Broken

Broken...
lives, hearts, homes, relationships, this world.

It is so hard for me to write this post. Last week was rough. Things have not been well with our Native American exchange student for some time. Levi is no longer with us.

Our hearts are hurting. He is filled with regret. Life is so complicated. Commitment is a challenge. Trust is hard to earn and easy to lose. Peace is not always present. Battles have to be fought and victories are not always won.

We pray that Levi can return to our home. His future is unknown...unknown to us, but not unknown to our Lord.

God knows the plans He has for His child, Levi. I used to tell Levi that his theme verse was Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

We are praying that he will believe and remember the Truth that he heard while he was with us, and that he will battle every day to make a better life for himself.

I am choosing to think on these truths:

• with Jesus, we can have peace in all circumstances
• God pursues individuals...He knows where and how to make Himself known to Levi
• because of my belief in the power of the Holy Spirit, I can expect the unexpected
• God overcomes opposition through the prayers of His people
• God orchestrates opportunity through prayer
• Even though I feel that time is running out, God has more than enough time to accomplish His plan

Please pray earnestly with us.

Wordless Wednesday--hate waking up to this

January craftiness

I haven't done much crafting in January, but the months not over...right???
I hope to get at least one scrapbook page done. I know if I do one, it will lead to more.
And there are always Valentine's to be made. January is the best time to make homemade Valentine's, because there's no rush yet.
Today I made something I pinned on Pinterest quite a while back. I thought it was perfect to have on display in my home in January and February. Fortunately I had picked up a shadow box frame at Hobby Lobby last fall--half price. :)

It took under an hour to make this. I especially love the words on each of the hearts I cut out.
 (I photocopied the antique hymnal page. I can't bear to cut up my old books.)

"I Love to Tell the Story"
"...because I know 'tis true"
"...listen to the story"
"I will sing to you of Jesus..."
"...of Jesus and His love."

Praying that I have lots of stories and songs about Jesus.

He will do it

I am so grateful for Bible Study Fellowship. It is my first year to be a part of this Bible study, which includes groups all around the world studying the same passages of scripture each week. Being part of an organized Bible study has helped me be more consistent about reading the Bible. I really need that.

Today all six kids who were in my house slept late, and I was able to catch up on a few days of this week's lesson. I read through 1 Thessalonians and was spurred on by a couple of passages.

1 Thess. 1:3
Paul was talking to the church...
"We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
I need to focus on these things...it seems like it should be simple. :)
faith -->produces work
love -->prompts labor
hope -->inspires endurance

1 Thess. chapters 2 and 3
 Paul is such a great of example of how we are to love others; especially those we are shepherding. I really want to work to be more like Paul.
1 Thess. 3: 12-13
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones."

1 Thess. chapters 4 and 5
These chapters are loaded with so many instructions on how to live a life that's pleasing to God. I needed this reminder...
1 Thess. 5: 16-18
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

And this final nugget. My favorite of the whole book:
1 Thess. 5: 23-24
"May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it."

Bowling Party

We had fun bowling with friends last weekend. What a fun thing to do on a winter Saturday night.

Mini-craft day

Meg and I thought it would be fun to host a craft day with her friends over Christmas vacation. The day before school started up again, some of her friends came over for an afternoon of crafting. She called it "mini" craft day, since they were kids and only hanging out for a few hours.  She knows that the craft days I host with my friends are an all-day-crafting affair!

We made some fun crafts and hope to do it again sometime.

All their crafts were inspired by things we found on Pinterest.com

(toilet paper tube snowflakes, felt flower pins, friendship bracelets, corner bookmarks)

Today: Spring Fever

Today I saw...
cars being washed
dogs being walked
a driver in a convertible with the top down
people running/jogging
boys playing football
Christmas lights being taken down
kids playing basketball
neighbors visiting on driveways
garages being cleaned out

Today many Iowa towns broke a 56-year-old record for the high temperature on January 5. Our town had a high temperature of 63 degrees. It felt like spring. It was glorious!

Happy New Year 2012

Time, the cradle of hope...

Wisdom walks before it, opportunity with it,

and repentance behind it.

He that has made it his friend

will have little to fear from his enemies,

but he that has made it his enemy

will have little to hope from his friends.

Charles Caleb Colton