Awards & Rainbows

Yesterday was the 4th Annual St. Matthew United Methodist Church Monk Awards. It is a big deal at my church and I think it is a pretty cool event. The church has awards commissioned through a local artist and they are exquisite! We liken it to the Oscars so dressing up and buying fun, new accessories for this special occasion was exciting (at least for me - I got new shoes, a decorative hair barrette and earrings!) There are three nominees for each category and once you win you cannot win again - unless you are given the Lifetime Achievement Award. I think it is a neat way for the church (and all of us) to show appreciation for the others in our church family who help our church run smoothly! Eric and I were nominated for the Come Unto Me Award which is given to those who volunteer within the Children's Ministries. We teach the 6 & 7 year old class and all I know is that I am learning as much from the kiddos as I hope they are learning from us! They are so smart and inquisitive and even though they are sometimes rowdy (we have only one girl who comes regularly so the 5 to 7 boys can get quite excited!) they are always thinking things through and coming up with the right answer! And, also, being mostly boys they are extremely competitive which sometimes leads to Miss Valarie saying raise your hands to answer the next one! LOL! Anyway, back to the Monk Awards - the minute I heard the other nominees I knew that we would lose out to one of our worthy co-nominees and she deserved it as well! She teaches the youngest Sunday School class and is very good at it! She has been teaching for a long time and I would have to say she is one of my mentors. When I have a problem with how to approach something she is very helpful. I was so happy for her! All the winners (and nominees and EVERYONE in the church) are amazing and I am so proud to be part of the St. Matthew Family! And what is an awards ceremony without a Gala afterwards?!? It was wonderful to sit and have fellowship with my church family after such a joyous occasion!

Now on to rainbows. As I was getting ready I could tell through the window that it was sunny outside. So imagine my surprise when I realized my windows on my car were wet and I was getting sprinkled on. I turned to look at the clouds only to find the brightest, most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen looking as if it were sent to sit just over my house! Isn't it amazing what God can do with some light and some rain drops?!? I have been under some stress and praying about some things and that rainbow reminded me of God's awesome splendor and I know that everything will be okay even if is not necessarily the way I want it to be! Do I think that rainbow was sent just for me? Yes and no. I believe that God sent that rainbow this morning for many people who needed a reminder of his awesomeness but I think I was one of those people. And that my friends is having faith in God's plan for our lives!

What signs have you received that have given you peace? Feel free to share in the comments section!

Lord, I want to thank you for the church family you sent Eric and I to. We know that they will be there for us anytime and I hope they know we will be there for them! I praise your name for them! And Lord thank you for reminders of your awesome glory!
In Jesus name, Amen!