One Place - Things I listen to...

One thing I love to do is listen to www.Oneplace.com while I stamp. Today I was listening to Dr. James MacDonald and he had such a wonderful message about God's Love and loving others.
If you are interested you can go HERE to listen for yourself! He also has 2 fabulous messages on your storms of life in his archives.

I really enjoy listening to Nancy Leigh DeMoss too for Women's Ministry things. At the Oneplace.com website her Ministry is called Revive Our Hearts. What I love about this website is all of the radio broadcasts are on here. So I can listen when it is convenient for me and many times, I can listen while I stamp!

I LOVE THIS VIDEO!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13
I thought I would share this, a friend e-mailed it to me this morning.

The following are some attributes of love and can act as a thermometer for us (based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8):
-Patient.
-Kind and thoughtful.
-Never jealous or envious.
-Never brags or acts proud and arrogant.
-Is not selfish or self-seeking.
-Does not take offense and is not easily provoked.
-Forgives and forgets quickly (does not take into account a wrong suffered).
-Is saddened and grieved by unrighteousness.
-Rejoices in righteousness, truth, and justice.
-Bears all things.
-Believes and hopes for the best in others; believes for good outcomes.
-Endures and never gives up.

As I am preparing for the Christmas Season, I am reminded, it is not only important to prepare with gifts, decorations and food, but to prepare my heart. While Jesus came as a babe in the manger as our Saviour, the Christmas Story does not end there, it continues through the Cross and Jesus' Resurrection. Christ came that we could have LIFE. Not just EXISTANCE.

Changes

Hello Everyone-I hope ya'll don't mind sharing with you some things that are happening...

With all of the changes that are happening for me and I know there are things changing for everyone, life feels a little stressful. As exciting as all of the changes are, the changes have been a bit over whelming emotionally. My list of changes that are currently happening could go on for half of a page, but I am not wanting the focus to be about me and what is happening in my life.

This morning, I woke up and came down a bit earlier than normal to spend some time alone with God. He is so faithful! He immediately reminded me of a book mark our Hands & Feet Team handed out a few months ago so I grabbed it and what an encouragement it was to me this morning! I thought I would share it with you as well...

Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. (I always insert my name in the Scripture, to make it more personal...)

- God will reveal His will in His timing.
- The answers will not come until they are needed.
- In the process of change, things may look in disarray or even chaos for awhile until the Lord puts the pieces together to establish the new.- Change can be hard for all involved.
- New people and processes do not diminish the value of what has come before.
- Everything has its season.
- Above all, God is to be glorified.

Isn't it great that no matter what things are changing in our personal lives, GOD always remains the same? He is always there!

Dr Charles Stanley said the following in a devotional...
People sometimes say, "The only constant is change." Fortunately, this isn't true.

There's One who never changes. Jesus Christ always remains the same. What a comfort for believers! But, it's hard to find refuge in someone we don't know well. So let's explore the Lord's actions to learn more about His nature.

Jesus forgave others. He showed mercy, not judgment, to those who recognized their sin. For example, Jesus had compassion on the woman caught in adultery. He stopped her death penalty with a few wise words. Then, instead of pronouncing condemnation, He said her sins were forgiven.

Jesus comforted the hurting. He visited Mary and Martha, who were mourning the loss of their brother Lazarus.Jesus provided for needs. Mark chapter eight records Jesus spending three days healing all kinds of disabilities. Afterwards, He was concerned the large crowd hadn't eaten. He could have sent all 4,000 away to find their own food. But Jesus provided more than enough to satisfy their hunger.

Jesus interceded for His disciples as recorded in John chapter 17. Just before He was crucified, Jesus asked the Father to protect and sanctify His followers, including you and me.

Jesus strengthened believers and gave them power to do God's work. In Acts 1:8, the Lord sent His disciples out to share the gospel. He assured them, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you."Jesus still forgives. He still comforts. He still provides He still intercedes. And, He still empowers. What a blessing that we can find refuge in our amazing Lord!
(End of quote from Dr. Charles Stanley)

Thank you for reading this, I know it was LONG. I hope it was an encouragement to you today as well! Have a great day!

Weight Loss Journey

Some of you may follow my main blog . On that I expressed I am trying to lose weight - these are some comments I made on there...

Now, for my weight loss... I have to say that is has been put on HOLD. I have not gained nor have lost, but have been struggling with having to "THINK" about planning my food. The LORD is giving our family MORE Character Building Opportunities, and it is taking my extra energy just focusing on HIM and getting through the days with a SMILE.

It would be easy for me to fall apart and fall into my old habits of forming bitterness and anger AND eating! But the LORD continually is reminding me that I am in a process of refinement. “The enemy (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 Our family is coming against some great trials right now, I could choose to allow it to destroy us, make us grow further apart...but that would allow the enemy to win, right?

“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV)

I KNOW as I said 2 days ago - Isaiah 43:2-3, WHEN (not if!) you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. WHEN you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel (Chris or put your name here), your Savior.

I praise GOD that as I walk through these valleys, HE is with me. HE gives me the strength each day and I seek wisdom each moment from Him. I pray that as you face various trials, you will feel His strength, comfort and peace as well.

Thank you for stopping by! Have a blessed day!
Chrissy D

Encouragement for Difficult times

Hello! I just returned home from my few days away and as wonderful as it was to be away, I was going through some emotional turmoil. Our family is really going through a VERY difficult season right now. Maybe once we are through this current Character Building Opportunity I can share MORE of a testimony with you, but right now keep us in your prayers.

I know many of you are going through difficult seasons as well, we are NOT exempt from difficult times!

God's Word says, in Isaiah 43:2-3,WHEN (not if!) you pass through the waters, I will be with you;And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.WHEN you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel (Chris or put your name here), your Savior.

You probably know this, but I added the emphasis.

CARD MINISTRY

I have had several people request information about our Church's Card Ministry so I thought I would share it with you...

This is what we do - we have a fairly large church and have a Care Ministry that over sees the different needs of our Grace Church family.

I have a FABULOUS TEAM of 20 volunteers that consist of Makers and Senders. All are volunteer and most use their own supplies. The makers, make the cards and fill our file cabinet at church. The senders will write notes of encouragement and send them out. Both the makers and the senders pray for over the cards as they make them or send them out.

As a team, we send out approximately 200 cards a month. I send out a weekly and monthly report.

The weekly report is more of immediate needs of our Grace Church family. On the weekly assignments, I include a short devotional and I include a brief summary of what the person is going through (death, illness, hospitalization, birth, etc.) and the person's name. Those who serve in the military are included on that list too.We have a church directory that has everyone's address and phone numbers. All information is kept confidential. Each card will include a Scripture and a note of encouragement based on their specific needs. We pray over the cards that we send out too.

Our monthly reports will have a devotional as well. This report will include staff encouragement, long term illnesses, people going through cancer treatments, Caregivers of special needs family members, people who have a chronic illnesses or who need more encouragement, Homebound,Bereavement - we send out cards when people first lose a loved one, then send "thinking of you" type cards at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, a year and Christmas.

Our team gathers a few times a year for different events. I will plan special projects for us to work on. Every year we make around 125 Thanksgiving cards. These cards go to anyone who works within the Care Ministry at our church. We also make around 125 Christmas cards for those who have lost loved ones over the year.

This year we made special Hospital Binders for our Hospital/ Homeboung Visitation Team. This is a binder filled with Scriptures - we decorated with stamps. We made 140 of these this year. I will make another one and share pictures of it for you to see.

That is not everything I do - most of it is the LORD working through me, stretching me, molding me and changing me. That is probably the hardest part! LOL

If you have any other questions, please let me know!

Psalm 73:26 (New King James Version) My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Our church's website is www.graceinracine.com . Our pastor has been doing a WONDERFUL series on MORE than CONQUERORS in the book of Joshua. All messages are on the website.

If you are going through a difficult time, I would encourage you to listen to them!

Have a nice weekend!
Chrissy D