This exquisite view came custom painted to me byGod yesterday morning. Perhaps I can share His gift
with you.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Morning Dawns
This exquisite view came custom painted to me byGod yesterday morning. Perhaps I can share His gift
with you.
Good News and Other News
Another very good day. First I woke up with a book on my mind. It's called The Peace Child, by Don Richardson. I haven't read it all--in fact, very little of it, but I want to. In a nutshell, it's the true story of how another culture discovers the story of divine redemption. What made me think of it was a fellow homeschool mom who wants to buy it from me. I told her yes yesterday but this morning was hesitant. AGH! I love missionary stories so much I like to hang onto them.
Then the Lord supercharged me with the idea of continuing a club for girls similar to Operation Gummi Worms, but expanded. It would be a monthly club for girls who want to reach out to the needy practically and spiritually. I was thinking of calling it the Young Rubies. Have two age groups, 6-11 and 12-17. I would brainstorm first to see what they'd come up with for service projects--visiting nursing homes, sending military care packages, baking to support the next missions trip that a homeschooler takes, sewing and filling Katrina Kits for the next natural disaster, and so on. I got really into the idea, all the way to wanting to have someone design a Young Rubies logo for T-shirts!
In the mail came a MOST unexpected amount of money from someone I don't know but who is a fellow believer. You know who you are and you will be thanked abundantly by both Sarah and me. I cried when I opened it. A relative also sent us money, and frankly, surprised me. So, I took all my checks from the past 3 days except one I'm holding till Tuesday, but when I do that'll be another 931 in our account. We are almost halfway there! That's the good news. We still need half. That's the Other News. But how grateful and optimistic I am!
Then, while at the Thrift Store looking for more eBayable clothing and a suit for Joel (found a really cute one $4.98), I struck up a conversation with a total stranger, new grandmother, former eBay seller, and sister in Christ who has been on a few missions trip with her husband and second son. Her first son was killed in a motorcylce accident in 2005 and she talked about him with tears in her eyes. One topic led to another and I gave her the address of our upcoming yard sale and she wrote it down, saying she LOVES yard sales and hopes we do well for our fundraising. We must've talked over 1/2 an hour before all was said and done. That was a pleasant interlude. I also found several items half price to sell for probably 5-10x what I paid!
At Aldi's my friend Michelle B said God answered her prayer when she spotted me in line. She had prayed, 'God, please let there be someone who will let me in front of them." (She only had a couple of things which I would never go into Aldi's on a Saturday for. Crazy!) So I told her, "Sure, you can get in front of me, but the catch is you have to pay for my groceries. Deal?" She said she didn't have an extra $120 but could do a song and dance. She also introduced me to her dad, who seems like a real easy-going fella with a sweet smile.
All my errands went smoothly and I remembered all but one. A very important one--pantyhose to go with my dress tomorrow, plus lint traps for the laundry tub. So, guess I'd better quit clickin' and get a move-on.
Every now and then you just have a day when everything seems rosy, ya know? Today was one of those. Thanks, Lord.
Then the Lord supercharged me with the idea of continuing a club for girls similar to Operation Gummi Worms, but expanded. It would be a monthly club for girls who want to reach out to the needy practically and spiritually. I was thinking of calling it the Young Rubies. Have two age groups, 6-11 and 12-17. I would brainstorm first to see what they'd come up with for service projects--visiting nursing homes, sending military care packages, baking to support the next missions trip that a homeschooler takes, sewing and filling Katrina Kits for the next natural disaster, and so on. I got really into the idea, all the way to wanting to have someone design a Young Rubies logo for T-shirts!
In the mail came a MOST unexpected amount of money from someone I don't know but who is a fellow believer. You know who you are and you will be thanked abundantly by both Sarah and me. I cried when I opened it. A relative also sent us money, and frankly, surprised me. So, I took all my checks from the past 3 days except one I'm holding till Tuesday, but when I do that'll be another 931 in our account. We are almost halfway there! That's the good news. We still need half. That's the Other News. But how grateful and optimistic I am!
Then, while at the Thrift Store looking for more eBayable clothing and a suit for Joel (found a really cute one $4.98), I struck up a conversation with a total stranger, new grandmother, former eBay seller, and sister in Christ who has been on a few missions trip with her husband and second son. Her first son was killed in a motorcylce accident in 2005 and she talked about him with tears in her eyes. One topic led to another and I gave her the address of our upcoming yard sale and she wrote it down, saying she LOVES yard sales and hopes we do well for our fundraising. We must've talked over 1/2 an hour before all was said and done. That was a pleasant interlude. I also found several items half price to sell for probably 5-10x what I paid!
At Aldi's my friend Michelle B said God answered her prayer when she spotted me in line. She had prayed, 'God, please let there be someone who will let me in front of them." (She only had a couple of things which I would never go into Aldi's on a Saturday for. Crazy!) So I told her, "Sure, you can get in front of me, but the catch is you have to pay for my groceries. Deal?" She said she didn't have an extra $120 but could do a song and dance. She also introduced me to her dad, who seems like a real easy-going fella with a sweet smile.
All my errands went smoothly and I remembered all but one. A very important one--pantyhose to go with my dress tomorrow, plus lint traps for the laundry tub. So, guess I'd better quit clickin' and get a move-on.
Every now and then you just have a day when everything seems rosy, ya know? Today was one of those. Thanks, Lord.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Rain and Shine
God opened heaven and poured out some money today, folks. Today's been all good news on the fundraising front.
Two checks came in the mail, one from a church member, one from someone in our old homeschool group in Balto County. They totaled $250 !!!
A homeschooler online has agreed to pay $67 for some Tapestry books of mine, which is above the cost of what she could get them from on Half.com or Amazon Marketplace. She just wants to help! I must admit, it's pretty hard for me to sell books I have loved. But God made it easier last year when I asked Him for wisdom on how to let go of books I was hoarding. He said, "Tithe on them." So last year I went through a bookcase and pulled out 10 at a time and decided on 1 to give away or sell. After that hurdle emotionally (because homeschoolers love to build libraries)
it's been a little easier to let go of more than 10%.
Last year I did photos for the lacrosse team and apparently never cashed the $70 check I earned for prints. This year's secretary is putting it in the mail.
Ebay stuff in the past 24 hours has come to $120. Some my own possessions, some from others.
And I just got an emails from two Christians--one local, one distant who doesn't even KNOW me but she blogs in "our group" . They are putting checks in the mail to me.
IN mid-afternoon I got a call from a lady who wants to give me a really nice piece of furniture to sell.
At Taco Bell, the lady gave me back 5 bucks too much.
Another blogger sent me a very encouraging email saying the Lord woke her up today at 5 am and she prayed 45 minutes for me, for the trip, for my future in missions, and WOW! It was jampacked with spirit-lifting words!
At lunchtime I just bent over a chair and started crying tears of joy of gratitude .The Lord is hearing our prayers.
PS I gave the Taco Bell lady back the 5 bucks. (Just checking to see if you were still with me.....!)
I have never been tempted to keep too much money. I have other vices, but that's not one of them.
Anyway, I knew you would like an update. My totals in the past two days, including those pending, is probably around $550 !!!
Two checks came in the mail, one from a church member, one from someone in our old homeschool group in Balto County. They totaled $250 !!!
A homeschooler online has agreed to pay $67 for some Tapestry books of mine, which is above the cost of what she could get them from on Half.com or Amazon Marketplace. She just wants to help! I must admit, it's pretty hard for me to sell books I have loved. But God made it easier last year when I asked Him for wisdom on how to let go of books I was hoarding. He said, "Tithe on them." So last year I went through a bookcase and pulled out 10 at a time and decided on 1 to give away or sell. After that hurdle emotionally (because homeschoolers love to build libraries)
it's been a little easier to let go of more than 10%.
Last year I did photos for the lacrosse team and apparently never cashed the $70 check I earned for prints. This year's secretary is putting it in the mail.
Ebay stuff in the past 24 hours has come to $120. Some my own possessions, some from others.
And I just got an emails from two Christians--one local, one distant who doesn't even KNOW me but she blogs in "our group" . They are putting checks in the mail to me.
IN mid-afternoon I got a call from a lady who wants to give me a really nice piece of furniture to sell.
At Taco Bell, the lady gave me back 5 bucks too much.
Another blogger sent me a very encouraging email saying the Lord woke her up today at 5 am and she prayed 45 minutes for me, for the trip, for my future in missions, and WOW! It was jampacked with spirit-lifting words!
At lunchtime I just bent over a chair and started crying tears of joy of gratitude .The Lord is hearing our prayers.
PS I gave the Taco Bell lady back the 5 bucks. (Just checking to see if you were still with me.....!)
I have never been tempted to keep too much money. I have other vices, but that's not one of them.
Anyway, I knew you would like an update. My totals in the past two days, including those pending, is probably around $550 !!!
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
My Hutch & My Faith Walk
Remember the hutch story of last summer? Well, I finally got the hutch a few months ago. Absolutely free and I really ,really like it.Not only does it store my china and display my small collection of white ceramic pitchers, it is a constant reminder to me of God's faithfulness to provide. I waited 20 years for a nice hutch and it is perfect for my likes and my space! To trust God in the wait bears sweet rewards.
We are still waiting for big bucks to come thru for our Russia missions trip. We have applied to GAiN, we are waiting for passports, we are prepping for a big, big yard sale. We've sold wreaths, soup, and personal possessions. We've written letters (over 75) and petitioned God in earnest. As of today, we are still short $4100. All the money must be in my hands April 15th so I can get it to GAiN five days after that.
So, am I worried? No. Have I had doubts? No. But what I have had are moments of heart racing over how to do our part and how to let God show Himself strong. I don't believe in just writing letters without doing some hard labor, but I can say it's been hard work! Listing stuff on ebay, cleaning & sorting & arranging myriad details for our huge yard sale in Fallston on April 14th --yeh, it's doing the WORK of an evangelist, for sure. But it's good and meaningful work.
Please pray. I am in faith that God will remind all His people to follow thru w/ their check writing in the midst of their busyness.
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