We went early to the store together and she picked out one in her favorite color. Together, we loaded it up with fun kids songs and Christian worship. She's been listening to it non stop at home for the past few weeks, leading up to the trip.

Prior to the trip she felt that God was leading her to give something away in Africa. The more she prayed about it, the more she (reluctantly) came to the conclusion that God was leading her to give away her ipod. She really didn't want to, to be honest, but she was convinced that was what God wanted her to do.

Christy & I talked with her and encouraged her to bring the ipod (helps on long plan rides anyhow), and see if God leads her to someone specific to give it to. Christy and I knew that this gift was not something she could just give away to anyone there. It would need to be God directed, as it could cause more harm than good for the recipient in a country that has nothing.

Today, Leah gave away her ipod! The best part is, I believe she really heard God on who to give it to.

The main national contact for this trip is a Pastor named Sammy. Pastor Sammy lives in a small house far away from the orphanage he helps with and the church he pastors. On Sundays, Pastor Sammy walks five hours to and from church. He does not have much, but he has electricity and an old computer. Leah felt directed to give her ipod to Pastor Sammy, so he could listen to worship as he walks to and from church.

Today, Leah learned that it is better to give, than to receive. Today, her father learned a little bit more about the heart of God. What Leah didn't know, was that I was wanting her, so bad, to obey that voice of God she was hearing. She was struggling as she wrestled with knowing what God wanted her to do, and wanting to hold on to what she had. What she didn't know, was that I was willing to buy her a dozen ipods, if she would only follow through with what God was directing her to do. (I will resist that urge)

I can't help but think about the times that God has asked me to give something up, and I resisted in disobedience. I never knew the heart of a father before, just wanting to see obedience and having the desire to reward that obedience with something far better.

I pray that this story of Leah in Africa has helped you see that God can use anyone, big or small, old or young. He is looking for our availability more than our ability. Stay available to Him. Please also stay praying for Christy and Leah and they wrap up the trip.

I took the detour and as I was driving I was praying for the people in the accident.  Then I felt it was not enough and I needed to do more.  But what??  Then God put the four highway patrol men on my heart that were standing out in the heat, for who knows how long, in full uniform.  I immediately made a u-turn.  I drove to the gas station closest to the accident.  I bought the four largest bottles of water they had (and they rang up cheaper than marked on the cooler shelf, coincidence??? I think not!).  Then I started to walk toward the accident.  I looked ahead and saw there was no safe place to cross the street and I started to feel discouraged.  I started to think about my groceries sitting in my hot truck, I thought maybe the highway patrol men would think I'm some freaky woman bothering them and tell me to go away, then I felt foolish and doubts flooded my mind.  I turned around and headed back toward my truck.  On the way back I prayed God would help me to find a way to do this.  Then I noticed one of the HP vehicles in the Jack-in-the-box parking lot next to the gas station.  I asked God for confidence and clear direction.  He lead me into the Jack-in-the-box where one of the officers was waiting for his food. I asked him if he was going back to the accident.  He looked at me strange and said yes. I asked him if he wouldn't mind taking the water back for him and the other officers.  He smiled at me so big I felt like crying and he thanked me and told me they were dying out there in the heat and the water would be a Godsend.

and they found two very worrisome spots on me that were malignant melanoma.  I had surgery to remove them and am doing well.  God put her in my life and I thank Him for that.  I would have never gone to the doctor for that reason if it had not been for that precious child of God that is now in heaven.  She passed away recently and I look back and thank God for bringing her into my life.  I know God has a plan for all of us.  I have since then totally immersed myself in Christ's work.  I look at every day as a day that God has given me to do His will, to love, give, and just to share the miracle He did for me.  Please remember that He loves us so much.  He never lets us down.

Email from June: I have to tell you when I bought those clothes the Lord spoke to me and said "Buy them because some homeless person might need them for a new job"... I kid you not- God really did. I had them for 2 months just sitting here and I said Lord where should I send them? And the Lord told me to contact "Cal VBF" and I did and received a note from a girl named Nancy but it didn't seem like they were needed at the time. You see, for two years now the Lord has been directing me to serve in Las Vegas. But everyone thinks I am crazy when I tell them this, I guess because I have never even been to Las Vegas. One day I was begging God to show me how I can serve Him and when He showed me Las Vegas, I said you have to be kidding me Lord and He said "NO why don't my children in Vegas need me as much as my children anywhere else you can think of?" And it is true why do we think that the souls in LV are worth less than the ones in NY? From then on God has burned a desire in me to serve Him there anyway a door is open for me too.

We got up to the sledding area about 9 AM. After playing in the snow for about 2 hours, Jess and I were helping Ellie with a slow sled ride down a small hill when Lisle came rushing down on the toboggan full speed. He went down the run we had been using all morning, and the toboggan freakishly jumped off the route we had been using and he went crashing head first into a tree. His scream was ear splitting, and as I rushed to him, his forehead had a large lump forming, he had swelling and redness on the side of his head, his upper lip was getting really big and puffy, and the side of jaw and neck were scratched up and mottled. God led me to immediately pray for our son. Jess and I asked for a Spirit of Healing upon him. I prayed to Jesus that I had just been on my face that morning asking for extra angels of protection, so how could this have happened. I looked over at the tree he had hit, and realized that he had missed impaling his face upon 2-3 broken branches by only a few inches, and that the damage was really only superficial. Thank our Lord and Savior.

I was cradling my crying 6 year old in my arms, and Jess and I were praying for God to take away his pain and to heal his wounds. As we looked back down into his face, we were completely amazed that not only has the bump on his forehead gone away, but the swelling on the side of his head and on his upper lip were gone. We looked at his chin and neck, and 75% of the scratches were gone, and only a little mottling of his skin. By the time we got home, there was no swelling on either his forehead, the side of his head, or his lip and only a few very small scratches remained on his chin. WOW...isn't God amazing?

I had been feeling this way for awhile and just started to cry out to God that He might somehow show me that He was there or that I would feel His Holy Spirit - I hated the feeling of God being so far away. So I layed on my face and kept praying, keeping faithful that He might do something. That was the first time God spoke to me. Ephesians 4:13 immediately popped in my head. Of course I thought the verse was just a random combination my mind made up in a desperate attempt in trying to hear from God - but I decided to look anyway. I was amazed, excited and speechless when I read what I did. Ephesians 4:13 says "Those who once were FAR AWAY were brought near through the blood of Christ." At that moment I felt so much closer to God - I just kept looking up and smiling and thanking God (and of course, telling Him how awesome He was for giving me a total God moment :o)

I just want to let everyone know too that God may not always give you answers in the same way He did for me that day (I don't always get them that way either!), but you've got to keep praying and having faith. God says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Psalm 40:1 to "Pray without ceasing." and if you "cry out to Him" and "wait patiently" He will hear your cry and come to you. God isn't in the business of ignoring. :o)

I heard Jim and Pastor Ron saying the way to really change and hear God, I needed to pray and read my bible everyday. (Sounds so simple and yet as a single mom, I didn't know where I would have the energy to take the time to do this!) So, I prayed for the Lord to grant me the time and inclination to do those 2 things. He then started waking me up at 5am every morning, and it is a practice that I feel I can't successfully start my day without. The other thing that truly changed my life is that I canceled my cable, stopped turning on the stupid box, and I started to listen to only Christian music. My life, and the life of my daughter, changed so drastically by those "simple" things.

People began asking me what I had changed about my appearance because I didn't look the same. I know for a fact that they were seeing the glory of God live through me.

The other thing is that I started working in Ministry. I think that I have worked in almost every ministry at VBFLV!! Today, I devote my time in service of others. I know that for me to feel alive on this planet, I have to continue the Great Commission that Jesus passed on to us. I am happiest when I am around my Godly friends, and especially when I am serving the Lord by giving away of myself. I could go on and on about how God works EVERY DAY in my life; just know that coming to Valley, and finding my purpose through God, I am constantly changing, growing and getting closer to the Lord. I thank God for putting Jim & I on the same soccer field. There are no coincidences!

and it wasn't until a sermon like three or four weeks ago that God really spoke to me and I would like to say that I have not even had the desire. Praise God!  Also God took me through many challenges this year two moves and a slight break up for a moment. God had led me to not sleeping with my fiancée at the beginning of this year and well as you might know it was not easy for us...I was seeking God like I had never done before and so I moved into the other bedroom no longer sleeping with my partner. That itself took a mighty toll on our relationship, I just want you to know that I moved out and well we are married now so I believe that seeking God with our whole heart leads us to him no matter how scary it might be at the time.

"WOW" pretty much sums it up! So much has changed! With the Holy Spirit in our lives every min. of the day we are totally different people. The way we carry ourselves and what we have allowed in our homes and lives has really made life mean so much! He has broken the chains of addictions, and we don't have a desire to go back. We want more of the Holy Spirit, and we want him as much as we can have Him. Sure we have our trials and tribulations, but they aren't so hard to get through. We know there's ALWAYS a light at the end of it all.

I was challenged by your M&M idea this past Sunday as I have allowed myself to become too engrossed with my new job and have been neglecting my relationship with the Lord. I have been thinking about giving out the bags of M&Ms all week, but haven't given out any yet. Tonight in the middle of a business meeting I felt like I was supposed to leave, so I excused myself and went to get gas for my car to then return to the meeting. I just had a feeling like God said I had somewhere more important to be. Leaving in the middle of something like that is extremely uncharacteristic of me. While pumping gas I saw an older gentleman who looked homeless standing outside of the convenience store begging for money. I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit that the Lord had brought me to that very gas station just for him. I walked to the door of the convenience store and sure enough he asked me for money. I told him that I would not give him money. Rather than give him a bag of M&Ms, I asked instead if I could buy him dinner. He gladly accepted. I could see the disgust on other peoples' faces as they saw the gentleman inside with me, but the Lord had given me a heart for this man. The convenience store was connected to a Popeye's so I took him there.

As we sat down in the middle of the crowded restaurant, with all eyes gazing on him in disgust and me in contempt because I brought him in, I asked him if he knew Jesus. He told me that he had been to church before, but had not been in a long time. I told him that the Lord sent me here to him to buy dinner specifically for him tonight. He was taken back by that. As he began to eat I asked him if we could pray and then I grabbed his hand, with all eyes still glaring at us. As I prayed it felt as if the Lord was right there with us.  It was powerful. As I left he didn't want to let me go, not because he wanted money, but because of what he saw the Lord doing. As I said good-bye I thought about how people treat some individuals like they are trash, but they are the most precious thing in the entire world to Jesus. His blood bought them. He loves them. Jesus would've hung out with that man too. Thank you for stirring up the gifts in the body of Christ. Please never stop challenging us.