Under the Bridge

I have seen some cool 'God' things lately. I have been blessed to hand out food to the homeless. What strikes me each time is how big and scary those men look... But the light and softeness in thier eyes when we reach out. When we say "would you like a sandwhich?". I got to pray for William and ask God to bless him with a job. I got to talk to a lady who has had two children and they have been placed for adoption, living in two different states. I got to talk to a man who fled his home because he is wanted for arrest up there and has three children that he does not see or take care of. God, show these people your love through your Word and please use me in the process.
I saw God work Tuesday morning as we passed out some food and Bible verses. That night we went back to the Rescue Mission. I sat by Davea. She moved here from South Carolina. One of her four children is in Melisa's class. Wow - God. Thank you! Melisa teaches in the inner city school to be love and a light to the children. How awesome you are to lead us to people who desparetley need you. May they be comforted by you, Jesus!
Donita gave a Bible to a man she met in the morning time. He just got out of prision in California and is going through the program at the Mission. He wants to get his GED. He was blessed by Donita's kindness and knows God is blessing him. We are blessed to be a blessing. Let us never forget that.
A man said to me "did I see you in the park on Sunday? you gave me a sandwhich". He said "please remember to pray for me". I was moved that he remembered that small act.
People around us are hurting. People around us do not know the kindness and goodness of the mighty Saviour. Please share the good news of Christ this week.
I was moved to see the activity on facebook from people in our church sunday night. God is getting a hold of hearts. Last night, I saw that a cashier recieved three tracts and an invitation to a movie being shown at our church this saturday. That is so awesome!!! We are listening to the Bible and applying what we know. Yay!
For God so loved the world that HE gave His only begotten Son. That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE. John 3:16
I am blessed to Know God and His Word. If you know God and His Word, pass it on friends. Pass it on.

Erin

Something that I have noticed lately is bedtime routines. The kids love for me to come into their rooms and pray with them and say goodnight. This is after daddy has already been in to them. Erin prays forever (it feels like it!) she goes on and on about everything that has happened that day. I bought her a new night light becasue her other one was way too bright. Erin does not need as much sleep as the rest of us think we need! She wakes up as happy as can be and cant wait for breakfast :) One night the power went out. None of us noticed because we were sleeping... that is until erin started to cry becasue her night light went out and she woke from her sleep knowing her room was too dark! That is how light of a sleeper she is. She hates the dark. We pray for angels to protect her while she is sleeping because she thinks monsters live in her room. She is two folks.
Her friend Ella gave her some princess clothes. Erin loves dressing up and she adored the new dresses, necklaces and purse. So - that night she refused to wear a pull up to bed. She said princess do not wear pull ups to bed. Needless to say we put one on her but at two in the morning we hear her crying. She had taken off her pullup and wet her bed. It wasnt funny at the time but it makes me smile. She really believed wearing that dress to bed would make her wake up dry. Oh Erin - we love you so much and you make us smile with all your craziness. You can spell your name now. I love how you say orange. You love baby kendra and addison coming over to play with you. You are so excited for your birthday in Feb so you can make a bear (build a bear). Every day you say 'I love you. Is it MY birthday? I hope you read this someday erin and know how very funny you were from such an early age. May you never loose your easy going, fun loving, crazy persoanlity! You are so very sweet. I love you baby girl!

Tammy Bennett - personality plus (her thoughts!)

I heard this lady speak and I enjoyed hearing about the different personalities! So fun to pick out your personality and your hubby's personality :)

Sanguine - have fun
Choleric - take control (me ahem)
Phlegmatic - find peace, avoid conflict (james ahem)
Melancholy - perfection

Okay - so I was going to write my notes out for you... but you could probablly google those four words and find out which describes you the most.

Interesting. What I love is that God gave me my personality and even though I am the bossy one... I get alot done! :) There are wonderful traits to my personality and some that are on the ugly side. I can surrender the good, bad and ugly to God and He makes beauty out of ashes. Lord, thank you for my personality. Please take me and mold me into your masterpiece. Amen

Thoughts from Linda Mintle on Relationships

I attended a cenference a while back and thought I would share the information I learned from Linda Mintle.

If you have a problem with a difficult person- don't cut them off. It makes you a better person to figure it out. God puts us in relationship. How i love is how i show Christ's love to others.

Here is a simple belief that creates relationship problems... we try to change others!

Year 2, 7 and 15 are tricky years in a relationship. Truth - I cannot change anyone.

Relationship dance steps:
Discuss- Avoid
Demand - Refuse
Criticize - defend (avoid)
Accuse - deny
Pursue - distance
Attach - withdraw
Attack - attack
withdraw - withdraw

We need to change your step in the dance and the relationship dance changes.

The Change Process:

Surrender.
1 peter 5:6
"humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.

Accept the need for change
psalm 139:1

Confess your behavior (couples pray together) you will be A M A Z E D what praying together can do. Please - try it... please.
james 5:16

Take responsibility
galations 6:5

Forgive (forgiveness takes one - ouch!)
matthew 6:14

Be Transformed
2 corinthians 3:18

Persevere
2 peter 1:5

No relationship is beyond repare if you are willing to reconcile. Forgiveness takes 1 - reconciliation takes 2.
Pray, Forgive, Do things together, Control your tongue (james 3) Deal with conflict and focus on the positivies.

This may be vague but the information really helped me so I wanted to write it down on here. Thanks! :)