Good Old Folks

I can’t believe I just called these two fine people old. In reality, Bro. and Sis. Halstead are very young at heart. Bro. Halstead still shouts, runs the aisles and praises God like a much younger man. His worship is sincere and encouraging.

The Halsteads are a very important part of our Kids’ Church program. In the first photo, Bro. Halstead is playing Grandpa Jones, a character in our current quarter of The Real Pentecostals. Both Bro. and Sis. Halstead are wonderful teachers, and I have been amazed at some of the creative ways they have come up with to keep the children engaged and teach them the precious Word of God. Brother Halstead also heads up our outreach department and does a great job inspiring us to reach out to those in our community that have not experienced Acts 2:38 salvation.

In the second photo, they are clowning around at a meal we had recently to break a fast that we did together as a church. Earlier that week, Sis. Halstead had sent a photo to me and another sister from our church of a man devouring some chicken drumsticks. She said that was going to be what she would look like when we broke the fast. Hence, I took this photo to represent that moment. 🙂

This faithful couple has been such a blessing to our church in many ways. Getting older has definitely not stopped them from being faithful and working for God with all of their hearts.  They are living out the following verses.

 

“Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;”

Psalm 92:13,14

Just to clarify, I’m not saying that Bro. and Sis. Halstead are fat. This is talking about abundance or a “spiritual fat” that is a good type of fat.(I sure could use more of that type of fat!) I am thankful today for the great big FAT blessing that Bro. and Sis. Halstead have been to Cornerstone Pentecostal Church!

Miranda POPs It To Us

On Sunday, March 18, we heard a great POP given by our dear sister Miranda. In previous posts, I mentioned that POP stands for Power Of Proverbs. Twice a month on a Sunday morning, we have a youth from our church take 2-7 minutes to share something from the book of Proverbs that they have studied . These have really been a blessing to our church and they help the youth as well to study the Bible more and get practice speaking in front of people. Miranda talked about the benefit and importance of listening to godly(pastoral)counsel. This is something she has put into practice in her life, and she is reaping the benefits from it.

Sister Miranda has been in church for 5 years, and I am proud of the steady growth I have seen in her life. I remember before she made the commitment to really live for God, the times when she would come and visit the church. You could tell God was reaching for her, but she was also struggling with the pull of friends who were not living for God. Many were praying for her, and the happy day finally did come when she told pastor that she had repented and was ready to be baptized and commit her life to God. It has been a blessing to see her make new friends in the church, live for God while going to public high school, graduate and continue to live for God while entering the work force. She is faithful to the house of God and is involved in outreach, children’s church,youth choir and praise singing.

I am thankful for Miranda and other young people like her that are striving to serve God daily and be a blessing in His kingdom!

 

Overcomer

The lady wearing the captain’s hat in the photo above is Sis. Eva Kolej. She is our Kid’s Church Director, is the most organized person I know and does an incredible job keeping everything running smoothly for children’s church. This past year, she and her family really went through a difficult trial when she was diagnosed with cancer. In spite of everything she was going through she still managed to put out schedules for Kid’s Church so each teacher/worker could be prepared and know what they were supposed to do. She also continued taking classes through Institute of Conservative Apostolic Theology and still worked her job at the times she felt physically well enough to do it. We are so thankful(although I’m sure not as much as she is)that Sis. Eva is on the other side of this trial now, with the cancer in remission. God was faithful to her, and she was faithful to Him. She testified last night in service of God’s faithfulness and goodness to her during her trial, and then her daughter Bell sang a song I love called Overcomer. The presence of God came down in a very powerful way as Sis. Bell sang, and many were touched and strengthened by the Spirit of God.

It is truly a great blessing that we can be overcomers in our trials if we will just be faithful to God and keep holding on through the storm. Thank you Sister Eva, for your wonderful testimony!

 

Standing Alone

In my last two posts, I talked about 2 young people that are also students at our Christian school. Today, I wanted to mention our other student, Sasha. In the picture, she is wearing the leopard print top with a black skirt. I am proud and thankful for the growth that I have seen in the life of this young lady.

In our first year of school, she had a difficult time transitioning from a public school setting to doing the majority of her school work online under my supervision. However, she has stuck with it, and her academics have improved this year.  🙂

Without going into detail, she recently came to a place in her life of decision, which lead her to take a stand that I know was difficult for her to do. However, I know that God blessed her for it, and He continues to bless her as she serves Him. It’s never easy to take a stand, when you have to do it by yourself. In reality though, when you stand for what is right, God is standing with you, and that is what really matters. I believe God has great plans for Sasha’s future, and I look forward to seeing God “unfold the rose” of her life.

Piano Player In The Making

Yesterday was Trinity’s first time ever to play the piano during worship service! In case you don’t know, Trin is the young lady to the left. Her good friend and schoolmate Sasha is on the right. I wasn’t able to get a picture of Trin playing, because I was on the platform at the same time praise singing.

I wanted to let everyone know that she did a great job! I know it can be intimidating and make one nervous doing something for the first time in front of a group of people, but I’m glad she took the plunge, and I am proud of her. It’s encouraging to see young people that will let God use them, whether it be playing an instrument, singing, witnessing to a friend, praying with someone in the altar, etc.,etc. I love the young people of our church. They are not perfect(but then again, who is?), but they are striving to live for God, and I’m very thankful and blessed to see growth in their lives. What a precious thing it is to be able to serve God in your youth!

Darkness Vanquished

You ruled my past.

    Like a merciless monster you

                   came to me in many forms.

                            Depression, ignorance, false doctrine,

                                       thoughts of suicide, foreboding clouds, betrayal,

                             self-loathing and feelings of doom, just

                      to name a few.  You sought to encompass my heart

        in a cocoon of hopelessness in a manner so sinister,

conniving, oppressive and strangling. So near you were

               to me that your icy cold breath felt like heavy

                         chains around my neck.

Helpless was I to penetrate your tangible shadows

until one day I found

The Light that could!

             That Light now lives in me, glows through me

                  reigns in me. I still fight you, my enemy, but

                       it is no longer in my strength alone, and I want you

                                to know that even in my toughest days,

                                      although it may feel like my flame is dim,

                                              darkness can never extinguish

                                                    even the tiniest light!

 

9/12/17

 

What An Amazing Trip!

On January 21, my husband and I were privileged to be able to take our third trip to the country of Peru. This excursion was going to be a little different for us, because our primary purpose in going was to get some much needed dental work done for a lot less money.

This is hubby with our Peruvian dentist, Dr. Nelson Junes. I’m probably going to be dead meat for posting this picture, but this is the only one we had of the dentist. I had a dental exam, deep cleaning, 3 root canals and 3 crowns inserted. My husband had a lot more work done on his teeth than I did. I’m so thankful for the help from the Nix family in helping us communicate with the dentist. I know some Spanish, but I just haven’t reached that level……………….yet. Our dentist was very kind, and God opened a door of witness to him. He allowed his 12 year old son to come to the youth camp that was going on while we were there. His wife and sister-in-law(she also works in the dentist’s office)came and visited one of the evening services at the camp as well. If you think of it, please mention this dentist and family in your prayers. We would love to see God add them to His church!

We were privileged to be in Peru during the time of their National Conference. Rev. Rick Treece and Revered Kelly Patrick were the speakers this year, and they did an outstanding job. There was a wonderful move of the Holy Ghost in every service. The two men in the photos above are pastors from a Trinitarian organization that received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Gloria a Dios!

The evening before the conference started they had their Bible college graduation. I know I’m kind of biased, but the speaker that they had for the graduation was really tremendous. It was my husband! 🙂

The week after the National Conference was the youth camp for ages 12-35. Brother Carl Brown and his son Preston were the preachers/teachers, and they were greatly used of God. The young people’s response to the Word of God was beautiful. There were altar services that went on for an hour or longer. What a blessing it was to see new dedications and consecrations made to the Lord!

 

I have to take a break for now, but I hope to post more about our trip soon. There is some updated info on La Aventura de la Gringa page also.

 

Angelic Announcement

Heavenly harbingers hurriedly hover
heralding holiday happening,
harboring holy hallelujahs,
honoring, hailing hallowed hope.

12/5/17

Thanking God For……..

JR and Matthew were both baptized in Jesus’ name this month. We are excited and very thankful for what the Lord is doing among us!

An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving

 

Dear autumn time brings splendid holiday
in lovely shades of ginger and saffron.
Bright leaves announce Thanksgiving’s on its way.
Our crimson blessings we reflect upon.
With pies of pumpkin and amber chiffon,
cinnamon sentiments filling the air;
sweet loved ones and friends have gathered so near.

There’s frolic, feasting till the evening tide.
Of food and fellowship we’ve had our fill.
The umber sky, sun’s fire does now hide.
Our hearts are filled with gladness and good will
which does not dissipate with autumn’s chill.
And though Thanksgiving Day has come and gone,
the many colored memories live on.

9/9/17