Simple Blessings and a Happy Thanksgiving

Good afternoon!

It's the day before Thanksgiving, and I have two things on the brain:

Cranberry sauce and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade!

I am so excited about nestling on the couch with a cup of coffee and watching dancers dance and Snoopy float by. Awwwwwww...Thanksgiving.

But, I'm reminded of something this year that I haven't been in a long time. Maybe if ever during Thanksgiving. For so long it was just a holiday with turkey and dressing to me. But this year, something has changed.

I truly have gratitude. Gratitude to God.

Gratitude that God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, cherished family and friends, and a church family that I truly adore and honor. God is so good and I am so thankful. Without Him, I am nothing and nothing matters. Thank you, Father, for delivering me and seeing me through everything. You are AWESOME!

May each of you have a joy-filled Thanksgiving full of God's blessings and thankfulness in serving the One True God.

Take care and God bless! Gobble Gobble. Or, in my case tofu, tofu!

Chelle and Be a Barnabas :o)

First Be a Barnabas Lunch a Total Blessing

It finally happened...

Yes, on Sunday, November 16, we enjoyed Free Food, Fun and Fellowship at our first Be a Barnabas Single Parent Lunch and Fellowship at VLC Waco. I was so blessed. Meeting all the parents and their children touched my heart. Everyone has a story. And, I am so glad that I had the chance to sit and listen to them all.

I would not have had the chance to sit and meet everyone without the help of my "Barnabas's" (or would that be Barnabi? LOL) who brought food, washed dishes and put all those tables up (Thank you, Hubby!) What a blessing you are to me and to the single parents of Central Texas!

This is only the beginning. Our next Be a Barnabas lunch will be on December 21 immediately following our 10 a.m. worship service. For more info and directions, visit www.vlcwaco.com and click on the Be a Barnabas link. If you do not have a church home, we would love for you to come and visit and enjoy lunch.

That's all I have for now. Stay tuned for articles, tips and other odds and ends that God lays on my heart to share. Until then, be blessed, be encouraged and be loved by God.

To be used by Him,

Chelle and Be a Barnabas

At BaB, We Salute Our Veterans

Today is one of those days. It's one of those holidays that is so good yet so sad to me at the same time.

We salute you. The brave men and women who serve our country preserving our founding values and keep us safe. A heartfelt THANK YOU! goes out to all of you.

And to those who stay behind raising children alone while your spouse is preserving our liberties, I know it is hard, being a single parent who technically isn't "single." But, you are still holding down the fort alone and we honor you as well. Thank you for YOUR sacrifice, your loyalty and love for your spouse, your children and our country. May God bless you and your family.

With much love,

Be a Barnabas @ VLC Waco

It's Finally Happened!!! Be a Barnabas is now at VLC Waco!

I am still in shock and awe. To see God working still amazes me no matter how many times I see it.

With great joy, I want to share with you the latest news from Be a Barnabas.

We are now a real, live ministry encouraging single moms, dads and their children in Central Texas!

God is so good! Be a Barnabas is now a ministry of VLC Waco.

We are here to support, encourage and love God's children. If you are a single parent from any background and any circumstance, please join us at VLC Waco the third Saturday of each month in the gym behind the church for Free Food, Fun and Fellowship. Let's get to know each other and see what God has in store.

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at BeaBarnabas@gmail.com or call the church office at (254) 662-5552.

And, please know, we understand that life brings about seasons. And, just because you are married doesn't mean you're not raising children alone. Spouses go to war. Spouses go the jail. Spouses work too often, or simply aren't there. We love you whatever season you are in. And, we would love to meet you.

If you are in the area, and you would like to serve in the ministry. Please e-mail us.

What we need:

Spiritual moms and dads to serve as mentors
Food provided for our meetings
Food servers and clean-up angels
Monetary donations for emergencies (tax-deductible)
Car and home repair specialists
So much more, I can't even think of them all.

Again, I am so grateful of our Father who put this all in to place. Praise Him!

Encouraging God's children in a discouraging world,

Be a Barnabas

Congratulations, Marcia Gruver and Diamond Duo!

Hello and Happy Friday!

Be a Barnabas is all about encouragement, so today, I'm here to encourage my fellow writer Marcia Gruver. Marcia signed a three-book deal in 2007 with Barbour Publishing. Go, Marcia! What a blessing! Her first book, Diamond Duo is now on the shelves. Click on the book title to be sent directly to her site on Amazon.com.

My favorite part about this book is Marcia based this fictional account on a true-life unsolved murder case in Jefferson, Texas. I love historical unsolved mysteries, so when I found this tid-bit out, it made this book a must-read for me!

I began reading this book and fell in love with one character in particular -- Sarah. She stands out with superior dialogue and likeability. I am eager to keep reading and find out her fate. I hopes she doesn't die in the end. I just hate that. LOL

While you are out in cyberspace, check out these other witty bloggers and their interviews with Marcia Gruver on life and writing. And, be sure to check out Marcia's personal blog by clicking right . . . here!

Take care and God bless!

Chelle and Be a Barnabas

P.S. I'll have MAJOR news soon on Be a Barnabas! Sign up for my blog alerts. I don't want you to miss anything! God is so good and is working, working, working!

And now for those blogs to check out:

A Latte and Some Words

A Little Bit of Sunlight

Anne Greene

Be a Barnabas

Book Splurge

BookingIt

Cara’s Musings

Erica at ShoutLife

Fictionary

God With Us - Finding Joy

Horizontal Yo-Yo

Janice Olson

Lighthouse Academy

Marthawrites

Mary Connealy - real life

My Christian Fiction Blog

Net’s Notes

On The Write Path

Pam Krumpe

Patti’s Porch

Readin N Writin

Relz Reviewz

Tamara Lynn Kraft

Terri Tiffany

The Friendly Book Nook

The Writer’s Tool

Writing by Faith

BaB is International! Well, at least North American!

I can't believe it! God's message is going to places that not even I could imagine, ask or think. Isn't there a scripture about that somewhere? ;o) And, leave it to my my mom to find it! On a recent search for her little girl's pen name online, she found this article all the way in Canada! That's "write"! CANADA!! God is encouraging His children across the globe! What a great Dad!

Here is the article if you would like to check it out:

Cheering on Your Kids

Praising Him all day, every day!

Chelle and Be a Barnabas :o)

National Make a Difference Day - Saturday, October 25, 2008!

Hello, Be a Barnabas readers!

I pray you are having a blessed week so far. I wanted to let y'all (Can you guess I'm from Texas?) know about a great way to serve in your community this Saturday.

On Saturday, October 25, 2008, millions of people across the country will participate in National Make a Difference Day. USA WEEKEND Magazine created this event to encourage neighbors to help neighbors throughout their communities.

From picking up trash to mowing a widow's lawn, there are tons of ways to show God's love in our World. Need ideas? Visit USA WEEKEND for their cool Idea Generator.

Are you a Barnabas who helps out in your community? Let us know what you're doing by commenting below.

May God bless you richly for your service for His children,

BaB Ministries :o)