Some Random Pics from Tonight
Kaden and Clover looking to see what they can find...
ooooooooo.... they found a snake!
Kaden wasn't so happy about the snake!
Posted by Amber H. at 10:52 PM 0 comments
Danielle and Carlos are now official!
Saturday, September 13, 2008What a fun day, here are some of the more fun pictures from the wedding..
Posted by Amber H. at 9:15 PM 1 comments
I saw this on another blog and had to repost...
Friday, September 5, 2008A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
The other day, I received an email from a church attender that was accusatory (based on half-truths) and less than encouraging. My initial response was to defend and set the record straight in a straightforward manner. As I stared at the email I had written, I thought of Proverbs 15:1.
God's still small voice spoke, "Is this a gentle answer? Jeff, that person is angry. Will this email stir her up or calm her down?" I quickly deleted what I had written and began to respond by thinking about the hurt this person must be going through. It made all the difference in the world. My response was much more loving and gentle as I tried to put myself in her shoes and feel her hurt in my heart (a good definition of compassion).
OPPORTUNITIES
Are there people in your life that don't seem to like you very much? Sometimes God orchestrates events to put rude, mean people smack in your path and mine to teach us about unconditional love. Perhaps that unkind person is your boss, or your employee, or your co-worker, or your customer, or your teacher, or your student, or your classmate, or your next-door neighbor, or someone in your own family. What does God want us to do with folks like this? LOVE THEM!! Love them with His love - "...and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Rom. 5:5).
You see, people who are mean, rude, ugly and hurtful are this way for one main reason: they themselves are hurting. When you respond to a hurting person with love and kindness (impossible to do in your own strength), it disarms them and turns away their wrath. And most importantly, it opens the door for the Lord to work in that person's life.
One of my favorite stories of God's love in action was told about the late Jack Hyles, Pastor of FBC Hammond, Indiana. He was in an airport restaurant wanting on his plane. The waitress was terribly rude to him as he ordered his breakfast. When he finished his $5.00 meal, he left her a $20.00 tip. She stopped him and said, "Do you mean to tell me that you would leave me a $20.00 tip when I was so mean and rude to you?" He said, "Ma'am, based on the way you were acting, I knew that there must be something really hurting your heart today." With that she began to cry and pour out a river of hurt to Pastor Hyles. He led her to Christ right there in the restaurant. WOW!!
Think of the opportunities that await you and me as we face difficult people day in and day out. See those tense situations from their point of view. Allow yourself to feel their hurt in your heart. It will make you more compassionate, more loving and a more effective witness for Christ.
Love,
Jeff Schreve
Pastor
www.fromhisheart.org
jeff@fromhisheart.org
1-888-811-8203
From His Heart Ministries can be seen on LightSource.com. This is another opportunity to reach people throughout the world with the love of Christ.
Tell your friends and check us out.
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Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls.
Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast. Click here to become a ministry partner.
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"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works with us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21
Posted by Amber H. at 8:01 AM 0 comments
She's Crafty!
Who'd a thunk it?! I actually took the time to MAKE something! My cousin will be hitched in about a week and a half, and our sweet little Clover was choosen to be the flower girl. With my crafty upbringing, I promptly volunteerd to make the flower basket for the country themed wedding and her pretty hair peice. and here are the results.....
Posted by Amber H. at 12:10 AM 0 comments
My adventure
Tuesday, September 2, 2008It's rare I find myself having a great adventure, and today was definately one of those days. I went to go help my mom out today at the hospital, I had a great time with her and I really hope she enjoyed it as well. (She is doing much better by the way, turns out she had a pretty bad asthma spell and some sinus issues, and gets to go home in the morning!) Anyways, back to the adventure, I had to teach a class tonight in Saratoga spring, so I asked for the best way to get ther to save gas, etc. Over the mountain pass my mom tells me. Sure! that sounds great! So I start heading up the canyon, It was beautiful, I really wish I had my camera.. of cuorse I didn't, but it would have been very handy. Anyways, my mom fails to tell me that there will be a turn off at some point off the dirt road, missed my turn off, almost ran into three deer, and I come to the top, some look out, it was amazing, to the East, a quick drop off looking right down into the copper mine, and to the west, a bit of tooele and a bunch of desert beautiful landscape. The worst part was, I almost drove right off the side of the mountain, expecting this to NOT be a look out, but my magical short cut! Amazingly enough I had reception, and found out where I had gone wrong. after finding out that the little one lane paved road that went off the side of the Main, much larger dirt road was actually a road and the route I wanted to take, and not some private drive way to a cabin in the hills like I had assumed on the way up! It is amazing how fast people drive on one lane roads that wind through a canyon, I came so close to someone not paying attention headed up the mountain over 40 miles an hour almost hit me, I swear he didn't even know I was there until he was passing me. Deer jumping out in front of me at almost every turn, even Randy, my mom's husbad seemed to jump out of no where! LOL, he actually turned around and talked to me for a few minutes to see how my mom was doing, he was on his way to go visit with her in the hospital. and then it happened. I had to pee. BAD. a few turns later, I found a freindly looking wall on the side of the road, protected by some shady bushes. It was perfect place to pull over and relieve myself. I hop out of the car, jump the little cement baracade wall and start to take care of the issue, I look up, and there are eyes, staring at me! A group of deer were passing, and I was not alone! I have never had a deer watch me pee, well, not that I am aware of. An hour later, I arrived to class, but I don't think I will ever forget my lovely short cut from Tooeleto Herriman
Posted by Amber H. at 8:58 PM 1 comments