Jellybeans With Purpose

By MAD21

He is risen!

We pray that everyone had a wonderful Easter! Our family had an amazing weekend celebrating one of our favorite holidays. We love the opportunity to come together as a community and remember what Christ sacrificed for us, and celebrate him defying all human understanding by rising from the darkness of death.

Our girls are old enough that they are now seeking to understand what this holiday means (as much as they can at six and almost four). They are beginning to realize that this day is about more than Easter dresses, egg hunts, and baskets full of goodies. We can still have fun with all of that, but now they are assigning meaning to things.

Click to read more ...

God's Orchestra

By Pat

Do you find it easy to compare yourself with others regularly, allowing others to set the bar for what you think you should be? I sure have, but I have learned that it's a recipe for failure.

God made each of us unique, with our own distinct personalities, strengths, likes, dislikes, and yes...flaws. That's the way it's supposed to be. That's what God intended. We are each a musical instrument in God's orchestra, and God is our maestro. If we are all the same instrument, that would certainly make for a mighty boring band, wouldn't it?

Click to read more ...

Being Wise With What's Given To You

By MAD21

"One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty." (Proverbs 11:24)

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

We are told not only to give and give cheerfully, but we are also told to plan it out.

Click to read more ...

Hang In There

By Pat

Do you ever sit and wonder
As you're going through the day
"Are you listening to me, Jesus?
Do you hear a word I say?"

When Heaven seems unreachable,
A vast and distant place,

Click to read more ...

Have You Seen God?

By Pat

Have you seen God lately? I have. I saw Him in Haiti, in the faces of the thousands who have volunteered their time and efforts to bring help, healing and hope to the countless many in dire need. I saw, amid the destruction, death and desperation, the hope that was God in the many He sent.

Have you seen God lately? I have. I saw Him in the form of a neighbor shoveling a neighbor's sidewalk during a recent heavy snow. And I saw Him pushing a stranger's car when it got stuck in an icy ditch.

Have you seen God lately? I have. I saw Him in a group of people pulling together to collect money for a neighbor in need.

Click to read more ...