Keith Family Update

The Keith family is already praising God for great results. Their child that moved out was calling the very evening they left. They spoke the next day and their child is very apologetic and doesn't want to hurt their daddy like that again. It is such a blessing that resolution is already taking place. They are planning a move back home soon. Keep praying and thank you to all who were praying! All parents of teenagers need our prayers. Amen and amen!

Prayer for the Keith Family

The Keith family is my sister, Melinda and her husband. Without going through all the details, pray for them. They have had some rough months with their kids lately. Today, one of their kids moved out, because of being confronted about some things that needed to be confronted with. Pray for God's peace to come over them and reassurance that they are making the right, godly choices as parents. They are godly parents and seek Him for counsel. I know one day we will rejoice with them in who their kids turn out to be.
JOY - Jesus Only You!

The Key to Knowing Yourself

I am so not creative, but I love when I come across something that says exactly what I need or what I am thinking. I picked up one of my many devotionals and began to read it. I don't know if you are like me but I am kind of a devotional jumper. I go through devotionals that I love and have returned to them years later. Then, I have some I constantly look over and over. Then I have the one that our pastor suggests, which is always on target. That's always in additon to mine. The one I am going to quote below from today's devotional is Keeping God in the Small Stuff, by Bruce and Stan. I picked this one back up and read it today and it spoke to me so perfectly.

We have had a few, or for better words, a stream of people leaving our church as employees to go elsewhere or to stay home. When this happens I think I want to jump on the same boat. Church work is so hard! Don't get me wrong, I think God is calling people to other places. I'm not saying they shouldn't be leaving. For those of you who do church work, understand. For those of you who don't may never know what it's like to work for a church/ministry. One time my husband told me what a boss of his, at the time, told him about church work. I don't think I will ever forget it. He said, "we (church employees) do nothing all day except sit around and listen to christian radio all day." WOW! This was said as if we did nothing! What an understatment! Ministry work is so hard, yet such a reward and joy. There are times/phases when I am at my end - total burnout. Feeling so underappreciated, so overworked, and so underpaid. When you are called to ministry work, it's not for money! It has to be a definate calling.
One thing I think is I'll quit and have so much time for me and my family. Then I think, why? I love what I do. I love ministering to moms and preschoolers. Then I think I have served so long, that it is time for me. Yet, God convicts me about quitting. Then I think is it me being comfortable, not necessarily God. God wants us to be uncomfortable! Get out of our comfort zone. I'll have time to myself. What would I do? Get to know myself. We all have our own journey and this one is mine!
Here is today's devotional:

The Key to Knowing Yourself

If you want to know yourself better, get to know your Creator better.

It seems like everybody is trying to get to know themselves better, and there are plenty of people ready to tell you how to "tap the power within" or get acquainted with "your inner child."

While there is value to knowing what you can do to improve your life, we would suggest that you spend more time focused on God than on yourself. Studying and learning about you shouldn't be that big a deal. After all, you're with yourself twenty-four hours a day. But God is differnt (and aren't we glad). Studying and learning about Him takes a lifetime, and even then you barely scratch the surface.

Besides, getting to know God better inevitably leads to knowing yourself better. God created you in His own image. His imprint is on your life. As you get closer to God, you will get closer to the real you.

We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Colossians 1:9

Greer Happenings

Well, it has been a long time since I have written anything!
Since we went to Guatemala, we have had so many different things happening! Good and bad! We dealt with such spiritual warefare after returning. Wow! We must be doing what God wants that Satan wants to destroy it.
What perfect timing at church that we would be reading Streams in the Desert as our devotional, Red Sea Rules, and our pastor's sermons. All of it is in sync with what our and other families have and are going through. As I type this, I think and know that our problems are nothing compared to what others may be going through. We can get so down on what we are going through and then we see or hear about what others are dealing with and our problems seem so small.
As I read our devotional this morning, I was moved! I loved this paragraph:
"Dare to trust Him! Dare to follow Him! Then discover that the forces that blocked your progress and threatened your life become at His command the very materials He uses to build your street of freedom." F. B. Meyer
I said aloud, "March On!"
Obstacles seem to get in our way. We can either see it as God closing the door or our timing isn't His timing.
Now for some good! My husband turned 40 on the 14th and we celebrated his 40th birthday this past Saturday! It was so much fun! Some of his closest friends came and his sister and 2 kids and his dad came! We enjoyed hours of conversation and fun! Then, on Sunday, James was ordained as a deacon of our church. It was such an honor and privilege to be nominated and then approved. The service was so sweet and meaningful. So many people came up and congratulated us. People we knew and didn't know. Wow!

We're leavin in the mornin!

Greers in Guatemala

God is doing some great and mighty things in our church. Our church is having 4 simultaneous mission trips during Spring Break. We are joining him in moving His people to a greater and deeper love for Him.
This Spring Break, March 15 – 22, we are going to Guatemala. This will be James’ third consecutive trip. He has a love and passion for the people there. This year, James will be leading the Rookie Trip for our church. Rookie, meaning this trip is geared for those who have not gone on a mission trip before. This is how it all began for James. When he went for the first time three years ago, it changed his life forever. There are some others on our team who have been Guatemala, as well. They have the same love for the people as he does. I can see us serving together one day in Guatemala.
For the first time, I will have the privilege to join the group, as well as Daniel. I knew God was calling me to go and we both felt that Daniel could go, but should he? We weren’t sure. Daniel wanted to go from the beginning. We told Daniel to wait and see what the Student Ministry was doing and then we would make a decision. James went with Daniel to the Student Ministry mission meeting and Daniel did not like it. He didn’t like that his age group was only going to do one day missions. He truly has a servant’s heart and that just wasn’t going to be enough for him. God gave us confirmation through prayer and finances being provided that he was to go.
God has opened many doors and has provided the way for us to go. He has provided:

· Care for our 3 children who are remaining here. My mom and dad are going to watch them for us while we are gone. What an answer to prayer! They are going to love it!
· Financially. All of our way is paid in full and then some! It’s so like God to go above and beyond what we are asking. An anonymous donor gave a large donation to pay for our way and the left over money ($6500) to help in feeding and clothing the children. We then received another donation and it is helping pay 2 other team members way. What an awesome God we serve!
· Passports for me and Daniel. We were so scared we may not get them after hearing the horror stories. Daniel and I went to the downtown post office. We got there early, due to I thought it opened at 8:00 a.m. I thought we were getting there 20 minutes late; instead we were 40 minutes early. Even God can use my ignorance to His advantage. I would have sworn it said 9:00 a.m. on the website. I haven't checked to make sure, but it's ok. We went on Wednesday, January 30th and got them in the mail on Friday, February 8th, 9 days later. Wow!

These are all things God has taken care of for us! He did all the work, not us. Now, we are asking all of our friends and family to be in prayer for us while we are away. Below are some specific prayer requests you can join us in praying for:

* Safe travel there, back and while we are there. The roads are scary there!
* Health.
* Prepare the hearts of the people and children of Guatemala to be open to God. May lives of each and every person we come in contact with be forever changed, not because of us, but because of Jesus.
* Joyful heart and serving spirit to anyone and everyone we meet.
* Unity among our team. May God be the one leading us, not ourselves.
* May we handle change with grace.
* Prepare our hearts to minister and to be ministered to.

These are a few requests. Please pray, however God leads you to pray for us! May God have all the glory!

Serving Him,

James, Sheri and Daniel Greer

Good Morning to You!

This morning after dropping off the boys at school, the girls and I were headed home. The sun was shining very brightly. It was getting in our eyes. And yes, it was annoying. I had sunglasses on and kept moving the visor to help, but it wasn't. We have tinted windows and you wouldn't know it. Ashley began fussing about the sun. It was really bothering her.
Being the preschool teacher I am, and making everything a teachable moment. I told the girls that the sun was a reminder of Jesus. He wanted us to see that He was there. It was His way of saying "Good Morning." Ashley very quickly says, "GOOD MORNING, NOW PUT YOUR SUN UP!" Chelsea says "Good morning. Jesus is telling everyone good morning. Good morning Mommy, Daddy, Daniel, Justin. I said, "Yes, He is."
You know, kids can just be so darn honest. They are so transparent. At least one of the girls got the point. Maybe the other one will later. Must have been a bad morning.

Kids Say The Darndest Things!

For those of you who know us well, will think this is funny. For those of you who don't know us so well may say, that's not funny. I personally thought it was hilarious and worth sharing!
Daniel, Justin, and I were at Walmart. Justin had $2.00 in change that was burning a hole in his pocket. He and Daniel walked all over the store trying to figure out how he was going to spend his $2.00. He, with the help of Daniel, chose to buy goldfish. He was able to buy 2 of them - they were .28 cents a piece. He could then afford to buy the food so they would be able to eat. Don't feel too sorry he is doing this all on his own, with no help from me. I get suckered into purchases constantly. To say the least, our kids are spoiled. This isn't necesarily a good thing. So, we go to the self checkout, because I felt sorry for the cashier we might get because they would be counting change for a while. This way, in the self checkout you just keep feeding the change into the machine. The purchase was made, then we get ready to leave and the lady that helps with all the self checkouts says she needs to hold the fish. What? I thought maybe she didn't trust him that he bought it. Then, I realized she watches all of the transactions on her screen and could see him feeding in his money one coin at a time. She proceeds to the exit with us and holds the fish over the electronic devices that sound off when you are stealing something. Someone out there can let me know what those are called later. I asked, "Why did she need to do this?" Simple question. She said, "it can kill the fish with the electronic waves." Being the constant learning/teaching moment mom that I am. I asked Daniel and Justin, "Imagine what it does to our bodies if it kills a fish. Everytime we go through there it must be killing our cells one by one." Just a thought. Daniel, my too quick on his feet responses (not my child - his dad's), says "Yea mom, that's why you are so dumb, because you love to shop." WHAT? I wasn't so sure how to respond other than laugh. I did have to tell him that wasn't really a nice thing to say about his mom. He then proceeded to tell me that I am always saying how brain dead I am because I have so many children. It wasn't their fault, but mine for shopping. I had to agree. I do say all the time, how brain dead/scatter brain I am. I believe whole heartedly with the birth of each child I gave them a piece of my brain. Four kids later, I have very little left for myself. There are times, you just don't have a case against your children. Enjoy your day!