Uganda- A Life Changing Experience!

I knew I was to go to Uganda, but I had no idea how it would change my perspective on life! After 12 days of viewing such strong people survive in the most horrific kinds of poverty I find myself changed. No longer will I look at a bottle of water the same. No longer will I look at a toilet that flushes the same. No longer will I take for granted washing my car, going to the grocery store or going to work the same. The Lord has been good to me! To all of us that live in the United States of America! We have no idea how God has blessed us until we enter another country filled with a corrupt government that does not care for it's most vulnerable. I am angry with our government and it's corruption, but it doesn't compare with other countries. My question is why is our government trying to change our system to looks like that of communist countries? The only answer is because without God as our guide we will believe anything. In no way did I plan to write this, but I am confident in our need for a Savior to guide us towards the truth. James 1:27 has become my life verse. "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." We can all have opinions on what should be done to change things but the bottom line is, do we care for others more than ourselves? We came away from this trip with the goal to provide a well for the orphans at Pastor John's orphanage. I urge all of my friends and family to consider this worthy cause. Life is more than what we can do for our selves and we should all leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren. My challenge to all of us is to give something... will you? "When you do it for the least of these, you have done it to me"... Jesus.

Ask of Me and I Will Give You The Nations!

In less than a week our team will be in Uganda. It is incredible how fast this trip has come together. I have found myself having to put a check on my spirit a few times. The pressure of getting ready has brought some of my emotions to the surface. Things I have had to deal with in order to be used of God have been my attitude under pressure, and not being in control of every detail.

It is a good thing! I am thankful the Lord has continued to rub off my rough edges, I just didn't realize how many there were :).

My prayer for this trip is to be a servant and do what is needed. A true follower of Christ does not demand his or her own way. I pray I have a loving and gentle spirit that brings glory to God.

So here it goes.....

Tomorrow we will be in all 3 services in order for the congregation to pray for us and send us out. "how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."

I am so grateful for Manny's support in this journey, he is my rock!

Go In To All The World-Uganda 2012

When you think of the scripture Go into all the world and preach the good news... do you think you would really go? I knew someday I would go to Africa I just didn't expect it to happen like this.

Last October I decided I am going to Uganda, it happened in a split second. With in two weeks the plan was set in place and by November a team of 8 was put together. None of us really knew what was going to happen, but we all knew we were going.

Now we finalize our plans, and we have discovered not only are we going to one Orphanage as we at first planned, but four or five Orphanages. We are not only going to the Pastors Conference, but we will be speaking at the Conference. Not only that, but we will be involved in Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry as well as speaking to women and preaching in at least three churches.

It is very exciting to know in just over 2 weeks we will be in Uganda sharing the love of Jesus with many that need to know there is hope!

Happy New Year 2012

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe it's 2012!

Looking back over 2011 and I have so much to be thankful for in life! A wonderful husband, a son many dream of having, a daughter in law many could only hope for, and of course my Grandchildren. After spending a couple of days during Christmas with them I was reminded how blessed I am.

Benjamin, a true gift from God. His kind sweet and gentle soul touches all he meets. I find it ironic that he has the same birthday as Melody , because she had some of the same qualities and personality traits. Everyone enjoyed being around her and she was loved by all who met her or came in contact with her and the same goes for Benjamin.

Sweet Samuel, so full of life! This precious boy could charm the inheritance out of a rich selfish man's hand. His laughter brings so much joy to my life. His comical ways keeps everyone wondering what is next. But his presence demands an audience, and he gets one every time.

William, is the baby of the bunch for now since we have a new one on the way. He really isn't a baby any more, he considers himself one of the big boys and keeps up pretty good. William is unique, he is different than Ben and Sam. Although he has the same charm effect, and his smile can melt the hardest of hearts. He can move quicker than most children, one moment he is there and poof, he is gone. He is quite the artist and loves anything with wheels. Then we have a new baby on the way, of course we will have to wait and see what kind of personality he will have, four boys!

Okay, so I went on and on about my boys... let me go back to the rest of my treasured family.

I will start with Manny, or "our Manny" as Benjamin calls him. I have been blessed with a husband who loves me and I him.We have such a blessed life! Some would look at it as difficult but we know better. We do spend a lot of time commuting back and forth to work and we are exhausted on Friday afternoon but we have what many couples dream of. We have a love and commitment that goes beyond ourselves, it is a gift from God. Manny is a man of few words, but he is far from shallow. His thought process is so deep I find myself having to really pay attention to grasp some of his thoughts. I am simple minded and he is complex. Manny is a true gift from God to me, he came into my life at a time I really needed him but I was unaware of it. We have spent the last nine years together and I am so grateful to have a companion I can trust completely to love and protect me at all times.

Now let me brag about my son, Zechariah or Zack as he is known. Zack is my pride and joy in life. Since I became a Mom at a early age I didn't always make the best choices. But Zack wasn't one of them, and I thank God each day for the gift of my son. When he was little I did my best to spend time with him and give him a home filled with love. I believe his Dad and I did that, in spite of our differences Zack was fortunate to have grown up in a loving environment full of mud pies, play dough and water paints. :) And then he grew up to find the love of his life Bonnie. Bonnie is such a good Mom to their boys and I am so thankful for the love they have in their home. She has created a home filled with love and laughter and the boys thrive in that secure environment.

Last but not least, let's not forget the cat, Gracie. Gracie is an entitled cat, she thinks she rules the kingdom which is actually our house. She wakes me up at two, three and four in the morning. Sometimes she wants to go outside, or have me watch her eat her cat food. However, there are times she just wants me up because she is... :)

So as we go into the New Year I pray for my family, that they will enjoy life to it's fullest and serve God in the capacity He has called them. I also pray for those that feel they have no need for God, that they will come to an understanding of the great love God has for them and someday embrace that truth! -Selah

Merry Christmas! 2011

CHristmas is a special time for friends and families. This Christmas we shared our home with many that we hold dear to us. Posting more later!

The Lord has A Plan For You!

Who would ever think part of my testimony of God's love and grace would have to do with a roll of quarters and a box of brownies? :)

This is what the LORD says -He who made you, who formed you in the womb. (Isaiah 44:2 *NKJV)

God knew you long before you were born, just as He knew Isaiah and Jeremiah. He thought about you and planned for you! For He wanted someone just like you, therefore you are very special to Him. After all God has said; "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart."
(Jeremiah 1:5 )

Have you ever wondered if God was aware of you or of your needs? It could have been a day when you wondered how am I going to feed my family or provide for my children.

I have had days like that. Several years ago, My family had a business, and sold it to a Christian man, and he robbed us. At the time of the sale our business made over a half a million in sales that year. My family wanted to be available to be in ministry and this sale would provide a good amount of money to do the Lord’s work.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. We were forced to sell our house, and move into a little apartment in a very bad area. We had never been exposed to gangs living downstairs from us. My son was only 10 years old and he had always gone to a Christian School and felt protected. His whole world changed, now he had to worry about people beating him up, and robbing him on his way home from school. It was a real reality check for all of us.

I had always had a washing machine in my house and now I washed my clothes in the laundry room with my neighbors. I didn’t mind it because you can get all your clothes clean in a couple of hours with lots of machines to choose from. But one day I had all my laundry in the baskets and I was getting ready to do the laundry. I realized I didn’t have enough money to wash our clothes. As I was going through the laundry trying to figure out what was the most important things to wash my son came to me and said. “Mommy, can we make some brownies?” You see our house was always filled with the smell of fresh baked cookies and breads. My little child wasn’t asking for much, but suddenly my heart was broken because I couldn’t bake him brownies. I had to tell him I am sorry but we don’t have any money to make brownies. It didn’t bother him too much but it bothered me. I went into the living room where my laundry baskets were sitting by the front door and laid down on the floor. I cried out to God, and said Lord I am so mad right now. I have obeyed you and everything has been taken from us. I cried hysterically and said I don’t have any money to do my laundry and my son wants brownies. I am mad! I said Lord you promised to take care of us! After my fit, I got up and washed my face. I still couldn’t do my laundry or make brownies but I had a good cry. My Mom always said sometimes we just need a good cry. ☺ About an hour later there was a knock on my door. I wasn’t expecting anyone and when I opened the door it was my friend Donna. She was the last person I expected to see because she lived about a hour away from me. She was standing at my door with two bags of groceries. She said I don’t know what is going on with you but I was praying for you and the Lord said take her a roll of quarters. A roll of quarters is $10.00 in American money and you have to use quarters in the washing machine. She said she looked in her wallet and took at a $10 dollar bill. The Lord said to her I said take her a roll of quarters. She told me it was a little inconvenient for her because she had to go to the store for the quarters. She did what God told her and while she was at the store the Lord said buy her some groceries and make sure to get her a box of brownies. She knew nothing about what I was going through! So when she arrived at the door saying I don’t know what this is all about but I had to obey God. I stood there and cried because God heard my cry.

That is how our God is, he is aware of what we need. We still may go through difficult times but we are not alone.

So when we feel discouraged or inadequate, we need to remember that God has always thought of us as very valuable. He is always with us and He loves us dearly, and nothing can separate us from that love! He loves us so much that he will send a friend with exactly what we need at exactly the right time!

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

We should never feel that we are unloved, or let one of life's many discouragements set us back, instead; Be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Amen

A Baby Boy!

I just found out this week that Zack and Bonnie are having a boy! Yeah!!!!!! So excited to have a another sweet baby in the family! I never thought I would have four grandsons! Life's greatest joy!