An Easter Miracle

A month ago an awful, horrible thing happened at my home. “Purple Bunny” went missing. My daughter, Hannah, was devastated and then it began…the looking, hoping, and praying.

For four weeks we looked for bunny. I looked all over the house, in the car, and outside. I drove around the mall parking lot because maybe it dropped out of the car. I asked my friends. I checked lost and founds. I asked the church office if they had seen a purple bunny. But nothing…

We wondered what happened to purple bunny. Was she in a dark ditch somewhere? Was she dirty, wet, or cold? Was she going to be like Edward Tulane on a great adventure or the Velveteen Rabbit on her way to becoming real?

Every night at bedtime Hannah called upon God to bring purple bunny home. She was relentless in her prayers. She cried and asked God to watch over her bunny. It seemed impossible that bunny would ever be found. As I was praying over our Easter dinner thanking Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins and raising from the dead three days later, here comes a small voice breaking through saying, “And Jesus, please bring my purple bunny home.”

That night as I was tucking in my daughter and praying again over her purple bunny, I asked God to show Hannah how important she was to Him and how He does hear her prayers. And the next day, He did! She found thin, scruffy, one eyed, purple bunny! That night Hannah proclaimed it was her EASTER MIRACLE!

It wasn’t just her Easter miracle but it was mine too! The real miracle for me was seeing God show up for my child, to see her faith grow right in front of me, and to remind me that God answers prayers.

Blessings,
Lisa

BUYcott Chick-fil-A this week

A few weeks ago, AFA alerted you to an attack by homosexual activists against the Christian-owned Chick-fil-A company.In February, a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Pennsylvania donated some sandwiches and brownies to a marriage seminar hosted by the Pennsylvania Family Institute. Because the seminar promoted marriage as between one man and one woman, pro-homosexual activists launched an all-out attack on Chick-fil-A.Some started calling the company's main product "Jesus Chicken," while others mocked and belittled the company's "Not Open on Sunday" policy. They even smeared company employees, calling them "anti-gay."

Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy built a 1500-restaurant chain on his "personal and business philosophy based on biblical principles." Something else you may not know:

Chick-fil-A plays Christian music in its restaurants...exclusively.
Chick-fil-A closes all its locations on Sunday...no exceptions.
Chick-fil-A's stated corporate purpose is:
1) To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us; and
2) To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.

AFA, American Family Association, is encouraging you to "BUYCOTT" a Chick-fil-A restaurant during the week f April 25-30. When you pay for your meal, take a moment to thank them for standing on Christian principles by printing and handing them the Chick-fil-A "Thank You!" card.

Sincerely,
Tim Wildmon, PresidentAmerican Family Association
Take Action Link* http://www.afa.net/BuyCott/index.html
Click on link for thank you note

Rooted and Grounded

Every morning as I am pouring my coffee, I look out my kitchen window to see an oak tree standing along the banks of the Opequon creek. Undoubtedly, this oak has been through many a Spring flood, as it bears two markings. One is about six feet up its trunk and the other is about seven feet up. We were told when we bought our house that these markings were from previous floods that consumed our backyard and even a cabin that once stood there. The tree, however, remains.

This oak represents what we have in Christ. As we are rooted and grounded in Christ, and we withstand the mighty floods in our lives, we stand firm. The waters subside, and we can bear the markings of those flood waters, but we still stand firm. We survive the test of the flood with hands reaching to the heavens. Our roots so firmly grounded in Christ's word and our faith, that not even the rushing waters of a Spring flood can tear us from the soil. We can feel washed out, washed up, caught in the whirlpool, saturated, or even drowned, but we hold tight with our roots. We stand firm in Christ's soil.

Sharon Doerk

Introducing Gabriella Christine

Congratulations to Eric and Yina on the birth of their baby girl, Gabriella Christine. Gabriella came into the world on Thursday, April 14, 2011 weighing 7 lbs 10 oz, 20 1/2 inches long. Mother and baby are doing well.

Yina and Jenn's Baby Shower

Thank you to everyone who made this a great baby shower for Yina and Jenn! We are looking forward to meeting these two new babies!!!

Mother's Day Breakfast

Our Annual Mother's Day Breakfast is Tuesday, May 10 from 9:45-11:45 AM at the Purple Iris in Martinsburg, WV. Join us to honor you as a mother! Let's enjoy this time together among friends with a delicious breakfast, special prizes, and guest speaker, Pastor Rebecca Johnston. Our meal will include the following: Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Herbs, Herb and Onion Potatoes, Bacon, Sausage, French Toast, Assorted Breakfast Pastries, and Fresh Fruits, Assorted Juices, Coffee, Teas, and Water. Tickets will be on sale for $10 per person. This is a great time to invite your mother or a friend. Childcare will be provided at Bethel Assembly of God from 9:30-12:00 Noon. All children must be registered by the time of the event. For tickets or any additional information, contact Lisa Fraley at momsrgreat@comcast.net. You can check out the Purple Iris at http://www.thepurpleirisathartwood.com/.

Children's Closet

Our friend, Marci Faro, is starting a Children's Closet out of her home. She wants to give children's clothes away for free to those who need it. She is accepting donations and will be passing them along to others! Currently this is an inventory of what she has: boys clothes from 18 months and up to 5T ( No shoes yet); girls clothes 0-3 up to 18 months ( small amount but if someone can use them they are welcome); girls 24 months and up to 8 (good amount) If you have any questions, have clothes to donate, or need any clothes, please contact Marci at ktlynmrgn@aol.com. Thank you Marci for wanting to help others and stepping out in faith to do it! Lisa