It's a wonderful time of year...

I was sitting outside tonight, and it was great. A little cool, but still nice enough. My apartment is on the 8th floor, at the corner of 123rd and Broadway, overlooking Broadway and the 1 train. I look out at the GW bridge and Grant's tomb, both of which are lit up at night. The sun set in a beautiful manner, with all these wonderful colors. I sat there looking at the flowering trees, watching all different people walk by and the traffic even seemed to quiet down, an unusual event in the city. It's great to think of all the blessings that He has given me. A church I can love and worship in, a family that loves me, a wonderful place to live, food, clothing. He is great!

His Love is True!!!!

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Psalm 28:7)

Joy to Him! Isn't that the truth? Has there ever been a time that he hasn't been faithful and wonderful to us? Think of all He has done - saving all of us who are unworthy because He truly loves and cares for us. And we have done nothing for that - nothing that could ever earn that love, caring, or depth of emotion. There is nothing that we could ever do to get that in our lives.

There is such love and emotion coming from him that there is little else I can do but love him back. I don't know about anyone else, but it's been such a fantactic drive to be able to grow with the Bible and the words that we have to live by. I am trying to get my hands on any and all readings that can show me more of His love and how we can bring others to the way. Please share what you know and what helps you!!!

Chocolate Cheesecake Bites

Ok, these are super easy and delicious!

Ingredients:
8oz bar of cream cheese
about 12 - 15 oroes, crushed
dipping chocolate (melted chocolate chips or bar, etc, any chocolate that will melt and reharden)
peanut butter chips or peanut buther

How to:
Soften the bar of cream cheese and mix the oreos in to it. Form it in to balls and place on a plate. Place back in the fridge until chilled. When ready, melt the chocolate and dip the cream cheese balls in to it. Place back on the plate and place in the fridge until chilled. When chilled, melt the peanut butter chips (or peanut butter) and drizzle across the balls. The process takes a while because you have to do a bit of softening and chilling, but the steps you have to do are very short and these can easily be made on a day you are in and out doing errands or stuck in cleaning.

Children's Church

OK, so my congregation is a small, growing one. There's not many LCMS Lutherans to begin with and many people leave when they have children, so we haven't had any families until recently. We are now at a point that we are looking at starting a children's church and I jumped on board, since working with children is the way I feel most comfortable serving, although I have never had to start a cc or Sunday school program. Of course I am getting assistance from my pastor and his wife, but am being given a bit of leeway. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Reactions or rejections?

I have to say that coming back to my Christian faith has been one of the most wonderfuly experiences that last few years, but also has presented some things issues. I am not suggesting that all the things have been bad, but it has provided me with a challenge. Many years ago, I had given up on Christ in my life, thinking it would be easier to follow my own path rather than what He has planned. Little did I know how difficult that would be. It was such a great experience to come back a few years ago, coming back to His word and seeing how I could live to bring joy. I guess the challenge lies in other peoples expectations of me. I love how He so clearly lays out for me how to live, but when people expect me to act a certain way, dress a certain way, etc, that makes it a little more challenging. The people who truly care about me have come around to see the positive change in me, and some of them have even come around to Christ, which as awesome experience. It's still tough to see some of the reactions I have gotten, mostly because they are rejecting God's word. How have others handled this type of reaction to their change or the rejection of God's word?

Great tips for meditation!

Rebekah (who runs this blog I have linked to) has come up with a great idea for a meditation/prayer book. Her blog is worthwhile to look at as a whole (I have also linked her blog under my worthwhile blogs).

~By His Grace and For His Glory~: Tips for meditating on the Word#links

Eeck!

I can't believe it's been a week! This past week has been vacation week and I've been traveling all over to see family and friends. I'll be back in the loop tomorrow. :)