What are you thankful for?

So Thanksgiving is just a few days away and everywhere you go, people are asking THE question – What are you thankful for?  You can’t get away from it – it’s on Twitter, Facebook, emails, television.  I was just about to turn in for the night when I saw a post from a friend on facebook so I pondered the question.  With all that has happened to me and my family this past year, I could say that I have a lot to be unthankful for.  And my spirit is at a low point right now, so it’s very easy for me to be bitter and give in to unthankfulness.  I mean really… I lost my job to a company in Singapore, I can’t get approval for the training I want, my husband is battling with his health, we have some “family” problems, finances are strained to say the least, a very dear friend recently passed on to be with our Lord, and my list goes on and on and on.

At this point I’m wondering just how I’m supposed to be salt and light to those around me.  What must others be thinking about me as a Christian?  What kind of example am I?  Where is  my faith?  Am I that weak?  What must Jesus be thinking right now?  How did I ever get into this mess, or better yet, how am I going to get out???  Lord, I know that You know the plans You have laid for me, but could You let me in on how this is all gonna turn out?  I’d settle for a sneak peek because right now, things don’t look so good.  I think I’m lost and going in circles in the valley of the shadow of death because I know I’ve seen this place several times now and these look my footprints!

And then, as always, God, my Father, Master and Creator of the Universe and of all that is seen and unseen, tells me, every little thing, is gonna be alright.  I’m folding my daughters laundry and a Bob Marley T-shirt appears and the song pops into my head.  I keep folding clothes and then I replay a commercial for a movie coming on television directed by Garth Brooks, Unanswered Prayers and the song pops into my head.

I then realize that while I lost my job, I am getting unemployment, even if it is only 60% of my take home pay.  If I was working or in school right now, I would not be able to focus on my husbands health – especially now that he is in the hospital.  I know I am going to get some kind of training, even if it isn’t what I wanted and then pursue another career path.  My husband does have a lot of health issues, but he has overcome so much and God has blessed us where he still has a job.  As for family problems, aside from praying for them, there isn’t much I can do to change them, and it just makes me more determined not to follow in their footsteps.  Our finances took a downward turn when I lost my job back in 2004 and the job market is so bad that not being able to find similar employment has hurt us, but then again, it has hurt so many families in our country.  We have a roof over our heads, transportation, food on the table and health insurance.  So many people have none of these things.  I have lost people close to my heart and I miss them, but I rejoice because they are no longer suffering and I KNOW I WILL SEE THEM AGAIN!  I just pray that when it is my turn to leave this earth, I will be prepared and when I face my Lord, He will say to me, “Well done thy good and faithful servant.”

So, I am thankful.  I am thankful for my family and my friends.  I am thankful for all the good and the bad and even the ugly – although I will admit that while I’m going through the bad and ugly I can’t see a reason at that moment to be thankful, it usually takes a while for that part to kick in.

I am thankful when I open my eyes to a new day.  I am thankful that I am in my right mind, most of the time.  I can walk, talk, hear, see and feel.  I am free to pray to my God.  I am free to read what I want, write what I want, and talk to whom I want without fear of punishment.

In closing I will simply say, if you’ve made it this far in my rambling, thanks for reading.  And Lord, thanks for sticking with me.  Thanks for it all.

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs
That just because He doesn’t answer doesn’t mean He don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers – Garth Brooks

Invitation to Share the Gospel & bless the Lord in Israel

My dear brother in Christ Yeshua sent me an email asking me to post on my blog.  It is my utmost pleasure to do so and pray that God blesses them and is glorified through their work.

Dear Briggie,

Can you post this on the "There is Power in Prayer through Yeshua Ha’ Mashiach!" site, it is from the Brian Slater Ministry in Israel. I know Brian personally and trying to help him get this out to as many believers as possible using his email address. Thank you Briggie. Daniel

  Brian & Racheli Slater are two Jewish believers whose lives have been turned around by the unconditional love of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. Brian was raised in California, & is a certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor, as well as a licensed nurse. Racheli is a native-born Israeli – a Sabra – who serves other believers in her job as an administrator.
We live with our three children near Netanya, Israel.
Our vision is to share the love of God with the poor, the needy, widows, single mothers, prostitutes, drug addicts & Holocaust survivors — & to see them come to know Yeshua personally.
We help them with food, clothing, furniture, free medical care, counseling services & more – through several soup kitchen, distribution & rehabilitation centers that we manage.
Our ministry outreach cannot progress without the support of local believers and believers from around the world. We are very grateful for prayer & financial support, which are fundamental. However, there is a continual need in our ministry for hands-on volunteers to make a greater impact.
Short term and long term volunteers are welcome.
You & your group can make your visit to Israel count for eternity, by touching the daily lives of Israeli people. You can serve in a unique way — working beside Jewish & Arab believers in the Land as they administer humanitarian aid & comfort in the name of Yeshua, Jesus (Isaiah 40:1).
Our soup kitchens serve over 800 hot meals monthly, to needy Israelis. In addition, we also give out dry food parcels, clothing & Bibles.
You & your group can be part of this in several ways as followed: help cook & serve the meals, clean up, distribute clothing & food parcels – or even minister through music & prayer.
Your presence as a servant not only ministers to the poor & needy – a mandate found in Isaiah 58:7 — but it also eases the burden local believers carry – to spread the good news of Yeshua, Jesus to our people.
Won’t you consider bringing your group — to help bless Israel — & be blessed in the process?
“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” – Genesis 12:3
Do not let this opportunity slip away. Impact Israeli lives for good. Come Volunteer with Us!
In the Love of Messiah Yeshua,
Brian & Racheli Slater
For more details please email us at:  returnuntome1@yahoo.com

More exciting ministry news and pictures about us and the ministry we do! Click the below blog.

http://yeshuasfreshbreadinisrael.blogspot.com/

”He who has mercy on the poor, happy is he” — Proverbs 14:21

Prayer Request for Don Campbell

Hello friends and prayer warriors.  Please lift up Don Campbell in prayer for healing.  He has undergone numerous tests and is waiting to  hear from his doctors about  his results and most likely won’t learn of the outcome until sometime near Christmas.  Ask the Holy Spirit to comfort him and lift his countenance and pray that the peace of God that surpasses all understanding be upon him.  We  may not know what tomorrow holds, but we rest assured that our Father knows the plans He has for us.

Holiday Mail For Heroes

It’s that time of year again, when we start making our lists.  Gift lists, grocery lists, to do lists and holiday card lists.  It got me thinking that we need to make sure we include the men and women of our military so I found this info on Snopes.com.  Remember, you need to make sure your cards / gifts are postmarked no later than Friday, December 10th for them to arrive on time.  When you send your card, you may want to include a special note of thanks, or scripture.  Thanks for your support!

Holiday Mail for Heroes Christmas cards sent to soldiers through the Red Cross-sponsored "Holiday Mail for Heroes" program will reach their intended recipients. Christmas cards addressed to "A Recovering American Soldier" or "Any Wounded Soldier" sent to Walter Reed Hospital will not reach their intended recipients. Origins:   Recent years have seen several Internet-based grass-roots promotions of programs that enable the public to send letters, cards, gifts, and other greetings to U.S. troops serving overseas or recovering in stateside hospitals, particularly around the holiday season. Unfortunately, many such promotions (such as the "Recovering American Soldier" effort) have not worked out as well as hoped due to insufficient organization, deadlines, security concerns, and other factors. For the 2010 holiday season, the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are again sponsoring a "Holiday Mail for Heroes" program to distribute holiday cards to service members, a program that encompasses not just troops who are recovering in military hospitals but also service members stationed throughout the U.S. and abroad, as well as veterans and their families. The cards should be addressed to: Holiday Mail for Heroes PO Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456 As noted on the "Holiday Mail for Heroes" section of the American Red Cross’ web site, all cards must be postmarked no later than Friday, December 10, 2010. Cards postmarked after that will be returned to the sender. This deadline ensures enough time to sort and distribute cards before the holidays. The Red Cross provides these additional guidelines: Do Include your heartfelt sentiments and sign all cards Entitle cards with generic terms such as "Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran" Limit cards to 15 per person or 50 for school class or business group Bundle groups of cards in single, large envelopes. Don’t Send letters, care packages or monetary gifts Include personal information such as home or email addresses Use glitter — excessive amounts can aggravate health issues of wounded recipients Include inserts of any kind as they must be removed in the screening process Also please note that the "Holiday Mail for Heroes" program is for the delivery of holiday cards only. Those wishing to donate items such as phone cards or military comfort kits should go to the military section of the Red Cross online catalogue. E-mailed entreaties from previous years have urged Americans to send cards addressed to "A Recovering American Soldier" or "Any Wounded Soldier" care of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, but Walter Reed officials have said that any material so addressed will not be delivered: Walter Reed Army Medical Center officials want to remind those individuals who want to show their appreciation through mail to include packages and letters, addressed to "Any Wounded Soldier" that Walter Reed will not be accepting these packages in support of the decision by then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transportation Policy in 2001. This decision was made to ensure the safety and well being of patients and staff at medical centers throughout the Department of Defense. In addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting "Any Service Member" or "Any Wounded Service Member" letters or packages. Mail to "Any Service Member" that is deposited into a collection box will not be delivered. Instead of sending an "Any Wounded Soldier" letter or package to Walter Reed, please consider making a donation to one of the more than 300 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our troops and their families listed on the "America Supports You" website, http://www.americasupportsyou.mil

Please Pray for Asia Bibi

Asia Bibi Sentenced

• Date: November 17, 2010
• Country: Pakistan

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Asia Bibi, the wife and mother who was imprisoned and charged with blasphemy in June 2009, was sentenced to death on Nov. 7, 2010, according to Asia News.
The trial judge accepted the prosecutor’s contention that Asia insulted Muhammad in a heated discussion with colleagues. In fact, she only objected to her fellow workers’ name-calling (infidel) and attempts to make her renounce Christianity. For this, Asia was beaten and later arrested by Ittanwali (Punjab) police on false blasphemy charges.
Peter Jacob, secretary of the Church’s Justice and Peace Commission, said, "The sentence against Asia Bibi is a veritable incitement to crime. There was never any insult to Islam in the case and the judge did not take into account how the blasphemy law is being abused. So he came down with a harsh sentence." He added, "We absolutely condemn this way of doing things; we call on the government to intervene and stop the law from being abused."

Please Pray!

Pray that Asia Bibi and her family will find comfort and peace in the Lord. Pray that her sentence will be overturned, and pray for a repeal of the blasphemy law that has been abused repeatedly to cause undue harm to many Christians. You can write to Pakistani officials on behalf of Asia Bibi here.
"But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." Daniel 11:32b
VOM assists Christians in Pakistan though our Families of Martyrs fund, our Families of Prisoners fund, and our Pastor Support Program. VOM helps injured Christians through VOMedical, and we also provide Bibles and Action Packs.