I'm in Love...

I want to take a moment to wish each and everyone of you a VERY Happy Valentine's Day! As I was laying down my sweet son for his nap, he laid his head on me, grinned with his eyes closed and said, "I'm in love"...then he giggled and said, really I am momma, really I am...with you. And, I too, am in love with him...because on Valentine's Day and always...it's not always the love between a husband and wife or significant other that is celebrated...but the love we have for our family, our friends and all mankind...because God first loved us. Here are a few of my favorite scriptures on love...may God bless you with a happy, healthy Heart Day...

Song of Solomon 8:6
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death...

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life...

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply...

1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Thank you to each of you who have asked about my sweet four year old son and his recent doctor's appointment. I ask that each of you please keep him, who I often refer to on Champagne Wisdom as The Short One, in your prayers. After an appointment with his pediatrician, then blood work and an ultrasound, they are sending him to Children's Hospital for more tests on February 22nd. Because I love him, deeper than I ever knew I could love, I ask that you pray for God's ultimate healing in his precious little body. May God bless you for each prayer you speak in His name...

I Am Second

A co-worker introduced me to a VERY cool website the other day (thanks, Dwayne!). The site is called I Am Second. I am second was created by Joe Gibbs...American football coach, NASCAR Championship team owner, and two time NHRA Pro Stock team owner. Here is the concept behind I Am Second:

Inspiring the Revolution of Second.

I am Second is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others. Actors. Athletes. Musicians. Business leaders. Drug addicts. Your next-door neighbor. People like you. The authentic stories on iamsecond.com provide insight into dealing with typical struggles of everyday living. These are stories that give hope to the lonely and the hurting, help from destructive lifestyles, and inspiration to the unfulfilled. You’ll discover people who’ve tried to go it alone and have failed. Find the hope, peace, and fulfillment they found. Be Second.

I LOVE it! I find it enlightening and inspirational for our young people to watch videos and listen to celebrities speak about their faith in God and how they have put Him first in their lives. This would be a great website to use with youth - with anyone for that matter. There are many tools on the site, from information about forming an "I Am Second" group to materials you can download as resources: What God says about:

Friendship
Anger
Abortion
Caregiving
Aging

...and the list goes on. There are also hotlines and ways to connect with others. A few of my favorite celebrity videos on the site include:

Tony Dungee
Bailee Madison
Colt McCoy
Joe Gibbs

In each video, the celebrity tells you their life story and how they came to realize they are second and God is first...a lesson I know I tend to forget from time to time. It's so easy to get caught up in the world of "I", "MY", "OURS", "MINE" and forget about "God". I'm loving the concept behind this website. What a great tool. A meaningful reminder...

Brian Welch, formerly of Korn

Check it out. You'll be glad you did. I Am Second

Hurting for Haiti

My prayer is for peace, comforting, renewal and miracles for the people of and in Haiti during yesterday's disaster. While not all of us are in places to offer financial support, we are all able to offer up prayer for those touched by this devastating event. The most powerful gift we can give is that of prayer. I hope you'll join me in lifting up Haiti this week and in the weeks to come. If you're able to offer financial assistance, here is a wonderful list of organizations to go through via Karen Kingsbury. Karen's three sons are adopted from Haiti. Josh's (one of Karen's sons) birth mother is currently unaccounted for...please remember them in your prayers. Thanks, Karen, for this call to action:

World Vision:
A Christian version of Red Cross - another great humanitarian organization. World Vision is set up and working to help people in the numerous locations in Haiti where their people are stationed. Even now World Vision is rallying food, water, blankets, tents, and emergency medical help. Your donation will be immediately felt with World Vision.

Hands and Feet Project
A grassroots organization that does an amazing job of caring for orphans and abandoned children and teaching the next generation about Jesus. Karen is personally connected to this group and believes deeply in their efforts.

Heart of God Ministries
A ministry that once included the orphanage where Karen adopted her three boys. Today they work exclusively in the revival, restoration and recovery of Haiti.

Lifeline Christian Mission
A ministry that works year-round in the support and spiritual growth of people in Haiti. This group is smaller, but very effective in their place in the city.