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| Make a scrapbook - it's easy! |
Our church service this morning was such a blessing to me...we had a guest speaker, who is really and old speaker, however he's only in his late 20's! (did ya follow that?) Don, was the former youth pastor at Bethel and was back for a visit! This young man is being molded and shaped into a great teacher and I am always encouraged and convicted when he digs into the Word with me. He is an avid follower of "The Old Dead Guys", so we are kindred spirits! Today, his message was taught from Philippians 3:7-11...
"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I many gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power or his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."
Amazing passage of scripture! Don pointed out the relevance of verse 10. "I want to know Christ"...this is the Apostle Paul writing! Paul walked with Jesus. He experienced his conversion on the road to Damascus after he was blinded by a light. Without getting too deep...this message again rang true in my own heart, how I "know" Jesus, yet PAUL longed to know him more! I too must lay down my life..and desire a closer relationship with my Savior.
How often I become satisfied with the few minutes I spend with my Lord each morning...but I need to want to know him more!
"Father, change my 'wanter' to have a stronger desire to know you more. Amen"
For the past 6 or 7 years, Dennis has thought it necessary that his daughters begin to collect their own tools! This in part is due to knowing Marty does that for his grandkids, but we don't have any of those, YET! A man does NOT do well if his tools are not returned to the location they were borrowed from in the same or better condition than they left! It seems there are some areas that a man doesn't have to learn patience, so each year, Dennis shops, wraps and delivers a shiney new tool to each of his kids. Adam now has one of those big red boxes in his garage with a million drawers!! This man knows how to plan for the future!
...Christmas is an especially quiet day at our house. Friends and family have returned back home and I'm left with a crammed packed fridge, a pile of tablecloths and napkins on the washer, tiny scraps of gift wrap on the carpet (carefully secured by remnants of tape!), and always, ALWAYS, I find one stray bow or ribbon that someone has tossed in the most peculiar spot. Sometimes they show up mysteriously after a couple of months of cleaning! I do enjoy this day however! It gives me an opportunity to reflect on the precious time I had with my family yesterday. Each scrap of paper represents a gift that was carefully selected and wrapped and often I'm able to remember what was wrapped in that paper better when I find one little scrap than when I'm passing out the gifts trying to remember what is in each one! The joy that fills a room on Christmas morning just fills a mothers heart!
A fire in the fireplace, Christmas carols on the radio, coffee brewing, cinnamon leaf ring on the counter and bright eyes in anticipation of receiving the perfect gift! I love it when my "20 something" kids still dump out their stockings and squeal when they get something that delights them! Guess it reminds me of how simple it is to bring pleasure to one another! Simple little things, but a room filled with laughter and fun.
This year was no different. Stockings and gifts in the morning, followed by breakfast, showers, then getting the Christmas dinner ready for consumption. Parents/grandparents, my brother and his new bride coming over to share stories and food...gift exchange...pie...naps for boys and Amy!...dishes for Mom and I...and did I mention PIE? Adam and Allyson had to rush home for Adam's family exchange and Scott and Robin went the other direction to do the same with her side of the family. (They had pie to go!) Then, as quickly as it all began just 24 hrs. earlier, the house is now dreadfully quiet! All that's left is the fire flickering and the little pieces of wrapping paper securely taped to the carpet! It's home!
Such a good reminder that our circumstances are fleeting. The joys as well as our sorrows come and they go. The memories fade (well SOME stick with us even though we wish they would fade while other's we can't remember for the life of us!) but the love of OUR Lord is FOREVER!!
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
I'm so very thankful to God for what he has done, and what he continues to do in my family. My prayer for the end of 2007 is that HE will continue to work in our lives and not leave us complacent where we are, but that He would give us the desire to willingly allow Him to mold and shape us into the men and women that He created us to be!
"Father, drive us to our knees, that we would be holy as you are holy so our lives would reflect the Glory of our King! Amen"
Now...off to peel tape! Hope your day was Merry and Bright!
I couldn't resist but share this Christmas Eve picture with you all! Dennis surely has his hands full! These girls are the joy of his life!
The Christmas Table is set! This is one of my most favorite things to do at each and every holiday meal! Nothing fancy...just done with love for those I love! Martha Stewart I'm NOT, but I'd bet that she doesn't enjoy finding her plates and glasses at a local thrift store either! : ) Carolyn and I take pictures of our tables and send them to one another almost every holiday to help us with ideas to make our tables beautiful...and we don't even have to pay for a magazine subscription! : )
I learned to love doing this when I lived in Lincoln, Neb. We had a Ladies Brunch Break at church each year where many women carefully packed up their finest dishes and made the most elegant and creative centerpieces, then brought them to church, setting a table for 8. I would browse each of the 30-some tables and capture all of them in pictures so I could recreate my own someday. I still refer to those pictures and truly enjoy making something beautiful out of ordinary things. Again, nothing spectacular, but all handpicked and polished up for my loved ones! This is a constant reminder to me of how God uses ordinary people to make something beautiful too!
May you each have a table to gather around with friends and family this Christmas...as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Christmas isn't about the size, quantity or price of the gifts we give or receive, but rather about the GIFT that was given to us over 2000 years ago. God sent his own Son, while we were yet sinners, that he would give his life as a ransom for many! Don't let this Christmas go by without understanding the fact that each of us are sinners, deserving of a life separated from God...
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
It is THIS truth which we celebrate!!
Merry Christmas to all....and to all a goodnight!
Here's a recent picture of Adam and Allyson...at Amy's BD dinner! Ally want's me to do a slideshow of her and Adam, which will be coming up, but I need to get past Christmas first! My children BLESS my heart!
I will post a picture of Dennis and I when we loose weight and look younger! LOL!
