the-richmonds.net

If you would please check our Xanga page (there is a link to the right --->), I have posted some information about a ministry I would love for you all to check out!  It has been placed on my heart, and my eyes have been opened to a serious problem.  If you could just spend a few minutes and learn more about Women At Risk, International and pray for this ministry and the women being affected, it would make a huge difference in the lives of others!  Thanks for your time!

Every once in a while, I stumble across a song that just seems to fit into my life and it "catches".  Yesterday while I was out driving, I heard a song on WLMW (a local Christian radio station that we barely get reception for) that hit me right where I'm at.  I had to Google a few words from the chorus to find out what it was, since the DJs on that station must assume we know every song being played.

I found out that the song was by a group called The Kry, and I know nothing about them (besides what I learned at their website, including the fact that they are French).  It is called "Take My Hand", and it must be one of their lesser-known songs, since I couldn't find much information about it on any of their discography or Wikipedia articles.  But I haven't been able to get it out of my head since I heard it.  The chorus is as follows:

Take My hand and walk where I lead
Keep your eyes on Me alone
Don't you say "why were the old days better?"
Just because you're scared of the unknown
Take My hand and walk where I lead
You will never be alone
Faith is to be sure of what you hope for
And the evidence of things unseen
So take My hand and walk

I just think it's really neat how God can put a song in your heart that is so appropriate for what you are going through in your life at a given time.  As I stand on the brink of a major transition in my life, uncertain of what exactly the future holds for me and my family, I take comfort in knowing that the future is not unknown to our Father.  As I listen to this song, it reinforces the mindset that I need to have: focusing on Christ alone, knowing He is right there with me, and that all things will work together for His good.

Our God is such an Awesome God! 

Just a few weeks ago, it seemed as if we had no options available to us, that we would have to struggle through with trying to cut our expenses tremendously, and taking on secondary employment to help pay the bills and get back ahead.

Since we have committed our situation to the Lord (which we have always known, but we have made a conscious realization that we need His help and guidance), many doors have opened to us as options. Some that may help us to acheive our long-term dreams into reality at an accelerated pace.

A week ago last Friday, our regional manager for Books Are Fun called us and told us that she was leaving the company to become a full-time mother. I spoke with her at length about the possibility of my filling her position. I'm not sure what my chances are (I'd say they should be pretty good), but I'm going to throw my resumé into the running for the position. Books Are Fun will be making no decisions until after the first of the year. If it pans out for me, it would mean being able to work from home, and it would mean not having to worry about finding a place to store the books while we are renting a place to live for the next year or so. It would also mean that I would be an employee for BAF, which would entitle me to benefits, where I am now a contractor and have to pay for all of my own "benefits".

My manager also mentioned to me that the rep that covers corporate accounts in Maine will be stepping down at the end of this season, which may allow us to step in to cover the territory while transitioning myself into the construction business that Bob and I have always said we would operate together... (If you are reading this before I get a chance to talk to you, Bob, just act surprised when I call you tonight or tomorrow!)

We are very much at peace with our situation, despite the uncertainty of everything that is happening. We have put everything entirely in the Lord's hands, and we are ready and willing to go wherever He leads us. All options are open to us at this point, and we're excited to be able to break free of the financial bonds to this physical address and be available to be used wherever the Lord can use us!

Again, thank you to everyone for your continued prayer support. We can feel the power of your prayers on our behalf! There is NO way that we would be feeling so at peace about our situation if it weren't for the Lord's comforting in our lives!

This weekend, our church had a children's clothing swap! I can't believe the amount of clothing that was donated! All sorts of things! I went pretty early and ended up with 2 bags full of goodies! I was looking for dresses for this summer and some 9 to 12 month clothes for this fall! I found a rain coat and a snow suit(which happened to be from L.L. Bean!!) and some very cute little sun bonnets!! I even found some books! There was so much stuff, from newborn stuff to maternity clothes! It was great! It is so nice that there are things like this that allow us to stock up on nice clothes and not have to spend a dime! It is fantastic... most of the clothes are hardly worn... Recycling is wonderful!! I even picked up a few things for our neighbor, Jay!!

And to make our Mother's Day all the more special, MVBC gave the Mothers a coupon for a Free Cold Stone Creamery Creation!!!! So this afternoon, we went over and had our ice cream!! We got waffle bowls and split a Germanchocolatkake and a Mint, Peppermint patty, fudge ice cream!! It was so good... and the best part is ... WE HAVE LEFT OVERS!!! Who would have thunk it, left over ice cream!! Cool beans! We let Hannah have a few small licks off the spoon... and she just loved it so much!! She was in my arms and had her mouth open the whole time... feed me mommy!! There was a tablefull of cute little older ladies behind us, and when they left all I heard from each of them was... She has her mouth wide open, she wants more ice cream!! It was funny!

I've been biting my tongue for several weeks now... can't hold it any longer.

What's the deal with the ADD nature of Sunday Morning Worship? Is this the latest trend, or is it just our church? I miss hymns and hymnbooks. Powerpoint might be the greatest thing that's ever happened to worship services, but it drives me crazy! Now we can sing one stanza of 5 different hymns instead of one complete hymn. Just when you are getting into one song, it changes!

Also - there are less and less people that know the counter-melodies for many of the old hymns (Wonderful Grace of Jesus, for example). These were fun songs to sing from the hymnbook, but you just don't get the same effect from the words on the screen. Maybe if they put the actual music on the screen instead of just the words, it would be a little better....

Okay, I'm done ranting now. Just wanted to say that I think hymn-jumping during the service is counter-productive, because it distracts me from worship rather than building me towards it.