My goodness I love the holidays. I can honestly say this year I am seeking to see, do and act as God would have me to in regard to the holidays. Thanksgiving is a no brainer! He has blessed us GREATLY this year and I have so much to be thankful for. Funny thing is I don't know if God has necessarily done more for me this year than in years past or if I have just been more aware this year of God's miraculous movements. I do believe I am just more aware. For whatever reason I know I am thankful because God has blessed us with healing, with survival, with comfort, with provision - in so many areas, with hope, with encouragement, with answers to prayers. I could write all day long on what God has done for me this year. I am sure you could too if you really sat down and pondered it. I am more aware this year of how active God is all around me - not just in my life and my family's life, but in the lives of those around me. It is just so cool!
My focus this Christmas is also changing. My source of joy is shifting. My joy used to be in the buying and giving of gifts. While I am still enjoying this the shift is in the quality of gifts rather than the quantity or dollar amount spent. More of my joy comes from the fact that the birth of Jesus gave us HOPE to last our entire time while here on earth. The birth saved us from a wretched future. The birth provided us with unselfish, unconditional and undeserved love for eternity! In years very recent past I have been very upset at the lack of funds to spend on Christmas. This year is probably our biggest year of lack of Christmas funds ever - but I have never been more content and more excited.
Then there is the new year! God has been planting the seeds, the glimpses of what my focuses are for this next year. I am excited. I am excited to be seeking Gods complete direction for my goals. Last year I chose my goals and then prayed Gods guidance and direction. This year taking it up a notch and letting God choose my goals - liberating!
Hope this causes you to ponder God today and His very real presence in your life and His very real desire to be a part of your planning.
Lots of love!
D. J.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Wow - it's been a while!
Wow has it been a while since I have blogged or what? Well this won't be too long but I do hope to get back into the habit of blogging weekly again starting now.
God is very much at work all around me right now. For the past few months He has been having me clean off my plate. I had a lot of good things on my plate...but you know what they say - Too much of a good thing can be bad. I was so over committed in so many good areas I have had to cut way back on things. It's hard. I try not to be deceived into thinking I have failed since I have had to pull back. The only mistake I made was trying to do too much. The cleaning of the plate has not been fun. It has been humbling and eye opening. I am finding now that I eager to see just how far and where God is going to take me on this journey. He is opening my eyes to what the future holds and it is quite exciting.
Let me tell you as well that God is STILL the master physician! Praise Him! Brandy is doing exceptionally well and this has been confirmed by tests. We are in shock and awe. Again, we are humbled as her parents. She has started school and so far it is going relatively well. No new breaks since February and only a couple of scares that have taken us to the ER. God is Good my friends - all the time!
So this is my ever so quick and brief update. There is more to come!
One more thing - as we enter this season of gratitude I encourage you to ponder the idea of making it a year of gratitude. Instead of focusing on what we don't have focus on what we do have! Thank those face to face if you can that take good care of you...send a card if you can't do it face to face. As you pray before meals - encourage everyone to express one thing they are grateful for - no repeats though - something new every day!
Until next week all!
D. J.
God is very much at work all around me right now. For the past few months He has been having me clean off my plate. I had a lot of good things on my plate...but you know what they say - Too much of a good thing can be bad. I was so over committed in so many good areas I have had to cut way back on things. It's hard. I try not to be deceived into thinking I have failed since I have had to pull back. The only mistake I made was trying to do too much. The cleaning of the plate has not been fun. It has been humbling and eye opening. I am finding now that I eager to see just how far and where God is going to take me on this journey. He is opening my eyes to what the future holds and it is quite exciting.
Let me tell you as well that God is STILL the master physician! Praise Him! Brandy is doing exceptionally well and this has been confirmed by tests. We are in shock and awe. Again, we are humbled as her parents. She has started school and so far it is going relatively well. No new breaks since February and only a couple of scares that have taken us to the ER. God is Good my friends - all the time!
So this is my ever so quick and brief update. There is more to come!
One more thing - as we enter this season of gratitude I encourage you to ponder the idea of making it a year of gratitude. Instead of focusing on what we don't have focus on what we do have! Thank those face to face if you can that take good care of you...send a card if you can't do it face to face. As you pray before meals - encourage everyone to express one thing they are grateful for - no repeats though - something new every day!
Until next week all!
D. J.
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