With a quick look around and a sharp intake of breath, Joan slipped into the shadows of the passageway and bent over. Pulling up the hem of her skirt, she loosened the bounds of a cord tied around her ankle. With one swift motion, she picked up the little parcel that had fallen and straightened, flashing a smile around in case anyone caught sight of her strange action.
Kristin’s April Update
God has been doing many neat things in the ministry here – and back there too! We are just thankful for the privilege of serving Him after all He’s done for us. But you can read about all that from my husband’s emails. 🙂 Now for a woman’s perspective…
MOVING ON…
March was a moving month…literally and spiritually. In God’s provision of both a new 10-sleeper-camper and a 15-passenger van with an engine large enough to pull the trailer–at what seemed like “the last minute”–the Lord stretched our faith. We’ve heard it expressed that the Lord is seldom early but never late.
Consider Your Calling
Marriage is a wonderful gift from God but it cannot take God’s place. Here are a few things to consider and ask yourself at this critical point in your life: Do you feel that marriage will bring meaning, direction, and security to your life; would it take away feelings of failure, inadequacy and loneliness? Do you say to yourself, “If only I could find a husband then I’d be happy?”
Michelle’s April Update
Here we are again at the end of another busy month!! The time just goes by too fast! This has been a very interesting month for us.
What Manner of Man We Are
James 1:23-25 – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Success for Mom
Do you want to be a successful mom? Of course, you do! Who doesn’t, right? If you’ve been a mom for any length of time, I’m sure you have experienced days, like I have, that felt anything but successful. You know the ones… the kids were up at the crack of dawn. Before your feet hit the floor, someone or something had already caused a catastrophe. You swept Cheerios from under the highchair at least five times, changed a dozen diapers, consoled a teething baby, tried to rock to sleep a little one who had no intention of taking a nap, and then watched the clock waiting for daddy to come home, only to find that he had an unexpected meeting that would detain him later than normal.
Book Recommendations
To the residents of England’s countryside, the fairgrounds had a singular attraction, and the caravans were watched for with expectancy. Many a young person sighed with envy as they observed their apparent carefree and happy lifestyle. The actors led a life of never-ending parties! I can see it all now, the gilded cars, stately horses and riders, and the awe-struck crowd.
How Much is Too Much?
I love shopping! If you asked my Mom, she would tell you that I have always had the shopping bug since I was a little girl. I like numbers and mental math, so shopping and me go way back! However, there is a tendency when you are “born to shop” to go overboard in the spending department. How much is too much?
Kristin’s March Update
As I walk those halls, sit in the waiting room, and glance across the hall to Radiology, it all comes back in a flash as if it was yesterday: handing my 3 day old infant over to strange doctors, undergoing complicated tests, waiting to find out if she had any kidney function at all in her tiny little newborn body. We can never forget the miraculous way God used Anna’s pediatrician here to call his own personal urologist in Pretoria to get us in ‘only as a favor’ just 2 days later. The halls we remember walking while tearfully asking our God for grace, and strength, and mercy, are now the halls we walk thanking God for sweet Anna and for another good annual check up.
Eight Reasons to Strength Train
Life can get busy. Have you ever thought about adding a strength training routine into your life? I’m not talking about digging out your dad or brother’s dumbbells and try bench pressing 50 pounds. I’m talking about strength training your spirit – the part of you that is connected to Almighty God. You say you want to be a strong, effective Christian during your single years—how do you plan on doing that? Try adding strength training to your morning routine.
Michelle’s March Update
Where to begin! So many things have happened since I last wrote…..I’ll start with camp and work my way forward. We had a great week of camp! It was a little cool for a couple of days but it only rained twice. The preaching was really great and we all walked away knowing that there were things in our lives that needed to CHANGE!
Crock Pot Italian Stuffed Meatloaf
Gina Hall enjoys crockpot cooking, and she also enjoys the ease of making and serving this meatloaf recipe for guests. The recipe came from a friend , who had gotten it from a magazine. Gina has made some changes and converted it to a crock pot recipe. She prefers to use 90 percent lean ground beef, which keeps it from getting too greasy. Gina also does not skimp on the cheese and she has tried several different types of ham. Pick what you prefer and the rest is up to you!
Debbie’s March Update
This is all new to me…I never thought I would be TEXTING an article from the road. What is this world coming to?!
Boldness
Remember young Miriam in the Old Testament? She has a real “princess story” that I think will help us understand better the character trait of boldness!
An Hour’s Drive Away
I recently read a quip someone made about space not being that far away and inaccessible as we think it is. After all, it is only an hour’s drive away if your car could go straight up. An hour’s drive is no big deal…many people make that every day to go to work or go to the store. But there is still that all-determining ‘if.’
Jisela’s Spicy Savory Salsa Chicken
One night after coming home from work I was in a hurry to make dinner and couldn’t figure out what to make, being as I’m not in the habit of meal planning (shame on me!). I threw these items together, and Mike enjoyed the dish so much, that I’ve continued to make it. Necessity is the mother of invention? Is that how it goes?
Recommendations
Eight Cousins, written by Louisa M. Alcott, is one of my favorite stories. There are 24 chapters, each several pages long. Its style is enjoyable for the teenager. A young person under the age of 12 might find it a challenge because, I’ll admit, it’s not one of those attractive, easy-read stories that capture your attention entirely by the fifth line. Mom is now reading it aloud to Grace (age10) and she is thoroughly enjoying it.
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Never Alone
Motherhood can be a lonely profession at times, can’t it? I was surprised when my first baby was very little how lonely the days became. Sure, it was rewarding and delightful to care for her and interact with her all day. But she napped a lot and doing laundry and changing diapers over and over and over again became monotonous. When we did go out into public, she was the center of attention. People fussed and oohed and aahed over her. When daddy came home from work, he couldn’t wait to bounce her on his knee or fly her around the room. Sometimes Mommy can feel a little alone and dare I said it, forgotten, can’t she?
In the Midst of Doubts and Fears
Darkness and fears over took me. I was overwhelmed and could not look up. The shadows of death surrounded my heart. Wisdom faded from view and I could not trust my own thoughts. Discouragement cut into my heart like a knife and joy escaped me. The terrors of the night seized my heart. I found no peace. My prayers seemed far from me and God was not in all my thoughts. Have these thoughts ever penetrated into your heart? If so, you are not alone in your fears and doubts. There are others that faced the same thoughts.