Christmas 2010

Scalloped Scarlet Ribbon Christmas

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My sweet Ashlynn now 8 1/2 months! Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

A Royal Mess

I’ve been slowly, and I emphasize slowly, making my way through Beth Moore’s Esther.  What an awakening for women!  All of you who have had the pleasure of partaking in a study by her know all too well what insight both spiritually and scripturally she has into the life of a Christian woman.  I don’t care where you are in your walk, she seems to ‘hit the nail on the head’ with whatever you are in the wallows of at that time.  Praise God for her!  After the week I have had (which let me say has been a week of realization) I decided to look back into Chapter 1.  WOW.  I should have seen that coming!  As I read back through Vashti’s entrance into the story, I came to the realiziation that I really was living in a shadow.  As much as I believed I was doing my part to help uplift her, in actuality I had cast myself into her shadow of malevolent behavior. All the negativity I absorbed in an attempt to reflect it back in a positive, God fearing light was just weighing me down as if I had cement shoes on.  I have been struggling for the last 2 years in my own growth as a Christian and I now understand why I have been so stagnant.  It’s amazing, amazing how I have spent such an immense amount of time in a relationship out of sheer loyalty.  I have learned that it is not the longevity of the relationship, it is the quality.  It is where your mutual understanding and foundation are that impacts the depth of your bond.  Looking back, I ask myself, “What have I gained from this relationship?  In what ways have I matured and grown as a woman and as a Christian? How has this positively impacted me whether at home, work or in how I relate to others?”  Sadly, I can not answer that.  Because there is no answer.  It has not positively impacted me in any of those ways. 

 

So her I am; wounded, hurt and embarrassed.  Yet here I am alive, awake, reenergized and ready to take on whatever the Lord deems me suitable for!  I am ready to grow in my Christianity, embark on new friendships and relationships that will serve me in the same mutual way I serve them.  I owe a gratitude of thanks to the triad of  mature, Christian women who have lead me, supported me and been my sounding board for many years.  You, my ladies, are my real friends.    

 

~You see, even your current location is part of the set-up for your kingdom destiny~

Beth Moore

 

 

In Him, Forever Blessed...

 

 

 

Just passing through...

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." (Galatians 5:25-26)

It is quite amazing how one can transform from acceptance to disgust.  I don't quite understand how Christ would be approving of such judgmental actions?  When one turns oneself over to the Lord, in both body and Spirit, then one is to be as Christ was; accepting, loving, kind, charitable, empathetic.  It is a blindness to condemn another person for actions that have been consistent with ones own. When one begins to see others in a hostile manner, one must remember to reflect inward and remind ones self of who they once were...it's a long way down and the fall will hurt.
I choose to turn the other cheek, allowing to let one grow and blossom.  For Christ also tells us "Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord frogave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Colossians 3:12-14)

And as a reminder to my imperfect self... "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."  (Ephesians 4:29)

Blessings, Peace and Charity...

To Santa or Not to Santa

So I'm finding myself contemplating doing away with Santa.  I mean, in the "gonna find out whose naughty or nice"-sit on his lap-Santa is bringing gifts kind of way.  How we expect our children to believe in such a falacy is beyond me.  Look at all the commercials, TV shows, movies and mail!  It says nothing but "Pick the biggest, neatest, most high tech toys and ask mom and dad before calling ".  I like how my friend Julie does it, putting Christ first on the blessed day. Last night I was watching a repeat of The Duggars (I know, I know) and it was an episode I hadn't seen before.  They were exchanging gifts, but it was done with a Giving and Receiving concept.  "Santa" didn't deliver the gifts, the parents and siblings gave them.  Selfless giving with the intention of pleasing a child or parent.  Giving of a gift with no expectation to receive.  Isn't this how we should all be teaching our children to live?  To give of themselves when there is no "funding" to give, when we wonder where our own "things" will come from is when we should dig even deeper and give to someone even less fortunate than us.  For Jesus gave and gave, never wanting/expecting/desiring any thing in return.  He only asks us to pay it forward.  To do for another the way He has done to us.  "And above all things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness" (COL 3:14)

Bye-bye Mr. Clause.