How Bright Are You?

Hatteras Lighthouse, Hatteras Island, North Carolina
(The largest lighthouse in North America.)

















~Are you shining brightly for God, today?

~How far does your light shine?

"Do everything readily and cheerfully-no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living GOD. Carry a light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing." Philippians 2:14-16 The Message

Let's shine brightly together, today! Join me in a pursuit to share GOD through loving actions and attitude from this day forward.

Seeking HIM,

Andrea

Update on Lisa's Prayer Request

GOD indeed answers prayers! When a door is closed a window is opened! Click on Lisa's picture and visit her blog to read about how GOD is providing financially at this time. I thank each of you for continuing to storm the heavens on Lisa's behalf and behalf of her family. Now, our focus in prayer can be on the complete restoration of her health!

Continuing to storm the heavens,

Andrea

Urgent Prayer Request for Lisa

For those of you who do not know Lisa, she is an beautiful lady, inside and out. I came to know Lisa through the blog world. Recently, Lisa began a battle for her earthly life (an aggressive cancer). Her battle became more difficult as her insurance company (Scott and White) have decided not to pay for her recent surgery or further treatment at MD Anderson (Leading specialist/hospital for this type of cancer). Her appeal was Friday. Today, they were denied!

I am outraged! I know GOD Is greater than this obstacle, but I come to you with a broken heart for Lisa and her family. I can not imagine how they must feel. Lisa has 4 young children and a wonderful husband. She needs our prayers and support! Please storm the heavens in prayer with me!

Storming the heavens,

Andrea

Please Support Vermont Church Plant

Brian, Allison, Nathanael, and Katie Conyers.












Allison is Doug (my husband's) niece. He and I are quite proud of Allison and her husband Brian. They have chosen to follow GOD'S call to Waterbury, Vermont. Many of you have seen Nathanael's sweet face on my blog before. He was in our daughter Lauren's wedding and I quoted him a few days ago. He is quite the charmer and I know GOD will use this little man to draw folks to the Lord, too. Katie is a precious 2 month old with big bright eyes and will surely assist her parents in spreading GOD'S LOVE!

Words from the heart of GOD through Brian and Allison:


"In April of this year, we will begin planting a new Southern Baptist Church in the town of Waterbury.

Our first task there is to build relationships by living among the people and working in the town. We will also meet people through various outreach ministries. These relationships will be the starting point for Bible studies in the town. Once we develop a core group, we will begin worship services in Waterbury."


How can you help?


PRAY

~Pray that Brian would be able to find a job in Waterbury in order to make ministry contacts.
~Pray that the Conyers would be able to build relationships with people in order to discover ministry opportunities.
~Pray that the Conyers would be successful in starting Bible studies as quickly as possible.
~Pray that the Conyers would be able to develop a core leadership group to assist them in growing the ministry.
~Pray that Brian and Allison would be able to find affordable housing in the town of Waterbury.

GIVE

~Go to Waterbury Mission to see specific needs that you can meet with a one-time gift.
~Make a monthly pledge to provide a meeting place for the new church.
~Consider a one-time or monthly gift to help support the Conyers family.

GO

~Volunteers are needed to prayer walk, to lead children's outreach ministries, and to assist in community service projects.
~Consider moving to Waterbury to become a part of the church planting team.
~If you are vacationing in Vermont, give one day to learn what GOD is doing in Waterbury.

Other contacts for the Conyers Family:

P.O. Box 272
Waterbury, Vermont, 05676

VTPLANT@GMAIL.COM
WWW.WATERBURYMISSION.ORG

I thank each of you ahead of time for your prayers and support. Please pass this information along to your church families, prayer groups, and friends. Together, GOD can use all of us in Vermont as HIS word is sewn, watered, and nourished.

Serving GOD with each of you,

Andrea

A Safe Landing

"God's name is a place of protection-good people can run there and be safe." Proverbs 18:10 The Message

"For Thou has been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless is like a rainstorm against a wall." Isaiah 25:4 NAS

Are you feeling a bit tossed about? Are you drifting?

Know GOD has a safe place for you to land. Like this piece of driftwood, sitting at the top of a sand dune, HE has a perfect place with an awesome view for you. Not only does HE have a landing place, HE will give you a birds eye view of eternity from HIS heart to yours.

Enjoying the view,

Andrea

Walk By Faith

Wil and Nanuq walking on Hatteras Island!












"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2Corinthians 5:7 NAS

On those windy, sandy, days we must continue to walk in faith. Hold tightly to what we know to be true. Our faith will carry us through this life into eternal life.


Clinging tightly,

Andrea

*Please pray for the Johnson Family. They will be burying their mother/grandmother/great grandmother, today. Please pray specifically that the rain subsides before the graveside service at 3pm. Doug and I will be attending the graveside service. We thank each of you for your prayers for this family.

Tired?

Sitka sound asleep on the sofa in the rental beach house, Hatteras Island!











When I try to do things in my own strength, I look like Sitka. I am not near as cute as Sitka, but you get the picture. I am learning to do only those things GOD calls me to do. I am learning to wait on HIM, patiently. "Learning" would certainly be the key word. I am clearly a work in progress.

"Yet those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:31 NAS

Finding strength in HIM,

Andrea

You Can Run, But You Can't Hide

Sitka hiding from Mommie!













"God, you know every sin I've committed; My life's a wide-open book before you." Psalm 69:5 The Message

"We are not keeping secrets, we're telling them; we're not hiding things, we're bringing them out into the open." Mark 4:22 The Message

You can run, but you can not hide. Allow GOD to use your sin and mistakes to fulfill HIS purpose. He sees whether we acknowledge HIM or not. Live in the light and move forward!

Living in the light,

Andrea

Patience

Nathaniel and Savannah















Today, Doug, Savannah, and I had the privilege of eating lunch with Nathaniel. Nathaniel lives in Vermont, however, he brought his Mommie, Daddy, and baby sister, Katie to Virginia to speak about their new church plant(I will be sharing more about their ministry in a later post). Doug, Savannah, and I attended Iron Bridge Baptist Church with Nathaniel and his parents. After the service, we all went to lunch.

Nathaniel and Savannah had not seen each other since September. They were overcome with excitement to be together again. Nathaniel is our great nephew and Savannah is our granddaughter. They are each 2 1/2 years old (only 2 weeks apart in age).

During lunch, I told Savannah and Nathaniel to be patient! Nathaniel's Mommy asked him to share with me the "meaning" of patience and I would like to share Nathaniel's "very" profound definition of patience with each of you.

Patience: NO whining and NO complaining!

I don't know about each of you, but I was quite convicted! How many times does my Heavenly Father ask me to "be patient" and what do I do? WHINE AND COMPLAIN!

Learning from the little ones,

Andrea

Tidal Treasures

While away, GOD spoke a new thought into my being. While pondering the storms of life and the broken pieces left behind, HE said, " Tidal treasures grow and change us as the storms of life move in and out. Each storm brings new beginnings and new treasures!"

Immediately, I knew I was to:

~seek and find the new treasure
~embrace each new treasure
~cherish the treasures
~see the beauty found in the broken pieces
~share the treasure

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be, also." Matthew 6:21 NAS

Embracing the storms and the treasures,

Andrea

*Thank you for your prayers. I am still struggling with allergies. I suffer year round, sometimes it becomes worse and this is one of those times. I am clinging to the LORD and hope this season of difficult breathing will soon pass.

Battling Allergies and Asthma

Battling allergies/asthma, today! Praying each of you enjoy a day full of sunshine and blessings!

By HIS mercy and in the grip of HIS grace,

Andrea

Created To Cling

"We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails." Proverbs 19:21 The Message

We are the happiest as we cling tightly to our Heavenly Father, accepting HIS purpose in our lives, and finding contentment in HIS plan. Join me, today as I seek to cling tightly to HIM!

Finding contentment in HIS purpose and plan,

Andrea

*Amden is home and doing well. David continues to have a high white blood cell count. Please continue to pray for each of them as well as Amden's parents (Jordan and Amber) and my sister, Courtney. THANK YOU!!

Fully Surrender

"I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about." Psalm 3:6

Look into the little snowbird's eyes. He is at peace with his maker. I watched this bird and several others during a recent snow storm. Each of them were calm and unbothered by the change in weather, yet a storm threatened their food supply.

This little bird is reminds me the battle has been fought and won by my Heavenly Father. Both the battle and the victory belong to HIM. I must trust HIM through the storms of life and the battlefields I must traverse through. Confidently, I must cling tightly to my Heavenly Father completely surrendering any fear or discouragement and allowing HIS peace to pour over me.

Join me today, leave your burdens where they belong: At the feet of Jesus!

Fully Surrendering,

Andrea

Thankful For Creation

Palliated Woodpecker flying in our backyard during the last snow storm.
















"And GOD created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after it's kind: And GOD saw that it was good." Genesis 1:21 NAS

Today, I celebrate the beauty in GOD's creation. Bara (create) means God created the universe out of nothing (V 21,27). From "nothing" GOD created immensely detailed and rich creatures. I stand amazed and I praise HIM daily, as I look upon HIS creation.

Enjoying HIS beauty,

Andrea