I hope you all had a very blessed Thanksgiving, and pray that you were able to feel and share God's amazing agape love with your friends and family!
"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following." Amen! Mark 16:20
Last Week...
1. When did you feel CLOSEST to CHRIST?
2. At what moment did you feel you were RESPONDING to GOD's CALL to be a DISCIPLE?
3. When was your FAITH TESTED?
4. What is your PLAN for NEXT WEEK for prayer, study and action?
5. Do you have any PRAYER REQUESTS?
Prayer: Almighty God, who lives and reigns forever, we give you thanks for all the gifts you have bestowed upon us. Amen.
1. Last Night my husband surprised me with tickets to "The Story." We had an amazing experience. Look it up on line if you get a chance. If you can not make it to the concert, the music is awesome and Max Lacado wrote the book, so of course it is the best :-)!
ReplyDelete2. My husband and I decided to sponsor a child through World Vision. We are please to announce the newest member of out family - Purvesh, a little two year old boy who lives in India.
3. My faith was very much tested on Thanksgiving when my husband's parents again invited his sister to Hilton Head and not us for Thanksgiving. the worst is that they try to keep it a secret from us. We found out by accident when we heard her little girl in the background on the phone when our girls called to wish their Mimi and Pa a happy Thanksgiving! More sad for my kids than anything.
4. My plan for next week is to try and balance my work life and home life a little better. Please pray for me. This will not be easy with the growing demands of the Holiday season at church.
5. One of our dear friends Debbie Philips lost her battle with cancer. Her funeral was last Saturday. Please pray for he family and this painful loss during the Holiday season.
1. I definitely felt closest to Christ walking the beach. My husband and I spent Thanksgiving with my granddaughter and her husband at a condo at Fernandina Beach, and it was wonderful. The beach is my "go to God" place, but sadly I can't get there very often.
Delete2. I may have failed at discipleship. Quite honestly can't think of any successes over the past week!
3. My faith was definintely tested on Tuesday, trying to get business taken care of so I could leave town Wednesday. A particularly hard guardianship case just wouldn't give me any peace!
4. My plan is once again to focus on God's plan for my life. I found my mind wanderdering this week during my devotional time. This morning I just prayed that I can still myself and find some of the peace and love I felt a couple of weeks ago.
5. Jenn, so sorry about your friend. I would ask for prayers for my oldest granddaughter, Brandi, and her pregnancy. She lost a baby at 11 weeks in May, and is so excited to be pregnant again.
Love to all my new Sisters.
Karen
1. I felt closest to Christ during our Thanksgiving dinner, looking around the table at my beloveds. He created us and gave us the ability to love and cherish one another. I am SO thankful.
ReplyDelete2. I responded to the call to discipleship in a discussion with my younger son who is in the "I don't need church" stage of growing up.
3. See #2 - I had to summon my arguments and try to articulate my faith to someone who didn't want to hear it.
4. Read my daily devotional ("Jesus Calling") and do my daily Bible reading and questions for BSF.
5. Prayers for peace and understanding among family members.
I love each of you and am praying for your concerns.
Candy
1. I felt closest to Christ this week each morning I made myself sit still and do my devotionals! It is a battle I fight, and He makes it worth my while every single day!
Delete2. When I had a long conversation with an old friend and didn't hesitate to share my faith walk experiences without worrying about how she might react.
3. My faith has been tested with my continuing to try to control the future!
4. My plan is to try to live this week by one statement in today's devotional: "God promised me a light for my path...just enough to help me take the next few steps to where I am going". The next few steps, one at a time; that's my goal for the week.
5. Continued prayers are requested for my granddaughter's pregnacy. Jenn, I'm praying for your in-laws; surely God can sneak into their hearts when they're not looking! Since I spent much of my adult life with a mother in law that didn't get me, even a little bit, I know how rejection can hurt.
Love to you all.
Karen
So glad to finally be able and make myself sit down to connect with you sweet sisters!
ReplyDelete1. I felt closest to Christ last Wednesday in preparing the lessons for the children I teach. Our guest, Gabe, was coming to talk about the homeless and he had to leave for a missions trip early to Egypt which left me a 30 minute window to fill with a lesson. God was gracious enough to not only lead me to the material he wanted me to cover but also at the end of the evening, 2 different ministers told me how incredible the night had been and how the children got it! I allowed Him to work through me completely and the Holy Spirit moved through the teaching.
2. I also feel like the same evening He had called me to lead the message. This was the second time Gabe had not been able to attend and I know God had a different plan for the children to hear about the homeless. He wanted me to teach the lesson and be His disciple.
3. My faith is being tested daily, hourly due to the business of the season...it seems to be a vaccum that I am having a difficult time getting out of. It seems the harder I try on my own the worse it gets. I know in my heart I need to focus on Him and He will stop the madness but the business continues to pull me farther away.
4. My plan is to continue to do my morning bible study through BSF and to refocus on the love of the season. Be still!
5. Please pray for my family to be well (someone has been sick since I got home from Emmaus. Last Wed. was the first time we had all been out of the house) Also please pray for us to BE STIll and see Christ throughout the season.
I love you with the love of the Lord and think of ALL of you often :)
Sisters, I totally fell down on my responsibilities this week. I have been sick with something, and all energy has just gone away! So, even though I don't have one single thing to report because my mind simply isnt working well, I just wanted to let you know that you are all important to me, and I pray God will greatly bless each one of you during this most wonderful season.
DeleteKaren
I've been out of town but you have all been on my mind and in my prayers. Karen, I hope you're feeling better by now. I pray for joy for each of you on this third Sunday of Advent. Love and blessings,
ReplyDeleteCandy