JJ the Fish

I am allergic to anything on four legs; this includes hamsters. I have passed this along to my poor children. They are therefore pet deprived. I have to admit that I am quite happy to be pet free, though, as it has seldom felt like I am missing anything other than more responsibility. (At least, this is what I tell myself.)

Of course,one of the few pets left open to us are fish. So it happened at Christmas: we became the proud owners of three goldfish and one algae eater. This was due the generosity of a sister in Christ who gave us everything from tank to contents.

My kids named each fish. I am not convinced they can tell the three goldfish apart, but they definitely remember their names (alas, I do not). The little black algae eater was named JJ. JJ could be found hugging the walls of the tank, and always required effort to locate. This fish quickly became my sons favorite.

Well, last night by saint of a husband finally got to the task of cleaning the tank with the kids. It was about a month overdue (ugh...responsibility). When they went hunting for JJ, you guessed it, he was nowhere to be found.

Ray said Jacob sobbed his little heart out. Ray promised him we would get a replacement fish. And I was tucking my daughter into bed last night, she too was telling the story. She shared how she did not cry, but she felt bad for her brother. Then she told me how she prayed with Jacob and for JJ.

I was absolutely touched....and so grateful that this was her response to her hurting brother.

Pastor Amy

Gerin Day 38

I was surprised when I ran into Jerin at the Family Dollar Store in Smyrna DE. The last time I had seen her, was last summer at the Granary Restaurant in Georgetown, MD. She and her husband run this beautiful water front restaurant.

Until today I assumed that she and husband leased and ran the business for themselves; however today I learned differently. When I asked how business was doing she replied, I`m not there anymore, the owned let me go, but continued my husbands employment.

I was shocked at this news, I was truly at a loss for words. Jerin had worked there for 13 years and truly put her heart and soul into successfully running this business.

I listen with concern and compassion as she described the details of her dismissal. I was in awe of the news!

As she was leaving, I ask if I could pray with her, we walked outside. With a warm embrace I hugged her as I listened to the Holy Spirit for just the right words. As I prayed she started to cry. We slowing backed away from one another, through her tears she graciously thanked me and said that she really needed that.

I thank God that Jerin and I where both in the right place at the right time to share such a powerful prayer!

Romans 5:5 The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Tough Love Day 37

For the past 2 years Susie and I have shared and helped one another deal with addictions within our families. I`ve shared with her the trials of my own addiction to alcohol and the devastating effects it had on my life. I proudly celebrate 4 years of sobriety by the grace of God! To someone that doesn`t struggle with addiction, I`m sure that it must be difficult to understand. If you want to quit just stop, I can assure you it`s not that simple.

Currently Susie`s son is struggling with addiction to prescription drugs. This problem effects more people than you can possibly imagine. I`ve talked to her many times and try to give her insight about addictions. I`ve also encouraged her to educate herself so that she can better deal with her son.

Several months ago she called me and proudly announced that her son was on his way to a rehab program. However, he checked himself out after one week, he assured her he could do it by himself and that he would attend meetings. He soon stopped going to meetings.

She allowed him to live at home and was surely enabling his addiction. She wanted to believe in him and give him every chance to recover. The constant drama of his addictions has taken physical and emotional tolls on Susie and her husband. Finally, she told her son that he was no longer welcome at home if he was using.

Today she told me that he had a car accident and for the first time she truly had enforced her tough love program and offered him no assistance what so ever. I could see and feel the intense pain that she was feeling, but she was standing firm in her commitment.

The power and bondage of any addiction is greater than Love!

Romans 7:20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Please pray for Susie and her son`s recovery!

Mothers Day Day 36

Today, silently I prayed in church, thanking God for the 50 years that I shared here on this earth with my mother and how I miss her! This summer will mark the tenth anniversary of her death.

Today I also prayed with my very dear friend Rose. Rose has been a blessing in my life for the past 30 years and also a second mother to me.

This week Rose will be making a trip to visit her brother Freddie in Massachusetts. At the age of 83 Freddie is the baby of the family, his failing health has prompted this visit. Rose will join her brother Paul and three Schiavone siblings will be united for a reunion. May God`s blessing and peace be with them now and forever!

Psalms 92:13-14 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.

Reflection Weeks 4 and 5

The past 2 weeks seemed to fly by at the speed of sound and I was lost in the whirl wind. Finally after ten months of meetings and preparations our Divine Diva weekend was here and gone. After some rest time we`ll prepare for a fall session!

For 5 days we watched our grandchildren, Jillian 6 and Nolan 4, for two aging grandparents this is quite an undertaking. But we made the best of it, inspite of me coming down with some sort of flu bug during their visit.

Time for my blog just didn`t receive top priority, I worried that I would never get caught up and would just admit defeat, however God had a different vision.

Just pull together what was necessary and remember as Scarlet O`hara said in Gone With the Wind,"tomorrow is a new day"!

Proverbs 23:18 There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Earthly Distractions Days 26-35

Have you ever gotten so far behind that you see no hope of getting caught up? That exactly where I`ve gotten with my blog, so what shall I do. Just quit and let this project go and claim defeat, because of my busy life.

I don`t think so. There are 329 days ahead of me, why should just 10 days of earthly distractions cause failure. God call me to this ministry, so how could I not continue. I`m sure that He thought that I could figure out the logistic!

Throughout my distractions I have continued to pray with many. Our Divine Diva weekend was prayer filled, as we shared and witnessed to 6 young girls. I prayed with Chris for strength and recovery from the devastation of the suicide of a lifetime friend. I prayed with my niece`s husband Robbie as he faces the end of his mother life. I prayed for Sherry for safety and direction. I prayed with Tammy for continued sobriety from drug addiction.

Of course I`ve prayed my normal prayers for my husband, myself, loved ones, family, friends, our nations and all that serve this amazing nation!

Isaiah 3:9....Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.

I don`t think so, thank you God, for saving this blog!

Diva Prayers Day 25

Today was going to be the official shopping day for the Divine Diva weekend. But God had different plans, He sure likes reminding me that I`m in control of NOTHING!

While waiting for Pam to complete a meeting, I found myself alone at Trinity church, what a great time to pray for the up coming weekend.

There is such serenity in a church midday afternoon; just me, my prayers and God. I prayed for each Diva, Kirsten, Ashley, Alicia, Niki, Crystal, Sarah, each team member, Joan, Pam, Barb and myself; silently I paused and listen to God. Confidence, assurance, forgiveness, growth, surrender, humble and bedazzle sounds like we`re in for an amazing weekend!

Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.