A Circle of Three

Treasure the Words...

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." -Romans 12:2 Message

Our everyday ordinary life...what does that look like for you? God's Word tells us we are to take our lives and every aspect of them and present them to God as an offering. How difficult is that for you? As I sit here today reflecting on Holy Week I think of my own life and how often I just left God out of the details. I pursued the path that I believed was the right one without even thinking that maybe I should just pray first and see how it would fit into God's plan.

We live in a world where we are bombarded daily with choices and God's voice is not heard in the noise and the confusion. We attempt to fit in and maybe, just maybe it would be better to stand out and be that authentic woman that we are called to be. There was a time in my own life when all I cared about was "fitting in" and it led me to make choices that I knew were wrong and that left me feeling guilty. It was a difficult path, but I forged ahead believing that this was a path that would give me happiness...it didn't. Traveling down the wrong path never gave me freedom and it robbed me of peace and joy, because it was all about performance.

I was raised Catholic by two parents who rarely attended church services. I remember as a young child going to Mass on Sunday mornings with sweet Mrs. Rogers who owned the house that my family lived in. I would pretend that she was my grandmother because it felt awkward not being in church with my own family. Sitting in that huge old church on Sunday morning that always smelled of burnt candle wax I felt God's peace and I felt His love. God had His hand on me and His words brought meaning to my life...a life that even as a young child was tumultous at best.

Holy Week in the Catholic church meant stations of the cross...visiting 7 churches and praying in each one...it meant attending a Service on Thursday evenings where the altar boys would get their feet washed and that was followed by a very solemn Good Friday Service and then on Easter morning occasionally my parents would come to church with me.  I remember being so proud that we were all in church together. For me, it was a sign that God meant for us to be together...to be a family and that gave me hope.

As a child one of the tv commercials that I heard so often was "the family that prays together stays together"...I believed that commercial and knew that my family was doomed because I never saw either of my parents pray at all...and the commercial proved to be true for my family. Do I think that my parents might have stayed together had they prayed together? Yes, I do. I believe if they had trusted God with their marriage, with their lives, and with our family maybe just maybe their marriage would have survived. If they had perhaps allowed God's Word to permeate their hearts instead of listening to friends, they might have both been changed from the inside out.

I am thankful for a woman who loved me enough to make sure that I was able to attend church on a weekly basis...that she prayed with me and for me and helped me to see that God's love would bring me freedom. I am thankful that His love melted my heart and enabled me to see that He alone has the power to change lives.

Holy Week is a time to reflect...reflect on what God has done for you and for those you love...a time to reflect on His Words and to maybe once again recommit your life to Him. The world and all that is in it will tarnish and fade away, but God's love for us in endless and how we live will make an eternal difference.

 

 

 

I grew up knowing that I was an accident....the result of an unplanned pregnancy. My earliest memories are of spending time with a family who had 4 children of their own, all teenagers. For the first five years of my life I spent more time with Lorraine and her family than I did with my own. My Mom was going to Cosmetology School at the time and my Dad worked the 2-10 PM shift as a weaver at a local textile mill.

By the time I started kindergarten at the local Catholic School my mother had graduated from Cosmetology School and had landed a job at an excellent salon in our home town and my Dad changed his hours at work from 6 am -2 PM so that he could be home when I got home from school. I loved walking home knowing that my Dad would be there. I would usually come in, change my clothes, have a snack and then we would go for a ride and then to shop for whatever he was going to cook that night.

After dinner he would clean up the kitchen and then I would get a bath, put my pj's on and sit and watch tv with him before going to bed. Most days I never even saw my mother. She worked long hours and then would go out with friends. Mondays were her day off and yet even then I don't remember her really being there.

How blessed I was to have a Dad who never complained, but just stepped in and filled both roles in my life. I remember once when I was ten I bought him a Mother's Day Card and he laughed when he opened it. He was the one that I knew I could count on...he was my nurturer. I remember as a child "suffering in silence" as I felt unloved by my mother and it hurt me that she cared more about her career, her friends, and everything other than me and I knew early on that she didn't really love my Dad either.

What if I hadn't had a Dad who loved me...what if he had been selfish as well, how would I have turned out? My adopted aunt told me the other day that she sees so much of my Dad in me and I guess that is what has triggered this post. When I look in the mirror I don't see any physical resemblance to my Dad, but I do pray that my heart reflects not only my eartly father's heart, but my Heavenly Father's heart even more so. My Dad always reached out to others, even after diabetes had caused him to have both of his legs amputated. He always put the needs of others before his own.

Dad came to live with us in the final year of his life. How I loved having him there...long talks about life, about my childhood, and about the grandchildren that he had grown to love so very much. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him and the sweet memories are what I hold onto until I one day see him again. I am grateful that he chose to always be in the moments that he spent with me; that he loved me unconditionally and I always knew that I was important to him. I am thankful that he did not have a selfish bone in his body and my prayer is that my life will honor the legacy he left behind always.

 

 

Are You Free?

Hope...how could you have hope for a better tomorrow if you had no faith in the God who could make that happen? Over the past 10 weeks or so I have been privileged to watch the transformation of a young woman...a young woman who was once an addict on the streets...a young woman we hoped would be able to change her life and use her story for the glory of God. We prayed for her at the Center, my Director always loved her and never gave up on believing that one day she would want a better life...and prayers are being answered.

As I have watched the transformation of this beautiful young woman I am as always amazed at how God hears our prayers if we are patient and persistent. In the book, "The Circle Maker" the author writes: "God answers every prayer, and He keeps every promise. Every prayer is a time capsule. We never know when, how, or where God is going to answer, but His promise is that He will." Watching this young woman blossom into the woman she is destined to become has been like watching a butterfly emerge from their cocoon.

In the book the "Circle Maker"  the author tells us that we must first discern what it is that God wants, what does He will. Our goal should always be to glorify God by drawing circles around the promises, miracles, and dreams that He wants for us and for those that we love. We need to identify our "Jericho." What miracles does God want you to believe? What are the dreams He wants you to pursue? What are the promises God wants you to stake your claim on? What miracles does God want you to believe? The answers we have to those questions will change as the seasons of our lives change, but prayer is always the key.

Yesterday my sweet friend who has made enormous strides and has been clean now for almost 6 months (with the exception of one day) told me that she was going to start the Daniel fast and do it for 10 days. In the book of Daniel in the Bible we understand that prayer was Daniel's life and his life was an answered prayer. I would love to fast along with her, but because of the diabetes that is difficult for me. I am going to fast from all processed foods beginning today and pray for her to have clarity as she goes through this and for the desires of her heart.

I am believing that God is going to do great things with this young woman's life and am standing on His promises. Watching someone be freed from bondage and from an addiction is a miracle and I am so blessed to watch God at work in the heart of His child. I will close with this quote: "If you plant yourself in one place and let your roots go deep, there is no limit to what God can do."

This flower garden was planted by my sweet friend a few weeks ago at the rehab house that she lives in. How special it was to see the joy on her face as she planted these flowers. Over the past few weeks the flowers have grown...the girls are all helping to keep the garden weed free and watered...and all of them are blossoming just as the flowers are.

Praising God..."If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed."

Be Still and Know...

I am on vacation this week as is Bob and we are truly enjoying having some downtime. It's nice to have some unhurried times in the midst of the busyness of our lives. We both are blessed to be able to do work that we love and enjoy, but are welcoming the slower pace of life this week. It's always a choice...do you savor some "down time" or do you just continue on the merry-go-round of life?

One of my very favorite books besides the Bible is a book that is no longer in print called, "See You At the House" by Bob Benson. It is a book of essays, most of which are about the importance of family and now my new favorite book is, "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voscamp. I love how she encourages us to seek gratitude for all things in our lives. She shares her experiences as a pig farmer's wife and mother to 6 children. It has been a wonderful reminder for me to appreciate my life and to embrace the moments.

On Sunday Bob and I walked the streets of Winter Park for the Annual Art Festival. I have always loved that Art Festival and all of our children at one time or another worked at it when they were in High School. My favorite pieces are always the eccletic as well as the primitive pieces. This year as always Lynn Whipple's art was wonderful and then some an artist from Georgia's work was incredible. This is one of his pieces below. I love that so many of them had the music to old hymns.
All of his work is on old wood from share cropper's homes on the farm he and his family live on in Georgia. He used live models...and so these were the hands of a woman he has come to know.

Sitting here this morning I read Ann Voscamp's blog...http://www.aholyexperience.com/ and she writes about going out to the marsh with her youngest child and listening to the frogs sing. How they needed to be still to hear the wonderful symphony. She writes at the end of her post "You can only hear your life sing - when you still." So very true. When we live our lives in constant busyness and do not take the time to be still, life is just chaos and we live life haphazardly.  It is in the stillness...in the quiet...in the moments that we can reflect on what we have and what we are doing with the moments that God allows us to have.

Yesterday I saw a post on Facebook that really disturbed me. It was written by a young mother who complained that her children were on Spring Break and how she hated it! I know that sometimes when you are in the midst of those years that life is difficult, but how I wish that all women could understand that those years do not last forever. I wish that I had heeded my sweet Vavo's warning to me: "enjoy these momenst because they will be grown and gone before you know it." I didn't see that and didn't always treasure those moments. I confess that I wasted far too many of them.

Children need our time...they need to know that they matter more than a show on tv...that you want to talk to them and spend time with them more than you do with your friends...they need to know that you are in the moments of their lives. Life doesn't have a "Tivo" button...as the song says, "you only get one shot at this." 

Take some time to be still before God...to begin living life differently and to focus on being grateful for all that God has placed in your life right now. Live intentionally and know that it really is true that you can really only hear and see what your life seems to be saying when you are still. When you slow down the moments...you begin to take stock...to see all that God has brought you through and all that you have right before you.

Happy to have some time this week to relax with my hubby...to enjoy family...and to count my blessings...and to choose to live a life of thanksgiving. What is your life telling you?

 

 

He Is Already There...

What an amazing roller coaster week it has been. Our pregnant Marie's parents have come back into town and seem very determined to take her back to where they live and want her to sign over custody of this baby girl who is living in her momma's womb...oblivious to the battle waging on outside. On her "Marie Monday" post this week Lisa Harper, the woman who wants to adopt this baby wrote that she pictures this baby girl as a warrior...inside her momma with a shield and a sword.

People all over the world have been praying and sending heartfelt cards and letters to Marie for the past 4 months. This baby has been bathed in sweet prayers and her crack addicted Momma has been met and loved right where she is by so many. I believe that this sweet baby is wearing the armor of God already and my prayer is that she will one day stand victorious before her heavenly Father and understand what a miracle she really is.

So many people have asked, "How has this baby survived as her mother does crack almost daily?" My answer always: "God has His hands on this child." I believe it and I know that His promises are true so I trust that the One who has knit her together will keep her safe.

As of right now Marie has chosen not to go with her parents...that alone speaks volumes. She also knows that she really only has two choices once this baby girl emerges...DCF will step in and take her or she needs to go ahead and sign the adoption papers. We don't know what the outcome will be, but God does. Our job is to pray...to pray that Marie would be able to feel the unconditional love that is being poured into her, that this sweet baby will not be born struggling and that one day Marie could be healed from her addiction and choose to follow Jesus.

There is a song by Casting Crowns called "Already There" and in the introduction on the CD folder it says: "God is not bound by time as I am. All I see is the here and now and things often look random and out of control. but...God is standing at the end of my life and looking back on it." Jesus will bring it all together for good. It makes no sense from where we are standing, but God is already there.

I will post the lyrics to the song on my Facebook page...listen and know that no matter what you are going through God sees the whole picture...he is already there and always has our best interest at heart.

Please join me in praying for Mari, her baby, Lisa Harper and all who are involved to be filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and to feel His mercy and His love.

 

 

 

 

 

Come To The Well

There is that passage in the Bible that says that our hearts should be broken by the things that break the heart of God. All of us who work in Ministry I believe can attest that every day someone crosses our path that reminds us of the need to be merciful and to look at them through the eyes of Jesus.

Today I had a homeless woman walk in who was dirty and unkept...she was much older than our usual clients, but was concerned that she might be pregnant. She told me that she had been incarcerated for almost 3 years, has a history of alcoholism and her belly was growing...to her that was a sign that she was pregnant. A woman who had already borne 6 children who had all been taken away from her. Was my heart broken? Yes. I can't even begin to fathom the pain of losing one child never mind six.

I did the pregnancy test and it was negative...she was sad. Was she sad because she thought maybe this time things could have a different ending or was she sad because she is realizing that she might never have the chance again to mother a child. I don't know.

I explained to her that maybe she is going through menopause, but because her belly was so distended I advised her to seek medical attention. She told me thats she didn't trust doctors and would just "wait" and see what happens. She thanked me profusely for talking to her and left to go back to her life on the street. The pain in her eyes I will remember for days to come.

So many women struggling with addictions and so few places to give them the help that they really need. I have watched this with "Marie" who is a crack addict and 8 months pregnant. She has been offered love by all of us, she has been offered Rehab and yet she chooses her addiction and wrong choices over authentic love and help for her and her child. Is it because she considers herself unloveable or is it because she has never been able to trust anyone who has been in her life?

I would imagine if you have gone through life with no one really caring about you that is is difficult to believe that others could genuinely love you and care about you. She chooses to believe the lies that the enemy allows to enter her head and confuse her. None of us know at this point how the next 4 weeks or so will play out...will the baby be put into DCF custody? Will she sign the papers and allow the godly woman who wants to adopt this baby to do so or will she relinquish the baby to the foster parents who adopted her, but have had not involvement in her life up until the last 2 weeks. Only God knows the answer and so we have to pray...to storm heaven's gates and to trust that His ways are always the best ways. And forever, the story of "Marie" will remain etched in our hearts.

There is a song by Casting Crowns..."Come to the Well"...and it says: "Leave it all behind...you can spend your whole life chasing what you feel is missing, but that empty inside it ain't gonna listen...when nothing can satisfy and the world leaves you high and dry...come to the well. And it goes on to say as Jesus would say: "Bring me your heart, no matter how broken. Just come as you are when your last prayer is spoken Just rest in my arms a little while, you'll feel the change, my child when you come to the well."

The world and all that it offers us can never fill us up. Nothing that we do will give us the fulfillment that Jesus can give us and yet, I see so many striving and so many addictive behaviors. The Bible tells us that Jesus loves us just as we are...His love is unconditional and in Him we can find rest. My prayer is for all of those who struggle with addictions that they will be able to seek Him and find their identity in Him and that the peace that surpasses all understanding will take hold of their hearts.

 

Letters to Ethan Blog Tour

What sparked the idea to write Letters to Ethan?
One day I started thinking about my own mortality and how I would want to be remembered by my children and grandchildren. I just didn’t want to die and leave them a memory, although positive memories are certainly important and valuable. I wanted them to know that they’re here for a purpose, that God loves them; that I love them; and I wanted to share the mistakes and miracles of my own life with the hope that it would be of some benefit to them as they encountered their own challenges and opportunities in the future.

Why do you think it’s important for letters to be left behind?
I believe that it’s important to leave letters for your children and grandchildren to give them a perspective on life in general, your family traditions, the role that faith has played in your family as well as the wisdom that you’ve acquired over the years. In addition, each letter is a ray of hope in that it communicates to the recipient that we all face challenges and obstacles in our lives and that with patience, persistence, passion, and purpose those challenges and obstacles can be overcome and result in a meaningful life.

Do you really think letters can have an impact on young people?
Absolutely. I’ve seen the results first-hand in adult children whose parents left legacy letters for them. In addition, when parents have shared letters with their adult children, the feelings of joy, contentment, and satisfaction have strengthened the bond between them immensely. In addition, when a young person realizes that a grandparent took the time to write them a legacy letter, it has a definite impact upon their sense of self-esteem and self-worth.
What inspired you to start Legacy Nation? (www.legacynationusa.com)

Two events triggered my passion for Legacy Nation. First of all, I had two sets of grandparents --- one that I lived with growing up in a two-story flat in upstate New York and knew as well as my parents, and the other set of grandparents that I never met. I still remember the happiness that I enjoyed with the grandparents that lived upstairs and the sadness that I felt at now knowing anything about my paternal grandparents.

I saw Legacy Nation as an opportunity to bridge two worlds. Parents and grandparents could write letters to their children and grandchildren on an ongoing basis while they are alive, sharing their wisdom, experiences, trials and tribulations, joys as well as the faith, hope, and love that they have in their kids and grandkids. Their children and grandchildren then would have those letters as a legacy that they could learn from and continue to build for their children and grandchildren as well.

At the same time, our nation is hurting. We need a re-energized faith, a new hope, and a return to that family foundation of love and respect that our forefathers relied upon to build these United States of America.

Progress is wonderful, technology is great, and the speed of change is a fact of life. Unfortunately, traditional family values are feeling the pinch from our current economic crisis and the demands placed upon our time result in less meaningful interaction with our kids and grandkids. I’m worried about the future of my children and grandchildren.

I founded Legacy Nation as a means to return to those values that made our nation great as well as an admired and respected people, a beacon of hope to mankind, and a blessing to our children and grandchildren.

If you could offer just one piece of advice to the next generation, what would it be?

God gave you three priceless gifts: your emotions, your intellect, and your will. And if you remember this thought you’ll know what to do with them: “God said, ‘Let’s build a better world.’ And I said, ‘How? The world is such a cold, dark place and so complicated now that there’s nothing I can do.’ God in all His wisdom said, ‘Just build a better you.’”

Where can we find out about more opportunities for a free copy of this book?
Follow @ChristianSpkrs on Twitter.

was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services (http://ChristianSpeakersServices.com).

 

 

 

 

 

And A Little Child Should Lead Her...

My heart is filled with gratitude for those in my church family who were willing to dig deep into their wallets yesterday to help keep our "Marie" in rehab for an additional 3 weeks. I went to visit her on Saturday in the place that she now calls home and I was so blessed to be able to sit and talk to her for a little bit. She is still struggling, but more at peace than I have ever seen her.

When I knocked on the door I could hear the excitement in her voice as she announced to the house mother who was coming to the door "it's company for me." Who would have ever thought that I would enjoy being in the company of this young woman who has lived a life of shame, of prostitution, and of drug addictions? The God who created both of us knew long before we ever laid eyes on each other that we would become sisters of the heart. I love this woman and feel her pain and want to do all that I can to make the road a little easier for her.

She was happy to have more mail to read...cards and letters pour in for another "Marie" and we share the blessings with her...we share the Scripture verses and she feels loved and feels encouraged to continue on even when it is so very painful. Her eyes tear up as she holds all the mail and she begins to sob..."these are so wonderful...so many people cheering me on." I can only imagine what this mail means to a young woman who has been beaten and robbed of so much in her life. We want her to feel special...to understand that in God's eyes she and all of the others who struggle with addictions are precious in His eyes and in ours as well.

The house mother tells me one of the things that she loves about "Marie is that she is very humble and always wants to help out. They are trying to find her a part-time job so she can begin the long journey of one day having a new story to tell. Marie tells me that she is worried as she only has one week left before her financial support runs out. I tell her not to worry that we will do what we can for her...she needs to do her part and continue getting well and we will try to come up with the money. I reassure her that God knows exactly what she needs and I believe that He will provide.

Marie never really asks for anything for herself, that is the one thing I have noticed as I have befriended her and she is so very appreciative of anything that we give her. I brought her mail and a bag of "goodies" ...things I thought she might enjoy along with a few good books. She looks in the bag and smiles, thanking me for thinking of her. And then she asks for one thing...a picture of the sweet child that she gave up for adoption a little over two years ago. A picture the only tangible evidence that she has that once this child grew in her womb.

This precious little girl was adopted by a young Christian couple who love her so very much. They tell her that she was adopted from "Marie" the woman who gave her birth. Anna, this two year-old calls "Marie" Mommy Birthday and so today I put together a little collage of pictures (with permission of the adoptive Mom) and took it over to "Marie."

When I arrived as always she was so happy to see me...I gave her the mail, some clothing items for her to share with the other girls who live there and toilitries for all of them. Then, I hand her the picture frame with her "Anna's" pictures and she cries tears of happiness. She shared on Saturday that her daughter is the reason that she wants to get better. She wants to be able to visit her one day and tell her that she loves her...that she loved her enough to give her up to a young couple who would teach her about Jesus and protect her. She wants to be able to tell her that once I was "sick" but now Jesus has healed me.

It is my wish for all the "Marie's" who struggle with addictions. I hate what it does to them...to those who love them and most of all to the God who created them. What a blessing it was to be able to give the house mother money to pay for an additional 3 weeks...and for "Marie" to know that God does provide. My prayer is that one day "Marie" will be able to tell her story...to tell others about God's redeeming love and that all of the broken pieces of her life will become a vessel that God will use in a mighty way.

Please continue to pray for "Marie" and "Marie Monday" whose baby is due in the next 5 weeks. If you feel led to donate money to help pay for additional weeks for "Marie" in rehab please send me a private message. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

"do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests but also for the interests of others." -Philippians 2: 3-4

 

 

 

Will You Step Up?

This morning I had the pleasure of going with my Director, Andrea to Friends Church in Orlando to listen to her deliver a message to their congregation on the sanctity of life. As I sat and listened to Andrea this morning reminding the congregation that the unborn have no voice...the choice is their mother's and thousands of babies are killed every day in our country yet, sea turtles eggs are protected. Sea turtle babies have rights, but human babies do not.

For years I struggled with the comment my own mother made to me when I was ten years old. In a fit of anger one day because I was unable to swallow an antinbiotic she screamed at me "I hate you...I wish that you had never been born...I wanted to have an abortion, but I couldn't. I was the albatross around her neck is how I looked at myself. I was also the reason she had gone back to my father after leaving him. When she left she had not known that she was pregnant, but when she found out she chose not to be a single mother.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16

The Bible tells us that God created us...He knit us together. I had grown up believing that I was an accident...that my mother hated me, but lacked the courage to have an abortion and that thought pained me for many years. It colored how I thought about myself for a long time...until, one day I read Psalm 139 and realized that to my mother I had been an accident, but to the God who created me I was fearfully and wonderfully made. He had ordained my days and I am thankful that He continues to do so.

When our daughter was in her early teens we took her to a local Opthamologist as she was having some problems with her vision. I remember that day sitting in the exam room and when he finished he looked at me and said, "your daughter is a carrier for occular albinism." My husband, one of his uncles, one of his cousins, and his brother all had the condition so we had always known that it was genetic, but up until that moment we had not realized that our daughter was a carrier. He went on to explain that it was only passed mother to son so when she got older and if she got pregnant and we found out that she was having a boy then she could abort the fetus.

I remember sitting there just dumbfounded that he would even suggest this. I looked at him and said, "Really, I don't think that is even a possibility because you see it as a genetic defect...you see it as a child who would be less than perfect, but I see it as a child of God. I understand what this child would be capable of even if he was "legally blind." What if when my mother-in-law had become pregnant with my husband back in 1947 she had been offered that option? And then again in 1951 when she gave birth to a second son with occular albinism? My husband grew up to become a husband, a wonderful Dad, a computer Programmer and most importantly a follower of Jesus Christ. His brother, grew up to be a husband, a wonderful father, the President of an engineering firm and also a devoted follower of Jesus. What would our families have missed out on?

If our daughter had believed that abortion was her option we would have all missed out on the blessing of our grandsons Blake and Mark who have both brought us love, laughter, and so much more. I look at Blake who is 11 and an excellent student, a great golfer and a whiz on the Computer and a heart that loves Jesus and Marky who is 5 who provides us with new ancedotes daily...excels in his kindergarten class and oozes self-confidence and I am thankful to my daughter who chose to believe that in God's eyes they were not an accident.

Society has taught us that everyone needs to look and act perfect...no flaws allowed, but God in His infinite wisdom sees us through different eyes. Yes, my husband may not see or hear as well as another man, but I would not trade his heart for anything. The Bible tells us that man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at our hearts. We see someone with Alzheimer's as just an "empty shell" but God sees the value in that person. Who are we to play God?

I ask you this question...a teenage girl is pregnant and she realizes that her fiancee is not the father of her baby and at first, he is very upset...would you have recommended an abortion? If you said, yes, then you would have killed Jesus Christ. See, that is my point...none of us know what these children would or could grow up to be, but the God who created their souls, who knit them togther does and He has a plan for their lives. Who are we to interfere with that plan?

Since that ill fated day when Roe vs. Wade passed over 54 million babies have been aborted. Babies would had no voice and may have grown up to be the next Steve Jobs, Billy Graham, Mother Teresa...or just maybe a Mom or Dad themselves who would pass on the love of Jesus to a new generation.

Please pray for those who have aborted babies because they felt that they had no voice. Remind them that we serve a God who died on the Cross so that their sins could be forgiven. He offers them freedom from the pain and the shame. Pray for those who are pregnant and wrestling with the decision that they will choose life for their unborn child. And lastly if you believe in the sanctity of life get involved and make a difference.

We are in the planning stage of planting another Crisis Pregnancy Center in Oviedo and your generous support would be a huge blessing. We need men and women who want to partner with us to protect those who have no voice and to love the mothers who need us to minister to them.

How awesome our God truly is. I am so blessed to be able to get up every day and work at something I am passionate about ...helping and encouraging women. Last night I was given the gift of a ticket to Dinner Conversations with Linda Werner. The teaching last night was on personal growth and so I really enjoyed it.

One of my favorite quotes from the evening was this one: "God is not so much offended that we want too much as by the fact that we are satisfied with so little." Once upon a time that was my mentality, but as my walk with Christ deepened so did growth in the areas of my life that needed to be stretched. As we pray, dig deeper into His Word and then listen for gentle nudgings we begin to see His greatness and His power at work in our lives. When we work from our passions and our giftedness we will see His light shine through us.

The enemy wants us to stay "stuck" because then there really is no hope in our stories. When we do not use the gifts that God has given us the enemy wins. Every morning as I spend time with the Lord I am reminded that becoming "great" is a choice I have to make. Linda Werner reminded all of us last night to begin our day asking God what He needs from us this day. Somemtimes, we have to lay aside other things that are clammering for our attention to do that what God calls us to do so that we can live His best for our lives.

Psalm 1: 2-3 says: "But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law does he meditate day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." I have watched God at work in my life over the last year and as we prepare to open a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Oviedo I am excited to know that His light will shine and give Hope to more women who are in a crisis situation. I am blessed to know that this is what He has called me to do and I pray that He will continue to use me to spread His love and His story.