Hearts in Service

Dan and I arrived in our current church in Central New York on December 13, 2013.  It was a tiny building with a small group of people with big hearts.  They were a spiritually mature group who wanted to reach their community for Christ.  One of the things though that was noticeably missing was the lack of children in the church.  There were a small handful of teens but not one little child in the group.  I have always worked with kids in every church in which we had served.  I love children and I love teaching them.  It was a struggle for me as I felt a bit lost without that role to play in the church. However, over the past 3 1/2 years, children have begun to arrive.  Some of them come because their grandparents bring them and more recently, some have arrived with their own parents.  Our little church is beginning to grow.  Since the beginning of the year, I decided that no matter if there was only one child, I would make su...

I t's rainy and gray outside, and the day is gloomy.  I slept fitfully last night and am not feeling the best this morning.  It's Monday, the day most dislike.  But I actually like Mondays.  It's my day to stay alert and look for things to be thankful about. It's a brand new start; a weekly do-over.  And it's the day when I remember how blessed I really am.  I'm happy that I started doing this years ago, because no matter what is going on in my life, it's a good way to remember the many ways God is watching out for me.  It makes me grateful for my life.  It gives me a better attitude and outlook. This week I'm thankful for blessings #2,881 - 3,000. 2881.   Simple meals that are easy to prepare and healthy. 2882. A leg that is slowly healing. 2883. Church growth. 2884. Signs of new life. 2885. Stephen is enjoying his internship at a friend's church. 2886. A daughter who makes me laugh every day. 2887. Nathan is...

Zippers are the one thing that I despise and avoid as a seamstress.  I don't like putting them in, so generally try not to work with them.  But when something goes wrong in a piece of clothing, it's generally the zipper.  The teeth get bent and the zipper refuses to close properly.  Unless you replace it, the garment is generally useless. Just like faulty zippers, there are times that I need to properly keep my mouth closed.  If I don't, then the words I speak, no matter how right and good they are, become faulty.  This is especially true of my adult children. I've struggled with this a LOT lately.  I see my young adults making mistakes, or not being wise and I so want to correct them.  However, when I open my mouth and let my words of wisdom and knowledge 😉 flow out, it is met with resistance, defensiveness and anger.  And that, in turn, sparks my anger and I want to pour out words that aren't so wise or kind. So t...

"Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought because they create wealth, but because they create character." ~ Calvin Coolidge It has been forever since I've done a frugal post and since I'm couch-bound much of the time, I figured I might as well make use of my time and write one.  I've gotten distracted lately, and there are days when it feels like we are in over our heads financially with a son in college and another on her way there. However, the other day, I gave myself a pep talk.  "Terri, you can do this!"  "You've lived with less, and you just need to refocus."  So, as a result, I'm back to my "frugal" or "thrifty" posts.  It helps keep me motivated. As a result of my accident, and the inability to get around, I had to close down my shop.  I didn't have the money to pay rent and not have the doors open.  But I am so very thankful that frugality is ingrained in me.  There were so many times ...

I haven't done a Multitude Monday list on here for almost 2 months.  It's not that I'm not thankful, but mostly that I've been listing one thing I'm thankful for each day on my Facebook page.  It's been a great exercise because every day I have to think about something I'm thankful about.  Often as I go through my day, I'll think, "Oh, this is a wonderful 'thanksgiving' thing."  It's truly caused me to overflow with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:6-7 ~ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. There is so much negativity going on in this world.  Yet, as believers, we should be known for our thanksgiving.  That's only going to happen as we are grounded and rooted in Christ.  When I can see things through faith-eyes, then even those difficult and hard things in my ...

After being lulled into dreams of summer with the warm weather we had in February, March came marching in with bitter cold and then a major storm the past few days.  Unfortunately, it matches my mood; stormy.  It feels as if winter will never end, just as it feels as if my broken leg will never mend.  By the end of each day, I feel as if my skin is crawling from just sitting all day long.  I've even started getting down on the floor to do some sit ups and leg lifts, just so my body can move.  It's no easy task getting back up off the floor since I cannot bend my left leg.  I truly feel so frustrated. I have been keeping busy, planning an upcoming retreat, as well as a number of other events going on over the next few months, but not being able to move really has cramped my style.  And to be honest, my creativity.  I pulled out a box of lace that someone gave me and while I have a number of ideas floating around, it'...

I often feel like I'm speeding along on the highway of life.  My windows are down, the sun is shining and the music is blaring.  It's all good!  Then I approach a hill.  I start up this large incline and halfway up, my engine stalls and I start rolling backwards.  I do that each and every time.  I get just far enough up the hill that I think I may make it but then something happens to my engine and I roll back down the hill.  Or there are other times when I do make it to the top of the hill.  I enjoy the beautiful scenery for a few minutes before I start heading down the other side.  I take my foot off the accelerator and just coast down the hill.  Coasting can be a great feeling until you hit the plains.  Then you realize that coasting will only take you so far.  Without gas, the car will eventually stop moving and stall. This can be applied to my spiritual life.  When I'm struggling with sin or anxi...

I wrote this 7 years ago but it applies today as well. "If God sends us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes." ~ Corrie ten Boom Discouragement.   Anxiety over the future.   Anger over circumstances.      Defeat.   So many times lately I have given in to these emotions. Our future seems so uncertain at times and it's hard to see the forest because of the trees.   However, we believe that God has a plan for us.  We have seen God work in wonderful ways over the past few years.  We trust Him and know He is has His best for us.  However those same emotions take hold at times.   Discouragement. Anxiety over the future. Anger over circumstances. Defeat.   Yet, even in the midst of these swirling emotions, I know that God gives us what we can handle. If we are walking in His way and keeping our eyes on Him, He will provide a way. There are many valleys and shadows in our lives. The...

Psalm 119:25-32 (HCSB) ~ My life is down in the dust; give me life through Your word. I told You about my life, and You listened to me; teach me Your statutes. Help me understand the meaning of Your precepts so that I can meditate on Your wonders. I am weary from grief; strengthen me through Your word. Keep me from the way of deceit and graciously give me Your instruction. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances before me. I cling to Your decrees; Lord , do not put me to shame. I pursue the way of Your commands, for You broaden my understanding. Imagine you are given the answer to all of your problems.  There is an answer to every pain, sorrow, burden and issue you face but you refuse to accept the answer.  Instead,  you try to find the solution in social media, or you worry about it, or talk about it with your friends and family.  You do everything in your power to solve it, but never once accept the answer that is right before you. ...