C's Overseas: July 2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Juju's 4th Birthday!

OUR BIRTHDAY GIRL - JUJU TURNS FOUR!!!!!!!

We started off the day with our traditional MnM pancakes!

We had her open just one present in the morning so dad wouldn't miss all the fun! He had to head off to work!

This gift box was from Gram-E and Gramps and included a new Barbie, pretty dress and new shoes, and some Barbie underwear. She is WAY into Barbie!

Megan and Jack were so excited to get her a Mushabelly Mushkin so she can now play with them!

Mom and 4 big sisters worked hard to make a beautiful Barbie Cake - she loved it!

Gotta love the Barbie Umbrella - how perfect! from friends

Gifts from Nana - dress & hat!

Opening gifts from Grandpa and Grandma Epp!! Friends watching closely.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

I've been reading a "mothers" magazine for about 4 years now, first given to me by Mike's Aunt Kathy. It is called "Above Rubies" and has been an incredible blessing to me over these years. I also receive occasional e-mail devotionals from the editor of Above Rubies, Nancy Campbell.

Can I share some parts with you?

God wants us to be filled with the Holy Spirit:
It is so easy to run dry, isn't it? We can start the day asking the Lord to fill us with His Holy Spirit but somehow the challenges and frustrations of the day drain us out. We need to continually ask the Holy Spirit to fill us -- to control our thoughts, our attitudes and our actions. When you leak out, ask Him to flood your mind and heart again. Keep on being filled. It doesn't matter how many times you come to Him to be filled. God's well is inexhaustible and it never runs dry. Keep being filled to overflowing so you can bless your family. If you are only half-filled, you have nothing to give others.

God wants us to be filled with Joy and Peace:
God does not want us to have half peace and half nervous tension. He wants us to be filled with peace. Peace is not dependent upon what is happening in our lives but by the power of the Holy Spirit controlling us....But there is joy too. Joy and Peace are twins. When our hearts are filled with peace, we will be filled with joy. Once again, joy is not dependent upon our circumstances. When the people of Antioch (in Turkey) persecuted Paul and Barnabus and expelled them out of their coasts, they didn't despair. Instead, they were "filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 13:52)

The above quote is from Part 2 of Keep on Being Filled. If you want to read more, go to www.aboverubies.org and click on the Devotionals tab. Look under archives to find this and other wonderful devotionals. I also suggest ordering the magazine that comes 4 times a year.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

He Will Carry Me

I just love this song by Mark Shultz, so it now plays first on my Playlist. Here are the words. Hope they bless you as they have blessed me.

I call, You hear me
I've lost it all
And it's more than I can bear
I feel so empty
You're strong
I'm weary
I'm holding on
But I feel like giving in
But still You're with me

Chorus:
And even though I'm walking through
The valley of the shadow
I will hold tight to the hand of Him
Whose love will comfort me
And when all hope is gone
And I've been wounded in the battle
He is all the strength that I will
Ever need
And He will carry me

I know I'm broken
But You alone
Can mend this heart of mine
You're always with me

(Chorus)

And even though I feel so lonely
Like I've never been before
You never said it would be easy
But you'd see me through
The storm