Christmas 2013

 Thanks to everyone that came out today. We really enjoyed having everyone over.  We also missed those that couldn't make it. We love you guys!

Crockpot Hot Chocolate

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
2 cups milk chocolate chips
6 cups milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

What time tomorrow. 

What time tomorrow. 

Ashes

One of the greatest things God has given us, Wow, there are so many, and some may not even see this but I call it a clean slate.  A new day!  When you pray at night for God to take your problems and to work his miracles then when you sleep on it and get up in the morning, its like the old has been washed away and the new is fresh, covered with Jesus!

1 Corinthians 2:9

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

When we ask God to take our burdens we try to tell Him how to fix it.  But our little narrow minds try to hatch out a plan.  But in all truth, if we just pray God take our mess and make it beautiful He will do just that!  Far beyond anything imaginable!  He makes our ashes beautiful.  Every time He does this!  It amazes me everyday how I have ashes all around me.  Sometimes I stand right in the ashes occasionally while it’s still burning.  I hear Him say, stand there just a little longer. Even when I start to feel the anxiety creeping upon me, I hear Him say:

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus!

During these times of standing in the ashes when my feet are burning He says to be thankful!  Sometimes I find that hard to do, but I am getting better.  Because I know without the embers burning making my feet hot, keeping me on my toes wanting to do His will, the devil would creep in.  There is no room in my life for the devil.  He repeatedly knocks on my door.  I look for Christ in every aspect of my life.  The devil uses the 3 D’s to keep us off track; distraction, deception, and discouragement!  If he gets just a tiny foothold in our life He can take over.  That’s why we have to constantly whisper that sweet name of Jesus!

2 Chronicles 15:2

The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with Him!  Whenever you look for Him, you will find Him, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. 

The devil is tricky.  He uses things we are familiar with.  He uses things that we want to use.  He will take a memory or a friendship, whatever He needs to and then He will twist it!

Genesis 3:13

And the Lord God said to the woman “what is this you have done?”  The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

He makes it very easy for us.  Almost appealing!  But if we will step back from the temptation and look at the big picture we can tell Satan to crawl back under the rock he came from and go straight back to Hell! Because we know that he is not the one to stick beside us when we are in trouble.  That belongs to Christ Jesus!

Matthew 28:19-20

Go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

He is with us!  He is with you and He is with me!  No matter where I go, He goes before me!  He is there!  When I struggle, He is there.  When I am happy, He is there.  When I am sad, He is there.  And above all remember:

Luke 1:37

For nothing is impossible with God!

Just remember ever morning when you wake up, say, nothing is impossible with God!  I have a clean slate, it’s a new day!  Be sure you leave the previous days shattered pieces right there where you left them.  In the ash pile!  Because God has great things in store for the heap of ashes!

Hebrews 6:19-20

We, who are holding onto the hope of God’s salvation promises, have this hope as an anchor for my soul.  Firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.  He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Malchizedeck.

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Even when our situation appears to be impossible, our work is to “hope in God”. Our hope will not be in vain and in the Lords own timing help will come.                             George Mueller

Happy Birthday Daniel! We wish you a blessed day!

Happy 61st birthday, Daniel!

Emailing: photo

 

 

I have one for y'all.  I just didnt send out cards!  But I will bring them next weekend!

MERRY CHRISTMAS Everyone!

I guess all the other pictures I've seen of her cross have been thru trees :)  I think I may have to print me a copy, I love it!!

Sure is Rita's cross!

Trish, love the family photo!!  That's not Rita's cross is it?

Trish:  Loved, loved the videos!  Merry Christmas to everyone.

Merry Christmas!

Thank you Trish for the video's they were wonderful , made me cry ,but loved them, so wish trhey were here , but they are happy with Jesus. Hope everyone has a wonderful christmas , and never forget the precious gift that God gave us all, when he sent his Son .

I remembered a few of those pictures from the video at her/pawpaw's funeral but not all of them so it was like a Christmas gift to me too :)  Trish, you should do a new, updated one since we have a few more additions to the family and more pictures (hint, hint).

It was like a Christmas gift!  I remembered making it nd I think I showed it at mommys funeral. And that was it!  He saved it for right now at this time!  God is

Good!

I forgot to say THANK-YOU! THANK-YOU! THANK-YOU!

You MAKE ME CRY Trish!  Love the pictures and that was wonderful Christmas gift to us all!

So This Is Christmas!

So this is Christmas! Delivering packages to children with eyes wide with wonder! Taking a meal to an elderly couple and staying to chat about the days events. Christmas caroling through the halls and shaking the hands of the ones that may have no "Christmas company"! Hugging the neck of the one who knows exactly how you feel because their circumstances are just like yours. Childrens Christmas plays, endless Cantata music, Candlelight services...everything Jesus! Thats what Christmas is. Not the presents, not the Christmas dinner, not the big sale at Kohls. Its about making sure your neighbors know when the doors are open to the church. If they can't get out then take Jesus to them. That could be in the form of a snow shovel with the muscle to go with it or it could be sitting beside them and sharing a cup of coffee while they tell you of their sadness and how Christmas brings many painful memories. Don't let the hussle and bussle of the next two days suck the Christmas joy from you! When you start to feel overwhelmed with the craziness of Christmas just STOP and step back. Christmas is going to come and go either way. Whether you bake 14 desserts or find that "perfect" gift, December 26 will arrive and I pray you can say, yes, I enjoyed every last minute of it. Remember Jesus was born to die! That should get more than just a mention on HIS day!

“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).

This Christmas, we can give the gift of God’s likeness through us. When our lives reflect the God who lives in us, we can be different from the world, and that difference can bless others with the transforming presence of His love and grace. —Joe Stowell

Merry Christmas!

christmas

Christmas

Merry Christmas Treadway Style