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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Please Help! Six Year Old Girl Gunned Down-Aliyah Shell

Dear Friends,

I am writing you once again to ask for your help and assistance. This past weekend there was a horrible tragedy that occurred in a area known as Little Village in Chicago, Illinois. A six year old girl standing on the doorstep of her own home right next to her mother and sister was brutally shot by gang members and died.

You can read the horrible story here.

We have friends (pastors) whose children knew this young girl in kindergarten and they are heartbroken as is the entire community. Watch the video here.

Now the grieving family has to come up with $8000 to cover funeral costs.

Please, read this story and pray. If you have been looking for a way to help the needy, this your opportunity. My heart breaks because I know that this could have been one of my children. As a mother, my heart goes out to this family. I look at her sweet picture and wonder---why, Lord? Why?

We won't know now but hopefully we will in heaven one day.

Please consider helping this mother out. From one mother to another mother we can make a difference.

They have set up a fund--the Aliyah Shell Fund at Chase Bank. I know times are tough but know that any amount will help. You may donate here as well:

We also ask that you keep them in your prayers during this difficult time.

(Note: Please also use the share buttons to do your part in getting the word out---thank you!)

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Kindness from "Secret Santa"

I recently stumbled across a heart warming article from Michigan of an anonymous person who helped pay off $500 in layaway bills for people who had toys listed on their lists:

It was reported:

The woman looked through several of the about 800 layaway contract tickets at the store. She randomly picked and paid the bill on three of them. She paid about $500 between all three of them and left a $10 balance on each of the accounts.

Read the whole store HERE.

And there is another:

"The young father stood in line at the Kmart layaway counter, wearing dirty clothes and worn-out boots. With him were three small children.

He asked to pay something on his bill because he knew he wouldn't be able to afford it all before Christmas. Then a mysterious woman stepped up to the counter.

"She told him, `No, I'm paying for it,'" recalled Edna Deppe, assistant manager at the store in Indianapolis. "He just stood there and looked at her and then looked at me and asked if it was a joke. I told him it wasn't, and that she was going to pay for him. And he just busted out in tears."

Read about Kmart "Angels" here.

What a blessing that must have been when those families found out!

I want us all to really think deep and hard about how we can be a blessing to others this year.

One person really CAN make a difference.

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