The Beginning of a New Year

Happy New Years Eve Eve! In the spirit of the New Year, I've been collecting my thoughts and trying to plan my hopes and dreams for 2012. Besides having a backspace key installed for my mouth, and no longer allowing “I don’t feel like it” to be an acceptable, no-questions-asked excuse for my laziness, I’m looking at my list of ways to shape up this next year and feeling a little overwhelmed by all the personal changes I'd like to see.

So, instead of making all sorts of grandiose attempts at trying to fool myself into being that “perfect” person He knows I’ll never be, God led me to some wonderful scriptures to reflect on during my planning for the new year. I love what G. K. Chesterton says - “The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul”.

So for now, I feel less overwhelmed in my preparations and planning for the New Year and much more assured in knowing God is going to provide me every tool I need to be everything He created me to be.

I hope you find these scriptures helpful in your planning. And may the giver of every good and perfect gift bless you with heaven's blessings this upcoming Year!

Looking for Hope in the Future
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

A New Creation
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

New Heart
Ezekiel 36:25-27
"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.

Forgetting the Past
Philippians 3:13-14
No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.

Learning from Past Mistakes
Hebrews 12:10-11
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Wait on the Lord
Psalm 37:7
Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

God's Timing is Perfect
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Each New Day is Special
Lamentations 3:22-24
The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"

Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Philippians 3:13-14
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Once Upon a Time

His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

--Matthew 1:18 - 2:23

Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29

For your steadfast love was established for ever, your faithfulness is firm as the heavens.
You have said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant:
`I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations.'" [Selah]
Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.
My steadfast love I will keep for him for ever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.
I will establish his line for ever and his throne as the days of the heavens.

Glory be to God.

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

I thought I'd share this devotion a friend of mine sent to me last year.  It's a special reminder during this busy time of year to remember what's most important.  I hope I can contiune to increase this skill in my daily life.

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family - I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - It profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

Tis the season!

Jolly old St. Nicholas was a pretty fun experience this year!  Kinley told him she wanted a pillow pet, Bailey was talked into a baby doll and Colson, well... he could care less.

Advent Calander I made from Colson's baby food jars.  Thanks Pintrest!

 Kinley thought this was the perfect ornament for our family.  I couldn't agree more!

A Thankful Heart

I can’t believe another year has come and gone! Last year, I started a personal quest to write down and reflect on my thankful list for the month of November. It became a great opportunity for me to reflect on God’s goodness in my life despite this chaos of a life. This year especially shined some much needed insight, wisdom and hope in my life. So here is my thankful list.

1. I'm thankful for friends in my life that will lay down whatever they are doing to help out where-ever they are needed. I'm realizing that some of the most wonderful moments in a friendship happen in the unforeseen, unplanned moments of life. These kinds of friends are truly a gift that can't be measured.
2. I'm thankful for my three beautiful children. Each of them have helped me see God in a new and wonderful way. It hasn't been easy - that's not how change works-but it's been worth it! Being their mom is one of the highest God-given privileges and honors of my life.
3. I'm thankful for hearts that never harden, tempers that never tire and patience that never wavers. I can sure learn a lot from them.
4. Today I'm thankful I have at least one child that doesn't talk back and throw tantrums. (I won't be able to say this next year:)
5. I’m thankful for God and for His grace in always finding me when I least deserve it.
6.  Thankful for my precious two year old who tells me I'm "cute" in the clothes I wear on laundry day that really make me look like an alien in a movie when kids dress it to look like a human. God Bless her sweet sweet heart.
7. Today I'm thankful for the amazing skill and talent it takes to trip over a flat surface. I'm sure a few are still getting a good chuckle out of it. (In Target right before Checkout)
8. I'm thankful for a sound mind and for God’s help when I fall short.
9. Thankful for a new day of life and my understanding that this is my temporary home and I'm really meant to live eternally in heaven:)
10. I'm thankful God continues to add to my life every day. He continues to build on what he has already taught and built in me. little by little.
11. Today I'm especially thankful for the simple blessings in my life. It's the simple, thoughtful, and caring acts of those in my life that make it that much sweeter.
12. Today I am thankful for having enough...
13. Tonight, I'm thankful for a ‘lived in' home. I’ve got an endless string of toys all over my living room floor and crumbs under the kitchen table but for some reason it's ok today...
14. I'm thankful for an amazing steering team of women who put their heart talent and time into making MOPS so wonderful! By far the best year I've been privileged to serve.
15. I'm thankful that I am a child of God and that I belong to Him. Above all others, He is the one I need to please.
16. Today and everyday I'm thankful for Russell. I often take for granted everything he does for our family. How did I ever get so lucky?
17. I am thankful for quiet moments when all three of my kiddos are sleeping.
18. I'm thankful for giggles and slobbery kisses!
19. I'm thankful for my early morning quiet time when the kiddos are still sleeping.
20. Thankful for Starbucks green tea and passion tea and a great phone chat with my wonderful friend Kirsten. I always enjoy our time catching up.
21. Today and everyday I am thankful for Kinley's loving and giving heart. She is so eager to take care of her brother and sister. Her love for them makes me smile.
21. My sweet friend Holli who came over today to take pictures of my family. She is such a blessing in my life.
22. Thankful that God loves every part of me despite ALL of my shortcomings.
24. Thankful for a wonderful day celebrating thanksgiving. It wasn’t the free range turkey, the stuffing, or the table settings, that made it a wonderful day. It was who was around the table that mattered most. We truly enjoyed each other’s company.