Bountiful blessings

Christmas blessings:

Friday after work, I went to spend a little time with my friends Harold, Michele and their beautiful baby, Nate.

Then I headed to my dad's to have a Christmas celebration with a few people from his church; food, games and a lot of laughter.

I was able to connect with my brother in Iraq via online messaging twice this weekend, the first contact in nearly 2 months :)

I stayed at my dad's Friday night and headed up to Ma's to celebrate with Sally's family. Then she and I met Dad at their church for a Christmas Eve service, out to dinner with some of their friends, Christmas Eve service with my church family, and finally ended the evening with my dear friends, Bruno, Sarah and their precious children Ella, Eli and Ava. And it was here at their home that I ended this incredible day as I fell asleep anticipating waking to each of these little ones. It was a great day, so many faces, so many smiles, all excited about our Savior and what this day of celebration represents.

I woke Christmas morning with such joy. These little ones hold a special place in my heart, this family, has been such a blessing to me. I know this tradition may not last forever, to enjoy Christmas morning together, but I have been so blessed these past three years.

"Welcome Back"

Those were the words spoken to me a few days ago from a young friend of mine. I looked at her blankly and she said "I haven't seen you in awhile, it's good to have you back." Though we see one another several times through the week, she was right, she hadn't seen me for awhile. I was in a place where I could smile, but it wasn't one reflecting all of the Lord's goodness, the joy that is most always overflowing in my heart. I love being back in that place, where the confidence I have in my Lord reflects, my light shines. I have laid my heart bare for Him to care for, to heal my wounds, to continue the work He is doing in me and those I love. I have "let Jesus take the wheel" (that is a great song Hannah).

It is good to be back.

Continue to pray for me, I know this trial is not over. He has given me new strength today, but I know that I am still capable of growing weary and falling.

Good All The Time

How many are familiar with the phrase, "God is good all the time and all the time, God is good"? I am sure all of us are, those saved and unsaved. But how many of us can truly say this and mean it?

Psalm 73 - Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.

Our Lord is good all the time, despite the trials we may be facing, the losses we are experiencing, or the unknown days ahead. We know that He is good despite all this. Even if we haven't acknowledged it, we have experienced His greatness in days past, He has promised us so much and given so much already. Those promises are for today.

His goodness:

He works all things for good to those that love Him. Romans 8:28
He has gone to prepare a place for us, and He will return for us. John 14:3
He will neither leave us nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5
He is near to the broken hearted. Psalm 34:18
He desires to make us into the image of His Son, He will continue to perfect this until the day of Christ. Phil 1:6
He prunes us, He purges those branches from us that aren't bearing fruit and if we abide in Him we will bear fruit. John 15
He guides us with His counsel. Psalm 73:24
He perfects, strengthens and establishes us. 1 Peter 5:10
He protects us. Isaiah 54:17
He has overcome the world. John 16:33

If you are having difficulty seeing His goodness, if you can't seem to get focused on Him, distracted by all the worries of this world, step into His sanctuary, it is here that you will gain a clear vision of the Lord, of the plans He has for you, be patient, He is working, He cares for you, He sees all the circumstances surrounding your life and is taking great care in dealing with those things that concern you.

Portrait of His work

These pictures speak to my heart so much: me a girl who hated having her picture taken. Why have it taken when all I could see there was what I didn't like? The first time I looked at these pictures, I got choked up... for the first time, I looked at a picture and saw the beauty that the Lord sees in me, saw the light beaming from those eyes, filled with such joy, contentment, peace. The Lord has been doing such a work in this heart of mine and these pictures reflect that. The before picture, a princess for the day, having the honor to stand beside a dear friend of mine as she entered into a covenant before the Lord with the man she loves.



The after picture, donning my tee, jeans and wild hair. This one shows another side of me, one that I tucked away, too afraid to share it, afraid to be laughed at. That silly side, the one that likes to have fun and not care what anyone thinks. I pulled all those pins, all 56 of them, out of my hair, washed off the makeup and I look at that and can still see all the beauty, all the work, that the Lord has done in me. And with that a confidence in who I am in Him, in who He has created and is working on, with all my flaws and accomplishments.



I hope no one takes this as me being boastful but truly admiring the work the Lord has done, the transformation that He promises each of us.

"Maidservant of the Lord"

When Mary was told by the angel in Luke 1 that she would give birth to “The Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and HIS kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32-33) she was afraid. Can you blame her? How often in this life are we brought to such a place of "impossibilities" invoking fear in us? And when we do come to this, do we respond as Mary did: "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)

Father, may each of us follow your leading faithfully, allowing Your promises and faithfulness through past "impossibilities" quiet our fears, allowing us to follow Your direction with strength. And Father, if it is a clear knowledge of You and Your ability, Your power that is lacking, I ask that You would increase that in us. Your word tells us "those who know their God will display strength and take action." How I desire to take action every day for You, in the things You have called me to, for the people You have placed in my life, for the issues You have placed on my heart to fight for. Thank You for Your word and the freedom I have to read it, the ears You have given me to hear it. I love You, Father.

A lie mixed with a little truth

So often I hear the words "Nobody understands where I am at," or "There is no one who is going through what I am." I believe this is one of the greatest lies the enemy speaks to each of us at some time in our walk and the danger comes when we allow ourselves to listen to it. We then seclude ourselves or go in search for someone, leaving that place the Lord has called us to. Or worse, we stay where we are and don't share, we keep our hearts, filled with all the pain and loneliness, closed off to those who love us.

Where do you find yourself:

A divorced senior citizen who now has the gift of singleness.
A Christian who struggles with same sex attraction.
Just out of college, stacks of bills without a job that will pay for them.
From a broken home, where abuse abounded and you don't know how to accept godly love.
A widowed mother with a baby who has a terminal illness.
One with an addiction to drugs.
A man or woman with a spouse who doesn't know the Lord.
A single mom raising a teenager, far from any family.
In a season of singleness with such a desire for a family
A youth in a home of those who claim to love the Lord, yet persecuted there for your devotion to your Savior.
One in love with he/she who is struggling with same sex attraction.
A woman or man with all they could ever desire yet discontent.
One who is beautiful to all around yet can not find any beauty in yourself.

You know I fit into a couple of these categories and have found that though there is some truth in nobody understands, that truth is very minute. The Lord tells us in His word that we go through trials and tribulations so He can comfort us and in turn we can comfort others. Yesterday, I spoke with a lady, one who is probably 30-4o years older than I who said those very words that she struggles because there is no one around who understands where she is. And you know, we broke through the enemies lies, we are defeating his desire to seclude her or send her seeking. We found that we have so much in common, the things I struggle in, she has made it through and some things the Lord is working out in her, He has done in me...I anticipate our next time of fellowship. What an awesome privilege we have in the body of Christ...the power to defeat, to walk this narrow road with so many that appear to not understand, yet when we get close enough, when we allow others close enough, the understanding is incomparable.