Where did the year go?

Christmas is over and now we start to think "Where did the year go?" "What happened in 2008?". Here are some things that I can think of happening in 2008.

• Our Bible study completed an intense Beth Moore Bible study on Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
• We added Glen and Linda to our bible study in the Spring.
• We added Tess to our Bible study this fall.
• We completed 10 studies on Modern day Parables.
• We have challenged ourselves to grow our faith.
• We have challenged ourselves to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
• We mourned with Glen and Linda, as Linda's mom passed away.
• We celebrated with Mike and Donna in the birth of their granddaughter, Morgan.
• We sent Alicia off to college.
• We tried to solve the problems of the world by getting off topic.
• We prayed together.
• We prayed for each other.
• We went to the movie "Fireproof".
• We laughed together.
• We cried together.
• We ate together!
• Our kids enjoyed fellowship together each Sunday evening.

2008 was great and 2009 will be fine.

Blessings

Robin

Angels with Heartbeats!

True story! This happened today.

I have told you about my co-workers - Pam and Diane. Both are experiencing challenging times in their lives.

Today, "An Angel with a Heartbeat" dropped off a card for each of them. The scripture on the card was Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Inside the card was a generous sum of cash!

Both women were shocked by the gift and felt God's love at this challenging time.

Diane: She came into my office with tears in her eyes. She asked me to be honest with her. Was I her Angel? I could honestly answer her that I was not her angel, but I believe that God takes care of his people and sends angels. Diane was crying. She told me that her angel came again today with a gift of cash and a note. She showed me that note. She said, “ We have always been church goers and believers, but God wants to really deepen our faith. He allowed this to happen to us, so we will focus on him. He will always take care of us. He provides for us just when we need it.” I wish you could have seen the love and gratitude in her eyes! She told me that this last week their computer got a virus and they have been have a lot of issues with it. Steve needs a computer to job search. This money will be used to fix the computer and buy a part for Jenna’s (19 year) car, since her car is broken right now.

Pam: Came in shortly after Diane. She was so full of smiles and love. She told me that she had also been visited by her Angel with a Heartbeat! She cried as she told me how she has been praying to be able learn a lesson from all that has happened in the last 2 years. Tomorrow is a very difficult day for Pam. It will be two years ago that Ted asked for a divorce. She told me that she prayed, that God will let her feel love this Christmas, as she was driving to work this morning. Then a gift arrives from an angel!

These families recieved a blessings and a gift of Love this Christmas.

Here are the gifts that they have recieved from their Angels.

Pam:

• Farm Hamburger and groceries the day before Thanksgiving
• Gift Card to HyVee the beginning of December
• Card and Cash on December 23rd
• Daily motivational e-mails
• Hope for the future
• Feeling of Love

Diane:

• Full Thanksgiving meal the day before Thanksgiving
• Card and Cash on December 23rd
• Daily motivational e-mails
• Hope for the future
• Strengthen Faith in God

Blessings!

Be a Mary have Faith!

Can you believe that it is the week of Christmas already? Time goes by so fast. This week I would like you to think about the people in Christmas Story.

Today, we will start with Mary.

This is what we know of Mary.
· She was young – only 13
· She was engaged to Joseph
· She had strong faith on God
· She was virgin
· She was visited by an Angel

Today’s message is to be a Mary – Have a strong Faith in God. He will has great plans for you and he will carry you through the challenging times. This about what everyone must have been thinking about Mary. Joseph – Why trust her? Her Mother and Father? Her family? Her friends? We know what it is like today for a teenage to have a child, imagine what it was like for Mary. She kept her faith!

Be a Mary!

Blessings
Robin

Hello again

Quote for the day:

"It is not what happens to you that determines how far you go in life; it's how you respond to what happens to you."

When things look down in your life always remember to look up. Prayer is the best way to respond to any situation.

Blessings

Romans 12:3-8

Today, I am sharing Romans 12:3 – 8 with you. I chose this passage today, because we are in the Christmas season and so often people today get wrapped up in gifts for the holidays. This passage is about the gifts that God has given us and how we should use them.

Romans 12: 3 - 8
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[b]faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Stay warm and have a day full of blessings while you share your gifts!
Robin

Sunday Night Recap

What type of soil are you?

• Hard
• Rocky
• Weedy
• Tilled and ready to produce

Prayer requests:

• Glen and Linda's family
• Haak family
• Tess -- Testing went well, exit interview for homestudy this week, the children
• Homeless people at this time of bitter cold
• College students -- It is finals week.
• High school students -- it is the end of the semester
• Baby Morgan
• Madison -- adjustment to the baby and she wants Mom and Dad home
• Robin's friends Pam and Diane
• Robin's aunt - Kathy - Cancer and they will not be doing additional treatments
• Audrey -- positive test results
• Mike (Julie's friend) has cancer

Happy birthday Jim Millman -- December 13th

Dates to remember:

• Sunday, December 21st -- Church Christmas Program
• December 28th -- Pam VanZee's birthday
• January 4th -- Louis Peter's birthday
• Saturday, January 10th -- Church serving at the Banquet
• Saturday, January 10th -- Tess may be moving and will need help!

It's a GIRL!

Adam and Stacy Carpenter had a baby girl on Friday, December 12. Her name is Morgan Lynn.

Welcome to the world Morgan!

Congratuations Grandpa and Grandma!

Linda's mom

Linda' s mom passed away. Her name was Louise Venenga, and the funeral
is Tuesday morning 10:30 a.m., at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock,IA. Listed below is the link to the funeral home. Please keep Linda, Glen and their family in your prayers. It does not matter when it happens it is hard to say good bye to your parents.

http://www.jurrensfuneralhome.com/index.cfm

Wonderful Wednesday

Scripture for the day:
"Act justly, Love mercy, Walk humbly with God." - Micah 6:8

This is a time of year that gets so busy as we prepare for Christmas. Some times we get so busy that we forget the real meaning of Christmas. Take time for yourself to spend with God in prayer this Christmas Season.

Is your singing voice ready for Sunday?

Blessings
Robin

Monday update

Happy Monday!

I am not sure if you are reading in your "Love Dare" book or not, but I just read Day 16 on pages 76 - 78. I think that so much of this touches on the lessons that we have been studying in the bible study. Please take some time to read Day 16. Here are some key points.

Scriptures:
"Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." -- 3 John 2

Do you feel like giving up? Jesus said pray instead of quitting (Luke 18:1). Are you stressed out and worried? Prayer can bring peace to your storms (Philippians 4:6-7) Do you need a major breakthrough? Prayer can make the difference (Acts 12: 1-17).

God is sovereign. He does things His way. He's not a genie in a lamp that submits to your every wish. But He does love you and desires an intimate relationship with you. This doesn't happen apart from prayer.

Please keep the family from Julie's work in your prayers as they deal with the loss of their father, Erstad.

Have a day full of Blessings,
Robin

Sunday Night Recap

It was decided that next week we will sponsor a Christmas Caroling event. We will start at 4:30Pm at the church. Everyone is welcome! At 6PM we will have soup, 6:30 we will have our Bible Study. The kids will stay at the church to play while we have bible study.
Tess - Taco Soup
Robin - Chili
Karla - Chicken Noodle soup
Cindy - Soda's
Pam - Crackers
Linda, Donna and Julie - Bread and desserts

Scripture:
The Parable of the Sower
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear."
10 The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"
11 He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Those who have will be given more, and they will have an abundance. As for those who do not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' [a]
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Prayer requests:

• Sue Horstmeyer family
• College kids as they enter into finals
• Tess - housing
• Praise that Tess was able to find time in peace today.
• Audrey as this is a busy week with the elementary school program.
• Rob, Cindy's cousin, help him gain strength.
• Praise for the lesson that Jim was able to prepare for the Jr. High kids
• Linda's parents
• Robin Kraft family as she was in an accident and it is undetermined what happened.
• Andy, Donna's son
• Tess has her next evaluation on December 11th.

It's a great day

Only 21 days until Christmas! Are you ready?

Be sure to enjoy the cookies in church on Sunday. The RCYF made them last night. You will be able to tell that they are homemade with love by the appearance of the cookies. Enjoy!

Do not forget to read Chapter 9 for Sunday. Pages 117 - 136


Scripture of the day:

"Your faith has saved you, go in peace." Luke 7:50

Sue Horstmeyer

Sue Horstmeyer passed away on December 1st. Her obituary is at www.minnehahafuneralhome.com .

Recap of November 30th

Wow! It was a very powerful lesson. Luke 18:1-8 -- Pray continously and God will answer your prayers.

Some key points:

• "Be still and know that I am God."
• "It is all up to the Judge."
• "God gives us more than we can bare, so we totally rely on him."
• "You have heard that it was said, 'Love you friends, but hate your enemies.' But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in Heaven." - Matthew 5:43-45

Prayer requests:

• Our Country in this time of change and turmoil
• Rhonda, Karla's sister, as she deals with her oldest son graduating from high school, and depression.
• Linda's mom is going into the nursing home. Her dad is feeling bad about not being able to take care of his wife any longer and upset about the separation.
• Dave had a job interview at EROS on Monday evening.
• Tess -- Joe wants to go to court on December 22nd.
• Jim Millman's brother, Wayne is separated from his wife again.
• College students. Some are struggling with the college they chose, gaining new friends and classes.
• Avery has his home study interview on Monday.
• Tess has a psychological evaluation on 12/11/08 for the home study.
• Julie's parents have been married for 32 years and are struggling at this time. Some issues include the relationship between her mom and sister-in-law and her dad and brother farming together. Pray for their church family to support them during this time.
• Praise!!! My friend, Pam is doing great! Her daughters are coming around and working with her on the relationship. Pam was blessed with a card and a box of food that gave her hope for the future.
• Millman's Wednesday night they will be talking to the Middle school kids about a relationship with Christ.
• Cindy's nephew, Cory and his wife Amber are back together after a long separation. Prayers have been answered. They do have a long road of healing ahead of them.
• Kyle Borman will be sentences on Tuesday.
• Frank and Audry
• Max and Cheryl
• Sue Horstmeyer
• The youth of our church and community.
• Pray for Joe