May the Christmas spirit remain in your heart each and everyday; and the peace that passeth all understanding fill your mind in the coming year.
Thank you for reading here this year. I look forward to seeing what God will do in 2013!
With love,
May the Christmas spirit remain in your heart each and everyday; and the peace that passeth all understanding fill your mind in the coming year.
Thank you for reading here this year. I look forward to seeing what God will do in 2013!
With love,
The holiday season – from Thanksgiving through New Year’s – is a wonderful time to get together with family and loved ones. Lovely music, special programs, parties, great food and fellowship! However, for the hurting, the lonely or those who find themselves in the midst of a trial during this time of year, the Christmas season can be painful. Some are newly divorced; spending Christmas without their children can be devastating. Some are in the hospital with a loved one or are there themselves. Some have just been to the funeral of someone they care deeply about, so celebrating anything, including Christ’s birth, isn’t exactly at the top of their list. It’s hard to smile when your heart is breaking.
Many of these hurting people are blessed with loving friends and family who fill the gaps as best they can. They offer a kind word, give a gift that brings a smile, or a warm embrace at just the right moment. For Christians, there is God’s Word and the power of prayer to get us through the rough patches of life.
But sometimes, God seems far away, friends are nowhere near, and life appears flat and hopeless. If that’s you this year, I want to offer a word of encouragement. Not my words, but rather, God’s Words.
The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. – Nahum 1:7
Your Father is near you in the day (or days) of your trouble. He is there when life seems hopeless or dark or desperately lonely. He 1is with you when no one else is and He is a strong hold, a place of sweet peace and protection. Run to Him! If you trust Him, be assured that He knows you. Look for Him, and you will see Him. Recently, the Lord reminded me of His presence in my life by giving me something that I’d thought about, but never had specifically asked Him for. A plain reminder that He is working in my life and He is aware of my thoughts, even when I’m not expecting it.
If I hadn’t been paying attention, I would have missed this very small answer to my heart’s cry. Perhaps you’ve overlooked His hand in your life? Sometimes the grief that surrounds us like a thick fog can block out the tiny pinpoint rays of sunlight that He is sending us. Look for the light, and you will see it, because the Lord is good.
It’s true. I really do want everyone, everywhere to read the Bible. Most of you already do. Some read it each and every day, without fail. Some read sporadically, a few times a week or even less. Some don’t read at all. Not because they don’t want to, they do! They just forget, or they are overwhelmed at the thought of where to begin.
Because I want everyone to read the Bible, I’m putting my money where my mouth is. I’ve purchased these lovely Bible reading schedules to give away, not to one person, but to many persons. Everyone! If you email me your address, I will gladly send you one of these schedules for free. That’s right. I’m buying one for each of you! The New Year is around the corner and this is the perfect time for you to begin!
These schedules have been my favorite ones to use, ever! It was the first schedule I used (with a different picture on the front) to read through the Bible when I was about twelve years old…before I was even saved! It’s made of slick paper and can be folded back to show the month you’re currently reading in. It gives readings in both the Old and New Testaments each day. It’s 3.5 by 5.38 inches, so it’s the perfect size for a bookmark! It’s also great to use as a straight edge for underlining.
So, no excuses in 2013! Let’s read God’s Word! Each and every day! You now have a plan, so set aside about 15-20 minutes a day (mornings are probably best) and open your Bible and READ it. Read about average men and women, the trials they endured, and the way God met their needs. Read His promises. Read His Gospel. Read about His miracles Read about Calvary. It’s all there, waiting. Drink of His Word – the Water that quenches your thirst forever; the Bread to sustain you. The Bible tells us how to get to Heaven, and how to be happy, and I want both for you.
I encourage you to email me your address today so I can mail you your schedule! Oh! And pass this post along. Thanks for reading here, now let’s go read God’s Word! 🙂
My daughter, Leslie, enjoys pretending. She likes playing with Barbie dolls and Littlest Pet Shop animals. She likes building with blocks, too.
Last Friday, my seven year old girl built some Bible stories with our blocks. The first one she made was the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the golden tower.
It wasn’t long before I was ushered in to see her new masterpiece! I oohed and ahhed and snapped some pictures that I planned to share here, as I’m doing now. But now, my reasons for sharing are not just to show my daughter’s creativity for loved ones. It’s something more meaningful. {click on photos to enlarge}
As the song says, “Heaven’s sounding sweeter, all the time…” I’m glad I’m going there someday, and I hope you will be there, too.
Most days, I scrutinize every detail of house and homeschooling, working myself (at times) into a tizzy when things are not quite right. I let a dirty stove-top bug me. Or the crayons scattered on the floor. I huff and sigh over finding a broken ornament next to our Christmas tree. I raise my voice for a second or two when I’m trying (for the twelfth time) to explain direct objects. And the list goes on and on. The point? I fail. A lot. And for a perfectionist, that failure is magnified by one hundred times.
Sometimes, when I don’t feel like a failure, I feel unimportant. I feel like I’m wasting my life. I start whining, “I wanna take my family to Disney World! I wanna van that doesn’t make that high-pitched squealing every time we drive it! Oh, and I want some new clothes!” Wah, wah wah. Then, I think, “I should go get a job so we can take all these trips, get a new vehicle and ME some new clothes! Yes!” Then, the Holy Spirit says, “You know what you’re thinking is wrong! You’re here for them…for those little ones who love you so. You’re here to point them to Christ. Not Mickey Mouse.” I’m convicted. Oh, yes, Lord. I’ve been selfish and spoiled. Seeing my children each and every day, at every tiny phase of growth, is worth these sacrifices. My attitude changes. As I sit and rock them in my threadbare denim skirt, I feel like the richest woman alive! I cook them up some yummy soup and cornbread, hear their laughter at the dinner table, and I’m in heaven! I bake up something sweet and listen to their praise and, I tell ya, Paula Deen couldn’t feel as good of a cook as I do at that moment!
I’m busy this time of year. Presents to scrimp and save for, then buy, not because my children expect it, but because they don’t. I want to show them I love them in a special way this time of year. I’m busy decorating and baking and doing all of that Christmas stuff. And, in all of the hubbub, I almost forgot to enjoy these special memory-making days.
Then, I got online and saw the news. Twenty-six children shot and killed (as of this moment) in a Connecticut elementary school.Those kids, gone into eternity! Did someone tell them of Jesus? Did a mother make time when they were small? Did a Sunday school teacher have time to influence them for Christ? Were their parents, like me, busy thinking about the big toy they were going to give them in a few days, and not noticing the quiet moments? The moments that will never come back. Last night was their last night to snuggle them. Did they do it? Last night was the last goodnight kiss. Did they give it? This morning was the last time they’d see their smile. Did they see it? Better question, did they offer one to their child in return?
When I was small, my mom would often have to leave for work before I was up. When I got up, I’d look in the mirror, and, beneath the mass of messy hair, I’d see a big lipstick kiss on one cheek! If that had been the last time I’d seen my mom alive, I would have known she loved me. As I got older, she started leaving a lipstick kiss on a 3×5 card with my name on it at my spot at the breakfast table. I suppose it won’t surprise you to learn that I do that for my children, if I must leave before they are up. I want them to know they are loved, each and every day.
Oh friend, treasure each and every day, each and every moment! Even if you’re given a hundred years on this Earth with your loved ones, this moment is gone in a heartbeat.
Hello friends! Here’s the gift I made this year for our church ladies. Yes! I’m posting it the same year in which I made them! That’s progress, eh? 🙂 This simple little ornament turned out better than I’d hoped, which was a blessing. I’ve come to expect things to go wrong when I try to make something! There were few snags, but nothing major. This is yet another idea I found on Pinterest, and, yet another idea that wasn’t explained very well for amateur crafters like myself. I wanted to share the idea in more detail than the original post.
I’ll go through and explain the project with photos. If you so desire, you can click the green button at the bottom of this post and choose to print all or part of this post, pictures or no pictures, whatever you like! It’s great!
Let’s get started!
First, gather your supplies:
Six years ago, on December 7, we were saying “It’s a girl!” This past December 7, everyone was saying “It’s a bike! Laci got a bike!” I believe she had a wonderful sixth birthday! I took her “window shopping” a few weeks before her birthday. She picked out three possible gifts, knowing she would only be able to get one. On the way home, she said, “Just surprise me, just surprise me…but I really hope I get the bike.” She was very surprised and excited on her birthday morning to get one of her very own!
Today is a very special day in our household! Our youngest girl is now six years old. My,my. Time surely does zip by. (I say wistfully.) I remember how surprised we were to hear she was coming. I remember how overwhelmed I was at the thought of homeschooling two children – a K5-er and a 2nd grader – PLUS caring for an 18 month old girl and having a newborn on top of that! It was crazy for a while, with two in diapers and two car seats, and even two cribs for a short time. But all of that soon eased up and we found our rhythm. Laci and her older sister, Leslie, are best friends. They play together, share toys and clothes and even the same bed sometimes. When one is sick, the other helps her sister out. They are sometimes “partners in crime”, but most of the time, they are buddies in fun. It’s hard to believe she is reading, writing counting and adding now! I’m so glad she still loves to cuddle with me -though I miss that she used to say it this way: “Can I huddle with you?” She loves to give hugs and kisses. She isn’t afraid of anything. And, while I’m thinking she’ll change her mind, she has promised to stay with me forever.
She has a very literal and innocent mind. I’ll never forget, when she was about four years old, she overheard Mitchell ask me if he could inherit our house when we died. I replied, “Well, this house isn’t ours. The church would have to say you could have it.” Laci piped up, “But the church doesn’t have a mouth!” We all had a good laugh as we imagined the church building having a mouth!
She has requested spaghetti for her birthday meal and a very special cake made my mom. I hope to have more on that – including photos- tomorrow.
If you have time, here are a few past posts about Laci:
Laci’s Violin
Her sweet spirit.
Her special personality.
A “Laci” photo gallery.
I am so thankful that the Lord worked things according to HIS plan and gave us our Laci Elizabeth.
Happy birthday, my precious curly-headed girl! I love you!
I needed a star of Bethlehem for my nativity scene on my Sunday School bulletin board. I was going to just color one from a coloring book, but then, inspiration struck! I quickly grabbed my journal, to bronze the moment. Okay, not really, but I am bronzing it here. Inspiration doesn’t strike me very often! Perhaps this idea will help other Sunday school teachers out there.
Merry Christmas!
I think I deserve to be placed into the “World’s Worst Blogger” category for what I’m about to admit. Oh well. Here goes: It is December 5, 2012, and I’m just now posting about the gift I gave to our church ladies last Christmas. As in 2011. A year ago. I know. Disgraceful. I decided that Christmas is Christmas, so why not just come clean and share it now, a year later? Yeah. Why not? So I am. I hope you can forgive my laziness and can see the gift for what it was. Okay, it wasn’t much, but perhaps you can see it for what I hoped it would be.
Just to set the stage, I should say that last year was my first year to delve into Pinterest. I was new; I was still in the learning phase, but I was in it and loving it. I found THIS project there. I gave it a whirl.
I am now a Pinterest addict. But that’s another post for another time.
valeriewritenow.com 