As I finish details on February’s newsletter, I’m gazing on a winter wonderland. Nearly 4 inches of snow cover our green lawn and snow continues to fall steadily. Forecasters are predicting eight inches—an absolute anomaly in an area that receives an average of less than an inch for the entire winter. We haven’t seen this much snow in the last twenty years.
Underneath the white blanket in our yard you’ll find a barren garden lacking attention, vacant flower beds waiting for tenants, and a few small grassless islands in the midst of a mostly green sea. The sparkling white powder covers the imperfections and transforms an otherwise mediocre piece of land into a captivating scene.
Gazing on the purity of the snow reminds me of my Savior who has made us pure. The Bible tells us that the blood of Jesus covers our sins, making us as pure as snow–not accounting for pollution (grin). (Psalm 51:7) Through our confession and faith, we receive the forgiveness of sins which purifies us and removes the stain of our sin. (I John 1:7-9) Thankfully God does not just cover our impurities; He removes them as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12) Jesus’ death on the cross paid the price so we can be whiter than snow.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
“Jesus Paid It All” (by: Elvina Hall and John Grape) Public Domain. To view the complete lyrics and hear the hymn in its entirety, click here.
If you want Jesus to take the imperfections of your life and give you a life of purity, I would love to talk with you. You can call me at 757.472.1897 or visit this site.
Lady Day: Letters to a Daughter About Becoming a Woman
SALE PRICE: $9.99 Retail: $11.99
Lady Day is designed as a tool to build a strong relationship and open communication between a mother and daughter. This book of letters helps a mom, dad, grandparent or guardian as they explain to their girl the beautiful changes that take place in a daughter’s body. Using God’s Word as a foundation, the letters explain biological changes in the context of the unique and wonderful way she has been created. Lady Day helps reduce the fear of the unknown and builds the confidence of a girl on the exciting journey of becoming a woman.
To order, click here.
Lady Day Package
SALE PRICE: $19.99 Retail: $22.98
This package includes one Lady Day book and sterling silver 3D butterfly charm in a lavender organza bag. The butterfly charm is a lovely gift to remind your daughter of her transformation and your Lady Day celebration.
To order, click here.
Sale prices valid February 1, 2010 – February 28, 2010.
Nothing says lovin’ like my Grandma Ebersole’s Chicken Corn Soup. It’s the ultimate in comfort food for me. The soup is delicious, but the story behind it is even better. I met my grandma when I was just about to turn five. (My biological father had died when I was three and my mother was engaged to marry a wonderful man whose wife had died of cancer.) After traveling about an hour we arrived at a big, white farmhouse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There was a barn nearby and cows in the field, as I remember. I was a city girl and this was all new territory. My grandparents’ house was bustling with several sets of aunts, uncles, and cousins who were yet unknown to me. The women dressed in simple dresses with white net caps on their heads which I later learned was part of their Mennonite tradition.
After proper introductions, I followed my new-found cousins out to the barn and watched as an uncle chopped off the head of a chicken. (I’m thinking there were two chickens, but I’m a little fuzzy on that.) As I watched it run around, I felt badly for the chicken so I went inside. Shortly after my arrival, the chicken joined me in the kitchen. My grandma and her four daughters set into motion preparing what I now know to be “Chicken Corn Soup.” They began to pick the feathers off the chicken, picking it until it was nearly clean. I had never seen anything like it. Then came the corn cut off the cob. It had never occurred to me that the kernels I ate were the same, ones that had been connected to a cob! These ladies worked together like well-oiled machinery, each one doing their job effortlessly. The last element of our meal was the homemade mint iced tea made from the mint leaves I helped gather from the front yard. This remains one of the freshest meals I’ve ever eaten!
My memories of the soup are precious to me, but the most powerful emotion comes when I remember the kind, gentle woman who warmly welcomed me into her family. To me, every bite of this soup says, “love” and “acceptance.” I hope your family enjoys this recipe as much as the Moore family does!
Click here for the recipe.
By: Harold Moore
February – the month of love. At least that is what we are told. Funny how one day of the year, February 14th, can become a reason to buy cards, candy, flowers, etc., to show how much we love those in our lives. Shouldn’t we have a life-style of showing love throughout the year? The obvious answer is, “Yes!” The way we show true love must go way beyond the purchasing and giving of “things” on a special day.
As a father I’m often challenged as to what to give my wife and daughters on Valentine’s Day to express how much I truly love them. I will again this year give the ladies of my life cards, candy, and maybe a little gift for my wife. But all of those gifts are meaningless and futile in expressing love if my wife and daughters do not know in their hearts the love I have for them throughout the year. I believe they know in their hearts how much I do love them, but it didn’t just happen by accident. I was intentional.
How can a father intentionally express his love to his family in ways that reach the heart? I asked God that question one morning and I believe He answered my questions with a very simple acrostic of “FATHER.”
F: Faithful
A father’s love is shown in faithfulness. Romans 5:8 tells us that God, our Heavenly Father, shows and clearly proves His own love for us by the fact that while we were still in our sin, He died for us. A father is faithful to show love no matter what. His love is not conditional or provisional, nor is it based on the performance of those whom he is called to love. A father is faithful to provide for the needs of his family. He provides security. He is faithful to provide appropriate affection to his wife and children so that they have no need to search for it from any other source. A father is faithful to keep the covenants and commitments to his wife and family so that his word is true and dependable.
A: Accessible
A father’s love is shown in accessibility. Hebrews 4:15-16 tells of our Heavenly Father who understands us and cares for us, even in our weaknesses and vulnerability to temptation. He bids us to fearlessly and confidently draw near to Him and find help for every need. A loving father is accessible to his wife and children. He makes time for them and gives his time to them. He creates an atmosphere of accessibility and openness. He loves them; therefore he is accessible to them.
T: Tender
A father’s love is show in tenderness. Isaiah 40:11 and other scriptures give us a picture of how tenderly the Lord cares for his own. Jesus looked over unfaithful Jerusalem and spoke of a tender desire to “gather her under his wings”. He wept. He had compassion over the sick, broken, and hurt. A father who truly loves his family will be known by his tenderness toward his loved one’s emotions, hearts and spirits. He will be tender with them physically, particularly his wife and daughters, and not treat them as “one of the boys.”
H: Honoring
A father’s love is shown in the honor and value he gives to his family. They are not just his; they are daughters and sons of God. He treats his family with respect and honors their thoughts and feelings because they are created and valued by God.
E: Excited
A father’s love is shown in an excitement about the things that are important and exciting to his family. In Zephaniah 3 there is a wonderful picture of God dancing and singing over you with joy and excitement. What an awesome picture of God and his delight over His children! A loving father shows an excitement and enthusiasm over the things that are exciting and valuable to his family. He celebrates and shows excitement about their life and their destiny.
R: Relational
A father’s love is shown through an abiding relationship with his family. We were created by God to be in relationship with Him – to be His sons and daughters – so that He could bestow on us the inheritance of His Kingdom. God’s greatest desire was to show His love toward us by giving us a relationship with Him, not just gifts and pleasures. Sin separated us from that relationship but God’s love for us was so great that He gave Jesus to restore that relationship with Him. A father who truly loves his wife and children loves them through relationship. It is relationship that wraps it all together. Love must be given through relationship and not just an event or a check mark on “to do” list.
FATHER
In looking at this acrostic I realize that this doesn’t just apply to fathers but to all who call themselves Christians. I also realize the many times that I fall short of these ideals. Only our Heavenly Father fulfills these attributes perfectly and constantly. Yet even in our weaknesses and shortcomings, He still calls us to show acts of love beyond a card or gift on a special day.
My prayer for you is that in this month, and the months that follow, that you will be filled with both giving and receiving love. I pray that you reach the hearts of those you love with your faithfulness, accessibility, tenderness, honor, excitement, through genuine relationship with you. And the card and candy are a nice touch. =)
Dear Reader—While it may be uncomfortable for some to read an article about such a personal and sensitive issue, I can assure you that it is equally challenging for me to write about it. Because we receive more questions about this issue than any other parenting challenge, we recognize the need to address this topic. I hope that the following information will be helpful to you.
When I least expected it, I turned around and found my little girl had grown into a blossoming young woman. It seemed that her body had changed overnight! I admit I was filled with fear. I wanted to maintain her innocence, but I knew I had to tell her something. What should I tell her? What if I forget something? Was she ready for this? Was I ready for this?
Lady Day: The Event
After much prayer, Harold and I agreed that we should present only information about her and save the stuff about boys for a later date. We both felt it was important to affirm her transition from girl to woman and to give her God’s perspective of what our culture often labels “the curse.” We wanted to celebrate this transition time as we taught her about the changes in her body and the incredible way God made her. We began to plan a “Lady Day,” a day that she and I could do things together that grown up women do—such as shopping and having lunch together. We would have fun and strengthen our relationship while I shared important information with her. But what information was I going to share?
Lady Day: The Book
With God’s help and inspiration, I wrote Lady Day: Letters to a Daughter About Becoming a Woman. I never envisioned it to be anything more than a collection of information for our four daughters, but the many requests from friends encouraged us to make it available to other Christian families. My goal was to create a tool from a godly perspective that would help me teach our daughter about becoming a woman while building a deeper relationship with her, opening a ongoing discussion for the years ahead. I felt it was important to have everything in writing so she could refer back to it at any time after our Lady Day.
While this relational tool was designed as a mother/daughter event, the tone of the letters and the blank signature space allows the book to be used by mothers or fathers. It’s not designed to be given to a daughter without discussion or interaction, nor is it an exhaustive source of information on the topic.
A compilation of “Dear Daughter” letters about various topics regarding puberty, this 32-page book begins by affirming a daughter’s femininity and continues with encouraging modesty. There is a section on her changing body and caring for her skin. The final section presents information about menstruation. The book concludes with printed letters of blessing from mom and dad as well as a blank page for you to record a personalized message to your daughter.
IMPORTANT NOTE: There is no discussion about physical differences between girls and boys or about marital relations. (Those issues are addressed in The Gift of Purity, another product exclusive to Daughters 4 God which will be featured in the March newsletter.)
A Sample Lady Day
The Lady Day celebrations for each of our daughters have been unique, but the following description is a compilation of what worked best for our family. Several weeks before the event, I told our daughter that I had planned a special day together—just the two of us. On our chosen Saturday, we dressed in our casual best. As we drove away, I gave her a copy of Lady Day and asked her to read the first letter while we drove to our first destination– the parking lot of our church, away from any traffic. I asked her to read the next letter and fill in the opposite page. We talked and prayed about her aspirations and her future.
At the next stop (a discount store or mall), we read the sections about changes, modesty, and skin care. Then we went shopping for undergarments and a purse. You could also schedule a skin care appointment at a department store or with a beauty consultant. I chose to discuss skin care before our day together, so we just reviewed what she already knew. We returned to the car and filled in the section about our purchase.
For our last session, we drove to a discount retailer. In a remote section of the parking lot, I asked her to read the section about menstruation and allowed her to ask as many questions as she wanted. We went inside the store and together we chose several different sanitary supplies for her to have available. We returned to the car and headed to a restaurant for a late lunch.
During our leisurely lunch, I asked her to read the letters that her dad and I had written. I presented my dear daughter with a devotional book and a charm for her charm bracelet (a.k.a. “Memory Keeper”) as remembrances of our special day together. Sterling silver charms and Memory Keepers are available at www.Daughters4God.com. It was a day neither of us will forget.
When is it time?
One of the most frequent questions I receive is, “How do I know when my daughter is ready for Lady Day?” Physical development and questions about sexuality are good indications that your daughter may be ready for Lady Day. My husband and I made the decision primarily based on our daughter’s physical development. We wanted to make sure that she had all the information she needed and was prepared before her big day arrived. In our family, age 10 or 11 was a perfect time to tell our daughters about their changing body.
While you may see some signs of physical development, you may have more time than you think. The average age of menarche (the first menstruation) in the US is 12.54 years. African-American girls have a lower average age than white girls; heavier girls have a lower average than lean girls. I have learned from our pediatrician, research, and my own experiences that girls begin to menstruate about two years after the appearance of both breast buds and underarm hair.
Don’t let fear guide you. Fear is not from God. Trust in God; He is faithful. He gave you your sweet daughter and He will give you everything you need to raise her, including the wisdom to choose the perfect timing for your daughter’s Lady Day. Every mom I’ve spoken with has told me that they knew in their heart when the right time had come to talk to their daughter. I’m sure it will be the same for you, too.
Your Daughter’s Lady Day
Let your Lady Day reflect you and your daughter. I know of a mother and daughter who had their special day and a picnic on the Skyline Drive and another who took her daughter horseback riding, and still another who took her daughter for tea. The possibilities are endless!
Of course you’ll want to stay within the family budget, but you may also want to consider a few other things. Knowing that I had three more daughters to follow, I planned activities and special gifts for the oldest daughter that I could easily repeat for the other three. (For example, each received a book but not the same book. Each went out to eat, but at a different restaurant.) As parents, we love to give good gifts to our children and bless them. When we have time together it’s easy to want to do everything you’ve ever wanted to do—tea, manicures, shopping, etc. I tried to hold back and plan some special activities she would enjoy, but to keep others for a future time together. Remember, the most important thing is not what you do but that you affirm your daughter and build a strong foundation for a lasting relationship as you celebrate her transition to womanhood.
If you’ve used Lady Day with your daughter, I’d love to hear your story. It will be an inspiration to moms who are planning a special day for their daughters.
Some excerpts taken from Lady Day, by Joy Moore, Copyright 2006
Statistics quoted from American Association of Pediatrics.
My dear husband celebrated a milestone birthday in December. I’m not saying which one, but it begins with a number between 4 and 6 and ends with a 0. <grin> When we celebrated Harold’s last birthday that ended in a 0, we had a quiet celebration as a family. This time I wanted friends and family to join me to honor Harold and celebrate the impact he has had in the lives of many people.
Harold arrived at church that night, expecting to attend a Christmas party for a ministry team that he oversees. Instead he found more than 80 people yelling, “Surprise!” My husband, who usually figures out everything, was literally speechless. (In 20 years of marriage, I’ve never seen Harold speechless!)
It was everything I had hoped for—and more. Harold greeted his guests— his parents, his brother and family from out of town, the pastors and staff of our church where Harold serves, and a myriad of friends who came to honor a man who had impacted their life. Instead of gifts, I asked that each guest bring only the gift of words of encouragement and blessing.
After some munchies, the crowd quieted to watch a Powerpoint presentation with pictures of Harold’s first fifty years (baby pictures and all!). I had asked a few men to speak—one of his spiritual sons, his brother, and his dad. Each told of their love for my dear husband and what his life means to them.
Lastly, I had asked our lead pastor to close out with a prayer of blessing. He asked that Harold’s parents and the girls and I join Harold, who was standing in the front, and said that instead of praying a blessing, he felt that God would have Harold’s parents bless him. There were few dry eyes after Harold’s mother and father prayed sweet and passionate prayers to bless their oldest son. I believe it was a precious moment in the heavenlies, where God used the human voices of loved ones to say to His son, “You are my precious son and I’m so pleased.”
Birthdays should be the celebration of a life, an individual who was uniquely designed by God and chosen to be part of His plan. You don’t have to throw a party or spend a lot of money to honor someone. For my 40th birthday, my mom orchestrated a long-distance birthday celebration. I received more than 40 birthday cards of blessing from friends and family. My friend Esther, who inspired me to write blessings for pregnant moms and their unborn babies, writes birthday blessings each year for the children of her friends. She wrote a blessing for Harold for his birthday. Another family has a “Birthday Tape” for each child. Each year they add to the tape and record a birthday prayer for the child. Of course with new technologies, you could do a Birthday CD or DVD. Ask God to give you creative ideas that will bless your family.
This year, as you celebrate birthdays with family and friends, be sure to include the element of blessing. Look for opportunities to bless your husband, your children, and your friends. Let God use your hand to write words of life or your voice to speak His words of love. Make it a birthday to remember.
The girls often talk about their birthday parties as “unit studies.” I can’t help it. I’m a teacher. I’ve been teaching children something for the last 25 years. Why should birthday parties be any different? It’s a great opportunity to teach children–they’re a captive audience! For Abigail’s tenth birthday, God gave me the idea to have a Proverbs 31 Birthday Party. The party took about three hours for eleven girls who were ages 9-11. Cutting out the sewing project will shorten the time by about 45 mins. to 1 hour.
Invitations:
You can use any lovely note card with a lovely cover design and a blank inside. Buy twice as many and use them for thank you notes. If you have some computer skills, you can import a photo or design your own invitations. Invitation-sized envelopes fit a half sheet of paper folded in half. On the inside, include the title “Proverbs 31 Birthday” as well as who it’s for, date, time, location, address and RSVP.
Preparations:
Preparations for each activity are listed below. I set up “stations” in the locations listed, including all the supplies and instructions I needed. I also set the table in the dining room where we’d be eating. Careful, advanced preparations will make for smooth transitions during the party.
Decorations:
I chose hot pink paper plates and napkins that coordinated with the invitation. The activities for the party kept us in different rooms, but we decorated the dining room with pink and white streamers and pink balloons. Some fresh flowers would be a nice touch.
Activities:
I wanted to teach the girls what it meant to be a Proverbs 31 woman. We began by reading Proverbs 31: 10-31. (You can read it to them, or have everyone read together. You can print out a copy of the scripture from www.biblegateway.com.) Then, we went back to the beginning and read through it again, stopping after we read the verses that applied to our activity.
Cooking (in the kitchen): v.14-15
Recipe for apple crisp here.
Before the party: You may want to cut the apples and store them in some lemon water in the fridge. I let the girls use an apple peeler with a handle and an apple slicer so we needed no knives.
During the party: Of course you’ll want the girls to start by washing their hands. I had the girls take turns measuring, preparing and adding ingredients as well as assembling the apple crisp. We baked it while we did the next activity.
Gardening (outside): v. 16
Small pots, plastic or clay
a cell-pack of plants or seeds
small bag of potting soil
Before the party: I set up the table in the back yard so the dirt would stay out there. I labeled the bottom of the pots before the girls planted their plants so each one got the right container.
During the party: Then, each girl put a little potting soil in the bottom of the pot, put the flower in, and finished with a little potting soil around the sides of the plant.
NOTE: If you choose not to do the sewing activity, you could use the time to decorate clay pots with paint or permanent markers. Permanent markets can still rub off some plastics. Old T-shirts can be worn to protect the girls’ clothing.
Sewing (at the kitchen table): v. 21
red felt
red thread
satin ribbon
Before the party: To save time, I set up the sewing machine with the red thread. I used a lightweight red felt so there were no raw edges to fray and cut a rectangular piece (4 inches x 9 inches) for each girl.
During the party: There are many patterns out there, but this is the simplest pattern I could find. I recommend labeling the pouches somehow so they don’t get mixed up.
Wise Speech (in the family room): v. 25-26
Before the party: Write down a few phrases or Bible verses to use in the game.
During the party: Here we played the telephone game. (Whisper a message down a line of people and of course it gets changed.) I divided the girls into two groups and gave each group the same message. We talked about gossip and how it can hurt those around us and how life and death is in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21)
A Treasure (at the kitchen table): v. 10
Assorted red glass beads (I found mine at a discount superstore)
Elastic (also from the discount superstore)
Before the party: I first knotted the end of the elastic string. (You can’t use a regular knot, but the instructions are on the packaging of the string are simple.) I divided the beads and put the beads and the elastic into small baggies.
During the party: I gave each girl a baggie and let her bead her own pattern. When they were finished, we had to tie the ends together with the same instructions as the original knot. I had each girl put on her bracelet so we wouldn’t get confused. We talked about how valuable a real ruby is and how much more valuable a godly woman is.
Snack Time (at the dining room table):Apple Crisp (made during the party)
Cake
Ice Cream
Carrots, cut apples, or whatever your family prefers
Pink lemonade, juice boxes, or whatever your family prefers
Party Favors:
Of course each girl takes the potted flower, the pouch they sewed, and the bracelet they made. We included an apple crisp recipe card in the “thank you” notes.
Best of all:
It was a great party and the girls seemed to really enjoy themselves. Most importantly, the girls heard God’s Word and what the Bible says about a virtuous woman. I believe that the party planted seeds in the hearts of the girls that will reap a great harvest in the years ahead.
January is a great time to establish, or re-establish, a devotional time for your children. We’ve used many tools over the years, but these are a few of our favorites:
His Little Princess by: Sheri Rose Shepard
This precious book challenges daughters to become more like Jesus. When used regularly, it’s a simple but easy tool to establish a daily devotional time. The introduction tells the reader that she is a true princess, a daughter of the King of King. On one side of each two-page spread is an encouraging letter from God to His little girl, focused on one particular area of character development. On the other side of the page is a scripture reference and a prayer to God from little girl, asking God to help her grow in the particular area. Perfect to read before bed. One family told me their daughter wore a toy crown while they read the book each night.
Suitable as a read-aloud for girls ages 3-8 or a read-alone for ages 8-11
Regular Price: $14.99 Our January Price: $11.99
His Mighty Warrior by: Sheri Rose Shepard
The same format as His Little Princess, but for boys.
Suitable as a read-aloud for boys ages 3-8 or a read-alone for ages 8-11
Regular Price: $14.99 Our January Price: $11.99
His Princess by: Sheri Rose Shepard
This small gift book is a collection of encouraging letters of love from God to His precious daughter. I’ve given this gift to girls and to women because every girl wants to feel like a princess.
Suitable as a read-alone for girls ages 12 thru adult
Regular Price: $14.99 Our January Price: $11.99
My mom made some amazing birthday cakes: a race track with matchbox cards for each guest, a swimming pool with miniature, swimming baby dolls, an 18-wheeler, a book, an ice skate, a cat, and so many more. I tried that tradition when the girls were small but found that it was difficult to make an elaborate cake and plan a party at the same time—and maintain my sanity! I looked for an alternative.
I wanted the cake to match the party theme, so I took an extra party invitation, cut out the main design, and laminated it. That way, when I put it on the cake, it wouldn’t soak up the oil in the icing. I also used icing or candies to write names and/or ages. And don’t forget the candles!
The best part is the cake itself. It’s a deliciously-moist, homemade chocolate cake with fudge-like icing from a recipe given to our family more than ten years ago. It’s not a fancy cake, but because we only make this recipe for birthdays it has become something special that we all look forward to.
Enjoy this cake for yourself! .::Cocoa Delight::.
We’ve started 2010 with a bang. Literally. Today was the beginning of our vacation. We spent yesterday packing and cleaning and preparing everything we’d need for a week away. We were not yet two hours from home when a doe darted out in front of our van. (We later heard that it was the last day of hunting season and the hunters were chasing the deer out of hiding.) The deer slammed into the front of the van, disabling the radiator and rendering our vehicle undrivable. We stopped to thank God for safety and then asked for wisdom. With lodging reservations at a location seven hours away, we needed a plan. And God had one.
The 911 operator gave us the name of a towing company that was open on New Year’s Day. The company was only minutes away.
We stopped on the side of the road right in front of a church. While we were waiting for the tow truck to arrive, someone from the church came to turn on the heat and allowed us to use the bathroom and the phone. (Because we were in the middle of nowhere, Harold’s cell phone was not getting reception at the moment.)
The tow truck driver was a kind Christian man who owned a gas station/auto repair shop. Harold asked him, “What would you do if you and five members of your family were in a disabled van on the side of the road?” He said, “Read some good scripture and pray.” “We already did that!” Harold said, laughing. Brad was able to give a basic assessment of our vehicle and guide us to the right body shop in a town nearby, even choosing a hotel for our family within walking distance to restaurants and a discount store. He helped us carry our luggage to our second floor room, took Harold and the van to the body shop, and brought him back to the hotel.
When we checked into the hotel, the front desk even gave us the stranded motorist rate—a welcomed deal since we had to have two rooms to sleep all six of us. Not two hours later, someone flushed one of the toilets in our room and it began to overflow. I couldn’t believe it! Harold called the front desk and a maintenance man came to fix the toilet and clean up the mess.
God had taken care of repairing our van, but we were still without a vehicle for the remainder of our vacation. After many phone calls and internet research, we discovered that there was only one car rental place open on Saturday, but it was more than 30 miles away and there was no guarantee that it had a mini van available. Our church generously allowed us to use their 12 passenger van and our dear friends, Sharolyn, Blaine and Jarrod, drove 120 miles to our hotel to deliver it. We had a sweet time together for dinner and they drove another 120 miles back home. I don’t know what other people do without a church family.
And so here I am, in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere. It’s not the way I planned to start my vacation–or my year for that matter. This certainly wasn’t my plan. But how can I complain? God is faithful and He had a plan. Not that He planned for us to hit a deer, but even in the midst of a difficult situation He cared for us. He sent the right people at the right time to provide for just what we needed.
When circumstances don’t follow our plans, we can choose to pout and complain or we can choose to trust God. God always has a plan. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) No matter what happens in 2010, trust in God who has a plan.
