Frank

Wednesday night, this guy came to our church and gave us an update on whats going on in Haiti.

Frank Williams is one of the leaders of the SMI organization. He is who we go and help and is who our church sponsors financially each month. Frank has easily become one of my favorite people and truth be told, I have spent very little time with him. His passion for the Lord and the spread of the gospel is inspiring. He truly has a heart for the nations and God has specifically given him a passion for the Haitian people.

He lives in Indiana with his family, but spends 1-2 weeks in Haiti each month. He has been working in Haiti for 16 years now. When you see him with the Haitian people , its obvious they love him just as much. His motto is not to give them a hand out, but a hand up. They spend time teaching the Haitians many different skills so they can work and provide for themselves.

Last night, we had the opportunity to tag along to a dinner with Daniel's family, Frank and several others. Thankfully Daniel and I ended up sitting close to Frank and talking with him most of the night. Its so neat to hear the stories of how God continues to provide and make provisions for their ministry in Haiti. Hearing all that's currently going on makes me so excited about going back.

Frank and his pastor in Indiana. Pastor tagged along with us on our trip last July.

I say all of this to ask you to pray for Frank and his ministry. You can go to their website and learn more. Please pray that God would continue to give them vision, supplies, and the financial aid to complete what he's called them to do. Also, please pray for their families. Frank and many others spend a lot of time away from their families. You can imagine this has to be difficult.

And then most importantly pray that through their ministry they will continue to reach the Haitian people for Christ. Pray that the Haitian people would turn away from voodoo and see that Jesus is their only hope.

Try It Tuesday

I am such a sucker at Sam's. It is physically impossible to go in there and spend less than $100... ok thats an exaggeration... it's impossible for the Jerkins'... or may be just one Jerkins to spend less than $100. The other night was no exception.

We needed a few things like fruit, milk, laundry stuff... I'm talking less than 10 items. And somehow we ended up spending over $100. It may or not be because d and I both love food and when we see something that looks good... even if we have just strategically eaten dinner so we wouldn't buy on impulse... its still hard to pass up good looking stuff. This Try It Tuesday was one of our many finds and it is delish.

Cinnamon Apple Straws




They taste like taco bell's cinnamon twists with apple flavoring. If you like a crunchy snack. This is def one for you.

Girls Gone Wise

Ok, seriously when I heard there was a women's bible study with this titled I def. laughed out loud and made fun of it. Then as the opportunity to teach a discipleship class focused around women presented itself God laid this study on my heart. Jokes on me now. Does God have a sense of humor or what?

This Sunday we will begin Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild. As I received all my stuff in the mail, I began to really get excited. Who wouldn't with a cute, cheesy, red bag like this?!



Then as I began studying I knew it was no accident this was what I would be teaching. It's very basic stuff but powerful if we as women will take it and apply it. I don't want to give too much away but what God has challenged me with is this:

We are all girls gone wild. No we may not be college girls going around flashing our chest to cameras, but in our own sinful way we are wild.... because we are sinners at heart.

Just because we may be minister wives, sing in the choir, teach sunday school, etc... doesn't exempt us from falling into the trap of sin. We are all fair game... if we aren't careful. This study will open our eyes to what the world is throwing at us and by using scripture (focusing on Proverbs 7) we will be able to identify it and stay away from the trap.

Now many of you may say Candace, really?! Another study on how to be a godly woman. I know how to do that. I have a phd in it. Well congratulations to you... you are a liar. This is more than just a study on how to be a godly woman. Its a study to open our eyes to the sin that so easily entangles us. I'm not talking necessarily about big sin though many fall into big sins like adultery. I'm talking things as simple as bitterness, unforgiveness, bad attitudes, and selfishness. We may not be having an affair with another man but I guarantee you some of our behaviors and the things we say or don't say are screaming another story. How do we keep from letting this stuff happen? How do we achieve being a godly woman?

It all starts at the foot of the cross. From there we learn why Christ must be central. Why his word must be what we know and crave because if we know Christ and His word then we'll recognize the wolf in sheep's clothing. We'll see our sin immediately, confess it and turn. We don't have to wallow in our sin because as girls gone wise we can recognize it before it ever gets a hold of us. And the best part part of all... even if you know for certain I am THE girl gone wild -there's good news... Christ can turn any girl gone wild into a girl gone wise.