My Prayer to you...

I know over the last year I could not have made it without the prayers of each of you.

In church Sunday during worship as we song my favorite song I thought about each of you and how God has used you to lift me up and help me keep my focus.

The words below are from the song Healer by Hillsong. I am praying them for you today.

Take a moment to mediate on the words and then listen to the song. It will encourage you.

God I thank you that
You hold our every moment
You calm our raging seas
You walk with us through fire
and Heal all our diseases

We trust in You
We trust in You

We believe You're our Healer
We believe You are all we need
We believe You're our Portion
We belive You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all we need

Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands....

These are the words that get me through the day.. I hope you will allow this song to minister to you and get you through the tough times we all face.

Click here to see the video and hear this song.

Allow God to love on you today with his words.

Angie

Keeping your eyes on the Lord...

Around the same time we decided to adopt the girls last year one morning during my quite time God took me to the story of Peter walking on the water.

At the time we were going through a testing time and that story spoke to me greatly and I heard the Lord specifically tell me to remember that story as I go through the adoption for the girls.

Today talking with two of my friends God brought that story back to me as they were asking how I was doing.

My answer is this.

Right now I am in the middle of the Gulf Coast and Ike is 100 miles away from me.

Just like with Peter the water was all around him and the storm was fierce. That's how I feel these days. One day all is well and the next day a storm blows in.

Saturday the girls went with Isamar's dad and they will stay for 7 days. Pray for their safety.

I can allow that to cause me to sink in this storm or I can stay focused on the Lord and his promises. The enemy would like for me to start feeling that rain and wind on my body and he would love for me to just give up.

No matter how fierce this storm gets I refuse to take my eyes off God's promises. The rain might be pouring on our heads and the wind is pushing me to the left and the right but I will refuse to take me eyes off of the Lord.

How are you doing in your storm? Does the waves that hit you knock you down or just push you over?

Don't get me wrong this is a Category 5 storm we are going through and just like Peter some days my feet starts to sink but because of my friends who are praying for me and encouraging me and God's reminder of His word I immediately get my focus and the sinking stops.

I encourage you today if you are in the middle of a Category 5 storm to hold onto God's promises and remember that He makes EVERYTHING and HE has the POWER to stop the winds and the rain. It's up to you..

Please continue to pray for our family as we walk through this storm and wait patiently on the storm to pass and my girls to come home where they belong.

God Bless,

Angie

Adopt-A-Family Still Needs YOU...

I have 17 families sponsored so far and have 31 to go with only two weeks before I leave for Nicaragua.

If you have not sent in your sponsorship please do so as soon as you can.

My deadline was July 27th in order to give me time before I left but at this point I'll take money all the way up to August 2nd.

Let me share God's word with you on this matter.

Proverbs 11:24 NIV

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.


Proverbs 11:25 Message Bible

The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.


Email me and let me know if you are sending something so I can plan ahead.

Thanks to all those who have supported a family already. You will be abundantly blessed.

God Bless,

Angie

Power Ranger Toys

Tonight I had the most wonderful phone call I have had in a long time.

My little Oscar was released from the hospital today and when I called to talk to my friend Jimmy he was in his house right beside of him.

Since last July when I first met Oscar he was a very shy child. He has never ever been very outspoken to me until tonight.

Jimmy gave him the phone and out came "Hola Angie" How are you? I could hardly talk to him from the excitement in my heart and it was the same for him. He was talking to me with the so much happiness. It was a moment I won't ever forget. He has been so sick and to hear him talk to me like that was a true gift from God.

I asked him if he wanted me to bring him another Power Ranger toy and what color and out came, Blue, Black, White, Yellow, all the colors, he said with great excitement.

He was yelling the colors out. This from a boy who almost died just two weeks ago. It's so amazing to see God's power working in his life.

If your children/nephews/cousins have any Power Ranger toys they would like to send to Oscar, please email me so I can get them from you. I will need them by July 27th if possible.

If you see any on sale let me know that also.

Thanks so much and continue to pray for Oscar's health as without a kidney soon or another miracle from God his changes at life are slim.

God Bless,

Angie

Are you a Jesus "Potato"

Yesterday during my pastor's absence our youth pastor filled in.

I love hearing Pastor Paul teach. He's funny and he's real. There's not a lot of that "Holier Than Thou" stuff going on. He's not ashamed to show us who he really is and that makes me feel right at home.

He was talking about "Full Yet"?

The point of Pastor Paul's message was are we feeding ourselves daily?

He challenged us by saying for anyone who wanted to eat on Sunday and never eat again all week until the next Sunday he would buy their meal. Isn't that so true of most of us?

We go to church on Sunday and eat a full course meal and we make it last all week until we return again. If you have a Wednesday service and you go, you're just getting a drive-thru burger that night I bet.

I was really challenged by Pastor Paul because for my entire walk with the Lord I have had a hard time reading my bible. I don't like to read and it makes me sleepy so trying to read the Word is even harder since it doesn't make a lot of since sometimes. I am truly starving myself to death some days. How about you?

Are you getting the food (Word of God) that you need to fill your body with the knowledge that gets you through life? Me, I live on a Happy Meal most weeks but I can say I have been working on it a lot lately and doing better but I have a long way to go to get to that steak dinner every day.

For those of you who are eating a full meal daily, what are you doing with it? Are you a "Jesus" Potato? Do you sit inside your house day after day and do nothing with what God has feed you with or do you share it with others and use the knowledge he gave you to help others?

Have you ever thought about starting a neighborhood bible study or maybe take a baby Christian and disciple them and show them how to eat a full course meal daily?

Just something for you guys to chew on....

Thanks Pastor Paul for giving me the desire to eat more daily.

God Bless,

Angie

Changing People's Lives

Each trip I travel to Nicaragua I can see the changes that are happening in the area I visit.

Somotillo is a town of 20,000 people (very poor people) and it is right on the border of Honduras. Over the past 4 years I have seen the travel time from Managua change drastically. Before this April it would take 1 hour+ to get to the next major town and now it takes about 30 - 45 minutes. The USA actually paid to fix the road and man it's really made a difference. Progress is coming to this little community one day at a time.

When I visit a village I can only hope I am making progress one smile at a time.

This trip we were able to visit the orphanage a lot and we ministered in two new villages that had not ever had a group come to love on them. Progress in the making..

We blessed 146 families with beans, rice, corn, sugar and oil. New flip-flops, toothbrushes, toothpaste and toys. It was so sweet to see the little boys playing with their little cars on the church floor making car sounds as if they were driving them. Memories I won't ever forget.

The most moving event for me this trip was giving the baseball team their uniforms and the soccer team their new cleats. Words can not describe their emotions. They were more than happy. As I mentioned before the baseball team gave me their trophy. It was so nice of them to want to give up their very hard earned trophy. I convenience them to keep it and remember what God had done for them.

The soccer team all met at church on Saturday and at the end of the service all came up front and presented me with their trophy. I really didn't know what to do. I didn't want to take it but I didn't want to reject it so I made them a deal that the Pastor needed to keep it in the church so that it would be a reminder to them also. It was so sweet but I did not want them to give me credit for something God did. I felt so happy for them.

Overall, however, the biggest event of the week was in the village called Coffadia. I had bought that morning a soccer ball for that village hoping that some teenagers would be there and sure enough 12 boys showed up. I sent them off with my friend Mario and the Pastor to play while we were playing with the smaller kids.

About 10 minutes’ later people are yelling for me to come. I was busy so I just said, Hang on a minute. That didn't work. “Hurry, Hurry”, they said. Pastor Jorge informed me that he had shared the gospel with these boys and all 12 had accepted Christ. I encouraged them by sharing my testimony with them and reminding them that their decision was going to change that entire village. Progress in the making.

We had a great experience with the 2nd village but the 1st one we visited was a little more reserve with us. We will need to work on them a little more.

Thank you for all your prayers while we were gone. 12 souls are going to heaven because of them. You may have not gone on this trip with me physically but you were there in spirit and God will honor your prayers and they’ll be crowns in heaven for you.

We are planning another trip in August because of the situation with Isamar. We have been told if you want things done you better come back soon so we will try to go before school starts. Pray the Lord provides.

I had a great team this trip. Bonnie and Thomas are starting the process to adopt Loriana. It was amazing to see God bond them together. It is truly meant to be. Please pray for them as they are just beginning this roller coaster ride I’m on.

I will be putting pictures on the site of all this as soon as I can get my wonderful husband to prepare them for the website. Stay tuned for some great photos.

Last but not least I want to challenge each of you to look at the people around you and ask are you changing people's lives? It doesn't take a mission trip, or a position at Billy Graham's ministry or something big. All it takes is a willing effort to make a change for the better for someone who can not. Maybe it's a neighbor who's lawn mover is broke or a friend's mom who is sick and needs a meal. It can be very small or very large but in God's eyes it's changing His people's lives..

God Bless,

Angie

Forgive & Forget?

I traveled home to my aunts funeral Thursday thinking the entire time, "What will it be like seeing my mom?" Will she act different than the last time? Will I act different than before?

Well we both did actually. When I arrived she wasn't there but shortly after I saw her outside. I could have just stayed inside and avoided her but I figured I might as well get it over with. Out the door I went and the first person I saw was my brother. Since we is the biggest reason my mom and I don't get along I figured I would fight fire with love and hug him first. I went over and hugged my mom as if everything was just fine. Let me remind you the last time I saw or spoke to her she was yelling at me telling me what a horrible daughter I was. Needless to say there was some reservations about that hug.

My aunt looked so beautiful. She would be so happy about the outfit her daughters picked out. She made us all feel like she was at peace. Those of us that had been around her were all smiling and bragging on her looks as those who had not come when she needed them most just cried. Don't wait until someone is dead to show them your love, DO IT NOW. Trust me..

If the death of my aunt was to show my mom that life is too short I am glad God took her but more importantly I hope it showed my entire family that those of us who have Jesus smiled at Dorothy as she lay in her coffin, we didn't cry with regret, we cried with joy knowing she was in the presence of the Lord.

The gospel was shared twice so I know my family knows how to get to heaven. Obeying the instructions is another story.

What did I learn through all this? That in the worse of times God can make Good come out it.

Please let me speak to those of you that I know personally are struggling with family members. Life is way to short. We are not promised tomorrow. Those we love that don't love us are still God's children. We must find the Love of Christ for them. Regardless to what they have done to us they are His children and He loves them unconditionally.

Don't get me wrong, I am not ready to start a relationship with my mom. The pain is still there from all that has happen. My mother can't have a healthy relationship with me but I can have a Love of Christ relationship with her.

I encourage you to do the same.. If you can't talk to that family member, send them a card, a note, a picture of your kids. Something to say, "Hey I thought of you today". Then let God do the rest.

Please continue to pray that I can Forgive my mom and Forget the pain.

Angie

A Conversation in Heaven

I receive a Daily Devotion from this guy and every day he challenges me. This one made me really stop and think, "What kind of conversation would Jesus have about me?"

Would that coversation be one you and I would be proud of?

Thought I would challenge you today also.

Angie

A Conversation in HeavenTGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman05-21-2008

"I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always" (1 Sam 2:35-36) .


I once imagined a meeting in heaven between the angel Gabriel and Jesus. It went something like this: "Gabriel, I chose 12 men from the workplace to build my Church. They were an unlikely group. But I wanted a people to express my life where they spend most of their time and experienced most of their challenges. However, today we have a problem. My Church is not being represented in the workplace. So, I've decided to call several people to serve me in this arena. We must awaken the Church in the workplace.

There is a man in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He reminds me of my servant Jacob. Boy, what a manipulator and controller he was before I did my work in him. Now you recall that Jacob became one of the patriarchs! This businessman in Atlanta that has the same potential. He is our man to awaken my servants. However, in order to awaken him to my plan and my destiny for him, I must remove some things he relies upon. This will draw him to myself. It will be painful at first, but necessary. It will take 7 years. But I plan to restore all I take from him. The result will be quite amazing. He will engage many others. He'll usher in whole new focus in my Church that has been lost since those early days. I plan to do this with many others as well. My plan is designed to raise up an army in these last days before I return. It is time for you to go now. You know what you must do. Be gentle, but firm with my servant."

What kind of conversation might Jesus and an angel have about your life? What catalyst is needed to bring you in alignment with the purposes and plans of God?

No News Is Good News?

Oh how I wished that saying was ALWAYS true.

Well the long awaited month has come and gone for the DNA results.

My attorney went yesterday and was told they have not received them as of yesterday, THAT THEY KNEW OF. The right hand does not know what the left hand is doing there so for all we know the results are laying on some lawyers desk.

The case worker told my attorney she would go to the lawyers and ask and report back on Friday. Even that is crazy. It's not like this building is 20 stories high and she has to go to 10 people. The Lawyers, all 3 of them, sit in the next room. It would not take 2 seconds to open the door and say, "Hey, anybody have the DNA tests for Isamar Umana"?

Can you tell I'm running out of patience?

I figure I have two options here;

1. I can worry and be unsettled and cry all day with grief and God will take his time as He teaches me to trust Him or;
2. I can rest in God's peace and He will see that I am trusting Him and just maybe He will hurry this process up for me and I will pass this test.

I am choosing Option 2 but I can tell you it's the hardest thing I have ever done and it's a day to day process for me. For weeks it's been easy but now it's every morning when I wake up I have to give myself a serious pep talk and decide that minute that I will not walk in doubt today...

What about you? How do handle God's tests? You do know that if you fail the test today He will give it to you again tomorrow right?

I have failed so many tests before this one that I think I have finally figured out how to pass God's test.

Are you in the middle of a test? Are you passing it or failing it? Evaluate your attitude and you will soon know the answer.

Please pray for the people involved in this adoption and the people of Nicaragua.

There is a transportation strike there now and many people are struggling because all the buses and taxis have stopped. Things are not very stable right now which could cause even a longer delay in getting these results.

Thank you for walking this journey with me.

Oh what a glorious day it will be when they come home.

God Bless,

Angie

Divine Appointments

Do you ever say, "It just so happen that..." or "That was a coincidence"?

I use to say that often when I was a younger Christian but now as I have grown more in my faith I realize that NOTHING just happens with God. There are no coincidences... He ordains our steps, things happen because he wanted them to happen.

Well today I had the most amazing "Coincidence". I will choose to call it a DIVINE Appointment by God.

I’ll try to make this short.

While I was in Nicaragua this last time I met some amazing youth who are currently playing soccer for the Lord. They have games every Sunday afternoon and during their games they witness to the other teams. It's too cool. They are made up of previous gang bangers, drug addicts, and some really ruff neighborhood kids. Now they use their talent to show that getting high on Jesus is a much better life. They even walk miles to share the sport and Jesus with other communities.

I was privileged to purchase them new uniforms while I was there. It was as if I gave them a stack of Million dollar bills. They were so grateful. They could not stop smiling. It was breath taking to see young men act like our kids act at Christmas time. Boy, do we take those moments for granted.

The most expensive item they need is cleats. I promised them I would come back and ask everyone I could find to donate cleats to them but specifically to pray I find an open door to the Charlotte Eagles. Surely, they would have extra equipment they could possibly share.

Well this week I was contacted by a lady who works on the newsletter for the adoption agency I used. They are running an article about one of the girls at the orphanage Loriana. She was so impacted by Loriana's story that she shared it with some other ladies at her church and last night I had family contact me asking to adopt Loriana. How awesome is that....

I thought God was done but He has only started.

Today I was speaking with Cyndie to give her the good news about the family and in that conversation she told me her husband use to play for the Charlotte Eagles... See where this is going...

Needless to say I was jumping out of my skin thinking, "No way God, No way.. You just didn't find me a family for Loriana and you're giving me that Charlotte Eagles contact all in the same phone conversation... "

Just think about it... God placed all this together.

I spoke to my agency about Loriana, they agreed to run the ad, they sent it to Cyndie, I went to Nicaragua, found the soccer players, Cyndie called because she questioned the ad, she sent out a flyer to some friends about her and in 3 days time I have a family for her and my contact with the Eagles.

Divine Appointments.. That's what this was...

Look for yours, expect them, and Glorify God when they happen...

This is just to cool...

Angie

P.U.S.H (Pray until something happens)

I have had limited access to the internet in the last two days and I'm hating it that I have not sent this out by now but God knows best.

At 8:30 your time on Thursday morning Terry and I will be sitting in the office of Mi Familia (DSS of Nicaragua) submitting out paperwork to be approved to adopt our girls.

This process will allow us to be voted on by the Consejo (Consayhoe) which is like a committee or council. We know already there are at least one problem with our paperwork and so I am just praying it's only one.

The lady we will be meeting with is Dr. Artola. She is a Christian which I am hoping helps me a lot.

My prayer request is that we make a good impression on Dr. Artola and Mi Familia and that our paperwork has been done correctly and is in order.

God's favor has been on us this entire trip and we expect it to be there the rest of the week.

Also, please pray for another mother named Heather who is here in Nicaragua waiting to take her children home. Her paperwork has gotten delayed several times and it appears that she could be here longer. She has been her 6 weeks already. If we all pray together for her we can move her court date to be soon than later. God hears our prayers and acts accordingly.

Even if you get this after we have met still pray... Pray that it doesn't lay on her desk for weeks and it doesn't get lost in the many piles she already has.

Thank you for praying....

Angie

Trusting for the Little Things

Last night I had a conversation with someone their adoption paperwork and we began to discuss how important it is to truly trust God.

She said something that really hit me. (Up side the head of course)

Why is it that you can trust God that the Sun will rise in the mornings and the Moon and Stars come out at night but you can't trust him to give you the closest parking spot to the door on a rainy day?

What is the difference? Doesn't it require us to have the same faith?

Do you get up in the mornings and stand up out of bed? You are trusting your legs to hold you up, aren't you? How is that trust any different than trusting God for supplying our needs, healing us, or providing for us financially?

Trust is the Easiest thing to do and the Hardest all at the same time.

If you are facing something and there is doubt in your thoughts, who do you trust? You or God.

The adoption process and the wait is a roller coaster ride for many. Personally, I love ROLLER COASTERS so I can either worry when I'm headed down or I can smile and get excited because I know I'm head right back up.

It's really all in how you choose to look at things. You may be in a situation where there are feelings of doubt and if that is the case just remember what it's like to ride that roller coaster. It's scary one minute but within seconds you'll be laughing your head off.

Trust God for the little things and the big. Sit back and relax and enjoy the ride. You are not in control of where it is going to take you, He is. So let Him drive, you're enjoy the ride a whole lot better if you do. If not you will spend all your time worry about something you can control any way.

We are at peace with this adoption process because we are Trusting HIM and not us and we know that God loves my girls much more than we do and He will see to it that they are in our home not a minute later than He wants them to be.

Are you Trusting Him today? Really Trusting Him or are you trying to control things on your own?

God Bless you and keep praying for us. It’s your prayers that is paving the way for us.

Angie

My Box has arrived

Oh my, I think I have aged 10 years in the last week waiting on this box to arrive this morning.

It's finally here and all documents were stamped and sent back.

We're on our way now...

Let me explain the process so you can be praying in agreement.

Terry and I will take this paperwork to Nicaragua on Saturday. On Monday we have to have the officials in Nicaragua put their seal of approval on just the papers not the content then on Tuesday morning we will take our Official looking documents to Mi Familia so that their staff can go through it with a fine tooth comb.

Typically, Mi Familia finds things wrong with every one's paperwork the first time around. It's not really that they are just looking for problems as much as it is they want to cover themselves. Just think if the lives of children were in your hands. Wouldn't you be thorough?

Once that is done and based on the outcome all those documents get sent to another group that meet twice a month. Our daughters have to first be declared abandon and once that paperwork is complete then we go on the list to be reviewed. Once we get the big YES they can adopt the adoption process REALLY begins.

This is what I expect to happen and will be praying, this is what I need you to pray also.

Thank you Father that Your favor is on my life.

Thank you that my paperwork is in order and if something is out of place you will fix it.

Thank you for allowing me to meet with Dr. Artola (a Christan at Mi Familia) and have her review my paperwork.

Thank you for perfect timing in everything. You are never late.

Thank you for reminding me why I am doing this and that you are in control, NOT me...

Thank you for protection as we fly to Nicaragua.

Thank you for my salvation and the opportunity to serve you through bringing Carmen and Isamar to our home.

Thank you Father for your son Jesus.

Amen..

My Life That's in a Box...

Do you believe in God's Favor?

I do.... and I live my life expecting it.

2 Corinthians 6:2For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

He tells us here that NOW is the time of God's favor. We don't have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy it. Well God showed me some serious favor this week with my paperwork for the adoption.

I have called the NC State Department and for days and days I got no one. This week I had to know exactly how to package all this information and so I tried calling them again. Once the phone rang I just told God, "Ok God, you know I need to talk to someone" and that someone answered the phone. Finally, I got a human. Not just any human, a Christian one. Ms. Dupree.

I told her what I was doing and that I would be sending all my documents the next day. She assured me she would handle them for me and get them out the door to the next location as soon as possible.

Well, long story short. She received them and there was something wrong with ALL 26 of them. It was minor but very important. I called back yesterday and spoke to her and she told me that technically she was to reject them and send them back to me BUT because she knew how important they were and my situation of time she bent the rules and sent them on their way. You can not imagine what that meant to me. If she had sent them back we would not be leaving next Saturday.

What were the chances I would not only get an understanding person on that end but a Christian lady who said she would be praying for me?

God’s Favor is all around you. Look for it and acknowledge it when you see it.

Stop saying, "Can you believe that?" or Wow! Aren’t I lucky.. There's no luck with God...

Monday is the next big day. The Nicaragua Consulate office has to stamp everything on Monday and send it back on Tuesday. Let's pray that person finds no issues.

Stay Tuned..

Angie

Are there typo's in Heaven?

As my wonderful husband was complimenting me on my blog about the girls he didn't hesitate to tell me I had a lot of typos in it.

I reminded him that he is not suppose to say, "Oh that was great but..." didn't you read that blog on The Power of the Tongue..?

He is right though. I was in a huge hurry at that time, got interrupted about 10 times and eventually had to stop.

Wonderful if God ever gets in a hurry when he's writing in His books? Could He write typo's in the Lambs Book of Life? I surely hope not.

I'm glad my name is Angie and not Sam or Pam or Terry or Jerry. A typo could come between you and eternity..

Is your name in THE book? If God looked today would he easily find you by how you have served him or would He question if he made a TYPO..?

Just something to think about?

Sorry for the previous mistakes I made. I'll slow down, 1 day..

Angie

True Love is showing love to someone you don't know

Yesterday, all of the world people showed their spouses, children, boy/girl friends that they loved them through flowers, cards, candy, stuffed animals, a nice dinner and many more ways.

I heard the average person spent $50 telling someone they loved them. Just think if someone spent $50 on you every day, I mean surely Feb. 14th is not the only day I am loved, right?

Well I am asking you to dig deep and show someone you don't know that you love them through Christ and that God loves them even more than you do.

I support an orphanage in Nicaragua that most of you know about already and there are 14 little girls that every day of their lives they have NOone to show them they are loved. Think about for just a second, how would you feel if day by day passed and no one hugged you, or told you you were special and you were loved. After a while it would make you really sad.

Well my girls feel this way every day. All 14 of them.

I am asking those of you reading this to help me show them they are loved by purchasing them a new outfit and shoes for Easter or just for school. If you have used clothes you would like to give that is great also but I want them to receive at least one outfit and a pair of shoes.

I have all their sizes and I will pick up the stuff from you and deliver them there during the first week of March. I would also like each family to send them a love letter. What ever God lays on your heart, pictures of your family, pictures of your kids, what ever you feel but make it special. I will return with pictures of each child for your family.

Please pray and consider this. It does not have to be expensive. You can get a shorts outfit, a dress or pants outfit for $10 and new shoes, either sandles or tennis shoes for $5-8 at Walmart and K-Mart right now. So for no more than $20 you can bless a child's life who has no one to care for them and show them they are loved.

The House of Rose is not supported by anyone, yet. Their budget is only enough to feed them daily.

Please consider helping me. Of course, Terry and I will do my two girls so I only need 12 of you to help.

Please email me and I will give you a child's name and picture and all their sizes.

The bible tells us in James 1:27 that, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widos in thier distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Be Pure and Faultess and show true love...

My deadline is February 29th.

God Bless,

Angie

Your GPS System

When I die my husband will have difficulty driving in Charlotte. He never pays attention to where he is going the first time, he doesn't have to he has me as his GPS.

I bought him an actual GPS for Christmas, he loves it.

Did you know we have an internal GPS system? It's the Holy Spirit.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help you and I navigate through life. "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come" (John 16:13-14).

The only problem with using a GPS system to direct you, you have to TURN it on and LISTEN to what it's saying?

It's been told that in the old days in China the Christians who were underground serving the Lord could never schedule a meeting time or place so they all relyed on the Holy Spirit to tell them when and where. Everytime, they all showed up at the same place at the exact time.

Is the Holy Spirit active in your life? Are you asking for His direction to succeed in your life, your job, your family? Terry's GPS may help him navigate traffic, but Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us navigate life. Ask Him to guide you today.

Turn Him On and LISTEN to what He has to say..

God Bless,

Angie

The Power of the Tongue

Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who live it will eat it's fruit".

Wow, I am ashamed to say I have killed many over my lifetime. Just riding in the car down Independence Blvd. some days I get at least 5 or 6 people.

Really, we have no idea that what we say can either change the life of a person or destroy them.

Just compare it to Jesus, most of his miracles happend because He spoke them into existance. That's some Power...

Pastor Troy is preaching GOOOOOD. This Sunday again I felt like he hit me right up side the head.

Growing up my mother and grandfather were very verbally abusive. From the earliest age all I ever knew was if you wanted the upper hand just say something mean. Obviously since I became a Christian God fix that but every now and then that OLD self comes out.

Pastor Troy gave us some points on what out tongue shows;

It shows Maturity. - How mature are you when you're mad?
It directs our life. - Are you speaking what you want to see happen in your life or what you see now?
It can destroy what I have. - Are your words changing your path?
It displays who I AM.. - Does your words show Jesus to EVERYONE, even the mean lady at the Walmart?

Stop and think, is what you say, Who you are all the time or just when you want to look Holy...?

We can control our tongue by changing our heart, thinking before we speak and filling our mind with God's word. Easier SAID than done some times.

From the earliest age of a child we say things to people/kids that to us meant nothing . To them it means everything.

Some examples,

"Stop that, You are getting on my nerves"
"Go away, I don't have time for you right now"
"You're a slob"
"Yea that's good, BUT..."
"I'm sorry honey, but mommy's just too tired"
"I'm busy, leave me alone"
"I'm.... _____________ - You fill in the blank...

Being an abused child all my life I now try hard to pay attention to what I say to my children. You would think I would never say something that is going to make them feel like I felt. Wrong...

Examine what you are saying to your children, your husband, your friends. Are you really saying to them you love them or you love them when it's convenient to you, and right now it's just not?

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips" Psalms 141:3

We are all guilty in some manner of saying things we should so just remember that your tongue is a two edged sord, it cuts going in thier ears and coming out.

I've done some cutting lately with my teenager, pray my new words will heal that wound.

God Bless,

Angie

It's finally here....

After many hours of work and my computer driving me up the wall, I have finally got the first of many videos loaded on my site.

Many years ago when I moved to Charlotte I found quickly that I had a hidden talent working with computers. I had never even seen one before and within months I was talking them apart and putting them together. (Without instructions)

Today, I realize that God had all that in His plan. He knew that one day I would need to know how to show the world through technology what I do in Nicaragua.

I hope you enjoy this video. I had to make it short so that people would take time to watch it and sorry about the small text, Google is controlling that.

:)

Click here to view my Mission Trip page, the video is at the bottom.

You can help me alot by passing this on to your Youth Pastor, Senior Pastor or a friend that you know is interested in missions.


God Bless,

Angie

God Talk

I belong to an online group for Nicaraguan Adoptions. As far as I know there are no rules to what a person can or can not say on this group.

There are several Christians who have made it clear they are and many others that have not shown their position.

A couple of days ago one person who is in Nicaragua right now struggling to get her kids wrote of great discouragement. You can imagine those of us who are Christians came to her rescue.

Boy, did that start a mess. Before we knew it a person was telling us that all the God Talk was getting a little out of hand.

Freedom of Speech? Does it apply all the time? Should we censor what we say on forums or where ever or do you share where we stand?

Would Jesus follow these rules and keep quite? I don't think so.

How do we stand up for what we believe and not affend someone else?

Do you choose to change your words based on who you are talking to or where you are? We shouldn't have to be in some cases I think we have to be sensitive. What do you think?

I chose to keep quite and let the other Christians write what they felt and sure enough the lady left the group. What a shame... She could benefit a lot from the group but instead choose to walk away for hearing any more God Talk.

Please pray for her, her name is Jessica.

God Bless,

Angie

Do You Do As Jesus Did?

My devotional this morning really hit me up side the head. (we all need to be hit every once in a while).

When Jesus walked on Earth He was 100% God but he chose to live his life with the same limitations that we do. He was showing us how to live our life. He was being our model.

He performed miracles, wonders, and signs, as a MAN in right relationship to God... not as God.

So if He was just a MAN doing all these great things and we are just MEN/WOMEN made in His image, why aren't we performing miracles, wonders and signs?

We as Christians are responsible to pursue His lifestyle. Recapturing this simple truth changes everything...

Are you doing what Jesus did with your faith?

I'm not..

Angie

Restlessness

I am connected to a MeetUp group for Nicaraguan adoptions and this week I have had the opportunity to encouarge several families who are going through ruff times with their adoptions. The more I encouraged them the more restless I got. Luckily, I was able to use my own advice to chill out.

My pastor said that when you are restless that you have doubt. I didn't agree with that statement at first. I kept thinking I don't doubt God that He is in control but I am not at peace either.

I had to really examine that statement and ask myself then what is it? If it's not doubt or a lack of faith then what is causing that restlessness in my life.

After talking to these families this week I have decided it is in fact doubt. Either I trust the Lord or I don't right? Easier said than done, especially when you can't control any part of the situation.

I encouarge each of you to stop and think about your situation. Are you restless? or are you at Peace? If you are restless, let me encouarge you that if you want to pass this test you will need to find that Peace in knowing that God loves you more than anyone and He is working on your behalf.

If you find yourself Restless like I do some days, stop, pray and listen. He'll give you direction and wisdom to get to that Peace level you need.

God Bless,

Angie

I was challenged today, now I want to challenge you

Pastor Troy was preaching Good Today.... Each week I sit under him thinking God why did it take you so long to get me here. I can honestly say in my entire walk with the Lord I have never sit under a Pastor that keeps me thinking all the time about my walk with the Lord. It's great. If you're not challenged each week at your church, come and visit us because you need to be, it will make you grow stronger. Check them out online by clicking here Freedom House Church.

Ok enough about that.

Pastor Troy asked, "if you were taken to jail today would there be enough evidence to prove you guilty of being a Christian?", "Do people in your neighborhood know you are a Christian?", what about at your work or other places you spend your time?

I really stopped and thought about it. Sadly, there are a lot of "Christians" I know personally today that would not have much evidence to convict them and I wanted to examine myself and make sure I was not one of them.

I have friends who tell me they are Christians but they never go to church, they never participate in a church function or any religious function that I know of and I never hear them talking about the Lord unless I bring up the subject. Are they really a Christian? Can you ask God into your life and never live for him? I personally don't think so but who am I to judge.

I challenge you today to examine your life and ask yourself, "Am I a Christian?", "Is there enough evidence to convict me?" Will God show me my life and say, "Well done my good and faithful servant" or will He tell me "I made you to serve me and you choose to serve the world!"

In Christ,

Angie