Hearts For Christ Ministries is moving into its third year! I get so excited when I think about how it all got started, and how God has blessed it over the months, with new team members, faithful prayer warriors, excellent teachers, and good counselors who are faithful servants to our Lord Jesus Christ. And for the glory of the Lord, I am also thankful for our faithful webmaster who encouraged me and who considers himself more of a webSERVANT to Jesus than anything else as he works on the Hearts for Christ Ministry Site.

Besides the fact that our team has grown from two to over 42 members, some active, and some who just want to feel a part … we also have been blessed by an extremely active and growing Koinonia Community of over 161 subscribed members! Golly! I had no idea this would happen! Some friends of our ministry have helped us to put together a couple of little webrings as well, and one of them is almost up to 100 members. Isn’t the Lord good to us?

I just want to thank you for ALL your wonderful wonderful support for this ministry and especially for your letters and prayers. I can’t tell you how much that means to us. As I wrote in the introduction about us on the site, that is what we are about… Encouragement and Edification with all glory going to Jesus.

When I turn on the HFC site I get as excited as my dog Heidi does when my husband, on Saturday mornings, picks up her red collar, and starts jangling her tags. Heidi gets so excited, she just jumps all over the place and begins making her very special whimpering sounds that only come at that particular moment. You see, this is when SHE and SHE alone is about to go down to the water with the Master to see the Sea Doggies which make their ARFF ARFF sounds. This is HER SPECIAL DAY. This is HER SPECIAL MOMENT. And this is her special time with her Master! As they drive down the hill, and then hike down the cliff to the beach she runs and twirls and tinkles, and wags her tail all at the same time. By the time they get to the water’s edge and the rocks, Heidi just runs and runs and runs and runs and runs (Heidi is a Border Collie if you didn’t know). She finds EVERYTHING that is important. She explores, she visits, she comes running back to share with the Master so he will come and see what she has discovered. She is so happy.

When it is time to head back to the house, and Heidi is a bit tuckered from her wonderful time spent, she is ready to head back up the hill, into the truck, and off to her property where she can tell all the other animals on our farm about her trip. Then she lays down for a much needed rest. She has earned every minute of it.

Yes, that is how I get when I go to visit the HFC Site. Not because it is a site that I have created, but because it is a place the Lord has provided where I can get ministered to, to minister in, and to spend time at with my Master, Jesus. I get excited because HFC IS special to me. The first thing I do every day is click on the site and go to my prayer line to see all the needs that have come in. I can’t wait to pass them on to the rest of the prayer team. I enjoy going from page to page to page to see how they can be improved even more, and what the Lord would have me add on another day. And then I can’t wait to show the Lord what I have done when it’s completed. It is for him that I do these things. It is for him that all the rest of the team take part as well. I am full of his love for each and every member.

When it is time to shut down the site for a rest, I am more than ready. I need to get prayed up, rested up, and studied up for the next thing that God would have us add on another day. And it is important that I pray for every person that has selected to be on the team and in the community. Besides teaching and praying I think what I enjoy doing most of all is taking a moment or two to tell others not only about the HFC Ministry Site, but about how special it is to take time for the Master.

Do you have a special place to go and to be by yourself so you can have time with God in your own unique way? You can be highly encouraged by the habits of a Christian Border Collie who knows the importance of spending quality time with the Master.

"Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard" Psalm 66:1, 2 8 KJV

Meet My Friend LuLu Ann!

Recently I received a wonderful testimonial letter from a dear lady who frequents the HFC Prayer Line, and who is a member of the Koinonia Community. I thought you would enjoy reading a portion of her wonderful story. (I have edited it in part.)

"My dad was a preacher, coal miner and farmer. We were very poor... My Mom made our dresses out of feed sacks.... And we all were God fearing people. My Mother worked so hard cooking three meals a day, working in the garden and canning gallons of food. Dad was always busy reading the Bible.
"Dad was covered up three times in the coal mines. In 1953 Dad got a job in the steel mill in Youngstown, OH. We moved here in July of that year. I didn’t go back to school when we moved here. I could never talk plain. I didn’t have enough confidence in myself to do anything.
"In 1957 I got married...We had two daughters...My husband and I fought all the time and he would hit me a lot. Sometimes I asked for it. We all have faults. I divorced my husband in 1963. I raised my two daughters myself with the help of God and my Mom and Dad. (After 20 years) I married George.
"I turned Catholic 25 years ago...This is the only thing I have to look forward to all week.
"I worked for 21 years (but) got a pinched nerve in my back... Every time I hurt it, I would have to get three nerve blocks. George told me to quit so I did. I took early retirement in 1966.
"My mother has had Alzheimer’s for over 15 years and she needed someone to take care of her. I know it was God’s will for me to take care of my Mother. From June 1996 to November 2001 I took care of her. I was keeping up two houses and cooking for two houses. I was at Mom’s seven days a week. She (eventually) moved in with us. She got so bad that we couldn’t do it any more. She would keep us up all night. I couldn’t go to church or do anything. Mom wanted me with her every minute. I almost had a nervous breakdown. I hated to put Mom in a nursing home but had to. She has been there now for two years and three months. I was going to visit her seven days a week for 16 months. I was washing her clothes. It was so hard. My sister had a job and I felt sorry for her. When my sister then lost her job she began washing Mom’s clothes one month and I would wash them the next month.
"In 1995 my Dad passed away. Mom always asks where he is. Alzheimer’s is so sad. Now my mind is getting so bad. I know I am getting Alzheimer’s. I saw my Mother years ago when she was getting it. I say and do the same things that she did. I make so many mistakes. I am embarrassed when I do these things. I told my doctor and he said when I want to take pills for it, I can. If it is God’s will for me to have Alzheimer’s I will be OK with it. I am no better than all of the other people who have it.
"Just like Glaucoma, if it is God’s will for me to go blind, I will accept that too. Only God knows what is going to happen to any of us.
"My daughter Mary Jane got married in 1979. She has never had any children. Back in 1987 when I was going to be 50 years old and I prayed I asked God to let me be a grandma. I said, ‘If it is Your will, if not please forgive me for asking.’
"God sent me a grandson from a town not far away. We got him August 25, 1987, the same day he was one month old. God is so good. His name is Andy. Andy ... my grandson is 16 now. He is a junior and an honor student. He is my whole life after God. It is so nice to be a grandma.
"My other daughter Betsy had to have a hysterectomy at 23. She could never have children. She has a friend named Tom who has a 13 year old daughter named Mistia who calls me grandma. Mistia’s Mom was killed in a house fire four years ago. Mistia was in the fire with her Mom. She got out but her Mom didn’t. They put Mistia in a foster home at first. Then my daughter Betsy helped Tom get custody of his daughter.
"At this time George and I live on Social Security. We don’t have very much money but we give to the church and the hungry box at the church. We would like to help more people but we just can’t
"I thought you would like to read the story of my life...."

An added excerpt from Lulu Ann...

"Shirley, you are a beautiful lady. I love red hair. My Betsy is a redhead. I like your husband Tom’s beard. He is a handsome man. It is so nice to have online friends like you.
"I always go on your website HFC and read the request for prayers. I always pray for them that are asking for prayer. I cannot join the prayer team; my eyes are too bad and I can’t spell well. But I will pray for everyone....

When some of us on the Hearts For Christ team read Lulu Ann’s wonderful letter it left us with tears of blessings, love, and joy for this dear lady who has freely shared her story. God has blessed our friend with the gift of writing poetry. Please take a moment to read the most beautiful piece below. Thank you, Lulu Ann for your wonderful support to us here on Hearts For Christ. May the Lord richly bless you, Lulu Ann. You are indeed a jewel in God’s crown.

GAMES IN HEAVEN
By Lulu Ann Bernardich

The young boy put his hat on his head,
He always did this when he got out of bed,
He felt bad when he lost his hair,
And he knew people would stare.
"Daddy, can we go to the game today.
I love to watch the other boys play,
I would like to play ball,
But since I got sick,
I can’t do much at all.
Daddy, if Jesus loves me, like you say,
Why did He let this happen to me this way,
The Doctor said that I would die,
When I say my prayers, I ask Jesus why....
The Dad tried to hold back his tears, as he listened
To his son’s fears.
"Son, Jesus does hear you when you pray,
But He wants you in Heaven some day.
Your Mom and I want to keep you here on earth with us,
But Jesus wants you in Heaven, and in Jesus we have to trust.
Son, in Heaven you will have no more pain,
And you can join the boys in all their ball games....
The Dad took his son by the hand and prayed that he
would understand.

"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen... 1 Peter 4:11

From the Kitchen of...
Ginny (The Proverbs Women)

Thank you, Ginny. We look forward to trying this wonderful recipe. Please note that it is safe for diabetics as well.

Do you have a RECIPE that you would enjoy sharing? Send it to us here in the Hearts for Christ Ministries Comments Section or e-mail direct: info@heartsforchrist.org. We will be thrilled to pass it along to our readers.

Sharing Hearts One with Another... The following letters are excerpts from the correspondence Hearts for Christ Ministries has been receiving. We hope you will write in as well. Dear Hearts For Christ: You have such a beautiful web site. I am so happy that I found it because one of my sisters in the Lord wants to start a women's fellowship ring. You have alot of good ideas. Thank you, it a blessing. I am going to share your web site with others. Bless you. Susan P. Dear Susan P, Thank you for your lovely letter to Hearts for Christ, your words of encouragement inspires us to continue in our efforts. One of our endeavors in this ministry is to provide resources to ministries such as your friend's webring. Thank you and blessings to you as well, dear sister. "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1 All praise and glory to Him, Hearts for Christ Ministry Team Dear Hearts for Christ, I really like the way you teach us on the Net. I pray that the Lord Almighty will guard us, Amen. Julie Dear Julie, Thank you for your email to Hearts for Christ. We are so grateful that the Lord is revealing to you His many treasures found in His Word. It is amazing what He reveals to us. Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." Thank you also for your prayers, we know that it is His power and His grace that sustains us. May you be blessed by Him as you continue your studies in His Word and as you visit with us here at Hearts for Christ. In Him, Hearts for Christ Ministry Team

Are You Ready to Share with Us? What is the Lord doing in your life today? Do you have a question, an experience, or a victory in trial you would enjoy sharing in a future newsletter? Send your comments and inquiries to "Dear Hearts for Christ." Article Submissions and Testimonies should be sent to Shirley@heartsforchrist.org. No names will be included without permission, and the editor reserves the right to edit submissions.