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To My Wife!

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God Blessed!

I love you!  It is so much more than words.  I love to make you laugh and see you smile – it really does something inside of me when I do.  I am so glad that we get to do life together and thankful for the two miracles of Grace and Hope that our Creator allowed our love to produce.  You understand my calling and know better than anyone else how real and powerful it is in and upon my life.  When others just don’t or won’t get it, it is great to have at least one person on this earth that does.  And I will die a blessed man, if God, you and my girls get it, even if no one else does.

For 19 years we have walked together as husband and wife.  A team that God brought together and has kept together for His glory.  Thank you for being a loving wife, dedicated mother, faithful friend, willing servant and all around great woman of God.  I could not do what I do without you and have only made it through the struggles of life and ministry because God in His great wisdom placed you by my side.

When we named our daughters, it was the prayer of my heart that they would grow to live out and represent the characteristic of God that their names represent.  I had this prayer because their Mom has done and does exactly that.  You are JOY.  You are my JOY and I love you!  Thank you for 19 years and for always being right where I need you to be.  I love you more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.  I am so glad that together we serve a God, Who continues to grow the love for His glory and our blessing!

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JOYJOLT!

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Very Cool - Can Even Be A Watch!We look for joy, but can never seem to find it.  If and when we do find it, then we can’t manage to hold onto it.  Joy is that miraculous and fulfilling gift that the Holy Spirit flows into our lives that enables us to face whatever life throws our way with hope, optimism, confidence and excitement.  Joy is that special gift of God that everyone wants, but that so few are willing to really work and live for.

It may be that your biggest problem is not that you are not looking for joy, but that you are looking for joy in all of the wrong places.  We try to find it in our achievements, goals and ambitions, but no matter how hard we try or what we accomplish, it just never seems to be there.  We often look to others and what they do for us or what they do not do to us for our joy, but this often leaves us worse off than when we began.  We sometimes even look deep within ourselves, only to discover that this is not the place, even though it sounds good.
Joy is found in one place and one place only.  Joy is found in the presence of God.  Psalm 16:11 says “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”  Joy that is bigger, better and stronger than any other thing in your life can only flow from one source and that is the pure source of His presence.  If you want joy that will allow you to face and overcome even the worst that life will throw your way, then you must journey into and learn to stay in His presence.
Sometimes when I am really wanting to show my “mad skills” on the grill, I will take a piece of meat and marinate it in some liquid and spices.  I literally leave the meat in the liquid for a long period of time, so that it can soak up all of the flavor that makes such a difference. In the cooking world this is known as “marinating” the meat.
So Many Options!We need to marinate in God’s joy by living our lives in His presence.  We do this by 1.) Making it a priority to invest time in God’s Word everyday.  One of the tools that I use to help me with this is youversion.com, this online Bible has a whole series of reading plans that help me to get in the Word, stay focused and enjoy His presence.  2.) Worship God Who is more than worthy on a regular basis.  I have an iPod nano that I have programmed with some of my favorite music and I have a section of songs that immediately take me to a place of worship, where I can enjoy sweet communion and fellowship with my Creator.  3.) Spend time in prayer.  This is a great gift that God has given to us, but it is also one of the most unused gifts. Prayer is simply having conversation with God.  It means that we talk and listen.  This conversation is evidence of His presence and joy can’t help but flow through it into and through our lives.
Time spent is God’s Word opens the door for worship.  Real and genuine worship brings us into His presence.  In His presence we have the opportunity for conversation, which will fill out lives with His joy.  Hope you enjoy the joy of His presence today!
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Grace Place Volunteers Appreciation Luncheon!

Northwood was treated to a steak, potato and salad lunch today, given by the McCullough family in appreciation of all the people who have volunteered to reach out to our community through the Grace Place ministry.  This video was a look back at a little of what God has been up to during this last year!

Thanks so much to all of those who work so hard to help share God’s Amazing Grace!