Denying myself

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.'" Matthew 16:24,25

This is what I struggle with. Denying myself for Jesus. Willingly taking up my cross to follow Him without complaining or saying I don't feel like it today. I make up excuses. I find reasons to put off taking my quiet time with Him during the day. The time and effort to fully focus on praying and reading His Word has been put to the wayside too often lately. I try to avoid time with God some days for fear of what He will ask me to do. I am a sinner that has been saved but still struggling with giving up the things of this world! How do you manage it? What has helped you to get through those times that being comfortable and not challenged sounds so much better than sacrificing, obeying and following?! 

Lord, please help me to stop giving into the pleasures and comforts of this world. I need help to focus on Your purpose and plan for my life. Convict me when I have strayed from you or gotten too comfortable. May the Holy Spirit be my Counselor and keep me on track and into Your Word so that I can stand up against all the things that take me away from fellowship with you. Help me. Your daughter, Laurel

Husbands. Fathers.

A man or husband also have a big role in the family, he is the leader. He makes sure that his family is heading in the right direction and following God’s rules. I strongly belief that husband has all the authority to be the head or leader of his family. The Bible clearly states in 1 Corinthian 11:13 that "But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head

of a woman, and God is the head of Christ,” The husband is the head of the wife in the entire family and he has the responsibility of guiding his family to a closer relationship with the Lord. God will require it of him on the day when all our deeds are judged by God. Hey men, my brother in Christ! As you continue leading and your family I want to encourage you that you do your best to honor God in your leadership. Lead in a way that you show grace to your family. Lead in a such a way that it brings unity but not separation in your family. Lead in such away that you are open to correction and criticism. Lead in such a away that you are flexible and adaptable to anything. Lead in such a way that your family would free come to you when need help. Lead in such a way that your family feels safe or security when you are around. Lead in such away that your family members are able to grow physically, emotionally and spiritually. Lead in such a way that you set a good example to your family though your good work. Lead in such a way that show that you are not perfect man but willing to try and pick yourself up when you fall or fail. Lead in a such a way that it will inspire other men where they can see Jesus in you. Lead in such a way that it shows gentleness and humility to your family and people around your family. Lead in such a way that you show patient to your family. Lead in such a way that you STAND UP for your family. Lead in such a way that you are willing to sacrifice for your family, even when it comes to facing death for the sake of your family. And lastly, lead in such away that you show unconditional loves to your wife and children. Do not forget that it is written: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church … (Eph. 5:25-27).

Hey brother in Christ, I am with you good luck in your leadership role. I am with you, let has hang in there and try our best to serve our families. I know it is hard but I think we can do it my brother. I am still young in this leadership but since I started and I have found out that the best way to lead is to “depend on God” and be willing to seek help where needed.

Prayer of the day: Jesus, I am a leader in my family. I want to lead in such a way that shows you in my leadership role. I want to lead my family in such a way that meet your Will for my family. Help me to trust in you and help me with your wisdom to lead my family for your glory” Amen

Mother's Day

Today is 12/12/12, it is Mothers’ Day here at my facebook! (David writes an encouraging/thought provoking message just about everyday on his facebook)
Mothers are very special. I learned a lot from my mother, she has impacted my life in many ways. I don’t know how my life could be without my mother. Can you say that too about your mother today? Mother’s spend more time with their children more than anyone in this world. A mother knows her child as early as in her womb. Mother has a gre

at impact to her child in many ways. Mothers please teach your children to trust in the lord and follow His Will for their life. We live in a crazy and scary world nowadays. We live in the world that teaches our children to fear for tomorrow and has not respect for our children. We live in the world that abuses our children instead of loving them. We live in the world that takes advantage of our innocent children. The world teaches them that they can be whoever they want and they don’t need to listen to their parent. The world shows our children how to be sexually active at their youngest age. Mothers! Its time to Say “NO” stand up for your child!Cant your imagine how our children will be in 20 years from now without the Lord?

Mothers teach your child to obey God. As a mother, God has given you a big role of helping a child to develop skills and discover his/her strengths (Proverbs 22:6) and spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12). Do not let the world tell your child this or that. Mother! Your child is very special he/she can make it in this world, belief in your child and help her/him the belief you want the best for her/him in this crazy world. Mother! Provide your child with an environment of constant verbal support, freedom to fail, acceptance, affection, unconditional love (Titus 2:4; 2 Timothy 1:7) Mother! Your child needs you and trust in you, please be there for her/him through everything even your child seems to fail. Stand up for your child and states to the world that your child will make it because God has good plans for him/her and you have done your part in living what you say, being a model from which a child can learn by “catching” the essence of godly living (Proverbs 10:9; 11:3; Psalm 37:18, 37).

Have a blessed day. Mother! I pray that you step up your role as a mother and do your special role for your child in this crazy world. Your child will never forget about you and you will never worry about your child. I am so proud to have a mother who has constantly encouraged me to let God lead my life. I am so proud that I have mother who believes in me and knows that this world can’t touch me because I am protected by the blood of Jesus Christ. My mother may not be the perfect mother but I am so glad that she loves the Lord and I can see her love shinning on her face when I see her and also how she lives to honor God in her life. You might be or might not be like my mother today. But I do encourage you to say this prayer below like you mean it ……

Prayer of the day “God, your Word has never stated that every woman should be a mother. However, it does say that those whom the Lord blesses to be mothers should take the responsibility seriously. I am so blessed to be a mother. God I know that mothers have a unique and crucial role in the lives of their children. God help me to be one of the mothers who play a big role in their children’s for your glory. 

I need you, help me to reach out to my child for your glory” Amen and Amen

Little hands

Our little lady is thoughtful and quick to help someone who is hurt.

Today our little man hurt himself by climbing too far and being too daring for being so young. But I guess that is how boys are. So Mama was holding him and trying to comfort him in the rocking chair when little lady runs to the freezer to get his teething ring. She knows what he likes and when she saw that the teething ring did not help much... she ran to his crib and got his blanket. What a sweet big sister this little man is blessed with! I am amazed by the sibling bond I see forming already and can't wait to see the adventures that they have together.

Thank you big sister for the way you take care of your little brother!

People's interest

Wooo… My friend! The world is changing, I don’t know if you will agree with me or not. Everybody is very busy now days for his or her interest. It is technically very hard to spend some few minute with your next door neighbor….. This is a little crazy, where are we heading my friend? This reminds me about what is written in Philippians 2: 21 which says “Everyone looks out for his own interest, not those of Jesus”(NIV).  I very guilty about this, I feel like I don’t have any spare time to look on the interest of others. I feel like I want to make myself a priority or worry about my needs and not worrying about the needs of my next door neighbor.  I always ask myself this question: “what would Jesus do?”  I am sure that Jesus interest was to serve others. My next question is: “how many times have I served others?” How many times have I checked on my next door neighbor if they are okay or need anything? Probably it has been several months since I stop by their house when I needed something. It is crazy and very guilty situation.  Do you hear me? Are you in the same page my friend? The word of God says in Philippians 2:3-5 that “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had:” (NIV) I don’t want to add anything to the above verse, you can clearly understand what it means. There more I read the more I want to confess…..Please think about it and ask God to help us have the same attitude of mind of Christ Jesus had.  Life would be so easy if we had Jesus mind in the world we live in today.

 

Would you pray  with me today? “ Father, I am so guilty of my selfishness. You spoke the truth through your words today. I  have done wrong in your sight a million times. I waste most of my time trying to “ get” what I feel like it would make me happy and forget about the needs of my next door neighbor. God! Help me to have humility for others and to look not only to the my interest but to the interest of others as you have spoken into my heart today. Jesus, I would like my attitude to be same as your attitude. Help me to change my attitude towards other, I want to love others just as you first love me and died for me at the cross. Lord! I confess my sins today, I am so sorry for hurting you and others. Would you forgive me Lord? Thank you for forgiveness me and thank you for changing my attitudes” Amen.

Have a blessed day my friend, go out today and try to look on the interest of others as you try to meet your interest too.

Your VOTE matters!

Are you excited going to polling station to vote tomorrow or you are not looking forward going to vote?  Are thinking about not voting?   Are you confused on whom to vote for?  Are you afraid that when you vote for this candidate this and that will happen?  Have you had rumors that this will happen or that will happen if this person is elected?  Are you worried about what will happen after election? Hey friend! I hear you loud and clear. I am with you!.  I just wanted to encourage you to get out there and vote tomorrow. Do not be afraid. Get down on your knees and thank God before you vote and God will take care for the rest. Ask God to show you whom to vote for if you don’t know yet or you’re not sure. When that name (candidate) come in to your mind and you feel peace about it…head out to polling station with a big smile and vote for him.

 God of America today is the same God of America that was God when our founding fathers founded America. He is the same God, his promises and His words never change. Leaders come and go. This or that happens and things change. People change, events change. It is not because God is not watching but because God has a plan for each and everything.  My friend! God will still work with any president that will be elected in few hours from now. God loves America and He wants the best for America. He knows how to take care of America so well. He know what you and I really need it.  Please trust in Him, do your part and He will do His part. Pray that His will for America would be fulfilled through the person that would be elected in a few hours.  Speak blessing on him (elected president). Even if you don’t agree with him, please pray that God would have grace in him and He would show him the right way to lead us.  I have hope and peace of mind knowing that God’s grace never fails. God grace for America will never fail too. He is bigger than American problem.  You are very important in fulfilling God’s purpose today. Please vote and feel better about. There is nothing much we can do, we can only do the little things that we can like “ voting” and God can take care of the rest. God state in Psalm 33:12 that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!(ESV)

My friend! Do not forget that 1 Timothy 2:1 instruct us that  “  First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.(ESV)….so, get down of you knees, pray, share, belief, be thankful, be hopeful, be joyful….because this what you can do and God will do the rest.

Prayer of the day: “God, I thank you so much for the leader that you have already chosen. I want to go out there tomorrow and cast my vote  just to honor You. I know you already know the results, help me to be open for the change and to accept the leader that you are going bring my way in few hours. I pray that everyone my see your grace through all this. Help me and everyone else to have a peaceful voting. Help us to realize that you are the same God of America and you will never leave as alone. Thank you God for your grace for all of us through your son Jesus Christ” Amen.

Have a blessed day and have fun voting tomorrow. Be inspired voting, you are special person in God’s eyes, your vote matters a lot.

Crossing the Desert

How long have you been hurting? How long have you been sick? How long have you been in debt? How long have you been separated? How long have you been suffering? How long have you been struggling with your problem? How long have you been waiting for the Lord? How long have you been crazy bad person?  How long have you been trying? Etc...THIS IS YOUR DAY! HOPE IS COMING!..I don’t know if you know anything about Israelites during their time in the desert? God sustained them not for a few days but for forty years.   It is written that “For forty years you sustained them in the desert, they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen” (Nehemiah 9:21) I declare today my friend that the Lord is watching over you, He monitors any step you make. Do not give up! He is there with you; keep on moving through the desert of challenges and sickness. You will pass through the desert; you will lack nothing at all just as Israelites didn’t lack anything. He is the same God for you today.  No matter what you have done in the past…” He is a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate,  slow to anger and abounding in love”(Nehemiah 9:17)

 

Prayer of the day “ God! Thank you for your promise that you made for our forefathers. Thank You for today that you are with me as I cross the desert of challenges in my life. Thank you for your grace and your great compassion for my life….a sinner like me. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise” Amen

Have a blessed day and keep those who were affected by the storm in your prayers.

I love you!

“ I love you” Those are the three words that I hear everyday or I say it everyday. Do you also say “ I love you” to someone? Mmm…what does “ I love you” means to you? Do you really mean “ I love you” or it is just a routine thing that you do every day?  Is it a check list for your daily activity after finish talking on the phone or when you head out for work or class?  I wonder if we are really saying the true “I love you”. You have probably heard some pastors say “say as you mean it” How do you say to a stranger “ I love you?” How do you say to your enemy “I love you?” How do you say to your competitor” I love you?”  How do you say to yourself “I love you” after you mess up with your life?  How do you say “ I love you” to a person who  have hurt your several times? How do you say “ I love you” to a boyfriend or a girlfriend who have let you down  twice?  How do you say “ I love you” to a wife/husband who seems like he or she never get anything right according to your feelings?  My friend! “ I love you” is the most powerful tool that covers  everything. I would like you to be patient when it comes to saying “ I love you”  do not be arrogant about it. “I love you” has no end…you should said it all time and belief in it. Do not stop saying “ I love you” due to some circumstances. Say “ I love you” when you are happy or sad. Say “I love you”  even when things do look like they are going your way. Say “ I love you” even when if feel like not wanting to say “ I love you.”  Saying “ I love you” means saying the truth, do not cover the lies with “ I love you”. Belief in the person when you say “ I love you” ….I am going to stop there my friend…I am not preaching, I just saying and trying to encourage you…check what the Bible say:

 

 It is written “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end... And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (NRSV, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13)

Prayer of the day: “God, help me to say to someone “ I love you” just as you said  to me “ I love you” when I was lost in sin. You showed me your unconditional love, I would like to love others just as you love me. I want to say “ I love you” from the bottom of my heart and to feel right when I say so. Please help me to love others today” Amen

Have a blessed day and a wonderful day and remember that “ I love you” my friend from the bottom of my heart. I am so glad that you are my friend, I don’t know how I would do without having you as my friend. Be blessed and stick with me my friend. Tell someone “ I love you” today.

Lots of love was shown to the children by approx. 2,000 books being donated to them! WOW!

Promises

How many times have you made a promises and don’t fulfill it? How many times have you promise others that you will do this or that and end up not doing it at all ? How many times have you promised God that you will make changes in your life and end up doing nothing but same old stuff? How times have you promise that you will help someone and don’t do it at all? How many times have someone walk in

to you asking for money and you said “I will see what I can do” and end up doing nothing about? It is hard my friend! We take things for granted, we make lots of promises to ourselves or others and don’t bother to commit the promises that we make. My question is: “why make promises and don’t do it? Why make an oath and end doing something different? No one forces you to make a promise! I just wanted to remind you that it is written “ Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”( Mat 5:37) Nehemiah also stated that in this way may God shake out of his house possessions every man who does not keep his promises (Nehemiah 5;13)

Do not let the pressure or circumstances fool you! Let your NO be a “NO” and Your Yes be “Yes” nothing in between…Do it or don’t do it, promise something or don’t promise at all, help or don’t help, change or don’t change , etc. Be an honest and straight forward person, set a good boundaries to yourself and others. Be a man or a woman of integrity and a man or a woman of his/her words!

Prayer for the day: God! Help me to make up my mind when it come to making promises to myself or others. I want to honor you in all that I do. God guard my lips so that nothing evil come out of my mouth! Help me make promises that I will be able to fulfill through your help God” Amen . Have a blessed day and don’t forget to let your “ NO” be your real “NO” and your “YES” be your honest “YES”

YES! Generous sponsors provided our 17 children with new shoes and socks!

 

 

Confidence

Confidence is a good thing! It makes difference in any situation, good or bad. Do you have confidence in your self? Do you have confidence in what you are doing right now? Do you have confidence that you will achieve what you are aiming for? Are you confident that you will succeed no matter all the challenges that come along the way? Are you confident that one day you make it to heaven? 

I just wanted to remind you, my friend, that it is written that “ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…”(Philippians 1:6) Hey! Keep on going knowing that God who had began a good work in your life will carry it on to completion. Do not lose hope, look right or left. Focus on the Lord and avoid all other destructive voices that surrounds you everyday. Be confident in yourself because God is in control.

Prayer of the day: “Almighty God! I am so glad that you have already started a good work in my life. Help me to realize that you are working inside me. Help me to be confident of my self and all that I do. I feel lost by not being confident in myself sometimes…God! I want to be confident in myself, could you please help me realize that you are working something good in my life for now and forever” Amen

Have a blessed day and don’t forget to be confident in yourself 

as God expects you to be confident in yourself everyday.

lights and mirrors

A lot was going on yesterday and God worked in MIGHTY ways!

We were having a realtor show our house in the evening so we were trying to clean, take care of our little ones who have colds, put up mirrors, etc. Needless to say I was stressed and overwhelmed at times about all that needed to be done and just had to keep giving it to God. Well, as God always does when we pray... He showed up in big ways!

We needed the light in the upstairs room to be repaired so that they could look at the room when the house was shown by the realtor. We asked our neighbor to come and check it out but he was busy. We moved on with other things. David headed out to get another mirror (our realtor said that mirrors really trick the eye and help the rooms look bigger). So David was set on finding a mirror for absolutely every mirror in the house. I told him it as a bit overkill but he said in such a serious manner "You really don't know what a difference this is making!" and so I was like "What you have sold 20 houses or something?!" haha. Life with my man is a blast!

Anyway, once David headed out to get one last mirror (a humongous one that I saw at the thrift store the day before) our neighbor popped on by and said he did have time to look at the light right then. What a God send! So while he fixed our light David came back with the humongous mirror and a nice man that he met at the thrift store that was also buying something and asked if David wanted some help putting it up! Wow again how God works! We would have had a time putting up a heavy mirror with just us two and the little ones getting under foot.

In all the light was fixed upstairs and the humongous mirror was set up in the living room with great screws and strong men! God is AWESOME! I love how He is like just you wait little lady, this will be taken care of. Don't stress because I have it under control. Just wait for My timing so I can get the glory! Woohoo!

The Will of God

The will of God will never take you,
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

Everything happens for a purpose.
We may not see the wisdom of it all now,
but trust and believe in the Lord that everything is for the best.


AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Accepting Jesus!

Winnie Awino

Roy Kiplagat

The Medlin's just told us that Winnie Awino and Roy Kiplagat accepted Jesus as their Savior! Please keep them in your prayers as they grow to know Him. What a celebration in heaven and on earth for them!

our house is almost DONE!

It has been quite an overwhelming process to get our home spruced up and ready to sell. Thank the Lord for the strength He has given us. Great teamwork has gone on around here as David enjoys rolling the paint on the walls and Laurel does the trim work. We have found our strengths and weaknesses through this process. David is a great motivator and loves to plow through things. Laurel enjoys getting the details done and celebrating the finished product. We have repainted just about every room in the house, stained our entire porch and various other projects. The little ones have seemed to be doing well with all of the changes. We mostly get our work done in the evening when we know the little ones are safely snuggled in bed.

Do you know of anyone who would love living in the mountains only a hop, skip and a jump away from the beautiful Virginia Creeper Trail??