Tired friends - Cooper, Clay and Daniel Pizza Time!

Sweet little Abby waiting to blow her candles out!

Playing with her new 'bocks'

Dear Lord,

I'm here to love You, to obey you, to glorify You. O my Beloved may I be a joy to You!

Today is my sweet little Abby's 2nd birthday - how privileged we are to be entrusted with the life of another - at times I am overwhelmed with the joy that my children bring me, but other times I am overwhelmed with how much heartache we can cause each other as human beings. In Zimbabwe I was in awe when we got to see giraffes - I had never before seen a real live one that close, they are so beautiful and statuesque, I almost expected Noah to be standing around the corner next to the ark! But how much more beautiful and worthy of our admiration is the one who created our children and all living things. Gods promises are always true, He never has and never will fail us or cause us heartache or dissapointment, when man seems to fail you, look to the One who will never fail you, who will never dissapoint you or let you down!

Aren't you grateful for the delight and privilege of praising our wonderful God, the most beautiful and generous and trustworthy of all beings!

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5

Daniel is 7 Abby almost 2!!

DANIEL - much to his joy and ours is officially 7 years old and had his first sleepover party this past weekend - which was very exciting (and exhausting for mom and dad) for him and his friends.

We also celebrated sweet little ABBY'S 2nd birthday this weekend (yes 2 parties in one weekend) - well I enjoy it - its how I used to make my living - now my children get the benefit of my experience. Anyway Abby was very sweet and busy as usual trying to keep up with everyone and had lots of fun.

Jackie

Jewelry

I have very graciously had some jewelry donated to enable me to raise funds for my trip - if you would like to buy any - please feel free to call me or stop by and have a look.
Have a blessed day
Jackie
847 1177
d_jgray@bellsouth.net

Mat 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. " - seems like this is how the Lord is teaching me to trust in His provision - to be obedient each day, to take my thoughts captive and focus on the tasks He places in front of me each day. I can do nothing apart from Him, but I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me.

Please be praying for supernatural strength for me and my family as David and I seek to teach our children the ways of the Lord - "to daily consider others better than themselves" and to set a Godly example for them, supernatural provision for funds for my trip - for me not to listen to the lies of the enemy and the condemnation he has been trying to feed me, provision for what we need to take for the orphans and other families in Zimbabwe and supernatural strength for the people of Zimbabwe to stand strong in their faith as their elections approach at the end of this month.

Rom 10:17
... So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We will be sending out an email soon to all the prayer partners and others who would like to be involved in writing letters of encouragement to the orphans and helping us gather some supplies we would like to be able to take with. So please be praying about your involvement and where the Lord would use your gifts to make a difference in the life of those who have so much less than us.

Mar 12:41-44
Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.
Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.
So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;
"for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

I daily have to learn to be content with what I have, the Lord gifts us all in different ways so we may all come together as one body and bring Him glory. Never think you cannot do great things for God, the Lord can accomplish His work without us, but in His grace He allows us to partner with Him and give of what we do have, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.

IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP TO BE A PRAYER SPONSOR FOR ANY OF THE ORPHANS BUT WOULD LIKE TO WRITE A LETTER OR HELP BUY SOME SUPPLIES FOR OUR TRIP COMING UP IN MAY/JUNE, PLEASE CALL ME ON 847 1177 OR EMAIL ME AT d_jgray@bellsouth.net so I can add you to the list and keep you updated.

Have a blessed day
Jackie