Shaarda's Story - It's God's Story!: December 2015

Friday, December 18, 2015

Tis' the Season

We did a first ever and put up our Christmas tree the weekend before Christmas.
It was our first snow, it was beautiful, and it got us in the Christmas spirit.

This is the first snow Malai has seen since she was a newborn.

Unfortunately, our snow only lasted a weekend and we have not had any since.

We saw a beautiful pheasant by my parents house

Josh shot a (small) 6 point

I was able to have a Ladies Christmas Tea!

Katie, Kelly, Carolyn, Amy and I

My parents when with the kids and I to the Henry Ford Museum and to Greenfield Village.
This is the bus Rosa Parks sat on.

The chair Abraham Lincoln was shot in.

The car Kennedy was shot in.

Ice skating at Greenfield Village

We had a team Christmas party with our fellow Ugandan missionaries

Hudsonville Christian School had their Christmas program this week.
It was Luka's first time being in a program. He was a little nervous.
He was so serious but once they started singing he sang his heart out!

Grace, being a 5th grader, was the back row of over 500 kids.
Thankfully we got a few glimpses of her!

I loved watching Luka worship the Lord with songs and motions!

Thank you HCS for the beautiful worship of the New Born King!

Lydia's Christmas choir concert for HCMS

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Birthday Prayer

I enjoyed a very happy 37th birthday this week. As I was praying on my birthday, I was touched by God's truth about me. When we stop and speak truth there is power, love, peace, assurance, and empowers me. I wanted to share my prayer (I write my prayers in a journal) and want to encourage you to put yourself in the prayer because these same truths are yours in Christ. Be empowered by God's pleasure and love for you, His personal design of you, and His purpose and plan He already has for you. You are His child and your life belongs to Him.

Father, thank you for creating me. Before the world began You uniquely designed who I would be. It is so amazing that there is no one else exactly like me. You, God, thought up and created me. You know what words I would speak, planned all I would do, and you delighted in me before anyone knew of me. God it's too great to wrap my mind around! I was your plan before I was my Dad and Mom's desire. You put me together in the secret place in my mother. You lovingly, gently, and amazingly put me together and formed me just how you wanted. I am made by the Creator, perfectly, and in His image. You called me, made me Your child, long for me, forgave and saved me because You love me. You desire to be in relationship with me and know me totally. You call me holy, child, beloved. You desire to use me and have sent me to be Your messenger. You never leave me. You are my Father. Nothing can separate us. You protect me, provide for me, You lead me, You are my peace, joy, strength, help and truth. You live in me. Thank you God for my life which has meaning, purpose and worth because of You. I love you Lord.