Sunday, December 4, 2011

Photo Card

Here is our 2011 Christmas card! May God bless your Christmas and help you stay focused on Him!








Rejoice Religious

Unique designs that are as unique as you. Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Friday, October 21, 2011

October renewal

The weather finally cooled down and it feels like fall. I love how October and April feel like renewal months. What gets renewed you ask?

April:
The weather warms
Plants sprout and flower
Green becomes the theme
Glorious sunshine makes everything come back to life
God brings in spring and life buds anew in creation
We celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of God

October:
The weather cools
Rain comes back
The sun becomes less prominent and ushers in the longer night
The north wind begins to put everything to sleep in creation
God lets His creation rest and recover as fall drops into place
We celebrate with thankful hearts all that God has provided and blessed us with

Psalm 106:1-2 NIV
Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise?

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Hello long lost blog

Hello,
Life has been so crazy with work and the family that I haven't had much chance to get on here and blog!
I am leading a fall Growth group for our church and we are going on a brief tour of the bible to see Jesus in the scriptures from start to finish. This is going to be an adventure.
This 1st week we are going through Genesis and I was thrilled to see Jesus in creation and in the covenant's of redemption with Abraham! Jesus is the same from the beginning to end but it is wonderful to focus on how he comes alive in all the scriptures.
I will be writing a little bit about each week to keep up on our progress!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Coming to God through the Trinity

At bible study this morning, I was blown away by some simple but profound concepts and had to share them. I am still chewing on this so pardon the fragmented thoughts. Hopefully it will make sense!We were discussing the end of Matthew 11. Jesus explained that he would only reveal things to those who are like children/unlearned/simple/trusting and not the learned or wise.

Matthew 11:25-27 NIV
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Jesus was announcing to the crowd that he was God's son and that only through Him could God be revealed. He said that all things were committed/given/placed under Him by His father. Jesus was referencing that before time began, God gave Him power over everything. God the Holy Spirit and Jesus had the whole plan of salvation put together before the foundations of the world. Mans fall into sin and death was not a mistake but God giving us the opportunity to choose Him of our own free will. The Trinity had the whole plan of salvation worked out and they know the whole story from beginning to end. God the Father wanted to give us the freedom to choose Him or walk away so that everyone who comes to Him does so by their free will. God was not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance. But He loves us so much that He doesn't force Himself upon us. We have the freedom to choose.
So the Holy Spirit works in the world through conviction of the heart and revelation of the truth of wrong, right, judgment and justice. He convicts our hearts and points us toward the need for a savior. Jesus steps in for us because He is the way, the truth and the life and no man can come to the Father but through Him. Jesus has complete authority over all and offered up Himself as the sacrifice for mankind's sin. When we come to Him and accept His gift of salvation, we enter into His family. Then Jesus reveals His father to us. Only through knowing Jesus the Son can we come to know God as Father. Before salvation God is only known to us as god but after salvation, He becomes our heavenly Father and Jesus works to continually reveal Him to us! How awesome is that?
There is still so much more to chew on but for now...
Thank you Jesus for revealing God to me as my heavenly Father!

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Open hands


I heard a new concept about going through life that has been challenging me a lot lately. All of us go through life thinking we have some control and holding aspects of our life in our mental hands. Sometimes we clutch at things like a 2 year old screaming "mine" at everyone who comes near. And sometimes we would gladly give away what we have in our hands for something else!
Here is a change in perspective on life! Holding life with an open hand allows God to come in and be boss of my life with much less stress and heartache.
Instead of clutching at things or control with a closed fist and God prying it out of my hands with pain and anguish (on my part), I can open my hand willingly. Letting go and holding my hand open lets God do amazing things in my heart and life with joy and blessing!
So I am going to start asking myself, "are you holding on with an open hand?"

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Lately

Lately:
I'm learning to be obedient, especially when I don't want to
I'm learning to stay focused on my own walk with God and not worry about pointing out others to God as an excuse to not do what He says
I'm learning that asking God for more trust usually involves a new opportunity to get sweaty working it out with Him
I'm learning that humility is becoming
I'm learning that God is good all the time
I'm learning that I know less and less than I thought
I'm learning that life God's way is upside down of what seems normal
I'm learning to love God more each day
And I'm still learning more...

I love this adventure of life that God is walking with me. There is never a dull moment or a chance to be lazy because God calls to my heart all the time! Onward and upward!

Monday, May 16, 2011

May verses of the Month

Verse # 9
Ephesians 6:2-3 NIV
"Honor your father and mother"- which is the first commandment with a promise- "That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

Verse # 10
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Ask, Seek, Knock

We studied a famous new testament passage today in bible study and I just had to share.

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

How often have I read and even studied this passage? But today I saw a new angle and it really gave me some meat to chew on. All these are commands in the present tense so that means they are supposed to be done continuously!

1) ASK
Continually come before God by prayer and ask for His wisdom (to learn, know and act like Him) and discernment in my life. I am also to continue to bring all my petitions, cares and concerns to Him. As I do this, His wisdom transforms my life and brings my prayers in line with Him.

2) Seek
Continually seek God's presence and spending time in Him. This is where I get depth and personal experience with my God as His child! I learn who God is and how He operates in me and in the world.

3) Knock
Continually knock on the door and it will open. When a door opens, we are welcomed in and walk through it to spend time with the person inside. God opens the door to us so we can come in and be a part of His family. I am a member of the family in the eternal sense but especially here and now. God welcomes me inside but He also instructs me in how to be a member of His family.

All these commands build together to grow faith in my heart. By asking, seeking and knocking, I am choosing to operate in the way God directs me before I see the results or know the outcome!

Chew on that!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Happy Resurrection Celebration

I know it is a little late but I couldn't resist sharing this! It made me laugh, jump and wait anxiously for this kind of celebration in heaven with the rest of my Christ family!!!!

Friday, April 15, 2011

April verses of the month

Verse # 7
John 8:31-32 NIV
To the Jews who believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. "

Verse # 8
Psalm 25:9 NIV
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Life- on both ends

This has been a last 6 months with so many of our friends having babies and new lives starting! This is always such a joy to watch and exciting for the new parents!

But this month has been a bittersweet time to celebrate life.

One of our close friends had a baby who did not survive when she was born and this was one of the saddest things we have witnessed. Watching their heartbreak and seeing the anguish of the family made my grief so small in comparison and my heart was just broken for them!
We had been so excited because it was one of the 1st friends of ours to have a girl. We love to run together and we had been planning to go running together with the babies. We were also looking forward to birthdays, summer swims and so much more together. When God took Molly home with Him instead, it meant grieving all those plans and the life you expected to have! I sit here with tears in my eyes and pain in my heart knowing that theirs is so much more!
Father, only you can heal this hurt and mend these hearts! PLEASE HELP US! Each day means new challenges and new encouragement. You suddenly realize that it is a miracle that any of us make it here and truly a testament that God gives life and He takes it when He desires too.

Then today God drew my eyes up to Him once again in worship and heart ache! We visited another precious baby girl who graced the world with her prescence. Such a sweet one who is a joy to her parents and to us. We are grateful for the miracle of this little bundle. But the heart also cries as it remembers the loss of the one who didn't get to stay.

So God gives and God takes away! Our hearts ache in this place with the hurt. But we can only turn to Him for healing and with praise that He does know best even when we can't see it!

Lamentations 3:32 NASB
For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion, According to His abundant loving kindness.

Verse # 6

It's that time again!

John 14:21 NIV
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Verse # 5

It's that time again. Another verse to ponder and meditate upon!

James 1:19 NIV
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Verse # 3 & 4

Oops,
I forgot to post on here for verse 3 & 4 so here they are!

Hebrews 3:13

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Matthew 5:23-24

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you; leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Verse # 2

Here is my 2nd verse for January:

Ephesians 4:25 NIV
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Monday, January 3, 2011

New Year's Resolution

It's the 1st Monday of 2011 and it's time to get started with my only new year's resolution. I am committing to memorize 2 verses a month for 2011 in an endeavor to hide God's word in my heart and meditate on Him more this year.

I am starting out by refreshing my memory on verses that pertain to the heart attitudes.

Verse # 1- Attitude # 1 Put the goals and interests of others above my own

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others.