Sharing Love

I just wanted to personally thank all of you who stop by here on your daily walk through the Internet world. It means so much that you find something meaningful here to stop you long enough to read it.

Most of all I want to thank my glorious Father in Heaven who has blessed me with the ability to find a way to share His love and messages through the blogging community via Heart2Heart.

When I first had a dream a few years ago, the name stuck out so much because that's what I feel I do with each of you. Is to sit down, by the river, near the fire and share a beautiful, intimate Heart to Heart conversation like great friends do.

Given the gift of encouragement provides me with opportunities to share with you things that I find in my daily walk with God. For awhile, my family and friends have been encouraging me to write a book, but I truly feel now isn't the time. I am waiting on God. I am waiting for the right reasons to do it, and not for my own.

So for now, I will try and commit to sharing my thoughts and inspiration God provides to me daily through my blog. Whatever you do, find the beautiful gift God has given you and use it to bring glory to Him. May it be inviting people to a wonderful home-cooked meal, or sharing coffee with a friend, or simply providing a willing ear for someone who truly needs to pour out their heart to someone, do it all for the glory of God.

Romans 12: 5-8 " so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

My Letter to God

Dear God,

I wanted to take this opportunity as I begin my day today to say thank you. Thank you for allowing me a warm bed, a roof over my head and heat to allow me and my family to sleep well at night. I know there are people all over the world who don't have those luxuries and do without everyday.

Lord, I thank you that even in spite of the pain yesterday, you allowed me to have the day with my family for my birthday. You allowed Steve to be able to take the day off and the kids to stay home from school so we could spend it together as a family. Remind me each day to never take the time I have with them for granted but relish each and every minute I have.

Father God, thank you for the family I was able to talk to yesterday and hear their birthday wishes even though we couldn't be together. There are so many who don't have family members any longer who have gone on to be with You. Thank you for the privileged for having a phone so I can talk to them. Another convenience I often take for granted.

Thank you Lord, for the many, many friends and family that I've come to know and love from the blogging world. I want to thank all of them that emailed me, left me blessed comments and wishes as well as those that sent ecards and also provided me with a wonderful gift in the mail. A special thank you to Heather at Heckety at Home for sending me my wrist warmers, some beautiful scented sachets, a book mark and a CD for when I get sad, these are songs that are supposed to lift me up. I listened to them yesterday and already have them programmed to a playlist in my Ipod for my surgery. They will definitely give me the strength and hope I so desperately lack some days. Lord, thank you for wonderfully caring friends who love me despite all my shortcomings.

Lastly thank you Lord for allowing me to give back to those who have given so much to me, whether in the form of book giveaways which I pay to ship these out to my blogging friends, or even the wonderful opportunity that Jane at Jumpin in the Jungle provided me to custom design a piece of her art for me to host a giveaway on my birthday. If you know me, you know that I'd rather do for others then to get something. The look of joy I can provide is the best gift in the world, and shows me that I am doing my part to take up the cross each and every day.

You, Father God, are the most loving God and provide us with so many gifts that we fail to take notice of each day. Thank you for using this day to allow me to acknowledge all that You do for me each day. I love you and praise Your Holy Name ~ Amen

New Blog and a Prayer Request

This year so far is going to amazing and I can already sense God's hand in everything I do. Like Paul, though I pray for my illness and health to improve, God has not in His timing allowed that to happen just yet. I praise His holy name for He knows when and where this will happen so I am holding on to His promise that He will remain faithful and not forsake me. Thank you so much for all your wonderful well wishes and keeping me in your prayers.

Thank you goes out to Christy Rose at the Secret Life of An American Wife and Mom for sending me a great book entitled PS God Loves You! They are simply messages from God to you. Already I have been so touched and feel God's love just by reading them one at a time. Thank you again Christie for your loving gift.

I wanted to bring to your attention a new venture that my youngest daughter started to improve her writing and give her a chance to share her world with all of you. She started her own blog and would love it if you all stopped by and gave her a bit of encouragement. It's up to you if you want to follow her as well. Here is the link to her blog called Hand In Hand.

The last update is also my most important. My husband, Steve, received a phone call last night about his mom being admitted to the hospital for irregular heartbeat. She was waiting to see if they could stabilize it enough to get her an angiogram to see what is going on in her heart.

Unfortunately as of this afternoon, they are still unable to get her heart under control again. I would love it if you could please lift his mom up in prayer and ask for God's healing hand to slow and restore her heartbeat. I would also ask that the right doctors be directed towards her to offer her the reasons for this issue and that they can find a cure for her to be released from the hospital and back at home. Her name is Vera Smith and I would love for you all to lift her needs up at this time.