2009 Where did you go?

As they say the older you get the faster life goes by....I think back at 2009 with some relief that it is over. It has been a hard year for us and many of our friends, many deaths in families of young and old friends, employment problems, financial struggles, marriages struggling, and some health issues. So I think as I sit here, I am looking forward to 2010... Just as there can be peace from last years struggles, growth from what we have learned from them, and a excitement to see what God is going to do this year..I have high hopes for 2010. Why not look at the cup 1/2 to 3/4 full. Why not expect great things. There is a CD by Phillips, Craig & Dean called Fearless. Inside the sleeve of the CD they write fearless is a statement against the tide of anxiety that's being sold by the loudest voices in our culture. Even in the face of difficult times, we need to remember to shine the light of eternal hope on the world's temporary circumstances and choose faith over fear. So this 2010, shine, shine, shine.........

Do you ever want to say.....

Are there times in you life where you just want to tell people what you really think no matter the consequence. I struggle with that way of life regularly. Why can't everyone just think like me, look at life like me, just be me.....Wouldn't that be a tough world.....As we grow older I know we are suppose to mature, handle ourselves gracefully, and be kind, but sometimes you just want to say it like it is, get it off you chest, yell, scream and just be who you really want to be sometimes. The problem comes after you have had your say...You either hurt someones feelings, make them mad, or just completely become confused because they didn't get it...One of my goals for 2010 is to be as completely honest as possible with people and myself while also doing it with kindness, discretion and love. Sometimes its hard to do all three but with a goal in mind all things can be possible. I just have to remember to throw out me and allow God to do it all...

Winter Snow

I love the Chris Tomlin winter snow song... We went to the mountains Saturday to check on things because of the snow fall from the week before. These are pictures a week after the storm, I can only imagine the beauty of it all the day after. I love a simple way of life. In the mountains the only drama you have is the weather and sometimes the animals.

I like the peacefulness of winter, the calm of the fallen snow, the quiet of all is still. As I get older I strive for peace, I like calm, drama dealing with humans gets under my skin. But as a Christian I know there will be times of anxiety, up-hevel, work, stress, drama, & no peace. The key is how will I handle it, will I confront it head on with love or sweep it under the rug and hope it goes away. I know there is a season for all things, However I love the calm season, the snow season when all is peaceful. My goal this year is to live in peace no matter the situation.

To trust God Almighty who created all this beauty, that man can't take away or even create. Who created the snow, trees, rivers, creeks, mountains and beautiful skies. The one and only who can bring about true peace. Peace like a river, a river is moving fast sometimes, slow at times and sometimes barely moving. But there is still peace when you watch if flow... I pray that we as fellow believers will strive for peace is this non-peaceful world. Where we will see that we are fighting the principalities of the this world but that we can know real peace in the midst of it all...Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas

For unto us a child is born, Christ the Lord......Merry Christmas

Simple Christmas

I love the simpleness of Christmas. We try to make it stressful. When you really think about it Christmas is a sweet, calm and joyful thing. Christ birth, a little baby boy born for you and me, no matter how crabby we are. The Christ child's birth should have a calming effect on us,

he came here to take away our stress, our feelings of loneliness, and our fears. The birth of our savior should bring joyful thoughts for us who will have eternal life with him the risen King. Make this Christmas simple, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. The Christ Child who was born on Christmas Day

Christmas Time

I love snow, Christmas, Christmas Music, candy, cooking, friends - old and new, family, and the great things the Lord has done for me. Life is hard but God makes things beautiful, lovely, peaceful, joyful and easier sometimes. Enjoy the season......

The 3 S's

Slowly, steadily,surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Habakkuk 2:3 I know when we read scripture we are suppose to read the verse in context to the other verses around it, whom it was written for, and all the circumstance that pertain to that book. But sometimes a verse comes out of no where that just hits you between the eyes. How many of us read Habakkuk regularly..... Well this verse hit me the other night, it was in the front of one of my novels I had begun to read. I have seen in my mind our church on this piece of property we bought 5 years ago, as of today we are no closer to building our new church and we don't know why it has not taken place. We started a new business 2 years ago and truly thought that by now it would be making its payments without our own money still going into it. When I read this verse the other night, it was like to Lord was talking to me with answers that I have been looking for. Our visions for church and our business will be fulfilled, it may seem very slow but we are to wait patiently because it will happen. When we know God is in something, but things seems to happen a little slower that we hope for, lots of times we don't wait on his timing. As the first part of the verse says Slowly (requiring more time than usual), Steadily (fixed, stable, not easily moved), Surely (without fail or doubt) the vision will be fulfilled. I don't know what you are waiting on but God does and his timing is perfect, now will you wait for him......

I have many favorite songs of the season, but a new one is from Chris Tomlin, (who I would stalk if I was not a good christian married woman) It talks about how Jesus could have come like a mighty storm, with all the strength of a hurricane. He could have come like a forest fire, power of heaven in his flame. He could have swept in like a tidal wave, or come like a roaring flood to wipe away the things we've scarred. But instead he came like a winter snow, quiet, soft and slow. Falling from heaven to earth below. Snow is one of our favorite sights at our home. My husband will stay up if it is calling for snow. He will sleep on the couch and the first sight of flakes he wakes us all up to see it. When you live the the country and there has been a great snow, you go out and everything is at peace. There is a stillness and calm like no other. Just as the baby Jesus God came, there is a peace, stillness and calm like no other in knowing him.

Holy Night

Think about the night God came down as a baby. We hear the story every year we sing the Christmas songs and yet God has revealed to me this week what a Holy Night it was. The God of the universe came to earth for each of us whether we accept him or not. He came to save us and enjoy our company. I've listened to O Holy Night since birth but as I listened to it this week I have a new feel for the the words of this song. The stars were shining brightly, it was the night of our Saviors birth. The world in all of its sin was awaken when our soul felt his arrival, There is hope, for a brand new day. The holiness of the night causes us to fall on our knees, it was a night that was prophesied before Jesus was conceived. The Baby Jesus arrived to show us to love one another, his law equals love, his Gospel equals peace, our chains are broken and all cruelty, stress, worry should cease.There is joy, gratitude, and praise for Christ is the Lord and we will praise his name forever and proclaim his power and glory for ever and ever.

Be Careful how you say it.....

Last night while talking to my mom I asked her if she knew someone who needed their teeth
x-rayed for free, Audrey needed a patient for school. She then began to ask my step-dad if he needed an x-ray. I heard him say in the background "are you talking to me" she said yes, he said then why didn't you say something so I would know, her reply "something". While I laugh at this, I also know that my mom and step-dad have had to much quality time together lately and it's starting to show. I called my sister to fill her in and she laughed and stated " I have some things to tell you" (shes been painting at their house this week). As I have thought about this today, I wonder if we think that we can hide our true feeling and emotions from our families. If we pay attention to others we usually can notice something is up, and sometimes we ourselves get caught up in the same old habits that we don't notice our harsh tone, our short answers, or quick responses. As the Holiday Season is in full swing and their will be alot of family time, I will be paying attention to my attitude, tone of my voice, and facial expression that I have, so that I can make this a peaceful, joyful and happy time. And remember you never know who may hear what you say and how you say it........