Living in Amazing Grace

THE KNIGHTLY NEWS: Would YOU like to go to Egypt?

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:57:00 +0000

This mission-minded Sister in Christ needs your help to go to Egypt on a short-term mission to help children who live near a dump in Egypt. Would you please pray for her? Read her story and see where your heart leads you. THE KNIGHTLY NEWS: Would YOU like to go to Egypt?

Guatemala---A Prayer of Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:08:00 +0000

My hope is that you can find the time during your day to read this prayer of thanks from a mission team member who was just there at the malnutrition center with a group of teenagers who gave up their Christmas vacation to care for the children who have no family. God is leading me there in March of this year and I cannot wait to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the least of these. Has God put it in your heart to go on a short-term mission? FBCH International Childcare: January 1, 2011

My Verse For The Year

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Over the last few days, I have been thinking about goals for the year, things to accomplish, and resolutions. As the list changed, I realized that I wanted to put God first in everything I do.

So instead of posting a long list of must do, should do, want to do; I found this verse. Keeping to this verse wil ensure that no matter what I do this year, God will lead my way...not me.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

Dont' try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

He is the one who will keep you on track.

Don't assume that you know it all.

Proverbs 3:5-4-The Message

We can still make life goals for the year, but I think we need to start with Him first and tell Him. He is always faithful to guide our steps.

Blessings to You,

Guatemala-Will You Help Me Reach My Goal?

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 17:13:00 +0000

I am so close to raising the money I need to go on a mission trip to the Children's Malnutrition Center in Guatemala with Orphan's Heart. This will be my first mission trip, but not my last.

I still need $350 to complete my portion of the trip costs. My hope is that other people would want to help me reach this important goal to help these orphaned children in Guatemala.

Here is Maria who was 10 months old when she came to the center, weighing only 10 pounds.

If you feel as though you want to help, you can click on the link at the top right corner of my blog (Orphan's Heart) make a tax-deductible donation. You will receive a letter from Orphan's Heart for your tax purposes. Even $1 helps.

The verse that holds me tight to my mission to GO wherever I can--

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” ~~Proverbs 31:8-9

May God Bless You,

Patty

Looking Back-A Year In Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 15:18:00 +0000

I started 2010 by reading the Bible in 90 Days...what a way to start the year!! There is a new 90-Day Challenge starting January, 3, 2011. If you are interested, visit Amy's blog at Mom's Toolbox!!

My daughter was baptized in March of 2010

My oldest daughter gave the gift of life to a dear friend of hers who could not have a child on her own.

We took a trip to Busch Gardens where we saw this pure white peacock!

I received my very first passport so I can go on a mission trip to Guatemala

Halloween was a fun time with the grandkids. Here is a picture of a banyan tree in Punta Gorda where we take the kids to trick or treat. (My daughter, grandson, and I are in the tree)

the rest of the grandkids

I received my mission trip package from Orphan's Heart (I was supposed to go this month, but due to my TIA in December, my trip has been moved to March)

Christmas Eve

My youngest granddaughter singing a song during the Pastor reading the Christmas Story

Her sister singing the next song in the story

My youngest daughter with her daughter with their candles

My oldest daughter, her husband, and their family with their candles.

Papa reading the Twas the Night Before Christmas

It has been a great year, growing in my faith every day and living in God's amazing grace.

I have had struggles with the holidays and my grandkids, though. They all go to church and Awana, and love the Lord with all their hearts. So I did struggle with the whole "Santa" issue. We read through the Advent readings from Ann Voskamp and talked a lot about Jesus' birth. They know it and believe in Him. However, we have had the tradition of reading Twas the Night Before Christmas ever since my daughters were little. There are three of them left that are still young and believe in Santa too.

Maybe someone reading this has experienced this. How have you dealt with small children who believe in the Lord with all their hearts, but still believe there is a Santa too?

John Lennon - Happy Christmas music video

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 17:33:00 +0000

Happy Birthday Jesus - Christmas...

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:38:00 +0000

A beautiful story told by Burl Ives..a must see! Happy Birthday Jesus - Christmas... Free Religious Blessings eCards, Greetings from 123greetings.com

Yes, Virginia, You’d Better Believe there Really is » A Holy Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:38:00 +0000

Ann's story of seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls while on exhibit in Canada. Ann makes you feel like you are right there with her and the children. Yes, Virginia, You’d Better Believe there Really is » A Holy Experience

Guatemala---A Decision

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:16:00 +0000

I needed His grace for sure on Tuesday! I am supposed to be going on a mission trip to the Children's Malnutrition Center in Guatemala on January 22nd. But last Friday, I was taken to the ER by ambulance after experiencing a mini-stroke (TIA).

After being surrounded by prayer from my pastor and my family, with their hands on me, my blood pressure, which was extremely high for me, immediately dropped to close to normal. I felt the warmth and presence of God around me.

Now that I am home recuperating, the decision had to be made whether I would be strong enough within one month to make the trip, not being a burden to the team or the children.

I prayed for guidance to make this decision. I didn't want to let the team down since the plane tickets were already reserved, but I also knew I needed to be at my best. I also knew I might lose the $400 that was already graciously donated for my airline reservation.

I was prompted to look at the team page and see when I could go in the next few months and found another trip with the team in March.

I called Florida Baptist Children's Home and told them my situation. They called the travel agency and found that I could in fact change my ticket to March by having my doctor provide a letter stating that I should not go in January. They also told me that I would NOT lose the $400, but that it would just be applied to the March trip. They were so understanding and gracious.

I knew then that He had helped me make the right decision.

This is a picture of one of the sweet little children at the malnutrition center that I will touch with the hands of Jesus in March.

More about my trip as it gets closer...

Grace In The Days

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:12:00 +0000

I have many days when I am so busy in the "getting going on my day" that I forget to seek Him first. I look for Him when the past is too much...aching...ready to break me. I look for Him when the pain of fibromyalgia is ready to break me and I am not sure how much more I can take. I look for Him so many times during each day, and I thank Him each night for the graces of the day....

But I am learning to start the day, new, with His saving grace before anything happens. Starting my days with Him...not waiting until I need Him...because He gives me a gift each day if only I will ask for it...grace...and He deserves that moment with me.

Paul speaks of His grace so well in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 The Message:

And then He told me,

My grace is enough; it's all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen.

I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift.

It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.

Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks.

I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

So I go, seeking Him first and foremost through the days...

Shareworthy Links 11/30/2010

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 06:30:00 +0000

Free Jesse Tree Advent Devotional Book » A Holy Experience
What a beautiful treasure from Ann to her readers!!

tags: Advent

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Giving Thanks…

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:39:00 +0000

David blessed God in full view of the entire congregation:
    Blessed are you, God of Israel, our father
      from of old and forever.
   To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might,
      the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor;
   Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth;
      the kingdom all yours! You've raised yourself high over all.
   Riches and glory come from you,
      you're ruler over all;
   You hold strength and power in the palm of your hand
      to build up and strengthen all.
   And here we are, O God, our God, giving thanks to you,
      praising your splendid Name.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13—The Message

Shareworthy Links 11/13/2010

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 06:30:00 +0000

The Hands and Feet of Jesus in Guatemala Thursday: 11.11.10
Read the story of "gozo" (Joy) and "Four Houses in Four Days" in Guatemala. Many pictures too!! I can't wait to bring "gozo" to the children in January!!

tags: fbch childcare international

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Shareworthy Links 11/07/2010

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 05:30:00 +0000

FBCH International Childcare in Guatemala Pics 11-04-10
Many pictures from the malnutrition center in Guatemala. There will be no team down there at Christmas and so the workers held a Christmas party for the team

tags: fbch childcare international

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Shareworthy Links 11/05/2010

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 06:30:00 +0000

Hands and Feet of Jesus in Guatemala----Pictures!!
Pictures of the sweet children at the malnutrition center in Guatemala

tags: fbch childcare international Orphan's
The Hands and Feet of Jesus in Guatemala
These stories from Guatemala are why I am GOing!!

tags: fbch childcare international

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Shareworthy Links 11/04/2010

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 06:30:00 +0000

MissionTrips.net - Annotated

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Shareworthy Links 11/03/2010

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:30:00 +0000

FBCH International Childcare: Rescue the Perishing
Amazing how 10 much older team members can help the 70 children at the home this time.

tags: fbch childcare

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Multitude Monday~~~1,000 Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:39:00 +0000

84. Children loving the Lord at a “Night of Lights”

83. My Sisters in Christ who gave generously to my mission trip to Guatemala for the children…to cover the cost of my airfare….another God thing!

82. God’s answer of exact yard sale “sales” of $250 for the deposit needed for my mission trip….only God can do something like that…to the penny!

81. The older loving daughter and granddaughter who baked for the love of children in Guatemala….to sell at my yard sale

80. The youngest daughter who helped get my yard sale ready for the love of the children in Guatemala

79. God’s loving answer when I almost gave up on my yard sale because of the fear of “invisibility” in real life that I feel here at my blog. He made me see that it wasn’t about me….it was about the children in Guatemala…and HE was in control of all of it

78. Another abandoned animal to add to the rest…to give love to my grandchildren

You can see all of my previous gifts on Multitude Monday. Please consider starting your own gratitude list for Multitude Monday. Check out Holy Experience by Ann Voskamp…it may change our life!!

Contest For A Cause-Win A Bracelet CLOSED-NO ENTRIES

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 12:12:00 +0000

I am working hard to raise the funds needed for my mission trip to the Children’s Malnutrition Center in Guatemala. God has put this on my heart to GO to help these babies who are malnourished and need physical and spiritual healing.

This necklace will be purchased from The Hunger Site and will also fund 25 cups of food to the hungry somewhere around the world.

I had hoped to have many items available for this giveaway, but unfortunately, my email requests for donated items went unanswered. But that’s okay, I love this bracelet and I know you will too.
To learn more about the mission I am going on just click here.

Below is a picture of Maria who is two years old, but only weighed 10 pounds when she came to the center. These poor babies, many of them, come from the garbage dumps in and around the area.

The Contest!!

For ever $1 that you donate by clicking the “Donate” button on the right sidebar, you will receive an entry into the drawing for the necklace, which again will also supply 25 cups of food to the hungry around the world.

MANDATORY ENTRY!!!
You MUST leave a comment telling me the amount of your donation!! I will enter each dollar by commenter into a spreadsheet in the order the comments come in. At the end of the giveaway, I will use Random.org to pick the winner.

EXTRA ENTRIES!!
1. Subscribe to my blog by email or Google Friend Connect. Leave a comment.
2. Follow me on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter ID
3. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. Leave a comment with the tweet.

4. Post on Facebook and leave a comment.

If donating is not something you can do right now, please consider praying for the children at the center, and for me to raise the funds to GO: Children's Malnutrition Center of Guatemala.

If you do decide to donate, I thank you from the bottom of my heart that you would care about these children enough to help me GO!

You can learn more about this mission by reading my earlier posts.

Blessings to you all,
Patty

Shareworthy Links 10/29/2010

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 06:30:00 +0000

http://www.thebridgemaker.com/you-are-free/
Great post about forgiveness

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Shareworthy Links 10/24/2010

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 06:30:00 +0000

The Hands and Feet of Jesus in Guatemala-Last Day- 10-21-10
Words from the team on the last day:"Today was an incredibly difficult day, but we left knowing that we have been obedient, we have served as God’s hands and feet this week, and we have made a difference in the lives of 66 precious little lives, by sharing the love of Jesus with them. As we drove away, many of us were still fighting back sobs, but all of us were already wondering when we can return."

tags: fbch childcare Orphan's

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Shareworthy Links 10/22/2010

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 06:30:00 +0000

Gatlinburg Cabin Rentals | Pigeon Forge Cabins: 1 - 2 bedrooms - Annotated
The Hands and Feet of Jesus in Guatemala 10-20-10 Pics
The team builds a house to reunite a mother with her children from the Malnutrition Center. The rest of the team play with the children and care for the littlest ones

tags: fbch international Heart

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Shareworthy Links 10/21/2010

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 06:30:00 +0000

The Hands and Feet of Jesus in Guatemala Pics 10-19-10
This mission team is from West Virginia and Florida. I wish I was there already

tags: fbch childcare Orphan's Heart

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Shareworthy Links 10/13/2010

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:30:00 +0000

Because They’re Worth It -- October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month---Take some time to read this post from Kathleen

tags: Prayers
God's Promise For You

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Multitude Monday~~1,000 Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Patty Coleman) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:43:00 +0000

77. Friends I met through Freecycle who came to our church this morning

76. A granddaughter who cleaned her sister’s room so her mom would pay her $10 to give to grandma to put in her jar for her mission trip to help the babies in Guatemala

75. Raising enough money through my family to apply for my United States passport to Guatemala

74. Watching the birds enjoy broccoli…they love it!

73. My silly grandson taking pictures of the birds….and himself

72. Grandkids enjoying tent camping in the living room…it was too wet outside

71. Slightly cooler temperatures in the mornings and evenings

You can see all of my previous gifts on Multitude Monday. Please consider starting your own gratitude list for Multitude Monday. Check out Holy Experience by Ann Voskamp…it may change our life!!