I was thinking how hard and how delightful parenting can be sometimes. I have to remind myself every so often that it’s always worth it even though it’s not always easy, or immediately gratifying. Often times, I can come home to time with the kids and it is a joyful and life-giving thing for me.…
I was so excited to report that our pictorial directories were on their way! We set up volunteers, were ready to track received directories, and within minutes of handing out the first directory, a flaw was reported. I take the blame, and ask your forgiveness, for the mistakes in the printed portion. Corrected info inserts…
God has big dreams for us and created us to personally have a relationship with Him. We are called to know and trust the voice of our shepherd so we can listen and follow Him. But if we cannot identify what His voice specifically sounds like to us, we can’t respond. Chances are, if you…
I’ve been noticing more lately as my kids are growing, how fast time goes… It was almost 4 years ago already we moved to the Keokuk area! I’ve had a son since, who’s already running around. And my daughter has grown, learned to walk, and talk, and starting kindergarten soon! Somehow before my eyes, time…
Recently I completed a quilt comprised of embroidered hand-print squares. Arranging the quilt took placing all the pieces on the floor, standing back to see how they “fit”, then rearranging. Once completed the quilt looked better than I imagined. I thanked God for the time and the ability to complete this project. As I thought…
This is always the time of year I like to spotlight our wonderful Newsletter Ladies! If you’re not sure what our Newsletter Ladies do, let me help out. They are very dedicated, they show up week after week (unless I give them a week off due to holidays, etc.), they insert, fold, apply wafer seals,…
Have you ever found yourself focused on the same unproductive thoughts over and over like a hamster running his heart out but not getting anywhere? Joseph did in the Old Testament when he had to deal with the mental pain of being tossed into a pit by his brothers and sold into slavery in a…
I love worship here at First Christian Church. Each of our services is unique and spiritually nourishing in its own way. But today I want to highlight our Saturday night worship that meets in the sanctuary at 5:35pm, because I think it is, in many ways, a hidden treasure. So often I hear people say,…
At the close of each year, I take the Guest Cards we collect throughout the year, and do some tallying. Which service(s) guests attended, what town they’re from etc. The results of one category are particularly revealing. Out of the 29 who responded to the question: “How did you hear about us?”, 24 circled “Invited…
Take II for the little things in life! Once upon a time when I would give “tours” of our building and our Fellowship Hall for use of outside events, turning off lights (among other things) are on the check off list. I would show them where to place trash when done and where to find…