Only by God's Strength....

Only by God's strength..... will I be able to face today.

Only by God's strength..... will I be able to stand today.

Only by God's strength..... will I be able to smile today.

and Only by God's strength..... will I be able to live today.

It's just one of those emotional days today. Nothing really is world chattering. Just a very sour day.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him." - Psalm 28:7

And It Was So.....

No matter what may come to pass,
God's precious Word still stands,
This universe is held intact
Within His mighty hands.

God said it. I believe it. That settles it.

Exhausted......

The one word that describes the whole weekend. What an awesome time Joe and I had though. Friday at 5pm we left our church with 31 youth kids headed for snow camp. Friday night was introduction time, dinner, chapel, games, and LATE night discussions. Saturday was a non-stop day.... Breakfast, Chapel, Snow sculptures, winter games, hiking, tubing, dinner, skits, chapel, games, and more LATE night discussions. Sunday we had breakfast and packed up to head to church just in time for service.

Then Joe and I headed over to Amour of Light Baptist church in Victory, NY to present our ministry. After that we headed over to the pastor's house and had dinner with them. We finally got home at 11pm unpacked got ready for the next day and was in bed by midnight... huhhhh.

But as exhausting as it was Blessings and rewards overflowed from minsitry and I wouldn't trade it for the world! :-)

" I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7

To get the most out of life, make every moment count for Christ.

A Fulfilling Weekend...

A Crazy, but fulfilling weekend. Friday and Saturday was full of preperation for Sunday presenting at a new church. We presented, I sang, and then taught Jr. Church. Joe and I felt good leaving there yesterday. Support from this church is not off in the far distant, I can practically taste it. Yeay!!!!
There is something about being in your home church that is just a great and wonderful feeling. Sunday night came with "more" teaching at Olympians and then FINALLY, the 2 hours I have been waiting for.......

24 has fulfill all my expectations....... and that is all I'm going to say about that ;-)

T.G.I.F.....

These letters have so many memories behind them.....

School is out and pizza is on it's way, bellies are stuffed with the plump breadsticks and the cheesy sauce. The TV is turned on and laughs are outpouring from our 4 favorite T.G.I.F. shows.....

A run is made to Mcydee's or Burger King and then headed to the "annex", friendships grow closer, memories are made, and laughter is to it's fullest.......

Work is done, the drive home is short, and preperation is made for visiting a church on Sunday....

How many different awesome memories these 4 letters have had over the years........

That Rekindling Feeling.....

Yesterday, As I sat in a slump moment at work, I begin filling up my time, until 5pm when I can be gone for the day, with surfing any xanga/blog/myspace I can find. And what is this that I see..........
I was playing around on all my different sites that I am hooked up to and found lots of friends that I couldn't keep in touch with. I almost started crying. Yeah yeah, I know I'm a sap but how exciting it is when you have found people that you got so close to at one time and when you moved you lost touch, to be able to find them and talk to them again. YEAY for the internet!!!!!!!



Welcome Each Day As A Gift From God....

Go, Go, Go.....

"On the Road again" is mine and Joe's life slogan. Of course the year is started off with excitement and craziness.
This Sunday we visited a church to share out mission's burden for the first time in 3 months. It was nice to get back into the swing of things and this church is now seriously considering supporting us. YEAY!!
Now our months begin to follow with Youth Group, Choir, Pre-field, Women's Ministries, Early Married Years group, Bible Studies and Children's Ministries. It may sound like a lot but oh how wonderful it is to serve the Lord.....


"We are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building."
1 Corinthians 3:9

"Apart from Me, you can do nothing" - Jesus

The End of a Time..... The Beginning of Memories

I am home in Syracuse New York now. It was hard to say goodbye to my family in NC on Tuesday morning. But I know that many more trips are to come with many more memories... Today is a not good day for Heidi. I feel pretty nasty so I will have to add in all the details another day.....
I hope new years went well for all..... :-)

The Celebration Continues....

The presents are opened and the mess is cleared away, but still I hear the angels singing, glory to God in the most beautifual way. May our praises, ministry, and love never cease all year long.

My heart is sad as this season passes, but as I begin to think about new beginnings, a new year, a new me..... I start to smile..... Youth Group events to plan, potluck to chow down upon at church, the smell of the new earth creeping through the snow, the flowers beginning to blossom, churches to visit, summer to journey through, sun, warmth, water rides, vacation plans, leaves falling and enjoying the color, and preparing for blessing to give once again.
So much happens in a year.... this one.... May it be a fantabulous year for all!!!! :-)

Take a Moment to Breathe....

Something I have learned the last couple of days. Life becomes so busy right now with family coming home and only 4 days till Christmas. I need to take a moment and breathe............

A breath for my King of kings, Lord or lords, Prince of peace, and so much more

Beautiful Dangerous Snow....

I have always grown to love snow itself, the cold not so much, but the snow, as it covers everything making it pure. It is just so beautiful.
But...... I realized as I woke up to many inches of snow quickly accumulating and a sheet of ice on bottom, that I no longer enjoy the freedom of "snow days"..... Work game as does life ..... No Matter What.
So, Joe and I plowed the streets as were everyone else, the snow is falling so fast that the plows can not plow quick enough. But Thankfully all is well, I am at work, and Joe is safely home.
Let the fun begin........

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter,
day and night will never cease." - Genesis 8:22

The Feeling of Finality....

Wow, what a weekend. Friday Joe and I were on the radio talking about sending churches and missions. Then saturday I had Christmas play practice with the kids, and then that night I had my first big event that I have been planned for weeks... Our mystery dinner for the EMY's group in our church. Sunday morning I was a church early for choir and then pretty much had lunch and booked it back to the church to set up for the Children's Christmas play that night. So I got to the church about 3:30 began to set up and then had to go and practice our Cantata that out choir is doing from 4:30 to 5:30 and at 6 the show began. Can I just say how good GOD is, I was so worried on Saturday when mistake after mistake was being made but it was the most encouraging thing to see all those kids have such a good time and they remembered ALL of their lines. Oh they did so good. Then when it was over, our choir practiced again for about and hour!!!

These weekend was no relaxing time at all, but so spiritually fulfilling, although I am physically week, I am so spiritually full. It is amazing how God works in you when you are working for Him!!

Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings. - Proverbs 22:29

O Lord, I ask for strength to do, the task that You've assigned; help me to work with diligence, lest Your name be maligned.

The Christmas Season....

What do you write about during this time. So much is happening you would need to write 5 books in order to fit it all. But GOD is still good and Christ the center of it all.

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. - Matthew 1:23


Jesus, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth ... may we begin to see the world in the light of understanding you give us. As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive the greatest news the world had ever known, so may we worship you in meekness of heart. May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate than ourselves in this season of giving. Amen.

- Karen L. Oberst

Another Crazy Weekend...

God is good. I am blessed to be a part of His ministry. Even though it may be hectic and full. He is still good. I have another fun filled weekend ahead of me full of ministry. Tonight Joe and I go to a youth's home to have a bonfire with the youth group yeay! Then tomorrow we have a program that we are doing with all the kids in the church so that the parents can go shopping.... Kids Free Shopping Day. Then right after that is the Children's play practice. Then Sunday is church in the morning and Olympians at night. Wow.
No wonder I can't breathe.... I went to the Doctor yesterday and she thinks that I have viral respitory infection thing-a-mababer. So I have meds. And she said to get lots of rest and liquids. The liquids are no problem at all, but the rest hmmmm, well maybe I'll just do everything a little slower. ;-)

Have a great day everybody!!

For Unto Us A Child Is Born.....

I began thinking today, as I am decorating my work place with shiny figurines , bulbs, and snowflakes, what Christmas has come to mean to me. I find to often I get excited about lights and shiny things. So today I began to really read through the birth of Christ in the gospel and I came across something that I really didn't see before.....

Matthew 1:21 "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, BECAUSE
He will save his people from their sins."

Jesus didn't come so that we could have Christmas trees, Christmas movies, and/or presents, we have all those things because He came to die and save us from our sins, so that we may enjoy Him every year through things like decorating the Christmas tree with family to spend time with them blessing them in love ('Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.") and presents, so that we may bless others with things full of love and to give to those in need ("He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses." Proverbs 28:27).

Christmas trees, and movies, and presents, and these things are not wrong (unless of course it takes total focus of off Him), but of course that never happens.. ;-) We do them to show our excitment, thankfulness, and love that we have for our savior who came to this earth to take our punishment so that we may live freely in Him. YEAY!!!

Ok so now that I had my time on the soap box (sorry). I just got so excited because I never thought about it this way before, it is so awesome!

So let us sing out For Unto Us A Child Is Born...... That He may take away the sins of the world!

The Normal Routine....

I never thought I would hear myself say that I was happy to be back in my normal routine this week. I was "somewhat" relieved to come back to work and get back into the swing of things. I have so much coming up in the next few weeks and it is nice to dive into it again. It helps me to not cry......

Yes my parents left at 4am on Saturday morning... My Birthday. I didn't think it would be as hard as it turned out to be. I am not angry or filled with selfishness... just sad, sad that it will be a while until I see them again. And I was sad for the kids that they had to leave our family home. But when a call came from Dad and said that all of them are super excited about the house and town, I felt much relief.

So here starts a Monday morning with few weeks until Christmas. And life is good because God is in control and He is with me always.

Colossians 2: 6-7

My declaration of Thanks.....

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

I get to see my sister today and my family tomorrow................ YEAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Coming....

Only 1 and 1/2 days until my holiday begins....
Family, Food, Fellowship....... and tears! I'm so excited

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

Thank you God for giving me life, so that I may enjoy the ones around me.

My thought for the season...

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I begin to think about all the million and two things that I am so thankful for. But it's funny how all the other doubts, sadness, and fears follow with that. So I have decided to take Colossians 2: 6-7 as my passage for this week, and what I will focus on what to be thankful for.
Do you remember the first time you were saved? The feeling of release, pain, guilt, and joy....
the feeling of...Thankfullness? Let us not forget the day we were saved, the day the Holy Spirit made real to us the beating and death Christ endured for our sake!
Oh thank you God for sending your son. And let me not forget to share with those my joy and thankfulness, let me not forget to proclaim you and give a chance for others to realize there thankfulness for what you have done for them!

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7