For Unto Us A Child Is Born.....

I began thinking today, as I am decorating my work place with shiny figurines , bulbs, and snowflakes, what Christmas has come to mean to me. I find to often I get excited about lights and shiny things. So today I began to really read through the birth of Christ in the gospel and I came across something that I really didn't see before.....

Matthew 1:21 "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, BECAUSE
He will save his people from their sins."

Jesus didn't come so that we could have Christmas trees, Christmas movies, and/or presents, we have all those things because He came to die and save us from our sins, so that we may enjoy Him every year through things like decorating the Christmas tree with family to spend time with them blessing them in love ('Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.") and presents, so that we may bless others with things full of love and to give to those in need ("He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses." Proverbs 28:27).

Christmas trees, and movies, and presents, and these things are not wrong (unless of course it takes total focus of off Him), but of course that never happens.. ;-) We do them to show our excitment, thankfulness, and love that we have for our savior who came to this earth to take our punishment so that we may live freely in Him. YEAY!!!

Ok so now that I had my time on the soap box (sorry). I just got so excited because I never thought about it this way before, it is so awesome!

So let us sing out For Unto Us A Child Is Born...... That He may take away the sins of the world!

The Normal Routine....

I never thought I would hear myself say that I was happy to be back in my normal routine this week. I was "somewhat" relieved to come back to work and get back into the swing of things. I have so much coming up in the next few weeks and it is nice to dive into it again. It helps me to not cry......

Yes my parents left at 4am on Saturday morning... My Birthday. I didn't think it would be as hard as it turned out to be. I am not angry or filled with selfishness... just sad, sad that it will be a while until I see them again. And I was sad for the kids that they had to leave our family home. But when a call came from Dad and said that all of them are super excited about the house and town, I felt much relief.

So here starts a Monday morning with few weeks until Christmas. And life is good because God is in control and He is with me always.

Colossians 2: 6-7

My declaration of Thanks.....

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

I get to see my sister today and my family tomorrow................ YEAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Coming....

Only 1 and 1/2 days until my holiday begins....
Family, Food, Fellowship....... and tears! I'm so excited

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

Thank you God for giving me life, so that I may enjoy the ones around me.

My thought for the season...

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I begin to think about all the million and two things that I am so thankful for. But it's funny how all the other doubts, sadness, and fears follow with that. So I have decided to take Colossians 2: 6-7 as my passage for this week, and what I will focus on what to be thankful for.
Do you remember the first time you were saved? The feeling of release, pain, guilt, and joy....
the feeling of...Thankfullness? Let us not forget the day we were saved, the day the Holy Spirit made real to us the beating and death Christ endured for our sake!
Oh thank you God for sending your son. And let me not forget to share with those my joy and thankfulness, let me not forget to proclaim you and give a chance for others to realize there thankfulness for what you have done for them!

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7

The Little things God uses....

The last few days have been hard....

My body completely shut down yesterday. It didn't like the fact that I have so many things I am doing and that my emotions are going crazy!!!!!

Only 9 days left until D day(when my family leaves). It is a bitter sweet time for me. It is sad to see family leave but exciting that they are beginning a new! Leaving home at 17 to live in Syracuse and being "gone" from the home since then, I guess it is not as hard right now realizing that I will not see them so often. Or maybe it's because I am heading up the children's christmas play at church, putting together a "mystery dinner" night with the married couples at our church, picking out songs and arranging times for the Ladies Ensemble to sing at church, Bible Studies, Birthday and Christmas shopping, Planning Thanksgiving with my sister, and Working 8 to 5 Monday through Friday..... Ahhhhhhh!

But then it is the little things God uses to remind me that He should still be first and that life is still happening around me. So yesterday as my body shut down and sadness, happiness, stress, worry, and lonliness began to fill my moments, I walked into work this morning feeling broken. So broken that I would never be able to be fixed. Then I read my sister's blog. "the little thing that God used" She reminded me that I still have a family who cares and understands my frustration because they too in fact are facing the same struggles. So as I weep while my pieces are being put back together, I am gratefull. For God, my husband, my families, my church...but mostly today, I'm gratefull for..... My sister, I LOVE HER....VERY MUCH

Have a great day Heather.... :-)

Quality Time with Family.... And Doubts that Follow!

"You shall have no other gods before ME!" Exocus 20:3

My weekend was filled with nice refreashing moments of family time. Friday my Mother-in-law and I went and began our wonderful adventure of Christmas Shopping. Can I just say how good God is that He has brought my mother-in-law and I together so well! She is a blessing and a joy to spend time with.
Then Saturday I spent most of the night with my brother-in-law Isaac. We ate chinese, drove fancy wegmans car karts, and ran aroung the church cleaning up after a wedding.

Needless to say all these things began my thoughts and doubts of Joe's and my future together. Someday, no so far away, I will be living in another country, where the comforts of home and family will be no longer, (until furlough 4 years later). And I will begin developing different family relationships in that country.....

Oh Lord help me, as family and comfort begins tearing me from my calling. Help me to be focused on You and You alone!

"God must rule our hearts if our feet are to walk His way."

Surgery What!?!?!?!?!?!?

Yes it is true, the "s" word has come upon me....
I went to the oral surgeon yesterday to have a consultation on my wisdom teeth. And oh yes, soon and very soon I will have my right side wisdom teeth "ripped out of my head" or as the Dr. put it a nice "slit and tug". That phrase still boggles me. And being so fair skinned of course I will have brusing and a slower healing process. Oh joy, but hey at least I will get some time off of work.... yee haw!

On another note..... kids are so adorable to watch when they get a gift...
Joe and I had Bible study last night and it was our friend's son's birthday, so we gave him some coloring books and he was so excited. I love giving to excited people. You get that warm tingly thingy inside knowing that you made someone's day.

It's fun... :-)

The Excitment of the Seasons....

It was so encouraging to spend time with friends and family this weekend. Although afterwards you can feel so incredibly worn out but it is so totally worth it. Fellowship, Food, and histerically laughing Fun..... What could be better.
Life starts again today with work, basketball, and Bible studies... yeay!! And the Chirstmas shopping begins!!!!

Using David's Prayer as My Own...

"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall Itake counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, and my enemy will say, "I have overcome him." And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your loving kindness; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me."
- Psalm 13

When Satan attacks he attacks hard, Oh how David's knew men's hurting souls.... Let us praise the Lord in all of our iniquities.

I love you God.