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Big Cubes Black Solid Colors

Unique shower invitations and birth announcements by Shutterfly.

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Adoption Journey

Fostering

So many things are changing.. the biggest being that we are becoming foster parents! We will finish our final class next week and then have our home study. I am hoping the by January we will be getting little ones to care for.

Until then, we have are fostering a few few dogs on and off. It is difficult to say good bye after a week of fun.. especially for Buckeye, he is a great big brother. However, if we get to help them a little to overcome some fears and learn to socialize it is worth it.

EPIC, a teenage community of GraceRiver Church

This past weekend 37 teenagers and adult volunteers spent the weekend at Moss Park for EPIC’s first annual camping trip. The weekend was filled with fun and a focus on what it looks like to have a relationship with Christ. We learned about, and put into practice, praying, spending time in the Bible and being a part of a community by attending GraceRiver Church together. The weekend was filled with fun, laughter and deepening relationships. At least two teenagers made decisions to start a relationship with Christ.

Please pray for our teens as they continue to question and explore what it means to live a ‘Beyond Ordinary’ life by following Jesus.

GraceRiver Church & EPIC, a teenage community - support raising

Fishing - it’s not for sissies

Yesterday Greg had the opportunity to go deep sea fishing with his Dad off the coast of Titusville. They caught some big fish, had fun and were exhausted when they arrived back last night.

Upon talking with Greg today, these are some of the things he told me about their trip.

“I never realized how easy it is to lose a fish once it was hooked.”

“Reeling in that big fish was hard work. I had to stay focused and keep going. It put up a good fight.”

“I never knew how exhausting fishing could be.”

Also, as I was sitting talking with Greg I saw a few ‘boo boos’ on his hands where and occasional hook had scraped him and even a bruise on his arm from holding the rod so tightly during a big catch. As I began to ponder all that Greg was telling me, God used it as a moment to care for and encourage my heart.

I have always been familiar with Jesus using the metaphor of fishing for people instead of fish, however today I think I experienced it a bit deeper. Having never done much fishing, and none in the ocean, I never really realized the challenges it could have. As I thought back about the statements Greg had shared this is what I felt God saying.

“I never realized how easy it is to lose a fish once it was hooked.”
-Keep pursing the heart of the teenagers I have called you to care for. Some will ‘swim away’ after a time, but you never know when they may be caught again in the future.

“Reeling in that big fish was hard work. I had to stay focused and keep going. It put up a good fight.”
-Keep working hard and teaching my truth.  Keep focused on me and wait to see the few ‘big fish’ that you do catch.

“I never knew how exhausting fishing could be.”

-I will use the difficult and hard times to strengthen you and these teenagers. At times you will be exhausted and may want to give up, but keep going. I will provide you joy and refreshment in the end.

Mark 1:17 Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men.

Daring to Hope

 Lamentations 3:20-26

 I will never forget this awful time,

      as I grieve over my loss.

 Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:

    The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

          His mercies never cease

 Great is his faithfulness;

      his mercies begin afresh each morning.

  I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;

      therefore, I will hope in him!

The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.

My heart has been weary these past six months, yet daily I am Daring to Hope.

 

What is Love?

Here is a video I made for church for our Love and Respect series.

Teenagers giving from the heart

This Sunday has been a heart moving experience for Greg and myself. Several of our teenagers contacted us Saturday night and wanted to come to church. After arranging rides we awaited to see what God would do the next morning. As I got ready to come early for rehearsal I received a text message from Kayla (7th grade) who also wanted to come to church, and come early to help. She came in time for rehearsal, trained on the slide presentation and ran the show during service. She did a great job and really enjoyed serving. She wants to serve again as to several of our other students.

Meanwhile Greg picked up 3 boys and brought them to church, two of which had never been, and one that visited when we were at Lee Vista Elementary. They really enjoyed the service and expressed that 'GraceRiver does not feel like other churches, it is fun and understandable." Two of the three boys were prompted to give some of their own money... THIS IS HUGE!!! As Greg and I were talking we can see through their giving the story of the poor widow in scripture who gave what she could even though it was not much.... the story of the heart.

Mark 12:41-44 
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.

After church we took Greg out for Father's day and had a great afternoon of fun and discipleship in action. God is moving in the hearts of teenagers in SouthEast Orlando and I am so thankful for all that you guys are doing to support His work.

May your hearts be encouraged in the life change that is happening.

Prayer for Panama

The people of Panama are on my heart to pray for. I hope I will get to go back again to minister to the women there.

This is something I designed from several photos of my trip in Panama & have inlaid a prayer with the design... I love the creativity God has blessed me with and enjoy worshiping him through it.... sometimes I get so caught up in the work aspect of design... I forget about the ultimate Designer.

I kissed a girl by Katy Perry

The number 2 song on itunes this week is called "I kissed a girl'..... by Katy Perry, a female.

Recently I have had several students that are questioning homosexuality, this is really becoming a common and 'cool' thing among teenagers today. It breaks my heart that homosexuality is becoming a common way that teens are getting their empty emotional banks filled.  

I surveyed some of my students last week and out of all the surveys no of them thought that the media around them influenced them. I would disagree...

This week we are going to be having a more laid back experience and talk about what criteria we use to come up with the values we have.

I have included the lyrics to this song below as I don't agree with homosexuality, I do believe that this song describes what many of our teens are experiencing today.

I Kissed A Girl lyrics

Katy Perry

This was never the way I planned

Not my intention

I got so brave, drink in hand

Lost my discretion

It's not what, I'm used to

Just wanna try you on

I'm curious for you

Caught my attention

I kissed a girl and I liked it

The taste of her cherry chapstick

I kissed a girl just to try it

I hope my boyfriend don't mind it

It felt so wrong

It felt so right

Don't mean I'm in love tonight

I kissed a girl and I liked it

I liked it

No, I don't even know your name

It doesn't matter

Your my experimental game

Just human nature

It's not what, good girls do

Not how they should behave

My head gets so confused

Hard to obey

I kissed a girl and I liked it

The taste of her cherry chapstick

I kissed a girl just to try it

I hope my boyfriend don't mind it

It felt so wrong

It felt so right

Don't mean I'm in love tonight

I kissed a girl and I liked it

I liked it

Us girls we are so magical

Soft skin, red lips, so kissable

Hard to resist so touchable

Too good to deny it

Ain't no big deal, it's innocent

I kissed a girl and I liked it

The taste of her cherry chapstick

I kissed a girl just to try it

I hope my boyfriend don't mind it

It felt so wrong

It felt so right

Don't mean I'm in love tonight

I kissed a girl and I liked it

I liked it

Please pray that God would open doors and conversations that these teens would understand how He designed Love and relationships to be.

6 months of life change

Here is  a video from the past 6 months of EPIC. It is amazing how much these kids have changed.. God is doing a lot.... 

EPIC Winter/Spring... What's Happening Video