Hearts in Service Blog

New Year's Eve and Day were fairly uneventful and ones which consisted of sewing, football, board games and special treats. I grew up in a region where stuffed pizza was available. It's not healthy but oh so good! So I made that for New Year's Eve dinner. No, we did not make it until midnight and I'm sure the deep fried carb overload didn't help!  Dan and I were able to get out and walk by the lake both days. What a change 24 hours made. On New Year's Eve the lake was flat and serene. Yesterday there were gale-force winds and it was whipping and wild! We could barely walk by the water but once we went off into the woods the wind died right down. It was a different sort of day yesterday. Normally I take down all the decorations on New Year's Day but will be doing that this weekend. It was definitely low-key which is a good thing from time to time. I sewed, made dinner for a friend home from the hospital, played a game with the f...

January 1, 2019. The page has been turned on the calendar and it's a fresh blank slate for the new year. I know people fall into two categories - those who love to set goals, make resolutions and start the new year off this way. And then there are those who roll their eyes and think it's silly to make resolutions that you'll never keep. I personally like to make goals each year because I think if you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time. I want to have a direction in which to start and while I may not complete each goal I set for myself, I do find that I certainly get further than I would have if I had no direction to go. I try to make the goals reasonable enough that I can reach them. Dan and I went for a two mile walk by the lake yesterday and it was pleasant. The temperature wasn't too bad and there was no wind so it made for a warm-ish walk. As we walked, we chatted about children, ministry, and life. It was nice to be able to connect with e...

Each year for the past several I've prayed and thought about what my focus for the new year will be. This year as I was thinking about it, the following word popped into my head along with a scripture. Over the past couple of months it has occurred a number of times. One night I woke up from a sound sleep with the scripture running through my head. T he other morning, the word popped into my head again.  So I think it's pretty clear what my word for 2019, along with my theme verse should be. And it's something that I do see as needing improvement in my life.  Diligence: careful and persistent work or effort 2 Timothy 2:15 -  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. I usually work hard, but not so diligently or persistently. I especially feel the necessity of doing this spiritually as I prepare for consecration. My oral examination will be taking place in October, a...

A few years ago I started this activity at the beginning of each year where I pray and think about a word I want to focus on for the year. It's been a neat thing to do as it gives me an overall theme or focus for the coming year.  The word for 2018 was more . I wanted to see more of God's work in my life and less of me. I posted that and then ashamedly went on my merry way without too much thought about it. Once in a while, it would come to mind but I didn't think I was putting too much effort into it. In fact, I haven't even had that word in my head for the past few months until I looked back on it the other day. But God in His graciousness, took me at my word (no pun intended). He did indeed begin the process of helping me to decrease so He could increase. I may not have done much about it, but He certainly did.  As I've mentioned a few times 2018 has been a rough year. It has been a year of being knocked down from time to time. A year of being humbled, ...

I always enjoying looking through the photos from the year and reminiscing over some of the things that took place during that year. Here is a look back at 2018. January I started the year as a licensed worker with the Christian & Missionary Alliance, and began the long 24-month process of consecration. We also endured snowstorm after snowstorm. February I was officially appointed as Disciplemaking Ministries Director in our church. The month also included taking our teens to our district's teen winter retreat. March March was mostly full of church ministry. I s tarted a youth group with 9 teenagers, and continued our 3D Kids program. I o rganized a community Easter egg hunt and craft day. T he children from 3D Kids participated in Palm Sunday. I also participated in a community farmer's market. April April was a busy month between Easter and organizing our district women's retreat. Finally, spring started to show signs of actu...

I very rarely do any crafting for myself. Generally it's a sewing project to sell, or for a custom order, or I'm crafting for some event. I think maybe once or twice a year I'll make something for our home or myself. I'm under the weather with a flare-up of diverticulitis and have been feeling terrible since Wednesday night when it hit. So I haven't really wanted to go anywhere or do much of anything. So yesterday afternoon I put on some Christmas music, took all the cards we received for Christmas, some cardstock and made some gift tags for next year's gifts. They turned out cute and hopefully will last a few years if I can remember to get them off the wrapping paper before we throw it out. I made close to 60 of them and it was very relaxing. Emily sat and chatted with me while she worked on something else. But I'm ahead of things for next year! I did attempt to sew for a bit after that but really wasn't feeling it so gave up after a b...

On this third day of Christmas, I've spent some time in reflection and want to talk about working in your sweet spot. In other words, your gift set. As believers, the Holy Spirit gives us different spiritual gifts, and we are also blessed with certain talents and personalities. The talents and personalities are just the way we are wired. When we come to the point in our life when all three - spiritual gifts + talents + personality are working together, it is sweet! So often though we struggle with finding that place. Some of that is because we try to be something we aren't, or desire to have spiritual gifts we haven't been given, or we try to change our personality and the way God made us. Our worship leader at church has been away the past two weeks, and she will be gone this Sunday as well. When she's not there I step up and lead. The problem is I have a very low voice and I generally just sing harmony. When I choose songs in the key she normally sings, which i...