You maketh me smile...

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." ~Proverbs 17.22

What an awesome day this was! Although I am not a big snow fan, today placed new light on the weather for me. Like the scripture above says, "A merry heart", I have a total merry heart right now. Greg, the girls and I decided to have some friends over to enjoy some chili, games and snow play and it was a total blast!! I honestly don't know who were the bigger kids...Hannah, Ashtyn, Emilee, Taylor, Champ or Heidi...Penny, Melissa, Heather & myself...or Greg, MAC and Goldie. By my voting, I give the "boys" the big medal of playfulness. (Have you ever seen 3 men get a cardiovascular workout by playing ping pong??? Sweat and all???) But I have to give the "girls" and I a huge badge of courage for braving the elements with three "grown" men. We were pretty suave by sneaking out the basement door and making an arsenal of snowballs to pelt them with AND we did sled down the hill a hundred times with not just the kids, but all 3 of us on the sled. AND then we were crazy enough to let the boys ramp us off our flower bed to what felt like a 10 foot drop. What fun!! I only wish I had Penny's pictures to post!
Thanks for the great day everyone! You blessed our hearts and day tremendously!!

God, I come to You today so thankful for the amazing people You have placed in our lives. I thank you for what each one brings to our lives and the gifts You have blessed each of them with that ignites Meadow Heights with Your love and vision. Thank You for the snow, the laughs, the memories and Your love for one another we were able to share today. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You...

Happy "Love" Day...

"And so I am giving a new commandment to you now -- love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35

I got this article below from a daily devotion that I receive and I loved it and wanted to share it. Happy "Love" Day!!

Friend to Friend

We all need friends. In fact, we were created to need each other. Research shows that lonely people live significantly shorter lives than the general population. Yes, there are different levels of friendships, friends we see occasionally and friends with whom we share everything. There are even different seasons of friendships. But at the core of every healthy friendship is a giving heart.

I often hear the words, "I just don't have any friends!" In many cases, I suspect the reason is that people are looking for what they can get out of a relationship instead of what they can give to that relationship.

Have you ever considered the idea that friendships are primarily opportunities for giving? Jesus Christ powerfully illustrated this truth when He came to earth, lived as man, died on the cross and rose from the dead -- all because of love, all because He wanted to give to those He loved. And God is calling us to share that same love with others.

Chad was a shy, quiet little boy. One day he came home and told his mother he'd like to make a valentine for everyone in his class. Her heart sank. "I wish he wouldn't do that!" she thought. She had watched the children when they walked home from school. Her Chad was always behind them. They laughed and hung on to each other and talked to each other. But Chad was never included. Nevertheless, she decided she would go along with her son. She purchased the paper, glue and crayons and for three whole weeks, night after night, Chad painstakingly made thirty-five valentines.

Valentine's Day dawned, and Chad was frantic with excitement! He carefully placed the valentines in a bag, and bolted out the door. His mom decided to bake his favorite cookies because she knew he would be disappointed when he came home from school. It hurt her to think that he wouldn't get many valentines -- maybe none at all. That afternoon she had the cookies and milk on the table.

Finally, when she heard their voices, she looked out the window to see the children laughing and having the best time. As usual, there was Chad in the rear but walking a little faster than usual. She fully expected him to burst into tears as soon as he got inside. His arms were empty, she noticed, and when the door opened, she choked back the tears. "Honey, I have some warm cookies and milk for you" but he hardly heard her words. He just marched right on by, his face glowing, and all he could say was: "Not a one -- not a one." The mother's heart sank. Then he added, "I didn't forget a one, not a single one!"

And so it is when God and His love are at the center of our friendships. Does the world know we are His disciples by the way we love each other -- by our friendships?

____________________________________________________________________

I have to say that God has blessed me with some amazing friendships in my life and I am forever thankful for those relationships...they challenge me, encourage me and lift me up more than each person could ever know...what's even more awesome...God is right in the center of each of these blessings!!
Most importantly I have to say to my bestest friends in the whole world, Greg, Hannah & Ashtyn...I love you so much and thank God for blessing my life with each of you...thanks for giving so much love to me...I pray that I can give back 150% in our relationships! Thank you for the beautiful hearts you allow God to bless me with daily! I LOVE YOU!!

Father, thank You for the miracle of Your great love that is powerfully at work in me. Help me to respond to that love by loving others. Help me to be a better friend. Transform my heart and then use me to give Your love away in friendship. I want to obey You in every area of life. I pray that my friendships reflect Your love, encourage others and please You.

Perseverance & the 5k...

~Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (NIV)

Since mid January I have been training to run my first 5k on April 5th, with an amazing group of women. These women challenge me, pray for me, and encourage me to persevere through the pain. Thanks so much Heather, Tara, Anna-Marie, Robin & Crystal for loving me through this journey. It's such a humbling honor to persevere with each of you.

This race is more than a race to the finish line...it's a race with the Savior who loves me, to build my perseverance not in this race alone, but in the race of life, and not just my life, a race for the lives who are hurting, who live life daily without the hope of the God who loves them, who hurt so deeply. So this race is ultimately for those who are hurting, those lives I so badly want to reach out and show the love of God to, to introduce them to OUR God, the ultimate Love and Hope of all time. And through the last several weeks I've realized that I cannot accomplish either one of these goals without Him. I have to continue to ask for His direction, pray to Him for clarity, strength and perseverance and always look to Him.

At the end of my runs each day, I have to say I am feeling some pain, but it is a pain that cannot come anywhere close to the pain He felt for each of us.

So God,I give this race to You and those You love so much who are waiting to meet you. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, bless me with Your eyes and Your heart to see and feel the pain of those who are hurting. Renew and increase my discernment God. I thank You for never moving and for always loving me through my humanness. Use me Lord to glorify You. Here am I Lord, send me...

Autism Speaks

I was forwarded this in an email today, and let me tell you what, as a Christ follower and a mom with a child who has an incurable disease my heart breaks for this family and all the families who have ill children. I encourage you to check it out...with each view to this site $0.49 since goes to the family, it may not sound like much, but when we all pull together and pray God will do far more than we can imagine!

www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/408214

Father God, I come to You on behalf of this family and all the families whose hearts are breaking because their children are sick. I pray that in Your timing You will bring wisdom and knowledge to the physicians and researchers so that a cure or help can be found to help these autistic children. Surrond these children and their families with protection, love and peace. I pray that their eyes would be upon You and that You will be forever glorified. Heal their hearts, minds and bodies according to Your amazing will.

An awesome day...

Today was one of the most overwhelming, amazing, awe-inspiring, love-filled, blessed and nothing but a total "God day". My heart is swelling from one of the most humbling days. God is so good, man, it is SO true that I have to say it again, GOD IS SO GOOD!
Ashtyn's surgery went beautifully and I have to say at the beginning of the day I was feeling very apprehensive about sending her back for the surgery and I was quite emotional. I am an emotional person, but I never anticipated how much emotion would pour out of me as Greg & I walked back into the waiting room after leaving her with the doctors and nurses and being surrounded by 24 people who loved on us, prayed with us and for us and were there just to listen and do whatever they possibly could to support us. It was as if God said, "It's okay Ragen, be real, let it out", and boy did I ever. And then the thought of all those who were unable to be with us physically but were with us spiritually and emotionally and were lifting us up to the One who loves us more than we can imagine, blew me away.
Not only was this day amazing just because all that transpired on our part, but God worked His awesomeness when He aligned the opportunity for us to not only be supported by this group, but some of our best friends in their time of need as well. As we were driving to the hospital we learned that The Lindley's were still at Children's Hospital with the possibility of their son Chase having a tumor on the lower part of his brain, which PRAISE GOD he doesn't, but what was even more amazing, they are on the 7th floor (2 doors down), the exact floor we were all waiting on and staying overnight. When Ashtyn was recovering we told her that Chase was right down the hallway and she wanted to be wheeled in her bed to see him, although that couldn't happen, the nurses wheeled him by in his wheelchair on the way to his MRI and they got to wave and say Hi and most comforting to one another smile and let eachother know they were okay.
Then, during the day, another one of our friends, Bob & Nancy Weiss, learned that their mom (Bob's mom) was being transferred to Barnes (which is connected to Children's)in critical condition. Talk about a prayer team in action. Too cool, as we all joined hands in the waiting room, all 24 of us, to lift up these prayer requests and bring Him praise for bringing Ashtyn through her surgery safely and successfully.
AND another one of our friends was in a major car accident a little over a month ago and a couple people were able to go visit him. I would like to ask for you to pray for Adrian & Suzanne Blevins and their family as he continues to make amazing progress. Suzanne and I went to school together and hadn't seen eachother for several years until God reunited us a couple months ago when their newborn baby was sick. I thank God for their family and the witness they are. Adrian, Suzanne and their daughter Lexi just recently accepted Christ as their personal Savior, which totally rocks!! I know they would love to recieve encouraging words on his CaringBridge page, so you can check out his story here and leave their family a message and support them through this trying time!
Just knowing we were all there was bitter sweet. We were able to be together in the toughest times and love one another through them. Now that is what life is all about. Loving eachother through life, being real and leading people into life-changing relationships with Christ. And I tell you what, although I've been a Christ-follower for years, today was truly life-changing for me.

Father I come to You in total awe of Your magnificent presence in our lives and I thank You for Your amazing timing. It truly couldn't be more perfect. I thank You for all the people who have supported through their love, support and prayers, I pray that You would bless them beyond compare Lord. Continue to be with Ashtyn, Chase and Adrian as they recover, be with The Weiss family through their mom's illness, I pray that Your will be done in each situation. I love you and thank You for Your amazing grace, love and forgiveness. You are awesome Lord...