Christmas in my part of the woods

Amazing weekend! I seriously don’t think I could have had an more awesome Christmas weekend..... Let me do a breakdown, a glimpse at my heart.

Friday: Had to work :-( My hubby shut down for that day, so he got to play hookie and call me a few times to “remind me” that he didn’t have to work, and I did. ~ Did I ever mention he was a brat? :-) I did get to bless a wonderful woman at work that day though.. My hubby and I had prayed about what to get her, and from the look on her face, and the tearful thanks followed with “you have no idea how much I needed this”, HE was right on it... Again! God is so faithful!
Friday: (night) went shopping......... yeah, not real bright. We got all the men & women from the Libre house’s their Christmas gifts, and some few extras for people that were coming over to spend Christmas with us. Came home and did some prep cooking for the meal on Saturday.

Saturday: We slept in til 8:30...... First time I can remember sleeping in...........well for a LONG time! We drank coffee, sat around for a half hour then began to cook. I have to brag here for a minute. MY MAN CAN COOK!! :-) plus he is downright gorgeous in the kitchen! We made 2 types of chili ~ his famous sweet chili and my new white chili.
We were at the ministry office by 10:30 and at 11:00 toys-for-tots dropped off their packages... we had 29 families gifts stacked in one of the back rooms waiting for pickups at 1:00. This year thru the jail chaplaincy our ministry“adopted” 15 kids and delivered Christmas gifts to the children of inmates. During the tv interview, toys for tots called and asked if there were any other kids that we knew were not being helped. So that’s how we got linked with T4T. What a God send! @ 11:30 was our Christmas banquet for all the volunteers in our ministry which was huge, since we had us and the helpers from JC and T4T there too! It was awesome! God fed the multitudes and had leftovers of course! Everyone was laughing, telling stories, and sharing what God had done in their lives this past year.
At 1 the wives, husbands, grandparents of the inmates started arriving.... I got to do what I love... Talk. :-) While they waited in line, we laughed, talked and got tons of hugs from women who were amazed getting the phone call the night before saying “come pick up Christmas presents for your kids! All free” Some cried, some just smiled... All were told WHO they were from. Tiny gifts from God who sees them in their time of need.
After the gifts were passed out.. And everyone went home, except the men & women in our homes and us.... we delivered 13 huge boxes of food to families in need. The whole bed of Sim’s truck was packed out with bags of apples, potatoes, boxed pizzas, the boxes stacked high, and frozen packages of omelet mix to be baked on Christmas morning. Home after home, we drove around and God put it on our hearts of different families. One, I had been ministering to for a while.... she’s young, has a little one,.... and always seems so embarrassed with how her family acts whenever I come over. Her aunt, grandma (who live downstairs), etc all try to “play the system” and ask for anything and everything to be given to them. She has never asked us for a hand out, never even taken anything that I try to give her but say “oh they need it worse than me.” when they have literally snatched it from my hands. Today I was determined. I knocked on her door and could tell she was surprised and happy to see me on a day I normally am not there. Behind me stood 6 men with arms full. She looked at me, them... and started bawling. She yelled up for her husband and said “Omgosh, hurry get down here, the church people are here and you wont believe what they have!” I grinned as this “standoffish” girl fell into my arms and cried. She hugged me, laughed, and cried more. I told her Merry Christmas and that God wanted to bless her. Her husband looked stunned and like he was about to cry when my husband hugged him and said “Merry Christmas, man! God is good!” The groceries streamed up the stairs and our men & women grinning like crazy. Afterwards, and a few more hugs from the shocked young mom, we left with her still standing in the window of the door waving, a baby on dads shoulders. Our men & women were quiet, happy.. Grateful.... at peace with what God had done in that young family.

You know, those “men & women” I speak of are a lot of X’es... x-gang bangers, x-drug addicts, x- prostitutes, x- pimps, x-dealers, etc.... That day... when I looked at their faces in the van afterwards... when all the boxes were delivered to shocked families........ I saw just what the Blood of Jesus can do in men & women with a past.

Saturday night: (we didn’t get done til almost 7 pm) we went home and kicked back.

Sunday- we went to church. Oh, one family of our jail ministry kids we adopted and delivered presents to last week has yet to miss a service.. They are absolutely the sweetest kids! They barely know me and all three are just loves! The two girls 9 & 5 just squeeze to my side wherever I am sitting and the 8 yr old boy just hugs on me and always is on the other side! The first day I took them to church the little one was on my lap and the two were plastered to both sides of me in the pew. They are so starved for a woman’s love. Sunday, when I picked them up they were standing out on the porch waiting grinning when the big blue van pulled around the corner. Jumping in they piled me with “gifts” little crafts that they had made for me. As I looked the one eyed santa I about cried. Such love these babies have, and pure gifts they give so freely. It breaks my heart knowing that they starve for someone to see worth in them. I of course cherished my gifts, and they beamed at each other and me as my teen sons spoke of the artistic abilities they have. Did I ever tell you how proud I am of my sons? They have an amazing heart of God!

Sunday after church: went seen Rocky movie... was GREAT!

Sunday night went to pastors house... then went home and opened up gifts with our family...the kids got tons of clothes, Me too! :-) my hubby has style too, lol... more so than me! I let him dress me.

CHRISTMAS: we went picked up the men & women from the home, dropped off brownies and juice for the “feed the homeless”~~ our ministry does it on Thanksgiving day, and another local one does it for Christmas... switch off. And went to our house. The guys & gals opened up the gifts... which some of them had a tough time keeping their composure... I never really thought about it til writing this... that it might be because some had never had anything to open before on Christmas or a family to spend it with. Some of these guys & gals come from an upbringing that statistically they should not have survived! We ate tons... kids all came over... parents came over......... we laughed, joked, ate some more..... and had a BLESSED birthday party!
******* I have a nativity scene that I painted... took me two years to finish..... My youngest son (13 yr) was excited about being able to put Jesus in the manger on Christmas day.

The Reason of this Season

99 things about me

1. I have no idea why I am doing this
2. I must be bored
3. I have 5 children
4. Girl 23
5 Boy 21
6. Boy 20
7. Boy 15.5 (he likes the .5)
8. Boy 13
9. I am 34
10. Usually get weird looks when I rattle off my kids ages.
11. I look like I am in my 20's
12. No I was not 11 when I had my first baby
13. I was 19
14. I love my step children as if I gave birth to them
15. I always wanted a daughter
16. God gave me one.
17. Later in life.
18. I am married to an AMAZING man
19. He’s a hottie!
20. And a pastor
21. I said “yes” after 3 dates
22. God showed me him in a dream months before meeting him.
23. I didn’t trust men- due to my first marriage
24. God knew
25. My hubby and I run a ministry
26. Changing Lives Now Ministries
27. My favorite part is Adopt-A-Block
28. Street ministry
29. I love the little kids from Block
30. Its hard to leave them in their homes
31. I wish I had a ranch with BIG kitchen table
32. And tons of bedrooms
33. I would take in all the babies I meet from block
34. What’s sad is that the parents wouldn’t let me
35. Mostly because they then couldn’t get the monthly check
36. My heart breaks for my block babies
37. I consider all kids - babies
38. Much to my 15.5 yr old sons horror
39. I love to embarrass my kids
40. :-)
41. I also do stupid little dances in public places
42. Only when no one is looking
43. Except my kids
44. They roll their eyes
45. I sometimes get caught unexpectedly
46. Which I have been recently
47. At church
48. I like doing Pee Wee Herman dance when my son is practicing on worship team
49. Or stupid little “water pump”
50. Water pump~ grab one ankle behind back and your head with the other hand
51. Not pretty
52. Or very coordinated
53. My kids think I am funny
54. Or weird
55. I am a kid magnet
56. Even kids I don’t know
57. I have A LOT of kids who call me mom
58. And make me stuff at church
59. I love my babies
60. My hubby and I are youth pastors
61. I drive the church van
62. My hubby bought us a school bus
63. I will be the bus driver
64. We are going to turn in a form for “pimp our ride”-kids told me about it
65. I think it would be awesome to win
66. The street kids love riding in the van
67. And singing loudly
68. I can not sing
69. Which does not stop me
70. I LOVE Christmas
71. And Christmas music
72. I LOVE JESUS
73. And sharing Him with people
74. He is changing my life
75. I am listening to the “Bible Experience” (New Testament) on my mp4 player
76. He is calling me out of my comfort zone
77. And into Women’s Ministry
78. I never even really liked women
79. I had brothers
80. And sons (til 3 yrs ago)
81. I talk easier with kids
82. God has other plans
83. The first time I preached I had a asthma attack before going up
84. Pictured my self fainting and hitting my head on the microphone
85. I am a very visual person
86. Thankfully, the vision wasn’t a prophecy
87. 54 women out of 107 gave their life to the Lord
88. My son came down with a disease that very day
89. It was HSP-
90. No one knew what that was- internet helped
91. It was to last 3-7 days
92. It lasted 1 yr
93. He was healed
94. Immediately at a Men’s Conference
95. Even scars went away
96. God had told me months before he was healed
97. I did not SEE anything changing
98. I held Him at His word
99. God did what He promised.

More than Rubies Class~

On Thursdays, we have a "More than Rubies" and "Boys of Valor" class. It started and was suppose to be a class for young women to bring thier kids if needed. But God had other plans. So now we have about 23 street kids in one room.
Around 15 Cedarville College students have stepped up to the plate have taken studing Gods word to a whole new level! Not only thru skits, worship songs, bible studies, help with homework, and more importantly, Hugs and acceptance! Here is a letter from one of our amazing Cedarville students~ her words touched my heart ... If only you knew her, seen how God works thru her....below is also my reponse.. God is so BIG.. I am amazed by Him every day.

Dear Corina,
Thanks so much for this past semester. This my very first semester from
home, first time at college. This ministry has not only helped the
children of Springfield, but also me as well. I loved coming every week
at I could. It was so much fun getting to know the kids that came every
week. I want to say that I can definitely see a difference in some of
the kids since they first started coming. They can come to know how to
love the Lord more, or just learn about Him, through this ministry and
I am glad that I am able to be a part of it.
....................

Dear .......
I feel the same way! I love watching them grow, change, express themselves, learn, and realize hope. On Fri & Sat we are on their turf which is so very different than what they see Thursday. The filth, the screaming, the drinking, abuse, etc. I remember one day a couple years ago, this 3 yr old was sitting out on the steps out front by herself (again- she always was outside alone every time I was on that street) with nothing on but dirty panties... she just sat, watched cars go by, prostitutes walk back & forth in-front of her like they never even saw her, cars stopping buying crack, then peeling out.. This "old soul" in a babies body just sat there with no expression on her face, just watching. My husband and I were doing block and knew the girl "Dominique" whom like I said was 3, her mother & her lived in the "house of prostitutes".
That day God showed me her thru HIS eyes, to REALLY see her... I could see her confusion, her hurt, her hope. How she was "not seen". That day, Sim walked up to her and touched her head, she flinched. I got down and talked to her, which opened her, she grinned, hugged me and I then saw a "little girl". After a while we went on to the next, then next. Across the street God put it on me to turn and look at her. I saw that "old soul" again, watching her world. Her mom came out, Dominique ran up to her to hug her, and her mom smacked her away and started calling her names I wouldn't have even called my dog ~before saved! I watched that love she wanted so badly turn into hollowness, at 3!
After that day, I became determined. I want these babies to KNOW that they are of worth, that there ARE people who love them, will hug them, tell them they are beautiful, smart, and CAN become great women and men of God! But most importantly that there is a God that can be their best friend, their mommy, their daddy, everything that they need.
I love Thursdays, you know.... in the van, I have had girls & boys come up hug me on the neck, and tell me thanks & that they love me. One little girl whom I just started knowing from Rubies, never even seen her except on Thursdays about 5 times.. the other day she got in the van and said, "hey you want to talk to my boyfriend on the phone? I told him you were my God mom" I looked at her grinning at me, happy, so sure of my acceptance of her and my new title in her life.... and was humbled. I never even thought of that phrase before "God mom" and what that really should mean.
You girls are not mothers yet................ but God has made it where you gals are more than likely more of a "motherly" figure to these babies, than what they have ever seen. You are showing them what it's suppose to be about. I keep seeing in my mind one of those old fashion wagon wheels (generational curses) that have been rolling thru their lives and God using us like a solid stick shoving us right in between the spokes ,stopping it. Redirecting that wheel and showing them the truth. My prayer... that they will raise their babies not in what they have seen in "their world" but what they have seen thru HIS word. Break that generational curse of poverty, abuse, neglect and hopelessness! That they will become leaders, teachers, doctors, nurses, mothers, .......... whatever God has planned for them! That years later they will think back and not remember my name but remember the name on my lips every time they seen me.
You my dear girl show God to them like a window to heaven. He is using you in such a mighty way to not only be HIS hands and feet..... but to be His heart and lap for these babies whom He loves. He is so very proud of you. Who you have become, and the woman He is forming you to be. Just like those kids, I look forward to seeing you do great and mighty things in your life.
Love ya girl,
In Christ~
Corina
Have a wonderful Birthday party this Christmas!

Family Journal Article for our Women's Conference

Women of Living Water Conferences
Changing Lives Now Ministries is excited about our 1st Women’s conference in February,seating over 1,000 women! The theme “A Thirsty Heart for God”, seeing how it’s the weekend before Valentines day, is Friday (night) & Saturday the 9th & 10th.
For years we have been reaching out to the community through different events including Ladies Day Make-over. Where we bring in women, from the streets of Springfield and give them a complete professional make-over. Due to the restraints on time, it is limited to 100 or so women.
But the “fruit” from taking time, talking to the women, sharing the reason we have hope, & loving on the hurting, lost and lonely has encouraged us to fast and pray on how to get these women and even more women to the next level.
Thru the Adopt-A-Block ministry, we have seen a real need for training women on what the Word says a woman should be & WHO she is in Christ. Some women are caught in the
generational curses that are passed down from mother to daughter in child rearing, relationships, being a wife, and a woman. To stop this cycle of “poverty thinking” is to grab this generation, teach them, and instill in them that they are of worth. Other women have all the luxuries in life, yet continue to express that they are “missing something.” Some are just dry and want to be filled again. And some just want a weekend away..

It’s over 1,000 women of all types, ages, races, levels of education, religion, and walks of life coming together under one roof to seek a “refreshing.”

From the moment the women come in there will be one surprise after another, filled with fun, excitement, laughter, food and fellowship! Part of the excitement is from our own local Christian businesses. Whom have provided tons of give-away’s from gift cards to even a weekend getaway! We have an amazing worship team that is coming in for an “out of your seats” worship & praise experience. A dance team that will awe you, anointed speakers, and much- much more!

We are excited to be able to share that, Mandy Holcomb, winner of 2005 Crab Fest in TN and recorded contemporary Christian artist will be our guest singer!

We have been encouraging women all over Springfield and beyond, to invite their daughters, (teens & up), co-workers, saved or unsaved friends, a single mom, sister, neighbors, etc to share in this life changing weekend. Look around your church see, if there is someone who has been slipping away, going through trials or just in need of a woman’s weekend.... And invite them!

Limited seats left! Those thousand seats are filling up fast! ** Reserve your seats today! Call Registration Director; Dee Hale @ (937)390-1013.

Visit our website www.womenoflivingwater.org to register online or find out more details!

Laughter

One year at Thanksgiving, my mom went to my sister's house for the
traditional feast. Knowing how gullible my sister is, my mom decided to play a trick. She told my sister that she needed something from the store. When my sister left, my mom took the turkey out of the oven, removed the stuffing, stuffed a Cornish hen, inserted it into the turkey, and re-stuffed the turkey. She then placed the bird(s) back in the oven. When it was time for dinner, my sister pulled the turkey out of the oven and proceeded to remove the stuffing. When her serving spoon hit something, she reached in and pulled out the little bird.
With a look of total shock on her face, my mother exclaimed, "Patricia, you've
cooked a pregnant bird!" At the reality of this horrifying news, my sister started to cry.
It took the family two hours to convince her that turkeys lay eggs!

When I read that, I have to admit I thought... "I would have fallen for that too!"

Set Straight by God~ the word DISCIPLINE

Have you ever heard a word more "Cringing"? As children we remember that word which usually followed with something like "Now this is gonna hurt me a lot more than its gonna hurt you."~~ RIGHT! No wonder that word makes us tighten our butt cheeks up!
You know... I have been in some real prayer about my relationship with God, my husband, ministry, family, work & life in general..... And what He keeps saying is DISCIPLINE~~~~ Not exactly what I wanted to hear. But my "OK, can I have another word please, God" didn't really work. Especially when the next was "Obedience." So with slumped shoulders I do what I always do when God gives me a word. I go to dictionary.com and type it in. Here is what I found:
Discipline:
A.Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
B.Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.
C.Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order.
D.A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline.
E.A state of order based on submission to rules and authority: a teacher who demanded discipline in the classroom.
F.Punishment intended to correct or train.
G.A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.
H.A branch of knowledge or teaching.
Corina' version
A. Another words I need some help in my attitude and "pattern of behavior"=responses
B. Self-control pretty much summed it up
C. Get in check with what God is saying, Holy Spirit is teaching
D. Uh-oh ~ probably why Obedience was my second word when I tried the "uh don't like that word God, I would like to buy a vowel.~~ I know, too much wheel a fortune when growing up.
E. There's the submission word
F. If don't listen to A-B-C
G. Get more into the Word-- See what HE says about the word Discipline
H. Prayer......... Holy Spirit as our teacher.......

Curious.. I had to look up
obedience..
1: the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
2: the trait of being willing to obey (To carry out or fulfill the command, order, or instruction of.)
3: behavior intended to please your parents

You know...... I want all that... I want to obey, show my respect, have the "trait of being willing to obey" and all that it means... Number 3 really hit me.... I want my behavior to please my Father in Heaven.....

So this month I am pursuing Discipline.
I will have to post my notes from last months Word from God in my life...