Christmas! This week's topic for Thankful Thursday is...Christmas! Imagine that :).
I was driving home today from dinner with my sister and had this moment of "Vacation is coming to an end." And then I remembered. No, I live here. This rain is sticking around. Or maybe, I am sticking around this rain?
Anyway, I love Christmas. Overall, people are more cheerful, everyone greets each other with a greeting of some kind-mostly Merry Christmas (contrary to the murmurings you may hear on facebook). There is this hustle and bustle, anticipation and finding the perfect gift...on Amazon so you can shop in your pajamas. I was mostly talking about hustle and bustle at the grocery store although I did go into a few other stores. Online shopping means I didn't set my foot in the mall-not once. Talk about something to be thankful for- now that's a good one.
But, in all seriousness. Christmas, really is a season that brings people together. Extra effort is made to connect with friends and family. I'm thankful for the cards that hang on the wall, the phone call from our 90 year old neighbor....oh, and eggnog. (I found a recipe I can have!! So stoked to make it.) I'm glad I have this gigantic family-celebrations for days.
Most of all I am thankful that a long time ago, God sent His son, allowing him be born in a cattle shed. Because of all this, I have a reason to sing, laugh, live, give, and greet people with a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! Aren't you glad?
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
A gift that marks the heart...
As a twelve year old girl I dreamed of horses. I longed to have my own. I saved up money, memorized Bible verses, and did every possible job to go to horse camp. I think it was that year at Christmas, I receive the most beautiful pair of black cowboy boots I had ever seen. Dad picked them out. They had fringes and were a soft suede leather. Pointed toes with silver tips and little silver buckles on the sides.
To this day, it's a gift I have never forgotten.
Thanks Dad for delighting my young girl heart!
What is your favorite gift you have ever received? Join me for this weeks Challenge #16 by posting in the comments! I would love to hear yours!
Thursday, December 10, 2015
"Is it a match?"
Welcome to this weeks addition of the Gratitude Challenge. I bring to you today, "a favorite memory". It's not too late to join in the fun. Read about the challenge on my friend's blog here. We have been having a great time diving into different aspects of our lives that maybe we don't normally look into and appreciate.
As a kid we had two decks of memory cards carefully crafted by Gramma. They were made of cereal box cardboard or something slightly stronger, backed with colorful paper and sealed with home laminate. Each pair of cards were pictures, perfectly cut from magazines. There were dolls and scrubbing brushes and fathers holding children, dogs and cats and foods of different kinds. One of the sets was a maroon color and the other had a blue backing, I believe. Sometimes we would pay out both sets and cover the living room floor. I guess we must have worn them completely out because they are no longer around. There were certain sets I liked more than others and would always hope to match so they could be "mine." for the game. I wonder how many of my siblings played with these before they wore out? Mindy remembers a set made from juice can lids, so I guess they wore out somewhere between her and my childhood.
if you are looking for an inexpensive, creative gift for some kids in your life- they may enjoy a handmade memory set. Grab some magazines, scissors, laminating paper, cardboard, glue and a good Christmas album..and create some memories that will last a life time. (or keep it a little simpler, drink a lot of juice and save the round metal lids and use those. How much juice can you consume between now and Christmas?)
As a kid we had two decks of memory cards carefully crafted by Gramma. They were made of cereal box cardboard or something slightly stronger, backed with colorful paper and sealed with home laminate. Each pair of cards were pictures, perfectly cut from magazines. There were dolls and scrubbing brushes and fathers holding children, dogs and cats and foods of different kinds. One of the sets was a maroon color and the other had a blue backing, I believe. Sometimes we would pay out both sets and cover the living room floor. I guess we must have worn them completely out because they are no longer around. There were certain sets I liked more than others and would always hope to match so they could be "mine." for the game. I wonder how many of my siblings played with these before they wore out? Mindy remembers a set made from juice can lids, so I guess they wore out somewhere between her and my childhood.
if you are looking for an inexpensive, creative gift for some kids in your life- they may enjoy a handmade memory set. Grab some magazines, scissors, laminating paper, cardboard, glue and a good Christmas album..and create some memories that will last a life time. (or keep it a little simpler, drink a lot of juice and save the round metal lids and use those. How much juice can you consume between now and Christmas?)
Thursday, December 3, 2015
A Tale of Two Churches...
This week's highlight is my church home. I for the past several years have had two churches I have considered home. One in Denver and one here in the PNW. Why did I call them both home?
In Denver, whether I was gone for weeks or months I could walk in the door and be welcomed back in. There was no expectation that I, or my other YWAM friends, must join a ministry team to be involved in the church. Our full time ministry was valued at Bridgeway. I LOVED worship times when half the church was up front-dancing, weeping, praying, singing...The leadership has a strong sense of Fathering and releasing more than church growth. During my time there I saw several couples be released to go on to other ministries, plant churches, etc..all with the understanding that they were being entrusted to the Lord and going because HE wanted them to. This was the first church in Denver that I was able to really build multiple friendships and feel like I was connected fully. And the funny part was..it was the church I had attended that was the furthest from our base! A church strong in Spirit and strong in the Word of God.
Here now, I've returned to the church I was a part of when I left for Denver. Back then it was a brand new baby church so the face changed a lot in seven years. I am thankful that I have been given grace to make my way back in slowly, time to focus on healing and resting. I am thankful for the friendships being built, the Word of God is preached every week, there is value for missions and evangelism, and Jesus is King.
Also, both of these churches only have one service, which I enjoy because it means everyone who says they attend church there goes to the same one I do :).
Are you thankful for your home church? What are you thankful for about it? How has being a part of that family impacted your life? How are you being spurred on to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24) because of the body surrounding you?
In Denver, whether I was gone for weeks or months I could walk in the door and be welcomed back in. There was no expectation that I, or my other YWAM friends, must join a ministry team to be involved in the church. Our full time ministry was valued at Bridgeway. I LOVED worship times when half the church was up front-dancing, weeping, praying, singing...The leadership has a strong sense of Fathering and releasing more than church growth. During my time there I saw several couples be released to go on to other ministries, plant churches, etc..all with the understanding that they were being entrusted to the Lord and going because HE wanted them to. This was the first church in Denver that I was able to really build multiple friendships and feel like I was connected fully. And the funny part was..it was the church I had attended that was the furthest from our base! A church strong in Spirit and strong in the Word of God.
Here now, I've returned to the church I was a part of when I left for Denver. Back then it was a brand new baby church so the face changed a lot in seven years. I am thankful that I have been given grace to make my way back in slowly, time to focus on healing and resting. I am thankful for the friendships being built, the Word of God is preached every week, there is value for missions and evangelism, and Jesus is King.
Also, both of these churches only have one service, which I enjoy because it means everyone who says they attend church there goes to the same one I do :).
Are you thankful for your home church? What are you thankful for about it? How has being a part of that family impacted your life? How are you being spurred on to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24) because of the body surrounding you?
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