A week already...

Well Christmas came and went so fast. It's hard to believe it was almost a week ago and I sit here still pondering it. It really was a great few days. Actually it's been a great December and I kinda hate to see it end. Christmas Eve was a special day. It was low key which is how I like it. We enjoyed lunch with the boys and then some coffee at our fave coffee place, Due South. The church service was meaningful with the message and doing communion with our church family. Family dinner to follow was a sweet time and Brooklynn got to open her very first Christmas present. Since it was Christmas Eve,it was pjs of course then 

the whole crowd did their sleepover in one room. Our kids have done this as long as I remember and it seems that no matter how big the fam gets they make room and make it happen. 

Christmas Day was a bit more hurried than I usually like but it was a great day!! Lots of gift giving, receiving, and the usual lovely chaos. Our little one got into the swing of things quickly and made her way through it all. We hosted dinner again and it was perfect having so much family gathered together. To know that each of these family members are Jesus lovers and followers, of course we are praying that all over Brooklynn daily, is the greatest gift and blessing. To know that no matter what, we won't be separated for long on this earth or after. What Christ did for us is the reason we have Christmas to celebrate every day! 

Here's a few pics if you're interested...

Monday Morning Perspective

We wrapped up James chapter 4 yesterday with a powerful and challenging message going into this new year. We saw how dangerous it can be to go about making our own plans and leaving God out. Too many of us practice practical atheism which means we may be believers in Christ but we live our lives as if He doesn't exist. 

We were challenged to realize how short life is no matter how many years we may live. It's like a mist. We are all terminal and no one can guarantee what this next year, even the next moment, may bring. Therefore, whatever God has placed on our hearts to do and calling us to do, do it now, pull the trigger!!

I loved the way Eddie closed this message by reminding us that there is a sin of omission that is worse than any sin of commission and that's not receiving the gift of salvation that Jesus offers. He's forgiven and will forgive all sins that  we commit if we confess, but the sin to not receive Christ will keep us separated from Him for all of eternity. 

In this new year, if He already resides in our life but doesn't preside, I'm praying we will offer every area of our life to Him and let Him have complete control. I'm also thankful for the one in the service yesterday who gave her heart to Jesus and started that journey with Him. What a great way to begin a new year! Happy New Year to you and yours. I pray that 2015 will be filled with ways you see Him at work and experience His presence.  

Best time of year, no doubt about it

If I counted right, and I had to go back to my calendar to check, we attended 10 Christmas parties/events/get togethers since Dec 1st. This week all of that calmed down a bit and we flooded the time with family stuff. Most, if not all, centered around a table and actually included all of us. If you know us, you know as many of us as there are and as busy and different as our schedules can be, that's quite an accomplishment. This crew loves gathering around a table whether it's filled with food or it's all about the coffee. We incorporated that when we were a family of 3, not the coffee haha but the table, and haven't stopped yet. Our table has just gotten larger as has our family. Love me some table conversation whether we are surrounded by food or coffee. It's all good!! The Leopards love both! 

I remember when all four children were young, most days were high energy, as you can imagine, but it went to another level at Christmas. I'm happy to say the energy is still there. It's channelled a bit differently, but it's there. And with the newest member of the family seeing her first Christmas this year, we have gotten that kid energy back as she enjoys all the lights and yes the food! She was born to the right bunch. 

Our family's prayer for you and your family is that His presence would be greater priority than wrapped presents, and also that you enjoy the presence of family and friends who bring so much joy to our lives all year!  

We are so thankful for so much that we were all scratching our heads this year not really knowing what gift to ask for. God has been so good allowing us to be together and serve our Fairview family. We've had struggles with the health of family members and walking through some difficult places with friends, old and new. We've grown tired and weary at times and had some "once in a lifetime" experiences. It's been a great Christmas season as well as a great year! And really no matter what, the most important thing is that, unto us a child has been born. A Savior, He is Christ the Lord!! Merry Christmas!! A few pics to enjoy...

Just one of those dinners we enjoyed! And yes that's the head of the table as well as the family now 😊

First Christmas 

Downtown time

My fave tree in the house. My grandmother made everything on it!

Christmas is coming

It's been a month filled to overflowing with more!! More parties. More food. More buying. More stress. More places to go. More people to see. More things to do. The list seems endless. But one week from today it will be over. The "stuff" of Christmas will be anyway. We can however choose to make every day Christmas. That just means focusing on Christ every day. Celebrating Him every day. Allowing Him to be who His is in our individual lives evey day. He is Lord whether we acknowledge Him only during this season or we choose to do it every day. 

Last night was the last of our Christmas parties. It was the one for the homeless of Greenville downtown. Coats and gloves and socks were lavished on them. Justin and Jessica Broome and others served and ministered, not just last night but they do it year round. Justin shared the Word. Many received that hope. Others chose not to. Many were grateful for what they received. Others were not. Many were satisfied with what they received. Others wanted more. That's not just the attitude of homeless people. That's many times the attitude of many, including myself. Tis the season of more. 

Praying this morning as we get closer and closer to Christmas that the days will be slow and sweet. That we would savor each one. That we would be grateful for all Jesus has done for us and continues to do for a sometimes ungrateful people who feel entitled for whatever reason...self included. Let's choose gratitude. Let's choose thankfulness. Let's actually smile when we say Merry Christmas. Let's look for ways to serve others rather than serve ourselves. Let's edify others rather than find nitpicky things to complain about. It will make your Christmas merrier and merrier for those around you. May the only more we want at Christmas and every day be more and more of Jesus and His presence. Not what He gives but more of who He is. Merry Christmas!!

Monday Morning Perspective

Trash talk is a part of sports on the field between players of opposing teams and has become a bigger than should be part of conversations between fans that pours over into social media which takes it to an entirely new level. However, James tells us in chapter 4 verses 11 and 12 that there's no place for it in the church even though from  time to time it finds its way there.

Too often gossip and slander, judging others and being unmerciful, find their way into churches among church family members. In this message in our Live It series, James addresses these problems. We looked at reasons not to judge and how we are to go directly to someone when we have an issue with them. We saw that when we judge others we basically set ourselves up on God's throne and render a verdict. 

We were challenged to look at ourselves because so often we get caught up in the  same sin we judge others over. We also can never know someone else's heart, even our own for that matter, so we don't know motives and we never have all the facts. Only God can read the heart and He has all the facts to render a sound judgment. 

I love how my husband closed challenging us to never lose the wonder and awe of our salvation. Those who remember, are the ones who are most merciful. It helps us remember where we were and how merciful God has been to us. 

The illustration at the end was on point. We can either accept Him now as our Savior or stand before Him later as our Judge. 

Remember December

If we are not careful, December will be gone almost as quickly as it arrived and  it will be one big, busy blur! It's December 3rd and we have already had 2 Christmas events. Yes, 2 in 3 days and more to come! Thankfully those two have been fun and stress free but I know if I'm not careful, even those can take their toll by month end. Based on my fall, I remember the toll that busy and stress can take and I'm determined not to go into January the way I went into October. This time of year is glorious to me! I love everything about it. How can you beat being out at night and seeing all the lights. It's magical! 

I find myself asking God to multiply my time, but it's usually to get more done or squeeze more things into an already jammed schedule. I know the importance of pacing myself, I just don't always do it. 

There's many stress causers all year, but they seem especially present during the holiday season. Things such as overspending, not enough sleep, bad eating habits, cramming the calendar. Add to that missing loved ones, family issues, job stress, and on and on I could go. I'm amazed the times I ask God for rest, but I go to bed late and get up early. I ask God for discipline in my life as I eat more and more junk and skip my gym time. I ask Him to multiply my time but I don't spend it with Him. Actually I've found the only time He multiplies my time is when He is priority in my use of time. The only way I've found to combat these things is being intentional daily, almost moment to moment, in prioritizing my time with Jesus and focusing on the most important and yes sometimes that means saying no to other things or to people as much as I hate doing that. I have to be ok with not buying and giving as much as I'd like. I refuse to compete with gift giving and gift receiving. I have to be ok when things don't seem to be as perfect as I would like when it comes to gifts, decorations or parties. I have to tell my type A, everything is supposed to be a certain way and look a certain way and planned out with every detail cared for self, that it's really not about all that!! What it is about is resting in the fact that Jesus took on flesh and dwelt among us. It's about the fact that He came to redeem and remove chains that from time to time we keep putting back on ourselves especially at Christmas time. It's the fact that it's not only about the stable but it's also about the cross. And it's about the fact that He will come back! And if He comes back at Christmas, which I think would be really cool, I don't want to be frazzled and weary from doing everything but celebrating His birth! 

So if I seem frazzled when you see me, call me on it. I need the accountability. If I say no to a request, please understand and grace me. If I fail to give the perfect gift or not enough gifts, forgive me. God gave one gift, His Son, perfect in every way and more than enough!! 

For into us is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 and He will save His people from their sins. Matt 1:21