Happy Mother's Day!

This Mother's Day was an amazing day spent with my 2 Moms. It began at Covenant Church with an awesome worship service & also where my Mom was awarded as a "TOP MOM!" Then we had a wonderful lunch at Dos Charros & rented a redbox. I can never thank you enough Mom for your sacrifice every day in caring for me. You mean so much to me. You have my heart Mom! You too Second Mom.

My Top Mom Submission:

Where do I even begin?
Not a single word I could ever speak could begin to explain how amazing my Mom is and how she truly goes above and beyond in every way. She is an extraordinary mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, caregiver, and woman of God.
I was in a car crash 9 years ago with an 18-wheeler and almost died. In fact, I did die four times but God breathed life back into me and I'm forever grateful that He did because it is through such life that I learned how incredibly blessed I am, how much God loves me, and how much my family loves me. I was in inpatient recovery hospitalization for 5 months (in 4 different hospitals) and my Mom was with me every step of the way, every day. Nearly every night, she stayed in the cot next to my hospital bed and every day, she was persistently advocating, motivating, praying, and speaking life over me and still does to this day. In a place and state full of despair and can'ts, she reminded me that I still have a purpose and to keep my faith. When it was time to come home from the hospital, my loving Mom quit her job of nearly 25 years to become my full-time caregiver, a tremendous sacrifice. She released all of who she was and wanted to be - completely dropped it - to take care of me. She not only cooked and cleaned the house but now also dressed and undressed me, cleaned me when I messed on myself, bathed me, fed me, changed my catheters, turned me in the bed at night to prevent pressure sores (as did my Dad and boyfriend), and all the other many little (and big) things that able-bodied persons and families could not even imagine. She does and does and does for me and others until she can do no more and then, hunched over from exhaustion and grimacing from aching feet, still asks if there is anything else she can do. She is an absolute blessing. Her heart and spirit radiates and captivates the world around her. She gives and serves so much to those in need but hardly ever takes time for herself. I began my response in saying that words cannot express the kind of woman that my Mom is and I conclude with that same declaration. My Mom is so special, so deserving, so wonderful of a person and I just want her to know how much her love and sacrifice means to me. It is through her sacrifice and love that God revealed Himself to me and helped me to truly understand His love and who He is. "Greater love has no man than he who lays down his life." She lays down her life every day.

THANK YOU COVENANT CHURCH MCKINNEY!

August and September Speeches

August 3, 2013 - Speaking to Biblical Community Church's youth located at 810 Lookout Dr., Richardson, TX 75080 at noon.

September 8, 2013 - Speaking to Christ United Methodist Church's youth located at 3101 Coit Rd., Plano, TX 75075 at 6:45pm.

September 18, 2013 - Speaking at MADD's Plano Teen VIP located at 900 E. 15th Street, Plano, TX 75074 at 6:15pm.

Go and Be Event - Helping and Meeting the Needs of McKinney Residents

Go and Be is a whole event where we deploy all our 3e McKinney partner churches to make a statement: there's a God in heaven who loves the people of this community, and we get to bring people that news through our humble acts of service. Let's join together as families, groups and as church family to serve our local communities with outrageous service, bringing a little bit of heaven to earth. This year, our primary focus will be on revitalizing one specific area in east McKinney, the Rockwall community. As we partner with the City of McKinney, 3e McKinney, Habitat for Humanity and Volunteer McKinney, we are accepting a God-sized challenge to show the love of Christ by renovating 25-30 homes.

  

April 20, 2013   this will be prep. Day for the projects, cleanup, power washing and some construction and scraping.  Getting ready for the paint to go on the home.

April 27, 2013 will be the big day.  One of the major projects will be painting, also landscaping and maybe some construction.

For those that want to meet the residents and not paint, we will also do surveys that day. I will provide a quick training class on how to complete form so ask for me.  So this is just walking house to house talking and blessing the people of the community.

All events start at 8 am and go to 4pm each day, but come when you can and leave when it is needed.

Please visit the 3e website to sign up as a volunteer or you can contact Leroy Smith.

Tentatively we are supposed to park in a truck parking lot at 800 elm st, mckinney

Smith, Leroy. "Go & Be Event." Message to Tonya Winchester. 15 April 2013. E-mail. 

Thank you for helping!! I can guarantee you will be blessed!!

Encouraging Pastor Warren, His Family, and His Church

Interested in encouraging and helping Pastor Rick Warren (who recently lost his son), his family, and his church? You can!

Statement from Pastor Rick Warren:

Dear Friends,
Kay and I have been overwhelmed by your outpouring of love since Matthew’s tragic death. You are true friends, especially with the vitriol from haters we’ve received. Friends show up when others walk away.
If you missed what happened, click here to read my letter.

You’ve asked, “Is there anything we can do to help you?”

The answer is yes! We could use your help right now in FIVE PRACTICAL WAYS:

1. Sign a petition that urges educators, lawmakers, healthcare, and congregations to raise the awareness and lower the stigma of mental illness, and also to support families that are dealing with mental illness on a daily basis. Thanks for adding your voice!

2. Offer your help and prayers to those around you who are caring for mentally ill family and friends. They need your encouragement more than you realize

3. Fight mental illness with an online gift to The Matthew Warren Fund for Mental Health. Your gift is tax-deductible. Or, you may mail a check to
The Matthew Warren Fund
Saddleback Church
1 Saddleback Parkway
Lake Forest, CA 92630.

4. Send a note of encouragement and sympathy.

Pastor Warren's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pastorrickwarren
Pastor Warren's email: PastorRick@saddleback.com
Or mail a card to the above address.

5. PRAY

We are reading every note. We’d love to hear from you here on Facebook, or you can email us at PastorRick@saddleback.com. Your prayers and words continue to strengthen us.

Pastor Rick

Warren, Rick. "Join Us In the Fight Against Mental Illness." Saddleback Church. 13 April 2013. Web. 15 April 2013. .

7 Weeks of Blessing at Covenant Church

April 7, 2013: Kickoff Sunday - Give money to help sponsor kids to attend summer camps

April 14, 2013: Diaper Sunday - Bring diapers & wipes in all sizes

April 21, 2013: Grocery Card Sunday - Bring a gift card to a local grocer in any amount

April 28, 2013: Gas Card Sunday - Bring a gas gift card in any amount

May 5, 2013: School Supply Sunday - Bring any school supplies

May 12, 2013: Meet a Need Sunday - Give money to help fund needs within our community and church

May 19, 2013: Professional Services Sunday - Do you have a service to offer? Are you in need of a service?

To donate any of these items, please drop the items off at the Covenant Church in McKinney
        975 S. Central Expressway, McKinney, TX 75070
        Office hours: Monday - Thursday (9:00-5:00 pm) or Sundays

If you are in need of any of these items or services, please visit the church (the appropriate Sunday) or call at 972-548-2700.

Pastor Rick Warren's Son Passed Away

Pastor Rick Warren's son passed away Saturday after an unfortunate decision to commit suicide. I have never met Pastor Warren or his son but I respect him and his beliefs and have joyfully been subscribed to his daily email devotionals for several years. Please keep Pastor Warren, his family, and his church in your prayers.

http://news.yahoo.com/church-pastor-rick-warrens-son-commits-suicide-211206608.html

Father,

We lift up Pastor Warren, his family, and his church to you and pray in the name of Jesus for your healing power to cover them, guide them, and bring them through this as stronger and greater for your purposes. We ask that you fill them with supernatural strength, endurance, perseverance, courage, and encouragement. In their weakness, sadness, and misunderstanding, may they look to you. May they remain focused on you God, trust that you have their best interest at heart, and grow in unsurpassable ways. Father let them feel your holy presence. At a time when all eyes are on them Father, we pray that their faith will not fail and that their love and trust in you will shine even brighter. Father we pray against all spiritual attack, hindrances, and harm on the family in the name of Jesus and pray for your mighty protection over their minds, hearts, and bodies. We know you have a purpose in this that exceeds our knowledge and we trust in you God for you are good. Father thank you for your love and for answering our prayers. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Gift of Christmas

Want to bless a child this Christmas? Through World Help, you can bless an orphan with a Christmas gift for only $5 a child (covers the shipping of the Christmas box). This is an amazing organization which really seeks to "help" the world. "Something so simple can bring a level of joy only a child can fully understand. Giving to ship Christmas for Orphan boxes is an easy way of showing love. The look on a child's face is priceless as they receive their first—and very own—gifts" (World Help, 2012). They provide many other great ways to help as well and let you specifically choose a service or need! Visit http://goh.worldhelp.net/cfao/ to gift a Christmas box to a orphan and http://goh.worldhelp.net/ for other gifting options. You will make a "world" of a difference!

For the daily needs of impoverished children/families:
- Immunizations
- Bedding
- Shoes
- Coats
- Life saving supplies including food and clean drinking water
- Mosquito nets
- Wheelchair
- Operation Baby Rescue & Child Sponsorship

For school and education:
- School scholarships
- Books and supplies
- Uniforms (some kids cannot attend school without a uniform)
- Sports equipment
- Rooms to learn
- Sewing Machines
- Welding equipment
- Hair styling tools and products

Sustainability for a family:
- Livestock (Goats, Pigs, Cows, Sheep, Chickens, or Rabbits)
- Fruit trees
- Beehives
- Harvest-producing seeds
- Bicycles

Community & Spiritual Development:
- Bibles
- A church
- A home
- A clean-water project

The Holy Spirit Is at Work!

"Wow" is all I can say about today! So many things to share about how God is at work.

I have been praying and praying for an even closer relationship with God, for Him to speak to me and open all of my senses up to Him and His Spirit, and of course, for healing of my body. I also have prayed that God would prepare the hearts of those I invite to church, that they would accept the invitation. Well, today I received some answers to my prayers.

As I was getting ready for church, I received a text from a friend who I invited a few weeks ago saying that she was definitely coming to service today! I was so excited! Finally an acceptance from someone! It felt so great. When we arrived at church, she was already inside conversing with some family friends of ours who had no idea she was coming. I thought that was neat. We then entered the sanctuary and found our seats just in time for worship.

The music was great, as always. That is one thing I LOVE about this church (the Covenant Church) - the music! It is life-breathing! You can literally feel the Holy Spirit filling the sanctuary - every row, every seat - as our voices lift, united in praising our God! Oh, how awesome it feels... How awesome it sounds! I closed my eyes during one song, absolutely captivated in how lovely all of our voices sounded together and imagined Heaven. It sounded like Heaven.

As I was getting into one of the songs, an older man came behind me, put his hand on my right shoulder, and began praying aloud in tongues. As he prayed, he moved his hand to my right arm, my right hand, and my right leg and then to my left arm, my left hand, and my left leg. (He was praying for healing in my body.) When he finished he told me that God wants me to know how much He loves me and also wants me to write a petition for seven days as well as a letter to Jesus and at the end of the seven days, God would heal me. Before the man left to find his seat, he told me that God instructed him to come to this church and pray over a person in a wheelchair.

We continued singing but shortly later, our pastor began his message. He preached about Mary and Martha and their personalities/lifestyles (Luke 10:38-41; John 11:1-43). He said that we should not just be like Mary, always sitting at the feet of Jesus, but also be like Martha who was always busy serving, working, and preparing. He instructed that by being too much of either "Mary" or "Martha," we will miss out on what God has in store for us. Of course, my two cents on it does not give it justice but, it was a great message. As he closed, he said, "If there is anything you need prayer for, come to the front. Ask and you shall receive." It made me think of my blog yesterday and I immediately felt conviction for something I needed to confess.

I wheeled up to the front and asked one of the elders to pray over me for healing, my confession, and for my boyfriend's life struggles. One of the first things she said was, "Ask the Lord and you will receive." I thought again of my recent blog "Keep Asking and You Shall Receive; Keep Seeking and You Shall Find." She prayed and we talked for about 15 minutes. Then, as I was leaving the sanctuary, a young man (in his twenties) approached me saying that God told him to talk with and pray over me. I was thinking, "Wow! Two people in one day have not only been instructed by God to pray over me but they have also faithfully stepped out in obedience to God's instruction!" I felt very encouraged and so special in God's eyes.

The young man began trembling as tears filled his eyes. He grabbed my hand as began to pray that I would know how much God loves me and that God would grant me the desires of my heart. Throughout the prayer, he was crying and very emotional. He had been sitting in the row behind me the entire time the elder was praying over me so I was not sure if he was so emotional because he heard me tell her my story and saw me crying or if God had revealed something to him about me or if God displayed the desires of my heart to him. I later felt and came to the conclusion that it was all three.

I am writing all of this to be obedient in God's commandment "Write these things down for the future so that people who are not yet born will praise the Lord" (Psalm 102:18, NCV). God is good and I know He will heal me. I realized that it is a matter of me letting go of all fear, worry, and doubt and faithfully believing with ALL I have that God will take care of me. Today marks this complete transition.

I also wanted to share a passage with you that explains me asking the elder (has the gift of prayer) for prayer:

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:13-16, NIV 1984).

God's love is real. God's love is near.
May you be blessed. Much love.

Happy Easter!

What a glorious and uplifting day it has been! All I can say is PRAISE GOD! We enjoyed an awesome church service at the Covenant Church. Afterwards, we went up to the front asking for prayer. They anointed me with oil and prayed for healing over my body and prayed for my parents, Billy, and my new caregiver who attended church with us. Everything has just been amazing so far today.

Thank you God for such an amazing day, and amazing church service, and for sending your son to save us from our sins in this dangerous and tempting world. I thank you that a relationship with you is now possible. Thank you for reminding us and for reopening our eyes to the cross. Thank you for my family and I pray that your will will continue to be done in our lives and in this world. Amen!


Check out AMAZING GRACE sung beautifully by 4 Men and My Redeemer Lives sung amazingly by a young girl. Great uplifting songs. Love you and Happy Easter!

http://www.clarrissegill.com:80/videoclips/amazing_grace.php

http://www.godvine.com/Young-Girl-Beautifully-Sings-My-Redeemer-Lives-379.html


"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it."
Henry David Thoreau

Romans 5:8 (NLT) – “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners”

Ephesians 1:3-5 (NIV) – “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”