Sarah

A trial date has been set for November 23rd, to decide who will have custody of Sarah. There is now a cousin from Florida who is seeking custody as well as her grandparents on her father's side. I think her aunt and uncle are still in, but not really fighting for her, because of her aunt's health. It is very hard to not have a say in any of this. We have kept Sarah the majority of this time since her mom died. I have been taking her to counseling for 6 months and pouring my heart into her. It has been VERY hard on our family. I do believe that we have all grown and been stretched through it. I would do it again in a second. Sarah is in Florida with her cousin this weekend. She was really nervous about going. They are hoping this will help her to bond with them. Pray for God's will. She met them in December and liked them. Pray that if this is what is supposed to happen, that all will have a love for each other. Please pray for little Sarah as she is going to be transitioning "again". We love her and want what is best for her. Most of all, what God wants for her. Please pray for wisdom for us as we know how to talk to her and just how to follow Christ in the next few months throughout this whole thing.

Cars, Motorcycles, and Jonas

Jared made it home! We sold his car so that he could buy a newer, nicer car....but....he bought a motorcycle! My prayer life is much more active! He got enrolled and starts college next week!

Maci got her first car today! We got a GREAT deal on a Acura Legend! It's pretty sweet! I'd love to have it! We totally give God the glory for it. We prayed that we would find something in our price range that was a "good" car. This car should have been much more expensive. It was bought new by an older couple who only drove about 6,000 miles a year! Wow!

Maci and Molly got to meet Nick Jonas yesterday! We were looking at a car at Belmont, and heard they were eating breakfast somewhere. So, we went to eat lunch at the Pancake Pantry! There he was! Pretty cool. Then they went to the concert last night. Fun for them.

Sarah got enrolled in her new school and seems to really like her teacher and classmates. Her next court date is Sept. 2nd. Pray that we will know more about where she will live by then.

Kent and I are praying about our next step in ministry. We're not sure which road God is leading us down. Believing that His sheep hear His voice and follow, we are trying to be still and listen. I continue to be reminded through all that is happening in our life, that God uses us in many ways. It's not always in an assigned roll. If we just open our eyes and look, we can see the opportunities to serve others. The question I too often ask myself is "Do I want to serve?" Sometimes I just want to go into comfort mode. Relax and focus on what is easy. During those times, when I'm trying to focus more on myself and MY needs, I often begin to feel WORSE about myself. The more we look inward for wholeness, the more we see the inward holes! We need Jesus. We need to be joining Him in order to feel complete. Well, I guess I'm rambling. Just preaching to myself again. I have to remind myself of these things often. Thanks sweet friends for the encouragement over the last few months.

That's the Shingletons! Tell me about you! What's going on in your world?

Brighten the World!

One of things Jared had asked us to pray for him, was that he would represent Jesus to those he met while in Brazil. I've thought about that so much this summer. I have always prayed over my kids that God's light would shine through them as they went about their day. How funny that I want that for my kids, but I don't often pray it for myself. My quiet time this week has been reminding me of that each day. Todays devotion says: I am the light of the world...The Holy Spirit that lives in you can shine from your face, making Me visible to people around you....The Light of My Presence is shining upon you. Brighten up the world by reflecting who I AM. I want that for myself too! I want to be His hand and feet to the world, to those I come in contact with everyday. I often fail. I often get caught up in my circumstances and choose to spend my time focusing on them instead of on my Creator. Then, they bogg me down with overwhelming stress and busyness. Today, I stop and ask my Father, to make His Holy Spirit shine on me, that others might see Him today! "Hold His hand in joyful trust, for He never leaves my side". My burdens are not my own. I am blessed. Today, I want to brighten up the world!

Thank you for praying for Sarah. The next court date is Sept. 2nd. Continue to pray for Jared while in Brazil, and for Maci and Molly as our family has so many changes going on right now. Pray for Kent and I as we make decisions on church related stuff with his interim having just ended.

John 8:12 I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Go Brighten Your World !

Court date

For those of you who know what's going on, please pray for Sarah on Wednesday. I will be able to write more later. Pray for God's will in her life. She is so ready to know where "home" is. Please pray that we will find out more details and that things will move faster than they have been. She is starting to have problems with her tummy, I think from nerves. Please lift up Sarah's aunt and uncle as well as her dad and grandparents. Please pray for our family as well. A lot of people are involved, but we pray that Sarah will be exactly where God wants her to be.

Gabe

"We must be willing to sacrifice everything, to truly follow Christ. "
Chris Brewer wrote these words this morning as he is preparing to preach his 17 year old son's funeral today. He is asking God to use the "very hands you used to rip out my heart" use to change lives for your Kingdom.
My heart is broken for Chris and Judy. I cannot imagine the yearning for their child that they must be feeling.
I believe God has a mighty plan to use Gabe's life and death to do amazing things through those who knew and loved Gabe.

I continue to cling to Ephesians 3:20: Now glory be to God who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of-infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, and hopes.

Father, we cling to this promise and will give you glory.

Jared in Brazil and Super Summer

Summer is officially in full swing at the Shingleton home! Two weeks of Bible school under our belt(Donelson View and LifePoint). Jared is in Brazil for the next two months and we are Super Summering it! So sad to be here without Jared! Everyone is asking
about him and all of his friends are here that he has been with for so many years! I'm really missing him. Check out his blog at http://www.jaredshingleton.wordpress.com/ to keep up with him. He downloaded some new pictures last night.
Hope your summer is going great and you are having fun!

GRADUATION!

WOW! It's really going to happen! My baby boy has really grown up. People told me it would happen. It did. I'm so proud of him. It will be a crazy weekend. Kent's mom will get here on Thursday and my parents will get here on Friday. I'm excited for the weekend. When I think back about Jared as a baby and a little boy, it makes me sad to leave those times. He was so cute and so sweet. He had such a deep spirit and heart for people even then. I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to raise him. At the same time, I look at him NOW, and feel so lucky to be a part of his life NOW, and would never want to miss him being just who he is NOW. My mom always told me that every stage of raising kids was fun for her. She liked them all in different ways. I now believe that I can say the same thing. I might skip the 13-14 year old stage with him, lol, no, even that was such an incredible learning and self discovery experience for him. I wouldn't have wanted to miss seeing the person he came out to be at 15, and all that he went through to become that person. I remember him wearing his blue pre-school cap and gown. He will trade it for a much larger red one this weekend. What a joy to raise a man of God. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this blessing in my life!
Shawnah