Christmas Memories '10

Christmas Eve brought a beautiful candlelight musical program.  It was just what I needed to get into the  festive spirit, as I have been rather grouchy about Christmas this year.  The next morning brought another specially planned church service with church members portraying "the story" of Jesus birth.  

Later, we had an extended family potluck, and spent the afternoon visiting with one another.  Evening brought a time of opening gifts, and playing games planned by the host and hostess.  They did so well at planning a great evening. everyone had fun.

We had to play a game to find our gifts under the tree.

There was a prize gift for the winner of "musical ball"

Birthdays and Christmas

My son handed me a small box that came UPS.  It just looked like something that was ordered for someone in the household. But she was not at home at the time, so I put it away.  Later, when she arrived home I got to sing "Happy Birthday" and "Merry Christmas" as I handed her the box.  Sure enough, it contained exactly what she ordered...with her parents money.

I think she is happy, even though it was not 'gift wrapped'.

Christmas Season Pictures

A Christmas Cantata.  R played with the orchestra

Christmas Tree

Great Music

Great weather

A Special Visit

We had a whirlwind visit from a special family member. We went shopping and played games, hiked and visited.  Thanks for stopping by on your way somewhere else!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was quiet at our house.  Chief went off to work and kids and I just made a special meal and got caught up on home duties or homework. We shared things we were thankful for, beyond the "usual" and read some Bible texts together.

The First

While everyone up north talks about the cold and snow for Thanksgiving week, I picked our first zucchini of the season.

Our little fall garden is waayy behind schedule. I am hoping we get a few beans and more squash...maybe some carrots and beets  by New Years. The cauliflower plants are being chewed on, so don't think they will produce.
I made the mistake in previous years of giving the broccoli leaves to the dog when I pulled out the plants after harvesting two or three pickings. Now he has gotten the idea that he can go into the garden and munch on the growing plants.  So probably no broccoli this year.

But doesn't he look just so innocent?!

To Train Our Thoughts

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

I have known this text for many years.   Recently the conviction has come to my heart of the need to train my thoughts. It is also my duty to train my children on  how to control their thoughts.

Thoughts shape our behavior, our attitudes, and our words. What we think eventually comes out through the mouth or in our actions .This ultimately reveals our character and our eternal destiny is affected. Thought processes begin in our brain. In private. Where no one else can visit.  But God can see. He knows what is there.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7

This is why it is so very important to guard our thoughts.  To think positive, uplifting thoughts.  To keep our minds pure so the Holy Spirits'  prompting can be heard. It is important to openly discuss this process with our children, and for them to see us conquering our own negative thought tendencies.
Negative thoughts can be very destructive to any relationship, including our most important  relationship with God. Satan would  like to hijack our thoughts and keep the negative thinking cycle going.
Finally brethren whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8
For my family I have developed  some strategies to implement in the battle to capture and retrain our thoughts.
1.Ask for divine help
2.Memorize scripture promises that apply, and recite them periodically.
3.Hold one another accountable
I encourage you to contemplate what you can do for your family to build 'right thinking' habits.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself  against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4,5
May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14

Words Are Power

Deuteronomy 6:6,7 says "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children"       

Words are containers of power.

They can be used as a healing balm to a hurting soul, or as a slashing sword to cut  a wounded heart.

It is important that we train our children to listen to the words they say.  We can teach them to think before speaking. However, parents must model the think before speaking process.

"Children don't always listen to their parents, but they do imitate them."

The Bible says "The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."  James 3:5,6

A blogger friend shared an object lesson with her children to stress the importance of words.It is a simple way to help our children understand this concept.

1.Squeeze toothpaste out of the tube...then put it back in.

2.Place a drop of  Tabasco Sauce on your tongue...then quickly get a drink of water!

It is a sobering thought to realize that the words we speak can carry such great power.  Thankfully we are not left to flounder without help. The book of Proverbs is filled with incentives and reasons why gaining control of our tongue is so important.

"The mouth of the righteous is a well of life." Proverbs 10:11

"The tongue of the wise promotes health" Proverbs 12:18

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones"

Proverbs 16:24

"The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly" Proverbs 15:2

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life" Proverbs 15:4

But how do we gain a wholesome, wise, and righteous tongue?

1. Through earnest prayer

"Create in me a clean heart oh God"

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight Oh Lord, My strength and my redeemer"! God knows our need, He hears our cry, and His grace is available.

Ask for perception and awareness of the words that we speak as we begin this building process.

2.Repeat Bible promises out loud.

When you hear yourself speak The Word, this  internalizes what you are saying and it empowers you for necessary change.

Our words affect those around us. We are either building up, or  tearing down those who hear our words. Our children are especially vulnerable as they absorb what they see and hear from adults around them.

May the words that I speak today Heavenly Father, uplift and encourage others.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

A Favorite Song

What A Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear;

What a privilege to carry,

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh what peace we often forfeit,

Oh what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful?

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior still our refuge,

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do thy friends despise forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He'll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

by Joseph Scriven 1855

Camping!

We had a fun weekend hanging out with  a few of the college kids on a camp out. The weather was perfect and the association was refreshing.

There is always a sense of relaxing comfort when getting away from the usual regular schedule and out into the fresh air. It renews and energizes me.  Gives a new perspective on life.

The fall colors are nothing compared to the north, but we appreciate what we do have!

Yellow Flower

Does anyone know what kind of flower this is?  I thought it was a type of Lady Slipper or orchid, but can't find anything like it on the internet.  The leaves close up at night.  the flowers bloom on the end of a 2 foot stem that has leaves all the way up the stem..?

One Sad Day

The cat was laying on its stomach as I passed him in the path.
Something was unusual, for crying out he was.
There appeared red splashes of blood mixed with some clear fluid.
He had been fighting was the supposition, but crying out he was.
The water was poured into a bowl,
but kitty would not touch it, for crying out he was.
Then hearing labored breathing,
we knew his life was almost gone, for crying out he was.


"What happened"?  All those watching wondered?
 Disturbing news  halted those wondering thoughts.
For a box of rat poison had been placed up in the attic dark.
To catch the prowlers who inhabited that black space
The cat then ate the mouse who ate the poison in that place.
That caused the cat insides to burst.
How sick, how sad, how tears did flow,
For kitty did not know the mouse was doomed to die.
And so  the cat would also face demise.

My Prayer

Dear Jesus,
Today I ask You to be my Shepherd.  Today I ask You to  provide for my needs and protection from evil.  Today I accept Your promise of an abundant life.  I ask You, dear Jesus, to forgive my sins, and give me a full conversion experience, and let me dwell in Your power.  Today I surrender myself to Your wise leadership.  Make me the person You want me to be
Amen

excerpt from projectrestore.com

Sunday Morning Thoughts

I hope all who may read this post will bear with me as I reproduce some quotes that I have read  during my quiet time with God.  I want to internalize what I am reading, and believe if I write them out here, it will sink in a little deeper into my being, and then you can hold me accountable if you don't see the changes in me.

From the book: "Battlefield of the Mind"   by Joyce Meyer  (ch.15)

Meditate daily on all the things you have to be thankful for. Rehearse them to the Lord in prayer, and as you do you will find your heart filling up with love and light.

Expressing appreciation is not only good for the other person, but it is good for us, because it releases joy in us.

I would rather sacrifice my thanksgiving to God than sacrifice my joy to Satan. I have learned (the hard way) that if I get grumpy and refuse to give thanks, then I will end up giving up my joy. In other words, I will lose it to the spirit of complaining.

Natures Wonderland

Chief had a day off work this week, so went on an impromptu date.  Took a  walk,  taking pictures as we went along.  I treasure these times.

A log? or...?

Clarification

In looking at the post I wrote this week  about Christian ways to handle stress , I failed to mention that we received the list at our womens retreat, and it was compiled by the womens ministry team.  I take no credit for this.  I thought I should let you know...

Fall Garden

I was so excited to see this in my garden!

I just hope it doesn't get too cold too soon, as the planting was late this year.

Christian Ways to Reduce Stress

"Never borrow from the future, if you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain.  Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1.Pray
2.Go to bed on time.
3.Get up on time so you start the day unrushed.
4.Say "no" to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5.Delegate tasks to capable others.
6.Simplify and unclutter your life.
7.Less is more.
8.Allow extra time to do things and get to places.
9.Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10.Take one day at a time.
11.Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of anxiety.
12.Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13.Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps etc.
14.KMS (Keep Mouth Shut).  This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15.Do something for the 'kid in you' every day.
16.Carry a Bible with you while waiting in line.
17.Get enough rest
18.Eat right.
19.Get organized so everything has its place.
20.Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21.Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22.Every day, find time alone.
23.Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray about it.
24.Make friends with Godly people.
25.Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26.Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus"
27.Laugh
28.Laugh some more
29.Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30.Develop a forgiving attitude . (most people are doing the best they can)
31.Be kind to unkind people.
32.Talk less; listen more
33.Sit on your ego.
34.Slow down
35.Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you are grateful for that you have never been grateful for before.

God has a way of turning things around for you!

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

Womens Retreat

I was privileged to attend a womens retreat with some friends.  It was such a refreshing spiritual uplift, as well as a time of getting to know church friends better. The only pinch to the weekend was that my sister in law had chosen to be baptized the same weekend, and I missed it.

Check in

Great big lots of choices breakfast

This was sooo good! Cranberry juice

Great motivational speakers

Shopping at a close by Outlet Mall

Professional Concert pianist/singer

Talented Pianist

Song Service Leaders

Adding prayers to the prayer tree

One of the gourmet meals

Uno! We had so much laughter going!

The breakfast buffet room.

I came home tired, but filled and ready to share.

The Big Green Machine

Today I decided to wash a dusty, wind blown green car I call the Big Green Machine.  Thoughts of the previous owners crossed my mind as I worked.  They are a couple I have known for many years.  They were missionaries in the same area I lived before getting married. Eventually our paths crossed once again, and we enjoyed renewing our friendship.  But tragedy struck awhile ago.  The husband died, and left his wife to grieve his absence. She came to me a couple of months ago offering me the extra vehicle that needed a new transmission.It had been "his" car.  She had another vehicle,and didn't want to spend money on the second vehicle. After consulting with my husband, we chose to take it.  We put a used transmission in, and it runs great now...but back to my thoughts as I washed the car today.
  I was experiencing my own kind of grief, reflecting on the short span of our lives on this earth. This mans influence on others was priceless.

He was a steady. 

He was a jack of all trades.

He worked hard.

He gave time for good deeds.

He was a friend.

He was a father.  

He was husband.

And he is missed. 

Whenever I drive this car, I think of Norm.

Surprise!

This was a special cake made for someones birthday. 

The Beach

We wanted to celebrate some achievements in our family, so off to the beach we went, not realizing it was the same weekend of the famous sand sculpture contest.  I was glad I had taken my camera, even though it was very windy and sand was blowing everywhere. It was fun to watch the individuals work on their masterpieces and check back on the progress throughout the day.  In between sneak peaks we enjoyed the water and beach games.