Musings From the Life of a Youth Pastor's Wife...

Can God?

2011-09-07T12:06:00.000-07:00

Matthew 8:30-34

Interesting...In this story the keepers of the swine (which couldn't have been too many men) convinced a WHOLE CITY (vs. 34) to stand against Jesus. Why can't we then, as Christians, get a hold of God's power and convince just as many to stand FOR Jesus? Ahhh! how greatly we underestimate the power of an Almighty God!

Thank You, God, for reminding me of Your power!

Service With Sincerity...

2011-07-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

Joshua 24:14a "Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and truth:"

God wants our service for Him to be of sincere choice made through the truth.

Is our service to God done as a show for others, or do we sincerely want to please God? Thank you, God for this reminder to stop and re-evaluate my motives in my Christian life!

Caring For God's Man...

2011-07-07T11:03:00.000-07:00

Joshua chapter 21 deals with the allotment of land for the Tribe of Levi, God's men.

How interesting that God allotted land to all of the tribes EXCEPT the men of the church. He had each tribe alot a certain number of cities to this tribe instead. Why? I believe for God is teaching us the importance of caring for the men of God and their families.

A man of God ought not to have to ask for their needs to be met as they did in this chapter. We as God's people ought always to be looking for ways to meet and supply the needs of the men of God and their families.

Thank you, God, for this reminder that it is an honor to SERVE others!

God's Justice...

2011-07-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

Chapter 20 of Joshua regarding the cities of refuge is a reminder to all of us that justice is very important to God. God's forgiveness does not relieve sin's consequences. However, God never wants a man to be judged and punished wrongly.

May we NEVER make a snap judgement about a person. There should be proper consideration of the facts and witnesses before we judge anyone in any way.

Thank you for this reminder, God. I know I am often to quick to make up my own mind!

Little Things...

2011-06-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

God's Word always has some amazing little truths tucked away in small unlikely verses and chapters. It truly is inexhaustible!

Joshua 18:3 "And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?"

These four words in this short verse remind me of an important truth. Often, what I do not accomplish in life is a result of my "slack" in trusting an almighty God. He has already mapped out many great victories in my life. May I just have the faith to step out; "...to go to possess...!"

I find so many more "nuggets" of truth during my Bible reading when I take a moment to claim Psalms 199:18 before I start. "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

God Wants Me to Think Before I Speak...

2011-02-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 25:8 "Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when they neighbor hath put thee to shame."

It seems God is reminding me in this chapter how influential my words can be. We ought not to be quick to criticize or argue with others. We ought to stop and think before we say something.

Maybe I should ask myself a question or two. "How will this affect those I am speaking to, or those I am speaking about?" "Will these words help to build someone or tear them down." Just because something is true does not mean we have to talk about it! I believe the media has greatly influenced our thinking towards the wrong in this area of critical discussion.

God, I invite you as the Psalmist did in Psalms 141:3 to..."Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."

Stop and Relfect...

2011-02-21T10:44:00.000-08:00

Psalms 119:15

"I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways."

It seems God is reminding me with this short little verse how important it is to think about what God wants before I act or speak. If I want His blessings in my life, then I need to respect His ways in every area of my life.

Thank you, God, for this great little reminder to stop and think about what direction YOU want in my everyday life . I LOVE Psalms 119!

Yummy Low-fat Pancakes!

2011-01-27T09:07:00.000-08:00

Trying to be careful and eat healthy but still have a sweet tooth? Here is a great alternative! Even a healthy home-made syrup to put on top!

Low fat Applesauce Pancakes...

1/2 cup of flour
1/2 cup of oats
1/2 cup of low fat milk
1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce
2 large egg whites
1 Tbsp. Canola Oil
1 Tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 Tsp. Salt
1/4 cup of sugar

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine wet ingredients in another bowl and add to the dry mixture. Stir till blended. Heat griddle or pan and spray with nonstick cooking spray. When hot, pour about 1/4 cup pancake batter per pancake. Cook until bubbles appear and edges are puffed, then flip and cook until golden.

Makes about 8 pancakes.

Healthy apple topping...

Warm a pan with a little bit of butter. Dice up an apple finely. and add to the butter. Cook till apples begin to soften. Add some frozen apple juice concentrate, cornstarch and honey. Let cook till thickened and bubbly. Poor over your pancakes and enjoy! Yummmmmm!! (Sorry, I did not measure things for my syrup, just eye-balled the ingredients!)

Serve this with a steaming hot cup of coffee and an egg or piece of Turkey Bacon and you have yourself a Yummy, Happy, Low fat, Healthy breakfast!!

Isn't Life Great?!

2011-01-14T15:28:00.000-08:00

Deuteronomy 12:7..."And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee."

Serving God is not a drudgery! It is fun, exciting, sweet and peaceful to live within the confines of God's will.

I take this as one of my challenges this year, God! To serve you with happiness for my sake, my family's sake and the sake of others around me who are influenced by my life.

There is nothing I would rather do with my life than give it back to You. Whatever the circumstance in life, we are so blessed.

There is JOY in Serving Jesus!

2010-11-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

I Chronicles 16:10 "Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord."

When I stop to think about how wonderful God is, it brings joy to my heart!

If I truly want to experience a joyous Christian life, I need to always seek the Lord...a constant desire to learn more about Him and His ways. The more I learn about Him and the wonderful life I can have with Him by my side, the more JOY I will have in every area of my life. Then, in turn, the more I will want to seek Him!

Life for every person here on earth is full of "ups and downs." Why walk through this life alone when I have an Almighty Creator who desires to walk beside me and help me through the "down" times and rejoice with me in the "up" times?!

The Christian life...the center of God's will...What a JOYOUS place to be! I wouldn't go back and change one decision I have made for God.

Hmmm...Chronicles!

2010-10-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

I MUST admit I struggle to find a truth in my readings through Chronicles at times! Ha!

However, I did find a little nugget of truth in chapter 7 this morning. This chapter discusses the lineage and inheritance of 5 of the tribes of Israel. I find it interesting how God mentions a different area in which each family excelled.

God has given each of us a different area in which we excel. How sad when I take this area and excel for my own glory rather than using my God-given talents to glorify God.

It seems from this chapter that God is pleased when I am willing to give back to Him what He has given me in the first place!

Thank you for this reminder, God, to be unselfish in giving my life for Your service. There is nothing I would rather do with my life; what a HAPPY place to be!!

Am I a Spiritual Baby?

2010-08-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 5:12-13 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."

"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe."

It seems that too many of us Christians remain spiritual babies for most of our lives--needing help instead of becoming a helper.

God should not have to teach me the same lesson twice. I should take a lesson learned, apply it to my life, and then turn around and teach it to others. These verses obviously show us that God is disappointed when we do not mature into spiritual teachers but instead remain as spiritual babes, needing to be helped through every aspect of our lives.

What a great challenge! Thanks, God, for your patience with me...with all of us as Christians!

Serving God is FUN!

2010-08-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

I feel sorry for those who feel serving God is a chore! It seems more wonderful and rewarding to me each day!!

I had the privilege of meeting up with some of our teen ladies and their moms at a tea room near us today. We had so much fun together! It is a great blessing to share some food and small talk with other ladies who also have a desire to serve God.

I feel that Christian fellowship is SO important! We all desire to have fellowship of some kind. If we seek it out among other Christian ladies, what a sweet fulfillment it can bring to our lives! Thank you, God, for the privilege of spending time with some sweet Christian ladies today.

Young People are IMPORTANT!

2010-08-02T12:33:00.001-07:00

II Kings 15:1-3

"In the twenty and seventh year of Jereboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;"

Thanks, God, for this reminder of what GREAT things young people can do for your work!

Young people can be great leaders for God if they surrender their life to You during their youth. Young people needn't wait till adulthood to begin their service for God. In their youth, they are establishing what kind of adult they will become.

Thank You, God, for the PRIVILEGE of working with young people and encouraging them to give their lives to You in their youth. I pray You will give me wisdom to show our young people through my life what a WONDERFUL thing it is to live a life fully surrendered to Your will. I couldn't be happier with my choice as a young person to yield my life to Your service. No regrets. It is so much fun to serve You!

How Can We Be Sure God Will Hear And Help?

2010-07-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

Psalms 91:1 & 15 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him."

Great thought today, God!

EVERYONE wants God to hear their voice as they cry out to Him. How can I be sure He will hear?

By dwelling close to Him. Not just visiting Him in areas of my life, but centering every aspect of my life around His will--what HE would want.

What a great reminder, God! I need you in every tiny area of my life today, no matter how insignificant it may seem...how I dress, how I greet others around me, how I spend my spare time, etc.

I invite you into every area of my life today!

Do Our Words Really Matter?

2010-07-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

Apparently they do to God in Proverbs 15! Nine of the 33 verses in this chapter make reference to our words.

Verses 23 and 28 popped out to me as I read today.

Proverbs 15:23 "A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due, how good is it!"

My words rightly spoken can be uplifting to others while bringing joy to myself at the same time! I personally always feel better about myself and my life after I have helped someone. Therefore uplifting words can help others and bring me joy at the same time!

Proverbs 15:28 "The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things."

My words are probably my largest area of influence in every relationship I have in my life. Why do I then so flippantly throw words out of my mouths without realizing the life-lasting influence they might have?

God reminds me here that if I want to be counted as righteous (Def: acting in a moral or upright way), then I need to study my words in my heart before I say them.

In short...Think before You Speak. Before I spill out what I want to say, I ought to think of how it will impact others around me.

Thank You, God, for this important reminder that every word I speak will have an effect on others and myself.

Sweet Blessings...

2010-07-05T12:30:00.001-07:00

Sorry it has been a LONG time since my last post. I have had some health and chiropractic issues with my pregnancy.

Yesterday, during the evening service we had a testimony time since it was Independence Day and our church's 63rd Anniversary Sunday.

Pastor asked for the testimonies to be limited to God, Family, Church or Country. It was sweet to hear different members give a testimony of what God has done for them in these areas and just spend some time praising Him.

The sweetest blessings for Dan and I were the heartfelt testimonies of some of our teens. God has wrought such amazing works in their lives the past 6 years we have been here at Arlington Baptist Church. Many of them reached as bus kids just a few years ago are now singing in church, preaching nursing home services, running bus routes, etc. Brought many tears to my eyes.

Thank you, God, for the PRIVILEGE of being used for Your glory!! What greater joy than to serve God?!

Proverbs 28:20a "A faithful man shall abound with blessings:"

Do You Like Pizza?

2010-04-23T21:36:00.000-07:00

I LOVE pizza..I grew up near Chicago!...but not the grease-infested tasteless kind we get at Little Caesar's sometimes! I MUCH prefer homemade pizza.

Granted, it may not be the world's most healthy dinner! However, if you make your own, you control what toppings you put on and how much.

I have to admit I did not do it often because it took too long. That is UNTIL I found this so incredibly easy recipe about a year ago. We now enjoy pizza a little more frequently because I am in control of what goes on top!

Here is a quick, simple, and great-tasting recipe for homemade pizza...

DOUGH:

2 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

2/3 c. water (Sometimes I have to use a little bit more, just depends on how it mixes up)

THAT's IT! C'mon, everyone has those 3 ingredients in their cupboard, right?! Just combine your 3 dry ingredients, stir in the water till you have a thick dough. Place it on a floured surface and knead it for about 2 minutes. Flatten and shape however you desire and put it on a pizza pan (cookie sheet works fine too).

TOPPING:

Vegetable oil

Tomato Sauce

Seasonings

Grated Mozzarella Cheese

Meat, Veggies, chopped onions, fresh garlic, whatever you like!

Spread some vegetable or canola oil on crust (keeps tomato sauce from soaking into the crust), then put the tomato sauce on. (Usually one little can is more than enough. I use the one with no added salt, so I can control the sodium.) Sprinkle seasonings on the tomato sauce (salt, pepper, Italian Seasoning, Garlic powder, whatever you like). Top with fresh grated mozzarella cheese! Mmmm! Then top with whatever you like! We enjoy sausage, bacon or grilled chicken (cooked first!), zucchini, onion, fresh garlic. Be creative! This is a good way to get your family to eat some different veggies!

*For a real treat, I have even used a cream alfredo type sauce instead of tomato and topped with grilled chicken, grilled onions, mozzarella cheese and veggies!! I make my own cream sauce. Mmmm! NOT low-fat, though! Unless you buy a can of low-fat alfredo sauce, but I am not a great advocate of canned sauces! If you are in a hurry, they still might be a bit better than that greasy "to-go" pizza!

Enjoy this home-made treat with your family; a fun family dinner!

Think Before We Speak...

2010-04-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

2 Kings 2:3, 5

"And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace."

"And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace."

Here Elisha was about to lose his mentor, the man he worked and labored with, one whom he loved dearly. I can imagine he must have been hurting emotionally. Elijah had taught him so much and been his companion.

Twice in the verses above, men (prophets even) spoke nonchalantly about this to Elisha. Probably not thinking about the hurt it would cause him.

We ought to work to be sensitive to the feelings of others before we speak. Oftentimes we blurt out something without thinking, sometimes even in jest, and then realize the hurt it may have caused another who is listening.

Simply because something is true does not mean it has to be spoken or told to others. A great motto to strive for in our lives is..."Think BEFORE we speak!"

Love it when my little man wants to "read with me" in the morning. We had fun! I always read a few verses very dramatically for him. He loves to "read" with Mommy using his little Bible! I always write about what I read. He wants to write too, so I got him a little notebook to write with Mommy! I want my little man to learn to LOVE reading the Bible while he is young.

It is the BEST way to start any day!

Hard Choices...

2010-03-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

I Kings 15:13

"And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron."

I don't imagine it was an easy decision for King Asa to remove his own mother from the throne. Sometimes following God's way may require a stand that those close to us may not understand.

Taking a right stand for what we believe is God's will in our lives may require some hard choices. However, God is our greatest ally. If we make our choices as King Asa and King David did, "turning not aside from any thing that God commands us" (I Kings 15:5), then God will bless accordingly.

We Are God's Billboard...

2010-03-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

I Kings 10:8-9a

"Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom."

"Blessed be the Lord thy God,"

These verses are in relation to the Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon. She was coming to see for herself if he was really all that people said he was.

One thing that she noticed about those around Solomon was their spirit towards their service. They were HAPPY! Interesting that her very next words after this observation were..."Blessed be the Lord thy God,"

I also serve a King, THE King! I am an "advertisement" for Him (whether good or bad) in every moment of my life. My spirit, my attitude about the work of God may be the deciding factor in whether or not someone chooses to follow God or look for another road to happiness.

Simply my disposition in a church service may have a profound impact on someone sitting near me. I may not even officially speak to them, but someone is watching, always watching my life.

Thank you, God, for this reminder that I am a walking "billboard" for you. What kind of advertisement am I for the cause of Christ? I hope anyone I meet today will be able to say, "She is HAPPY to serve the Lord!!"

We Must Take the First Step...

2010-03-09T16:23:00.000-08:00

I Kings 8:38-40 "What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers."

God's promises are usually conditional; they begin after we take the first step. These verses seem to show us that one step leads to another.

~ As God's people humble themselves and pray (vs. 38)

~ Then God steps into action with four responses in vs. 39...

1) Hear 2) Forgive 3) Do 4) Give.

~ God's people will see His actions and gain a respect or a "fear" of the Lord (vs. 40).

The second and third steps only occur if we as Christians take the first step towards God. Thank You, God, for this reminder that You desire a working relationship with your children, but will not force it on us. We must take that first step.

Humble Service...

2010-03-02T14:35:00.000-08:00

I Kings 6:38 "And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it."

This passage of scripture refers to Solomon's building of the temple.

The last statement of this verse which is the last statement of the chapter stood out for me. "So he was SEVEN YEARS in building it."

Most of us would want a gold medal for spending such a tremendous amount of our time for God. However, this was a reminder to me today that I OWE God a portion of my time.

It seems that too often Christians obtain "Martyr Syndrome" about service for God. If one does not receive recognition for the "great" things done for Christ, a Christian might become a little offended, some perhaps might even quit their ministry or quit church.

God gave me the very air I breathe; therefore I ought to humbly and willingly serve Him on every occasion possible. I should expect nothing in return for my service; after all, I have already received everlasting life!!

A great reminder that I should not have to even be asked to help out around the church, I ought to volunteer to any and every opportunity in order to express my love to God. Great reminder!

Our time = Our Life...

2010-02-23T09:04:00.000-08:00

I Kings 3:4 "And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar."

Think how LONG it must have taken King Solomon to sacrifice 1,000 burnt offerings?! Our time is our life, therefore the most precious thing we possess. This is the greatest thing we can give back to God.

Solomon must have set aside hours to sacrifice to God. When was the last time we set aside any time for God, let alone hours?

Thank you, God, for this convicting reminder to set aside time in this fast-paced life we live, to be still and know that You are God.

Changing Hats...

2010-02-19T09:19:00.000-08:00

I Thessalonians 5:14 "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men."

Four things Paul mentions in this verse for God's people to do...Warn, Comfort, Support, and Be Patient.

These are four very different hats to wear as a Christian. Obviously I must learn to be a well-balanced Christian. In the ministry I will be called upon to wear many different hats...warning one moment, comforting another person the next, offering support for a Christian trying to grow and then showing patience with all around me.

As I juggle all the different "hats" God allows me to wear, I must strive to learn how to change each "hat," or transition from one situation to the next, quickly and smoothly. I cannot carry emotion from one situation into another. If I really want to be a help to people then I must learn to live 100% in each moment and situation I am in, leaving all others behind.

For example, we cannot properly comfort one person if we are still emotionally charged from a warning we shared with another person. Is this possible for me in my own strength? Probably not! I need the wisdom and discernment of God and the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit daily!

Thank You, God, for this great reminder! I LOVE I Thessalonians chapter 5! This is one of my very favorite chapters from which to learn.

How Can I Help Others Grow?

2010-02-15T23:27:00.001-08:00

The following thoughts came while reading 1 Thessalonians 1-2...

How do we help others around us grow as Christians? These chapters seem to show us that it first begins in our heart!

I must cultivate, through Christ, a sincere love for others. It does not take people long to spot a fake!

Do I really desire to make a difference in the lives of those involved in my area of ministry? If my answer is yes, then I must ask for God's help daily as I strive to grow my love to be more like His...a mature, unconditional, selfless love.

How important to learn to love people despite their show of emotion or actions toward myself! How important to work on cultivating an interest in every part of the lives of the people to whom I minister!

Someone will believe I really care when they see that I show an interest in every area of their lives...not just the areas that directly affect my relationship with them.

Thank you, God, for this reminder to cultivate a more unconditional love for people! Thank you for the reminder that I cannot make a difference FOR You apart from a relationship WITH You! I can never love people as I ought until I first love YOU as I ought.

What a privilege to serve You, God!

A Helping Hand

2010-02-08T22:22:00.000-08:00

We Need God's Helping Hand...

II Samuel 24:14 "And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man."

As David spoke with the prophet, Gad, he made it obvious that he was more concerned with what GOD thought of Him than what MAN thought of him. A wise man!

This verse seems to be a challenge for us to be more concerned about being on God's side than to be esteemed by man. God is the One who can help us find a fulfilling and wonderful life. May we be reminded to spend more time trying to please Him than we do our fellow man.

Thank you, Lord, for this reminder; and thank you for the WONDERFUL privilege of living the fulfilling life of a separated Christian. It is such a happy place to be!

A HUG from God...

2010-02-02T16:13:00.000-08:00

A HUG from God, today!

I am hosting a formal banquet for my teen girls on February 12th. I have been trying to find a formal for myself without spending a fortune. I went looking at thrift stores today.

As I was driving, I told God..."Ok, God, I am trying to be frugal and not spend money we don't have. I don't have anything formal to wear, so if you want me to save money, please help me to find something nice today!"

I went to 3 thrift stores. The first two had some pretty things, but nothing to suit me. As I walked in the last store, I saw a sign...50% off of ALL women's clothing today!! And of course, God had a BEAUTIFUL dress waiting for me, just my size!

I was able to buy a beautiful full-length formal gown and a velvet half-sweater to match it. I paid...(are you ready?)...$2.50 TOTAL!

THAT was my HUG from God!

Fun in Sunday School...

2010-01-31T22:30:00.001-08:00

I should have taken a picture! I always leave about 7 minutes at the end of my Sunday school class to teach a little "Lessons For

Ladies," as I call them.

Today we were learning about Proper Table and Dinner etiquette. I had a table set up with silverware, plates and cups, salt and pepper shakers. Our food was a plate of donut holes! I passed around their handout and then we briefly practiced passing the food, salt and pepper shakers, etc. (we were short on time today, but we had fun!)

Here is the content of today's handout...

General social and dining etiquette rules:

· Arrive at least 10 minutes early unless otherwise specified.

· Pass food from the left to the right.

· Always say please when asking for something. Be sure to say thank you to your server and bus boy after they have removed any used items.

· If asked for the salt or pepper, pass both together, even if a table mate asks for only one of them. This is so dinner guests won't have to search for orphaned shakers.

· Set any passed item, whether it's the salt and pepper shakers, a bread basket, or a butter plate, directly on the table instead of passing hand-to-hand.

· Never intercept a pass. Snagging a roll out of the breadbasket or taking a shake of salt when it is en route to someone else is a no-no.

· Food is served from the left. Dishes are removed from the right.

· Butter, spreads, or dips should be transferred from the serving dish to your plate before spreading or eating.

· Turn a wine glass upside down to decline wine.

· Always scoop food away from you.

· Taste your food before seasoning it.

· Do try a little of everything on your plate.

· Don't blow on your food to cool it off. If it is too hot to eat, take the hint and wait.

· Keep elbows off the table. Keep your left hand in your lap unless you are using it.

· Do not talk with your mouth full. Chew with your mouth closed.

· Cut only enough food for the next mouthful. Eat in small bites and slowly.

· Don't clean up spills with your own napkin and don't touch items that have dropped on the floor. You can use your napkin to protect yourself from spills. Then, simply and politely ask your server to clean up and to bring you a replacement for the soiled napkin or dirty utensil.

· Do not blow your nose at the dinner table. Excuse yourself to visit the restroom. Wash your hands before returning to the dining room. If you cough, cover your mouth with your napkin to stop the spread of germs and muffle the noise. If your cough becomes unmanageable, excuse yourself to visit the restroom. Wash your hands before returning to the dining room.

· Turn off your cell phone or switch it to silent or vibrate mode before sitting down to eat, and leave it in your purse. It is impolite to answer a phone during dinner. If is is an emergency and you must make or take a call, excuse yourself from the table and step outside of the restaurant or room.

· Do not use a toothpick or apply makeup at the table.

· Whenever a woman leaves the table or returns to sit, all men seated with her should stand up.

· Do not push your dishes away from you or stack them for the waiter when you are finished. Leave plates and glasses where they are.

STOP and reflect...

2010-01-27T23:05:00.000-08:00

Psalms 36:1-4

"The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil."

It seems God gives us six things in these 4 verses that describe a wicked man; 6 things obviously we should work to avoid!!

6 Ways This Psalm describes a wicked man...

1. (vs. 1...there is no fear of God before his eyes.) A lack of fear or respect for God.

2. (vs. 2...For he flattereth himself in his own eyes,) A pride, arrogancy or self-exaltation.

3. (vs. 3...The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.) Ceasing to care whether ones' words or actions are wise or good.

4. (vs. 4...He deviseth mischief upon his bed;) A planning or plotting of mischief.

5. (vs. 4...he setteth himself in a way that is not good;) Placing oneself in the wrong path.

6. (vs. 4...he abhorreth not evil.) Ceasing to Hate and Abhor sin. The Bible doesn't way he committed evil, he just did not abhor it. Love the sinner, but hate the sin that destroys their lives.

Thank you, God for this reminder! Please bring these 6 traits often to mind so I may remember to avoid them!

The snow was beautiful!

2010-01-25T13:05:00.001-08:00

WOW! What a beautiful weekend to go to South Lake Tahoe! It had snowed all week prior to our visit. We went all day Saturday. We got to see some amazing scenery and have a blast with the teens in the snow. There were about 20 of us altogether. We get good reports about our kids everywhere we go. They are a great bunch!

Enjoy a few scenery pictures...

Psalms 34...Great thought...

2010-01-21T22:50:00.000-08:00

Psalms 34:11 seemed to jump out at me today. David said "Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord."

It seems David felt the #1 basic principle to teach the young people was the fear of the Lord. If a young person's life is not based on a trust, a respect, yea, even an awe of God, they will most likely NOT make the right decisions in their life.

Every decision we make is important, whether it is seemingly small or great. Therefore, teaching our young people HOW to make their decisions, with a preference to God's will rather than our own, is of utmost importance.

If we have influence in the life of any young person, our own or young people in the ministry, may we strive to teach them HOW to make right decisions rather than trying to make all of their decisions for them.

What is that old saying?..."Give a man a fish; feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; feed him for a lifetime."

It seems God is showing us through this small statement of David's simply this...We must teach young people to fear or respect the ways of God in every area of their lives. They will in turn learn to make right decisions for the rest of their lives!

Thank you, God, for reminding me of this truth to practice in my life!

SNOW!!!

2010-01-20T23:18:00.000-08:00

We are off to Lake Tahoe for our annual teen snow trip on Saturday. The kids are so excited and SO AM I!! Since I am an Indiana girl,I have to get my "snow fix" at least once a year!

I posted a picture of Beautiful Lake Tahoe in the winter where we are headed. It has been raining ALL WEEK here, so you know what that means...SNOW in Lake Tahoe! We are going to have some serious sledding this year!

Pray for good driving weather. Pray our ol' bus will make it fine in the snow. Pray for safety for all the kids.

I was just thinking as we went visiting in the nursing home with the teens today... I LOVE our teens! They are a great group. What a privilege to serve together with them for the Lord. Why do we need rewards? Looking at the changed lives and sweet spirits of our young people is enough for me!!

THANK YOU, God, for using me to help others. As my preacher, Bro. Hyles, used to say, "Isn't it great to be used?"

Ain't God good?

2010-01-17T22:17:00.000-08:00

"...to give us SO MANY blessings?!"

As kids, we used to sing in the car on the way to church. We always lived a pretty good distance from church; so almost every trip to and from we would sing. I LOVED it! That is where I developed an ear for hearing parts and harmonizing. One of our old favorites was, "Ain't God Good to Give us SO MANY Blessings" especially when Dad would throw his good clear bass voice in there! Precious memories!

I thank God for my godly Christian parents! We never wondered if we would be going to church on any given service. If there was a service going on...we were there...Period! Unless we were dying! (And I Thank God for that now, by the way!) But, I looked forward to every service and the fellowship. Mom and Dad made church fun for us.

We would always share things about the service in the car on the way home. (Usually laughs at a funny joke the preacher said or something funny that happened!) We would share little "knowing glances"during the service with an inside joke or family thought. Mom and Dad just knew how to make everything we did a "happening."

I still LOVE church and look forward to every service and time of fellowship. Church services are the highlight of my week. I think much of that was mentally inbred as a young child. Those drives to church, all of us together at once, doing nothing but talking and singing! (How grateful I am that we did not have cell phones or ipods!)

My little man looks forward to church now as well. On the way to every church service, we talk about who we will see and what we get to do when we get there. (ours is only about a 5 minute drive so not too much time for singing!) I hope to pass on to my son the same precious memories associated with church that my parents shared with me! Someday I hope he will be able to look back to these times with the same fondness.

Thanks, Mom and Dad!

DANGER! Criticism Ahead...

2010-01-12T23:10:00.000-08:00

I just read a great article about the poison of criticism. Ahhhh...may we learn to leave this deadly foe behind each day of our lives.

Our words are so very powerful. We ought to beg God daily for His wisdom in our words and actions.

James 1:5 says..."If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

I like to think of it in this way...God has a portion of wisdom set aside for each of us every day, much as a mother might prepare a portion of food for the members of her family. God is waiting each morning for us to come to the table and claim the wisdom that we need to help us through the decisions we will face that day. If we run right past the table without stopping to ask God for our "daily wisdom" we will most likely make some very poor decisions that day, just as someone who did not partake of any food or nourishment might run out of strength to accomplish their daily tasks.

I feel that some of us who have been "Professional Christians" for a while often think we know enough of the Christian "jargon" to limp through a few days on our own, but we will most definitely become "malnourished" in our outlook on life if we do not daily receive our refreshment from God!

Is it impossible to know the right things to do and the right things to say? How can we know what to say or what to do in so many various situations that pop up in our daily lives? One word...WISDOM!

Proverbs 4:7

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

Serving the Lord is SO rewarding!

2010-01-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

During the Sunday evening service, I was blessed as I watched 6 of our young people step up to the platform and sing the song "In Christ Alone." As I looked at each, I considered their lives, how much they have grown spiritually and what some of them have had to overcome to stand on that platform.

It brought tears to my eyes as I thanked God for the PRIVILEGE of being used to help influence the lives of young people. What an honor, with which comes amazing rewards!

May we all challenge ourselves in 2010 to be a helpful spiritual influence to someone this year. It has always been my personal goal, in any ministry with which I am involved, to be able to look in the crowd and pick out at least one person for whom I can say, "They would not be serving the Lord in that capacity today if it weren't for my influence." NOT to be boastful, simply to know that I am busy for God and yielding my life to Him as a vessel to be used for others.

Just wanted to say, "Thank you, God, for using ME!"

Any Ideas?

2010-01-05T22:18:00.000-08:00

I am ALWAYS on the lookout for new healthy snack or dessert ideas.

If you have any, post a comment below my post!!

I will post a few that I use.

Apples and peanut butter

Blue corn Tortilla chips

Ezekiel 4:9 bread w/ apple butter

Corn Chips (plain)

Fruit

2 or 3 Big Marshmallows

(Sometimes if I have some cravings I might buy a candy bar and cut it in 3 or 4 pieces and put it in a Ziploc bag. Just eat one-fourth at a time!)

Nuts (I buy the bags of nuts in the shell whenever I can afford nuts. They are cheaper and Darren LOVES to crack nuts. Then I don't end up eating as many!)

Sesame Sticks...Mmmm!!

I also buy naturally sweetened cookies from the health food store, cut them in half, put them in a Ziploc bag, then I have a sweet treat with my cup of coffee or hot tea!

Can anyone give me some more ideas? Post a comment!

Back to the Basics!

2010-01-04T14:38:00.001-08:00

And I mean in...EATING!

My goal after a "not-so-healthy" Christmas holiday season is to bring our family back to the food basics! Dan and I started today working toward our goal of bringing our diet back to the basic healthy foods, namely more fruits and veggies, raw and whole foods...less processed and chemicals.

I personally have to eat some protein in the mornings or I feel tired all day. An egg and some fruit or fruit juice do the trick for me! Also, a piece of whole grain toast or Bible Bread. (Ever tried Bible bread? Actually Ezekiel 4:9 bread; it is delicious and SO good for you. Especially spread with some homemade sugar-free apple butter! MMmmmm!!)...

...(Ezekiel 4:9 "Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof,") It is made with all the grains and sprouts mentioned in that verse. Found at your local health food store. A bit more pricey per loaf, but if we only eat one slice in the morning for toast it lasts almost a week. Worth a couple dollars more.

My husband and I LOVE to eat ALL kinds of different foods so we really don't cut out any one "type" of food from our diets (fad diets, carbs, etc.) One thing we are putting back in perspective is our portion sizes.

I have to readjust our "food eyes" occasionally and we have found this works WONDERS for maintaining our weight. We are surrounded by "Out of Control" portions everywhere we go. I go back to measuring EVERYTHING for a little while until our eyes and stomachs adjust to where they should be! Whenever we readjust that one area, we are always surprised at the results in our body weight and our appetites!

Also a great healthy tea to drink is Mulberry Leaf. It has LOTS of great health benefits and can also help you shed some pounds a little easier. Of course, I am not offering a professional opinion in health matters; these are just a few things that have worked for me! Hope they can be a help to you!

Having a Vision for the Work of God...

2009-12-29T20:13:00.000-08:00

A Picture from our Christmas trip to Disneyland! This is by the beautiful Christmas tree in the Grand California hotel lobby.

Thoughts from my devotions...

II Samuel 7:1-3
"And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee. "

I love this passage of Scripture! It is a reminder to always give our very best to the work of God and make sure all we do for Him is first class. The work of God deserves our very best in every area...time, talent, treasure, etc. This seems to be a challenge, a reminder that we shouldn't be guilty of giving God our "leftovers."

Thank you also, God, for the reminder in verse 3 that we should always be looking forward; always looking for what more we can do in our ministry. It is important for us as Christians to have a vision of what greater things You can do for others through our lives. We will never "arrive" in our Christianity if we are surrendered. You will always have something more for us to accomplish.

Thank you, God! I love finding these "nuggets" of truth in Your Word every day! It is an honor and privilege to serve You!

Forgiveness and Respect...

2009-12-16T09:29:00.000-08:00

II Samuel 1:23a...."Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives,"

WOW! This is DAVID speaking about the life of Saul. He spends this entire chapter lamenting the death of Saul and Jonathan. Saul, in life, being the enemy who sought relentlessly for David's life.

We can learn at least 2 VALUABLE lessons from David's choice of words and attitude in this chapter.

The first lesson being that of forgiveness. If anyone had a valid reason to be upset with another, it could be David towards Saul. However, he chose the right way...to forgive and forget. He called Saul "lovely and pleasant in his life!" Wow! That is the right way to forgive! (Not the easy way, but the right way!) Not forgiveness with a grudge, but learning to forgive and move on with life. We can learn from David to look at the overview of the life of others and not judging their entire lives by one incident.

The second lesson being that of respect for the position of authority. David could have demeaned Saul's life after he passed on, but even after Saul's death David showed a respect and loyalty for his appointed position of leadership. MY! What a lesson our country needs to learn today and one of which all of us need to be reminded. The media publishes and blasts every little wrong doing of every leader in our country, simply for the sake of a story. God must long for us to return to respect for the position of our leaders. Even if we do not respect the person, we are to respect their position.

Thank you, God, for reminding me of these 2 great and important truths today!

The privilege of prayer...

2009-12-14T14:59:00.000-08:00

WOW! Great weekend! God is good!

One of our teenagers, who has been involved in our ministries for 7 years and is currently a senior in our Christian school, finally got his mom to attend our church service for the first time 2 weeks ago. Yesterday, she accepted Christ as her Saviour, walked the aisle and got baptized! How exciting! Gives us the reassurance and reminder that we should never stop praying. We never know how long an answer to prayer may take.

What a privilege to pray! This was a great reminder to me to never stop praying for the needs of others. We have access to the Creator of the Universe, and the opportunity to speak to Him any moment of every day! WOW! May we never lose sight of this privilege and daily take advantage of the gift of prayer.

We also had our church-wide adult Christmas party this past Saturday evening. We had a great group of people there and LOTS of food! It was potluck, so we had a very yummy variety of foods and a fun time of games and fellowship.

Isn't it a wonderful thing to have "church family?" I cannot imagine the void it would leave if we did not have this wonderful extension of our family. It is a wonderful thing to center every aspect of our lives around Christ and the church. I am always grateful to God for the Christian family he has given me, but the gratitude is even more keenly felt around the holidays. The comfort and security of a Christian home and a husband who loves God is such a priceless gift.

May we stop to thank God for His many gifts to us!

Thought from I Samuel 30...

2009-12-08T22:29:00.000-08:00

I Samuel 30:6..."And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."

(Just a side note: David could not even seek encouragement from his wife at this time when all others turned against him. His family was gone! David certainly could have pleaded the validity of his complaints to God!)

I have heard many sermons and lessons on this passage of scripture, but a certain thought hit me as I read it today.

David did turn to God in prayer over this situation in verse 7, but, interestingly enough, David encouraged himself BEFORE he thought to pray. The preparation of our spirit plays such a vital role in how we handle different situations that arise in our lives. (This brings to mind Bro. Hyles sermon from years ago called "Preparing for Winter.")

We must study what things or outward stimuli cultivate in us a happy spirit...certain happy Christian music, certain people who uplift us, certain things we read or listen to, certain type of preaching or teaching, a drive in the country, an activity we enjoy, etc. We ought to make an art of the study of our spirit and how it is affected. This way when the time comes, and no doubt it will at some point in our lives, that we feel we would much rather quit than deal with a situation, we can begin bringing certain thoughts or certain stimuli in contact with our spirit that will begin to encourage and uplift.

Thus the importance of every sermon and lesson we have the opportunity to hear. We never know at what time we will need to draw from the strength of its truth. How important that we pay close attention every time the Word of God is opened and taught, or when we ourselves open the cover and read those precious pages! We must learn, like David, how to pull from inside of ourselves the strength to encourage our spirit and go on in prayer.

We cannot help lead others to encouragement if we ourselves do not know where to find it. When our heart is extremely burdened or heavy, we may have to strengthen our spirit first in order to make the logical decision of going to the Bible or going to the Lord in prayer.

What a challenge, God! To make a STUDY of our own spirit; learn what outward stimuli affect it and how. Then, in time of hardship, it will be easier for us to draw strength from within to help us turn to the One above. He in turn can give us the strength to help others!

I hope I was able to write down my thoughts in a way that does not sound "scrambled!"

Thanks, God, for this great truth today!

A Sweet Service...

2009-12-04T11:39:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching online the "Heavenly Graduation" service for Dr. Don Boyd, my high school principal. It was a very sweet tribute to the life of a truly amazing and exemplary Christian. There were some tears, some laughter over sweet and fond memories, and a time to give God solemn thanks for the time we were privileged to spend under the influence of Mr. Boyd's life. The music, as always at First Baptist, was sweet and appropriate.

I tearfully watched as his family said their last goodbyes to Daddy, Sweetheart, Grandpa and beloved relative. Mrs. Boyd left her husband with a sweet kiss and a long hug. The actions and composure of the family were a wonderful testimony of their trust in God . There was not a spirit of despair; sadness, yes, but an obvious faith and trust in a God whose strength is bigger than our hurts. Even in death, Mr. Boyd's unwavering faith in God was evidenced by the sweet testimony of his family.

I wish I could have been there to stand as an alumni who was privileged to be under the leadership of Mr. Boyd while in my high school years. But, as stated in my last post in tribute, I will strive to say my thanks by serving God with my life and pass on the legacy of Christianity Mr. Boyd handed down to us. he was truly a friend to all he met!

Thanks, Mr. Boyd! I have so many precious memories from my high school years! Your life will not be forgotten. We love you!

A Tribute to a Great Man...

2009-11-30T23:14:00.001-08:00

A Tribute to a Great Man...Dr. Don Boyd.

I was saddened to learn that my high school principal, Dr. Don Boyd of Hammond Baptist High School, passed away. He has been battling serious cancer and finally succumbed Sunday evening around 11:30 pm, I believe. He has now graduated to Heaven and I know he is happy and free from pain! I know his family must be deeply hurting right now and I myself so DESPERATELY wish I could be in Indiana for his funeral.

He taught me SO much and played a HUGE role in helping me become the person I am today. He was a man of amazing wisdom and much compassion. He so dearly loved the kids he served, and no one could deny that he was a servant.

He always had a "funny" or practical joke up his sleeve. Mr. Boyd was a man with always a spark of mischief in his grin, who made it obvious that he just loved to be around "his kids." He had a "quick wit" which, of course, is a necessity to work with teenagers! He could always dish out a comeback as quick as an insult was thrown; and anyone who works with teenagers knows that insults are always in rapid fire!

Even when Mr. Boyd lost his eye to cancer years ago, it never dampened or changed his spirit. I never one time remember him using this as an excuse to be pitied. He often turned his trial into something funny. I remember MANY a time he would touch his glass eye (or take it out! SICK!) and say..."Remember kids, I've got my EYE on you!"

Senior Seminar class was always one of my FAVORITE hours of the day! Whether it was watching one of the completely boring videos on electricity, plumbing (or some other "commodity"), listening to one of his wisdom-packed lessons, or working as a class to lead him off on a "rabbit trail" so we didn't have to learn anything that day...I LOVED Mr. Boyd! His kind countenance told each young person he met in the hallways of Hammond Baptist High School that he cared for them even if he spoke not a word.

Mr. Boyd poured his heart out in many a chapel message and always spoke with great fervor. He warned us with passion to avoid the wiles of the Devil. He had such a desire for his young people to see how wonderful and rewarding the Christian life could be! He taught us the importance of learning how to make the right decisions and choices in every little area of life. I am more and more thankful each day that I had a team of godly people investing in my life and pointing me down the right path. What a happy thing it is to serve the Lord with my life! Thanks, Mr. Boyd, for playing a HUGE role in teaching me this truth.

The absence of his spirit will leave a large vacancy, and I am saddened that the next generation will not have the opportunity to know such a man. I thank God for another godly generation of leaders who are leading the young people of Hammond Baptist Schools! I also thank God for the years I was privileged to spend under his tutelage. There was NO question...Mr. Boyd knew God!! This was evidenced in every single aspect of his life.

Mr. Boyd, if you are looking over my shoulder reading this from up in Heaven, I want you to know that I hope to repay your investment in my life by investing my life in others. Working with teenagers is a wonderful opportunity. I hope to pass on to them some of the many many things that you taught me in the halls and classrooms of Hammond Baptist High School. I am grateful for your selflessness and the sacrificial giving of your time. I learned as much, perhaps even more, from watching your consistent Christian life, as I learned in the classroom.

Mrs. Boyd, I want to thank you for sharing your husband with us. I know he must have spent many long hours and dealt with many situations that may have taken him from family time. I want you to know that I will try my best to be sure my life repays the debt I owe to a great man who will be sorely missed...Dr. Don Boyd.

Sincerely,
Helen Callaghan

A Busy Day in God's House...

2009-11-23T23:32:00.000-08:00

Sunday marked the end of our Fall Program '09. Everyone worked SO hard to bring visitors these past 7 weeks. We had 8 visitors in the teen department and, I believe, 19 adult visitors! WOW! It is GREAT to see the house of God packed out on a Sunday morning!

I don't have the exact figures, but I believe we had 8 saved and 5 baptized on Sunday morning as well! God is good! One of our faithful church ladies won the prize for the most adult visitors...a new laptop computer!

Our teens did such a great job inviting friends and family to church and befriending the new visiting teens as well.

We also had our quarterly missions meeting this past Saturday evening and had a good turnout of about 25 or 26 people. We signed Christmas cards to mail to our missionaries and took a group picture to send them along with their card and love offering.

It brings to mind the verse in Psalms, I believe..."I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord!" I LOVE church! What a privilege to be a Christian!

Thanks, God!!

2009-11-16T22:17:00.001-08:00

I just had to pause and thank God for a wonderful Christian home! What a privilege!!

We had such a wonderful happy family night. A warm yummy pot of homemade soup at the kitchen table...the sounds of a "Daddy and Darren" basketball game while I cleaned the kitchen...a few rousing games of "Hungry Hippo"...a few good "oldie" cartoons, 1937 Mickey Mouse and another old Chip and Dale...tucking my sweet Darren man into bed...enjoying a fire in the fireplace and a hot cup of tea with my Babe...The hardest working husband around heading off to work to provide for our family...and now the last bit of our nice fire with the end of an old faithful Hallmark movie and another bit of hot tea!

Ahhhh, why wouldn't ANYONE want to invite God into their homes?! We are so privileged to follow the sweet and happy will of God! What a wonderful, wonderful place to be! During every moment of our lives, good or bad, home with Christ as the center is a sweet haven!

Isn't it Great to Serve God?!

2009-11-16T14:47:00.000-08:00

We had a great and busy weekend!

Saturday we had a Pizza and Game night at the church for the teens. We played some crazy games which they always love, and had pizza which they always love too (Some other snacks And homemade brownies of course!) We played human foosball, A survivor game and more. Lots of fun!

Here is a video clip of human foosball...

On Sunday morning, we honored our wonderful Pastor's wife as a surprise. Just thanking her around Thanksgiving time for all she has done. There was a church-wide reception following the service with delicious Filipino food. One of my FAVORITES since moving here! I never tasted it before I moved to CA! I could eat a whole PAN FULL of sweet sticky rice! Here is Pastor and Mrs. Callaghan with her special cake...(and one of our little men from the church decided to pop in the picture!)

Here is the "Lessons for Ladies" Plan I taught to my teen girls this Sunday morning. I teach a "Little Life Lesson" each Sunday...(The words that are in all caps are the ones that they fill in on their worksheets.)

A Faithful Woman…

I Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

• If we want God to entrust us with his blessings as stewards, we must first be found FAITHFUL.

• God doesn’t name certain areas; He wants us to be faithful in ALL areas.

• God will never be able to fully use your HUSBAND someday if you as a wife are not FAITHFUL to the things of God.

• The greatest ABILITY is dependability.

• Don’t ever date a young man if he is not faithful in his SPIRITUAL life and in his WORK; no matter how great he seems.

• Your future husband and children will not care how many TALENTS you have, they will care if you are faithful to your FAMILY.

• PRACTICE being faithful now in each area of your life.
(School, church, homework, household chores, family time, etc.)

• When you marry, never even JOKE about being an unfaithful WIFE.

• Being faithful doesn’t just HAPPEN when you become an adult. You must start NOW if you want to be a faithful lady!

Hmmmm...convicting...

2009-11-12T22:58:00.000-08:00

Interesting thought from I Samuel 17:28-29
"And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?"

This statement (above in red) seemed to jump out at me during my devotions this morning. David's eldest brother was sure he knew the thoughts and intents of David's heart when, in truth, he couldn't have been more wrong! He also spoke out on his suspicions against David's motives.

This seems to be a reminder from God that it is not our job to judge the thoughts or motives of others. If we are given a position of leadership over any group of people, we must be VERY careful to avoid correcting others over what "WE think" they meant to do. We must learn to listen, of course with God's wisdom and discernment. If we fail to use God's mind in situations of judgement we could permanently damage or wound the spirit, and possibly the future potential, of a young person. Being falsely accused or judged for your motives can badly wound the spirit and mar the attitude of a young person (or anyone for that matter!). Oh, how we need God's wisdom every moment of the day!

Thank you, God, for this convicting reminder you sent my way!

WOW!!

2009-11-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

I have an AMAZINGLY great report to post about our Sunday!

One of our teen girls has been praying for, I think, about 2 years for her mom to come to church and to be saved. She and her cousins convinced her mom to come with some family yesterday to church for the first time! We were SO excited. During our invitation time I slipped to the back of the auditorium where she was sitting and asked her if I could show her some verses from the Bible to help her in her life. She agreed and sat down with me right there in the back. I was able to open the Word of God and show her the only way to Heaven. She listened, bowed her head, and sweetly asked the Lord to take her to Heaven.

I was moved to tears as we prayed thinking that God would use ME to do such an amazing work in someone's life! WOW! If anyone ever says that serving the Lord is boring, they must not really be serving the Lord! The Lord's work is the greatest work in the world!

Thank you, God, for working through ME!

We also had a great number of teens there on Sunday morning, about 26, I think!

Great afternoon with the teens!

2009-11-04T22:51:00.001-08:00

Had a great day out Teen Soul-winning today. 17 teens in attendance and 7 people saved! Very good in view of the fact that we have very little time now that daylight savings is over. It is practically dark as soon as we start! We only had about half an hour out soul-winning. I was going to take some more pictures, but I forgot I had my camera till the last group of kids was getting off the bus! Anyways, here are a couple of our kids; we have such a GREAT group...

A few of our guys...Totally PUMPED, can't you tell?!...

2 of our young ladies ready to go win souls! However, they went with Dan and I. I regret to say that we picked the GRUMPY Street! A bunch of people who thought they didn't need God! Oh well, can't say we didn't try today!

Great Group of Teens!

2009-11-02T22:19:00.000-08:00

We had a good Sunday in our teen department. Sunday school attendance has been up. We had 23 teens there Sunday morning and one visitor! That is a GREAT number for our small church. We have had a teen visitor in Sunday school every week of the program! One of them has come back for every Sunday morning and Sunday evening service since the first week! God is good. We also saw 2 saved and one baptized in the morning service.

Sunday night I had the privilege of playing the piano for one of our teen young men to sing a solo. He did such a GREAT job and it is so rewarding to see your young people choose to live their lives for God. I tell my teen girls often that I don't want to MAKE them become good Christians. I want them to have their own desire and make the choice. God wants our willing love and service.

My "Lessons for Ladies" this Sunday was on "Conformed Christian or Transformed Christian." I encouraged my girls to not only learn to "look and act" like a Christian on the outside, but to transform their hearts. When our hearts are transformed we will have no problem making the changes on the outside. I have such teachable young ladies! This is, I believe, one of THE most important character traits a Christian can possess! I LOVE what I have the privilege of doing every Sunday!

Picture of some of our kids...

2009-10-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture that was taken a few months ago of us and the teens with Bro. and Mrs. Robertson from our church who recently moved to Oregon to take a Pastorate there. This is a good picture of them and the young people we love so much!

GREAT Soul-winning Story...

2009-10-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we took the teens out as usual. Dan was pretty tired as he usually is on Wednesdays due to lack of sleep! I was pretty wiped out too since Darren has NOT been sleeping much due to molars and a few bad dreams. We got everyone picked up and then dropped off in groups to go door to door. Then Dan and I went together yesterday.

The first door we went to was opened by a lady who just stared at us and did not say a word! So I handed her a tract and invited her to come and visit us at church sometime. She closed the door and we started to the next door.

Just then the door the lady had just closed swung open again. A young adult man come dashing out and said, "Wait! Can I have one of those papers? (our tracts) I am really having a hard time in my life right now." WOW! Talk about God opening up an opportunity!! Of course, we came back and Dan encouraged him for a bit. He told us how he and his girlfriend were really going through some trials. he had moved here from Louisiana 5 years ago and just now was able to get a job...guess where?...UPS! So he and Dan certainly had some common ground to chat about!

Dan then opened the Bible and showed him what things could be "For Sure" in his life...knowing he was a child of God! He sweetly bowed his head, prayed and accepted Christ as his Saviour!! I was moved to tears during their prayer.

Here is the amazing part...He did not live at that house and he had only walked in the door 5 minutes before we knocked! Also, he said he had been praying every night for 4 or 5 days for God to give him a sign and show him that He was really there!! Coincidence? Hmmm...I THINK NOT! Talk about making your day, huh?! Isn't it GREAT to be used by God?!!!

Great Weekend!

2009-10-26T23:05:00.001-07:00

Great weekend at Arlington Baptist Church! Had a GOOD group of teens, I had 15 in my Sunday school class and Dan had 12 or 13, I think! We had lots of folks saved and several baptisms! Not quite sure of the number. I am glad to be part of a church where hardly a Sunday goes by that we do not see souls saved in the morning service and the baptismal waters stirred! I know God is happy when the Great Commission is being fulfilled!

We also had a Haunted Bus for all those who "DARED" to walk through! A few teens and a couple men from the church "haunted" the bus and did a good job. Most kids enjoy getting scared! I'm afraid I NEVER enjoyed that sort of thing when I was younger! But it was a good promotion and brought in a lot of people on the buses. I went through too; it was scary! They did a good job!

My sister-in-law and another lady from our church recently started a Patch the Pirate Club for the younger kids. This past Sunday night was their first Sunday to sing. They did a good job and were so cute! Tried to post a video clip, but it didn't upload after about 15 MINUTES?! So, I will have to try that one again later!

Interesting thought...

2009-10-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

I Samuel 8:3 tells us that, sadly, Samuel's sons did not follow his footsteps, just as Eli's sons did not follow Eli's footsteps. Our children, it seems in most cases, will raise their children much in the same way that we raised them. Wow! What a sobering thought! We must be extremely careful how we make our decisions and pray for God's wisdom every step of the way. Young eyes are watching our every move and reaction, whether they be our own children or those around us that we influence. Only the Holy Spirit knows what each person needs in each situation. It seems the only way we can hope to have an eternal influence on a life is through the mind of Christ and influence of the Holy Spirit.

God, please walk with me every moment of the day and "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3). Every word I speak and action I take is so important! I LOVE serving You!

God can use anyone with a desire to be used!

2009-10-21T23:09:00.001-07:00

Every Wednesday afternoon we have the privilege of taking our teens out soul-winning. One of our young men who is only 13, I believe, just led his first soul to the Lord about 3 weeks ago. He has really gotten excited about this thing of soul-winning. Today he personally led 8 PEOPLE to the Lord! WOW! Makes us "accomplished" soul-winners stop and take a look at our zeal for leading others to Christ. While we were waiting for our last group of teens to finish up witnessing to a family, this young man and his partner ran around the corner to try to witness to one more person before we left!! May we never lose sight of the importance of going into "the highways and hedges" as God commanded and leading a lost soul to Christ.

I had the privilege of leading a young lady named Bruchea to Christ today and hopefully, with parental permission, she is going to be coming and visiting my Sunday school class this Sunday morning!

We had 14 teens (plus Dan and I) go out and...drum roll...20 PEOPLE SAVED!! WOW!! What a privilege it is to work with teens; we have such a GREAT group!! Thanks, God, for using us!!

Of course, there is the usual hilarity in the church van (we probably should have had the bus with 16 people crammed in that van!). Dan and I just laugh as we listen to the never ending interesting topics of conversation...Today, Hmmmm?!...The extra skin on your elbow, and how far can you stretch it...why some earlobes are attached to your head and some aren't...and the fun goes on and on!! Dan said we need to have a camera attached to the dashboard and just film some of the hilarious topics of discussion! Gotta love it!

Good Job, Patriots...

2009-10-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

No, they didn't win their basketball game, but they only lost by 3 points and they played a great game! Even some of those who weren't starters played a really great game. Always enjoy getting to take stats and watch our boys play basketball, my favorite sport to watch!

Fun with the Teen Girls!

2009-10-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

Had a few of the teen girls over to my house. We baked some goodies and watched a Hallmark movie. Lots of fun! I have such great girls to work with! We made mini chocolate tarts with strawberries and whipped cream. Then they made snickerdoodle muffins and did a great job!

Here is a picture of them with some of their goodies!!

Here is the EASY recipe for Snickerdoodle Mini muffins

Snickerdoodle Mini Muffins...(Easier in mini muffin tins, but work fine in regular size muffin tins too! We did some of both.)

1 YELLOW CAKE MIX WITH PUDDING IN THE MIX
4 EGGS
½ CUP APPLESAUCE
SMALL BOX INSTANT VANILLA PUDDING
8 OZ. SOUR CREAM

MIX ALL INGREDIENTS WELL WITH MIXER. FILL GREASED MINI MUFFIN TINS ½ FULL OF BATTER. BAKE @ 350 FOR 10 MINUTES. TOSS IN BAG WITH ONE CUP SUGAR AND 1 ½ t. CINNAMON

Mmmm...Enjoy!!

Great Sunday in the Teen Department...

2009-10-18T22:47:00.000-07:00

We had a good Sunday in the Teen Department, 26 teens, 6 of which were visitors! I had the privilege of leading 2 of the young ladies to the Lord and one followed the Lord in baptism! We had a great lesson on Psalms 126, talking about the importance of laughing and singing and the influence their testimony can have on others. I enjoyed teaching my girls what a VITAL role music plays in our lives. I enjoyed teaching them the importance of having the right kind of music, you can't just get rid of the bad; you have to REPLACE the bad with the good. And I also enjoyed teaching them the importance of singing out and not being embarrassed about letting others know they are a Christian. It is a privilege!!

Thanks, God, for the privilege of teaching teen ladies' Sunday school. I LOVE the opportunity!

AMAZING the testimony a group of teens can have!

2009-10-14T22:52:00.000-07:00

It is a PRIVILEGE to work with Christian teens!! Just thinking as we "took over" McDonald's today after soul-winning what a blessing it is to be with a group of teens who know how to have good clean fun together. Isn't it amazing how the presence of Christ in a young person's life can affect the way they act in all other areas of their life? We always get "looks" from people as we enter any place with 20 or more in our group. Usually that many teens in one place can only mean trouble. I love watching the change of expressions on peoples faces as they watch our kids behave like "normal human beings!" That alone is SUCH a great testimony for Christ!!

Of course, we have the normal "idiotic teen moments"...FREQUENTLY! Wouldn't be fun without those. Dan and I sometimes just shake our heads and laugh...did he really just say that?! Ha! But, as a whole, people are so impressed by watching our young people even for just a few minutes. We get good comments almost every where we go. Dan is such a great leader and teacher; training them and preparing them for how to act in each situation life throws them.

NO ONE can deny the difference God can make in a life!

Great time of soul-winning with the teens!

2009-10-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

WOW! great group of kids out soul-winning today...19! We have a good group when everyone shows up at once! We also had the privilege of seeing 11 people trust Christ! Our kids are a blessing.

Ever hesitant to go soul-winning and need a recharge? Go with a group of teens! I love their zeal! One of our girls personally saw 5 people saved today! I love watching them get on the bus, as we go back around and pick up all the groups, and hear them talk about the people they talked to and their soul-winning experiences. It builds our confidence when we get to talk to other people about "what happened to me" out soul-winning. To be honest, I ALWAYS have to talk myself into going out EVERY time the bus stops. There is a little "shy Helen" inside me that would just rather stay on the bus, even after 17 years of soul-winning! However, once I make myself get out there and talk to the FIRST person, God lights that fire of boldness inside of me! Thank you, God, for the accountability of working with young people.

Good lesson from Pastor about Joshua at church tonight. We are studying different characters of the Bible. Great day!

Thought from I Samuel 2:30...

2009-10-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

"Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before Me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from Me; for them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed."

Interesting thought...If I want to be highly esteemed in God's sight then I must first decide to honor Him with my life. God always expects me to be willing take the first step in every area of growth in my Christian life. He will not force Himself upon me. James 4:8a..."Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." God deeply desires our fellowship but is waiting for us to make the first move. Thank you, God, for reminding me of the importance of honoring You with every moment of my life today! I love You!

Great Service, Baptist Conference on Soul-winning!

2009-10-12T23:01:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed the Baptist Conference on Soul-winning tonight at our church with Bro. Alvin Martinez from North Valley singing 5 wonderful songs and Dr. Bob Gray Sr. preaching an encouraging message on "Never, Never Turn Back." Had a great crowd of people from our church tonight, and most of our teens back in the service again tonight! Proud of our teens for their faithfulness!! Also, quite a few people from visiting churches. I think we had 6 visiting pastors and their people. What a blessing to have great fellowship with other Christian people!

Bro. Alvin Martinez singing his heart out!

Dr. Bob Gray Sr. telling one of his jokes!

Great Day at the Arlington Baptist Church today!

2009-10-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

We had a great day at church this morning for the start of our Fall Program and Baptist Conference! We had 38 in our teen department for Friend Day! Exciting!! God is GOOD! Our teens worked hard the past couple weeks inviting their friends. We had breakfast and made some announcements in the teen dept. Then we all headed downstairs to hear Dr. Bob Gray Sr. preach a WONDERFUL Sunday school lesson on forgiveness. We also got to see 22 people receive Christ as Saviour this morning with 5 baptisms! Exciting to see God's people excited about bringing visitors to church.

We also had a great group of teens and church members back tonight for some great preaching. We did not get to take any pictures this morning, but here is a picture of some of the teens we had back tonight with Dr. Bob Gray. It is a GREAT privilege to serve the Lord!

HILARIOUS game to play!

2009-10-09T23:01:00.000-07:00

Ok...if you ever take a bus ride and need a game to play or even in the teen center, etc, this one is SOO fun!

Animal Calls...
Cut up small slips of paper (as many as you have teens). Write an animal name on each, be sure there are at least 2 of each animal. (Ex. 2 slips of paper say rooster, 2 slips of paper say, sheep, dog, etc.) Give each teen a slip of paper. They may not open till you say go. Explain to them that when you say "Go" they are to open their piece of paper and begin making the sound of their animal. They may not make any hand motions or say any words. The first team to find the other person making the same animal noise wins!

We did this on a bus ride and just BUSTED up laughing! As soon as we said go, all you could hear was...MEOW MEOW, WOOF WOOF, Maaaaa Maaaaa, etc. etc. HILARIOUS! Gotta love teenagers!

Being married to a Youth Pastor is fun!

2009-10-09T22:43:00.001-07:00

Dan makes things fun wherever he goes, and I always get to be there! We got to watch our Christian school basketball team, the Arlington Patriots, win a 49-23 victory over the Hopewell Huskies (Bro. Mike Ray's church in Napa. Always enjoy getting to see good Christian friends from other churches!) I get to keep stats, which I LOVE!! Dan keeps the scoreboard and keeps things lively with his iPod and speaker, playing college fight songs, and all kinds of other goofy songs...Charlie Brown, Jeopardy, The Price is Right, etc! The kids just love him!

I have learned so much balance from him. You can't be so uptight about your kids being the "perfect Christians" in their appearance to others, that you do not take time to be real with them. He has taught me SO MUCH about the importance of...just relax and have a good time. Build up your bank account of good times, so there is plenty of excess when you need to withdraw in reproof. This is such a vital lesson in reaching the hearts of your young people! Thank you, God, for the amazing man you have given me!

Friend Day is coming!

2009-10-08T22:49:00.000-07:00

Our Big Day is just a few days away. Our teens are really jumping on board and inviting all their friends. We have to work like it all depends upon us and then PRAY like it all depends upon God! Please, God, prepare hearts and bless the efforts of our teens that we may see new faces added to our teen department and YOUR service because of this day!

Busy, Busy Days!

2009-10-07T22:43:00.001-07:00

Sorry, I have not put up a post in a couple days. We have been super busy around here! Our Fall Program starts this Sunday and we are having a Big Day in our Teen department, Friend Day. We are trying to break all our attendance records for the past 5 years in our teen department! We also have our Baptist Conference on soul-winning taking place this Sunday and Monday as well. Dr. Bob Gray Sr. is coming to preach for us. He will preach Sunday morning and evening and then Monday evening. Monday is when we will have people from visiting churches all around our area come. We also have Bro. Alvin Martinez from North Valley Baptist coming to sing for us!

Also, Darren is sick with a yucky cold and is not sleeping at nights, therefore neither do I! (And, of course, neither does Dan!!) So this will make for a MOST interesting few days, i feel quite certain! We are excited about a great weekend though. God is bigger than we are!

Anyways, I will be MOST busy the next few days, so for those of you who follow my blog, forgive me if I do not have time to post too often. I will try to at least post a quick note every day even if I don't have time for pictures!

Great Sunday School Class!

2009-10-04T16:52:00.000-07:00

What a GREAT Sunday school lesson to teach from the book of Malachi! So many great foundational truths to give the young ladies this morning. Had 11 in Sunday school this morning! Great number. Hoping to PACK IT OUT next Sunday on our Big Day! Love my girls!

Great Teen activity!

2009-10-04T15:58:00.000-07:00

Took 28 teens to Dell'Osso Farms in Lathrop, CA. They have an awesome setup for the Harvest season with so many awesome things to do with a teen group. Our teens were a great example and we had several of their staff comment on what a great group of kids we had. It has been AMAZING to watch God grow our teen group from 3 faithful (Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night) teens to 20 teens over the last 5 years. Please be in prayer for our Big Day next Sunday, Friend Day! We are praying to pack out our teen department and break all our records next Sunday morning.

Here are a couple pictures from our teen activity...

Just when I think I know what I am doing...

2009-10-02T22:48:00.000-07:00

...A situation pops up to remind me that I am NOTHING without HIM!

Today, I am reminded how hard it is for young people, who attend Public school, or do not have spiritual support from home, or both, to take a stand in their Christian lives. I must change my mindset and realize that often they do not need my reproof, they need a loving reminder that they are somebody and God wants them to succeed! They need a "spiritual coach" so to speak encouraging them along the race when they get discouraged. They need to know someone is cheering for them and PROUD of their progress as a Christian no matter how seemingly small. I need not be the "yelling" type coach who hollers all the time when I FEEL they should be more spiritually mature in a given area. I am NEVER to make decisions with them that a parent should make, Mom and Dad are ALWAYS #1, no matter who Mom and Dad are. I can however coach them along when they ask for help and encourage them in their spiritual race. I reminded a young person just recently that it is ok if you feel like quitting, as long as you don't!

Thank you, God, for challenges; they drive me to my knees!

The more young people I work with from broken or un-churched homes the more thankful I become for my godly Christian parents. They were willing to sacrifice "extras" to see that I had the privilege of attending Christian school. They did their utmost to see I was raised up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Thank you, Lord, for my godly heritage! I love you, Dad and Mom!

I love working with teenagers!

2009-10-01T16:23:00.001-07:00

It is a great joy to work with young people! They are so vivacious about life. My husband and I have had the privilege of working with the teens of Arlington Baptist Church for 5 years now. It is certainly a WONDERFUL ministry. On this blog I will try to post at least once a day some thoughts or lessons that I have learned, sometimes the hard way, about being a youth pastor's wife. I reiterate that I AM NOT, nor claim to be, AN EXPERT! My husband and I simply would like to share little tidbits that we have learned.