New Year's Pre-thoughts

2008 is winding down and 2009 is coming. What are you going to do differently this next year? Here is my top 10 list that I am putting before the Lord with prayer for him to help me!

1) Try a new adventure- not sure what yet
2) Qualify for the Boston Marathon- I am not giving up Lord willing!
3) Travel to a new country- thinking about Costa Rica this year
4) Celebrate our 10th anniversary- can you believe it has been 10 years?
5) Get to know the other wives at Jonathan's company better
6) Be more dedicated in my scripture memory- trying for 2 verses a month- Thanks Beth Moore
7) Read a daily devotional with my quiet time- for something new and different
8) Be more dedicated to prayer with accountability- Thanks Bonnie
9) Be more loving to all the ones God has put in my life
10) Be more vocal and winsome in my representation of Christ- Help me Father!

Psalm 6:9

The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.

After Christmas Thoughts

I am working on taking down all my christmas decorations today. I have enjoyed having my house decorated and all the fun activities that Christmas brings, family to see and places to go. But I am glad that it is done for another year and I am packing everything away. As I have been putting them away, I have been praying that I will remember Christ's birth more this upcoming year and that I will focus more on him! May God do this for all of the body of Christ in the coming year!

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas gatherings. Enjoy!

10 Things of Christmas

Love
1) Hearing the Christmas story
2) Looking at Christmas lights
3) Snuggling in a blanket with my sweetie
4) Sharing Christmas goodies with friends
5) Watching those I love open their gifts

Hate
1) Ba humbug spirit (this is a no Grinch zone)
2) Long lines when you just need 1 thing
3) Mall traffic (I live by the mall so it is irritating)
4) Selfish "gimme" attitude
5) Forgetting the reason for the season- JESUS

What are your 10 Christmas things?

Luke 2: 9-14

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Merry Christmas to you!

Just wanted to wish all of you a wonderful blessed Christmas. May your hearts be overwhelmed with the love of the Savior at the celebration of his birth this week.
My prayer for the body of Christ is that we focus on God's gift of his son and not get distracted by the worldly cares and worries that pull us away! May Christmas remain about Christ!
Wishing you a wonder filled Christmas!

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder,and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:10-12

And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.

Encouraging Words!

After my last post and telling everyone that prayed for me and thought of me during that marathon, I just wanted to say how thankful I am for encouraging words. People have been so sweet and encouraging to me about my race and what to do in the future!
Thank you to all of you for your thoughtfulness and encouragement.
God has shown me 2 things so far:
1) I love encouraging others but don't look for encouragement often myself. God has blessed me with lots of it the last few days and shown me how much I need all of those around me! They weren't let down because I wasn't super woman and didn't make my goal. They just came along side and encouraged me to not give up and to try again.
2) I like to pride myself on being self sufficient and able to handle whatever comes my way without asking for help. God reminded me through this race that others are a blessing and their help is essential to me! I need to reach out, humble myself and ask because they are more than happy to answer. I might even be getting in the way of something God is doing in them by not asking for assistance.

Praise the Lord for working in and through us in all things! He uses whatever means to get to us and through us to others. I am still learning and grateful for the experience. But most of all I am grateful for the relationship I have with God!

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Psalm 30:11-12

Marathon Lessons & Blues

Yesterday I ran the White Rock Marathon in Dallas for the 3rd time. I have been training to qualify for the Boston marathon for the last 3 marathons now. I have gotten close and was really praying and hoping that yesterday would be the race. It felt like it might be when I first started running. I had really been praying for good weather and energy to make it till the end. The forecast was warm, humid and windy but I was okay with that. Jonathan was my course support as always and even ran the last few miles with me.
Standing at the starting line facing straight south into the 25-30 mph wind I still stayed positive and prayed continually for God to help it die down. I was doing well till mile 14 when we turned straight into the wind on White Rock Lake. For the next 6 miles, it pulled the energy right out of me to just stay moving. By the time I finished, I was as exhausted as I have ever felt. And I was way over my time that I aimed for. It was discouraging! I do have to be thankful for Jonathan and for 2 friends that I saw out on the course that ran with me for a while! Their encouragement helped me finish even though I didn't feel like it.
Now I am not sure what to do about the marathon thing. Do I try again or give it up? I prayed for weeks about this race, especially having energy and good weather and ultimately my goal of qualifying. God answered with a no so now I am just praying about what he wants me to do from here! My pride took a beating in that I came in so slow! I haven't bombed a race like that in a long time and it was tough to be okay with that but I know that dying to self is always a good thing even if it hurts! I am bummed but I know that He is good all the time and that there is a plan and purpose in this all. I will wait and listen.

Psalm 5:3

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation

Fun Christmas Quiz- Favorite Things

Here are some fun Christmas things. Take a look and post your own comments to your top 10 Christmas things!

1. Favorite christmas tree (Fake or real) Real- my family ran a christmas tree sales lots growing up so I am a professional tree picker! ;-)

2. Fav ornament- Pewter christmas tree with scripture on it!

3. Fav Christmas Song- Natalie Grant- Believe or One Child

4. Fav Christmas Tradition- My family reads the christmas story on Christmas eve night with only the lights and opens gifts one at a time per person from oldest to youngest. Then we sit and look at the lights flashing on the ceiling and telling stories!

5. Fav christmas gift- Our vacation to Sedona Arizona- we saw snow and went to the Grand Canyon together for the 1st time as a married couple!

6. Fav Christmas meal: yummy homemade appetizers on Christmas eve night and mexican food on Christmas day.

7. Fav Christmas Cookie- My mom's ritz cracker peanut butter sandwiches covered in chocolate.

8. Fav place to be- At home with my hubby, cuddled up on the couch with the christmas lights on.

9. Fav memory- So many to pick from- My family was poor growing up and had very little at Christmas but one year we came home and found a big box filled with presents and christmas dinner on our front porch. We laughed and cried!

10. Fav Christmas Movie- The Grinch, White Christmas, While You Were Sleeping

Monday Again

This morning I awoke earlier than usual and started praying as I usually do. 1st of all because it is a great quiet time to concentrate and 2nd of all because it can help me fall back asleep.
But this morning, I could not go back to sleep so I stayed up, read some scripture and really tried to zone in. The Holy Spirit does this sometimes, impressing on me the need for prayer (sometimes I don't even know why). My mind was spinning this morning over so many different areas needed for prayer and I was struck by how often I simply start asking God for stuff. Lots of the time, this stuff isn't even for me but still it feels like I always asking and never coming to him just because I want to spend some time in his presence. It is like hanging out with a 2 year old, all they ever come to you for is for "stuff", do this for them or do that for them. Many times it feels like "gimme, gimme, gimme" and I wonder if God ever feels like that with me. Yes, I know he is always here for me and hears my petitions but do I make him feel like I want him to be a genie granting wishes instead of the Holy One of Israel?
If that is the case Father God, I apologize right now and ask you to help me change. At this moment, I want to take the time to utter words of thanks and love just because you are the God of the universe! You are worthy. To borrow the words of a praise song, "let my words be few, Jesus I am so in love with you."

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

~ Revelations 4:11

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

~ Psalm 145:3