Colin's Dedication

Fifth Birthday

7 Months

A Time to Trust

I will update soon with Alex's 5 year and Colin's 7 month pictures. But this is from my devotional today and I needed to post it here... more for me than anyone so I won't ever forget how God has provided in our time on need. Now that we have made plans to move back to IN, I find myself relapsing into my habit of trying to plan everything and convince people that everything is under control. When in reality I have no clue what to expect. Yeah, we're planning on going back to subbing but that will still leave us for at least a month without an income because of a 3 week Christmas break and a 2 week delay in paychecks when we do have sub jobs. And that is MY plan. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if God has something totally different in store. I know God still has everything under HIS control and we will be taken care of but I must continue the struggle to leave it in His ever capable hands.

Do You Trust Me?

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6, 7

I believe that when we go through a trial which wounds us deeply, God can use it to teach us valuable lessons. Some of those lessons are a deeper understanding of who God is, of who we are, and of what we truly believe. Our faith grows in the Petri dish of struggles in the laboratory of life. One of my most valuable lessons, through all my wounds and scars, was a decision to stop saying "why me" and to begin saying "what now." But the lesson that continues reverberating like a gentle thunder is the truth of God's unfailing love.

During the months that followed the loss of our child, I struggled with God. Just as Jacob wrestled with God through his dark night of the soul, I wrestled as well.

How could He love me and allow this to happen? Why would God withhold my dream? Is He able? Is He kind? Is He really there?

It was a dry summer...in my heart and soul. No one could help me, comfort me, or lift me out of my despair. And while I didn't want to talk to God, He never left my side. Patiently, He waited for me to cry out to Him... to say, I will trust you even though I do not understand.

No matter what you are going through today, you can believe this my friend. God's love never fails and He will always be by your side. You can trust Him.

Let's Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes I do not understand why bad things happen, but like a child who loves her daddy, I trust You. Help me to move past the pain and find the purpose. Even when I cannot see the road ahead, help me simply to take the next step, trusting You in the dark. Thank You for giving me just enough light for the step I'm on.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Halloween

Library storytime with Mrs. Oldham!

The time has come...

We are giving our 30 day notice today and making plans to move back to Marion. We will hopefully be back in IN that Sat. or Sun. after Thanksgiving. God could still intervene and we would be open to that, but we both have a peace about moving back as well. We can both start subbing right away (Chris can't sub here without a big hassle and they have a ton of subs anyway) and Alex's daycare provider is ready take the boys back in an instant (which was another problem here... no infant care). We found a wonderful church here but are looking forward to being back in the flock with Pastor Steve and Pastor Brian. So.... Marion here we come!!!!!!