I will carry you

I found this. It is the testimony of Todd and Angela Smith, as they were expecting a baby, and the devastating news that followed. Still, they praise God for what He was about to do with them. It was a great blessing to me and thought it may to you.

The interview is a two part, quite long, but worth. I tell you, it will bless your heart.

The last video is the song that came after.

Family Time

This weekend we had a great family conference at my home church. We had a Spanish Pastor of a church in Puerto Rico that was such a blessing, and taught on a simple way, on a way that everyone on every level of their Christian walk would be blessed by the teaching.

As Christian moms, I think we always pray that God would show us ways that we can be better moms, better models to our children, and of ways to point them to Him. As I have three girls, I pray that God would allow me to be a good testimony to them, to be a good example, that they may learn good habits of a godly mom and wife. That is so hard, but I praise God for His mercy, because He gave me three beautiful, sweet girls despise of myself.

Some of the main points that God highlighted in my heart from this conference are

- God, and to please Him, should be the number one priority of every member of our family.

- Love is not just a feeling, it is also a choice.

- It is important that every member in the family knows the role that God has given them, and that they would do their best to fulfil it. To take a role that is not yours, is to change the order that God has for a family.

- Our husbands need and deserve our respect.

- We are to be an example to our children. We are to lead them to Him. We are to teach them to fear Him and love Him.

- We must not let materialism, lack of correction, personal sin, or poor example, destroy our family.

- We must wait on God. Abraham and Sarah decided to "help" God when He had promise them a child, and we can still see the consequences of that bad decision. He wants us to submit to His will, and wait on Him.

- We must pray together, we must have family devotions together. That would bring our family closer together.

- We must have the right priorities in the right order.


Simple points, but so important.

Praising God for His mercy

I read this the other day in a friend´s status in Facebook, and thought it was a reminder to me of my need to praise God for everything He is and does; and also a reminded of God´s love and mercy towards me..

What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?

What kind of kingdom do I want?

Pro 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.


Every time I read this verse, at least every 14th of the month, I am reminded right away of the power that our actions as mothers, wives, have to affect the state of our homes?

Our hands, no only can make of a house a home, or of a home a stumbling block, as a place in itself; but we can help each one of the people that live in our homes, our husbands, our children.. we can make them feel love, supported, protected; or we can make them feel push to want to find a corner where they can hide.

Our husbands are biblically the head of our house, but we are the queens of our homes,

What kind of kingdom do I want to have?

Something I love from Christmas

If you are a Christian, you love Christmas. It is a time when we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

It is because of His birth that He came to this earth. It is because He came to this earth, that He was able to die at the Cross. It is because of His death at the Cross that our sins were paid for. It is because our sins are payed for that we can be forgiven. It is because we are forgiven that we can go to Heaven.

One of my favorite things that I get out to decorate my house with is my Nativity Scene. With the Tree and all the presents under, it is easy to get the focus off the real reason for Christmas. Let us not forget.

What is your favorite Christmas decoration?

A Mother´s Heart

As I have been without internet for the last several weeks, and since I have it today for the first morning in a long time, I realized how much of a hinder this internet is to my relationship with God. I have been able, without it, to have so much more time with Him, I have gotten closer and that is something I don´t want to lose. I have been missing though, pouring my heart out in this blog as well.

As a mother, I have such a burder to be the mother God´s wants me to be. I know I can´t be perfect, but I want to fullfill God´s will for me as a mom.

I look around and see children that has been given such a great opportunity to serve God, they have been given every tool they need to never have to look back on regret for a season of their lifes not being used for His honor. Still, they put that tool aside as if it wasn´t anything of importance and they want to ¨live their lifes¨.

That mind set is scary for me, as I have three little girls. I want nothing more than a life without regrets for them. I want a life lived for God for them. That leaves me praying for wisdom and seeking God´s guiadance everyday for His leading in my life as I lead them while my husband is at work.

" My Lord, my God, I beg for your wisdom in my life. Wisdom to raise my girls in your love and fear. Help me to teach them and not to break them. Show me when to discipline and when to love. Help me to disciple in love. Guide me and lead me to be a mother that glorifies your name. And to you, my God, I´ll give the honor and glory for everything you are going to do. In the name of Jesus. Amen".

Proverbs 4

Showers of Blessings

A lot sure has happen in the last week. God open and closes door in His time, but when His blessings start, they sure come down fast.

A week from last friday my husband got an email from a job that we thought was pretty sure, they had hire someone else.... it was hard because it wasn´t the first time, and he really didn´t have any other leads on any other jobs. Friday night ad saturday was hard, but we knew we would praise God even in the storm.

On monday morning he got a call from an old job giving him a phone number of someone she knew from church who was looking for an accountant in a fast growing company. He had an appointment for an interview for 10:30 that same day, and after a great interview he was told that he would be receiving an offer letter within the day. He did and he was schedule to start working on thursday. On friday we met a lender and we got pre-approved for a mortgage and on saturday we found the house we would love to live in. We are going to try to write an offer today, but for what the realtor told me, they don´t have any other offers and she is sure we would be able to get a great deal (I already think the house is a deal all together).

So here I am a week later, praising God for His blessings, and for His trials and so looking forward to go furniture shopping and gathering decorating ideas.

God is so good! Even in the middle of the storm!

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth.

Ps.121:1-2

Trials and changes

You know, I sure don´t like to go through difficult times.

It is hard, it hurts, it is confusing, it challenges my faith and if hard enough, even my beliefs. It makes me feel bad and get sick of myself when I fail.

But it also makes me spend more time on my knees, praying, seeking the Lord. It makes me realize once again that I can´t make it on my own, that I MUST learn to trust in Him. It teaches me about God, His love and His wisdom. It makes me see Him in everything, His hand orquestrating every situation to give me His will.

I don´t like trials, but I sure can see why I need them. God is molding me in His hands, making me the christian He wants me to be, for His honor, glory and for His use. That I may be the vessel He wants me to be.

Things are lighting up and I am excited. What is God doing in your life? What trials is He using to make you what He wants you to be?

How Deep the Father´s Love

Isa 53:5-6

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:

the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;

and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

May we all remember the price of our salvation. Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Saturday's reflexions on a Monday

I wrote this saturday morning and I thought I would share with you.


" While I am here, sitting outside in my in law's house, under the sun of a beautiful saturday, seeing my girls playing while I read my Bible, I am reminded once again of God's blessings.

I have so much to be thankful for; but it is so easy to gorget when things are not going the way you would like them to.

Sure, we are still waiting on God's direction for us and waiting for a job for Matthew, but God is taking care of us.

Sure, things have been crazy the last few months with the move and all the changes, but I see my girls happy, healthy, sweet as always, well behaved and soft to spiritual things.

God tells us that if we follow Him, He will never leave us, not forsake us. Sometimes God's will is not clear to us, especially if we are in that "waiting" time; but His promises to us are still true. He doesn't leave us, not forsake us, no matter the way it looks.


Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content"


Now, if I can only remember this lesson learned every day! ;)

Ministry changes

I don´t know if it is for how long I have been aside from the bloggy world, or how busy this season of our my family´s life is, but I am having a hard time getting back into blogging full force.

I have things I have done, a birthday, a hair cut ;).

I have things God is doing. Much teaching I would love to write about to keep it record somewhere.

Lots of photos to share.

But still, never seem to get in here for long enough to do it.

But there is something important that I have to share. There is a huge ministry change that is is about to take place. And I must, and want, share it with all of you.

God is redirecting our ministry and is closing doors for us in Spain.

Do you know with your children. Sometimes, they are frustrating, sometimes they don´t listen, sometimes they even make you angry. But you love them the same right? You don´t want to leave them. You want to love them, you want to share with them, you want to spend time with them, you want to teach them. And you want to see them grow. Don´t you?

That is how I feel with the people in Spain. They are hard hearted. They don´t want to listen. They want to do it their way. But I still love them. I still have a burden for them. I want to see them save, and I want to see them grow. They are my people, and I was once just like them. I wanted to spend my life here telling them about Christ, no matter the cost.

Yeah, sure, I would complain some. But who doesn´t do that with the ones they love the most.

But a few months back, not too many, my husband and I were talking about things we could do, new ministries we could start, different approaches we could take. Excited was building up, there was so much to prepare, so much to plan, so much to do.

While he (my husband) was praying one day, he was begging God to show him of the great things He was going to do. Begging Him to show Him what to do next, what to do first, and making sure His plans were our plans. He was fasting and praying. God took him to Jeremiah, to a chapter where God talks about the people. Talking about how people had turn their ears because they didn´t want to hear, they had turn their hearts into diamond. Hard as it could be. God showed my husband we were done with the work He brought us to do in Granada and that He wasn´t going to start a church with us here (not that He wasn´t going to start a church, just that He wasn´t going to do it with us). We were done here.

Now, I would love to say that we didn´t fight, but we did. We didn´t want to leave, but God´s guiadance is so clear. If we were to stay, we were going to do it alone.

So we prayed. About helping other missionaries in Spain. About starting some other place in Spain. But no was the answer.

So we prayed. About another country, about another kind of ministry. But no was the answer.

So finally my husband felt God clearly telling us to go back. Why? I don´t know, but I know He knows why, and that is all I need to know.

So we are taking a step of faith by leaving everything without knowing what is to come. We have sold everything when we came here, thinking our days were going to end here.

Our thoughts are not His thoughts, and our ways are not our ways. But we trust Him, because He is God.

We have peace, and we have joy knowing we are doing His will.

So, my house is almost empty, we have sold everything :) We are selling our car and this friday will be our last day in Granada. Then, we will head up to Madrid to spend Christmas with my family. And the 29th we will take a flight back to Madison, Alabama, to our home church.

I am adding a link to our ministry web page in case you want to read our prayer letter.

So here it is, what it has been going on with us the last couple of months ;).

Pray for us. My husband will be looking for a secular job.

And yes, I am a little sad because I am leaving Spain, but also so excited because I know this is God´s will. I am so glad He loves me.

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Make your Home Sing Monday: 7 things your kids must hear

I have been reading an awesome book that I would encourage everyone to read. It has been a great blessing to me, and I know it would to anyone that would read it. It is call “Words kids need to hear” by David Staal.

I wanted to share the main points of the book, because I believe if we apply them in our lives, our children, and our homes will be singing beautifully.

This book gives you 7 things your kids must hear. And then it goes on to give you the why and the how. I am also sharing phrases about those points that I have taken from the book and underline.

1.- I believe in you. To show them that no matter what, they´ll always have somebody who believes in them. Slow down to look and listen. To look and listen for opportunities to speak encouraging words requires a parent who willingly slows down from high speed of life; efforts worth noticing then become far more obvious.

2.- You can count on me. Kids long for someone to rely on, because life offers plenty of opportunities for disappointment. Make sure your child knows how important he/she is. Not based solely on what she says, but also by what you choose. What I am saying is that when you´ve committed to go someplace or do something with your kids, then don´t let “something better” come along and change your plans.

3.- I treasure you. Kids long to feel special, the kind of feeling that comes straight from a parent´s heart. Not as a result of performance. Not for physical appearance. Not earned at all. Children need to feel precious, prized, valued, or cherished—you pick the term—by mom or dad solely because they´re kids and because kids are worth treasuring.

4.- I´m sorry, please forgive me. Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they never failed to imitate them.

5.- Because. Don´t just tell them you love them, or they are special, tell them why, make them feel unique and treasure. As a weekly habit, challenge yourself to bring to mind how, and the reasons why, you´ve affirmed your child lately. Make sure this challenge includes the question “Have I shared the specifics with her/him?”.

6.- No. In addition to hearing you say no, a child must learn to take that word seriously enough to obey it.

7.- I love you. We can best define unconditional love by showing what it does. Unconditional love shows love to a child no matter what. We love regardless of what the child looks like; regardless of her assets, liabilities, or handicaps; regardless of what we expect her to be; and, most difficult of al, regardless of how she acts. Love matters too much to leave it assumed and unsaid.



If you take those points and apply them to your vocabulary when you are talking to your kids, I believe your home will be singing beautifully. For more Make your Home Sing Monday go over Nan´s

Word Filled Wednesday: The Greatest news

For more Word Filled Wednesday click here

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him

Encouragement for the weeked

God didn´t promise days without pain,

laughter without sorrow,

sun without rain.

But He did promise strength for the day,

comfort for the tears,

and light for the way.

If God brings you to it,

He will bring you through it.

Author Unknown

Word Filled Wednesday: Never alone

Amazing how fast the days go. It is wednesday again, and this week´s hostes of Word Filled Wednesday is All You Have to Give.






Psa 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

There are so much in this world that can feel heavy on our hearts. Sickness, economy, spiritual battles, a family problem.... We live in an imperfect world, and we are imperfect people.

At those times, sometimes we pray, and God seems to be waiting for our prayer, because right away, we have the answer right there.

Other times we pray, lift up our eyes with faith, but there is no answer.

Sometimes we pray for long, but we look up, and it is still rainning.

At those times it is easy to feel alone. It is easy to feel forgotten. It is easy to feel without hope.

And at those times Satan snicks in, and tries to still our faith.

It is then that we have to find one of God´s promises to His people and hold on to it, so hard, that Satan will not be able to move us.

God tells us to give up our burdens and put it at His feet. He promises to carry them for us. He also promises us He will hold our hand and pull us out of our darkest hour.

He will not leave us, not forsake us.

Look up to Jesus, He is our deliverer.

Word Filled Wednesday: By Jesus

This week Penny is hosting Word Filled Wednesday. The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word (no famous quotes or other literature — only the beautiful word of our Father) through photo’s & a Bible verse!

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;

that ye may know that ye have eternal life,

and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God

We serve a great God that loves us despite our failures and our sins.

We serve a God that gave His Son to die in the cross for our sins, that we may KNOW that we have eternal life.

We serve a great way that made the way clear for salvation: Believing in His Son as the ONLY way.

There is nothing we can do that would take us to heaven. Eph 2:8-9: " For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Word Filled Wednesday: Be still

Once again I am joining Amy Deanne for Word Filled Wednesday. To me it is a way to highlight the things God has given me in my devotionals that morning, and praise Him for His goodness.

We serve a great God and worthy to be praise.

Psa 46:10-11

Be still, and know that I am God:

I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Psalms 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Thankful Thrusday and a cool challenge

Today I am linking up with “Truth 4 the Journey” for first time for her meme “Thankful Thrusday”.

A while back I told you about wanting to start a meme like this, but a couple of weeks ago I found this one so I thought I would just join in.

So here it goes, for the 5 things I am thankful for this week.

1. Since we have been in the field, living by faith is the only thing you can do. There are not extra hours you can put into work, there is not a second job you can get, or extra things you can do. Trusting in God is the only thing you can do.
Still, God has sought us through. Lots of times we have wonder how, and when, but God has not left us. This week, once again, I have seen God meeting our needs right at the time we didn´t know how.

2.- I am so thankful that the girls are happy in school. I was a little concern about Noelia, since she is always with me. She hasn´t had times to get use to being away from me. Still, she loves school, she has a good teacher and she seems to have good friends there.

3.- I am thankful for a husband that is understanding and loves me even though I am not the fun girl I used to be 10 years ago.

4.- And I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be with my husband for 10 years and hasn´t allow the devil to hurt our family. After looking around even to Christian friends, being happily married to a respectful, loving, faithful husband, is certainly something to be thankful for.

5.- We got the thermostat for our heater set up today. Hopefully that will bring more praises in our heat bill this winter that we had last year (what a nightmare it was)







And because I wanted to do more than one meme, I am linking with "Forever in Blue Jeans" for the challenge to post a photo of me with one of more of my children once a week. Usually I am the one behind the camera (just like most moms), but I think this is a great meme because I want my kids to know I was there (and without photo there is no proof ;))

Now, praise the Lord for His blessings to you!

The Lord be magnified

While reading in Psalms the other day while doing my devotionals, I read over these verses once again and blessed my heart, so today I thought of them to share today for Word Filled Wednesday.

Psa 40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

Psa 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Have a wonderful day praising the Mighty God we serve!

Click here for more Word Filled Wednesday

Encouragement

Today I was going to post about my girls first day of school and a couple of funny stories that went along with it, but I just finished my devotionals and after reading God´s Word, I am so full of God´s love, that I would like to share a few Bible verses that have encourage my heart today.

Maybe this will be a blessing to you too. May you have a wonderful day!

Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Psa 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psa 37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Psa 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him...

Psa 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psa 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORDH upholdeth him with his hand.

Psa 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Psa 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
Psa 37:40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

WHAT A GREAT GOD WE SERVE!