That Little Chap who follows me...

I have been reading "A Mom After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George and I came across this poem that made me tear up when I read it. It made me realize that if I don't conquer the sins that I struggle with now, Shiloh will struggle with the same sins when he is older. I would rather Shiloh see more of Christ in me than seeing me. And as I see him do everything that I do, it causes me to be on my knees even more. Here's the poem....

A careful mom I ought to be,
A little fellow follows me.
I do not dare to go astray,
For fear he'll go the selfsame way.

Not once can I escape his eyes;
Whate'er he sees me do he tries.
Like me he says he's going to be,
That little chap who follows me...

I must remember as I go
Through summer sun and winter snow,
I'm molding for the years to be-
That little chap who follows me.

-Author Unknown

Chinese Food!

Landry and I have been blessed with many good friends at our new church. A couple of those friends happen to be from Singapore! Chung Howe and Dency were one of the first couples we met from the church and we were drawn to their friendship quite rapidly! They have such a joy about life and a strong desire to serve God. They are learning more about the Bible while in the States and they will soon be going back to Singapore to serve God in their home land.

Last night we were honored to go out to eat with them and they picked Chinese!! The food was delicious and so was the fellowship time with Howie and Dency. Shiloh absolutely loved the rice!! He was putting handfuls of rice into his mouth and kept asking for more...oh can't forget the fortune cookie.....he had two!

I am so thankful for Godly friends that I can learn from and hear how God has touched their lives and hearts. And I am excited for Howie and Dency as they go back home and disciple other Christians and lead many to the Lord!!

An answer to prayer!

Landry and I had been praying for a new couch and we were planning on going garage shopping in a few months. I was preparing myself to stay content for the next several weeks when last Wednesday night at church one of our friends announced that if anyone who would like a free couch and love seat let them know. My first thought was to jump up and down and say "I want them!! Pick me! Pick me!" Well I refrained my selfishness and just turned around and smiled at her and said, "I'm interested."


There was another lady needing a couch and someone else had a free coach to give away...so she took that couch and we were given the couch and love seat. Landry went and got them on Saturday and they are beautiful. They are soooo comfy, the perfect color for our apartment, and God-given!!! God blessed us and we pray that God will bless the Bryson's (the couple who gave us the couches) so very much. We took our other couches to Goodwill, which happens to be right across the street!

This was a great lesson for me....when I have a need, I should take it to God and pray about it. He answers beyond what I can imagine. His way is best!


Here is a picture of the love seat!

The Greats!!

We had a fun time in Colorado and we saw several special people. I am so thankful for a Godly heritage and Godly people Shiloh can look up to! These are just a few.... Great-Aunt Edna (with a coke float..yum, yum!) and Great-Grandma Dunlap. Shiloh calls her G.G. It sounds so precious when he says her name!









We also saw Landry's Grandparent's, Great-Grandpa Bill and Great-Grandma Maxine! Shiloh loved shoveling Grandma's rocks into a bucket and then throw the rocks into the grass! Yikes!






We were privileged to stay with Great-Aunt Nancy and Great-Uncle Max. Shiloh played with Nancy's toy radio and loved the white-chocolate milkshake Nancy made. I think Uncle Max got a little bit!












Great-Grandma Alice was a joy to see as well. Shiloh opened up to her and cuddled in her lap as she read the Cheerios book with him!!

Our Trip to the Ocean

A couple weeks ago, our family went to Virginia for a beautiful wedding. We had a great time getting to know our new sister-in-law and just having a great time together as a family. One afternoon we went to the beach and Shiloh and I got to see the Atlantic Ocean for the first time! Shiloh wasn't so sure about the waves hitting him, but his island cousin (Stephen) showed him how it's all done! Grandma H. took this picture! I think it is adorable!

Yielding

I have been reading a book called Powerlines: What Great Evangelicals believed about the Holy Spirit. 1850-1930. These great men of the faith were so led by the Holy Spirit that every thing the Holy Spirit told them to do..they did. There were many revivals and salvations because of the leading of the Holy Spirit. While reading this book I have been convicted so many times. What I see is that "little" church people can be just as Spirit led as these "great" pastors and evangelists. And then I wondered how can I be spirit led? There are a couple of questions that I have to ask myself daily. Am I grieving the Holy Spirit by harboring any unconfessed sin? (Ephesians 3:40) Am I quenching the Holy Spirit by saying no to God? (I Thessalonians 5:19) Am I yielding to the Holy Spirit by saying yes to God? (Romans 6:23) Not only saying yes to God that I want to serve Him, but that when ever God says, "Trena, you need to forgive that person. Trena , you need to watch something else. Trena, you need to spend more time with Me," I will do.


After reading that to quench the Holy Spirit is to tell God no, I thought "I don't tell God no." But God showed me that I do...and He showed me through my son. Many times I tell Shiloh to do something and I know he hears me but he wants to do what he wants. After getting his attention he usually submits and obeys. Then it hit me. How often I am doing something and God whispers in my heart to do something else and I hear Him but I don't want do it. I am then telling God no and quenching His Holy Spirit in my heart. And then He is ever so patient and loving to get my attention until I do submit and obey. We all serve a wonderful God, but are we all yielding to Him and saying "yes God, I will do as you say."