If Only it Were That Easy

And he said, "Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 18:3

Oh, to be a child again! When life was not to complicated. When the most difficult decision of the day would be which color crayon to use. When you trusted what was told to you especially if your parents told you.

For most of my life I believed what my dad told me: after I was born in the army hospital I had green formula and green diapers. It seemed like a true enough story, the fatigues he owned were green and the army had a lot of green.  So why wouldn't I believe him.

Most of us are told about Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the tooth fairy. It seemed like a pretty true story after all presents arrived on Christmas, eggs were hidden at Easter along with a basket full of goodies, and the tooth fairy would leave a quarter under my pillow. Even after knowing the truth, my first Christmas as a married woman I expected somehow Santa would show up and bring me a gift.

One of the most important things I learned as a child was about God and Jesus. I trusted what I was told and learned that I needed to claim Jesus for myself which I did at the back of a small sanctuary. Jesus became my Savior. Somehow I knew the difference between the stories I was told and the truth about God. I believe we are all given a knowledge that there is something more to this life.

So why is it the older we get and the busier we get the harder it is to keep that childlike trust? Why do we question our belief? Why do we try to fit God into our way of thinking instead of His truth?

Could it be we've lost that connection?

When life doesn't go our way, we would rather turn away then turn back to the One we know can make it all better. It really is that easy: we need to take a break, step back into that childlike trust, and talk with our heavenly Father. He's waiting to embrace each of us in His protective arms and make the chaos less chaotic, the stresses into blessings, and the uncertainties into certainties.

Who Do You Let Win?

"He makes my lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:2-4

How do you go about making big decisions? Do you go to your friends? Do you make a list of pros and cons? Do you pray about it?

Several years ago my husband had an opportunity to change his job. His rate of pay was going to be higher per hour and he would be closer to home. We thought it was a great opportunity, but we wanted to be sure. After praying about it, we made a list of pros and cons. One of the things we discovered even though his pay rate was higher the amount to be taken out for health insurance was more. He would have brought home a much smaller paycheck, so we decided this was not for him. A few years later it turns out that other job had a lot of lay offs. We were very grateful for the decision we made. We knew God had his hand in this and He won!

There are times though when we've made a decision based on what everyone else was doing. We decided to not do something because we might see someone we were mad at. Maybe we didn't go because we were scared. Turns out we missed out on a wonderful opportunity a God ordained blessing we didn't get. After hearing about the event from others we were disappointed we didn't go, we felt like we had let God down. Letting Him down made us feel like we let the devil win.

Everyday we have choices to make, sometimes we chose God and we receive a blessing. Other times we chose not to follow Him and we miss out on the blessing. When we chose God's path, He will guide us on the right path and then God wins every time!

In The Darkness

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

When spending the night in a new place, I always make sure I know where the bathroom is. On Friday night I did just that, and set up my air mattress. Then I got ready for bed.

After much tossing and turning and debating if I really needed to go to the bathroom, I decided to get up and go. You know how it is, the more you think about not having to go, the more you need to go. So I found my glasses and made my way to the bathroom.

I entered to a little bit of light, which was very helpful until that little bit of light left. The bathroom didn't have a night light, in fact there was no light at all! Once the little bit of light left I was in total darkness. I couldn't even see my hand.

I managed to flush the toilet and made my way to the sink to wash my hands. Then I needed to find my way to the door. My arms flailed in front of me, hoping to find my way out I cautiously stepped forward all while praying, "Lord, get me out of here."

I touched the other stall's door and continued my way forward. I felt the tile wall, and the little sign that I had read earlier "Be sure to turn off the light when leaving." Surely that meant the light switch should be near by. I felt up and down the wall with no luck.

I managed to find the door and pushed, it would push open right? No, I needed to find the door knob. I felt and felt until as luck would have it, a doorknob! I turned it and pushed, the door wouldn't open! Panic seized me, should I scream out for help and who would hear me? I tried again this time pulling the door toward me and relief when I was on the other side back in the light!

Funny, as I thought more about this experience my life the last few weeks has been like this.

I have felt stuck in a dark bathroom when it began with hearing from someone that I am being blamed for something beyond my control. In fact, the incident that happened, happened when we were on vacation in another state. So how could I be blamed?

I was able to pray at the altar and left it there for God to deal with it. I realized that maybe even though I'm not to blame, this person wants me to do something that isn't God's intentions. I try to treat people with the love God has shown me, sure I'm not perfect at it but I do try.

Then a week later after being blamed another incident happened, this time in my presence so between my husband, daughter, and me, we addressed the issue.

I feel like I'm in the dark with this whole situation. I feel like screaming out for help! I have prayed, "Lord get me out of this."

With each new day, I know He is. I know God loves each person involved. God gives us all a glimpse of his light and He will help me drive out the darkness that is trying to consume me. Because God is greater than all!

A Little Assurance

When I said, "My foot is slipping," your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:18-19

When she's put down to soon after she's dropped off, she will sit there and cry until I come over, pick her up, and give her a hug. Once that's done she's ready to start her day. She just needs a little assurance.

There are times when I feel as if my foot is slipping. the stress of situations can build up inside of me until I can't take it anymore. Sometimes it's my doing, other times it's happening because of what others have done. No matter the feeling of falling and wondering where God is can leave me feeling anxious.

These are the times I need a little assurance. I know I need to kneel at the altar or at the foot of my bed and take it to Him. Sometimes he sends it through a prayer of someone else. A devotional I read can also bring me the message I need to hear. The words of music can also bring me the assurance I need. Then I can face my problem because I know He's got this!

I Can't Hear You

And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who can understand the thunder of his power? Job 26:14 NIV

Poor Job. He lost everything his children, his wealth, and his health. His friends weren't very helpful. In fact, they were blaming him for something he didn't do.

Still Job persevered!

During Job's time in the Bible, it was known if you follow and do what God says you will be blessed. When you turn away from God or do something evil you will be punished. Since Job had lost everything; everyone thought he must have upset God and he was being punished.

Job knew though he followed God. He was a righteous man. He even gave sacrifices for his children just in case they had done something against God. Job pleased God.

Even when Job's friends were telling him, because of course they knew better and thought they were giving him good advice, Job maintained his faith. He was growing frustrated and weary though because he had not heard from God.

I can understand that. When things start to go a little crazy and out of whack one of the first things I do is go to God. Then I wait to hear back from Him. And wait, and wait, and wait.

Sometimes God is quick to answer in a clear way. Sometimes He's not so quick or maybe I'm not being quiet enough to hear what He has to say. At times He speaks in a whisper, and in order to hear someone whisper there needs to be quiet.

Job waited for the whisper even though he didn't understand what was going on. I will wait for the whisper as well, while I figure out what's going on. Will you?

So Annoying

"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 a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

The calls began daily about 5 o'clock. First my cell phone and then the home phone. I didn't answer them because as far as I was concerned I wasn't in the wrong.

While on vacation I made our camper payment, the thirteenth one in a twelve month period. I usually enter a half payment in the checkbook every two weeks, this is how we ended up a month ahead. Anyway, I didn't have the statement and I couldn't remember the amount. I figured I was off by a cent or two, and it wouldn't be a big deal. The amount is an odd amount which doesn't divide in two very evenly which is what I write in the checkbook. When I pay I double check the statement, which I didn't have because I did not receive one before we left. So I went ahead and paid it.

The day after the bank received our payment the calls began. After three days of calls, I decided I needed to check the bank. I discovered that through bill pay I could have seen the amount I usually pay. Anyway looking there help me discover I was off by $6.39, still not a big amount and besides I was ahead a payment so I can fix this next payment.

The calls stopped over the weekend but began again on Monday. So I called them back, they were threatening my credit score and then handing it over to debt collectors. Not a big deal to me, but how could they when I'm actually a month ahead. I left a message explaining how ridiculous it is that they are calling me over $6 and even more crazy considering I was ahead.

Turns out when I went over all the payments I made, they "lost" one of them. How could they lose a payment? I work hard to get ahead and they lose it! After they researched it, they "found" it and applied it to our account.

So looking back over this, I realize that God had this planned. Planned so I could discover that the bank wasn't applying our payments right, and for some reason when I receive the statements my balance isn't going down it shows the original loan amount. So now maybe I can figure that out, so this doesn't happen again.

So the annoying phone calls have turned into a blessing.

What Ever Happened to Forgiveness?

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother and sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "Not seven times, but seventy-seven times."  Matthew 18:21-22

Things have certainly changed over the years. There used to be a time when someone said something they didn't mean to say, a simple "I'm sorry" would be enough. Now if someone's has a slip of the tongue his/her whole life could drastically change.

The media will bombard that person even after he/she made an apology. Certain groups will harass this person until he/she has no choice but to leave his/her position or keeping enduring the ridicule. If this person has a business then the business suffers. If it's a police officer then the entire police force is put under attack and no longer trusted to help keep us safe.

Don't get me wrong, I do feel that certain words or phrases should not even be in our vocabulary. Sometimes even words you don't even think about slip out when saying things. I mean I don't think about the curse words and I don't use any phrases with "Oh my God," but on occasion something I don't normally say slips. Does that mean I'm a bad person? Does that mean an apology shouldn't take care of that slip of the tongue?

I try to teach the kids I care for that once the apology is given, we forgive, and forget about it. Then we try not to do it again. They will be forgiven over and over for as long as it takes.

We have a wonderful Father in heaven who forgives us when we mess up. After all, we are only human and we will mess up. Not one of us is perfect. After we seek Him for forgiveness, "I even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." Isaiah 43:25 He remembers our sins no more! If the God of all creation can blot out what past mistakes we made and remembers them no more, then shouldn't we. This means everybody, even those in authority, those who have a national business, and yes, even those who are closest to us.

"Forgive as the Father has forgiven you."

Life Thru the Peephole

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 NIV

Have you ever felt like the world was closing in on you? That trouble lurked around every corner just waiting to attack you. You hope that it just couldn't get any worse and yet somehow it does.

This past year was a challenging year for us. At one point my day care was down to three children. Our church was on a list to possibly be closed. Finances were tight. We weren't sure of the outcome of any of these things. If only we could see the Big picture, it'd be nice to know the end of the story.

Unfortunately, life is not a movie or a book where we can fast forward or skip ahead to the end. We can only look thru the peephole and catch a glimpse of what might lie ahead.

Luckily, for a short time one of my day care kids returned because he wasn't quite able to move yet. I had a few interviews and one of them seemed hopeful plus one of the families was expecting another child. It was enough glimpse to know that I was supposed to continue caring for children.

At church we added a service which with God's blessing is going well. More and more people began attending. When we had an event or did something, God provided. Maybe just maybe God wasn't done with our little white church. Another glimpse into the peephole.

Then 2018 began, and within three months I was one child away from having a full day care again! Our church was taken off the to be closed list and with a blessing we are encouraged to keep on following God's plans. We still do not know the end of the story, but the glimpse through the peephole is getting bigger. We can see that God is accomplishing good and helping us touch more lives for Him.

All You Need is Faith and Trust...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

It's kind of funny how each of my guys have faith and trust in their sports teams. Every game they expect them to win and then are upset when they don't. They say, "Well they should have won," "If they didn't put him in they would have won," and "I can't believe they did that!" So much faith in a game where a team has to win or a team loses, every single time. I try to comfort them by telling them that, but it's to no avail.

As a country we put our faith and trust in our leaders, hoping they will make the right decisions. Then when something happens we blame them for not taking care of us. We trust our police force to keep us safe and protect us, then we criticize them when something isn't to our satisfaction. We have faith in the fire and rescue department when our house is on fire or someone in our family is having a medical emergency. Then complain if our house is completely destroyed or our family member doesn't make it.

We trust that other people are going to stop at red lights and stop signs. We have faith that when we are in public everyone is going to be courteous and share or step out of the way when we need to get by. This is sometimes hard in the grocery store when others are concentrating on their list or what's on the shelf in front of them. Have you ever been stuck in an aisle behind one of them?

So if all we need is faith and trust then everything would be great right, but there is some thing I forgot GRACE. We need more than faith and trust we need God's grace. You see his grace is a gift freely given to us because he loves us. None of us our perfect, yes even our sports teams, political leaders, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors...each one of us is human. We make mistakes.

But there is one who never made a mistake-Jesus! He endured being beaten to the point of death and died on a cross to take on the sins of each and everyone of us. He became the ultimate sacrifice and without this sacrifice we would stay separated from God. That isn't a good place to be. Jesus conquered death so that when we die we can conquer death too. There is no cost on our part, which is where the gift of grace comes in-God's Riches at Christ's Expense, all we have to do is open the gift and claim it as yours.

Will you open it and be rich with God?

In His Time

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 NIV

Have you ever been in a situation when everything seems hopeless? These past two years several things have happened that seemed like we were never going to get out or improve. Still I prayed continually and kept the faith.

Sometimes waiting is the hardest part. I have spent days, months, years praying about our church. Each of us as a church, the body of Christ, have sought God's will and have tried to accomplish it. Some at church have even experienced a dread like things were going to end. At times we would see a glimpse of hope, but still feel frustrated because maybe the end was near.

This month it was especially hard because this was the month that we would hear the news. I was glad that no date had been set for the final decision, so that felt like good news. No date, no closure. My husband last week was going to be recertified as a pastor, I had some uncertain thoughts about this meeting like maybe he wouldn't be relicensed. Still I knew God is in control.

Everything went well he was recertified, but the good news came a bit later. Our church has been removed from the to be closed list! God is so good! There are things that still need to improve like our finances and we still need to grow. But we are headed in the right direction-God's direction.

Good things come to those who wait! Everything in his time!

A Little Different

Therefore, if any one is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old is gone and the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

A couple of weeks I was able to take part in a wonderful surprise. We were each handed a paper that contained a butterfly that we each released. As I opened my paper the little butterfly opened up his wings, fluttered them a little bit, and then took off in flight. But each butterfly reacted in different ways.

Some of them did what mine had and took off right away. Others opened their wings and sat there for awhile with their wings opened to the sun. Others jumped up on the ladies fingers or shirts and hung around awhile before taking off. One just sat around waiting until another butterfly came close and encouraged it to take off. The last one left hung around for awhile, stayed on a lady's finger, and when it took off it didn't go far just to the ground in front of her. Eventually it to soared.

Each of us approaches our relationship with Christ differently as well. Some of us accept Him and immediately take off doing what he calls us to. Others accepted him and sit around waiting for just the right moment to soar. Sometimes we need to hang around with other Christians until we are ready to follow God's plan. Some of us need encouragement from a friend before we are ready to do what we're called to. And some of us hang around awhile, staying close to a Christian example and maybe step out of our comfort zone a little bit before we soar.

No matter how we react to Christ, the good news is our old way of life is gone:the mistakes of the past, the choices we made, anything that separated us from God. We are a new creation, created in Christ Jesus to soar.

Another thing I learned about butterflies is how important they are the the world. The fluttering of their wings affects the weather in different parts of the world. If one little butterfly can do that, what do you think you can do as a child of God? It's time to soar!

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

I have told you these things, so that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NIV

A lot of us our heart is broken for families who lost their children, spouse, or friend. Whenever something like this happens we want to do something so that it doesn't happen again. Unfortunately, in this world we will have trouble. Jesus even told us we would. He also gave us hope because He has overcome the world.

There has been trouble in the world since the first family. God had placed people in a peaceful, sin free place. They had all the beauty and all the food they could eat and they didn't have to work for it. They got to walk and talk with God and see Him face to face.

So how in the world did they mess up? Because a choice came into the garden, a choice of whether they should obey God or give into the temptation. The temptation was there calling to them, confusing them about what God said. Instead of stopping and checking with God, Eve gave in she took a bite of the forbidden fruit and Adam who was right there with her also took a bite and therefore turned their back on God.

And so the downward spiral began...

We also have choices to make. We each have the choice if we are going to follow God or give into the temptations. Even God's chosen people had a choice to make. As they were about to enter the Promised Land, Joshua reminds them they have a choice to make "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then chose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

As a country the government gave into the temptation to take God out of things. When we take God away then evil can come in a lot easier. Without Him as our guide it makes it harder to live a peaceful life. When we chose not to attend church, when we chose not to pray, or when we chose not to read the Bible then we allow the evil to come in easier.

When we take away the One who can guide us into making the right choice, then it's becomes easier to make the wrong choice.

So it comes back to who are you going to serve, are you going to serve the world? Or are you going to serve God?

For me I will serve God! Without Him in my life, chaos happens. He is my guide and my light! He helps guide me to make the right choices! With Him on my side, He will help me overcome troubles.

In Not So Many Words

Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off  everything that hinders the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

As I looked at the listing of obituaries, I found it interesting how our whole life can be summed up in a paragraph. It's what we do in that paragraph that makes a difference.

Most will have families listed, some will tell about where someone worked or served, and all have the person's birth date and day of death. This made me wonder if I am make enough difference.

This past Friday, we celebrated the life of a great man my Uncle Bill. It was a nice service celebrating his service to the Jacksonville Fire Department. He was honored as a hero. Quite a fitting tribute to a man who helped train a lot of EMT's.

This was a part of his life I really didn't even pay attention to. He was my Uncle Bill. I am not sure I even realized he was a firefighter until one time I noticed a emergency radio device at their house. It was kind of strange to me since it let you know when there was an emergency call and which fire department was responding.

When we would come to visit Uncle Bill, Aunt Rachel, Becky and Karen, we were there as a family. My brother and I were impressed with the stairs, we lived in a one story so stairs were a novelty. Their home was also located on a canal where we could fish or take a canoe out. It was an adventure visiting and I loved every minute of it! My Uncle Bill and Dad are brothers, not only did they share a birthday seven years apart but they looked a lot alike. So to me Uncle Bill was just a different version of my dad.

After my husband and I were married, our oldest son was born on Uncle Bill and my dad's birthday. It's pretty awesome that three people shared the same birthday!

Sometimes Uncle Bill would even get to camp with us, he brought his oldest grandson along and we'd have a wonderful weekend. Uncle Bill even sold us his trailer for what he owed on it, so we could upgrade from the popup since our kids were getting older. This was such a wonderful gift for us since we couldn't afford a brand new trailer. He then he bought himself a motor home saying it would be better for him anyway.

We even got to surprise Uncle Bill with the help of his second wife Aunt Melba, for his 70th birthday with a sleepover. The three birthday guys didn't get to celebrate together often, so this was an awesome opportunity. In fact, just a couple years ago we had the three birthday guys together along with my nephew for a quadruple birthday celebration.

Uncle Bill was a wise man, a kind man, and a man who cared deeply for his family. He lived his life to the fullest and fought hard to beat the cancer. He ran the good race and made a difference. I, along with many others will miss him, but know one day we will meet again.  I love you Uncle Bill!

Blinding Light

"As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'" Acts  9:3-4 NIV

Have you ever had a blinding experience? One when you couldn't see anything. It happened to me the other day as I was driving on a toll road. I came around the curve of a crazy merge place and there in front of me was the sun filling up my entire windshield with a bright beaming light. The sun visor didn't help at all.

The trouble was I had just seen the car in front of me begin to slow down and then I couldn't even see it. In that split second a began to slam on my brakes with the thought in my head that I can't stop completely on the interstate or I'll get reared ended. Then just as quick as it blinded me everything became clear again.

During this entire occurrence I never once thought, could God be trying to get my attention?

I wonder what Saul thought when a light from heaven flashed all around him. Did he wonder if the people in front of him were stopping? Did he think this is annoying, how am I ever going to get to Damascus on time?

Can you imagine his surprise when Jesus spoke to him?

Saul was trying to take things into his own hands by getting rid of the Christians. He thought he was doing what he was supposed to do. But soon God spoke to him and he got his attention in the best way he knew how. Saul changed his ways when he became a follower of Jesus.

God gets our attention in the ways He knows we need. The question is do we pay attention? Do we accept and change?

My drive down the interstate wasn't my wake up call. Mine came in the back of a small church when I was a teen and then again when I was about to lose everything. My life has been forever changed, and for that I am glad.

$2500, That's a Lot

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:2-3 NIV

"Here it comes again," I think every time the sad music begins and the poor dirty animals start scrolling across the TV. Or maybe it's the commercial with the special needs children or the one with the children who are fighting cancer. They each tug at my heart (especially the one that shows the Teddy Bear blanket that I can get if I donate $19 per month).

How much are you willing to spend on something? About a year ago I was researching car seats because it was time to replace the ones I owned, I was flabbergasted by the price of one, $700. As I was looking at it and the one I ended up buying for $50, I really didn't notice any significant differences. Why would one being willing to spend the much money on a car seat?

Presents are another place people differ on how much to spend. Usually, I try to see how much money I have saved and figure it out from there. Some years I can spend more on people and some years a lot less. Some of us try to spend more every year because we don't want to disappoint anyone, especially our children.

Each year I am amazed at the price people are willing to pay to go to a sports championship game. This year ticket prices range between $2500 and $3000 for a seat at the Superbowl. When I think about how much that would benefit some organization, it really dumbfounds me. There are some places teetering on being absolutely broke and yet people think about them and a game-where one team will win and one team will lose.

Truth be told, I do save up our money for a vacation. Sure my money could go to one of those heart wrenching organizations or maybe I could give more to the church, but I do spend it on us and a week away from the normal hub bub.

I am willing to give what God has placed in my heart to give. Sometimes it feels like all my extra money goes to helping out at our church. I believe we aren't being greedy when we spend a little on ourselves, just as long as our willing to give and serve where our hearts desire.

Trust Enough

He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. 1 Chronicles 5:20b

"Do I trust enough?" I sometimes wonder, especially when things don't seem to be happening in my timing.

Funny, how stressful life can get.

During the summer God blessed us with a new camper, of course for us this means monthly payments. We already had payments for the camper before. But in my mind we were able to do this because something I thought might happen wasn't going to happen. But it did happen and my day care plummeted to three.

Which made for a crazy few months for us. This involved a decrease in our income, but we managed. We had to eliminate extras and cut down on a few things while we waited. I trusted God had a plan and if He lead us to it, He certainly would get us through it.

During this time I tried to be faithful, I did what I thought God asked of me and yet things weren't happening the way I wanted them too. Still things were happening.

I had an interview for a new day care child and felt really hopeful. But after a few weeks without hearing anything back I thought maybe they had decided on somewhere else. God in the mean time brought back one child which was very helpful. Christmas has a way of draining the bank account, so this was a blessing especially when the van broke down.

Then when I least expected it, the family calls and I did get the new day care child! Then with her starting all of a sudden more phone calls (because of her mom sharing) and inquiries, and another child starts next week. Then with another message, another new child might start and I have a waiting list.

This entire time I had been asking my prayer warriors to pray for new day care kids and I trusted that God would work it all out. As usual He has done more than I expected.

But I am still wondering something, do the people at our church trust enough? I am trying not to get discouraged because I see God working in BIG ways, but for some reason He hasn't quite worked in BIG ways with the finances. There have been a few surprises for which we are grateful, but it isn't quite enough yet. I have done the things I believed He led me to do and yet they aren't really adding much income either.

I am wondering, does the whole church need to trust God completely before He can move in BIG ways? Do we as a community of believers all need to trust, then God can answer our prayer?

I believe He can do it, I just hope everyone else trust in Him as well.