Moving...

 I have decided to rename my blog and change the web address. So, if your looking for me, come on over to www.sharingherheart.blogspot.com and let's hang out.

I'll see you soon.

* Andrea *

Encouraging Words

Encouragement.  Isn’t that a great word? I love it. I love what it stands for and how it makes you feel. I love how it can change a person’s outlook with just a couple of words. I love how when you hear the word, your mood instantly goes more positive.

Well, encouragement is what I have been receiving lately and man do I feel good. I have been encouraged in small, subtle ways, with simple words. With words that are meant to encourage and lift up. It has been really nice to hear and be reminded, because I have let myself believe otherwise. I have been so tired and discouraged that I found it hard to believe that I am good and useful and that I am a blessing to my family and to those around me. But through kind words from my family, friends and my church family, I have been encouraged again.

The best encouragement came this morning as I was reading my devotions. I read Proverbs chapter 31, and God showed me through that passage how much like her I really am. I Love Proverbs 31 and I think every woman should read it. The first time I read it I was very intimidated, I thought “I can never be that good”, but then slowly, I’m starting to understand that passage and how God turns us regular, everyday women into women like that. When were willing, God changes us into noble women. Women who bring Him glory, women who are a blessing to our families, women who are praised by our husbands. Women who are strong in our faith and ready to do anything in the name of Christ.

Read Proverbs 31 again today, and be encouraged. For “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Prov. 31:30)

 

*Andrea*

More Excitement From My Mailbox!

  My mailbox sure has been exciting lately. I have been receiving mail from Compassion Canada on a regular basis. So, yesterday when I checked the mail, I was excited to receive an updated picture of Nsengimana.

    

He looks so grown up, doesn’t he?

He is now in grade 10 and his favourite activities are running, soccer and volleyball. He also attends youth group and camp regularly. He lives with his mother, where his duties include carrying water, washing clothes and cleaning.

Did You Know?

- Letters to your sponsored child have an incredible impact on his/her life

- Notes of encouragement are often a sponsored child’s most cherished possessions

 

Have you written lately?

*Andrea*

Shaun Groves and his ‘Third World Symphony’

    If you would have asked me a year ago “who is Shaun Groves?” I wouldn’t have been able to tell you. Now however, I can give you at least a partial answer. Shaun Groves is a gifted musician, and a powerful advocate for Compassion International. That is actually how I heard about him first. Not as a musician, but through all the work that he’s done with Compassion. He is a very inspiring and encouraging individual, and he’s given me ‘food for thought’ many times. I have never had the opportunity to meet him or even see him speak or sing, but I really believe in what he’s trying to accomplish through his music, blog, and Compassion.

On August 30th, Shaun will be releasing his newest album titled “Third World Symphony”. From my understanding, it will not be available in stores, online only. So to pre-order your very own copy for only $10 U.S. click here. If you want to listen first, click here. I really think you’ll enjoy it. I know I do.

Let me know what you think.

*Andrea*

What Can I Write About?

   On Tuesday a friend of mine came over for coffee. Somehow we got to talking about my sponsor boys (she probably saw the pictures on my fridge) and what kinds of things I send them and also what I write about. She is so confused because everyone she has talked to has told her what not to write about and what not to send. So, we got to talking and I shared with her what she can and should write about.

Some of the things that I shared with her are:

- Send a picture of her son in his football uniform and talk about our version of football and why he likes to play.

- Tell about something silly that her twin girls did that day and send a picture.

- Send lots of pictures, especially family ones.

- I told her to keep it simple, that he just wants to know more about them and their family.

I told her she can send all kinds of thin paper items (you will find more ideas on my page “letters to my boys”) to her sponsor child and anything that’s not in Compassion guidelines, they donate to the local charity. I also reminded her that if you only write after you have received a letter, you both will wait a long time. It takes roughly 3 months for a letter to go one way, so by the time he has received it and written back, it could be 6 months!

So for those of you who haven’t written in a while, it’s time. Time for you to write a short note with pictures attached, or a long letter about how your summer has been so far. It doesn’t matter how much you write. What does matter is that you do write. I think that we often overlook how very important our words of encouragement are to our sponsor children. Those words from us remind them that they are thought of, prayed for, cared about, and loved. Those are the most important words that everyone needs to hear.

*Andrea*

Changing…and Learning

   I guess some of you might be wondering where I’ve been lately. I have not been posting as much and when I do write, it’s not about my life or the work that Christ is doing in it. You see, I have been learning a lot lately and I’m just not sure how to put it all into words. I’m in the middle of a study with some other women and we’re studying the book “Lord, teach me to pray in 28 days.” This has been a challenging book for me. “How have I been challenged?” you ask, I don’t know. “What have I learnt?” I don’t know that either. I honestly can’t say. Not because I don’t want to, but because I don’t have the words. I am a person who needs time to absorb knowledge and with this busy summer so far, I have not yet given myself the time to let it all sink in. There is one thing that I know for sure though,

I feel different.

Maybe it’s the holy spirit moving in me and changing me?

I hope so.

I’m sooo ready for change.

But, like everything else, I will only know for sure after it’s happened. I can’t tell when the change is happening, I can only tell later on when my reactions and feelings change and are different than before. When I don’t react the way I did ‘before’. When people can see that I’m a follower of Christ just by my actions. That’s the kind of person that I want to be, and that’s what I’m striving for. So, I will continue to learn and study and read. To strengthen my relationship with the only one who really matters, the only one who can save my soul, the only one who gave up his son to save me when I was not worth saving. HE is the one that I want to be closer to.

 

How have you grown in your relationship with Christ lately?

 

* Andrea *

‘Fun Days’ of Summer

   This week were supposed to get really nice weather again, so I probably wont post much.

This past weekend we had ‘Fun Days’ in my town. There was all kinds of things to keep you busy. Friday evening was community slo-pitch, and a wiener roast after. Saturday was a free pancake breakfast, a slo-pitch tournament all day, bouncers for the kids, face painting, petting zoo, a flea market, a silent auction, evening entertainment, and so much more. It was a busy place to be!

In the morning, we went as a family for breakfast and then my husband went to go help a friend of his, so it was just me and the kids. I took them to the ‘Fun Days’ for lunch and we stayed for a few hours. It was very hot, and they needed naps so we came home and relaxed for the rest of the day.

Here are some pictures from our weekend:

We ate a lot of freezies,

and cotton candy,

got our faces painted,

and tried to find shade where ever we could!

It was a really great day! I love summer festivals, how about you? Have you been to one lately?

*Andrea*