Day 5 {{ God, You & Luke 2 }}

I've been posting on my other blog since Advent began. Wanted to share from yesterday's post....
Join me each day, reading Luke 2:1-21 until Dec. 24th. See what you'll learn reading and reading...
Day 5. Dreams

I'm reading "Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas". It was a free download and I thought I would glance through and see what it held. I had no idea how captivated I would become with the words as told by various characters in our story.

Over the years many of them have already been considered I have let my mind wander to the thoughts of "what was it like for_______?". And fill in the blank with different members of this cast. I will give my thoughts another day. Today I will share a tiny bit from the book that is hard to lay down yet hard to remain in for long periods of time. It pierces the soul, makes you really sit in awe of this story if you allow yourself to delve into its depths.



Joseph

You know who reminds me of me these days? Old Job, faithful old Job. I too followed the commandments, no one forced me, it was my decision. Yet all seemed taken away, like Job.

Before that I had other dreams. Dreams with no angels in them. I Dreamed of Mary and a house full of children, of growing old with her. The children would grow strong and devout and Mary and I would ease into a cranky elegance. We would live a well ordered life. Then all those dreams were snatched away.

If you do not believe there were moments when I was tempted to " curse God and die" then you make me out to be something I am not. I am not angel or one of the lesser God's. I am a man and this was not the life I had planned.

But curse the Mighty One? I could not. My ordered life? a memory...The control I'd long worked to establish? Gone. Maybe it was never really there but I thought it was and I lived like it was.

My reputation among family and friends? Stained. What kind of story have I fallen into?



there will be more from this book throughout the coming days. Keep reading and let it sink in.

Another Milestone...Graduation

Paris High School Graduation 2012

Let's Do This Thing!

A turning of time, milestones behind them

New roads ahead.

I am reminded of 1Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

The students were charged by Judd Payne to know what they want and pursue it.

The world will knock you down and knock you down but if you want it badly enough,

you will keep getting up until you see your dreams become a reality.

There are no words to describe how I felt as I watched the caps

tossed into the air.

They did. It is done. The crowd leaves. You're not ready to close this door but as the last few walk off the field the lights will dim, doors will lock. Old chapters close and new ones

begin. They walk with a new confidence we close the night with Biblical confidence.

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Life Abounds

There's "Life on Margaret". 

So many changes, so many challenges, hurts, joys.

Most importantly, there's Life.

We stick by eachother on our street. We carry eachother's load. We have changes coming and

what will become of the family ties that we've created between us?

We're pretty much like what a church should look like and that bond

is stronger than some because it's the Jesus blood that creates this bond.

It's everlasting and through eternity.

Yes, there's Life on Margaret.

Remarkable, really, the way the Lord speaks when you go before Him. Today's OYB reading that jumped at me was: Judges 6:14 Then the Lord turned to him (Gideon) and said, Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites.  I am sending you!

WOW!

I'm not rescuing Israel but this speaks strongly. It says, this day has been prepared. I've lined everyone up to be there. (Says God) You are equipped, ready and it's time; "I am sending you!"

What is the Lord telling you to do? He's speaking; are you listening? Do you know His voice or has it been so long that you weren't sure Who that was? Are you so close that you know the sound of His whisper? He's speaking to you.

Mornings With Jesus

On my mornings off I like to have my cup of coffee and read my One Year Bible first thing. 

I remember the days when I was so bleary-eyed from being a young mother that I

couldn't even see the pages. I couldn't focus my eyes much less my mind. I knew I was supposed to read and have my devotions but it was sooo hard.

When I'm working, I read there.

I'm loving my IPad for study's sake. As I read I get busy looking up places and

other things that catch my attention. In January when I was off before school started back, 

I would sit for 2-3 hours at a time. I felt a little guilty but then thought..."who needs me right now?

Isn't it okay if I schedule time to learn? and just be a "Mary" and sit at Jesus' feet?"

Here's just a sampling of things that have jumped out at me today:

Proverbs 13:5 "The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace."

This week end we had an incident. Somehow Mr. R remained calm & controlled.

He was seeking a peaceful solution to the rising anger issue in another who eventually brought shame and disgrace to his name, his family's name and his business. 

Psalms 84: 11 "... no good thing does he withhold from those who walk blameless." 

{{ 108 }} Light the Way

The walk to the ceremony was softly lit by rows of lanterns.
I love the softness they bring to any event.
"Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path..."

{{ 93 }} Blooms

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

{{ 58 }} Friends

At my first Reliv National Conf. in Atlanta, GA

In our business you get to know the most awesome people.

Lisa (L) is one of those. She lives her beliefs on the mission field in Central America.

She's been saved by the Grace of Jesus and once again He saved her health

with the nourishment of the products we love. I am so honored to have met her and

so thankful her life was spared. Also with us is Marcia who consistently lifts me up.

I am reminded of this verse:

Psalm 139: 17, 18

 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand— 

{{ 54 }} Genesis

Genesis...The Beginning.

The beginning of our earth, light, water, mankind,

sin, sorrow, relocations, nations, languages, promises.

Genesis, my favorite.

{{ 47 }} Lanterns

I've always liked lanterns; even as a little girl. By Jr. High I was hooked and bought my first one at Six Flags. There's something that takes you back to the days of Robin Hood....well, for me that's the time perios my mind goes to. I think they are all beautiful. 

The only verse that comes to mind is..."Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105 

That's plenty.

{{ 34 }} Therapy

This is what I do for therapy.

I must admit I don't completely come up with my own ideas.

I am inspired by many things I see and incoporate them into my play time.

I am reminded of this verse:

Psalm 147:4

He counts the number of the stars and calls them all by name.

I really like the "all" part. 

{{ 31 }} Companion

I made this as the companion piece to Candace and Andrew's  anniversary gift. I had thought to keep it myself because I was having a difficult time. This was exactly one month before I gave up my desires and everything attached to them to submit to going to Israel as missionaries. It was a hard thing for me.

 {There's more to that story than I'll go into with this post.}

What I know: the process of creating a pure heart can be quite painful. It does not become "pure" without be worked over.

If it isn't pure, whose motives are behind the work?

Looking back I'm thankful He chose to work me over. 

{{ 30 }} Love Is....

I made this for Candace & Andrew. It's one of their favorite verses...

Oh, that we would remember when the moments are rough.

{{ 19 }} Guarding the Gate

My life on Margaret took me to another neighborhood today.

Everything in the camera's lens looks new.

We hedge in our yards, build fences and guard the treasures behind them.

I think about our hearts, our eyes and ears, the mind....are we as careful in not letting them be invaded? 

Do we hedge them in and protect them? Guard them? 

I think what peace we might have if we did a little more guarding.

Philippians 4:7 

⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 4:23 

²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
   for everything you do flows from it.

{{ 11 }} Shaping Up

Let your love, God, shape my life
with salvation, exactly as you promised;
Then I'll be able to stand up to mockery
because I trusted your Word.
Don't ever deprive me of truth, not ever—
your commandments are what I depend on.
Oh, I'll guard with my life what you've revealed to me,
guard it now, guard it ever;
And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces
as I look for your truth and your wisdom;
Then I'll tell the world what I find,
speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed.
I cherish your commandments—oh, how I love them!—
relishing every fragment of your counsel......Psalm 119:41-48 (The Message)