Blogging 101 Assignment….

August 3, 2015August 7, 2015 / Susan Woodward / 6 Comments

Who am I ?

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

And why do I blog…

I belong to Jesus Christ. I live my life to serve others as a daughter of the most high! I have been married to Kent who is an amazing Husband, Father, Friend and Care Pastor for 26 years. I am a mother to five beautiful gifts and a Mimi to one little princess. I have been greatly blessed by a loving and supportive extended family and have the best parents on earth. I have served in various ministries my entire life. I have a great love and burden for the youth of this generation. My husband and I have been living out our passion as Foster/Adopt parents for over ten years. I have trained, recruited and mentored many others through our local DSS. I have led a small group for women who share my passion for hurting children for eight years. I have worked Royal Family Kids Camp (a special camp for the abused and neglected in our Foster Care System) for five years. My life is full of mistakes, mishaps and plenty of interesting lessons and things to write about…

I love to encourage and I hope to inspire others through my life and experiences as I blog. I’d like to think I have mastered home administrating. LOL Juggling a busy schedule has become a part of my life, but prioritizing the most important things has always come first. I live everyday of my life cherishing the moments I have with all those who surround me. I love to laugh while making the best of this crazy life I’ve been given. Sharing my real life moments, stories, insights, and the thoughts God places on my heart is away I hope to minister to YOU and others.

Most importantly….

I am extremely thankful everyday for Gods Amazing Grace! I pray this blog brings encouragement as “we together” fill our minds with TRUTH, fill our hearts with LOVE and fill our lives with SERVICE.

Praying you follow along…

Share with others…and Enjoy~

Within Your Walls…

July 28, 2015July 28, 2015 / Susan Woodward

FullSizeRender Within your walls…

Is your home and heart open and welcome?

Or occupied by you alone?

Is the door open and revolving?

Or has your door crept shut?

Is it full of love and laughter?

Or has love begun to die…

And laughter’s becoming a memory?

Within the walls…

Are lives being nurtured?

Changed?

Or taught of Gods Amazing Grace?

Is comfort and healing being offered?

Or is pain and sorrow all that is obtained?

So many people…

So many hurting…

So many young and old!

Let them in…

Within your walls!

Offer HOPE…

Make LOVE shine abundantly!

Promote PASSIONS to be filled…

GOALS to be conquered…

And VISIONS to become realities!

Take time to CREATE.

Make irreplaceable MEMORIES…

Living in each MOMENT…

LAUGHING with others…And at yourself.

Within your walls…

Lives can be REDIRECTED…

TRANSFORMED.

RESTORED.

With PRAYERS pouring out…

PATIENCE being practiced…

As you wait on the LORD for answers.

Rely on His STRENGTH.

Keep your FAITH renewed…

And TRUST in His ultimate Plan.

The things within Your WALLS…

Will also be FOUND within Your HEART!

So what is it that You have…….Within Yours?

Are You What You Do The Most Of?

July 23, 2015July 23, 2015 / Susan Woodward

Are YOU what you do the most of?

I mean, if you worry all the time wouldn’t you most likely become a great worrier? And If you drank continuously you’d probably become an Alcoholic. So, It’s also likely if you gossip you’ll become a fantastic gossiper. And If you complain, boast about yourself, or spend your time Lying….all day or most of the time…..Well, you get the picture right?

So, what consumes your thoughts? Your time throughout the day?

These things can positively mold you or they can negatively impact you and those closest to you.

It can confuse people and turn them away from knowing who you serve!

Only YOU can decide what you’ll become according to what you think of and do the most of.

To live Christ like and be more like Him we have to live consistently and consume ourselves with His words, thoughts and actions. We can all make a conscious effort to think more Christ Like and do better with Acting Christ like too!

When others see YOU… do they know who YOU serve?

We can all….Encourage others and become someone full and flowing with encouragement! Comfort those who need it and become a gifted comforter! Pray earnestly and faithfully often and become a prayer warrior! Welcome people into your home and become a person of warm hospitality! Love selflessly and unconditionally and others will see Christ’s love as it becomes a radiant light through you. Be kind, trust worthy and honest and you’ll hold great traits in becoming a dependable friend!

I do believe we become what we think about or do the most….

So we should choose wisely…with our thoughts….and how we spend our time.

What will your thoughts and the things you spend time doing make YOU become?

Who do others think YOU Serve?

I CAN’T GO A DAY WITHOUT JESUS!

June 23, 2015June 23, 2015 / Susan Woodward

As difficult as it is for me to start my mornings without my “wake up” coffee, I CAN do it.

To have a full day of not checking things off of a “to do list” is a challenge, but it too has been accomplished.

I can go without my phone (and that’s a hard one) my iPad, the internet and even the TV and somehow I can still make it through the day.

As crazy as it makes me to go to bed with dishes in the sink, or laundry in the dryer, I have done it. Often. And I Am Still Sane!

There are many things that I have no problems letting go of…..

And there are many things that I’ve had to learn to live without.

But… I CAN’T GO A DAY WITHOUT MY JESUS!

He lives deep within me

And His presence is felt all around me.

I thank Him for each day as I rise

And I praise Him when I lay my head to rest.

I cannot go without Him…

I have seen Him move in many lives

And I have watched Him graciously move in death.

I hear Him in the laughter of children

And I see Him through acts of compassion and giving.

I cannot go without Him…

I seek Him for guidance with every step that I take

And I try to humble myself as I let His light shine.

I need His Wisdom and His Love

And I am thankful for His Mercy and Grace.

I just can’t go without Him…

He is my Comfort and my Strength

My Hope

My Friend

My Healer and My Rock

I cannot go a SINGLE MOMENT in ANY DAY without…..MY JESUS!

He is My Everything!!!

Love People Not Things

May 22, 2015May 22, 2015 / Susan Woodward / 3 Comments

People were created to be loved

Things were created to be used

Think of how our world would be if everyone changed so that

Things were not being loved

And People were not being used.

People NOT things matter! It is not WHAT we have in our lives, but WHO we have in them that truly matters.

Why work so hard for the things we cannot keep. Why waste another dollar striving for one more thing. Is it worth the cost of everything else? No matter how hard we work….”Things” cannot give us what people can. We were created to LOVE. Love others. Not things. A precious God given moment with someone cannot be bought or replaced. So be careful how you view what is most important….

Live fully in each happy given moment and just as fully when you are persevering through a test or trial. Hold onto what is truly important. Live your life with a priority to LOVE. Love your God. Love your family. Love others. Work to only further His kingdom. Give to a greater cause. Share your faith in the Lord. Help others grow in their walk. Trust Him to direct your steps towards someone who needs encouragement. Hold a loved one’s hand. Whisper sweet words of comfort to a friend. Hug your child or someone else’s. Pray with or for a stranger. Encourage others in their weak times. Learn from those who are strong. Share your testimony and experiences. Remember moments are precious no matter what the circumstance. Give of your gifts, talents and time. Make lasting connections. Make a difference in the world because of LOVE.

Live Life Loving Others!

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the GREATEST of these is LOVE.

No Place To Call Home

May 4, 2015May 4, 2015 / Susan Woodward / 2 Comments

Did you know there are around 400,000 children in Foster Care in our Country?

Way too many of these children in care are in need of forever homes and may never receive one. They may grow up and into their adult lives with no place to call HOME. No place to go on holidays. Nobody to help them with life decisions. Many age out of Foster Care and have nobody to encourage them and to continue to speak life into their souls. They often lose important people in their lives over and over again and need people to instill in them that they matter! They need people to encourage them to move forward, heal and become everything the Lord has designed for them to become. They too have a divine purpose in life!

Not just this Month in MAY (The National Foster Care Month) but everyday please remember each of these children in your prayers. Also pray for the many Foster Parents and Families as they are learning every day the difficulties and also the many blessings of being obedient to the call to Foster and or Adopt. These families have chosen to reach out and reach into the heart of a child. Many of them are in daily need of your prayers and your encouragement.

Lord, open our eyes to the Hurting children around us, in our Communities, our Schools, our Churches, and our Neighborhood and in the World. They are our future and they matter. Help us to be mindful of those who may need extra encouragement, guidance and love to support and or raise their families. Help us to recognize when it is YOU dear Lord asking us to help, teach, guide or make a difference in a child’s life. May our lives reflect your goodness and may we always extend your perfect love. Give us the desire to do like Christ in every circumstance you place us in. Use us Lord in big ways to change the world, mend the hearts of the hurting, show of your great love, and always bring you the glory while furthering your kingdom! Amen

If you would like more information or want to know how YOU can support us Foster/Adopt families or become involved in Foster/Adopting yourself please feel free to message me. Don’t hesitate to move forward if the Lord has placed this on your heart. suekwoodward@yahoo.com