HAHAHA

Babies are all so cute when they laugh. This clip is precious!

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” –Matthew 19:14

Happy Independence Day!

Memo from Maria Elena=)

Join me!

Jana Alyra Concert

on Saturday, July 6

at 6pm

FREE ICE CREAM SOCIAL!

Emmanuel Reformed Church

15371 Virginia Ave.

Paramount, CA

In HIS LOVE!

Maria Elena

562 920 9762

Hi!

You probably saw this page and thought, “Did I type in the correct URL?” You did!
I changed the layout, but we can change it back to the nice brown background again later. It’s good for the brain to change things around every now and then… like switching the side you wear your watch or ring…

If you really want a challenge, take up a new language =)

Have a beautiful, sun-shiney day! It’s gonna be another hot one for the books!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

Happy Father’s Day to all our wonderful dads, grandpas, and husbands!

Here’s a 6 minute thoroughly touching video about the Hoyts, father and son.
I first heard about them through a short video that our mentor mom Sherry Mortensen (who is preaching at church today!) showed us at women’s retreat three years ago. Wow! What an amazing team.

I am so inspired by this, as I have grown up inspired by Hellen Keller. What an inspiring man!
And the dad! –
It seems that there are more struggles for a parent who has a special needs child, but he is rewarded by getting the insight, more than others, to understand God’s heart. He carries his son like the famous poem “Footprints in the Sand”

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”
Mary Stevenson

Purify my heart ..

“Refiner’s Fire”
by
Brian Doerksen

purify my heart
let me be as gold and precious silver
purify my heart
let me be as gold, pure gold

refiner’s fire
my heart’s one desire
is to be holy
set apart for you, lord
i choose to be holy
set apart for you, my master
ready to do your will

purify my heart
cleanse me from within
and make me holy
purify my heart
cleanse me from my sin
deep within

These are verses to a beautiful song that I first heard in college.
I was thinking of it because of the following email from Danielle, who got it from Susie, who got it from?? =)

Malachi 3:3 says:
‘He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.’

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says:
‘He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.’
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, ‘How do you know when the silver is fully refined?’
He smiled at her and answered,
‘Oh, that’s easy — when I see my image in it.’

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Verse of the Day

Today’s Bible Verse may look very familiar… because it is none other than the signature tag line of our Publicity Chair and dear friend Tammy R. We get it every time she sends us an email!

Proverbs 23:7-For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he…

Watch your thoughts; they become words
Watch your words; they become actions
Watch your actions; they become habits
Watch your habits; they become character
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny

I woke up this morning with that paragraph in my head. It says in the book of James that controlling the tongue is just the hardest thing…
yet it is even harder to control our thoughts!!

Thanks for reminding us over and over to ‘watch our thoughts’ Tammy.

Thanks for your tireless devotion and the boundless energy you put into MOPS, from the hours on the computer, research and bringing the kids (all three!) to church while you print to setting up for the avocado festival and making all the flyers, registrations….cooking dinner for Couples Night. You are so intelligent, resourceful, talented and skilled in so many things… and the sympathies you hold in your heart – it’s like a bottomless pit. I am constantly reminded of God when I am in your presence.

You are a truly beautiful woman and I am blessed to have you as a friend.

A beautiful day

It was a beautiful day when MOPS leaders got together earlier this month.

Love, Sarah

Moptivity Photos

Thanks for hosting the Moptivity last month Leticia!

We had a great time!

Verse of the Day

This verse is so incredible. It always helps me when I think that Christ wants us to love at all times, but the devil tries to break us down, tear us apart, confuse, and deceive. Kathy O. shared this verse with us at Tea & T (May 2007) and its such a powerful verse to have in our hearts and minds at all times =)

1 John 4:4 (New Living Translation)

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.