Spiritual Gifts

Hi guys!! I have been asked to speak at our Women's banquet at church next month and the topic is Spiritual Gifts!! I am very nervous, speaking is not necessarily one of my spiritual gifts, but I am honored that they thought to ask me!! Will you please be praying for me as I search God's word about what He says about Spiritual gifts!?!? Will you also pray that I would not use my words but His!! Also, if you have any thoughts on this topic, I would love to hear them!! THANKS!!!

1 Peter 4:10 "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

My Favorite Verses

I found my "old" Bible today as I was cleaning through a few things!! I LOVE this Bible so much because it was the first Bible that was actually mine, and not one that we just had laying around the house! It lovingly (but very faded) says my name on the front: Christina Embree, it is purple in color, and it is very worn!! I love seeing my maiden name of the front cover! I haven't had that last name for almost 4 years,but it always feels good to hear!!! It reminds me of where I came from!! As I am looking through my Bible I am reminded of some of my absolutely favorite passages!! I just wanted to share a few of those with you all today!! As I delve deeper and deeper into God's Word I am astounded by His wisdom and knowledge of us, His children!! He knew us so well, even before we were even born!!! His Word is amazing, and has so many answers to our questions, and, verses of encouragement and love meant just for us!!! What a MIGHTY God we serve!!!!

One of my dear friends has this verse set in her e-mail and anytime she sends me something I read it and am encouraged!! She has been through A LOT in life but still holds strong to her faithful relationship with the Lord!! She is a huge encouragement to me!!!
"I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:8 --AMEN!!! I WILL NOT be shaken, not by anything!!! Thank you Father for this promise!!!

I also love Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight!"

I went to this verse A LOT during my college years when I didn't know who or what I wanted to be!!!
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future!" Jeremiah 29:11.

This is a constant reminder of how I should live my life!
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house! In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me!" John 14:6

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16

These are just a few verses...I hope to post more later this week!! I hope you are encouraged!! Father, thank you for your Word and for all of the guidance you give us in life!! I love you!!!

Precious Moments

You all know that as parents we often get to have precious moment's with our kiddos!! Really, every day that we get to live with our babies here on this earth is a precious monet! But, being at stay at home mom, I feel like I get to see these moments every single day!!! For example, today Maddie started dancing to music!! It is absolutely the cutest thing I have ever seen her do (up until this second at least!!) She was sitting on our bed watching her praise music DVD while I was getting ready! When I looked over at her, she was bopping to the praise song!! It brought me so much joy!! Another precious moment was last night! I went out with a couple of girl friends and when I got home, Maddie and Wyatt were sitting on the couch together. Wyatt was holding Maddie and she was all bundled up in her jammies with a soft blanket tucked around her. She was almost asleep, but every once and awhile she would reach up and touch his chin, just to make sure he was still there. Then she would open her eyes to give him the sweetest smile you have ever seen a daughter give her daddy!! WOW, what a precious moment!! Maddie is so alert and loves to take in the things around her so she does this head tilt thing where she looks around you, or over your head (when you are sitting down), it is hilarious!! We love all of the precious moments we have with her!! She is absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to our family!!! Before we had Maddie in our lives, people told us that having a baby would change everything...some people made it sound like our baby would change our lives for the negative!! For those people I feel sad!! Maddie has changed our lives so much in such JOYFUL ways!! Sure, being parents is hard at times, you have to become selfless (which I am still working on) but it absolutely one of the best responsibilities that God has ever blessed us with!! We are in awe of our daughter every single day!!!

Last night before we went to bed, we had a precious moment with our son!! I was laying on my side and he started kicking my stomach so hard!! Wyatt got to feel him kick for the first time!! It was awesome!!! We are so excited to meet baby Zack (or as Wyatt calls him-the Zack attack!) God obviously had some amazing plans for our family, I can't wait to see what they are!!!