tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44452540299190383352024-03-10T15:13:13.023-04:00Joy in The TruthSharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.comBlogger415125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-65540018959145042092015-08-14T07:00:00.000-04:002015-08-14T10:35:25.248-04:00He Bought Her Pearls<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"The righteous will still bear fruit in old age,</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">they will stay fresh and green, </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">proclaiming, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'The Lord is upright; </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is my rock...'"</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 92:14-15</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me, Mom (80) and Jim - June 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My husband arrived home late on a Friday night after having been across the globe in India on business for two weeks. Weary from lengthy travel but excited to share his stories with us about his first trip to India, Jim dropped his heaver-than-when-he-left suitcases on the living room floor. We gathered around him, wanting to be close and quite eager to listen to his tales of adventure in an interesting country with beautiful people of a different culture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But before telling us his stories, he zipped open his bags with a wide smile and began pulling out gifts for me and the kids. I had insisted when he left that he just bring something home for our children. His safe and healthy arrival home would truly be gift enough for me. But enthusiasm and love got the better of his heart, and he brought us each a few carefully-chosen gifts. We were delighted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Jim was done showering us with treasures from India, he showed me two felt-covered jewelry boxes. <i>"I got pearl necklaces for each of our moms. I thought they would really like them."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He bought pearls. For my mom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You see, my mom is now in her 80s, is courageously facing age-related illnesses everyday and has lived in a faith-based elder care facility since September 2013. Though she is content there and faces each new day with anchored hope and bright smiles, my sweet mom doesn't leave the facility unless she is being transported by an ambulance to a doctor's appointment or to the hospital. She doesn't get dressed up any more, rather she wears comfortable clothing that facilitates easy transfers from bed to toilet to wheelchair. My mom can't attend fancy social celebrations, and her calendar only offers her the daily geriatric activities her new home provides. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She has nowhere special to go for dinner...she eats in the same dining room every evening, at the same table, looking out the same window.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And my husband bought her pearls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He bought her pearls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh how this touches my heart so deeply.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It matters not to Jim that my mom is an aging octogenarian or that she has no place fancy to wear the pretty pearl necklace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He values my mom. He bought her pearls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He doesn't see age or illness. He sees the beauty of a mature woman who has abode in the Lord for decades and whose zest for life is unceasing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He values my mom. He bought her pearls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He doesn't care that she has nowhere fancy to go. He cared enough to know her still-sparkly blue eyes would light up even more when she received the carefully-strung fresh-water pearls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He values my mom. He bought her pearls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jim's intrinsic love for my mom reflects the heart of God.<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A45-46&version=NKJV;KJV;ESV;NIV"> The Pearl of Great Price loves precious people of every age who are seeking Him.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God knows the value of the aged.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"They still bear fruit in old age..."</b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Psalm 92:14</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God knows the value of a life that has persevered in the faith.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"Gray hair is a crown of glory;</b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>it is attained in a righteous life."</b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Proverbs 16:3</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God values the wisdom and understanding that reside in the hearts of the aged.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"Wisdom is with the aged,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>and understanding in length of days."</b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Job 12:12</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God knows the value of old age and cares perfectly for the aged.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"Even to your old age and gray hairs,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I am He, I am He who will sustain you.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I have made you, and I will carry you;</b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I will sustain you, and I will rescue you."<br />Isaiah 46:4</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jim bought my mom pearls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So she will put those pretty pearls on her beautifully-weathered neck. And she will wear them to Sunday chapel, to Monday bingo, to Tuesday hair salon appointment, to Wednesday wheelchair exercise class, to Thursday crossword puzzles, to Friday hymn histories and to Saturday sing-a-long. And she will wear them to dinner every evening in the same dining room, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">at the same table, looking out the same window.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And she will remember she is valued. By Jim. By her family. By God.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"...until I proclaim Your might </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to another generation..."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 71:18</span></b><br />
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Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-84297912710536629022015-02-23T05:00:00.000-05:002015-02-23T06:08:00.549-05:00A Purpose And A Promise<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but let him glorify God in this matter. - 1 Peter 4:16</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2nNjp9rmHW8gORl73eUmL9P-0H10tNmAfn8YXecB4HCWJrsuG8a48qg72OPC4ectLD3wYs5W5S-RwIcc-Mihhh-N5yb4WiJDPI_7AtF0wYL3ao_hTM1On974vdHQNSRy75MhRCOcuUz6/s1600/Dowd+Family+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2nNjp9rmHW8gORl73eUmL9P-0H10tNmAfn8YXecB4HCWJrsuG8a48qg72OPC4ectLD3wYs5W5S-RwIcc-Mihhh-N5yb4WiJDPI_7AtF0wYL3ao_hTM1On974vdHQNSRy75MhRCOcuUz6/s1600/Dowd+Family+Picture.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tammie with her husband, Bob,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and their three children - Joshua, Daniel and Olivia</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Often we wonder if God does truly have a purpose in the trials, sufferings and challenges we face. Sometimes the heartache and physical suffering seem to eclipse God's goodness and His plan for our lives. We ask, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Does God really have a purpose in all of this suffering? Will He truly work all things together for good?</i>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my sweet, down-to-earth friend Tammie Dowd's new book <a href="http://www.apurposeandapromise.com/">A Purpose And A Promise</a>, she invites you to share in her journey as she watches her courageous mom, Joanne, battle stage four breast cancer for many years. Remarkably, as she walks with her mom through her battle, she sees God at work in the hearts and lives of the each family member. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tammie shares her joys and her honest struggles with her faith as she journeys through season of physical illness with her mom. Unpacking the truths of scripture, Tammie invites you to discover with her that the hardships God allows in our lives can also bring the greatest blessings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through Joanne's brave battle with cancer and Tammie's candid and disarming perspective, <a href="http://www.apurposeandapromise.com/">A Purpose And A Promise</a> will remind you that God's faithfulness is unwavering, and His care is perfect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In celebration of Tammie's book release and in honor of her mom, Joanne, I am giving away an autographed copy of the book. Just leave a comment here or simply "like" the post on Facebook. You will be entered to win! The winner will be announced the end of this week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh...and if you LIKE Tammie's Facebook page, you will be entered twice! Just click here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-purpose-and-a-promise/492684144200965">A PURPOSE AND A PROMISE</a></span><br />
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Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-26891424520465566062015-02-18T12:58:00.002-05:002015-02-18T12:58:16.657-05:00Choosing Shoes of Peace<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.9499998092651px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong>"How beautiful your sandaled feet,</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong>O prince’s daughter!"</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>~ Song of Solomon 7:1</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I do love how God moves in our hearts to bless one another. When He impresses things on our hearts to do to bless and encourage each other, it shows HIS tender care for us in very personal, detailed ways. He moves in ways to touch our hearts and deepen our faith. And only He can get the glory through these sweet miracles!! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.9499998092651px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">I know when He whispers to our hearts and we obey, He is up to something very good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A few years back, the Lord was speaking to my heart through His Word about my shoes and my feet. Seriously, I am a foot girl. I love foot rubs, pedicures and shoes. They are my love language. I loved seeking scriptures on shoes and feet during that season of life. I quietly journaled the shoes-and-feet scriptures, which I called "pedi-scriptures"! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">One thing God was reminding me through the pedi-scriptures was to always wear shoes of peace. ~ Ephesian 6:15:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong> "<em>For shoes, put on the readiness to preach the Good News of peace with God." </em></strong></span>He was gently calling to my attention to always have feet that proclaim peace and salvation and bring Good News. ~ <span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong><em>Isaiah 52:7: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation...!" </em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During that season of Him faithfully admonishing and growing me in His Word through the pedi-scriptures, He blew my socks off one Wednesday morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesdays have long been my Bible study days. At that time, I attended a Precepts Ministry Bible study in the mornings, and then I took a 20-minute drive to do a study at my friend Shannon's home in the afternoon. I had missed several Wednesdays in a row due to my mom being hospitalized.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After things settled down for my sweet mom, I was excited to get back to my studies and to enjoy fellowship with friends I had not seen in several Wednesdays. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As I walked into my Precepts study, my friend, Robin, greeted me warmly, holding something in her hand. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.9499998092651px;"><em>Sharon, I wanted to get you something to encourage you. I have missed you at Bible study and have been praying for you, but I wanted to give you something tangible. I asked the Lord what I should get for you and He kept impressing the same thing on my heart: "Get her shoes." He kept whispering to my heart, "Buy Sharon shoes." When I pulled up in front of DSW, He confirmed it in my heart again. "Buy your girlfriend shoes." I wasn't sure of your size or what kind of shoes you would really like or need right now, so, here you go...I got you a gift card to DSW. You can pick your own shoes. </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pick my own shoes. I choose if I will put on and wear shoes of peace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tears bubbled over and splashed down my face. I was the recipient of His grace and goodness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">God wants me to have shoes. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Shoes of peace. Shoes that have in them feet proclaiming peace and salvation, bringing Good News and good tidings. Those are the kind of shoes God wants me to have. Those are the kind of shoes I want to wear. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">He confirmed through the kindness, generosity and obedience of Robin the message He had been speaking to my heart about shoes and feet. With obedience comes the blessing of seeing God at work. Robin heard God's still, small voice. She obeyed and was part of God's work in another person's heart. How sweetly humbling for me to receive such a beautiful gift. How encouraging for Robin to know she had indeed heard and obeyed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.9499998092651px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">Thank you, Robin, for being His vessel to tangibly remind me to wear His shoes of peace...or, in that case, wear cute sandals of peace! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.9499998092651px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">I chose stylish Rocket Dog summer sandals, which are still a constant reminder of His goodness through you. And I promise to wear them with a heart that is pursuing peace. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.9499998092651px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;"><strong>"Seek peace and pursue it." Psalm 34:14</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong>"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."</strong></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">Luke 6:38</span></span><span style="line-height: 23.9200000762939px;"> </span></div>
Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-59931956514499288892015-01-31T07:34:00.002-05:002015-01-31T07:34:55.055-05:00A Whole-Hearted Half Birthday Celebration<div align="center" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">
<span style="color: #663366; font-size: 19px;">"He who regards one day as special,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #663366; font-size: 19px;">does so to the Lord."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #663366;">(Romans 14:6)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa1ZWm3iewdwfO9vG_eLuRPLPSU1nNPTPPodmR3cvKV5yDT7GNS4kC24VbZYRGcVE4-QFkVWSba378iyRvc6_68IqUsfBf6ltYl5K1yZB3omErghEp0YwAQj1ZgysoZKEdt8ylWHEaS2b/s1600/JOSHUA+9TH+GRADE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa1ZWm3iewdwfO9vG_eLuRPLPSU1nNPTPPodmR3cvKV5yDT7GNS4kC24VbZYRGcVE4-QFkVWSba378iyRvc6_68IqUsfBf6ltYl5K1yZB3omErghEp0YwAQj1ZgysoZKEdt8ylWHEaS2b/s1600/JOSHUA+9TH+GRADE.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Happy 14-1/2 Birthday, Joshua!</b></span></div>
<br /><span style="color: #663366; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">Half Birthdays....wholehearted sprinkles of celebration for our children's hearts. Simple. Meaningful. Fun. Half birthday cakes are served. We've even been known to serve half pizzas. Whatever makes it a little silly and very memorable.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;" /><span style="color: #663366; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">Today we celebrate Joshua's Half Birthday -- 14 and a half. We will enjoy a half of a blueberry cheesecake -- one of his favorites. I love celebrating the loves of those with whom God has blessed our family. Treasures. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #663366; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">So thankful for this fine young man. So humbled to be Joshua's mom. Thank You, Jesus.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 23.9200000762939px;"><b>"The Lord your God is with you wherever you go."</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 23.9200000762939px;"><b>Joshua 1:9</b></span></span></div>
Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-69770460482633666592014-12-31T07:04:00.001-05:002014-12-31T13:45:44.440-05:00Resolve to Honor His Name<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 23.9200000762939px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">"'Resolve to honor My name,' </span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">says the LORD Almighty." </span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Malachi 2:2 </span></span><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: 15px;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">A new year. A turning of the calendar pages. A time for reflection. A time for resolve. A time for looking ahead for growth and change. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">Lasting and fruitful change. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">Transformation. Resolve. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">That can only come through the perfect Word of God. </span><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;"> <strong>"Every word of God is flawless..." Proverbs 30:5</strong></span></div>
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<em style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px; text-align: center;">"You cannot develop a righteous life apart from God’s Word. Righteousness must be cultivated. As you fill your mind with the words of God, and as you obey His instructions, He will guide you in the ways of righteousness." -<a href="http://www.blackaby.org/" style="color: #5e1e2b; text-decoration: none;"> Blackaby</a></em><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">If we resolve to do anything this year, let's resolve to honor His name and be transformed by His Word. </span><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;"><strong> "...'resolve to honor My name,' says the LORD Almighty." Malachi 2:2</strong> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">A surrendered heart pursuing peace and holiness. Seems like such a lofty, unattainable pursuit. Yet we are instructed to do it. <b>"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">Resolved to honor His name. Resolved to be transformed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: 15px;">"<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be <strong>transformed by the renewing of your mind</strong>. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Romans 12:12</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">Resolutions tend to be self-centered. Resolutions are about me, my strength and my commitment. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.9200000762939px;">Transformation is Christ-centered. Transformation comes from the renewing of our minds by the washing of the water of God's Word. We surrender and yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and allow His transformation to take place in our lives through the Truth of God's Word. And WOW...He transforms us into His image! <span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong>"You have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." Col. 3:10 </strong></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor. 3:18</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong>"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."</strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Psa&c=51&v=10&t=KJV#conc/10" style="color: #5e1e2b; text-decoration: none;">Psalm 51:10</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The condition of my heart before the Lord moment-by-moment is most important to me. <strong>God creates</strong> a pure heart in us. <strong>God renews</strong> a steadfast spirit in us. My responsibility is to keep my heart before Him in humility. A teachable heart. A humble heart. <strong><span style="color: #4c1130;">"...humility precedes honor." Proverbs 15:33</span></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>"Every time we open the Word of God, it should be for the purpose of being broken." - Nancy Leigh DeMoss</em> <strong><span style="color: #4c1130;">“I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 57:15</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we daily surrender our hearts to His truth, He creates a pure heart in us and transforms our hearts to be more like His. Wow! That sure is humbling and awesome. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we resolve to do anything this year, let's resolve to honor His name and be transformed by His Word. <span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong> "...'resolve to honor My name,' says the LORD Almighty." Malachi 2:2</strong> </span>This resolve is too lofty for to attain on our own. Only by HIS grace and Word can it be so. Let's look only to Him and His Truth for renewal and transformation.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana;">Happy Renew Year!!!</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #4c1130;">"I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word."</span></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130;">Psalm 119:16 </span></strong></div>
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Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-54396335771864369582014-12-22T10:43:00.000-05:002014-12-23T21:18:50.631-05:00Sloan Sweet Home ~ Christmas 2014 ~ Highlights of Our Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0m2s1WCwRSrIeS4q3C7b4SrU-3IJP_y_aYz5yemeiSngRBRVpcmVvkPzTBfJlVDfu7zWFp3kHkHsu4pZ0Drzy2qSEnuY_rXxrGwHwqT0yMYgqDWqg-ZSyy5jHwMuMXM7z0I2W81T85piv/s1600/Christmas+2014+Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0m2s1WCwRSrIeS4q3C7b4SrU-3IJP_y_aYz5yemeiSngRBRVpcmVvkPzTBfJlVDfu7zWFp3kHkHsu4pZ0Drzy2qSEnuY_rXxrGwHwqT0yMYgqDWqg-ZSyy5jHwMuMXM7z0I2W81T85piv/s1600/Christmas+2014+Family.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;">"Your life will be bound securely <br />in the bundle of the living <br />by the <span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>your God.”<span class="apple-converted-space"><br />(1 Samuel 25:29)</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annual Christmas Letters -- you either love receiving them...or you don't! You either read them...or you don't! I personally love receiving and reading Christmas letters, and I really enjoy looking at the pictures. Since I love receiving them, I also love sending them! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has become our tradition to send an annual Christmas letter with our Christmas card. The letter shares our <b><i>highlights </i></b>of the year. It is our highlights reel, so to speak. It is not all of the bloopers, the outtakes, the scenes that had to be done over time and time again, and not the clips that thankfully ended up on the editing room floor. Thank God for His grace. We got stuff. And He covers our stuff with His grace. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In our Christmas letter, we reflect on the blessings the Lord graciously showered on us and thank Him, giving Him the glory and praise for every good and perfect gift that comes from Him. We love looking back and recounting all of His blessings and acknowledging each one has come from Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our only hesitancy in sending a Christmas letter with <i><b>highlights</b> </i>of the year is that it can seem pretentious and quite incomplete as we share all of the good stuff. It is not our heart or intention to paint an incomplete picture. Sometimes God's blessings and mercy comes through the most difficult, painful and growing seasons in our lives and hearts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To honor God and those into whom He has breathed His precious life, we choose to share our highlights and not to share in our annual Christmas letter the details of our painful seasons He has seen us through this year, they are written on our hearts and are personal treasures between us and Him. We know we there is no good in us apart from Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: x-large;"><b>"<span style="color: #4c1130;">You are my Lord; </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Vivaldi;"><b><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;">apart from You I have no good thing."</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Vivaldi;"><span style="font-size: 21px;">Psalm 16:2</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, these are our highlights. Thanks for visiting! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: purple;">Jesus Christ - Our Wisdom. Our Holiness. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 16pt;">Our Righteousness. Our Redemption. </span><span style="font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 14pt;">{1 Cor.1:30}</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear
Family and Friends ~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cheerful Christmas greetings to you
and yours! We pray your hearts and homes are filled with His perfect peace. We
would love to hear from you about your happenings and see your pictures! We
love the mailbox in December filled with festive envelopes, fun pictures and
letters. Thank you for sharing your lives with us. You are each a blessing from
God.<span class="text"><b> <span style="color: #741b47;">“Because we loved
you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but
our lives as well.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8)</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 2014 has been filled with <b>memories, milestones and movement</b>! We’re
thankful for God’s perfect love at “Sloan Sweet Home”! We have had the blessing
of trusting God and strengthening our faith through changes and challenges. With
this faith as an anchor for our souls, we have watched Him as He daily fulfills
His purpose for our lives. We are thankful for an unchanging God, whose
character is consistent and trustworthy. </span></span><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>"Your life will be bound securely in the bundle of
the living by the <span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>your God.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> (1 Sam. 25:29)<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> This summer we enjoyed two great
vacations at two of our favorite places with two treasured families! For the 11<sup>th</sup>
year in a row, our family enjoyed a week at Camp of The Woods in the Adirondack
Mountains of New York on Lake Pleasant.
Chapel in the mornings, afternoons on the lake tubing and swimming, and
evenings by the camp fire…the simple pleasures of COTW we love most. Joshua and
Gabrielle each invited a friend (it is just not camp without Andy D!), and we enjoyed
the week at camp relaxing, refreshing and fellowshipping with sweet family
friends, the TerKeursts. In August we were delighted to spend a week with
friends we hold dear, the Shileys, at another one of our favorite places on
earth…Ocean City, NJ. Bike rides, beach, basketball, watermelon and Kohr
Brother’s. The Beals gals blessed us with a visit for a day, and we also
enjoyed beach time with the Feather Family. Topping it off was the blessing of
seeing my dear friend, Laura, and her family. In July, Joshua and Gabrielle
also enjoyed their annual summer visit at Pop Pop and Nana’s in the Poconos. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jim and I crossed the threshold
together and we each turned 50 in March. <i>Jim
insisted on no special celebration for him, apart from a little family
celebration and a dinner date for us. I,
on the other hand, said “Let’s party!” In addition to celebrating with my peeps
at home, I celebrated my 50<sup>th</sup> birthday with a limousine filled with
girlfriends and a lunch at Max Brenner’s in Philadelphia. (Hello chocolate!) This
was Jim’s gift to me. ♥ Earlier in March, I was blessed to have some very dear,
refreshing, loving, faithful, turtle-shell girlfriends host a surprise birthday
brunch for me. Leopard-print napkins and Cheetah Chip Cookie jars filled the
table with fun and joy! (Thank you, Erika!) I was hushed and humbled by His tender
faithfulness to me through the sweet and ever-present love of girlfriends. ♥ Also, my girlfriends from work blessed me with a wonderful Mexican celebration filled with laughter, food and fun! I was so humbled and blessed! (Thank you Mary and Dee for planning that!) </i></span></span><i style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva'; font-size: 16px;">♥ </i><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Jim
and I</i> celebrated 22 years of marriage in May. We are so grateful to the
Lord to have each other to share life’s blessings, disappointments, trials and
victories! </span></span><em><b><span style="color: #663366; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">"Remember your journey...that you may know the righteous
acts of the LORD." Micah 6:5</span></b></em></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>Jim </b>accepted a position as Chief
Technology Officer at Prime Technology in King of Prussia in February. We are
grateful for God’s plan and provision for our family during<span style="color: #c00000;"> </span>this season of life. Jim traveled on business to
India for two weeks in August! He had personal drivers and hosts while he was
there. (Thank the Lord! Jim said the drivers were a thousand times worse than
New York City drivers, and it was common to see women sitting side saddle and
holding children on the back of motorcycles, cows meandering in the streets and
chickens crossing the road…literally!) His company graciously afforded him the
opportunity to do some touring while there, and he saw the magnificent Taj
Mahal,<span style="color: #c00000;"> </span>Agra Fort, Charminar and other sites.
Jim is blessed to be part of a Tuesday morning men’s Bible study that meets at
Chick-Fil-A at 6:30 am. He is encouraged by the teaching, fellowship, prayer
and accountability. He also continues to serve in the Junior High Youth
Ministry and Sports Ministry at church. Though his work days are long and
demanding, Jim seemingly effortlessly makes our family his priority by his
presence and his care. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Sharon - </span></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Serving my family is my greatest and most
humbling blessing. These roles keep me on my knees before God for wisdom and
strength. ♥ Most of my free hours are spent with my sweet mom at Shepherd’s
Crossing. Some of my sweetest time is worshipping with her on Sunday mornings when
I join her at her chapel. Though we had a bit of a scare in March, she has been
doing very well. She is immobile now but enjoys daily activities. ♥ After
serving for 16 years on staff at church, I prayerfully resigned from my
position as administrative assistant to our senior high youth pastor, whom I love.
It was an honor to serve him for many years. Giving him several months’ notice
of my resignation, my last day was August 25<sup>th</sup>. Wanting to be able to say from the depths of
my heart “Jesus is enough” and not be dependent on a next step, but rather only
dependent on Him, I asked the Lord to please wait to show me my next assignment
of service until I had finished my job well and passed the baton on with joy.
God is faithful and understood my heart. In mid-September I was serendipitously
offered a position to serve Him as a ministry assistant at another place I love and for
another great boss. <b>Sometimes God moves you from one place to another because you will be told you are an answer to prayer at the other. </b>Humbling...in the best way. I am thankful for God’s perfect plan and provision. ♥ I was
honored to have two small contributions in a book released this year ~ “Everyday
Confetti” by two lovely friends, Karen Ehman and Glynnis Whitwer </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 10.0pt;">(see pages 35 and 53!)</span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt;">. Visit here: </span></i></span><a href="http://www.everydayconfetti.org/"><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 10.0pt;">www.everydayconfetti.org</span></i></a><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Joshua</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">started high school this
year…wow a 9<sup>th</sup> grader! Joshua attended his first week-long camp this
past summer – Defenders Basketball Camp at Baptist Bible College. Of course he
loved it – unceasing basketball playing along with Bible lessons, devotions and
fellowship with his friends and teammates (and late night runs for smoothies
and Chinese food). Joshua served again in inner-city Philadelphia this summer
on a week-long missions outreach called “Mission Philly”. He was humbled to be
able to touch the hearts of some young boys with the love of God (and he loved
playing gaga ball with them, too!). Joshua worked for a bit in the summer with
his friend and friend’s dad in New York. They worked hard during the day and
played hard (basketball) in the evenings. In September, Joshua’s good buddy
invited him to try out Brazilian Jui Jitsu. Joshua loved it and has been taking
classes ever since. He enjoyed the senior high student ministry Prayer Retreat
Weekend in October. Joshua was excited and thankful to make the JV basketball
team as a freshman for CCA and LOVES playing basketball. During the summer and
autumn, Joshua took basketball lessons at the NAC from a retired pro basketball
player. <i>He was chosen for the select
choir at school. We are proud of our young man.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Gabrielle </span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">graduated from 6<sup>th</sup> grade in
June, and she was blessed to be asked to speak on behalf of her homeroom at
graduation. She </span></i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">began junior high school in September and made
the transition from elementary school to 7<sup>th</sup> grade beautifully. She
is grateful for where God has placed her and especially enjoys math. At school
she participates in choir, band (flute) and liturgical dance. This summer was
Gabrielle’s first being able to serve the Lord in the inner-city through
“Mission Philly”, and it was fun for her to serve with Joshua. She loves young children and made a special
bond with a girl name Cici. Gabrielle enjoyed a week at Raise the Praise Camp
at church (vocals) this summer, too. Gabrielle continues to serve in children’s
ministry by leading the children in worship. Gabrielle put away her Irish
dancing shoes to devote more time to gymnastics this year. She prayerfully set
personal goals, planned steps to reach them, worked really, really, really hard
and…she made the gymnastics team at the Newtown Athletic Club!!!She is excited
to begin competing in 2015 with the team. Gabrielle’s pretty hands reflect her perfectly
– lovely painted nails and soft skin on one side, and callouses on her palms
from working hard to reach her personal goals and contribute as part of a team.
We are proud of our young lady. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">We pray God brings you
many blessings, healing and peace in 2015! </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #5f497a; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">Love from Sloan Sweet Home ~ Jim,
Sharon, Joshua and Gabrielle<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-53807966882545641592014-10-31T07:00:00.000-04:002014-10-31T13:02:43.954-04:00King-Sized, Light-Shining Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvjx4vO3I3ZqUK-AT8GAaASXpgirrCSbJD4rWUhFtoSJs4yQnQmUxbk0oukqBzfrS1rF6HwsQOngp0mutRtEqtLP3XcomwDbexPRJ6N1YIZIprpumJDRtL1Ikfi_05ffu_qYyETbTbQhj/s1600/Gabrielle+Singing+Worship+Songs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvjx4vO3I3ZqUK-AT8GAaASXpgirrCSbJD4rWUhFtoSJs4yQnQmUxbk0oukqBzfrS1rF6HwsQOngp0mutRtEqtLP3XcomwDbexPRJ6N1YIZIprpumJDRtL1Ikfi_05ffu_qYyETbTbQhj/s320/Gabrielle+Singing+Worship+Songs.jpg" height="240" nx="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Gabrielle singing worship songs at the door.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(This was originally posted in October 2010. Sharing it again. This year, we are playing Toby Mac and Jamie Grace from our front porch.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><em>"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One day a year, all of the children in our neighborhood knock on our door. Some children we know very well, others we are meeting for the first time. But they come. They come for a treat. We give them even more...we give them the message of the Gospel. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Halloween can be a touchy topic of conversation for Christians. We respect however the Lord leads each family individually. Recently, a friend shared a</span> <a href="http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A123_Christians-and-Halloween"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sermon that John MacArthur taught on 10-31-09 (click here).</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> His well-balanced sermon confirmed for us that we have indeed been honoring God in our family with what we do on Halloween. In the part of MacArthur's sermon titled "The Christian Response to Halloween", he says this: <em>"Ultimately, Christian participation in Halloween is a matter of conscience before God. Whatever level of Halloween participation you choose, you must honor God by keeping yourself separate from the world and by showing mercy to those who are perishing. Halloween provides the Christian with the opportunity to accomplish both of those things in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's a message that is holy, set apart from the world; it's a message that is the very mercy of a forgiving God. What better time of the year is there to share such a message than Halloween?"</em> </span> <br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, what does our family do on Halloween? We redeem the day. We shine our lights for Christ. We worship Him in song. We share the Gospel of Salvation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's what our family does on Halloween: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of the lights are ON in and outside of our house on Halloween. Our house is LIT UP! <strong> <em>"<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out." </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Proverbs 13:9</span></em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We play worship music from a CD player we put on our front porch. This year, we will be playing the complete series of </span><a href="http://www.seedsmusicstore.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Seed of Family Worship".</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It's great! <em><strong>"All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name." Psalm 86:9</strong></em></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.seedsfamilyworship.net/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixMVmgxnpHSF1ljLY90hi5bHD-PJpXhvRkpj3CJ8U306VmE0rNC8f6WDjipvrUOQz9rPs42KeXlApeO-yTsdtjGxBxN_xzWwnkV7U4GNWkBC696e5cQjUAfWwYGly6wF06yIGoaAsJpq_/s1600/Seeds+of+Courage.jpg" nx="true" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We give out King-Sized candy bars! (Even John MacArthur said not to be stingy!) We are known for giving out king-sized bars now. In our hearts, we are giving to honor the King! (We prepare enough of everything for 100 children, and we usually are visited by 80 or so.) <em><strong>"...the righteous give generously." Psalm 37:21</strong></em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfuaHPcpDLAamVMyykCVA0mHq9qjuNcpcUZ_6qSiX9jQuVGQ3R0JHsn-iIzUAk5M5OHpcqsW3qfD6WUX8muvDWHr48vSrZzE5KYPZRWSLGhmIG53XImL38g40dlSCbfWnXwloOxWjNB4H/s1600/King+Sizes+Kit+Kat.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfuaHPcpDLAamVMyykCVA0mHq9qjuNcpcUZ_6qSiX9jQuVGQ3R0JHsn-iIzUAk5M5OHpcqsW3qfD6WUX8muvDWHr48vSrZzE5KYPZRWSLGhmIG53XImL38g40dlSCbfWnXwloOxWjNB4H/s1600/King+Sizes+Kit+Kat.bmp" nx="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best of all, we share the Gospel message. Each child knocking at our door receives a tract sharing the Gospel. This year, we are also giving out "Plan of Salvation Faith Bands"!! We are very excited about this. Each pack of Plan of Salvation Faith Bands contains the Gospel message and two sets of crosses in the Gospel colors! They can then go and share the Gospel message, too! </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/salvation-faith-bands-elastic-band-bracelets/pd/51804X?item_code=WW&netp_id=770278&event=ESRCN&view=details"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7Hw44S9qjRwXCfgYKk7rd-vCDOESw_HInwFFJNDk-lQyhwIjGhUXGQ819-q3yBQLqmdws6voLhzOAaPcslu8vVh__ekxJbVE5jrxMLN4xdKtj3TVF-TCYYWMEXYow79Dj90BfKi4yKFc/s1600/Plan+of+Salvation+Faith+Bands.gif" nx="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a class="product-image" cmimpressionsent="1" href="http://www.christianbook.com/halloween-trick-or-truth-tracts-25/0663575730422/pd/730422?item_code=WW&netp_id=463782&event=ESRCN&view=details"><img alt="Halloween: Trick or Truth? Tracts, 25" border="0" src="http://g.christianbook.com/g/display/7/730422.gif" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><em>"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." </em></strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Matthew 5:14-16</em></strong> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlFc6BgcDbr_94zmQK12uFK1VhjdgE3Jl0F2wAzn5NJ0VK8fT2TMN6rsrnaRnA3X3VAWqCUhqslxsokMgq7yY8I8V5ZmLBgpeVemIg3YLy8lipcDgoiEZve72UD-6TztveSDw9gg1dn2C/s1600/Joshua+and+Gabrielle+-+A+Great+Team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlFc6BgcDbr_94zmQK12uFK1VhjdgE3Jl0F2wAzn5NJ0VK8fT2TMN6rsrnaRnA3X3VAWqCUhqslxsokMgq7yY8I8V5ZmLBgpeVemIg3YLy8lipcDgoiEZve72UD-6TztveSDw9gg1dn2C/s320/Joshua+and+Gabrielle+-+A+Great+Team.jpg" height="320" nx="true" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Joshua and Gabrielle with our King-Sized Candy Bars!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joshua and Gabrielle dress up in bright, colorful, innocent costumes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em> "There's nothing inherently evil about candy, costumes, or trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. In fact, all of that can provide a unique gospel opportunity with neighbors. Even handing out candy to neighborhood children--provided you're not stingy--can improve your reputation among the kids. As long as the costumes are innocent and the behavior does not dishonor Christ, trick-or-treating can be used to further gospel interests." -- John MacArthur </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We pray that those precious children who knock on our door will ultimately knock on His door! <em><strong> "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:8</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><strong>"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture." John 10:9</strong></em><br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Corinthians 10:31 </span></em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfuaHPcpDLAamVMyykCVA0mHq9qjuNcpcUZ_6qSiX9jQuVGQ3R0JHsn-iIzUAk5M5OHpcqsW3qfD6WUX8muvDWHr48vSrZzE5KYPZRWSLGhmIG53XImL38g40dlSCbfWnXwloOxWjNB4H/s1600/King+Sizes+Kit+Kat.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfuaHPcpDLAamVMyykCVA0mHq9qjuNcpcUZ_6qSiX9jQuVGQ3R0JHsn-iIzUAk5M5OHpcqsW3qfD6WUX8muvDWHr48vSrZzE5KYPZRWSLGhmIG53XImL38g40dlSCbfWnXwloOxWjNB4H/s1600/King+Sizes+Kit+Kat.bmp" nx="true" /></a></div>
Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-1708517053432767932014-10-06T05:30:00.000-04:002014-10-06T05:58:15.743-04:00Grace in the Nooks and Crannies<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFriAmh2wLr1GSdwOFDQEml52YxxHEtPYyPpysh8oZOqlwqR3DN_9CxNwwIupFE470RVCnFn7lKuxfQhQlU0sq72f1jpS_z6TEuhBj3vaqLEvWDT0bhR43M-1vFl4R6akA-Jtsb0XaoEg/s1600/English+Muffin+with+Jelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFriAmh2wLr1GSdwOFDQEml52YxxHEtPYyPpysh8oZOqlwqR3DN_9CxNwwIupFE470RVCnFn7lKuxfQhQlU0sq72f1jpS_z6TEuhBj3vaqLEvWDT0bhR43M-1vFl4R6akA-Jtsb0XaoEg/s320/English+Muffin+with+Jelly.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"But just as you excel in everything --</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>in faith, in speech, in knowledge,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>in complete earnestness and in your love for us --</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>see that you also excel in this grace of giving."</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 Corinthians 8:7</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One English muffin was remaining in the package. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two kids. One English muffin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joshua was in the basement family room completely unaware that there weren't enough muffins to go around should everyone want an English muffin for breakfast that morning. Gabrielle came to me and said,<i> "Mom, there is only one English muffin left and I really, really want it for breakfast. But Joshua might want it, too. And I have had more than my share already from this package. I am going to ask Joshua if he would like to have it."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feeling hopeful that she might get to have the last English muffin, but really wanting to do the honorable thing, Gabrielle went to Joshua and asked, <i>"Joshua, do you want this last English muffin for your breakfast today? There is only one left, and I wanted to see if you would like to have it."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enthusiastically concentrating on his PlayStation Madden Football game more than realizing the love and honesty demonstrated to him by this invitation from his sister, he said, <i>"Sure, I'll have it! Thanks!"</i> Gabrielle turned and made her way back up the stairs from the basement family room to the kitchen. Seeing the disappointment on her face, I saw her put the package back on the kitchen counter. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijG_pZ8oYP2FP0segbPkLU2JdXU7Mi7l3omJLI8p-8bpxFwfsukVa5lNqOYS1D1y-j_5U_1jD9Iq7MUl9Vpg8hZT_f0tff31eF2-zG7dObL44QNqTBWniFm0J2JR4BekKzdHBllr2cD28a/s1600/1+first+day+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijG_pZ8oYP2FP0segbPkLU2JdXU7Mi7l3omJLI8p-8bpxFwfsukVa5lNqOYS1D1y-j_5U_1jD9Iq7MUl9Vpg8hZT_f0tff31eF2-zG7dObL44QNqTBWniFm0J2JR4BekKzdHBllr2cD28a/s1600/1+first+day+2014.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First Day of School 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I sat in the dining room finishing my devotion time, I felt a twinge of sadness for my sweet girl who wanted that last English muffin. Making a mental note to pick up more muffins the next time I was the store, I wondered what Gabrielle might choose for breakfast instead of the English muffin. Yogurt and fruit? Toast? Oatmeal? Cereal? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I smelled the comforting aroma of something being toasted in the toaster. Walking into the kitchen with curiosity, I asked Gabrielle what she was toasting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"I am toasting the English muffin for Joshua, and I am going to serve it to him. I am putting butter and grape jelly on it. I know he likes it that way."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only did Gabrielle maturely handle the disappointment of not having the last English muffin, she prepared the English muffin for her brother just the way he likes it. She sincerely wanted him to have it and be blessed by a toasted English muffin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something she wanted for herself, Gabrielle lovingly prepared for her brother.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow. Double wow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Excellence in the grace of giving.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"Josh-uuu-aaaa",</i> she called to him from the kitchen,<i> "Your English muffin is ready!"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joshua bolted up the stairs. As Gabrielle handed him his plate, he said, <i>"Wow, thanks, Brie!"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wanting to be sure he appreciated the significance of her sacrifice and love, I said, <i>"Joshua, do you realize there was only one English muffin left and, even though Gabrielle was really hoping to have it for breakfast, she prepared it for you because you wanted to have it, too?"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"Really? Thanks, Gabrielle. Do you want half? We can split it!"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"It's alright",</i> Gabrielle responded. <i>"I really want you to enjoy the whole thing."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grace and love in the nooks and crannies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our children teach me more about God's love than anyone else. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have thought about that English muffin a lot since that morning a few weeks ago. The humility, the surrender, the love, the giving, the grace, the selflessness, the bittersweet sacrifice, the sincerity, the honesty, the sweetness, the kindness. And I want to capture, remember and be changed by these beautiful moments. (Lord knows so many moments are not like that!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to show grace and love in the nooks and crannies of life. In the small places where little blessings go a long way. In the hard places where grace is spread out in the bittersweet sacrifice of surrendering and is perhaps only seen by God. In the sweet places where God's grace toward me allows me to prepare a blessing for another who needs grace. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I am looking for those nooks and crannies where His love and grace are spread are like butter and grape jelly on a freshly toasted English muffin. Nooks and crannies that serve up an opportunity to bless another person with His refreshing and satisfying grace. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grace that soaks our hearts with His generous love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grace upon grace...for each nook and cranny of my heart and yours.</span><br />
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Gabrielle in her cousin Stephanie's wedding ~ August 11, 2012</div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"And God is able to make all grace abound to you,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>so that in all things at all times,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>having all that you need,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>you will abound in every good work."</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 Corinthians 9:8</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"Do nothing out of selfish ambition</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>or vain conceit,</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>but in humility</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>consider others better than yourselves."</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philippians 2:3</span></div>
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[originally published 9/3/12]Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-83943187327001247912014-07-30T07:55:00.002-04:002014-07-30T07:59:36.891-04:00A Heart More Beautiful<div style="color: #56361c; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Helvetica, Verdana, Arial; font-size: small; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><em>“</em><em>The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;</em></span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47;"><em><span style="font-size: medium;">a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”</span> </em></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47;">Psalm 51:17 (NIV)</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The condition of my heart matched the weather conditions outside as I drove my children home from school through the steady rain and dreary clouds. Bringing my children to and from school each day was precious, sacred time to me as we enjoyed captured moments together to talk, listen, sing and pray. This day, however, my heart ached with fresh wounds. I silently cried out to the Lord while Joshua and Gabrielle munched on a snack and conversed contently between themselves.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Years ago God had taught me a valuable lesson: if someone says something critical to me in a harsh spirit, and not in love, still take that to Him and ask Him if there is any truth in what was said. <em>“Is there something offensive in my heart You want to change, Lord?”,</em> I wondered after receiving harsh words from an unexpected place. My heart lay bare and broken before the Lord. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As we pulled into the garage, my sweet then-five-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, asked if she could put her rain boots on and go jump in the puddles. As my heart admired her enthusiasm, we worked together to dress her in her rainy weather finery. She gave me an extra tight squeeze declaring her appreciation. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I went about my regular after-school-unloading-and-reorganizing tasks as my silent conversation with God continued.<em> “Lord, the pain from this person's words seems unreasonable and unnecessary, and the criticism seems unfounded in truth. I am sorry for any way I have caused an offense. Show me any way I have not honored You. You know I want to serve You and show Your mighty works for Your glory. Please let me see Your faithfulness and purpose in this pain.”</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A few minutes later, Gabrielle was in the kitchen excitedly handing me a paper heart she had stopped to make and surprise me with before going outside to jump in puddles. Gabrielle’s caring ways and artistic gifts are always a delight. On this rainy day, this hand-made gift served an even greater purpose.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As her precious hand lifted the paper heart up to mine, I noticed the heart had scissor cuts all through it, and I thought privately to myself that it didn’t look very pretty that way. Graciously taking the heart from her and kissing her head in thanks, I met my eyes with hers and she said, “<em>Mommy, I made this heart for you. I put cuts in the heart because I thought the heart would be more beautiful that way.”</em> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Immediately, tears rolled down my face. I felt the Lord quiet my heart with His love and say to me, <em>“Sharon, I am making your heart more beautiful through the wounds I am allowing you to experience. Be still, be quiet and wait on Me. You will have a heart more beautiful.”</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Noticing my tears of amazement, Gabrielle asked why I started to cry, and I told her that, through the paper heart she had made me, God reminded me how much He loves me and how faithful He is, especially when our hearts are broken before Him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My child’s delight in the promise of fresh rain and the beauty of a broken heart had ministered His love to me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bc3f00; font-family: Arial;"><em>Dear Lord, through Your grace let my heart abide in You always. Keep my heart teachable and humble before You. Give me the willingness to trust You through the pain, knowing that You are doing a beautiful work in my heart. Hold fast to me, My refuge and strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.</em></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> “But on this <i>one</i> will I look:<br />On <i>him who is</i> poor and of a contrite spirit,<br />And who trembles at My word."</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isaiah 66:2</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>“</em>Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there Is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting</strong><em><strong>.”</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psalm 139:23-24</span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” </span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isaiah 57:15</span></div>
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Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-69323694513625482122014-06-06T03:38:00.001-04:002014-06-06T03:40:35.264-04:00Delicate Cycle or A Heavy-Duty Wash?<div align="center" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;">
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<span style="color: #6666cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 27px;">"Wash away all my iniquity </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6666cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 27px;">and cleanse me from my sin."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #993399; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;">I often wash our children's sneakers and footwear on the gentle cycle of our washing machine. It cleans and freshens up the shoes, and they look like new. We don't have to replace their shoes as often."Shoe Stewardship" as we call it.</span><br style="line-height: 23.920000076293945px;" /><span style="color: #993399; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;"></span><br style="line-height: 23.920000076293945px;" /><span style="color: #993399; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;">After a day at the park (after a full day of rain the day before) with Gabrielle's class for an end-of-the-school-year picnic, our flip flops and sandals were filthy. The mud and wet playground mulch had seeped deep into the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">porous</span> material of our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">footwear</span>. When we got home, I put our footwear in the washing machine on the delicate <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cycle</span> with some other delicate items. </span><br style="line-height: 23.920000076293945px;" /><span style="color: #993399; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;"></span><br style="line-height: 23.920000076293945px;" /><span style="color: #993399; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;">When the delicate load of laundry was complete, I opened up the washer to hang the clothes and to put the shoes out in the sun for drying. As I pulled out our footwear, I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">surprised</span> that much of the dirt was still there. The delicate cycle was not strong enough to do the deep cleaning they needed. I put the shoes back in the washer (in a laundry bag) with a heavy-duty load, which included high <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">agitation</span>, high spin and an extra rinse. After the heavy-duty load was complete, our footwear came out clean!</span><br style="line-height: 23.920000076293945px;" /><span style="color: #993399; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;"></span><br style="line-height: 23.920000076293945px;" /><span style="color: #993399; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;">I felt God whisper to my heart as I stood in the laundry room finishing up the day's laundry. <span style="color: #6600cc;"><i>"Sometimes, Sharon, I need to run the heavy duty cycle on your heart to get out the yuck that has seeped in."</i></span> Sometimes we go through "heavy-duty cycles with high <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">agitation</span>, high spin and an extra rinse" of our hearts. The heavy-duty <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">agitation</span> we experience and the high spin and extra rinse are just what our hearts need sometimes</span></span><span style="color: #993399; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;">. It is not comfortable; it is downright painful at times. But when the heavy-duty cycle is what works best, God uses it and faithfully does a necessary work in our hearts.</span><span style="color: #993399; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #993399; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;"></span><br style="line-height: 23.920000076293945px;" /><span style="color: #993399; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;">Who knew the laundry room could become a sanctuary? God met me personally in our laundry room that day. The powerful wash and extra rinse by the Living Water through the water of His Word was just what I needed. While I'd often prefer to keep my heart on the delicate cycle for cleansing, I fully realize that any significant growth in my walk with the Lord would not occur without the deep cleaning my heart needs at times. And as only our amazing God can do, He is gentle with us even during the heavy-duty cycles of life. After all, He rules over the surging seas. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 23.920000076293945px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[originally posted June 2009]</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #009900;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"O, LORD God Almighty, who is like You? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #009900;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are mighty, O LORD, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #009900;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and Your faithfulness surrounds you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #009900;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You rule over the surging sea; </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #009900;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">when its waves mount up, You still them."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #009900;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 89:8-9</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6666cc;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I am gentle and humble in heart, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6666cc;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and you will find rest for your souls."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6666cc;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Matthew 11:29</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He will purify them and refine them like gold and silver."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Malachi 3:3</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #3333ff;">"And after the fire came a gentle whisper." </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #3333ff;">1 Kings 19:12 </span></span><br />
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Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-86025249314166248052014-05-17T05:39:00.000-04:002014-05-17T08:46:40.113-04:00Hope Peeks Out To See Love<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.90625px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">but with actions and in truth.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">1 John 3:18</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">His fragile frame and stumbling steps caught our eyes and grabbed our hearts. Slowing traipsing across his front yard near the busy street, each stepped seemed laborious and purposeful. Using a walker as support, his eyes were fixed on his goal: the Sunday newspapers that were tossed and left at the edge of his property. With no sidewalk in front of his home and a foreshortened shoulder on the side of the road, he seemed dangerously close to the street as he stooped down and reached for the newspapers. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">This precious elderly man's imbalanced cadence impelled our hearts synchronously. <em>"Let's stop and bring up his newspapers for him whenever we can."</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTOMGXOYUvzxZpOiuza-z5zPaFPRZ3niA3jC5zJ9wyC2exkkuZlX9_P24zdmX5NysFzIAVywNdEKJVuogu52dYkcGmn1nX89IIaBckQkBzcvbP7BBSIGmeH24eaAgXsWGa_PvYA4qGv5E/s1600/newspaper+on+doorstep.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #5e1e2b; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTOMGXOYUvzxZpOiuza-z5zPaFPRZ3niA3jC5zJ9wyC2exkkuZlX9_P24zdmX5NysFzIAVywNdEKJVuogu52dYkcGmn1nX89IIaBckQkBzcvbP7BBSIGmeH24eaAgXsWGa_PvYA4qGv5E/s1600/newspaper+on+doorstep.png" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 4px;" yda="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Our little family of four has passed this house thousands of times and never took notice. But that Sunday morning on our way to church, our hearts were moved. Moved by an aged man determined to reach his goal. Moved by a neglected home that reflected endurance. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Withered and seemingly unkempt, the house and the man seemed content together.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Several worn American flags hang in windows across the front of his house, causing us to wonder if he is a war veteran. Through cracked glass, dangling shudders and faded paint, you feel the man's sense of pride in his homeland.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Though broken and neglected, we see strength in this house. We imagine the same strength in the precious man. The determination to weather the storms of life. The character to fight through trials. The endurance to reach goals. The pride to hang a banner of identity even through blurred windows.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">We see hope peeking out from behind the withered exterior.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">So, as hope looks for love, we stop and quietly bring his papers up to his porch a few times a week, hoping that we are unnoticed and praying he feels loved. The children write him notes sometimes and we put them in bags and hang them on his door knob. Praying for him every morning as we pass, and having only seen him that one Sunday morning, we excitedly hope to get another glimpse of him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">He is a stranger to us, but known completely and loved perfectly by Jesus.</span><span style="color: #4c1130;"> <em><strong>And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ ~ Matthew 25:40</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">An elderly man. A tired home. God's compassion beckons us to love in action and in truth. Our daily drive to school and church took on a new measure of meaning.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Though we have never met, this man moved our hearts in the most beautiful of ways. His house is building love in our hearts. Our broken, hopeful, needful hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">So, as hope peeks out through dimmed windows and neglected walls, Love waits. Love comes. Love came.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><strong>Christ Jesus came into the world to save us...</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">1 Timothy 1:15</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><strong>By wisdom a house is built,</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><strong>and through understanding it is established; </strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><strong>through knowledge its rooms are filled</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><strong>with rare and beautiful treasures.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Proverbs 24:3-4</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">And so we know and rely</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">on the love God has for us.</span></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;">God is love.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Whoever lives in love lives in God,</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">and God in him.</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">1 John 4:16</span></div>
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{originally posted February 2012}</div>
Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-82761319862026076012014-04-09T06:37:00.000-04:002014-04-15T20:56:25.459-04:00"Living So That" is All That!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"We do not study God's Word to increase our head knowledge. We study God's Word so that God can change our hearts and our lives! John 15:5 promises that our lives will yield beautiful fruit if we will abide in Christ. One way to do that is by studying His Word. So surrender your heart and your time to Him." </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ <a href="http://wendyblight.com/">Wendy Blight</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Monday 4/14/14 - Winners -- Rene, Stephanie, Unknown and Linda! Please contact me with your complete name and mailing address! Congratulations!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My intrinsically sweet friend, <a href="http://wendyblight.com/about/">Wendy Blight</a>, loves the Lord and loves His Word. Sitting having breakfast with her and talking about the joys and concerns of our hearts, tears spill out of her eyes as she talks about God's Word, His love and His faithfulness. Her tenderness for the Lord and His people is tangible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wendy has written a wonderful new Bible study titled <i><a href="http://wendyblight.com/living-so-that-2/">Living So That: Making Faith-Filled Choices in the Midst of a Messy Life</a></i>. I am so excited about this Bible study, which is suitable for individual study or with a small group. God's Word is fascinating, and I love seeing how many scriptures in the Bible have the phrase <i>"so that"</i> in them. God's Word is alive, and He has placed that "so that" clause throughout Scripture with a purpose for our hearts and lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether you are brand new to Bible study or are a seasoned student, this Bible study will bless, encourage, challenge and grow you! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9RrZw-Ynd4Sez9QUmiKffDeVa4ufQgB6XIQmpXnJhss6ulsuoLRdiY15AKvBGtpraNihFPgMC-ORT7w4I2oJ7PfHHFzkeFQfe7JyyAgBIKswIOcvRkduZqymyw1Ij-XuVqvoyVsqoKEf/s1600/Wendy.BioPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9RrZw-Ynd4Sez9QUmiKffDeVa4ufQgB6XIQmpXnJhss6ulsuoLRdiY15AKvBGtpraNihFPgMC-ORT7w4I2oJ7PfHHFzkeFQfe7JyyAgBIKswIOcvRkduZqymyw1Ij-XuVqvoyVsqoKEf/s1600/Wendy.BioPic.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"No matter how often we read the Word of God, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we receive something fresh and new each time."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ <a href="http://wendyblight.com/">Wendy Blight</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am DELIGHTED to give away a copy of <a href="http://wendyblight.com/">Wendy's book - Living So That</a>! Just leave a comment below including your name and contact information. A winner will be announced on Monday 4/14. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Journey with Wendy on her adventure to </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">live so that ~ </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">according to God's Word and for His purposes and glory</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://wendyblight.com/living-so-that-2/">Living So That</a></i> is all that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by today. Before you leave, be sure to check these out these free resources:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sign
up for Wendy's free companion devotional, "Five Days to a Faith-<i>Full</i> Life": <a href="http://wendyblight.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=f24665f8cd403ce2908fbe660&id=c3cfe17b6c" target="_blank">click here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For
a sneak peek at Chapter One, "Jesus Came So That" <a href="http://nelsonfree.com/InScribedLiving" target="_blank">click here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To
learn more about the book visit Wendy's </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Living So That</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> page by </span><a href="http://wendyblight.com/living-so-that-2/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"All scripture is God-breathed </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and is useful for teaching, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rebuking, correcting and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">training in righteousness, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>so that</b> the man of God </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">may be thoroughly equipped </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for every good work."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV; emphasis added)</span></div>
Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-7774389645780190542014-03-17T06:08:00.000-04:002014-03-17T06:11:09.139-04:00A Letter To My Neck Cream<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQDRmpbYZ-6xd9aJmCZC-2sp2DaHnLQrs6J-vPbRy59G0_96rejDRPlCK0_gloiab9CJXzE9Q1MPWMLqDn48Dw9BCiJSxtvakmeRaWjGcBH7saPFESKBFSxcYVKlR7x21WN4qxwLXQeEf/s1600/Neck+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQDRmpbYZ-6xd9aJmCZC-2sp2DaHnLQrs6J-vPbRy59G0_96rejDRPlCK0_gloiab9CJXzE9Q1MPWMLqDn48Dw9BCiJSxtvakmeRaWjGcBH7saPFESKBFSxcYVKlR7x21WN4qxwLXQeEf/s1600/Neck+cream.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Source: Unknown</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Décolleté Age-Defying, Wrinkle-Reducing, Heavy-Duty, Extra-Firming, Miracle-Working Neck Cream:</span><br />
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I owe you an apology. Really, I do.</span><br />
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I have expected a lot from you the last several years. And it's not fair of me. </span><br />
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I am sorry. </span><br />
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As part of wanting to age gracefully, I looked to you for support, and I placed unrealistic expectations on you. I wanted you to firm and fix and tuck and lift. And I recognize it hasn't been healthy for our relationship.You know, me expecting too much from you and all. </span><br />
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You are only a neck cream, for heaven's sake. You can't erase years of wear and tear. You truly fix sagging skin and wrinkly flesh.</span><br />
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And on this milestone birthday, I realize, I don't want you to. </span><br />
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We have traversed a lot of ground together over the decades...laughter, tears, joy, sadness, victories, battles, blessings and challenges. </span><br />
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And through the wrinkly difficult times and the smooth wonderful times, I can say today as I turn 50,<i> I like my aging neck.</i> It reminds me of the blessed life I have been given by a faithful and good God. It reminds me of the wonderful family and amazing friends I've had the privilege to hug around the neck...and there are lots more hugs to be given and received still.</span><br />
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So, Décolleté Age-Defying, Wrinkle-Reducing, Heavy-Duty, Extra-Firming, Miracle-Working Neck Cream, let's continue to journey together. We've got lots to see and do and more terrain to cover. New bridges to cross, more precious peeps to hug and love, more ways to serve the Lord.</span><br />
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I promise not to expect too much from you. You are a neck cream, for heaven's sake.</span><br />
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Now, let's get going!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Sincerely yours,</span>Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-17127627807761324202014-01-01T05:00:00.000-05:002014-01-01T11:17:02.051-05:00Resolutions or Transformation?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>"'Resolve to honor My name,' says the LORD Almighty." </strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Malachi 2:2 </span></span><span style="color: #4c1130;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">"<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be <strong>transformed by the renewing of your mind</strong>. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Romans 12:12</span><br />
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<i>[This post was originally published on 1/1/11. Re-posting 1/1/14.]</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Welcome to new visitors from my<a href="http://www.proverbs31.org/everydaylife/everydayLife.php"><span style="color: #990000;"> Everyday Life article "An Annual Verse To Shape My Heart"</span></a>! We are excited you stopped by!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">1/1/11 - a new year! A time for reflection and for looking ahead for growth and change. Lasting and fruitful change. Transformation. That can only come through the perfect Word of God. </span><span style="color: #4c1130;"> <strong>"Every word of God is flawless..." Proverbs 30:5</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">Transformation. A surrendered heart pursuing holiness. A willingness to yield to the bittersweet process of purification through the washing of the water of the Word. <strong> <span style="color: #4c1130;">"...offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness." Romans 6:19</span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">Resolutions tend to be self-centered. Resolutions are about me, my strength and my commitment. Transformation is Christ-centered. Transformation comes from the renewing of our minds by the washing of the water of God's Word. We surrender and yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and allow His transformation to take place in our lives through the Truth of God's Word. And WOW...He transforms us into His image! <span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong>"You have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." Col. 3:10 </strong></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor. 3:18</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong>"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." </strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Psa&c=51&v=10&t=KJV#conc/10">Psalm 51:10</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The condition of my heart before the Lord moment-by-moment is most important to me. <strong>God creates</strong> a pure heart in us. <strong>God renews</strong> a steadfast spirit in us. My responsibility is to keep my heart before Him in humility. I want to always have a teachable heart. I want to be willing to be broken. <strong><span style="color: #4c1130;">"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 </span></strong> <em>"Every time we open the Word of God, it should be for the purpose of being broken." - Nancy Leigh DeMoss</em> <strong><span style="color: #4c1130;">“I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 57:15</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I daily surrender my heart to His truth, He creates a pure heart in me and transforms my heart to be more like His. Wow! That sure is humbling and awesome. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we resolve to do anything this year, let's resolve to honor His name and be transformed by His Word. <span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong> "...'resolve to honor My name,' says the LORD Almighty." Malachi 2:2</strong> </span><span style="color: #741b47;">This resolve is too lofty for me to attain on my own. Only by HIS grace and Word can it be so. So I look only to Him and His Truth for renewal and transformation.</span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana;">Happy Renew Year!!!</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #4c1130;">"I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word."</span></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130;">Psalm 119:16 </span></strong></div>
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<strong>"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)</strong><br />
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<em>"You cannot develop a righteous life apart from God’s Word. Righteousness must be cultivated. As you fill your mind with the words of God, and as you obey His instructions, He will guide you in the ways of righteousness." -<a href="http://www.blackaby.org/"> Blackaby</a></em></div>
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Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-43715289965038993642013-12-23T07:37:00.002-05:002014-02-05T19:49:19.595-05:00Our Highlights of 2013 - Christmas Letter<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 16.0pt;">Our Familiy wishes you and yours a truly </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 16.0pt;">Blessed and Merry Christmas!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2Vvbj3PvA6WN2iIJB5sJwL8E0xzBwoZXklwyJqoqFV-oyhlygYK40SnaMWtIi3j8P8nNBBKnRcxaEGbXGiSGyxgyDZXO-J0y9P58QEWd46PfjfPkWnmgOEqoonHDWsWq86kgIwfGNFHQ/s1600/DSC_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2Vvbj3PvA6WN2iIJB5sJwL8E0xzBwoZXklwyJqoqFV-oyhlygYK40SnaMWtIi3j8P8nNBBKnRcxaEGbXGiSGyxgyDZXO-J0y9P58QEWd46PfjfPkWnmgOEqoonHDWsWq86kgIwfGNFHQ/s320/DSC_0113.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Vivaldi;">August 2013 - photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nowpicturethis">Toni Valentini</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has become our tradition to send an annual Christmas letter with our Christmas card. The letter shares our <b>highlights </b>of the year. It is our "highlights reel", so to speak. It is not all of the bloopers, the outtakes, the scenes that had to be done over time and time again, and not the clips that thankfully ended up on the editing room floor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rather, we reflect on the blessings the Lord graciously showered on us and thank Him, giving Him the glory and praise for every good and perfect gift that comes from Him. We love looking back and recounting all of His blessings and acknowledging each one has come from Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our only hesitancy in sending a Christmas letter with <b>highlights</b> of the year is that it can seem pretentious and quite incomplete as we share all of the "positives". It is not our heart or intention to be pretentious or to paint an incomplete picture. Sometimes God's blessings and mercy comes through the most difficult, painful and growing seasons in our lives and hearts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So while we choose not to publish in our annual Christmas letter the details of our growing seasons He has seen us through this year, they are written on our hearts and are personal treasures between us and Him. We know we there is no good in us apart from Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Vivaldi;"><span style="font-size: 21px;"><b>"<span style="color: #4c1130;">You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing."</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Vivaldi;"><span style="font-size: 21px;">Psalm 16:2</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So these are our highlights. Thanks for visiting! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus Christ - Our Wisdom. Our Holiness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 16.0pt;">Our Righteousness. Our
Redemption. </span><span style="font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 14.0pt;">{1 Cor.1:30}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva';">Our Family’s Highlights ~ Christmas 2013</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva';"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">Because
we loved you so much, </span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva';"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">we were delighted to share with you </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><b><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva';">not only the gospel
of God </span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><b><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva';">but our lives as well.</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva';"><span style="color: #4c1130;"> (1 Thess. 2:8)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";"><span style="font-size: large;">Family and Friends ~
Warmest Christmas greetings to you and yours! We pray your hearts and homes are
filled with His perfect peace. We would love to hear from you about your
happenings! We love the mailbox in December filled with colorful envelopes,
pictures and letters. Thank you for sharing your lives with us. We count you
each a blessing from God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";"><span style="font-size: large;">Reflecting
back on 2013, many things come to fruition in our family that have been prayed
and labored over for a few years: 1</span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva'; font-size: large;">♥</span><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva'; font-size: large;"> - Jim’s company’s merger was finalized and we
prayerfully chose together that he not take a new position offered to him in
Manhattan. 2</span><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva'; font-size: large;">♥ - </span><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva'; font-size: large;">My sweet mom, Eileen, is courageously and graciously facing
age-related illnesses that have weakened her mind and body, but not her spirit.
She moved into a beautiful assisted living home and she loves
it! 3</span><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva'; font-size: large;">♥ - </span><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva'; font-size: large;">My book <a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/">“SerenDIPity ~ Celebrating Dips, Faith & Friendships” </a>released in September. Glory to God. In all things, we ask God
for His perfect wisdom, leading and provision. </span><b style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva'; font-size: x-large;">Our identity in Christ is secure. “Hello, my name is ‘Child of The One
True King.’”</b><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva'; font-size: large;"> – Matthew West</span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";"><span style="font-size: large;">Our
family enjoyed a special vacation in June when very fun friends, the Reyeses, invited us to
their lovely summer home in Puerto Rico. Their hospitality was incredibly
thoughtful, loving and generous. They took us to all the best parts of the
beautiful island, including hidden treasures unseen by most tourists. We
splashed in turquoise waters, relaxed on gorgeous beaches, hiked through the
rain forest, swam in bioluminescent bays at night, walked up a mountain to a
lighthouse and breath-taking cliffs, journeyed through caves with bats to see
amazing views through natural windows, toured picturesque Old San Juan, worshipped
at church on Sunday, ate authentic Puerto Rican delicacies and learned so much
about the culture of the islanders. Truly our friends’ invitation to join them gave us lifelong memories. ♥ Our traditional
vacation to Camp of The Woods was so refreshing as we enjoyed each other and
the company of good friends. We were blessed to spend a week at the shore in
Ocean City NJ and stayed in the wonderfully-welcoming home of friends we hold
dear. Treasured friends spent a few days with us in OC, which made it perfect.
COTW and OC NJ are two of our favorite places on earth! We also enjoyed a trip
to Boston in March when Gabrielle danced in the Irish Dance Worlds Competition!
And we visited the most magical place on earth – Disney World – in the spring
when we visited Jim’s parents (Pop Pop and Nana) who now spend winters/early
spring in Celebration, Florida. In June, we were delighted to host a party for
Jim’s parents’ 50<sup>th</sup> Wedding Anniversary! In August we celebrated my
mom’s 80<sup>th</sup> Birthday with an Eight-Tea celebration. We are thankful
for the many blessings of 2013!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">El Yunque Rain Forest in Puerto Rico - June 2013</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">Jim</span></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">
~ We are ever-grateful that Jim is steadfastly dedicated to God and family.
During this career transition time, he has incorporated a disciplined schedule,
beginning each morning with generous time in God’s Word and prayer. He closes
each day with Joshua and Gabrielle studying through the Bible (currently
reading through the Gospel of John). He is taking courses and diligently
seeking a new position. He continues to lead a Junior High Ministry LJ3 group
of boys and pours God’s truth into them. Jim coaches basketball for our church
league and was honored to assist our dear friend Wade in the middle school’s
skills and drills practices. A Wednesday morning men’s Bible study group is a
great blessing of accountability and growth for Jim. Jim intrinsically seeks
every moment to look for ways to serve God by serving us and all those he
loves. We are truly humbled and blessed to have him as the head of our home. We
are looking forward to seeing God’s plans unfold for Jim and our family . <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">Jim at base of waterfall at El Yunque</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">Sharon</span></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">
~ Serving my family as wife and mom is my greatest and most humbling blessing. These
roles keep me on my knees before God for wisdom and grace. Spending as much
time with my mom as I can, caring for her and enjoying her company, is a
priority, especially as her health declines. ♥ I accomplished an item from my
bucket list this summer – I hiked through a tropical rainforest (while we were
in in Puerto Rico). It was beautiful
and, yes, it even rained!! Thankful! I attend and soak in Bible studies
because, while I delight in God’s Word, I am not always delightful {smile} and
I need His truth consistently to sustain and mold my heart. With Jim’s blessing,
I wrote and published my book “SerenDIPity ~ Celebrating Dips, Faith &
Friendships” to share this unique hospitality idea and the Biblical command of
hospitality! My favorite part of writing SerenDIPity was blending in God’s Word
throughout the book. I pray in some small way this book honors the Lord. So
thankful for the enthusiasm of many loving family members and pure-hearted
friends! </span></i></span><i><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/">www.serendipitydipsbook.com</a></i><span class="text"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jim and me - both got a hole in one in the same hole!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Camp of The Woods - July 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">Joshua</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">
– An 8<sup>th</sup> grader now, Joshua is growing in stature and character. He
has well surpassed me in height and Jim in shoe size! Basketball is his
favorite sport to play, with football being a close second. He is even considering
playing baseball in the spring. Joshua and Jim served the Lord together again
this summer in North Philly through Mission Philly 2013 with our junior high
youth group. We are very thankful they could serve the Lord in this way
shoulder to shoulder. Joshua participated in Raise the Praise week again this
summer and was asked to serve in the youth group worship team doing vocals.
Joshua is not a spotlight kind of person, so being on stage stretches him out
of his comfort zone. Still, he remains very excited and thankful for this
opportunity to serve. His favorite thing to do with any free moments is shoot
hoops. While doing very well in school, his first loves are anything to do with
a ball or with music. Joshua is innately thoughtful and helpful, and we are
proud of our young man.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">Gabrielle </span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";"> - Our gal is enjoying 6<sup>th</sup> grade and
all of its responsibilities and perks. She loves attending LJ3 Youth Group at
church. Gabrielle is a diligent student and sets personal and academic goals.
She has such a heart for orphans and for those who have not heard the Gospel.
Her resolve and love encourage and challenge us in the best of ways. Gymnastics
is Gabrielle’s favorite activity, and she takes it twice a week. She is still
kicking up her heels in Irish dance, and she earned and had the great honor of
dancing as part of a team in the World Irish Dance Competition in March 2013 where
hundreds of dancers from around the world gathered in Boston (go figure…it is
usually in Ireland!). Gabrielle also completed a Babysitting course with the American Red Cross. At school, she enjoys taking liturgical dance and playing
the flute in the regular band and the 6<sup>th</sup> grade jazz band. She
serves the Lord through song by serving His children with the Children’s
Ministry Worship Team. She loves making videos on her iPad and spending time
with girlfriends. We love our Brie!<o:p></o:p></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">We wish you a Joyous Christmas </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">and a very Blessed New Year! </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">Love ~ Jim, Sharon, Joshua and Gabrielle</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";"> </span></i></span></div>
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Jim, Joshua & Gabrielle stringing Christmas lights together</div>
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Nan Nan Hansen's 80th Eight-Tea Party - August 2013 </div>
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Pop Pop and Nana Sloan's 50th Anniversary - June 2013</div>
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Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-67405309659345179812013-12-16T05:47:00.000-05:002013-12-17T05:39:52.227-05:00Mom, Will You Frame This For Me?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I have hidden Your Word in my heart </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">that I might not sin against You."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 119:11</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our Gabrielle</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nowpicturethis">Photo by Toni Valentini</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's just say we were having a teachable moment. A very teachable moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Knowing that the only true transformation of our all of our hearts will come solely through God's love, grace and truth, I asked our children to go to their rooms and read Proverbs 6:16-19. It's a tough but necessary passage of scripture. It's convicting. It's a Hebrews 4:12 kind of verse: <span style="color: #741b47;">"For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Attitudes of the heart. We've all got them. And attitudes under our roof that day needed some fixin'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So as I asked our children to go read this passage that had been ministering to my own heart. As they did, I asked the Lord to penetrate their hearts with His truth, love and grace. And I sat down to re-read the passage myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%206%3A16-19&version=NIV;NKJV;AKJV;ESV">Proverbs 6:16-19</a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"There are six things the Lord hates,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">seven that are detestable to Him:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">haughty eyes,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a lying tongue,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hands that shed innocent blood,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a heart that devises wicked schemes,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">feet that are quick to rush into evil,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a false witness who pours out lies,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tough, necessary truths of scripture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When they were done their unexpected quiet time, I asked our children which part of the passage popped out to them, and I was grateful for God's faithfulness in meeting each of them personally in His Word.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A little while later, Gabrielle came to me and said, <i>"Mom, will you frame this for me? I made it after you had us read Proverbs 6. I always want to remember the things the Lord hates. I never want to forget. I would like to have this framed for my room so I remember."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jaw-dropping praise from this momma's heart to God! He had given Gabrielle the softness of heart, the courage and the wisdom to want to frame His Word...His challenging and convicting Word...in her heart and mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so grateful for the promises and comforts of God's Word...our go-to scriptures when we need encouragement and reassurance. And I am equally thankful for (though sometimes less inclined to go to them as readily) the soul-dividing passages that keep us on the narrow road that leads to life. The ones that prick and judge the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We tend to frame the comfortable scriptures in our homes and in our hearts. Isn't that just like us? We frame the prettiest pictures that make us look and feel good, and we easily ignore and discard the others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But through the courage, humility and wisdom of my daughter's heart, God reminded me that our greatest life lessons are often found in the places, pictures and passages that aren't so comfortable or pretty. But if we choose to frame them and remember them, He makes masterpieces. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wouldn't naturally choose to frame the difficult and painful times of life to commemorate the seasons or put them on display. Yet my daughter's sweet artwork gently and poignantly reminded me that often God is doing His most beautiful craftsmanship in our hearts during the tough passages, the not-so-flattering and the oh-so-humbling times in our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Framing the tough passages of truth. Framing the artwork He is creating in my heart by seeing truths of scripture alive in my own life, whether consequences of my own actions or someone else's. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want the courage to frame the hard stuff, even if I am the only one to see it in the private places I share with Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Framing difficult passages of scripture and life...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{HUMILITY. COURAGE. WISDOM.} </span></div>
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Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-31406104086890894172013-11-27T07:39:00.002-05:002013-11-27T07:39:39.118-05:00Ushered In By Thanksgiving<div align="center" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.90625px;">
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<span style="color: #993399;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and His courts with praise;<br />give thanks to Him and praise His name.” </span>Psalm 100:4</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Happy Thanksgiving!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">A heart of genuine thanksgiving and praise ushers us across His threshold so we can dwell in the Lord’s presence throughout the day. As we seek to abide in Him, our thankful hearts prepare the way for us. With a grateful and reverent posture before the Lord, we can expect to hear His still, small voice and sense His presence.<span style="color: #663366;"> “The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His unfailing love.” Psalm 33:18 (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">NIV</span>)</span><br /><span style="color: #663366;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #663366;"><br />“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:7 (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">KJV</span></span>) Genuine thankfulness flows from a humble and reverent heart before the Lord. As we go to Him with gratitude and acknowledging Him in all things, our hearts are postured to receive direction from Him. Then, as we commune with Him from the depths of our hearts throughout the day, we can bring Him our petitions, our fears and our struggles. With the humility of thankfulness as a backdrop, our hearts are poised reverently before Him. He will guide us and lead us. <span style="color: #663366;">“I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God.” <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ecc</span>. 8:12</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />When my children approach me with a humble and thankful heart, it is much easier for me to talk with them, rejoice with them, pray with them and guide them. Their hearts are ready. But when they are being selfish, stubborn, prideful and entitled, they don’t hear and are not ready for my instruction and help. The condition of their heart is key to our communication.<br /><br />It is the same with us and our Heavenly Father, who loves His children perfectly. When our hearts are right before Him, He can minister His Truth to us and reason with us. He can encourage and equip us. He can commune with us.<span style="color: #663366;">“He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” Psalm 50:23 (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">NIV</span>)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />Let’s make it routine not just to count our blessings, but to continually give thanks to God for them. To acknowledge Him in all our ways. To bow before Him with sincerity, thankfulness and reverence. We will dwell in His presence, commune with Him and receive His encouragement and love. Then we'll have<span style="color: #663366;">“sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.” Col. 3:22 (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">NIV</span>)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />Gracious Father, You are the giver of all good things. By Your grace, keep my heart poised humbly before You in sincerity, reverence and thankfulness. I want to enter your courts with praise in my heart. Usher me in with a thankful heart. Remind me to acknowledge You in all of my ways. Thank you for loving me perfectly and for Your redemption. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="color: #006600; font-size: 12px;">What are YOU thanking Him for this Thanksgiving season?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #006600; font-size: 12px;">I am thankful for my Redeemer, my family and my friends. I am thankful for His truth and faithfulness. </span><br /><span style="color: #660000; font-size: xx-small;"><em>(This post was originally posted on 11/24/08.)</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Joy and gladness will be found in her,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">thanksgiving and the sound of singing.”<br />Isaiah 51:3 (NIV)<br /><br />“I will praise God’s name in song and</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">glorify Him with thanksgiving.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 69:30<br /><br />“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993399;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 29:2</span></span></div>
Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-82594706699446455162013-11-20T06:05:00.001-05:002013-11-20T06:15:50.334-05:00The Phone Is In The Oven!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"...he prepares his meal, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">he roasts his meat and eats his fill."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Isaiah 44:16</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Six words I never imagined I would hear myself screaming: <i> "The phone is in the oven!!!"</i> But there I was on a Sunday afternoon screaming them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was trying to do too many things at once. My sweet mom was spending the day with us so I was caring for her, I took a call from a neighbor while busy preparing side dishes for dinner and managing two roasts that I had put in the oven an hour before. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crooking my neck and holding the phone between my right ear and my right shoulder, I opened the oven door to put an aluminum foil tent over the roasts so they didn't brown too much. My right hand accidentally met with the side of the scorching hot oven and two of my fingers got burned. Natural reflex jolted my hand and body away from the hot oven and the phone went flying away from where it was tentatively perched on my shoulder. At first I wasn't sure where the phone went, but then I saw it in the roasting pan comfortably sitting next to one of the roasts! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A phone never knew life could be so good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More concerned that the phone would ignite and start a fire than ruin my roast or itself, I proclaimed and then planned in the midst of panic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The phone is in the oven! The phone is in the oven! The phone is in the oven!"</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Screaming the alarming news flash for my family, my husband and children came running from different directions in the house. All with jaws dropped and, not sure whether to laugh or scream themselves, they stood shocked. All of us were bent over staring at the savory site before our eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indeed, the phone was in the oven.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With a quick strategical search and rescue mission underway, I picked up the long metal tongs from the counter top and pulled the wire oven shelf out as far it would come. With the tongs, I grabbed the marinating phone and placed it on a towel. My husband dried the outside of the phone off and then disassembled it so the insides could drain and dry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Phone au jus.</i> Not what I had planned for dinner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nursing my burned fingers under cold water for several minutes, I realized where I had gone wrong: Doing too many things at one time. Had I slowed down just a bit I would have waited until I was off of the phone to handle the roasts in a hot oven. Or I could have returned the call to my neighbor later that evening when things were more settled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everything I was doing was "good" ~ caring for my mom, preparing dinner for my family and taking time to talk to my neighbor on the phone. But sometimes we do too many good things at one time, and we get burned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In His sweet goodness, God whispered to my heart through this now-funny kitchen mishap. <i>Keep in step with Me.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By His grace, God lovingly leads us through our days. He is faithful to show us how to spend our time and our labors of love. He invites us To <a href="http://www.karenehman.com/books/"><b>LET.IT.GO.</b></a> and allow Him to guide our steps. We need to only ask and yield. <b><span style="color: #741b47;">"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way." ~ Psalm 25:9</span></b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ask and yield. Humility and surrender. Letting it go and allowing God to lead. A daily, moment-by-moment surrender.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I encourage you to begin your day today, or pause in the middle of it, and open His Word. Need a place to start? <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Psa&c=119&v=1&t=NKJV#top"><b>Read Psalm 119.</b></a> His Word is the essential lamp to our feet and a light to our path.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{A SPECIAL HELLO AND THANKS FOR VISITING FROM THOSE OF YOU POPPING OVER FROM MY GUEST POST AT <a href="http://www.thebettermom.com/2013/11/20/serendipity-opening-your-home-in-hospitality-giveaway/">"THE BETTER MOM".</a>}</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I guide you in the way of wisdom</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and lead you along straight paths."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Proverbs 4:11</span></div>
Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-67969584771546421492013-11-16T10:52:00.002-05:002013-11-16T10:52:50.308-05:00SERENDIPITY SATURDAY - GIVE AWAY!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMyusfHSmCEZ_XcQjNMjrJU9oEwCUoNd9-43I7X38i-tlMscqBo_5sPaZUaoZKJ_uwGl0034eHiBaQwVr-eCpQKTSq0nkFPAktP-bAFPwkrwNngTv2kzI77gqK74yT6Y170rOAIzEg59G/s1600/Serendipity+Saturday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMyusfHSmCEZ_XcQjNMjrJU9oEwCUoNd9-43I7X38i-tlMscqBo_5sPaZUaoZKJ_uwGl0034eHiBaQwVr-eCpQKTSq0nkFPAktP-bAFPwkrwNngTv2kzI77gqK74yT6Y170rOAIzEg59G/s1600/Serendipity+Saturday.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>"...a sweet friendship refreshes the soul."</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>Proverbs 27:9</b></span></div>
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Happy Saturday everyone! <a href="http://patlayton.net/hospitality-reflects-the-heart-of-god/">My very sweet friend PAT LAYTON</a> is hosting me today at her beautiful blog! <a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/">We are also giving away a copy of my book SerenDIPity ~ Celebrating Dips, Faith & Friendship!</a> Grab another cup of coffee and<a href="http://patlayton.net/hospitality-reflects-the-heart-of-god/"> visit Pat's blog by clicking here. </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIsTg86nk4jZeh4j3Mfzu9I16FWeEGPFK1yXBJqOIC14EpUQ_sjKPQzwEhpAIwA7NO9GKESzfVJSctFoiE8KTsgbklzlyGjAJ4crAqE8gr1Eed6WSVkwaVhRhbQAFrHi6nKuBYhQqLrKf/s320/2+3d+flat.png" width="224" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://patlayton.net/hospitality-reflects-the-heart-of-god/">Be sure to leave a comment to enter to win a SerenDIPity book!</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="color: purple;">“He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast…” ~ Proverbs 15:15</span></span></div>
Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-89484374621591631632013-09-30T18:49:00.001-04:002013-10-01T05:13:00.440-04:00Guest Posting at Whitney Capp's Blog ~ SerenDIPity Give-Away!<br />
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“…a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Proverbs
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<a href="http://whitneycapps.blogspot.com/2013/09/serendipity-its-more-than-word.html">I</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://whitneycapps.blogspot.com/2013/09/serendipity-its-more-than-word.html"> am honored and humbled to be guest posting at my very adorable, kind and generous friend Whitney Capp's blog - "Speak When Spoken Through"!</a> (That is my favorite blog name ever!) Whitney loves God, His Word, her family and friends. She demonstrates intrinsic contentment in God's plans and timing. Her humor and humility blend together beautifully in such a way that spurs you on in your own walk with the Lord. Thank you, Whitney, for your enthusiasm, joy and friendship. You are a treasure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are invited to visit Whitney and be sure to enter to win a copy of my book </span><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SerenDIPity - Celebrating Dips, Faith & Friendships!</a><br />
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<a href="http://whitneycapps.blogspot.com/2013/09/serendipity-its-more-than-word.html"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCxB5XDcePghyTY7JTc9r6RRY0htSYvjKwFf7jzH8DJ0mem8u1xMfmeOYHYGe39kWHqiQueeHe_VGgnXrAdZ6_Wb04X7tefH1OHRsuZVtou2rW275zHIXegI8qZP6QtYeNPIKy5NfBv1R/s320/cover.png" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://whitneycapps.blogspot.com/2013/09/serendipity-its-more-than-word.html">I hope to see you over at Whit's place!!</a></span><br />
<br />Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-20655795739166222922013-09-21T13:56:00.001-04:002013-09-23T16:46:41.429-04:00SerenDIPity Saturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdNcEt2vIoynNQFNWceFktpFt17J6wwbvVeV9-G2xCJ6RP4dODXi_RjY_Mt83tQcXc9bl3hF42BVetRLtBw8c7Hmq9nOZSjnOncUtTrOCbh8okP6xnKpOPHO2y9PVRZW8St_TlsAna67N/s1600/Serendipity+Saturday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdNcEt2vIoynNQFNWceFktpFt17J6wwbvVeV9-G2xCJ6RP4dODXi_RjY_Mt83tQcXc9bl3hF42BVetRLtBw8c7Hmq9nOZSjnOncUtTrOCbh8okP6xnKpOPHO2y9PVRZW8St_TlsAna67N/s1600/Serendipity+Saturday.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"Seek to show hospitality."</b> ~ Romans 12:13</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello blog friends! Happy Saturday! I have missed being here with you! Though my heart has been close to Joy In The Truth, my fingers have been tapping away elsewhere as my book <i><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/">SerenDIPity ~ Celebrating Dips, Faith & Friendship</a></i> released just last week!!! I would love for you to visit the SerenDIPity site! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This fun and practical <i>why to </i>and <i>how to </i>book will help you:</span></div>
<ol style="color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 25px;">
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Open up your home and heart through hospitality.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Creatively prepare and execute your own SerenDIPity party.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Set the stage for fun, friends, and fellowship.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learn the ins and outs of hosting fun contests and giveaways.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prepare savory and sweet dips.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Know what to do after the party and how to reach out with SerenDIPity.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Know what the Bible says about hospitality and fellowship.</span></li>
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<a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/share-the-serendipity/"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9-RQFh8lCv2hSW6mY8e27t8O40H2oO4IzgI4zszMQonnqSISbPnjMwkSGvWvXm9OIRY3VncrkKe9ToEGdDHmym1GFDMOo0GoeNCuQJNbK4KqnXExm1AkO3FRxA6OGJ0otb5tOcw-YYZt/s320/SerendipityLogo+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grab a spoon and dip into some free resources!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/serenddipitys-5-days-of-presentation/">Click here and just enter your name to receive five days of dip presentation ideas by our family and friends!</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/serenddipitys-5-days-of-presentation/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWnnQgcF22wMsBCyvyIkYHeOlcyM9anEtTI9ymrMmDuaimWyn3T6gJypMW9S7TyujsHK4VthvIYSwKghGMJb4-3etgk0X7c0CkTvfQfWf2C2tzW5o9OydeyGJEmEdG3hMmOuPg7RLQNrY/s1600/5-days-of-presentationpin1.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/free-printables/">Click here for some free hostess-helpful printables!</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/free-printables/"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFAqXNqgZW7Iedd9XM_VZjQiMSZQoC_V4-ypSEYXhsRcyc2Vh2fQNs6M17wx8QOZH9VIij0sS9lw994pKqVRIrzb_uoYB3QiCwqHTAv7y9f4reoWbMFW5cQpg8ojuO6ZM2_tJb8DUSHRV/s320/printables1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/dollops-of-scripture/">And my favorite -- Dollops of Scripture!</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.serendipitydipsbook.com/dollops-of-scripture/"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-j_b5xO0KzYsOu0KeKoSCsxrFGDQYBIP9CgQmpYo7NVjXObbXs-WHpszPmnps9zS9Zmb41SJmRReeo-KaSaMznblJRzp_NU55rUUN7y6OwGXaTNu3lq9cfiSyrL37m_Bw_wItE966tbIX/s320/hospitality.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/sharonsloan7777/serendipity-~-celebrating-dips-faith-friendships-~/">And of course, you can Pinterest along with SerenDIPity by clicking here!</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/sharonsloan7777/serendipity-~-celebrating-dips-faith-friendships-~/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeq4eFSqoIYt0Z-fydnpp72fbom0JQxEGxW2uX0LAgAyl1TEbDk7oRAWphlfXBA6SVXQhiGl5A5q8vxsNxJnhc6ErwmMQefvX7zRmhDKmV-VBEEjJX4SKwkB-i0707alxvcu2mDYUdgQGX/s1600/Cherry+Cheesecake+Dip.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be sure to check back often as we will be having lots of give-aways in the upcoming weeks, including SerenDIPity book give-aways!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a DIPlightful day!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>“When you have eaten and are satisfied, </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>praise the Lord your God…” </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deuteronomy 8:10</span></span></div>
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Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-87044625679039712412013-06-14T07:44:00.002-04:002013-06-14T08:29:45.715-04:00My Bucket List and An Invitation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ62w1wVxEyjj5bypX84JpOdeLvkHumOrRVkYg4-ruipSp9DIrvpkgOgkC2ofTr7Z9SXEqwnTwTAy67YQYtMI7nekIvQngZhZabBkYHEp_1G_68orOD1sr_Ufi3aQlTVucJG7Aal16H3K/s1600/bucketlist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ62w1wVxEyjj5bypX84JpOdeLvkHumOrRVkYg4-ruipSp9DIrvpkgOgkC2ofTr7Z9SXEqwnTwTAy67YQYtMI7nekIvQngZhZabBkYHEp_1G_68orOD1sr_Ufi3aQlTVucJG7Aal16H3K/s320/bucketlist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"Lord, You established peace for us;</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>all we have accomplished You have done for us...</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Your name alone do we honor."</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Isaiah 26:12-13</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her words took my breath away...in the best of ways. My heart humbled and sweetly hushed, I read her note to me over and over.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"Thank you so much for inviting me to lunch.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>That was the first time I ever went to lunch</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>with a girlfriend."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow. I am stilled by her words. You see, I invited my girlfriend to lunch because <i>she</i> is such a blessing to <i>me</i>. She is one of the kindest people I know, and it was on my heart for many months to invite her to lunch. I just wanted to carve out some time together, to pause our lives for a just a bit and enjoy a meal and fellowship together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I invited her and we set a date, she was gracious enough to meet me during my lunch break from work at a great girlfriend eatery convenient to both of us. Honestly, I felt a little selfish because her joining me for lunch was such a blessing to me. After we enjoyed a leisurely lunch and were getting ready to go back to our usual Monday routines, I said to her:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"I don't have many things on my bucket list, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>but having lunch with you was one of them."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She said, "Really?" Yes, really.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"A sweet friendship refreshes the soul..."</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Proverbs 27:9</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little did I know...this was her first girlfriend lunch...ever. After reading her thank you note I received a few days later, I imagined how she must have felt that day. Was she nervous? Excited? Hesitant? Eager? I thanked the Lord for her willingness and courage to say yes to my invitation for lunch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her first girlfriend lunch ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thanked Him for the privilege and honor of being the one with whom she had her first girlfriend lunch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A simple invitation. A bucket list item now etched into my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's true. I don't have many things on my bucket list. And the items that are on my list mostly involve nourishing relationships in one way or another. I am not much of an adventurer, but I would like to think of myself as an investor. An investor in God's Word and in the relationships with which He has blessed and entrusted to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For my girlfriend and me, both of us being blessed began with an invitation. And through my girlfriend's sweet thank you note, I am reminded again of the importance and significance of reaching out to others through invitations...to lunch, to dinner, for coffee, to take a walk, to pray, to a Bible study, to shop, to chat, to serve together in ministry, to vacation together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many of our family's most meaningful and memorable vacations have been with family or friends who have invited us to join them on theirs, or when we have invited others to join us on ours. We have such fabulous memories of laughter and fun and growing together on vacation with those whom we love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since I was a young girl, I have wanted to visit a rain forest. Studying the rain forest in elementary school was fascinating to me. We didn't have "bucket lists" when I was growing up, but hiking through a rain forest and seeing all of the unique and colorful creations of God is something I have always wanted to do. (There's my shy little adventurous side coming out!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the last few summers, our very good friends extended an invitation to vacation with them in their summer home in Puerto Rico. This summer, we are delighted to be able to say "yes" to that invitation! So, through our friends' lovely invitation, my family will be nourishing these friendships, travelling to beautiful Puerto Rico, learning about and enjoying our friends' culture, and...hiking through El Yunque Rain Forest!! OUR FIRST TIME EVER!! We are very thankful and very excited!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.elyunque.com/"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidG5xAjMowWH0SWLDmAHL8GoFyczuyzC04cADmrOVY5N6shxVCjUsbwfElZ0WeNaSP9D7xJS84LYl14XPqazSnEp7IO6kMpepybqgXurG3l6PySTDfHN_GOUA_rYNCNemPwh36T1sb17-U/s320/rainforest_el_yunque.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bucket lists and invitations. They go hand-in-hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want my heart to always have the love, boldness and humility to extend and receive precious invitations. Who knows...maybe by doing so we are fulfilling a bucket list item for someone whom we hold dear. Maybe it even will be someone's "first time ever" to do something they have always wanted to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reach out. Invite.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbIFx0lzBakuvJzxjSPLIBYxxTDOTM5nyJM3wAt1xuppkkfqL33AL80otpW0TnuNEOdjWuGQzncuQjHvv3O3U_GchuusoXBjzDtCMMMXMwFjAYx0XtAkH364qN-PfHj-Rmvk6GRORyoUh/s1600/beach+bucket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbIFx0lzBakuvJzxjSPLIBYxxTDOTM5nyJM3wAt1xuppkkfqL33AL80otpW0TnuNEOdjWuGQzncuQjHvv3O3U_GchuusoXBjzDtCMMMXMwFjAYx0XtAkH364qN-PfHj-Rmvk6GRORyoUh/s320/beach+bucket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"My times are in Your hands..."</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 31:15</span></div>
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<i>(story of girlfriend's thank you note shared with her permission)</i></div>
Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-32327346983290163362013-06-06T07:00:00.000-04:002013-06-06T07:00:14.023-04:00Without A Word<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMYNJY1gjGOdFtRsDxxM7YVszK_8rNqBuhzGfLCEa5FqsThVTFNzTZ7hSHHOa767J5RAqlWvlzs-8CeTwoqxP1IogrQDb5vJ__ZTKqen4QY4PVgSRlT52YQKTY_F2LQmt1u0S8WIJR86t/s1600/shhh...quiet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #56361c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMYNJY1gjGOdFtRsDxxM7YVszK_8rNqBuhzGfLCEa5FqsThVTFNzTZ7hSHHOa767J5RAqlWvlzs-8CeTwoqxP1IogrQDb5vJ__ZTKqen4QY4PVgSRlT52YQKTY_F2LQmt1u0S8WIJR86t/s1600/shhh...quiet.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 4px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"...in quietness and trust </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">is your strength..."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana;">Isaiah 30:15</span></div>
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<span style="color: #56361c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px;">As His children, sometimes God calls us to speak up and speak out in faith. Sometimes He commands us to be quiet in trust. Both can be challenging, out-of-comfort-zone experiences. Yet obedience to God, in the speaking out or in the hushing up, brings the harvest of His joy and blessings.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #56361c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px;">I find that often our worthiest words are those quietly spoken only to Jesus in prayer. Unspoken to others, our most valuable words are whispered only to the Lord in obedience, trust, humility and self-control. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #56361c; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 20.796875px;">The other morning morning as I was spending time in God's Word, He serendipitously strung the following verses together for me. I love Him for confirming these truths to me! Reading in Genesis, I read this passage in chapter 24. Then He sweetly reminded me of these other verses:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Without saying a word</strong>,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the man watched her closely</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to learn whether or not</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the LORD had made his journey successful.<br /><span class="keywordresultextras">Genesis 24:21</span></span></div>
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<span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over <strong>without words</strong> by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Peter 3:1-2</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="keywordresultextras"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He was oppressed and He was afflicted,<br />Yet <strong>He opened not His mouth</strong>;<br />He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,<br />And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,<br />So <strong>He opened not His mouth</strong>. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Isaiah 53:7</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #56361c; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 20.796875px;">Often times, God's will and purposes in our lives are ushered in as we open our hearts, minds and ears, and open not our mouths. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 20.796875px;"><em>Successful journeys.</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 20.796875px;"><em>Husbands won over to Christ.</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 20.796875px;"><em>Salvation and redemption.</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #56361c; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 20.796875px;">All of this while our mouths are hushed in obedience.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #56361c; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 20.796875px;">Our quietness demonstrates our trust and faith in HIM. He is our Defender, our Redeemer, our Salvation, our Way and our Provider. What glory He receives when He works His purposes through our quietness and trust.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27px;">"…the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: Vivaldi; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27px;">which is of great worth in God’s sight." 1 Peter 3:4</span></div>
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<span style="color: #56361c; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 20.796875px;"><em>Thank You, Lord, for Your faithful Word!!!</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #56361c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20.796875px;">I am honored today to have one of my published devotions "Worthy Words" featured at <a href="http://www.awomaninspiredministry.org/2013/06/worthy-words/">A Woman Inspired Ministry. Please click over and visit...there just may be a surprise waiting there for you!</a> <b>Like an opportunity to win His worthy Word:</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://harvesthousepublishers.com/book/the-daily-bible-2012-trade/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0u3doqD1X0g8337Z7encefqy5ySmJuR5GD1-H0SLOMEqG0zK2x1TiMCCaANMTFrObjiSoc-CoOEevvkM1qNVS01WYWS345XpMaprR69jKe-di7UraXt3VqsFlCf6j15GF6rEGvZYkPNfD/s320/1+Bible.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.awomaninspiredministry.org/2013/06/worthy-words/">Be sure to click over and enter to win!!!!</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><i>"Your word has given me life..."</i></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #741b47;">Psalm 119:50</span></i></span></div>
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Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-82385280484098141862013-05-02T06:00:00.000-04:002013-05-02T06:00:14.416-04:00An 11th Birthday and A Gift<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonzDmnVENZICRHtq4jGO_9luH-oQzuh_trFU1YYCpMOfgzbM0vVNw3_Oy5c6D4spGuGZKs_Kmg1rBK7F4rreYZ_NnyzN4d3c7Zqml3HrkTMXShZWryBKM9GgdQHaN05MTHIWcrq7vxLH5/s1600/sloans+384-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonzDmnVENZICRHtq4jGO_9luH-oQzuh_trFU1YYCpMOfgzbM0vVNw3_Oy5c6D4spGuGZKs_Kmg1rBK7F4rreYZ_NnyzN4d3c7Zqml3HrkTMXShZWryBKM9GgdQHaN05MTHIWcrq7vxLH5/s320/sloans+384-001.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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Our sweet Gabrielle turns 11 today</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A warm welcome to those visiting from my guest post at <a href="http://www.awomaninspiredministry.org/2013/05/a-heart-more-beautiful/">A Woman Inspired Ministry</a>. I am honored to be invited to share there! Thank you Victoria and Amy and all the girls there! You are gracious and kind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as the Lord has orchestrated it, the devotion chosen for publication today is a testimony of God's faithfulness through the heart of a child ~ my Gabrielle ~ when she was only five years old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The devotion <a href="http://www.awomaninspiredministry.org/2013/05/a-heart-more-beautiful/">"A Heart More Beautiful" at A Woman Inspired Ministry </a>was birthed from a painful experience. Yet God was gracious and merciful to bless me with His truth through the words of Gabrielle in 2007. I think back to that day, and I see God's faithfulness still. And I thank Him for Gabrielle, who still gently speaks up in truth, encouragement and in accountability. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just yesterday, I heard Gabrielle gently humming the tune to <a href="http://www.stevegreenministries.org/lyrics/index.php?song=337">Steve Green's scripture song "Do Everything Without Complaining".</a> I stopped and realized I had been grumbling because I was frustrated with a certain household chore. I looked at Gabrielle and said, <i>"Are you humming that song for me?" </i>She lovingly and respectfully replied, <i>"Yep, I am, Mom. You were complaining. You asked me to keep you accountable, and I am."</i> Well, yes she sure is! And I am thankful!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In honor of Gabrielle's birthday and my God-orchestrated post at<a href="http://www.awomaninspiredministry.org/2013/05/a-heart-more-beautiful/"> A Woman Inspired</a> today, I am giving a gift away to one reader who comments over at <a href="http://www.awomaninspiredministry.org/2013/05/a-heart-more-beautiful/">A Woman Inspired</a>! Gabrielle loves God's Word and her morning devotion time. So...I am giving one <a href="http://www.proverbs31.org/store/product/niv-real-life-devotional-bible/">Zondervan NIV Real-Life Devotional Bible</a>!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was honored to be on the editing team for this devotional Bible, under the leadership of<a href="http://www.glynniswhitwer.com/"> Glynnis Whitwer</a>. Included in this Bible are 366 daily devotions by my sweet friends and sisters in Christ at <a href="http://www.proverbs31.org/">Proverbs 31 Ministries </a>that encourage you to live wholeheartedly devoted to Christ.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.proverbs31.org/store/product/niv-real-life-devotional-bible/"><img src="http://media.zondervan.com/images/product/original/9780310439363.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.awomaninspiredministry.org/2013/05/a-heart-more-beautiful/">Just leave a comment here:<b> A Heart More Beautiful! </b></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Be sure to leave your contact information.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy 11th Birthday Gabrielle!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We love you so much!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"The King delights in your beauty;</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>honor Him, for He is your Lord."</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 45:11</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WBXvI1XH3ckWfupR_TqWR8-E61u0gGsU0eViFlolZOhhj7ib4CxzBKn611eE33wfVx0VcgwOQZBGmVLce75cZ5pf7C-0Ph3A3b4hGhjGUjdLf4_4lzzs1zqzi3EXPu25A4f_xBfJVmHB/s1600/Anne's+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WBXvI1XH3ckWfupR_TqWR8-E61u0gGsU0eViFlolZOhhj7ib4CxzBKn611eE33wfVx0VcgwOQZBGmVLce75cZ5pf7C-0Ph3A3b4hGhjGUjdLf4_4lzzs1zqzi3EXPu25A4f_xBfJVmHB/s320/Anne's+wedding.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"There is only One who is good..."</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Matthew 19:17</b></span></div>
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<br />Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445254029919038335.post-12090520912703946882013-04-30T06:18:00.001-04:002013-04-30T06:18:04.705-04:00I Have Been Changed ~ Glory to God!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30OzRrabg-RSuxDbiO8AIBl6cNoqhLxySL_5FRHUMFOUe2ohm1zXVXzatbnEHmzWsy5iU4GAfqoDubRV3HHQcLPaFOv_n53VAoK-JM1gko4BfBBP0GiHjGt-yKAhCdxpuNmziGzxqlfJw/s1600/Bryon+Tate+April+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30OzRrabg-RSuxDbiO8AIBl6cNoqhLxySL_5FRHUMFOUe2ohm1zXVXzatbnEHmzWsy5iU4GAfqoDubRV3HHQcLPaFOv_n53VAoK-JM1gko4BfBBP0GiHjGt-yKAhCdxpuNmziGzxqlfJw/s320/Bryon+Tate+April+2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"Whoever welcomes one little child like this</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>in My name welcomes Me."</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Matthew 18:5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>This is part 3 of my dear friend Nancy's testimony about how God has changed her life and the lives of her family through a precious little child.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://joyinthetruth.blogspot.com/2013/03/backspace-moving-toward-brokenness.html">Part One - Backspace ~ Moving Toward Brokenness </a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://joyinthetruth.blogspot.com/2013/03/comfort-in-wilderness.html">Part Two - Comfort In The Wilderness</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Here's Nancy....</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been changed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It started on October 5, 2011, and it is
still happening. The day I learned of this boy, my “heart surgery” began. Heart surgery is term to describe the complete upheaval of my selfishness. I started to
see the value of THIS life on earth in a different way. I started to question
how seriously I believed the words of the Bible. Did I believe these words
enough to truly exchange what others would think for something I knew Jesus
would think highly of?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure
and faultless in this: to look after widows and orphans in their distress and
to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”</b> James 1:27</span><o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I began to develop a keen awareness that I no
longer wanted my minutes on earth to be wasted on things that will evaporate.
God had showed me in the photo of an abandoned boy what is truly valuable to
Him. The things that force us to crucify our flesh and move others into
position AHEAD of ourselves and our selfishness are the things that carry
WEIGHT for eternity. The things that move our hearts and the hearts of others
toward the feet of Jesus are the things that carry TRUE value. Wow. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been
changed.<o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Were it not for the heart change, how would I
ever be willing or able to give up my desires for rest and free time? I
wouldn't. Were it not for heart change, how would I rejoice in the sacrifice of
“me” for a desperately weak boy? Impossible without the heart change and the eternal vision that can only come from having my eyes opened by the Savior. <o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>“But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in
and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”</b> Matthew 6:20, 21 </span><o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been difficult to squeeze the last 17
months of our journey with Bryon into three parts. I have felt led to conclude
this series by giving the glory to God by telling some of the countless
miracles He has done on behalf of Bryon and our family. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every day of this
journey with Bryon in our home has been a reminder to me that our God is
intimately concerned with every aspect of our lives. My favorite part of this
realization is the fact that, just as the Bible says, <span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>“The Lord is a refuge for
the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” </b>(Psalm 9:9) </span>This is true. He
leans in closely when we call His name. When we are too weak to cry out, He is
still there, leaning in. He is leaning in to Bryon. He always has been. I have
clearly seen this is the ways God Himself has stepped in and made things happen
in favor of Bryon's survival and future.<o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have seen first-hand that, although there a
many great doctors at CHOP, God Himself is the Great Physician at the
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. A friend had to remind me of that during
one of our scary times there. Through many terrifying times where I feared the
death of this boy, The Great Physician was there holding him. Holding me. <o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since day one of this journey, I became aware
that this little boy was in the palm of God's hand. I have had to remind myself
often, though, and consciously place him back there many times. From the very
beginning, it became clear to us that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was
also the God of an abandoned little boy from Haiti. This boy's Heavenly Father has His tender and mighty hand
on a curly, little head, and has been carrying him to safe places all along.
Amazing. <o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We found Bryon because of Facebook and because
God showed him to me. Say what you will about social media, but through it, we
became aware of a boy in need of medical care and a family. Initially, what
should have been a return trip to Haiti for a desperately fragile boy having
received none of the care he had been brought to our country to receive and
would surely end in his death, became the BEGINNING of a new life – for our
whole family.<o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our first of many six-month visa extensions was
granted in late November 2011. It cost just about an arm and a leg, but it was
granted. It never should have happened, but it did. God did that. <b>Miracle.</b><o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had been relocated through my husband's
former company to Philadelphia, just over a year earlier, in the summer of 2010
– home of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a world-renowned hospital.
God knew this boy would be coming to Philadelphia, even before he was born, and
had positioned us where we needed to be in His perfect timing. <b>Miracle. </b>Tender,
loving care from God.<o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These words hang over his crib to today. <span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>“Before
I made you I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart.” </b>(Jeremiah 1:5)</span> So
true.<o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we began the adoption process, we became
aware that it would be nearly impossible to complete. It was going to require
blind faith through a series of circumstances which seemed insurmountable.
Children with special needs are not readily adoptable from Haiti. And this
child with special needs was far beyond your typical child with a club foot or
cleft palate. Disabled by cerebral palsy, blind, tube fed, in need of breathing
assistance – you name it. That is how special he is. Add to the special needs
obstacle, a birth mom that needed to be located, or a death certificate
produced. Either task seemingly impossible. A birth certificate was going to be
required for this boy's file to even make it into Haitian social services. How would
we find it? We needed a miracle and that is what we got. Again. <b>Miracle.</b><o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Birth mom was FOUND due to the tireless efforts
of<a href="http://www.givinghopehaiti.org/"><b> Giving Hope Rescue Mission </b></a>throughout the island of Haiti. This young girl
even went to get a new birth certificate issued for our adoption. Seriously??
<b>Miracle.</b> Again. That was it. We were in. Our file was in. It was in the safe
zone (two words Haitian adoptive parents long to hear)<b> Ridiculous miracle.</b> Two
words I have become accustomed to saying over and over lately. Clearly, God was
up to something and had plans for this curly-headed boy. <o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And now we wait for another miracle. We need our
dispensation signed by the Haitian President. It states that we have three
biological children, which is currently more than the legally-allowed number of
ZERO. <o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime, just a few weeks ago, after a few
scares via email and much prayer, God granted favor once again to Bryon.
During a phone call with the medical mission which manages Bryon's visa, and
its extensions, and to whom I report weekly with medical updates, there was
another miracle. After a lengthy conversation with the new staff member
managing our file, I described the ins and outs of the past 17 months. She was
speechless. She honestly had no idea what we have all been through and had not
been aware of how fragile Bryon is. I told her how God had made a way through
our insurance to cover the over $300,000 worth of hospital procedures in the
last 17 months. Aside from a large deductible for which we are responsible
each year, his surgeries and admissions are 100% covered. She was blown away
and even exclaimed, <i>“God has a plan for this little boy.” </i>She then told me of
her plan to file for ONE YEAR extensions, as opposed to the 6 month extensions
we had been using thus far. This would hopefully cover us and prevent a return
to Haiti for Bryon prior to receiving our adoption decree.<b> Mir-a-cle. </b><o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The phone call had started out with a little
“bite” to it. I immediately picked up on her tone when I answered and she
introduced herself. I did my best to quickly disarm the woman and make sure my
voice was “smiling” right away. God honored it. Just a few minutes into our 45
minute discussion, she was figuring out ways to HELP us. Amazing, considering
the past several weeks seemed to have been an exercise in hindering us. I had
asked many to pray for several days prior. <b>Miracle. </b>That morning, without
knowing she was even going to call me, I had prayed, <i>“Lord, this is too heavy
for my shoulders. All these ins and outs with Haitian and American governments,
on top of daily caring for him. Too much for my shoulders. Your shoulders are
way bigger than mine. I am placing this burden there and trusting you to
continue working on Bryon's behalf. You have never failed.” </i>Faithful God.
Faithful and true. He had done it. Again. <b>Miracle.</b> And a quick one at that!!<o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have a way to go in the waiting. We have a
lifetime of medical challenges and therapies ahead. But amazingly, when my eyes
are fixed on eternity, rather than life on earth, it is that much sweeter when
I snuggle him to my neck. So many times I feel like I am kissing the cheeks of
Jesus Himself. Especially when I lean over him in his crib knowing he can not
see me, but he can HEAR me and SMELL me. I lean in and say, <i>“Mama loves you.”
</i>He sighs and says, “ahhhhhh...”<o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We serve a God who cares about every little
piece of it all. He is at work on behalf of Bryon and His timing is always
perfect. Through it, I am learning how faith works. Faith means I step forward because
I know I SHOULD, not because I know what is ahead of me. Faith means I trust
the One whose promises I know. It means I don't question what I am asked to do,
because I can rest in knowing He knows the best methods for giving me His best.
This life is dress rehearsal for eternity. We easily fill it up with things
that have no eternal value or weight. Things that will pass away. I want to
make sure I am in full costume and ready for my cue when the curtain opens.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“And now, O Lord </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps;">God</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">, </span></b></span><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">You are God, </span></b></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and Your words are </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">true</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">, </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and You have </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">promise</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">d this goodness to Your servant."</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 Samuel 7:28</span></div>
Sharon Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10578787930211780461noreply@blogger.com0