside down it was also very apparent that God was at work. See we had been praying for months that something major would open up an opportunity for us to move back closer to family. And then like a numbing cold wind there we were with exactly what we had been praying for a MAJOR opportunity. And as we go into 2010 I think of how God has seen our family through so much change over the past 8 years. How God has grown Jim and I spiritually closer to Him. How God has blessed us with our little Zack. How God supplied all our needs from the sale of our house in 2002 to finding the perfect home for our family of 5 in 2005. God has seen us through every circumstance in our life. He has taken us from unsecure jobs to where we are today, with great jobs. God has blessed us with the means for Jim and I to not only provide for our family but also for the precious little girl we have claimed in Ghana Africa little Emma(nuella). As this year comes to an end and our 2010 begins my prayer to our God of all, is that our family will continue in God's blessings and that we will walk closer to Him than ever before through our Savior Jesus Christ. Stepping out on our faith knowing that God will never let us fall. He may allow moments of failure but He will never let us fall. Actually regardless of what happens in our life the lose of jobs, homes, come what may is it really failure as long as God is with us? His word says if God is for us who can be against us. God is always here to catch us and hold us come whatever may. Through the storms of life God will never leave us.
Where ever you are in life I wish you a wonderful New Year filled with the peace of Jesus Christ.
In Christ love,
Angela

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Special Christmas Gift

This year my family and I have decided on a very special Christmas present. We have chosen to sponsor a precious little girl through Compassion International. Her name is Emmanuella. Her name is long so the boys and I have decided in our home to call her Emma. Emma is 3 years old and lives in Ghana Africa with her mommy and daddy and 4 other children in their family. Emma lives in an aids infected area of Africa. My heart is so full this morning. I look around at my life and see so many blessings that God has allowed me to have. I see God's grace (unearned undeserved favor) on my entire life. I'm so thankful that when God begin to work on my heart back last year about sponsoring a child in poverty that I continued to listen to God's voice deep in my heart through the year. I'm thankful that when I presented this idea to my family it was accepted with open arms. I explained to Jim and the boys that if this is something that we should do that I had prayed to God that we would all agree and if not than we were not to sponsor a child. Jim and each of the boys agreed and there were tears shed last night as I explained about little Emma and her life and where she lives. The boys said that she's the little girl we never had.... and maybe she is just that. Maybe God blessed my life with 3 amazing sons and a small beautiful little girl from Africa who is blessed with her very own mommy but whom will now have lots of love and prayers coming to her from me and my family.
Thank you Heavenly Father for blessing me and my family with so much in our life. Thank you for giving us the ability to share with this beautiful little precious baby girl named Emmanuella Kyia. May you surround her and her family with a shield of protection and the peace of your love.

A wish of peace and joy in your life this Christmas season.
Sincerely
Angela

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Wishing you sweet Christmas blessings.

As Christmas comes near. I can't help but thank God for the Christmas gifts I already have. I have a wonderful husband, 3 healthy boys, lots of family and friends, and a loving Savior. What more could a red head from Tennessee possibly want? This Christmas season everywhere I look it seems that God is showing me the need to be more compassionate, more understanding, more generous to those in need. This year I am praying over a decision that has been laid on my heart and one that I'm hoping to have my entire family be part of with their whole-hearts. I feel extremely lead to be a Compassion International sponsor. I've never sponsored a needy child in my life. Don't get me wrong I've made donations and bought angel tree gifts, but I'm talking about making the effort and sacrifice to be a sponsor to a young child who is in need day after day and week after week. It's easy to feel sorry for children who are living without and in poverty. But it's just as easy to turn your head and think that there is really nothing we can do to make a difference. I believe that sometimes it's not about how big of a difference you make but more about the difference that being obedient can make on you. The rewards from giving with a compassionate heart I don't think can ever be measured. So this Christmas I would like to encourage you to take time to give the greatest gift we can personally give to anyone..... prayer! It has no monetary value but the value is unmeasurable. May your Christmas be full of sweet blessings and wonderful moments of memories, most of all may your Christmas be filled with the love of Christ.

With love,

Angela

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Christmas spirit shows up on lunch hour

Last week while shopping at Wal-Mart on my lunch hour the manager came over the loud speaker and said, "To show our customers appreciation for your business today up front we have several racks of bubble jackets & vest for merely $5 each. Of course all of us valued customers swormed the racks looking for sizes and trying on vest & jackets. Before I knew what I was doing I had seveal vest in my buggy. I was looking at them as Christmas gifts... and even grabbed a cute chocolate color one for myself. As I was heading to the check out counter I was reminded of this truth. That it is the Christmas season and as much as yes I have presents I want to get for friends and family there is a much greater need. I was reminded that there is a little brother and sister whom are in need of warm clothes and homeless people that we are going to be passing out blankets and coats for. Inside my buggy was not a single item for any of them. As a matter of fact up to that moment I had not even given them the first thought as I was busy looking at colors and sizes. As soon as these thoughts were laid on my heart I stopped turned my buggy around and without a moments hesitation very excitedly a began to put all my cute bubble vest back on the rack and started looking for coats for my soon to meet homeless, and coats for that precious brother and sister whom I will never meet but I can imagine them both receiving warm gifts at Christmas time and just being so thrilled with each item they receive. I can't explain the excitement I had in my heart and the feeling of humbleness at the same time. Excitement that I could get these coats and humbleness that for no reason of my own God has blessed me that I may help those less fortunate, and also humble that I needed God's quiet reminder in my heart to think about those in need.
I have to tell you that lunch hour will be one I will long remember. A normal day at work a normal trip to Wal-Mart turning into an enormous moment with God.
Thank you Lord for continuing to steer my heart and guide me in the way of selfless acts of compassion and love.
May all of you have an encounter with our Lord and Savior Jesus this Christmas season. After all He is the true reason for Christmas.
Joy, peace, love to you all,
Angela