Moving on up!

Yes, we have moved on up to the East Side, of Rochester, NY that is! I've been MIA yet again, but I swear for good reason. The good Lord has blessed our family yet again. My husband recently took on a management position at a restaurant close on Conesus Lake. This was so wonderful for us as we had planned to move to Rochester, eventually, as our permanent residence. His job is better in every way and we're much happier, although, we were sad to say goodbye to some wonderful friends we met in Glens Falls, NY. Within a week the Lord kept our spirits up and our patience in tact as we only had a week to find an apartment. Sure enough we found a beautiful townhome in a great area. It was smooth sailing from there, thank goodness. We are just now settling in and I'm so happy to report that I will be back in blogging action. I have been thinking about a redesign for the page so look out for some changes (nothing difficult, if anything it will end up easier to navigate!).

I would also like to express my joy for Susan who has just found a new house with her family. It is one they plan to grow in as a family and I'm so very happy for her! Congratulations Sue!

We continue to ask that if you would like to contribute with a blog, donation, or otherwise please comment with your email address and I will write back promptly!

I hope you all are sharing in the gift of prayer and patience and that He is bringing you much happiness as well. I will resume daily prayers tomorrow! God bless!

My Thought of the Day

Lately I find myself feeling very tired. Not so much physically, but more so emotionally and spiritually. I've had a few big situations come up with family and friends who have leaned on me in the midst of their trials. While I'm always happy and willing to uplift and encourage others, it can be draining. In those times I find myself just wanting to "veg out", to not have to think about anything and find some escape from reality for just a little while. Many times I forget I have a source of strength, well beyond my own capabilities, in Christ. That's not to say that throughout the trials and tribulations I'm not praying, I am, but it's not often for myself. Sure I pray that God will work through the situation and give the person peace, encouragement, and direction. Yet I forget to ask for strength and to wait on Him and be still in His presence. Psalm 46: 10a says "Be still and know that I am God."

I freely admit that I like to fix problems, if you have one, I'll try and fix it! Yet in doing so I'm forgetting that He is in control. So I spend myself on praying for other's situations and trying to figure it out for them, rather than just being still. I wear myself out doing this and it's in no way what God wants for me. Yes, He wants me to pray about the situation, but what He really wants is for me to GIVE Him the situation. To calm my mind and stop trying to figure it out! To trust Him enough to know that He's got it handled in a way my small human mind can't even begin to comprehend.

Matt 11:28-30 says,"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” God never meant for us to be tired and worn out from the trials of life. He's waiting for us to be still and lay down the burdens that we carry so that He can take them from us. Be encouraged today, if you're going through a tough situation or know someone who is and it's weighing on you, God is in control! Be still and know that He is God...

My Thought of the Day

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." Matt 10: 33-34

Lately I've been re-evaluating a lot of things in my Christian walk and I've had to ask myself, do I do this? Do I deny Christ before men? Maybe not outright, but how many times do I hold my tongue because I don't want to "offend" someone, when I have the truth to offer them. I fear I've become so busy "doing" God's work that I've missed the true work that He's called all of us to, spreading the Gospel. Jesus said,

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen." Matt 28:19-20

I'm accepting the challenge to share my faith. What about you?

My Thought of the Day

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Phil 4:6-8

Guest Authors

As you can see Debbie has given us a fantastic post as well as a podcast to listen in on (I did listen and it's fantastic so make sure to check out her link! After inviting Debbie to be a guest author I thought that there may be more who have things to add so I'm urging anyone interested to send me a message if you'd like to guest author and I'd be happy to add you! There is no limit on how often or how much you'd like to write. We'd love to hear your inspirational stories, daily meditations, music, literature, film - anything you can think of to share for the goodness of God. We hope to hear from you!

Leaving Your Mark

Hi All! I'm so excited to be contributing! A BIG thank you to Anna Lisa for inviting me!

Do you ever wonder what this life is really all about? We're here for such a short amount of time in the grand scheme of things. Yet our culture is obsessed with leaving their mark. But that's not why God placed us here on earth. We're given an opportunity to live lives that point back to the Father. Peter says, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:10-11)

When I think about the mark my life will leave behind when I'm gone, I want it to mean something. I don't want to leave behind my name, but rather a legacy. I want everything I do to touch the lives of others for Christ so that they then in turn affect the lives of those around them and pass it on, and on, and on. Our lives are meant to bring Glory to God in ALL that we do!

For more on this, I recently shared a message at my youth church called, "I Am Legend". You can check it out here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/soul-purpose-ym/id363384404

Welcome Debbie!

Wanted to let everyone know we have a guest author who will be posting, hopefully, as often as she can and wants! Her name is Debbie so look forward to her posts. She always has fantastic words of God to share on a daily basis on Facebook as well as wonderful stories so we're excited to see what great things she will bring to our blog! Enjoy :)