Pondering in my Heart...

I'd like to share a post from last year that I wrote. Evey year the Christmas story gets sweeter & sweeter. I hope it's a blessing to you.;)

http://godleadethme.blogspot.com/2008/12/pondering-in-my-heart.html

Tis the Season...

Well, it's the most wonderful time of the year again. My favorite time of the year...right up there with Valentine's day for me, but Christmas is longer & SO much more important!;)

We have had so much fun getting family pictures taken, shopping done, parties thrown, gift exchanges with friends....we are truly blessed!

I think the best part about this year is little Carter is really starting to understand what this Holiday is all about. He had fun acting out the Christmas story the other night with a little Mickey Mouse playing the role of baby Jesus, & I was Mary....and he and Evan were little shepherds....priceless memories!

He even said, "Mommy we don't have a crib for the baby Jesus."

What great opportunities to teach him that the King of Kings came to this Earth as a baby & one day died for the sins of the world! What a story, what truth!!

Thank you, Lord, for sending us your most precious Son to pay for our sin debt!! What a loving God, & what a beautiful story to tell our children!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours! Here's a few of our Christmas pictures taken by Eden Photography.www.edenphotography/biz. Enjoy!;)

Casting Cares At His Feet...

Have you ever had those times in your life when it seems like many people around you are going through very hard trials?

In the past couple of months it seems as though each week we hear of more heart breaking news.

We have someone very close to us who has spent his summer fighting cancer, but last week he got very good news! Praise the Lord.

The beginning of October my husband spent several days visiting a sweet family in the hospital as they were realizing that their loved one would not be coming home as they had planned.

She later left this Earth for her eternal home to meet her Savior, but few days before she passed away my husband was there visiting & reading some Scripture verses to her & her family. She stopped him as he was read, and they knew she was trying to say something. She tried to sit up in the bed & pointed to my husband..then quietly muttered, "Read it again!"...Oh the Power of God's Word! My husband came home later & we cried together as he told me how powerful it was to read God's Word and know that this women would soon meet the author face to face!! We conducted the funeral the following week & Daniel preached a powerful message. I hugged her sister this past Sunday...please pray for Cheryl.

Two days later we attended another funeral for a sweet friend who's father died suddenly as he was taking his morning walk. He was a devout Christian who loved to tell people about Jesus...I never met him, but was honored to be a part of such a Godly man's funeral. Please pray for his sweet wife Shelley & young daughters still at home, Hannah & Grace.

Two weeks ago we heard that a young man we attended Bible College with was killed in an automobile accident. He use to come to our home with his room-mates to hang out & order pizza. He has a young wife who is expecting their first baby this coming January. Her name is, Erin, please pray for her.

Then last week we got news that a life long family friend on my husband's side has a brain tumor & it's cancer. She & her sweet husband drove 12 hours to come to our wedding in Tennessee, she is the grandmother to our niece & nephew, & a wonderful example of a women of faith. She's always smiling & has a wonderful laugh. She has one of the best gardens in all of PA & her grandchildren adore her. Please pray for Miss Nancy.

So how does one bare these burdens & not lose faith?

My answer is found from the Bible...by trusting in the Lord.

Proverbs 3: 5&6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understandings. In all thy ways acknowledge him & he shall direct thy paths."

Psalm 16:1, "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust."

Psalm 36:7, "How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings."

1 Peter 5:5, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

If there's one thing I've learned as we've started this journey in the ministry, is that there are many burden's to bare. People around us going through such trials & as we try to encourage them this thought has been so strong in my mind...TRUST IN THE LORD!

Point people to Jesus, Open the Bible more, Love the Lord deeper, Love the Word of God more, Don't be ashamed of the Lord, Tell others about what He's done in your life every where you go, and with everyone you meet!

Revival starts in the heart of individuals!

"Lord, start a revival within me!!"

What a wonderful God we serve...even when there are many cares to cast at his feet.

God Bless.

A Prayer of Dedication....

On our last Sunday at the Temple Baptist church, we walked forward after the message with our three boys in arms. When Pastor called our names we stood & he prayed for not only Parker (that he would one day trust Christ as his Savior & live his life for the Lord) but he prayed also for Daniel & me. He prayed that our home would always be a true Christian home & that we would be dedicated to the Lord all of our lives.

As I stood there holding my 5 week old newborn...my sweet Pastor's wife Evelyn Sexton's arm around me....knowing this was our last service after 8 years at a church filled with people that were so dear to us (we moved the next day out of state)...and feeling the impact of what a great responsibility I have as a Christian mother...the tears began to flow.

God spoke to my heart once again. As He had before when we stood with our newborns this same way. In their tiny Sunday best and wrapped in a satin blanket. What beautiful & powerful moments for both Daniel & myself...and not taken lightly!


~~Carter, Daniel, tired Evan, Pastor Clarence Sexton, Evelyn Sexton, Me & Parker~~



It is our prayer as we've been blessed with Children that God would help us teach & train them to Love Him. We've learned that a home is not a Christian home because we say it is.

"A Christian home is not determined by what you 'take out' of it, but is determined by what you 'put into' it."~Clarence Sexton

May God help us to have a truly Christian home...where God's Word is read, & prayer is a necessity, love is abounding & kind words are spoken.

May I Introduce You...

Since the last time I blogged I was three weeks until my due date with Parker, I thought I'd catch you all up. I'm so sorry I didn't do this a while ago! I've had good intentions, I promise!;)

Parker was born April,17 2009 at 10:00 something in the morning. Isn't that sad that I don't remember exactly?? I remember Carter was at 5:28pm....guess by the second & third child you're in a daze about remembering the details. Although I've promised myself that as I did with Evan (the second child) I will do the same with Parker (the third child) to cherish everything.

I've made an appoint to sit & say to myself, "Today he smiled at me...I will always remember to remember how sweet it made me feel when he smiled at me...today...for the first time."

So Yes, he is here & amazing & precious & perfect in every way!

May I introduce you to Parker Kade.

Change is Good...

We have been getting ready for big changes in our family for the past month...well months. Not only a new baby coming in 3 weeks, but our house sold the end of last month, and we are now living with our in laws for the next 9 weeks. We are so grateful for their offer!

If I could start at the beginning....

We put our home on up for sale last July not knowing for sure what we'd do if it sold, but we thought we'd try...even though the economy here is rough & the housing market isn't pretty.

We had TONS of showings the first 3 months, but no offers. After the 'wall street crash' we had NO showings at all for about 4 months straight. We wondered many times, "Does God want us to keep it for sale? Should we continue?" Holding on in faith we just trusted that God knew despite our questions.

After 7 long months Daniel received a very surprising phone call. It was from the Pastor of the church where I had grown-up, the church I was saved in, and the church where my parents both work.

He wanted Dan to pray about accepting a full-time position at Fargo Baptist Church. Note: It's VERY cold there...just thought I'd throw that in!=)

Dan & I were both shocked and excited about the offer, but being it is in my home town I didn't want my 'wants' to weigh on his decision, but for it to be sole from the Lord. We both prayed that God would make His will very clear us.

That week we had over 11 showings and then we had 2 offers in one day!! God allowed us to pick the best offer & they offered MORE than what we were asking! Can you believe that?! YES we can, because God was in it!

It reminded me of one of the most profound things I learned while in Bible college. So many times in our lives we wonder..."Am I doing what God wants? Is this His will?"

"God's will is not a mystery for us to find. It is simply living for Him in obedience each day. Then looking back, we can see how God has led us." (I wish I remembered the preacher who said that, but I'll never forget that)

We have lived in Knoxville, TN for the past 6 years as a married couple. We both came to Bible College here. This is where we met, fell in love, were married, and have had all of our children....it's a very special place to us!

Not just the location is wonderful, but what's here....Dan's family, our friends, and our beloved Pastor & church family. It was here that God changed my life & taught me so much about His Word...I am forever grateful for this place! Dan and I both agree that leaving here the end of May will be the hardest thing we've ever done before!

BUT....we can rejoice because we KNOW that it is what God wants for us, it's what we've trained for, and what we've prayed for!

Please remember us in your prayers as we prepare for these big changes!

Prayer Request...

Some recent pictures of Carter & Evan


Hello friends!

Sorry I haven't blogged like I want to...I have so many thoughts through out the week that I think, "I need to blog about that." and then before you know it the days pass by!

Anyway, if you would join me in praying for my family. We have sold our home (thank you, Lord!)...such an answer to prayer...and we are moving tomorrow. The closets have been packed, every junk drawer has met my furry;), and even my bins of "I will one day fit into these clothes again" have been sent to the goodwill! This time I refuse to carry around my 'treasures' that sit buried for years to another home!

If you'd pray for these things:

1. An easy transition for my boys while we move into Grandma & Grandpa's house for 9 weeks.
2. A good last 4 weeks of pregnancy as I've been quite tired these days.
3. That we would all adjust well with a new baby and being 'homeless'...well, you know what I mean...we'll still be at Grandma & Grandpa's...so thankful for them.
4. That the Lord would supply the funds we need to move from Tennessee to North Dakota at the end of May....I will expound upon this in an upcoming post.=)
God has been so good to us & his blessings are met with gratitude! I can't wait to tell you all our 'story' that has unfolded in the past month...I promise I will.