1-10...

Well, since everybody else is doing it..... I like to follow I guess ;-)

1... Day until I get my stiches out from getting my wisdom teeth out. Finally!

2... The beautiful number of my family.... Mr. & Mrs. DePuy :-)

3... More weeks until my 3 year anniversary! To God be the glory!

4... More weeks from today until my last day of work! Well, in the workforce that is :-)

5... Months until (we are praying) Joe and I can be at 85% of our support, to attend out field-prep seminar.

6... The age Isaac with be this year. Joe's youngest brother. :-)

7... God's perfect number.

8... Months until Joe and I are hoping to go to Language School! In Costa Rica :-)

9... Days until Joe and I go on vacation! yeay :-) Were going to see a Sight & Sound Production... they are amazing!

10... Churches that Joe and I have visited, since the year started! 2 have committed to monthly support.

That was fun! Have a great day everybody :-)

The Lopsided Chipmunk...

Reffering to me of course. Thursday I got my right wisdom teeth "pulled" out. Yes it was hilarious as my hunny, laughed when gingerale dripped down my chin and I couldn't feel a thing!
Praise the Lord, everything went well, and Friday night I headed to Auburn with Joe to finish their mission's conference until Sunday afternoon. Yes, I too was shocked that I was eating "normal" food Friday night! And managed to attend a meeting Friday night, Sat morning, Sat night, and Sunday morning singing in the worship service. Then Sunday night to my home church for olympians. And now back to work Monday morning... Wow that was a lot to write!

GOD is so good!! More to come.....

Be True To Your Word....

More and more I am finding that your foundation is all that you have.... Letting your yes be yes and your no be no, is so crucial in today's age. Expecially when you are sharing the True Word of God....

It's important that Christians act and speak so that the Savior is glorified. When you give your word, keep it. If you make a commitment, honor it. If you take on an obligation, fulfill it. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, "Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes.'"

Our honesty and reliability should be so evident that we can be trusted for any contract we make. What better testimony could be said of a believer than this: "He gave his word; that's good enough for me." And if non-Christians can trust us in business matters, they are more likely to believe us when we speak about the gospel.

Uphold me in the common strife;

Give me the grace to work and plan;

And in the marketplace of life,

O keep me, Lord, an honest man.

- Bayliss

Never give your word unless you intend to keep it.

No Time or Time Wasted....

As life progresses, and I am getting older. It seems that more and more responsibilities are coming my way. I am still swaying back and forth contemplating if I am enjoying this or not. There is no time sometimes for the simple things in life, or maybe because the small times are wasted. My soul has been in it's refinement stage these last couple of weeks, and I fear that it will still continue refining this coming week. I am excited though when I see, and know that the outcome is beyond my wildest dreams..... I long to be in the glory of my Lord :-)

On the life note.... This past week was fun spending time with family in North Carolina. Going to the Zoo, and best of all shopping :-) But the most exciting thing of all was bringing my "mysterious guest". My sister, Heather came with me to visit our family. It was priceless, to see the shock and joy on everyone's face, when they realized she came too! I can't wait to do it again* :-)

This week brings busyness once again. Work began again this morning, and a missions conference will fill up the rest of the time. Exciting but a struggle while working full time. But Praise the Lord, this too shall pass. My last day will be May 31st :-)

More to come.... Hopefully later.....

Every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor,

it is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:13

If you want to leave footprints in the sands of time, wear work shoes.

The Glorious Sunset...

I read the daily bread today and it talked about "The Glorious Sunset". The time when life continues and suddenly you find yourself to be at an old age. They described it as this...

At evening time it shall happen that it will be light.

- Zechariah 14:7

You cannot escape the advancing years. Youth stays long enough only to strengthen our shoulders for the burdens ahead. Life leads inevitably to the evening time. But the best things are the oldest things-things that have endured and stood the test of time. God Himself—though not bound by time-is called the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9).

I was so encouraged as I read this. Although I know that Joe and I have much to go through, I am excited about taking each day knowing that Old age is not something to be feared. I have been reminded of this very thing over the past couple of days.

Joe and I since Friday evening have been attending a mission's conference in Scipio NY. It is a small community church with many "young at heart" in attendance. We have been able to spend a lot of time with them for dinners and such, and I am so blessed by their wisdom and knowledge. I just wish I had days to talk with them about their experiences and faith.

Praise the Lord for each stage of life!!!!

So I journey with rejoicing

Toward the city of God's light,

While each day my joy is deeper,

And the pathway grows more bright. - Hoffman

The Epidemic...

I love learning things about people, wether you know them or not. So, realizing this has now become an epidemic, I have decided to "join the bandwagon"....

- I hate my new hair cut. I feel like a little girl

- I'm excited that I have collectivly lost also 15 pounds and still working on it.

- Hopefully I will go to part-time at my job starting in May and then end totally on May 31st. I am very excited about this

- I am becoming a crazy neat person, which my husband is absolutely loving of course.

- I am craving to light candles, but have no home to do so

- I get to see my family in 12 days! In which I am very excited but said that my sister can not come with me, since I am not so much a momma's girl.

- I am obsessed with Suduko, I can't help it the numbers have to go somewhere :-)

- I love bible study so much that I go to two of them a week, and am study proverbs with a great lady in our church on top of that.. hehe

- Joe and I are finally going to get a REAL car soon. This will be our 10th car since 2000. Yeah enough said :-)

- I love my sister very much and glad reading hers prompted me to do this... :-)

"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds" - Hebrews 10:24

Always Awake...

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone,

O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

- Psalm 4:8

A mother and her 4-year-old daughter were preparing for bed. The child was afraid of the dark. When the lights were turned off, the girl noticed the moon shining through the window. "Mommy," she asked, "is that God's light up there?" "Yes, it is," came the reply. Soon another question: "Will He put it out and go to sleep too?" "Oh no, He never goes to sleep." After a few silent moments, the little girl said, "As long as God is awake, I'm not scared." Realizing that the Lord would be watching over her, the reassured child soon fell into a peaceful sleep.

In His care confiding

I will sweetly sleep,

For the Lord my Savior

Will in safety keep. - Psalter

If you have trouble getting to sleep, try resting in the Lord.

The Struggles that Refine....

Well, what do I say, I am surprised, not at all.....

Joe and I headed to Michigan on Thursday very excited for a long road trip and much talking. But as we reach half way into Canada. Our peace was broken by "that noise again". Before we left we had our car fixed because it was running really rough, and of course that didn't fix it. Being in Canada we were kind of trapped, so across the border we pushed the car to drive another 2 hours before being looked at. Praise the Lord that we were able to have it looked at right away and headed to our hotel. What a blessing in disguises it was that Joe and I spent a night in a very nice hotel! But came the next day driving to our destination another 40 minutes away and the "problem" came back. So finding another "car doctor" they did what they could but told us that this was ONLY and temporary fix to get us across Canada and back to Syracuse. But Praise the Lord we made it home safely Saturday night and we were able to go to our home church on Sunday. Where we spent ALL day at church preparing for a get together on Wednesday.




Oh so much to go through, so much stress, and so much blessings. But I am very thankful for my struggles. As pastor preached Sunday morning.....

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. "

- 2 Corinthians 1 :3-7

May I be refined

Beautiful.....

Oh yes everyone, that is right. They are my sisters!!! :-) I love them very much......

:-)

Divine Interruptions...

A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. - Luke 10:33

God's will comes to us in strange ways, often in the form of interruptions. Just when we think our duties are done for the day and we've settled in for a quiet evening at home, someone calls on the telephone or shows up on our doorstep asking for our time. "Are you busy?" they ask.
The best thing to do is to stop looking at these intrusions as interruptions. Instead, we should take them as opportunities that God is sending us to serve those in need—to listen well, to show love, to help them on their journey toward intimacy with God.

One early Christian writer, Jean-Pierre de Caussade, said, "Love is the duty of the present moment." No matter what else we may have planned, love is our duty.
"Who is my neighbor?" I ask. Jesus answers, "The person in need I'm sending your way."

- David Roper

Lord, if I'm feeling rushed today,I

need your eyes to help me see

That when an interruption comes

It is an opportunity. - Sper

An interruption may be a divine appointment.

Staying in the Sunshine...

I admit, I miss the sunshine. I am teased by the shortness of sun and the forth coming of the cold and snow. Why do I live here? Is what I often hear myself saying. But reading a miscellaneous daily bread today I realized that I can always be in the sunshine.....

In his book The Best Is Yet To Be, Henry Durbanville told the story of a little girl in London who won a prize at a flower show. Her entry was grown in an old cracked teapot and had been placed in the attic window of a rundown tenement house. When someone asked how she managed to raise such a lovely flower in such an unlikely environment, she said she moved it around so it would always be in the sunlight

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love" (John 15:9).

We abide in Christ's love when we show love to others. Jesus made this clear when He said, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love . . . . This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (vv.10,12-13).

We feel the warmth of Christ's love when we obey His commandment to love and serve others. That's the way to stay in the sunshine.

-Richard De Haan

Our love for God is seen in our love for others.

God is in Control....

Wow, what a weekend. Joe and I were able to spend time with good friends that we haven't seen in a while. They have a "soon to be" 2 year old, 1 year old, and another baby on the way. It was so refreshing to play with their girls. At first going there I thought, oh no, what if I get really discouraged, after 3 years of marriage not having any children. But no way, I had a great time and learned more and more that God is in Control, and He has a perfect time or way for whatever is to come.

I just have to praise the Lord, because so many BAD things are happening lately and I am becoming more and more joyful as they happen. I am just so amazed at this. Usually I freak out, break down crying, and have a hissy fit. But not this time, I kinda like it :-) PRAISE THE LORD!!!

"..who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer."

- 2 Corinthians 1:4-6

A Roller Coster of Thoughts.....

*I know to some, this may sound a little weird :-) but I can see myself growing, growing in my fruit. For example, dummy me, forgot that 24 (my alltime, most favorite show, thanks to my sister) started at 8pm and was a 2 hour special. Now back in the day ;-) I would have freaked out. Cause come on now, I missed my most favorite show, but tonight as I sighed, I immediatly moved on and now wait until next Monday when I can be entranced once again.
So again I state, that may have sounded wierd, but I am really excited that God comes first!!!

*So, in normal life..... :-) I am still working full time, which is hard for me for many reasons. But God knows the timing that we will head to Mexico and I just need to wait. Only 4 little letters that are just so big :-)

*I am so hyper but it is late I must go to bed..... more to come!!!

The Refining of My Soul....

I hate the days that everything in the world goes wrong, just so that we can be tested. I mean I thought sitting in a hard metal/wooden chair to take a multiple choice test that I didn't study for was hard. Yeah, I see it differently now. I would much rather take multiple choice tests that the ones life gives us.

BUT...

The blessings and rewards that flow when you know that you have obeyed, is one of the most amazing moments ever! :-)

Yeah so I had a hard day yesterday, but to GOD be the glory......

"We all, ... beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image" - 2 Corinthians 3:18

Difficulties of life are to make us better... not bitter

Memories of the Past....

My weekend was amazing. Joe and I had a mission's conference to go to in Binghamton. It was great to relive my memories of the past. Spending most of the day with old friends began stirring up feelings that I had been longing for. We got to visit our "youth group" at Grace on Wednesday and Just as I expected I got to hear the wonderful screams of Betsy welcoming me "home". It was amazing to see the youth painting the youth center. It looks awesome!!! Then for the rest of our days, we headed back and for from the cafe to our missions conference. We stay we the Bleuer's and we are totally and completely blessed. They are the most amazing couple. And I was even able to spend a night with "the girls" I LOVE THEM!!!! Thank you God for the great Memories of the Past.

"Friends are friends forever, if the Lord is the Lord of themAnd a friend will not say never, cause the welcome will not endThough it's hard to let you goIn the Father's hands I knowThat a lifetime's not too long... to live as friends."

Willing To Share....

My heartbeat since obey the Lord and heading into missions is being willing to share. Not just the gospel but my heart for the ministry. To see a life converted or to see a life blessed and grow is an amazing feeling that is so hard to explain.

Today is my last day of work this week!!!! yeay. Joe and I leave to head to our old stepping grounds.... Binghamton. It will be nice to be back for a little while, even though we will be swapped with a missions conference. :-) We will share our ministry and our burden and hopefully encourage and bless as many people as possible. What a great God we serve. :-)

I LOVE SHARING.....

Love is giving for the world's needs,

Love is sharing as the Spirit leads,

Love is caring when the world cries,

Love is compassion with Christlike eyes.

" Be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share" - 1 Timothy 6:18

Be Still And Know

Something I am learning each day is to be silent, not just in my daily devotions, but when all of like seems to be chaotic I need to be calm. I need take "baby steps" to the finish line. And give God ALL the glory before, during, and after.....

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on; spend much time in secret with Jesus alone!

" Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted on the earth!" - Psalm 46:10

Spending quiet time with God will bring quiet rest from God

A Relaxing Weekend....

Words I never thought I would understand again finally rang true to me this weekend.
As the Olympics began I was able to watch the start of them. A little disappointed that Mexico was not competing, none the less it was amazing to watch the beginning.
Sunday we were able to go to our sending church Beacon. It was nice to be back 'home' again. :-)

So my week begins 'somewhat' relaxed. Walking into work I was faced with our office reconfiguration and way to much testosterone!! And the words from my Doctor "call back tomorrow for your results" But I rejoice, knowing that it is for a season and may my LORD be glorified. :-)

The Brighter Side....

Winter is not over. Is all I can say, it was amazing to wake up to a pure white world, and I began thinking, through all of the Business of life, trials, and pre-field ministry. I am beginning to melt into madness. I know God is big enough, I know He loves enough, and I know that He is soveriegn over ALL things. But there are times when the words can not penitrate the iron spirit.

Then there are times, when a little, simple, and quite voice really gets your attention.

In this case mine came from the famous bear......

"It's snowing still. And freezing. However, we haven't had an earthquake lately."

- Winnie-the-Pooh

So my thought process begins to align with Mr. Pooh Bear...... I will see the brighter side of things!

"We all,... beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image." - 2 Corinthians 3:18

The difficulties of life are to make us better - not bitter!

The Joy of a Day Off....

Oh yes that's right.... I played hooky yesterday.... and the great part is ..... I GOT PAID FOR IT. :-) This week is tax free week... so what else would I do with my hooky day other than go shopping... And boy did I shop :-)

I love days like that and I can't wait for the day that my days will be full of ministry work, instead of insurance....

But until then.... Bring on the hooky days :-)