Christmas

Christmas!
We use so many words to describe the season.  But really, there is only one word to truly describe this time of year:  Jesus.  Jesus Christ is the reason to celebrate this season of Christmas.  His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, His gift to us.  We can easily and quickly focus our attention on other things at Christmas (as well as any other day of the year).  Not all of these things we turn our attention to are bad.  However, if our attention is not on Christ first then we have a problem.  For example, we often like to focus on family, friends, parties, giving gifts, traveling, decorations, etc at Christmas time.  And these can be good things... as long as we keep Christ as our number one focus and remember that without Him there would be no reason to celebrate Christmas.

I hope that this Christmas is a wonderful time for you and your family.  Remember to keep Christ first.  He is the reason for the season.

For those of us hurting during this season (at the loss/memory of someone close), I pray that we will find our strength, comfort, and peace in Christ alone.

Merry Christmas!!

The Shepherds and the Angels [Luke 2:8-20 HCSB]

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:  Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!


When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

Persevere

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV

Oh, how I love encouragement!  I love to receive encouragement, and I love to give encouragement. Hebrews 10:25 is my SSMT memory verse for the first half of November.  (It should be verse 21 of the year, but unfortunately I missed the second verse in September and October.  But it's ok.  I will have 22 verses that I have meditated on throughout 2011 and most of which I have memorized... some are new verses to me and some I am using to refresh myself.) 

Encouragement is a necessity in this life.  Hard times come... a hectic schedule, a difficult job, losing someone you love (through death or just a broken relationship), sickness, etc.  The list could go on and on.  But, through faith, we know that a wonderful day is coming... "the Day".  We cannot lose sight of this fact.  This Day should impact how we live each day of our lives.  This Day should encourage us to work through whatever hardships must come because we know that the light to the darkness is coming.  This Day should also encourage us to encourage those around us, our fellow believers as well as others in our life.  We need the encouragement of each other to push us to excel and make the best of what we are given.  Otherwise, it is far too easy for us to fall and make decisions that hurt not only us but those we have come in contact with throughout our lives as well.  May each of us be an encouragement to everyone we come in contact with today.  The simplest form of encouragement:  a smile! 

On your part...

Hello October!  I love fall... great weather and fun holidays & events...


Today is the first which means it's time for a new verse.  It should be verse 19, but I missed/skipped verse 18 on September 15th.  But I'm getting back on board with this verse...
If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18 (HCSB)


To me, this verse is a great reminder and encouragement of how we are supposed to live with and treat others... despite what they say/do.  I can only control me, and I am responsible for me!


Today was also a great day... I was blessed to watch my niece in a beauty pageant, enjoy a baby shower for a dear friend, eat lunch with family and friends, make a dress (with help from my mom, of course), eat dinner at my parents' house, and even be productive on school work.  It was a full day!


I'll try to post pictures soon.  But I'm sure y'all have noticed that it takes a little bit of time for me to post... let alone pictures.  Hope y'all enjoy fall!  I'll try to be back soon...  :)

Time

Time... such a precious thing... 
I don't seem to have enough of it.  But it keeps going and it's time for the next verse... 
Proverbs 16:24 (HCSB)
Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body.
I just realized this encouraging verse the other day courtesy of a friend.  I hope it encourages you as well!

Truth

It's a new month which means it's time for a new verse.

Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV)

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Now, I learned this verse years ago in Bible Drill.  However, I was reminded of the importance and significance of this verse in our Life Group yesterday.  Let me share some of our discussion...
God is creating a new covenant with His people.  He's taking away the old one.  The new covenant is basically the story of Jesus.  The new covenant introduced a personal relationship with God which was made possible through Jesus' life and death.  And it's our responsibility to "maintain" this covenant.

Well, that's all I've got for now.  I promise pictures and more blogging are coming soon!

Until next time,
Enjoy each day you have!

Update

Here's an update on my summer list...
- spend time with family and friends... build relationships... (check :))
- go to niece & nephews ball games
- plan, decorate, and help with VBS
- go on trips (been on a few :), one more to go)
- work out and get in better shape 
(this has been put on pause, I will resume next week =D)
- swim and maybe get a tan 
(haven't been lately :( but I am a lil darker, courtesy of a burn...)
- organize the file cabinet... papers have been stacking up for months...
- make a painting for guest bath... "splish, splash, taking a bath"...
- create & complete wedding photo album
- plan for classes next year (in progress!)
- save pictures to computer/disk... create photo albums (?)
- make some new crafts and/or foods... gotta find some ideas...
(These past two weeks some of the eats I've made are a Flag Cake, Tye-Dye Cupcakes, Potato Skins, Shrimp Parmesan Pasta, homemade peach ice cream... Yum!  I'll post pics when I get them to my comp)
- read books (Radical, Crazy Love, Don't Waste Your Life, Remarkable Women of the Bible, Love and Respect, First Love, Christ Centered Life, My Utmost for His Highest, Mathematics for Every Student (started this one), Why Didn't I Learn This in College, and more may be added)


So as you can see, there is still much to do.  But you probably also realize (like I do) that I am running out of time.  But it's ok.  I'll get done what I can and I'll tackle these other items some other time.  They're not summer only items.  Well, most of them are not.  I just usually have more time in the summer.  


If you hadn't noticed yet, today is the 15th... 
which means it's time for my next memory verse and I think it is quite appropriate...


Matthew 6:34 (HCSB)
Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. 
Each day has enough trouble of its own.


Until next time,
Focus on today (each day), don't miss out on everything around you

Celebrate!

One of my sweet friends, Amber, is celebrating her Mama's birthday by doing a giveaway on her blog.  You should check it out.  :)


One of the "extra entries" for this giveaway is to ... "Leave me a comment about one treasured thing that your mom gave you (material or abstract)." 


Well, I got to thinking... we celebrate birthdays and have good times, but how often do we stop and really treasure that persons life... treasure what they have given to us.  


A few things my wonderful Mom has given to me over the years... 

• modesty in dress and understanding why to dress modestly
• stop and spend time with God... in His word and in prayer
• a love for puzzles and games
• some of her old clothes (I thought I was so cool wearing her old high school clothes =D)
• a love for spending time with family and knowing who's related to who
• the desire/love to collect things... charms for my bracelet, smashed pennies, etc
• easy recipes :)
• a love for scrapbooking... along with some scrapbooks...

I love my Mom!  :)  And I really love spending time with her (and the rest of the family) and doing fun stuff!!  God has blessed me with a great Mom.  I hope you're able to enjoy time with your Mom this week.

Until next time,

treasure those in your life & all that they've given