So much heartache.......

This world is so full of heartache. Just this morning, I have heard news of cancer treatments, surgeries, special kids having rough times, parents of special kids having rough times, a young teen boy who needs a home, preemie babies needing to grow...and the list goes on. THIS IS ALL IN THE LAST TWO HOURS. The ONLY thing any of us can do is to realize that God IS in control and to walk through this journey of life with faith that there is Someone beside us who is STRONG ENOUGH to hold us up, WISE ENOUGH to guide us through and MORE CARING than we can imagine to soothe our fears. His name is Jesus....



"I Peter 5:10 says: ‘After you have suffered a little while, … the God of all grace will Himself restore you.”

 For my friends and all those who are hurting today...hang on to that verse. It will bring you hope and rest!

How Are You Going to Live This Year?

This past year has been extremely busy. For the first time since our country's economy bust  a few years ago, in my job as a Church and Community Director, I am seeing a lot of families without jobs for long periods of time, not making enough to make ends meet, etc. Most of these folks have been hard working people who are feeling the tight squeeze of the economic shift.

Our Toy Sale this year brought in double the families. Some were people whose salaries had been cut or one person in the family had lost a job. While most jobs are downsizing and losing business, ours is increasing. We are needing more Christians to step up and live lives of generosity this year..sharing what they have with others. Most of us live in excess of what we need.  I know that the shelves in my home in the past have things on them that have never been used or even opened. We  may not think we have a lot but we do. We can be generous and give those things to others who need them.

I was challenged a few years ago as I read scripture to take a look around our home and see what it is we could share with others. We have since kept a running box or bag of clothes that we don't use but are in good condition. We share those with others. It feels good to know that the things that were sitting on our shelves are now being used by families and individuals that need some help. As we give them away, we pray over them and ask the Lord to bless the person who receives it.

In these difficult times, it is important that as Christians we think about others in need ALL THE TIME, not just at Christmas. Jesus talked constantly about putting others above ourselves and helping those who are hurting. The Message says in Matthew 10: "Because you have been treated generously, live generously!" 

All that we have as Christians was given to us by God. Our homes, our money, our jobs, our families...everything! We have been treated generously! No matter how little we have, there is always someone who has less. It is our challenge to give to others what we can by living a sacrificial life.

For a renewed sense of "the church" and how it functioned....read the book of Acts this month. Ask the Lord to show you how you are to live with the means that He gave you! Everything we have is a gift to share with others.

There is a familiar hymn that is typically sung at Thanksgiving. I think it applies every day of the year!   Here are the words to Because I Been Given Much by Grace Noll Crowell:

I have been given much, I too must give;
Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live.

I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see,
Who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care…
I cannot see another’s lack and I not share-my glowing fire, my loaf of bread-my roof’s safe shelter over head, that he too may be comforted.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love dear Lord,
I’ll share thy love again according to thy word.
I shall give love to those in need. I’ll show that love by word and deed,
thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

Happy New Year!

Lisa

Choosing to See

I want to recommend a book that I read this weekend because even though it is about a woman's journey to healing after her 5 year old adopted daughter from China died in tragic accident, it is more about Choosing to See God's perspective on life. She had her own plan for life when she was 19 and it has turned out completely different. She talked about "choosing to see" God's perspective instead of her own and how freeing that has become.  Read it. I think you will be encouraged by it! Let me know what you think.