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Christmas in July

26 Jul

 

 

 

JESUS Luke 1:31 ~ “…and you shall name Him Jesus.”

J – JOURNEY  Our journey all starts from darkness to light when we become born again. Free from the guilt of sin, from darkness to light. What a great transformation for us, from death to eternal life. My life totally changed when I gave my life to the Lord in 1974 and what an exciting journey it has been ever since.

Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], (5) He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, (6) whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, (7) so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee).”

E – EXPERIENCES  We all have a story and what stories they can be!  No-one I know has had the same walk that I have, everyone’s is different.  Our tests need to become our testimonies, trials, our stepping stone or tomb stone. I know God can use all our experiences and walks for His glory. Somehow He always manages to turn ugliness into beauty and death into life. He uses our past to help someone’s future.

Phil 3:13-14 “13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

S – SINGULAR  We are all called individually to do something that God has specifically designed for each of us to do in this life. Yes, we belong to the body of Christ and  yet we function individually with each of our gifting and call. Remember to walk in your gifting and not someone else.

Rom 12:4-8 “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

U – US  We need each other regardless of what we think. We are a family, the family of God and families hangout together. Gathering is very important as we find strength, build faith and become accountable to one another.

Ps 122:1 “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord.”  There is blessings and peace there.

S – SPLENDOR  We have a hope and a future, both now and forever. We walk in the splendor of the earth and look forward to the majestic splendor of the heavens to come! Eternity is forever!

1 Cor 2:9 “Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].”

WALK IN FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE

Jesus Exactly Suits Us Sinners

 

Christmas is coming….food, trees & games.

20 Dec

                                I have posted some of this blog before but thought I would post it again and hopefully hear back from some of  you…

We all have so many good ideas around this time of the year, celebrating the reason for the season, Jesus.  Reading and seeing what everyone does inspired me to ask you a question or two.

What would your ideal Christmas meal be?

We always asked the whole family what meats they would like and we change every year. Lamb is always my favorite (Jeremy and I are the only two that eat it) with a ham, and a Cornish hen or two. The mashed potatoes, peas, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and let’s not forget the corn and trimmings. Dessert would be a trifle for me  but no one in my house would eat it besides me, so we always go with the favorite chocolate chip cookies, pies and ice-cream!

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Lamb Roast ~ Yummy!

Fake or real Christmas tree?

My hubby always wants a real tree but I win over in with this one as I really do not enjoy watering it and dealing with all the needles! My husband really just likes the smell so we usually purchase some real wreaths to hang in the house to help with that.

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Oh Christmas Tree…

What is your favorite board games to play with family and friends?

Mexican Train, Sequence and Farkle of course! We love to play board games and everyone is really competitive so lots of fun is always had by all. Frosty was won one year when we had a game of Bunko! We have now added Left, Right and Center which is a blast.

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Frosty the snowman.

When little things get to us….

2 Sep

    No matter how crazy our day has been today, we are still loved and cared for.

 “Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Matthew 6:25-26

I loved reading this scripture today as there has been so much going on in life lately and sometimes you just have to sit back and breath in the word of God. Getting ready to visit South Africa, packing and making sure everything is taken care of, breathe. I find myself thinking, do I have enough clothes packed (not a problem there), who will water my plants, will my bird miss my morning hello, does my case weigh too much, did I pack the right snacks, will the storm affect my flight, and on and on it goes. Really? This is not the first trip I have ever taken across the ocean, time to chill out. Things that are heavy on my heart are friends dealing with disease, lack and uncertainty but that is where I know God is faithful and I can turn to the scripture like the one above. Knowing that God knows it all and takes good care of His children. I need not to fret the small things and trust God with everything, big or small. Besides all that, lots of fun stuff and blessings have been happening around here. We were blessed with an awesome playscape for the backyard (grandkids will love it), helped Kristen open up a Mother’s Day Out program, going on a cruise in October with amazing friends, August loves MDO and Michael is going to Lusaka to do a leadership conference. Oh, and Caleb started walking 🙂 Praise the Lord! Last but no least, I am hosting an online bible study, starting September 5, on Facebook, studying the book of Joshua. If you should like to join in, here is the link. I’m on the road for a month or so, but still around 🙂

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Me and my Shadow

22 Aug

Ps.17:6-8

“I have called upon You, for You, O God, will answer me;
Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
Wondrously show Your [marvelous and amazing] loving-kindness,
O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
Keep me [in Your affectionate care, protect me] as the [a]apple of Your eye;
Hide me in the [protective] shadow of Your wings..”

We CALL Him and He ANSWERS ~ We TRUST Him and He is shows us the wonder of His LOVE ~ We ask for PROTECTION and He COVERS us, under the SHADOW of HIS WINGS ~ He KEEPS us as the apple of His eye, always WATCHING, LOVING and CARING.

On Sunday evening, as August was leaving from a fun visit at our home, I saw him walking from side to side as he made his way to the car. I asked, “August what are you doing?” He answered, “Nana, my shadow is alway with me, look, see!” It immediately reminded me of walking under the Shadow of the Almighty, One who is always with us, keeps and covers us. Where can I go, where He is not?

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Update…

20 Aug

Life is a precious thing and we are so grateful for the journey that we walk daily. Here are a few updates for you in picture from seeing that I have not blogged for a while. Some highlights of Nate and Sarah’s wedding, grand kids and family.

Summer Picnic Time!

16 Jun

Tree of Life Church Picnic April 2015

I wanted to share this as we had so much fun and wanted you to enjoy it too!

Going to the chapel…soon

23 Mar

What an awesome celebration it was! Thank you to everyone who made this the most beautiful and wonderful bridal shower for Sarah and our family. I wish everyone in the whole world could have been there. Many said that it was so beautiful she could just have married there! Special thanks to my faithful friend forever, Laura Schnucker, who helped put it all together with my wonderful daughter, Kristen, who spend many hours shopping, buying goodies and expressing her love so graciously to her sister. It is so inspiring to see my children when they speak and interact with people and each other, they are just blessed with grace, honesty and love.  I thank God daily for all three of them. Now, Mike and I have an a amazing son-in-law, Jeremy, future son-in-law, Nate plus two fantastic grand sons, August and Caleb to love too! Counting my blessing……

The Bridal Shower Album

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Sarah enjoying her Bridal Shower.

Happy New year…a little late.

4 Mar

Yes, it is a late start to my 2015 as far as blogging goes. I really wanted to do this once a month but that has not happened. Never to late to try again, right? So much has happened since last August….birthdays, thanksgiving, Christmas, a Colorado vacation, a new grandson and the list goes on. One other thing ongoing is that I am training for a 5K! Yes, you read right. I always wanted to run some kind of race and planned on doing it before I turned 40, well now after turning 50, here goes! I joined a running group and my run is March 22nd, so far I have managed not to die trying and I am determined to finish the race well!  Sarah and Nate’s wedding is approaching fast and we are so excited. He bridal shower is March 21st and lots of fun is planned. We are so blessed to have my sister, Ann and her husband Rob, from South Africa, here to celebrate the wedding with us too! Baby Caleb Robert Sistrunk was born February 3rd to Jeremy and Kristen, we are blessed to have our second grandson here to enjoy alongside August. God has been so faithful to us, the phrase that He shared with me for this year is: ” I want to love you more.” At first I thought, how can God love me more, He already loves me as much as He can? Then He showed me that it was for me to say as I walked through each day ~ love needs to increase in my heart towards those around me, as He loves me, I need to love others! I pray that I see people the way God sees them, I need the Fathers heart beating in me. Please share your dreams and hope with me as we walk out this year together!

Here are some pictures to look at: Christmas 2014  Caleb’s Shower August’s 2nd Birthday

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Winning with Wisdom ….. drive-thru God.

29 Aug

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While exiting a drive-thru today, there was a sign posted, ‘see you tomorrow.’ My first thought was, I am so glad God doesn’t treat me that way! I can chat with Him anywhere, anytime and never have to sit and wait, especially until tomorrow! No appointment necessary, plus He is never too busy!

“I lift up my voice to You, Eternal One, and You answer me from Your sacred heights!” Ps. 3:4

Winning with Wisdom…

27 Aug

We face a challenge whDSC_1003en we feel sadness, despair and heaviness. We have the tendency to want to isolate and separate ourselves from others. Our choices seem like none, our minds become foggy with a lack of clear direction. Know that there is always someone who is willing to listen, to take time to open up and talk. You don’t have to walk this alone. One of the biggest schemes of the enemy is to separate or isolate you.

God sees you through, when you think you’re through!

“A friend loves you all the time, and a brother helps you in times of trouble.” Pro.17:17 

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