Driven to Encourage Newsletter

ThDRIVEN TO ENCOURAGE-ERIC HELMS

What an amazing Savior! We are overwhelmed at His goodness. What a sacrifice He made to humble Himself and come to earth for us! We are so proud to serve Him. Did you know that there are over 200 middle and high schools in a 50 mile radius of our home? Eric has had the privileged of speaking at 18 of them since September of this year. 148 youth have indicated that they prayed to receive Christ. Praise the Lord!! We want to reach all of them! The door is open in public schools....that truly is a God thing! The platforms to share Jesus that are right here under our noses are endless. Since September 35 players, cheerleaders, and coaches prayed to receive Christ through the Crown Athletic Program!!! I was reading in the book of Romans this week and I was reminded of Paul's many missionary journeys. Not only was Paul willing to go but others were willing to send him. Romans 15:22-33 Paul needed others praying, encouraging, giving and joining him in the work God called him to. You all have been that for us! We continually need you all in this journey! We are overjoyed at Gods blessing. Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you for standing with us! Below is a list of things we are trusting and believing God for. Please join us in faith and prayer. We would love to pray for you as well. Please email us with any of your prayer requests! Merry Christmas, Eric, Michele, Lindsey, Marshall, Emily, Benjamin, and Luke *Pray that those who became Christians would grow! *Pray that the Helms family would grow deeper and deeper in love with Jesus. *Pray for upcoming speaking opportunities and for softened hearts of those who attend. Specific things we are trusting God for: *New interactive web site.....$1500 *Funds for mission trip opportunities to share the gospel.....$7000 *Provisions for part time office help....$12,000 *We give every new believer a 90 day devotion to get them started studying Gods word...we need to order more..Praise God!......$300 *Funds to have Bibles and study helps available to those in need........$750 *50% deficit the ministry budget. While we do not spend what we do not have, the shortfall means two things....#1... There are ministry opportunities we can't participate in. #2....There are household things that need to be fixed. *Our home church FBC Woodstock filmed and is putting together an amazing DVD for Eric. We are not sure where or how these need to be distributed but the Lord does! We love you all and we will let you know how the Lord meets these needs.

Christmas Blessings

Oh how I love Christmas!!! We are so very excited around here. I wanted to share with you a real blessing for our family. We received an anonymous package in the mail the other day and it contained $50 gift cards for our entire family to our favorite places and even some fun entertainment cards. What a fun blessing! We of course started brainstorming about who it could be??? We have so many generous friends in our lives but only a few of those who would know where to buy the gift cards specifically. The last 2 years have been amazing ministry wise but they have been full of major sacrifices especially for the kids..it was fun to see their excitement!

Here is where my hearts delight came.....we have taken 3 of the children out to use their cards and all three used their cards to buy for others??? They were so excited to have their "own money" to spend on buying presents. I was very overwhelmed! So to whoever sent the cards...Thanks from the kids and thanks for allowing them to bless others!!!

Sweet Boy

Benjamin went to a party and there was someone there making fun balloon swords and animals for the kids. He asked if they could make a flower for him to give his mama. So sweet...he gave up his chance for a cool sword for me! AAHH these are the things that warm a mama's heart!

Family

Merry Christmas!!!! I hope that you are enjoying this season! Take your babies in your arms tell them how much you love them and tell them how much Jesus loves them. He loves us so much that He left heaven to come here and show us the Way!!

Dave Ramsey

Do you listen to Dave Ramsey? Love him!!!! Eric and I have been married for 20 years and boy would we do things differently, financially, if we could turn back the hands of time!!! We hope our children will have a better financial future!! While we have never had car payments and credit cards were used for emergencies.....we could have handled money better and we would be in a better place as far as our mortgage is concerned. We owe 87,000 or there abouts...sounds like a lot in one way but we are excited to see how fast we can get it paid off and be debt free!!!!! My hope is that my children will not even have to have debt!!! Possible??? I think so!! What about you?

Traditions

I don't remember if I have already written about this or not??? I have so many things swirling around in my head......I am always thinking..I'll write about that.....then I can't remember if I actually wrote or just thought about it???? Nuts..... I know :)

Think back to your childhood.....think quick about 10 of the best gifts that you received as a kid. Most of us could probably do that if given some time....but not quickly.......usually only a few actually stand out. But if asked to quickly name the things that you associate with Christmas....that is easy....for me it would be something like this......Grandma's house, cousins, driving looking at Christmas lights, hilarious party we always attended with cheap gag gifts, baking and decorating cookies, Christmas Pageant we put on at the Smith's house, lots of food, Candle light service at church, Reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve from a very large family Bible, caroling, helping a needy family. (now that I am older I know that WE were needy but my parents were so generous they took on more)

My point....your kids will not remember most of the gifts that you buy for them but they will remember and cherish the traditions! Make memories with your kids, show them a generous spirit, establish traditions and don't let them forget the awesomeness of the fact that Jesus came to save the world!!!!

Perfect hamburgers

I love homemade hamburgers but I do not like getting the meat under my nails and around my ring. Then my hands are really greasy and if you have to make a whole bunch it takes a while?? Until I came up with this little trick!! You will need wax paper a spoon and 2 salad plates. Put a piece of wax paper down on the plate and spoon a scoop of meat onto the paper.
Next put another piece of wax paper down and then the second plate and push down until the desired thickness.
Look a perfect patty and no goop under my nails!!!
I stack them like this.....you can even freeze them like this in a plastic bag if you have extra.

Then to the grill.....just a tip on grilling hamburger meat......leave them on the first side until the juice...aka the blood...yes I know that makes some of you squeamish.....just keep your eye on the prize baby!! Where was I...Oh yes...the juice....when it comes to the top like the burger at the bottom of the above picture....then it is ready to flip. After flipping...do not press....but look for the juice to run clear. then you will have the perfect burger! I used the Aldi ground sirloin....a little salt and pepper and then YUMMY Goodness!!!!!

Office wallpaper?

Yes, this is my sweeties office....really it is just a glorified closet......it's a walk in closet sized room minus the shelving. Eric loves "post-it" sticky notes. We writes scripture and quotes that speak to him and puts them on his wall. Crazy as it sounds...he knows where they are on his wall???? It is a huge topic of conversation for anyone who comes over?? I would love to hear people as they leave....is it " Wow that was neat" or is it "Wow , he is a little off" Well I think it is great! I love it more that words can express that my man loves Gods word so much and wants to apply it to his life!!!

The desires of our hearts!!!

You do know that the Lord does give us the desires of our hearts...according to His purpose....we forget that last part sometimes!!!! I think that means that as we grow closer to Him....our desires begin to reflect a sincere desire to serve Him!

Anyway...I have told you that Marshall is a great swimmer......with seemingly great potential. He really wants to swim year round.....very expensive...especially when you are in ministry living completely by faith.....no steady paycheck! We were told last night that Marshall would get a 50% scholarship!!!!!!! WOOOHOOO!!! Marshall will still have to come up with $90 a month...that's a lot of raking and mowing!!!! but it is doable. God is so good! Marsh has been praying for this and now he will get to trust the Lord for work to get the other $90.00 a month...that will be exciting for him and grow his faith!!

Let you kids know what it is like to trust the Lord for something!

New camera

Lindsey asked for money for her 16th birthday and combined it with her own babysitting money and bought a really nice camera. She loves to take pictures and she has a really good eye for the unusual shots. Above is Emily being very patient while Lindsey takes pictures in the bathroom...I love the last picture. I hope Lindsey can work on this talent and use it in someway since she loves it so much.

What is your "go to" food

Do you have a "go to" food? You know that one thing that always sounds good. Mine is something that is so abnormal...grits..yep you read it right. I just finished a bowl of warm creamy grits. I eat 1 packet of instant grits about 5 times a week. Crazy??

Here I am.

How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was very nice. We usually have a blow out with many, many families at my mama's but this year but this year because of mama's surgery we had a lovely dinner at Eric's parents house.

Mom had colon cancer 4 years ago and she just had to have her 3rd hernia repair 2 days before Thanksgiving. She had been told 3 days in the hospital.......ended up being 9???? She was open for 7 hours???? They had to completely rebuild her abdominal wall. Someone had to be with her 24/7 while she was in the hospital, so my sisters and I rotated with daddy. When daddy and one of mys sisters had to return to work then Katherine and I rotated. She is home and tonight will be the 2nd night that she and my dad are alone. What an ordeal for her! I hope that this is the last of all surgeries!!!That is the reason I haven't been here! Schooling, ministry and mama kept me way too busy.