Packing it all in...

I love all the little things about Christmas like...

Decorating cookies with my girls  (even if they aren't homemade..they were still cute!)

Watching my big girl sing for all of her preschool!

Helping with class parties...

Visiting with Santa at Mr. Nice's office party.. (Spice did not love the big guy too much!)

Making salt dough ornaments via an idea from one of my favorite bloggers, We made the cinnamon version...they smelled so good Mr. Nice tried to eat one...that was a huge mistake!

We also made these via another favorite blog...These are sooo very easy the hardest part was opening each individual kiss.

Hanging out with my 10th grade girls from church.  We had a fun Christmas party at my house then went caroling around the neighborhood! These girls are so fun!

In the midst of doing all of these "things" it makes me wonder do people out there REALLY get WHY we do these things?? Why do we tie beautiful bows, decorate our home, give the perfect gift, send out cards, sing, and party? It is for Him the one who was born to die for us.  Lets take a little breather and realize what this day is all about!

"For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

Sunday Scripture

Today in my high school girl's Sunday school class we are talking about studying your Bible.  There are so many reasons to study your Bible and meditate on God's Word, but one particular reason we study God's Word is for understanding.   When we read God's word, He reveals wonderful things to us that we may not have known before. Things that we should take to heart and use.  I thought it was pretty cool that one of the verses we will study today I had just written on some new art I made for the girl's room...

"Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things from your law." Psalm 119:18

(yes...I did misspell wondrous on the art work...oh well...I never said I was a perfect speller!)

A few more pieces of art for their room....

Sunday Scripture

 "Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him." Psalm 98:1

Last week Spice had her fall music program at school.  She had shared a few songs with us at home the night before, and she was looking forward to everyone seeing her perform.  She did an amazing job!  I think I laughed and cried through every song.  I was so proud of her and I can't get over how big she is getting!

I missed the last song which was the one I was looking forward to the most! (Sugar had a potty emergency and needed my help!) Daddy stepped in and got a few pictures that I was pretty impressed with.

Thanks to Ms. Cathy for working so hard with our kiddos each and everyday.  You are appreciated more than you will ever know! It is a joy to hear praises to the Lord roll off our child's tounge.  Although she may not fully understand what she is singing.  She is hiding those praises in her heart for when she can use them!

This is the song I missed, Spice was sweet to share it with me and even let me video her! (That is a huge deal around here!)  Enjoy!

I went to JAIL last week..

                  

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Yeah, that's right..jail, prison, correction facility.  Whatever you want to call it I was behind bars! I never in a million years thought I would be there.  I had never been there before. I was there on purpose! I wanted to be there! It was something I will never forget. As I walked through the bars they would close behind me, then another set and another set.  I saw women who seemed to have lots of pain in their eyes. I saw women who were smiling. I saw women waiting in line to eat breakfast like little children waiting in line at school.  They were all dressed the same in prison mandated jeans and shirts. 

So, why was I here? I was blessed to be alongside a wonderful group of women from my church and others who had all come together in a cold place to bring the warm, good news of Jesus.  I did not know what my role would be.  I was not a part of the amazing praise team.  I knew I would not be giving the message to these women, that was done in love and grace by my pastors wife.  She shared the wonderful news of choices and being free in Christ.  She also shared a lovely story of Cinderella with a Christian perspective.  I sat alongside the inmates, still not knowing what role I would play, but listening to the message God had put on my pastors wife.  There was no condemnation, no blame games, no "I told you sos"! The most important thing that I heard and that I think spoke to these women was this...You can be more free in here than many people who are freely walking the streets this morning!

When she closed in prayer I went forward with a few others to council and pray with the inmates.  That is why I was there.  That day five women needed me to pray with them.  We prayed about strength, health, and the choices that two of them would be facing when up for parole in a few short weeks.  They were broken, but hopeful.  I'm still praying for all of the women there, but the ones that I prayed with I will never forget.

I want to go back to jail.  Yes, that is right.  Many of you reading this may think why? Or you may think I am crazy.  The next morning I read this verse,

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me....I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."  Matthew 25:35-36, 40

I know that this was confirmation from the Lord that He liked what we did, He wants us to do it again. I'm not writing this blog entry to pat my own back or say, "See, look what I did!" I'm writing this to encourage you to do the same.  It is easy, it is not hard, it's not scary.  There are many hurting people in every corner of this world who need to hear about Jesus, even those in jail who you think may have no hope.

Sunday Scripture

"Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."

Psalm 34:8

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Are you hungry for something today? Can't quite find the one thing that you know will fill your hunger? Open your Bible and see what the Lord has to offer you.  There are many things he is waiting to teach you today.  He is teaching me new things everyday! Every moment that I spend time with Jesus I find out something new, something that fills me even more than before, something that teaches, motivates, and grows me.  Jesus is the bread of life.  He can fill you up better than anything else out there, just spend some alone time with Him today!

Sunday Scripture

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Romans 12:10

This is a picture of my 10th grade class of girls from church.  A few weekends ago they put this verse into action by working in the yard of a sweet widow that we have adopted. We cleaned out her flower beds and planted fresh fall flowers.  Today I am challenging them to continue to do things like this everyday.  We are to love each other and take care of one another. Being selfless is a huge challenge for everyone, this is something that we each must pray about and work on.  When we put God first in our lives and experience His love it is that much easier and natural to show it to others. 

Sunday Scripture

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."

Galatians 5:1

Today I am VERY thankful for my freedom.  The freedom to wake up and read my Bible freely, the freedom to get into the car and safely drive to my church to study God's word.  Many people across the world DO NOT have that freedom. Which in some ways we know that, but TRULY do not get it. It is hard for those of us that have so much freedom, to not understand why someone on the opposite side of the world does not.  One thing that I as a Christian have in common with Christians who are hiding in secret on the other side of the world is freedom in Christ Jesus.  Do you have that freedom today? You may have worldly freedom, but do you have freedom in knowing that you are forever His child?

POSITIVELY Sunday Scripture!

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,

The fruit of the womb is a reward."

Psalm 127:3

That's right folks!! We are expecting baby number three in early 2011! We can not even explain how excited we are or how hard it was to keep this secret the past two weeks! I took this test on May 29th.  Mr. Nice had just read this verse during his quiet time only a few hours before I took this test.  Isn't it sweet how God gives you the right verse at just the right time!

We told the girls and our family the good news yesterday at our family reunion and I will share all of those fun details later.  As for now we just ask for your prayers of protection over our new little gift!

Sunday Scripture

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"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."  Romans 1:20

Sunday Scripture

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Psalms 91:1

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This morning Spice and I walked toward the church doors through the parking lot.  The sun was behind us and our shadows were cast in front of us.  She said she was walking on her shadow, she was trying to get ahead of it.  What do you think happend? She started moving faster and faster.  Then she got "on" my shadow, she realized then her shadow was hidden.  She was resting in my shadow.  As a mom I am her shelter, and she finds comfort in me. 
As a lover of the Lord, I find shelter in Him, therefore I can ALWAYS rest in HIS shadow and hide within Him.  Because I am a Christian I am connected to His shadow (see how in the picture above the people are "connected to their shadow??)
Are you walking in the shadow of the Lord today? I pray so!

Sunday Scripture

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"Pray without ceasing."

1 Thessalonias 5:17

Sunday Scripture

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"Tell of His glory among the nations,

His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;

He is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

But the LORD made the heavens."   Psalms 96:3-5

Having one of THOSE days??

Moms have hard days and today was on of those for me. Spice got in "real" trouble today. The kind of trouble where the teacher walked her out to the car to tell me what happened. The kind of trouble that broke my heart. It was three year old trouble though and I know by tomorrow it won't be that big of a deal. But for today it was. It made me realize how I parent today will effect tomorrow, and ten years down the road. You would probably laugh if I told you what happened, that was Mr. Nice's first reaction. I told him he did not have to look at the teacher and apologize. The good thing is that I CAN cry out to the Lord for guidance and direction even if it is a minor thing. Has anything like this ever happened to you?

The Only Way....

This post was originally written by one of my dearest and closest friends.  She is a Godly wife, mom and friend. I can depend on her for many things.  Her blog is private, but she wrote the most AMAZING post last week that MUST NOT be kept private.  I asked her if I could post it here on my blog. Here it is....
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I'm so excited to post this tonight. Try to read it slowly. I'm a little nervous, but we're friends, right? You all know something about me, but I'm not sure if you have the same thing yourself. I can't go any longer without talking about it. Who knows. This post may be just for you. :)

What is the "thing" that I have?!? It's JOY. Not because life is easy, because it is not. In fact, we could all get really bummed if we thought about just how yucky so much of the world is. But my joy is oozing out and I want it to run out onto you. Just one word.......Jesus. I think I may have heard an "amen" :) from some of you, and a few others I heard a shuffle in the seat or even an "uh-oh". Just please be still for a minute and stop thinking too much. Are you sitting still? Are you quiet. Can you hear me whisper this.....the Lord,the Maker of heaven and earth, Jesus......loves you. Now listen even closer and you might here Him say this.....I love you.

Oh, sweet friend. Did you hear Him? Did you even really listen? Try again if you need to. I guarantee He wants to tell you. We can harden our hearts so much that we can't hear him speak. Even as a Believer. But His joy is there for you. You just have to invite Him into your heart. Some think that could be the most difficult thing in the world. But you don't have to let it be! I can tell you how right here. It is no secret. But feel free to talk to me if you need help. Simply admit that you are a sinner and broken God's laws. Tell Him you are sorry for that, believe that God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins, and that you accept Him as Lord and Savior of your life. And don't forget, Jesus also ROSE from the dead three days later. He conquered death so that we may spend eternity with Him.

So.......Did you do that? Have you done it?
I have. And I so desperately hope that you have too. Why? Because I want you to have that unexplainable joy. And, selfishly, I want you in the same place where I will be spending eternity. If you've prayed that prayer before (or just now!) we WILL be together. And what fun that will be! But even sweeter is to know that we will be with Jesus. And he knows us. He made us. He made you and loves you. Come receive His joy with me......
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"But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8

Hope you have a blessed day!

Sunday Scripture

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

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I know that I mentioned this verse a few weeks back when I put it up in my laundry room, but the verse came to me during some studying this week as I prepared for my girl's lesson. Last week we discussed our "quiet time", basically our relationship with God and how we spend our time throughout each day with Him.  After that lesson I realized how much "stuff" is thrown in their face on a daily basis. This "stuff" may be ok or good "stuff", but it can quickly turn into a time robber, especially when it comes to God's time. Let's just face it, I am not in 9th grade and I have the same type "stuff" steal away my time. So this week I challenged them to put away all of that "stuff" for a day and really dig into some time with God.  Did they do it? I don't know yet.  I did...it was hard!

So, for this week I want them to really focus on the verse above, to really understand that they can have the peace of God and His Holy prescence by meditating, studying, and thinking on things around them that are pleasing to Him.  Not only do they we need to meditate on these things and think about them, but actually put them into practice!

The Call

The Call was the theme of this year's DNOW weekend.

THE CALL TO...

Salvation

Proclamation

Persecution

Position

"But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.'"  Acts 9:15

What is DNOW? Disciple Now weekend, is an awesome event packed weekend for middle and high schoolers at our church. We heard from two awesome speakers and an amazing band.

(the girls RUNNING to their seats!!)

I had such a great time getting to now my 9th grade girls even more and growing closer to the Lord! I was extremely tired and have decided I can no longer hang when it comes to staying up late. I literally crashed Sunday night!  Friday night was the first night with Brent Crowe as the speaker and Glory Revealed singing.  They were both great! My girls seemed to enjoy it and at the end of the night were looking forward to the next day!

Saturday was FULL with hearing from David Nassar who cracked me up with his high school stories and again with beautiful music from Glory Revealed.  When the conference was over we visited with our friends from the nursing home, went to dinner, then on to our scavenger hunt!!

The scavenger hunt was a lot of fun, and although it was close, my team did not win!..boo hoo!  Here are a few highlights...

(dinner first)

The other team did a few more things than we did ....like...eating the hottest hot wing in town (which they saved a smeared in my face....it made my lip swell it was so hot...seriously!)

We all had a great time, the girls are even wanting to plan another weekend get together like this in the summer! I will be getting my sleep until then!!:)