Answered Prayer and a Kind Rebuke

Today has been an ordinary day filled with extraordinary things. I must tell you about one of them:

Yesterday Andrew and I made a decision in our life which meant that we would be throwing ourselves onto the altar of faith before the Lord and completely relying on His extraordinary grace in our lives. Subsequently, I have felt the Lord's hand of peace and presence in my life today.

Story worth hearing...
On our way into the town of Dingwall (30min. away where Andrew's college is located) we stopped at a charity shop to drop of old clothes. As Andrew left us in the car I said, "If they have any cheap story books for Gaius would you please pick one up?" Shortly thereafter I hear a little voice in the back seat say, "Mummy I get a book?" I responded in the normal way, "We will see. If there is a cheap one Daddy might buy it." Almost instantaneously I said to Gaius, "Do you want to pray and ask God to put a book in the store that is cheap for Daddy to buy?" Gaius quickly responded with, "yes, mummy you pray!" So we stopped and prayed together, Gaius adding on the end "amen" followed by "and give us more money."
Following this prayer fear rushed over my body. What if Andrew doesn't get a book. Gaius will think that God does not hear his prayers. So I picked up my phone and tried to call Andrew only to be greeted with the answering service. Immediately after hanging up my phone I had a rush of GUILT run through my body and the Lord spoke to me as clear as I speak now. "Oh, you of little faith! Am I not faithful to hear and answer your prayers? Do I not take care of you faithfully? How dare you think that I will not hear and be faithful to answer the prayers of my little children!" I sat in the car with shame and anxiety waiting for Andrew to return, continually pleading with God to provide a book and force Andrew's hand to buy it, the whole time looking to see if he would come with a book in his hand. Sure enough, God heard our prayers and was faithful to answer. Andrew handed Gaius the book. His face lit up with joy and I asked him, "Does God hear your prayers?" He responded, "Oh, yes!" Andrew asked him, "Who found and gave that book to you?" He responded, "God did!" As if to say "duh Dad"!
I know it is only a book that cost 80 pennies but to me it was a valuable lesson and has given me an injection of more faith and intimacy with God. Whether it be a book for 80 pennies or a provision worth a million dollars if we allow God to work and bless us rather then trying to "do it ourselves" and steel His glory we can daily have opportunities to glorify God in mighty ways. To God the book worth 80 pennies and a provision worth millions are the same thing - a way to bring glory to His name. For nothing is impossible with God and hey, when you think about the fact that God created the universe in 6 days out of nothing, a book or a million dollars??? they're both easy for Him.

Sunday Sermon: January 18, 2009

Sunday's Sermon is finally up and ready for listening to. My apologies that it has taken so long!

Andrew continues in his series through Ephesians.

Part 3: "Paul Teach Us to Pray"
Ephesians 1: 15-23

"We can learn how to pray from Paul's prayer for spiritual maturity for the Ephesians Church."--Andrew

Sunday Sermon: January 11, 2009

This Sunday Andrew continues in his Ephesians series.
Part 2: "Praise for God's Glorious Plan" Covering Ephesians 1:2-14.

Andrew--"This doxology serves to encourage us as we praise God for His election of us in the past, His grace lavished upon us in the present, and our future glory guaranteed for us in the future."

We were unable to record the scripture reading so you may want to have your Bible out or read the passage before you press play! I hope you are all blessed and encouraged as you hear the word of the Lord.

The Sermon player is permanently located on our blog or you can follow the link bellow:
http://sermon.net/sermons-Rev_Andrew_WG_Matthews-15474.html

Saturdays Excitement

Well, Saturday was an interesting day which, as it turns out, would change the course of the whole next few days. How you might ask?

As I headed out the door to get into the car I slipped on the step (it was slick) and rolled my ankle landing in a crying heap on the ground. I cried out for Andrew and then just screamed, cried and had a right royal fit! ("Confessions of a teenage drama queen" comes to mind--) Though one would not know it by my present appearance I played very competitive sports all through high school and have rolled an ankle many a time. So when I could not feel my toes or move my leg, let alone my foot, I knew it was probably serious.

After 20 minutes of very painful icing, Gaius getting a hold of the Tylenol then throwing up the Adult Extra straight, call to NHS 24 (emergency hot line), we were off to Raigmore Hospital in the city of Inverness.

When I got off the phone with the diagnoses that I needed to got to the hospital, Andrew sighed and said quietly, "good thing I have most of sermons done already!" That's a pastor for you.

After a very painful hop to the car and visit to the ER (A and E), my ankle was wrapped and I was given crutches. The doctor said he was pretty sure it was not broken but if it doesn't improve by Wednesday come back in, it might be broken. (I don't think it's broken just a bad sprain.)

Poor Andrew has been left with the kids the entire weekend, including Sunday morning, while I am held up in bed. He is such a great husband and dad even, or should I say especially, during the unexpected times.

Though it has been a great inconvenience for the whole family there has been an up side...
Gaius playing with Mommy's crutches (sticks).


Not nearly as easy as it looks!


Every chance Gideon gets to run of with them he takes as well.


Then of course there are guns! Everything in our house can somehow be turned into a gun. To be fair, it is not much of a stretch to see these as guns.


The culprit of all this inconvenience and pain! The injury.

Saturday to Remember

Sitting in our big bed with two of the cutest kids in the world and enjoying a "Bob the Builder" marathon, followed by overwhelmingly yummy omelets made by Daddy! Could you ask for a more relaxing fun Saturday morning--even if it started at 7am rather than say 11am!

They each have a toy of choice to play with while they watch "Bob." We Texan parents could not be more proud of Gaius' choice--shot gun. Gideon enjoys playing with Mommy's cell phone (a.k.a mobile) when he can get a hold of it.

"Bob the builder---can we fix it?---Bob the builder---yes we can!" O.K.! So if you can say this with the tune--you must have toddlers or grand-toddlers!

I can never resist posting cute photos of the boys!

Hair Cuts and Super Man

You may be wondering what type of correlation there is between Superman and a hair cut - the answer lies in two words, Gaius and Gideon. I guess that is three words but you get the idea.

Today Gideon got yet another overdue hair cut. This time it was a bit different. We decided to remove the beautiful locks and give him a short little boy cut. Well, we like it. What do you think?


Superman...we were taking a photo of Gideon's new hair cut and Gaius ran over and said, "take photo of Superman!" and he wanted a photo of super man's cape. Enjoy!

This Weeks Sermon

This Sunday we once again had great success with recording Andrew's sermon.

Please click on the player to the left or at the bottom of the posts. Don't forget to check back weekly for his sermons.

He has begun a series on Ephesians,and this Sunday was the introduction. I hope you all enjoy, and are greatly blessed by, this series as we here at KFC are!

You can also click on this link to hear the sermons:
http://sermon.net/sermons-Rev_Andrew_WG_Matthews-15474.html