The Dash

We had a funeral to go to this week - my mom's cousin passed away. At the service they read the poem "The Dash" http://www.simpletruths.tv/dashpoem/
The funeral was in Dublin and I rode down with my parents, my brother and his wife and my aunt. I sat and observed .....a family hanging on to each other, hearing my mom cry with such grief that it broke my heart, talk of good memories of the past, the grief of a mother that lost her son, hearing taps being played, watching the flag being folded ever so carefully and then handed to his mother. I heard her say, "It's not right having him go before me, it's just not right. Siblings trying to be strong for their mom, and then having to say goodbye and driving out of the cemetary....death....makes you think.
We got to stop and see my son Brennon and eat supper with him on our way home - as I sat at the table I realized that we were living in the dash - a family together talking, laughing, being silly, and I am so thankful - so thankful for my family.
As the poem reads - if we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real....
Satan loves to get our minds and focus off of God and on to worldly junk - nonsense - worries...
In this busy time of year - with all the gifts to buy, presents to wrap, places to go, food to cook, house to clean, the panic feeling of leaving someone off your list...and if we would just stop the madness long enough, and Be still.....we just might slow down enough to see God's hand in the miracle birth, imagining what the angels singing of the "good news" for the shepherds must have sounded like, the mother that had to see her Son die on a cross....and probably thinking to herself the same thought ....this just isn't right.
We have 1 week until Christmas Day....I am going to try and make the most of this Christmas - I am going to hug Greg every chance I get, and tell him I love him, I will tell my kids how much I love them, our precious parents (Greg's and mine) - we are so blessed to have them...so healthy - close to home - I will pray that I will keep my eyes on Jesus and not on worldly little problems that come our way. Laughter, being at peace with myself and others, having a joy that is contagious, having compassion when someone is broken hearted and praying for God to give me the words.... and when we look back at this Christmas we will be able to see God's precious hand on us and His love in our hearts binding us as a family.
I do wish you a very Merry Christmas...and that we will all make the most of our "dash"

God sent an angel...

In my little Sunday school class yesterday we learned about the angel coming to tell Mary and Joseph the "good news".

I have never realized that in Matthew it tells of an angel of the Lord coming to Joseph in his dream, but no mention of the angel that came to Mary. Then in Luke it tells us God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, to tell Mary the good news, but no mention of the angel that came to Joseph. I have read these passages all my life and I don't think I ever noticed this. I just love how God's Word weaves together the coming of the Messiah. One other thing I came upon is that I have always imagined Gabriel to be a boy. Then in looking up some history in my study, there are pictures that portray Gabriel as a female. hugh? I asked Greg about it and he says he doesn't think that angels are male or female, they are just angels. - Isn't it funny how we just get something in our head and think that's how it is. ( I still have my opinion) I do know that the sight of an angel had to be powerful, because more times than not they always say, "do not be afraid". I love this time of year - I love the Nativity story, the excitement of knowing that the whole Old Testament is leading up to this wonderful day, of a Savior is coming! How amazing that God sent His angel to a young girl, who was found to be favored by God, and in return, she said,"I am the Lord's servant". My prayer is that I will focus on giving thanks to God for sending His one and only Son. Peace....I pray for peace in my mind, my soul, and in my heart. Col. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts....

Christmas is here!

Here is a picture of a recent project.

I got the instructions from Tracy Mason's blog. I used the CTMH Jingle paper pack. It was lots of fun to make - I am thinking of going and getting 2 more smaller different sized cones to add to it. It looks so cute on my table. Trust me it is much cuter in person!

The instructions said to use spray adhesive and then pour prisma glitter all over it - I used spray glitter. I sprayed it last night around 11:00 p.m. on our back porch - lets just say this morning our back porch is so sparkly! (oops)

Greg is so patient with me and has just learned that's how it is around here with me and my projects.

Hope your Thanksgiving was blessed -

A Pure Heart

Ok - with Thanksgiving in 2 days - I should be making a list of what I am thankful for...but I have to say God is laying this so heavy on my heart I just have confess this and get it worked out in my heart and mind - here goes.... We had court this week and there was a particular case of a handicapped lady that was caught stealing ( she was already on probation for stealing and was caught stealing again). She has a bad reputation and for the most part been given lots of chances. I sat there and listened to the evidence, watched a video of the crime, and I knew that I had a hardness in my heart toward this case. I felt no mercy for her, I just wanted her to realize she could not work the system using her handicap. My job is not to decide guilt or innocence, I am just the keeper of the records, but sitting in court and hearing it all I tend to get caught up in it. I realized my harsh attitude and admitted it....but I thought justice should be done. In the testimony it came out that the house she was living in with others had "no" running water. She admitted to using drugs and the attorney for the State said the money she stole was for drugs. She testified no it was for food - that she was hungry. She was sentenced to go to prison - I am so thankful that our Judge is very fair, he listens to all the evidence, and he explained to her that she stole from a girl at a youth group, from kids trying to make good choices of being at a youth fun night - and that her actions shattered all those youths trust. But what I was hit so hard with this morning was....who am I????

I am not told to look down on people, I am not told to judge others,

I am told to pray for everyone....I am told to have a love for everyone.... I have been shown by God so much mercy, forgiveness and love - really who do I think I am?

Yes, I believe the punishment fit the crime and there are consequences to our actions -

but what I need to do from now on is to pray for their soul, let them see the love of Christ in my eyes, pray that someone will share the "Good News" (even if it's in prison) with them. My desire in this world is to have such a pure heart it is evident to all that know me - but as you just read I feel very far from having a pure heart. I know that I have got to cling so tight to Jesus, His Word, and have a tender heart toward all. I am thankful that even after I mess up, He is still able to prick my heart to see my sin.... God has placed me in my job, and I just need to realize every single person that I come in contact with was also created by God. I am blessed to have running water, food, and health - forgive me Father when I am not compassionate toward others. It is times like this that I realize that oh sure it's easy to talk the "Jesus talk" but when the real facts hit you in the face of how you feel, how you think, and how you react, there are times when the "Jesus talk" doesn't align with "self" - I love God with all my heart, soul and mind - with tears in my eyes I feel a peace in my heart of knowing that God isn't through with me yet - luv ya, pl

The More I Seek You

Today at Church Greg Holt said a prayer - he has just returned from India, and he referred to the idols that he saw everywhere - animal heads out in the open. He referred to the idols that we have in our lives and we need to realize anything - anything that we put before God can become an idol. In meditating on the day, and praying for God to help me to seek Him, this song came on my ipod - I just love how God is so big, He hears us when His children call out to Him. Below is a video of the song, of course it's one of my favorites! The thought of sitting at the feet of Jesus, leaning back against him and breathe, to feel his heartbeat. Melt in His peace......a love so deep.
A promise the more we seek Him, the more we find Him.

In Prayer for the Brown family

Hearts are broken, shock is in so many eyes - a beautiful young vibrant 17 yr. old christian went home to be with her Lord today. I cannot even imagine the pain and loss the family must be feeling right now. All that can be done is to lift this family, their church family and all of the friends up continually in prayer to God. Treg didn't know her but a lot of his friends did and he was affected by their pain and loss. It is times like this that it makes you want to grab your kids and hug them and tell them you love them - never let a morning go by without letting that be the last thing they hear from us -
The loss of a child is an unthinkable pain for me, I can only pray for the family that God will wrap them up in His love and carry them through this tragedy.

My Cup Runneth Over....

God is so good! I took some time away from blogging and facebook to spend that time on prayerand meditation. I am so blessed and God has "poured" His love down deep into my soul. I love the feeling of being so full that it seems that you are ooozing, dripping, bouncing, floating, shining and it comes from only "One" source - our Holy Awesome God.

I have k-love send the scripture for the day to my email and the scripture yesterday was amazing - Isaiah 57:15 - A Message from the high and towering God, who lives in Eternity, whose name is Holy: "I live in the the high and holy places, but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed, and what I do is put new spirit in them, get them up and on their feet again.

The scripture I read was the NLT but this is from the Message. Isn't that great - what our God will do for us?!! Amazing -

I will blog some, but I realized that Satan would just love for me to spend more time looking at facebook, blog hopping and just wasting my time than using that time God has blessed me with to do good or to spend with Him in prayer or in His Word....

Thank you Father God for forgiveness, healing, and most importantly your love...pl