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We are blessed every single second to have a loving, nurturing God. He provides everything we could possibly need. Take a moment and look around you. Look at nature, and the absolute beauty He has created just for us! Look at the crops, and then take a peek inside your pantry. If you have food you have bounty! I don't know about you, but throughout my lifetime, my family and friends and many people that I don't even know have gone through some very hard times. There is a common thread throughout each story. God always provided what they needed, through some form or fashion. I believe their faith and love for God brought them through the tough times. We give thanks for everything He does for us, for we could not do it alone. Praise God! He is always with us, morning, noon and night. A few years ago, I asked myself some hard questions. I was in a Bible Study, and one night I stayed late and went inside the Church to pray. I asked God, during my prayers to help me understand what it is that He is seeking from me. Over the course of the next week, I came up with a few things. To put God first in my life. Oh, my love for Him is unshakable! A loving relationship; continual prayer and thanksgiving To tell everyone about God, and how much He loves them! To be obedient to Him To become a better wife to my husband, and mother to my children To love everyone, and to nurture them To be forgiving, and to ask for forgiveness when I've hurt someone To strive to have Fruits of the Spirit instilled in me To give to those in need, and to pray for them Please add own thoughts if you feel called.
God Bless You, Joey
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Several months ago, I wrote about the heartbreak of living life without God in it. I addressed situations which families and people go through every single day, and tried to imagine what it must be like to go through tragedy or life changing events if one did not have God. And I cried. My husband and I have had a dry season which has just come to an end. During this time, God has provided for us. He has met every one of our needs. He has comforted us, and carried us during the hardest times. God was backing us up; and we made it through some tough moments because we have faith that He takes care of us. You see, God always provides! Lord, We give you thanks for every blessing that you pour upon our heads. We thank you for the prayers that have been lifted up for us. We pray for th leaders of our nation, our church, family and friends. We pray for those who are ill, hospitalized and for the men and women who protect our country. We pray for the homeless, those in in need of food, and children in need of parents. Above all, we praise Your Holy Name! Amen
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Hi, I wanted to tell you a little more about Wendy. About 3 months ago when my family was talking about getting an assist dog I said that there were three things that I had to OK or it was a no go. First she had to be female, second, she had to be blond and I got to name her. When we went to see her when she was a week old, the first two were a done deal. The third, didn't happen right away. After a few hours I was asked what her name was going to be. I replied "Wendy" of course. You have to understand my physical therapist for the past 5 years has been Wendy. She was quite thrilled with the idea of having my assist dog named after her. The two Wendy's seem to understand and my assist dog seems to know when she is there. Wendy is now 12 weeks old and growing fast. We have had her here at home for the past 3 weeks. She has learned many new things. We already have another dog. She is a miniature poodle and is 13 years old. Wendy has already learned to respect her. Wendy would rather have Tara play with her but gets growled at. She has a vest that says she is a Service Dog. We try to take her whenever we go someplace. She is completely different with her Service Dog vest on that when she is at home playing. She sleeps in a cage that is in our bedroom. She hasn't learned to like it yet, but she tolerates it. For those of you who don't know she is an English Lab. She will weigh about 60 pounds when fully grown. When she is more than 9 months old we will return to the kennel and all 3 of us will be trained. Her biggest job will be to lift up my arms from a down position placing them on my lap or on the arm of the chair I am sitting in. Of course there will be many other things she will be taught, such as, turning on/off lights, opening/closing doors, carrying groceries in from car and many other chores, yet to be decided upon. I have never had a dog of my own. There have always been animals in my life. This time is sure different already. By the way, I am in an electric wheelchair most of the time. My balance is off thus walking is tough and stairs almost impossible. I have been in an electric wheel chair about 3 years now, purchased by Medicare, when I broke my leg about 3 years ago. Most people who have been diagnosed similarly to me aren't here long enough to enjoy a Service Dog. I was diagnosed almost 5 years ago with end in sight. For some reason, some people I have been an example to others. Maybe it's just what is planned for me to do. We will see what tomorrow brings. Jerry
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My current denomination trains lay people to proclaim the Good News through worship leadership, preaching, witnessing, teaching, leadership, service, growing in personal faith, and personal lifestyle. This assumes that lay people have Good News to proclaim...
As part of the training, we ask students to describe the Good News that they hope to proclaim is. Trainers do the exercises, too, so I've thought about this a few times. I've had various answers -each time is different.
There are lots of good answers - probably as many answers as there are Christians, so I'm not saying mine is the right answer - but it's the answer I was thinking about, as I read this week's passage, about Jesus and his disciples on the night Jesus would be betrayed.
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If you love me, you will do as I command. Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don't see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you.
"I won't leave you like orphans. I will come back to you. In a little while the people of this world won't be able to see me, but you will see me. And because I live, you will live. Then you will know that I am one with the Father. You will know that you are one with me, and I am one with you. If you love me, you will do what I have said, and my Father will love you. I will also love you and show you what I am like." My most recent answer? "You are loved, and you're not alone." You are loved - by the Father, and by Jesus. You are not alone - not orphaned. Jesus is coming back.
This week, please pray with me for
- Sophia and her parents, now at home after a multi-day stay at Children's Medical Center, - David and his family, as David recovers from back surgery, - Jan and her family, as Jan recovers from surgery, - Sara, as her broken foot heals,
- Gillian, with good medical results, - Kande, and her house church, - safe work at Amigos Days, repairing houses in Jubilee Park, - my lovely wife, who returned from Mexico on Wednesday, - Michelle Hay, married April 5 (you go, girl), - Leslie and Dominion, to be married May 3rd (you go, girl, too), - Tinka and Denis (I didn't have Denis's name until Tinka filled me in after the wedding), - Harriet and Jack (good medical report, traveling mercies, and an upcoming prison ministry weekend), - David, separated, and - the United Methodist General Conference (now underway, in Fort Worth). Have a great week! Christ lives in you,
Spencer the wonder hamster
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My friends in Christ,
Please pray for a man who had his belongings taken from him. His bank card was used as well recently without his permission, and his savings account was completely depleted.
He is a good man. He gives to the poor, helping those in need on Saturdays and whenever he can. He has a cheerful spirit. This is one of those "why do bad things happen to good people" situations. I ask to lift him and his family up to the Lord in prayer. I ask you to also lift up the people who did this him in prayer.
Blessings, Your sister in Christ, Joey
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