VBS

I just completed a wonderful week of VBS. The theme was 'God's Superheroes' and there were 15 to 17 children in attendance each day. The children ranged in age mostly from 3 to 7. We kicked off the week on Monday by learning about Moses and how he had faith in God and his faith helped him to lead the people across the Red Sea. On Tuesday we learned about the courage of Joshua and how he was brave and because he obeyed God the walls of Jericho fell and God's people were able to get into the city. On Wednesday, we learned about Ruth and Naomi and how they trusted in God and the importance of being a good friend. Thursday we learned about Daniel and how God protected Daniel in the lion's den because he had obeyed God. Friday we learned that we can all be Superheroes for God by being faithful, courageous, trusting in God, obedient and being truthful. Each day we sang songs, played games, had a snack and did a craft that suited the theme for the day.

It was a week I will never forget! Teaching children about God is a challenge! Especially when you are trying to relate biblical concepts to 4 year olds! But on Thursday after the story was read and I asked the children questions I realized that even the youngest there was able to understand that Daniel had obeyed God and because he obeyed God he was kept safe!

I thank the Lord for this week of VBS! For the challenging moments and the blessings! I am thankful for the wonderful privilege to spend time with the children teaching them a little more about God and that no matter how young they are that God loves each of them and they can all be Superheroes for Him!

I pray today that you will remind the children that you come in contact with that they are all important to God and that He loves each of them very much!

One of Those Days

Well this has been one of those days where if it seems bad now wait 5 minutes it gets worse. Seemed everytime the phone rang it was bad news, lots of stressful situations and prayer concerns. Then tonite I had the opportunity to go with the Jubilee Singers to the UCW closing. We (the Jubilee Singers) did a devotional time for the UCW ladies - songs, prayers, scripture readings and a lunch at the end. It was a lovely meeting. To see the smiles on the ladies faces as we sang the songs and to sit around the table with them after and share stories and just to know how much these older ladies appreciate the choir was a wonderful way to conclude an otherwise horrible day.

I was reminded tonite that in the midst of the struggles of life the Lord is right there with us helping us each step along the way. We may not always see how things will work out or what the solution will be. But its such a comfort to know that the Lord already knows the answers! The very hairs on our head are numbered by Him!! Thats an awesome thought! We can trust in Him with our lives - our hopes and dreams, our worries and cares - because He understands our every thought and wish.

After such a challenging day I rest tonite in the shadow of the Almighty. I find strength in knowing that He is with me and through the good and the bad I can trust in Him to work out His good and perfect Will. What an awesome God!

As I mentioned on my last post, one thing I am truly thankful for is music. I can spend hours singing along to soundtracks, watching dvds, listening to cds or watching videos on youtube. One of my favorite songs is called 'Find us Faithful' by Steve Greem. In case some of you may not know the words of the song they are as follows:

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

Chorus:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift though all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

The words of the chorus inspire and encourage me to continue on this Christian journey. And it has become my prayer that those who come behind me will find me faithful. I think about the lives of those who I come in contact with at work, at church, at home. And especially as I teach Sunday School I know that there are so many who are coming behind me who are looking at my life to be that Godly witness and example to them. And so its my prayer that I will be found faithful. Faithful to God & faithful in my commitment to serve Him all my days.

What am I Thankful for ?

There are many things in life that I am thankful for... I have a nice bed to sleep in each night, food to eat each day, clothes to wear, and the list goes on. But when I dig a little deeper beyond the usual things that I am thankful for that most people include when asked such a question I often include the following things: (and these are just a few).

• I am thankful for the gift of music! The Lord has blessed me with the ability to sing and I am so thankful for the opportunity to sing with the Jubilee Singers over the past few months. Singing about the love of God lifts the spirit and causes me to look beyond the stresses of my day and focus my attention on Him. There are so many different kinds of music out there but my favorites are Praise and Worship & Gospel. And I am extremely thankful to the Lord for the Gaither Vocal Band & Ernie Hasse and Signature Sound. The GVB now consists of 5 members - Wes Hampton, Michael English, David Phelps, Mark Lowry & Bill Gaither. These 5 individuals have truly been blessed with amazing talent and I am so thankful for sites like youtube that allow me to view clips from their concerts and dvds! I am also thankful for things like Facebook & Twiiter which allows me to keep up on the happenings of my fave groups! Technology definitely has its benefits!
• I am thankful for Regal! For those who may not know, Regal is a Chinese Sharpei and he belongs to my cousin Chris. This week I have been dog-sitting him once again. I love spending time with Regal. Whether its napping, going for numerous walks, or playing out in the yard. Regal has a way of making me feel happy even on my most stressful days. And so I am very thankful for him and the time I get to spend with him.

Of course I am thankful for my friends! For their support and encouragement during some of the most challenging and difficult times in my life. I can't imagine not having each of them in my life. I am also thankful for the people at the Church who have been so encouraging and supportive over the past few months as I have joined the choir and began teaching Sunday School. The children in my Sunday School class - what a blessing! They are all so special and I am so thankful for each of them!

The list could go on and on but I think its important sometimes to stop and acknowledge some of the many things we are thankful for... it lifts up the spirit, it turns the mind away from the negative and focuses on the positive and it truly produces an 'attitude of gratitude'.

God Moment

On Sunday morning we held a Family Service followed by a BBQ & games at Jubilee United Church. There were approximately 30 children in attendance along with parents, grandparents, church members and friends. A couple days after the Service I was talking to the grandma of the twin girls (just turned 4 a week ago) in my Sunday school class. And she was telling me that one of them who was sitting with her at the time was listening to one of the older girls do a reading at the Service Sunday Morning and she said 'Nanny when I get a big girl I want to read in church too." How sweet was that! That was truly my 'God moment' of the day! The grandparents, family and friends are also amazed at the other girl who used to be completely shy and withdrawn but now comes and talks to me and participated in all the activities that the children did during the service. They can't believe the difference in her over just a few weeks. Even at the Mother's day service she did a few things but not as much as she did on Sunday. The family is so pleased to see her interacting with the other children and they can't get over how she has connected with me. All I can say is its not about me but its all about God! :D It truly was His Plan that I teach Sunday School at that church. And to hear a 4 year old wanting to read in church when she gets older it shows how important it is to teach children to love and serve God at an early age. We never know what seeds are being sown in their young lives.

Anyways just wanted to share my 'God moments' today. What a blessing to know that the Lord can take situations that I thought were so dark and hopeless but when given to Him completely turn it around and make something beautiful for His glory!! His work in that church I know has only begun and I look fwd to VBS and the upcoming Fall/Winter Sunday School. 'Little is much when God is in it!'

The Noticer

I don't know if many of you have heard of the author Andy Andrews but he has a new book out entitled "The Noticer", while I have not yet had the oppoortunity to read the book I have read quite a bit about it on the following website: http://www.thenoticerproject.com/

The purpose of the Noticer Project is to encourage people world wide to think of the 5 most influential people in their lives. These people could be anyone from a former teacher, parent, friend, mentor, pastor, sunday school teacher, musican, singer, author, etc. When you have the 5 people in mind, the next step is to let those people know that they have influenced your life. That could be done via a phone call, e-mail, letter, card, etc.

The point is to not let our lives just pass us by but to take the time to stop and think of those who have influenced us and why and if possible to acknowledge their influnce. In some cases the person who has influenced you may have already passed away and thats ok as well. You can still acknowledge that person by mentioning them in a blog, on facebook, etc.

So who are the 5 most influential people in your life? As I continue to think about this question I encaourge you to think about it as well and let's share with each other and with those 'influential people' why they have been so influential in helping to shape us into the people we are today.
I look forward to knowing who your 5 influential people are!!

Jennifer

It's been quite a while since I last blogged. I will admit I am not great at keeping a daily, even weekly blog although it is something that I should be doing. I find blogging interesting but also challenging in that it causes me to stop and simply think of what it is that I want to share with my fellow bloggers and friends.

The past few weeks have provided new challenges for me. I began teaching Sunday School at the United Church and it has been such an incredible blessing! Youth Ministry is one of my greatest passions in life and to be able to use the talents the Lord has given me to teach these precious young people about Him is so exciting it is really hard to put into words! The Sunday School is growing in 'leaps and bounds' and I can truly see the Lord's Hand at work as new children are coming along and the children who have been attending are showing such enthusiasm each week! The Rev and I are hoping to do a week-long VBS this summer. I have been busy preparing the lessons and activitives for each day. Our Theme is 'God's Superheroes'.

Of course I am still battling with my panic attacks. I have lots of challenging and discouraging days! The hardest part with panic attacks is that when they hit it can be bad for a few days before I start to feel well again. Its been a constant struggle to not loose hope when things are rough, to focus on the positives and not dwell on the negatives, and most of all daily reminding myself that the Lord is using even the roughest days to work out His Will and Plan for my life!

Sometimes the Lord takes His child out of the storm and sometimes He walks through the storm with His child and I believe that is what He is doing with me... Daily walking with me and giving me the grace and strength to keep pressing on.

I am thankful today that I serve a God who understands exactly how I am feeling even when I do not always understand it myself! A God who has ny life in His hands and knows what the future holds and what each day will bring. I look ahead to the future with hope and confidence knowing that He who has begun a good work in me will see it to completion!

Signing off for now. Thanks for reading!!

Jennifer