Hearts in Service

I felt like a cracked egg with all my insides pouring out.  I had shared a weakness I was having and a concern for prayer and immediately after the words were out of my mouth I had second thoughts.  I had that nagging feeling that I maybe I shouldn't have admitted I struggle with that.  After all, I'm a pastor's wife.  I'm supposed to be one of those piano playing, well-dressed, smile plastered on my face, only sweetness and light pouring out of my mouth women, right? At least I shouldn't ever admit that I struggle with insecurities or sin. My life is perfect and I am that woman with the sweet and gentle spirit.  At least, I should fake it until I make it.  Be quiet, meek and never show a crack in my shell. But that's not who I am or how I was created.  I'm fairly transparent.  I don't go around sharing every little thing and I certainly know when to have discretion.  But overall, the cracks show.  You don't have to search hard to figure ou

We are in one of those very tight weeks and I've been trying to come up with creative ways to keep my family happy, yet fed.  It's not always easy as I have one with major sensory issues so there are certain foods that bring up a gag reflex.  However, I am persevering. :-) Some ways I've saved money this week. $ I have a bank account for my business (crafts & books I've written).  When I opened it, there was no monthly charge.  However, they changed their policy and I've been charged $20 per month since January.  In a different conversation with the bank, this came up, and they took care of it and reversed the charges and will no longer charge my account.  So I earned back $60 and saved $ 120 for the year.  Whoo hoo!!!! $ Dan picks up Emily every day from track practice and because she has him wrapped around her little finger (lol) he was stopping at McDonald's every day to purchase a frappe. It is only a $1 and I certainly don't want to take away

The temperatures are still cold here and it has snowed a bit the past few days, but spring is in the air.  The one major change is the amount of birds I hear when I walk out the door.  The past few afternoons when I've gone out my back door, there have been a few deer staring me at me from the empty lot behind our house.  Things are definitely changing. I've also started to wake up in the craft department.  I'll be a ladies retreat next weekend and will have a table of books and crafts.  A local bed and breakfast and antique store will be carrying my items too.  That opens up in May.  So I've realized I need to get moving to have enough items to stock the store.  I will also have a table at the local farmer's market once a week, beginning at the end of May.  So there are lots of upcoming events happening. This week was all about table runners and I actually made three this week.  The photos didn't turn out the best because I took them without a lot of natu

My new book, Poured Out, is now available on Amazon  as well as my website, www.terrigroh.com .  Because the "Look Inside" feature on Amazon is not up and running yet, I thought I would print an excerpt here from the book. I Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~    Rejoice always,   pray continually,   give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.   My life seems to be a constant struggle with trying to figure out God's plan.  Always concerned that somehow I'm not doing what He has called me to do.  Fearful that I’m not walking in His perfect will.   Should I work?  Should I stay home?   Should I homeschool?  Should my kids go to public school? Should I call this person?  Should I write to that one?  Does God want us to stay?  Does God want us to go?   A thousand questions shoot through my mind every day.  A thousand voices create internal turmoil and chip away at peace.   Yet, as I read these verses, I realize the fo

When I was 12 years old, I felt God's pull on my life.  I clearly remember sensing that my life was to be spent in service to Him.  I wasn't sure what that meant or where it would lead, but even at that young age, I knew that my life was to be used in a different way.   As I heard of Jesus death on the cross, I wept at the thought that he did that for me.  He loved this world so much that he was willing to pour out his life for a world that rejected him.  Because of his sacrifice, how could I not want to turn around and have my life, every part of it, be poured out for him?    It can be hard at times.  There are struggles.  There are times of trials and temptations.  Times of tears and wrestling.  Times of fighting off selfishness.  Yet, there are times of obedience, of thanksgiving, and triumph.  Through all of those times, each of us are to pour ourselves out for Christ.   The wonderful thing about pouring yourself out for other people while staying close to the

I have a huge problem!   How in the world did this happen?       My baby went from this...       To this....practically overnight!     She went to her first dance ever last night, a semi-formal.  I'm venturing into a whole new world with a teenage daughter.  I've raised two boys to adulthood and think Dan & I have done a good job.   So far, we are doing pretty good with Emily, but it's certainly a different ballgame. I do have to say it was fun doing nails and hair and all that "girly" stuff last night.  Dan just hid away in the other room.  It's hard to navigate my child through the minefield of boys who don't have the best motives and teen girls who can be downright unkind and mean in their comments. Emily's the new kid on the block in her school and it's a small one.  I grew up in a very small school - much smaller than this one.  It wasn't always fun because everyone knew each other and made it their

I was very excited about this week's Frugal Friday because I hit the jackpot big time in the savings department!  My husband took a job as a pastor of a new church back at the end of December.  We are right on Lake Ontario and this has been a hard winter.  So, needless to say, we haven't done a whole lot of exploring.  I mean, who wants to go out when it snows every single day! ;-) Anyway, we decided to check out a local market called, Ontario Orchards.  I really wasn't expecting much.  After all, how much produce can one have in the dead of winter?  I was wrong.  What an awesome store!  Not only did they have a lot of fresh produce, but dried fruits, nuts, canning supplies, local soaps, maple syrup equipment, wine and beer making supplies.  I could have spent all day in there and I showed great restraint because I only walked away with two items. Okay, now to get to the point and share my savings this week.  $ I purchased a bushel of apples for $6!!  That translates

Romans 10:12-15 (NIV) ~ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?   And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Our church has a little library area, which is full of donated books.  I was browsing through them one day when I came across a whole series about the lives of different missionaries from our denomination.  I had read a couple of these throughout the years, but not all of them, so I decided I wanted to read through the entire series.  It's been fun because I recognize some of the names and in fact, in a couple of the later books, I went to school with a cou

I love the look of quilts.  Bits of cloth intricately sewn together into beauty to cover a bed or table or wall. The church is made up of a patchwork of people, sewn together into a beautiful tapestry that is the body of Christ.  Different gifts, personalities, and talents that on their own can be useful but when perfectly pieced together turn into something spectacular!  Some use their gifts to sing.  Others to teach.  Others to administrate.  Still others have gifts in prayer. Or exhortation.  Or helps.  Individually, able to make a difference, but corporately able to change the world. I miss my friends at our old church, but am so thrilled when I hear of them continuing to reach their community for Christ.  I am growing in love for my friends in our new church.  They too are striving to make a difference in this community some 450 miles away in a different part of the state.  We are part of a larger body of believers who are all using their gifts and talents to share the lo

My original plan with this new book was to have it come out in time for Lent.  However, uprooting and moving across the state right before Christmas put the brakes on that idea.  However, I've been able to steadily work at it, and it's almost ready!  I'm giving you a sneek peak at the cover today.  My goal is to have Poured Out complete by the end of the month, in time for our annual, district wide ladies retreat.  I'll have a table there with my books and some of my craft items.  I'm pleased with how this has turned out and praying that it's a blessing to those who read it!  My goal is always to combine my love for God's word and my desire to encourage women in their walk with the Lord.  I hope that this book does exactly that. Here is an excerpt from the back cover: "Poured out was the theme of Jesus' life and ministry. His entire life here on earth was an outpouring of his love for us. We, in turn, are to pour out our lives for him.

I'm taking a trip down memory lane today.  I am feeling a bit of nostalgia this morning.   Perhaps it's because Stephen is heading back down to college this morning and I won't see him again until May.   As I was reminiscing I realized how quickly children grow up.  Make sure you enjoy each moment as it passes so quickly. These are in no  particular chronological order.  Just some snapshots of our days throughout the past few years. Love this little face! That was fun!  My babies are all grown up now. 

How can we possibly be joyful when things are going wrong? When we are sunk deep in debt and something else breaks? When our children head down a wrong path? When our spouse is angry with us?  When our lives don't match the dreams we once had?  When the world comes crashing in? Is true joy even possible? Romans 5:1-5  ~ "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill o

I so often spend my life racing from one thing to the next or even worse, totally wasting it by sitting in front of a screen.  There are so many precious moments than can be missed just by being unobservant.  And yet, as I follow the Lord and wish to spend time with him daily, I most often find him in those little things.  His hand is on the small, unnoticed details. I want to live my life to the fullest and squeeze the last little bit out of it.  Yet, many times I miss things simply because I'm too distracted to notice.   I've been working at opening up my mind and really seeing the beauty in little things around me.  It's there.  You just have to look.  There are such beautiful little intricasies in life that bring joy and enrichment.  Let's take time to stop long enough to notice them and then remember to thank the Lord for His hand in the little details. This week I'm thankful for blessings #1961-1970 ♥ A son home for a week. ♥ Dayligh