Getting ready

I love the story "How the Grinch stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss.

It's the story of the Grinch, that lives on snowy Mount Crumpit, just north of Whoville, home of the merry and warm-hearted Whos. His only companion is his faithful dog, Max. From his perch high atop Mount Crumpit, the Grinch can hear the noisy Christmas festivities that take place in Whoville. Envious of the Whos' happiness, he makes plans to descend on the town and, by means of burglary, deprive them of their Christmas presents and decorations and thus "prevent Christmas from coming". However, he learns in the end that despite his success in stealing all the Christmas presents and decorations from the Whos, Christmas comes just the same.

The point of this post? Christmas will come, there is nothing we can do to stop it, but there is something we can do to be ready. I don't mean buying presents, decorating the house, or even listening to Christmas carols, I mean having our hearts ready to receive the ultimate gift ever given.

The gift of Jesus sent from heaven above.

Blessings 

Who I am

This is a gentle reminder ~

I am accepted...
John 1:12 I am God's child.
John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

I am secure...
Romans 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4 I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

I am significant...
John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

when I struggle with who I am.

Blessings

Ordinary Miracle

One of my favorite things is an extraordinary, everyday miracle.

I'm not speaking of Miracles of Biblical Proportion; rather the simple things that mean little to anyone else and the world to you, and that most people would scoff at and roll their eyes for my diminishing the word "miracle" to something so, w-e-l-l ....ordinary.

Perfect timing is an example. Sometimes perfect timing is just what you need to get over a hump or to increase your faith or to be encouraged. Perfect timing can be disguised as a song on the radio or a timely newspaper article or in words of wisdom from a friend. Perfect timing can be when a certain someone decides to send a special delivery.

Sometimes it's what we don't say that often hurts the most; sometimes we hold back when we know there's something that needs saying, encouragement that will make a difference in the life of someone we love.

Don't let that be the case today, this week or even next month. With Christmas just around the corner, you're likely going to spend time with family or friends and I hope you'll speak life into them.

YOUR TURN:  Are you a celebrator of Everyday, Ordinary Miracles? Would you be willing to share a story with me? And would you accept my challenge to speak life, love affirmation, truth or forgiveness to someone who needs a touch of your grace?

Blessings

About him

I’ve been here for the most part of the day trying my darndest to think of a post to write.

I am stumped.

So for today I am going to write about how thankful I am for my husband.

I know that many women have married great men, and that we know that NONE of us is perfect in every way anyway - we can't be until we are in His presence, but I'm so thankful for Wayne.

He isn't perfect. Neither am I.

But he IS:
A great provider.
A lot of fun.
Some one who loves me, no matter what.
Patient.
Considerate, not just to me, but to everyone.
Smart, as in intelligent.
A good sport.
Generous.
Forgives and forgets.
Joyful.
Has a L O N G fuse, and never runs out of patience with me.
A really good man.
Loves God.
Is faithful.

None of those are in any particular order, and I am too tired to write witty, long or romantic things about him. .. .. .. .. ... .. .but I'm just so thankful for him!

Thanks God, for creating Wayne for me!!!

Blessings

it's your choice

sometimes establishing your boundaries can be the very foundation needed for all of the decisions you will make. it can be one of the most powerful and empowering part of any process because you are in control.

with my people-pleasing personality i really struggle with having anyone mad at me. i tend to let their decisions/frustrations/happiness sway me to doing things that i am not particularly wanting to do just to keep the peace. i need to learn to keep my feelings about the feelings of others in check. in fact it’s pivotal.

sometimes the simplest way is to just be honest.. .. .. mmhmhmm .. .. where did I get that from.

the reality of life is that things change and adapting to any change can bring a certain level of stress.

however ~  ~ ~
i am not responsible for {fill-in-the-blank family member/friend’s} happiness.
if ______ is mad, that is his/her feeling, and it doesn’t have to affect me.
i cannot make ___________ happy.
it’s okay that i am happy and he/she is not.
good boundaries mean that i don’t let his/her attitude ruin my choices.
good boundaries also mean that my feelings matter just as much as his/hers, and i might need to call him/her on it.

if we aren’t careful to be intentional, the joy of living can quickly be replaced with hard feelings, anger, and disappointment. more than anything, sometimes extending grace to ourselves and others is the simplest way to allow us to experience the best life possible. after all, life isn't about pleasing everybody.

Blessings

be-YOU-tiful

Something inside me still feels a little hollow. Just a wee bit off. A little lacking. The mystery of wanting to be filled but not knowing how or what could fill the deep soul can be troublesome. A search that can seem both futile and shattering at times. Empty is a heavy load to bear. So, I reasoned I needed something else to do. Something where I could use my gifts and talents.

When you try and try, always feeling like the answer is just around the corner, and then it isn’t, it can rip your heart wide open. It can make you feel unsatisfied and frustrated with everything. So you fake a smile and keep putting one foot in front of the other. But eventually you stop peeking around the next corner hoping the answer is there.

The truth is, I’m tired. Or perhaps more honestly it’s that I’m uninterested, and self-centered, and I forget what it feels like to enjoy my life. I thought I was back on the mountain top - only to find that I am still stuck in the valley. And now, I’m floundering. I’m overwhelmed with what are my responsibilities, and everything else that contributes to making a good home.

And then, at some point I realized that I heard Jesus whisper this to my heart…
Your work is not your worth.

I’ve been focusing too much on the 'what I do' ~ or lack there of ~ not the 'who I am' to determine my worth.

 

Do Less Be More

It’s a phrase that’s over-used and under performed but I can’t think of any other words that make better sense.

Lately, I’ve been wondering a lot about what exactly I want out of these run-of-the-mill days I lead. What is it, that I expect?  Is it unrealistic to want to spend my days focusing on enjoying my family, making a home, reading in the evenings, baking up a storm, getting out into the community, having tea with my friends, and living? Truly living a life fully alive for the glory of God.

Tell me then, “what does that look like.. .. .. .. .. exactly”?

Blessings

Let me be the one

This is my favourite new song.

Thoughts?

Blessings