Bold for Christ

Today is Sunday, and the day we set aside for worship and praise to our Heavenly Father.  Today is the day we go to church and worship together.  Usually.  However, it is a little different on this day. Another snowstorm has come through and changed our usual plans.  I do not like days when I cannot do the normal ... when I have to stay home whether I want to or not.  I especially dislike not being able to go to the House of God and worship together with other fellow believers.  The day seems so long and so very different.  I don't know why God chose His day for a snowstorm, but He knows.  Our family gathered together in our little living room, read the Bible together, sang together, and prayed together. My hubby and I dug some children's stories out (for Kid's Club), and colored for a good portion of the afternoon.  Fun! Joshua had a great time along with us coloring his own pictures.

The highlight of my day though, was to finish reading a biography of Julia Shelhamer.  She was an exceptional lady for sure!  As I read through the book, I was convicted time and again of the little I am doing for Christ.  This lady passed out tracts continually.  She shared the gospel frequently and went searching for lost souls with the hope of bringing them to Christ.  Too often, we wait for the opportune time or the perfect setting.  Not so with Julia.  She was bold for Christ; and looked for ways to be a blessing and a light to others.  Her husband, Elmer Shelhamer, was often gone away from home preaching in revivals.  Julia felt lonesome and hopeless while he was away.  Finally, one day she decided to do something about it. She purchased her own tent, acquired some chairs, had them set up, and began preaching her own services.  God helped her, and the audience grew until it was overcrowded with lost souls seeking God.  The Lord blessed her efforts time and again through her spunk,boldness, and genuine concern over the lost. Then I started thinking .... I have always depended upon my husband for leadership in things that we do; after-all, I am just a woman. It is not my place to lead.  However, on Judgment Day, I will not be judged for what my husband accomplishes, but for what I have accomplished.  May God help me to be dependent upon Him instead of my earthly husband for everything I do.  May I be BOLD for Christ!

Julia Shelhamer tried and was successful in many forms of ministry.  She was involved in a boat/river ministry, starting a mission in Washington D.C., a telephone ministry, street meeting ministry, a pastoral ministry, and others.  All of these were successful.  She did not give up when funds were low; she did not consider anything a failure, but kept working for God despite adverse circumstances at times.  May God help me to be faithful, and to seek and save the lost.  I want to be busy about the Master's business. How about you?  Read the book and I am sure you will be convicted too.  (*The book is entitled, "Julia:  Giantess in Generosity" by Glen Williamson.  You must read it -- you won't be able to put it down!)

News from Home

It has been months since I have posted anything on my blog.  School and the responsibilities of life seem to have a way of taking up most of my time. However, this evening I have some time on my hands, since our Sunday evening church service was cancelled due to bad weather alerts in our area. We did not think it would be wise to have church when tornadoes and high winds were predicted during the time of our services.  

Besides taking college classes myself, I am now homeschooling Joshua through the A Beka program.  I really like it so far, and am impressed with his quick progress.  He can read quite a few words already with the short vowel sounds.  He recently has been reading sentences!  This coming week he will be learning how to add two numbers together.  He also is learning to write in cursive.  This seems a little early, but he seems to be doing okay with it too.

We will be celebrating Joshua's 6th Birthday on Friday.  He is growing up way too fast.  He lost his first tooth about a month ago!  He was very proud of that!  

May each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

He lost his first tooth!

Views of our Family Vacation

A beautiful picnic area where we ate our lunch one day

A mama bear under the tree sitting on the ground protecting her 3 cubs in the tree

Blown up picture of the Mama Bear

Cades Cove, Smokies, Tennessee

Daddy and his girls

My darling hubby

A strange picture of us ~ it was sprinkling  (It rained almost every day on our vacation)

Of course, he had to fall in the mud when we had no extra clothes with us!

Christianna and Evangelyn

Beautiful scenery in the Smokies

The Skylift

Daddy and his two boys

Nathan

Joshua

Christianna

Evangelyn

From the highest point in the Smokies, and yes, it was torture getting up there!  :)

From Clingman's Dome

Again.  You are supposed to be able to see a few states from this vantage point on a clear day, but it was cloudy and very cool up there

Nathan getting ready to "fly" around the go-kart track

A blurry picture of James and Christianna riding the go-carts!

The girls drenching their Dad and little Bro!!  :P

Mommy and my little Buddy, Joshua

Picture Assortment

Joshua learning to ride his bike without training wheels

My Mother's Day gifts

Nathan on his 19th Birthday, May 13th

The youngest, oldest, and mother with the most children at the Voice of Victory Bible Methodist Church where we pastor - Mother's Day

All of the Mothers present on Mother's Day at our church

Nathan and I on Mother's Day

My two boys on Mother's Day

My children on Mother's Day

My two girls on Mother's Day

My parents on Dad's 70th Birthday

My brother, Sheldon, and his wife, Erin celebrating Dad's 70th  Birthday

Kelly and Andrew, two of Sheldon's children

Stephanie, Sheldon's oldest daughter

Dawson, Sheldon's youngest son

McKenna (Sheldon's youngest daughter) and Joshua, best cousins

Nathan, being silly

Christianna and her boyfriend, Matthew

Evangelyn and her boyfriend, Joseph, at Dad's birthday celebration

I don't know why I am not more consistent in updating my blog.  I guess it is a lack of motivation at times.  The pictures I have uploaded are an assortment of various events and activities in our lives over the past few months.  Yes, some are even before Memorial Day, my last post.  ha!  Evangelyn just celebrated her 20th birthday on Father's Day, and I realized I didn't even take any pictures.  :(  I am horrible about remembering to take photos of different occasions.  I did take pictures of James on Father's Day, but for some reason, it is not showing up on my camera.  Hmmm .... 

Memorial Day

On Memorial Day, Christianna, Joshua, James, and I went to the Columbus zoo.  We had a really nice time together.  It was the perfect day for a zoo trip.  Although rain was predicted, it stayed dry throughout the time we were there with cooler temperatures and some sun.  Evangelyn and Nathan had to work, so they did not go with us.  We were hoping the entire family could have gone.  Maybe some other time.....
I forgot to take my camera, but we did manage to take this picture with James' tablet. Ha!

I always enjoy watching the antics of monkeys, gorillas, and bonobos.  They are often hilarious!  These two monkeys here with their gorilla friend helped make my day special.  :)

Picture Update

Beautiful Roses from Nathan

Kid's Club Party ~ Game

Joshua with his Silly Attire ~ Playing a Game

Playing a Game Together ~ Kid's Club Party

The Kid's Club Children with their Silly Attire ~ Game

A Special Treat for the Kiddos

Easter Program at Voice of Victory Bible Methodist Church

Joshua saying his Recitation at the Easter Program

Kid's Club Children Participating in a Drama Presentation on Easter

Facing the Cross (Drama)

Taking up their Crowns (Drama)

God has been helping us in our little church over the past few months.  These children usually attend our Sunday evening Kid's Club and have become a part of our church family.  They are a blessing to us, and we are praying that God will send us more little ones and families in the upcoming days.  As I have been teaching our Kid's Club children ~ God commands us to, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).  Every one of us has a job to do.  We must be faithful to witness and bring lost souls to Christ!  Who will tell them if we don't?

*I added the picture of the roses since they are so beautiful.  It was a total surprise, which made this Mama's heart happy!  Thank you, Nathan!  I love you!