Christmas Season

It is once again the Christmas season.  What are your holiday traditions that help keep Christ prominent during the month of December?

I've started putting baby Jesus from our nativity in the last advent box and having our presents opened by Christmas eve so that when Christmas day arrives we are focusing on Jesus with the boys and not tearing into gifts.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a wonderful day as we thank God for all the blessings he's given us this past year!

Fear & Identity

I came across a blog post that really fit with what we are talking about in What Women Fear right now. The post is about success & failure written by a pastor who is in the middle of a giving campaign. He gets asked the question, "Will you feel like a failure if you don't raise the money?". His answer is that if he doesn't raise the money he will be disappointed, but he won't feel like a failure. He talks about how he knows what it is like to feel failure since he has made some huge failures in his life. Then he goes on to say this--"What causes us to feel like a success or failure always determines where we find our identity". That really hit me. When I flip it around and think about the times I have felt like a failure I can figure out where I have placed my identity. If I'm honest only some of my feelings of failure come from feeling like I have let down God. There are quite a lot of times when I feel like a failure that don't really have God in the picture at all. Maybe if I think about this idea when I'm worried (or even excited) I can think about whether my fear (or excitement) has roots in my identity being in the wrong place.

Here's the blog post: http://refineus.org/2011/10/will-you-feel-like-a-failure/

Restoration

Yesterday's sermon from Pastor Davey really spoke to me.  As Christians, we are all often in danger of wandering a bit.  If we become complacent or even just let little things slide for a bit, we can find ourselves drifting far off before we even know.  I know I do this so often and it is so hard to get back to where I was before I slacked off.  We are challenged to be steadfast and to help those we also see wandering.

Let God hear our confessed sins daily so that he may cover our multitude of sins and to our spiritual communion with God to be restored and to flourish.  Be encouraged and know that we are here to support one another and to lift each other up when we struggle.

"My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
                          James 5:19-20

And on a side note, if you want a laugh, go to Colonial's homepage and check out the video of the deer running through the halls of church.  Have a blessed day gals!

Congrats

For new life, we are so thankful.  Welcome Samuel Charles Crossland!  We can't wait for your playmates to make their appearance this summer and fall.

For new adventures, we are so excited.  Erika and Ashley with weddings in their future.  Sarah, Kate, and Kate going back to school!

Happy Thursday!

Just want to send my love and encouragement out to everyone today!!!  You gals are on my mind and heart!  May God bless each of you this week.

Putting thoughts out there

Reading the Bible the way we are has some interesting results.  I really like how the last few days some of the feasts and offerings being explained and implemented in Numbers are being continued and Jesus participating in them in Luke.  

I also really enjoyed todays Psalm.  I loved the repetition.  It is one that feels more like a song rather than a poem.  

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will never be shaken.

        Psalm 62:2 (also verse 6)