Church Planting Wives--Encouragement for You

Many of you know that my husband and I are honored to be in the midst of a wonderful new church plant that the Lord has set before our path along with some dear friends. It has been such a road of blessing along this great journey-- I see God's hand at work in so many amazing ways and the fellowship that the Lord has provided has been so sweet!

Then I started to think about other church planting wives and how I was sure that many of them might be looking for some encouragement. That is when I found this wonderfully encouraging blog for church planters wives and women in ministry called Grace Covers Me: Leading and Living By Grace by Christine Hoover (a fellow church planting wife and contributor at Desiring God blog) and knew I needed to share it with you!

There is SO much over there, I don't even know where to begin! But take some time to look around and I know that something will speak to you over there. I am also looking forward to checking out her book that will be released sometime early next year by Moody Publishers:

(I will be posting more in the future on church planting, so if you are doing that or a pastors wife please leave a comment and share your thoughts and your blog.)

Are you a church planting/pastor's wife?

Are there any encouraging resources that you would like to share?

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The Lord is Near to All Who Call on Him

I will exalt you, my God the King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever. 

Every day I will praise you

and extol your name for ever and ever. 

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom. 

One generation will commend your works to another;

they will tell of your mighty acts. 

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

 

They will tell of the power of your awesome works,

and I will proclaim your great deeds. 

They will celebrate your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and rich in love. 

The Lord is good to all;

he has compassion on all he has made. 

All you have made will praise you, O Lord;

your saints will extol you. 

They will tell of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your might, 

so that all men may know of your mighty acts

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is faithful to all his promises

and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord upholds all those who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down. 

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time. 

You open your hand

and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 

The Lord is righteous in all his ways

and loving toward all he has made. 

The Lord is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth. 

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

he hears their cry and saves them. 

The Lord watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy. 

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.

Let every creature praise his holy name

for ever and ever.

-Psalm 145

May the Lord bless you this Sunday! If you do not have a place to worship, come and visit us at New Hope Christian Fellowship, a place where you are family!

(Note: Please turn off the music at the bottom of the blog before watching video!)

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Listening to the Voice of God

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The Blessing of Good Friends

This lovely pic was taken just last week of me and some of my lovely lady friends you might recognize! We took a day to have lunch and tea at our sweet friend's home and then went Christmas shopping together.

It is so important to have good friends that you can laugh with, cry with, share burdens and pray with. It is so rare today, in a culture where neighbors barely know eachother--to find meaningful friendships that last, not to mention Christian friendships!

"Two are better than one,
   because they have a good return for their labor:

 If either of them falls down,
   one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls
   and has no one to help them up. 

 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
   But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,  two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

 -Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Are you looking for friends or perhaps a church family?
Or just need a place to learn more about the Lord?

We would love for you to connect with us, just click here
or email us at newhopeindiana@gmail.com

(you can follow on Facebook HERE for updates and events) 

Pictured left to right: me ~June Fuentes, Susie Shock from Our Simple Farm and Rhonda Devine of Walking with Sarah.





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Christmas Gifts I'm NOT Buying

I don't get out into the stores much these days but you can imagine my surprise as I stumbled across these toys:

I saw this one in a sales flyer while at home. If you click on the image you can see that she has fangs like a vampire. I promptly showed it to my daughter who was sitting next to me and said "Did you see this new toy for girls?" and she looked and said "I've seen that before, it's everywhere."

Everywhere? Where have I been? You mean this is what they are selling to our children in the doll section nowadays?????

When I did a quick Google search I found that this line of dolls made it to several Top 10 Hottest Christmas Toys for 2011 online. I even found video of tiny little girls putting on makeup and trying to be like them.

While I looked further down the list I saw Harry Potter items-which won't make it into our home, nor movie tickets to see the latest Twilight movie: Breaking Dawn.

Later today, while on Facebook I also stumbled upon someone sharing this image of a Christmas toy:

Yes, I was infuriated. I had heard in the past about classes teaching girls pole dancing and now they have a doll. Really---I am afraid of what they'll think of next. 


Some popular clothing to also avoid would be writing across the bottom of clothing of pants saying things like "juicy", "sexy", etc. As parents we need to think twice before buying just anything for our daughters, I have seen this on really, really young girls in the past and this sends the wrong message to men and to the daughters themselves.

I am not writing this because I am self-righteous---because I am a sinner myself and by grace I have been saved. I have made alot of mistakes in the past (still do) and I really wish someone would have taken the time to lovingly say something.

But instead, I am writing this because I am sad AND I am mad.

I do not want other children, or mine, exposed to this but I know this world is becoming increasingly evil. I know that I won't probably be able to even fathom what my grandchildren will be up against in their generation. We need to be purposeful and wise about what we give and don't give our children. We need to think long-term about the choices we make today affecting generations tomorrow.

I am also sad because I know that people need Jesus (like me). Badly (like me). Which is why we need to commit ourselves to sharing Him even MORE with vigilance and compassion.

I'm mad because Satan is getting his way with our children and we are allowing it. When did we leave our posts? When did we stop noticing? When did we stop caring? My heart hurts as I think about this, but I know that in the end he does not get the victory.

Christ does. 

So until then, I will keep praying.

I will keep teaching. 

I will keep training. 

I will keep writing 

and FLOOD this world online and off 

with Christian influence the best I know how.

Ladies, are you with me?

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Need a place to get God-honoring resources and gifts?
Click HERE.


Get gifts for boys HERE and HERE,


for girls HERE!

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Sunday Reflections

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers,

But his delight is in the law of the Lord
and on his law he meditates day and night.

-Psalm 1:1-2

May we all meditate on the Word of God daily!  As I grow older I realize there is nothing more important than God's word and it truly does NOT come back void.

Do you have a church family? We are so blessed by ours--and would love for you to come and visit us!

Not sure how to begin your walk with God? Start here. 

 Have a blessed day!

Also, giveaway winners for A Great Impression and EternityVendors are: 

Alissa L. (for EternityVendors)

Kelly Karmine (A Great Impression)

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His Way Is in the Whirlwind

The Lord is slow to anger

and great in power

the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.

His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,

and clouds are the dust of his feet....

The mountains quake before him

and the hills melt away.

They tremble at his presence,

the world and all who live in it.

The Lord is good,

a refuge in times of trouble.

He cares for those who trust in Him....

-Nahum Chapter 1 Verses 3,5, and 7

He cares for you too,

and died so that you could have life.

 Also,
do you need a family?

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Photo Credit

 

Sunday Reflections

Oh, the depth of the riches

of the wisdom and knowledge of God. 

How unsearchable His judgements

and His paths before tracing out!

Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been His counselor?

Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay Him?

For from Him and through Him
and to Him are all things.

To Him be the glory forever! 

Amen.

-Romans 11:33-6

Do you know Him?

Need a sound church? 

 

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The Sunday Blessing

Because of the Lords' great love we are not consumed,

for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for Him.

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him,

to the one who seeks Him;

It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:22-6

Do you know for sure if you are going to heaven? 

Click here to be sure.

Be sure to join us on Monday--
I have a BIG surprise for you!


(Also, the winners for the Inspired Design Giveaway is
Ana at anablystra@
and Natalie at nataliemeester@
---CONGRATULATIONS! Please contact me asap!)

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Playing the Game Well

“My fear for some of you is that you learned early on

that by saying certain things you got power and credibility and applause.

You’ve learned to play the game well. 

You’ve learned that to make much of Jesus, much is made of me.

You’ve been conformed by a pattern rather than transformed by the Spirit.”

–Pastor Matt Chandler at The Gospel Coalition

Our family was recently blessed to attend The Gospel Coalition a few weeks ago and were blessed to hear some very influential Christian men of this generation speak there. My favorite, of course, and the reason I went was to hear Pastor Mark Driscoll. We like to call him the Drill Sergeant because we love how he calls us Christians to battle!

Good Resource: Radical Reformission : Reaching Out Without Selling Out by Mark Driscoll
Note--some material might not be suitable for children. 

Related Video: American Idolatry
(Watch it!)