Another Giveaway!

Head on over to angelo-alvear.blogspot.com for your chance to win a digital picture frame! Good luck!

Giveaway!

Head on over to http://siskendricksscrapbook.blogspot.com for a chance to win a Gold Canyon car sent!
Good luck!

What A Friend We Have In Jesus!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble-Psalm 46:1

I recently learned of the history behind this song and thought I'd share. How blessed we are to serve a God that cares for us! His strength is perfect! Enjoy!

Irish born Joseph M. Scriven (1819-1896) was 25 years old, in love and to be married. The day before his wedding his fiance died in a tragic drowning accident. Heartbroken, Joseph sailed from his homeland to start a new life in Canada. While in Canada working as a teacher, he fell in love again and became engaged to Eliza Roche, a relative of one of his students. Once again, Joseph's hopes and dreams were shattered when Eliza became ill and died before the wedding could take place.

Although one can only imagine the turmoil within this young man, history tells us that his faith in God sustained him. Around the same time that Eliza died, Joseph received word from Ireland that his mother was ill. He could not go to be with her, so he wrote a letter of comfort and enclosed one of his poems entitled What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

Many years later a friend was sitting with Joseph, as he was very ill. During this visit, the friend was very impressed when he ran across his poems, including What a Friend We Have in Jesus. As a result of this visit, almost 30 years after his letter of comfort to his mother, Joseph's poems were published in a book called Hymns and Other Verses. Soon thereafter, noted musician Charles C. Converse (1834-1918) put music to one of those poems: What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Snowman funnies

- Posted from my iPhone

Full House in Sunday School

Today we had over 100 kids in Sunday school! It was awesome! There was so much energy in the sanctuary! I don't know what's your Sunday school average but that's kind of big deal in our little town!


- Posted from my iPhone

Genista and Vicente's Wedding

We have officially become wedding hoppers! It seems like it's been one right after the other! Genista made a beautiful bride! Her wedding was sweet!
















- Posted from my iPhone

A Wedding, A Baby, A Birthday, and Avila

I have no excuse why I haven't posted! Except that I kind of just forgot about my blog! Having the app for Blogger on the iPhone makes it so convenient except when you take pictures from your digital camera, which we usually do! If only the iPhone had a better camera. I guess the camera is ok. No complaints here! A phone can only do so much right?! Wrong! Maybe... Someone should come up with some sort of contract with Sony cameras and iphones. I want to be able to send pics, by just ONE click of a button, from my camera to the iphone. That'd be awesome! If that process is already out there, someone please tell me! Anyhow, the latest in the Hale home... A wedding, a baby (not ours, LoL), 2 in 1 Birthday, and Avila Beach! Much more to tell but I will spare the boring details of our everyday life! But we all love pictures! Enjoy!
Sherry was a beautiful bride! Their wedding was so sweet!

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Truck! They are made for each other! She laughs the loudest at his jokes! It's cute!

My cousin Toni finally gave birth to Baby Jacob Alcantar! They assumed he would be at least 8 lbs.! But he came in at a little over 7lbs. She was a couple of days over due and we decided to go walking to help expedite his coming... I thought we'd never stop walking! I thought maybe Toni was convinced to walk until she was layed out on the floor ready to give birth!

The lovely Sis. Frazier at her 50th Birthday dinner that was given for Elder Frazier as well! She's not quite 50 yet but she doesn't look a day over 30 right?

Best of friends! We love the Frazier's! They are very special to us!

Yes, we've both gained weight. Please forgive us! And please don't get too much pleasure out of this simple fact that happens to all those who marry! We just never are quite what we used to be! How sad that we found out in our first year! But this just means we're healthy and happy! I don't mind the weight my husband has put on, he's a hunk! But as for me, I do mind! If I will do anything about it? Time will tell!

We had a good time with Mom and Dad Hale and the Loo Family at Avila Beach! We cherish any time we get to spend together!

We found this really neat pumpkin patch while we were in Avila. Pumpkins of all colors! Hayride, animal farm, hay maze, and lots of fresh fruit!

Nonny, Poppy, and Alana Loo, the life of the party! She makes every day a good day!

The love of a family is truly life's greatest blessing!

Suggestion for Blogger: Spell Check!

Don't forget to vote today! Your vote counts!

- Posted from my iPhone

From One Pumpkin to Another

A woman was asked by a coworker, What is it like to be a Christian?

The coworker replied, It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.

- Posted from my iPhone

Thank God For Your Shepherd

As I am sure most of us are aware, October is Pastor Appreciation Month! Your Pastor and his family should be included in your daily prayers, but this month, take extra time to lift up the man of God, his wife, and his children, in prayer. As saints, we will never be able to understand the things they face or the burden they carry. Their greatest joy and utmost goal is to see you make it to Heaven.

Take time to show your appreciation this month! They don't need costly gifts, but just someone to let them know they are appreciated! I am so blessed to have Pastor and Sis. Hale as my pastor and pastor's wife. What a difference they have made in my life! They are constant and true. They live what they preach and teach! I want to be a blessing to them!

A poem to think on...

Our Pastor

Have you ever walked in our Pastor's shoes,
And gone where his feet have trod?
Have you ever thought of what he means to us,
And on your knees, given thanks to God?

Have you ever told him thank you,
For being there, when times are tough,
For comforting words and fervent prayers
When trials come and the storms of life are rough?

He answers our calls in the middle of the night
And tells us not to worry, for he will be there.
He gives up his comfort of quiet rest
And comes with prayers of comfort to share.

Have you ever thought to say thank you Pastor,
For preaching God's word to help us understand,
For all the times he has asked for things
That will lend us a helping hand?

When you pray, put him at the top of the list
And ask the Lord to surround him with loving care,
To give him strength and walk with him,
To help him with the burdens that he must bear.

Have you ever walked in our Pastor's shoes,
And gone where his feet have trod?
Have you ever thought of what he means to us,
And on your knees, given thanks to God?

A Pastor Appreciation Poem by Judy Crowe