cute pictures

Leper...

Last weekend our Associate Pastor preached from Luke 5 12-13, the story of the Leper. He was speaking about how he would have felt when he was healed, what he would have done after being healed. He defined compassion as something like : awareness of someones suffering and acting to relieve it. He spoke of how many of us think we are compassionate, but if we feel sorry for someone and do nothing to help them, we are not being compassionate. When reading these Scriptures (Luke 5:12 And it came about that while He was in one of the cities, behold , there was a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus he fell on his face and implored Him, saying "Lord if you are willing, You can make me clean." 13 And He stretched out His hand, and touched him, saying , "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him." My thoughts are this, Who do I make a leper out of? Who do you? Are we being compassionate to them? We do not have the ability to heal with a touch. For us, we live in that space between, between making someone a leper and healing them with a touch. What we do with that space is so important. I know who my lepers are, and if I could heal them with a touch, I most definitely would. But in that space in between, I can do them immeasurable good . Or, I can further ostracize them. I pray that God gives me the wisdom, to manage my space wisely. I pray that God gives me mercy and forgives me of making a leper out of ANYONE, as he is Creator of All, and surely must love all. I pray for the ones who make a leper out of me. You see when I read that story, more than Jesus, more than those who have outcast the man, I relate to the leper. I pray that those who are making a leper out of me, use their space wisely. I pray that Gods keeps touching me thru the space in between.

MY MOM SENT ME THIS EMAIL AND I JUST LOOOOOOOOOVE IT:)

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what thisstatement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and getback to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watchhim at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interestbeyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire andlet it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to holdthe silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as toburn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thoughtagain about the verse that says: He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in frontof the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver,but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in thefire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it" If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. This very moment, someone needs to know that God is watching over them. And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end

Noah sings his first praise song!

He wrote this song yesterday. He's going for that fresh out of bed look, ok it's not a look. His agent will spruce him up:)

...con't from Beniam's birthday

Beniam turns 5!

Mess with the fro "You got to go."
Movie star material.
Ryan Bond's double.
Such an angel, his face is white!
Benaim at the head of the table. We had his party at the Pavilion. We had pizza, cake and Cheetos (his favorite) and played some games. After the games we headed down to the pool for some swimming. Some of Beniam classmates from preschool came. He received many great gifts, lots of Power Ranger stuff. :) He was all smiles and even blushed when we sang "Happy Birthday."

SPRING BREAK

We visited Kentucky's Capital. Beniam was looking for George Bush.
Our future Vet. with our HUGE puppy Ranger......
Simon Derara wearing one of the shirts we are selling @ www.cafepress.com/savemercy

Simon Derara wearing my lipstick. LOL. He calls himself "Sweet Lips." He has lips "Made for kissing lips." :O

I took Monday thru Thursday off this past week since the kids were off for Spring break. Though I enjoyed all time spent with the children, I am not a good stay at home Mom. It seemed the laundry only multiplied, as did the dishes. I spend half of every day just managing the laundry. How do you Mom's of 10 do it? How? Though I say this with a light heart, the truth of the matter is when I stay at home I feel like a failure. I know many many women believe all Mom's must stay at home, but I am not among those who think that way. I have some friends who are stay at home Mom's and are very successful, I have some friends who stay at home and need a JOB! Cause they don't even like their kids. :O I'm gonna post some pictures of my babies I love soooooooooooo much, enough to keep my job, so they can live in an organized home :)