Purpose

There are days that I wonder what my purpose on earth is. Most of you are like me; we set the alarm, we get up, we wake up kids for school, we go to work, we interact throughout the day, we come home, we have a little family time, go to bed then do it all over again. There has to be more to life than that! And the sad thing is that we sometimes do this for years before we wake up and say, “What have I been doing with my life?” For those of you lucky enough to not have to lose a loved one in the process, I encourage you to take advantage of the situation! Whether you lose them to death, addiction, divorce…whatever the reason? God is giving you a second chance by waking you up! He is telling you to seize the moment! Let Him come into your broken life and mend it. He wants you to experience the fullness of a beautiful life. He wants you to have that special someone that you can tell anything to, someone to share life and faith with. He wants you to love that little child when no one will. To sit and rock in the wee hours of the morning when they are crying for no reason. When God created the family it was His finest hour! In my opinion it far out shines the hour He hung the moon and the stars! It outweighs the creation of the heavens and earth! Family is so complex yet so simple. All it requires is love! So easy to give and always ready to receive. Yet we toss it around like it is nothing.

Micah 6:8

What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God!

If we could do that how much more would our life mean? So much more! Easy answer. We would work less, love more, we would nurture our family more. We would treat it like it was the most precious gem. When it hurt we would cry. When it felt joy we would laugh. When it felt love…well that’s what it is all about. That’s when we feel everything. All the walls come crumbling down when there is love because that is your safe haven, Your refuge. That is where you can say anything, do anything and still come home. Still be able to know that love will carry you through. It will forgive and continue to love without judgement. After all, who is without sin? Who is to say that it may be us the next time. We may be in that situation that is requiring forgiveness. A family without love is, well, a group of people that may be related by blood that may or may not live in a house together. How sad that is.

Jeremiah 31:16-17

This is what the Lord says; “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,: declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your descendants,”declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land.”

I was created for 2 things. To serve God and raise my family! That’s my purpose. My family is almost done! Wow, Jacob will be 15 next month. That is hard to believe. I can remember when my little family was me, Danny and my little dog Prissy! But things change.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new

Do you know your purpose? Whatever your purpose, make sure it honors God. Look to Him for guidance.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Do everything in love.

As you start the New Year remember to seek His guidance but then slow down long enough to hear what He has to tell you!

Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God

Even if that means taking a time out from your family that you love so much. Do it! Go sit by yourself. Or walk! Whatever you have to do to get some alone time! Lock yourself in the bathroom! But go meditate on God’s word. Listen to His voice then put it into action and DO!

Romans 12:2(NIV)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

very nice Trish, I like it

I love it Trish!!

I have joined the many with tattoos! This is for danny:)

There is nothing like bearing your heart that makes you real to us Trish!  So much meat in those exhortations!  Webster says you "urge, or warn earnestly!" 

Trish, I love that last post!!  I really needed that on the beginning of this New Year.  And I would just like to say that "I ain't got time for that" either!!  Wishing everyone a blessed day :)

2014

Where do I go from here? What do I do? Which road do I take? Which way do I sway in this dance? I don’t know! I would like to say I don’t care, but I do. Do you make lists? Lists of what you accomplished in 2013? Lists of failures? What you want to do, goals you want to reach in 2014? I want to! I have formulated them in my head. They just haven’t made them to paper yet, which is odd because everything in my head eventually makes it to paper. As I was discussing my weirdness last night with a friend, I realized I have some little tiny goals I have to complete. We tend to always look at the big picture and set our goals. Like I want to lose 100# Well Hello! Don’t start with that! How about you start with I want to get healthy in 2014. Cut back on my sugar, go with low fat! Limit the doughnuts and chips! Eat fruit and veggies. Walk a mile instead of watching that television show. Then before you know it, the pounds will be falling off, but more importantly you will be feeling better. You will have more energy and you will be able to move without your knees complaining. And as you feel better you will want more of that! Those pounds will come easy with health as your motivator! My thing or one of my things is this; I have watched TV for a long time, Danny and I watched a lot of TV! So for the last year I have just quit watching TV. I don’t know why! I don’t enjoy it! But I still feel the need to DVR all my favorite shows. But then every time I think I will watch one of them, I don’t. So I have all these series taking up space on my DVR and I have no desire to watch them, but yet I can’t bring myself to delete them. That’s what I want to do this New Year! Either watch them or delete them! That’s easy enough! Right?

Philippians 1:6

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.

My desire to quit watching TV started after I prayed for God to make me healthy, to clean me up, and to give me a heart like His. I didn’t even finish last season’s finales! And they are still on my DVR. But what I do now instead of watch TV is read my Bible; write words that God gives me, pray! But no TV!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When I prayed for health, I had no idea He was going to clean up my spiritual health. But He did. Yet I cling to the old way by not deleting that! I have no doubt I am not going to watch it! It’s as if I can hear Him say every time I look at TV, wouldn’t it be better to sit with me for a while? Let’s talk! Get your coffee, I’ll get the word. And how can I argue with that? So I am sure, as sure as I am writing this on paper that I am going to hit the delete button. There is like only 10% space left on my DVR because of all the junk that I have recorded! How much space do you have left in your life for Christ? Is it 10%? 50%? With a new day, a new year, we have a new slate! There is nothing stopping us from hitting that delete button on all the garbage in our life so that we can free up space for Jesus! I am going to start by deleting all that “stuff” taking up space. Then I am going to start looking at other areas of my life. I know I have lots of trash laying or lurking around in my body, my heart, my mind! It takes up space that I could turn over to Christ! If I will let it go! I am beginning to think I am a hoarder not just in my physical realm but in my heart and mind. I get all these things, thoughts, emotions and I think I need to hang on to them. But I don’t and that’s one of the things on my list for the New Year! Letting Go! I need to let go of the things I have no control of, and let God have them. He knows the plans He has for me! I just have to trust Him. He is working everything out for my good! We are just along for the ride!

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

That verse has become my light when it’s dark. My hope when I am hopeless. My strength when I am weak. I know He wants what’s best for me just as He does for each of you! I am holding on to that promise. I know it will happen in Gods time. Not mine. I just have to be patient and wait upon the Lord! Not an easy thing to do, but while I am waiting I am talking with Him! I am praising Him for all He’s done for me! I am serving Him! I am hopeful! I am obedient, while I am waiting!

Psalm 40:1 (NIV).

¹ I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.

I am running a race! But not just a race, THE RACE! And during this race, we wait. We learn at the feet of Jesus! For this race is not one of speed, but of endurance!

Galatians 6:5

The Message (MSG)

^4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

As we run our race, on our road of life, we run into temptations along the way. The devil has to try and trip us up. He has snared me plenty times. And does every day! And trust me, I get discouraged. But I am grabbing an accountability partner this year! More than one actually, and I am going to defeat the devil instead of being defeated! Because as a wise friend once told me, “The devil has no power over us except when we allow him to influence our thoughts and words.” So I don’t know about you, but “I ain’t got time for that!” The devil has no place in my life! And if that means surrounding myself with people to remind me of that, then so be it!

Psalms 136:3

O give thanks to the Lord of Lords!

That’s my number one goal for this year! Because without Him and all He has done, I would be doomed! But thanks for Jesus Christ dying on the cross for me, for you, we have eternal salvation. All we have to do is ask!

Romans 10:13 (KJV)

¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

Isaiah 12:2 (KJV)

² Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation

As I move into the New Year, my prayer is to listen to God, not man! Go where He wants me to go! Follow His goals not mine! He has already set down what we need to do! How we need to live! You don’t need to say; yeah I need to lose weight. Just say, Lord, create in me a new thing! Do away with the old! Give me your heart. Make me like you! That was my prayer on April 6, 2013. I will never forget that day! I was broken! Physically, spiritually, emotionally…broken. But God picked up the broken shattered pieces and put them together better than I could have imagined. And He is still working on me! I always see areas in my life that need cleansed up! But little by little bit by bit I run that race, I avoid that temptation, sometimes I get snared by the devil but I can always come back to the One who loves me!

Praise God, there is nothing we can do that would make Him say, you can’t come back! We are human, we mess up, and we ask for forgiveness and because of the cross and the blood that Jesus shed for us He always forgives!

Matthew 21:22 (KJV)

²² And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive

As you embrace 2014, my prayer for you is to begin everything with prayer. Ask what you should do in every situation before you do it! If you are a list maker, let Him help you! Let your goals be for God this year! I can guarantee you will grow! Your path may not be easy but it will be rewarding. You will never be alone and He will always answer your prayers! Just believe and receive!

 

Doors

So here I am once again uncomfortable; with my surroundings, my capabilities, life in general.  I know this means growth but dang if it doesn’t hurt.  I feel like I have nothing to offer in the big scheme of things.  There are more qualified people that can do this!

Then on the other side there are people I know trying to check out on life, some actually succeeding.  And I wonder where did I go wrong?  I know some days I literally feel like the fire hydrant that the dog is peeing on!  But then God sends a little angel by just to say Hi! How are you doing or can I help you, or come by for coffee or I have a hug waiting for you!  That pulls me back to the real meaning of life!  What we are really here for.  We aren’t here on earth to make sure the exam rooms stay clean.  That the instruments are cleaned at the end of the day, that the paper work is all in order.  We are here to make people feel loved and needed.  If we can’t do that while we do all these other things then something is wrong somewhere.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

That’s what I hold on to.  That’s what I pray every morning.  Lord help me do this job so I don’t come across as a complete idiot!  I did go to school, I do have some knowledge.  But sometimes it just takes me a while.  I am what you call a slow learner.  But once I learn it…I got it for life!

I think I am where God wants me to be, no let me rephrase, I know I am where He wants me to be.  He opened up all the doors to get me right here at this moment.  The same as He opens doors for you in whatever situation you are in.  I read somewhere yesterday that no man can shut the door God opens.  But I also think no man can open the door God shuts!  So if He closes that door it’s for a reason!  Be done with it, don’t look back.  We were talking in our Sunday school class how God is the one who closed the door on Noah’s Ark, simply because it was too big for anyone else. Well in our lives, some of our doors are the same way.  We go in and out of the same door; Back and forth, wishy washy! God is patient but sometimes it’s like OK, I have had enough!  Shut the door already!  Kind of like when you are at home and the kids fan the door.  Letting in the bugs and letting out the heat!  Shut the door already!

That’s how I feel.  I need to just close some doors.  He is giving me the chance to close those doors all by myself.  He knows what I am going to do before I even do it, so sometimes I am like really?  Go ahead and shut it!  Save me all this humiliation, pain, separation, heart ache!  But He doesn’t.  Once again, My God is a patient God.  Long suffering!  Steadfast!  Faithful!

Proverbs 3:3

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck write them on the tablet of your heart.

Psalm 119:114

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

That’s where my hope lies!  In His word.  When I have a question or don’t know what to do, that’s where I go!

Psalm 33:22

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

In life we get discouraged.  Sometimes we throw up our hands and say that’s it!  I’ve had it!  I’m done!  But don’t let discouragement make you lose faith.  Because faith is the victory, just like that age old song we sing on Sunday morning.  We will get our victory.  We just have to have that steadfast faith.  When the devil tells me I don’t know what you think you have to offer?  I am ready to tell him I can offer My Jesus!  That’s it!  But that’s enough because if I can offer that, He can complete the rest of me!  If He wants me to do a job He will equip me!  I have to quit thinking this is me doing this!  Because it isn’t.  He gives me the knowledge and wisdom.  I just have to move over and let Him do it.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong, do everything in love!

If you mess up- apologize- make a mental note to do better and move on.  Don’t let all that garbage drag you down.  No one is perfect.  We all mess up!  And above all else, no matter what you do, and everything you do- do it in LOVE!  A beautiful 4 letter word that isn’t practiced or heard enough!

And as God opens those new doors for you to go through, have faith!  Don’t be afraid!  He is holding your hand as you go through the door and He has already been there!  He isn’t leading you into a trap, He wants you to prosper and have a great life!

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Yes, I wish for you a blessed New Year!
Psalm 1:1,2
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.

Happy New Year everyone!!

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

Monica that was a thrift store

Find!!!

120# ago!

Cute picture Trish and I love your outfit!!  :)

Pastor Rodger

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Labor Of Love

Labor of Love

What do you think of when you think of love? Is it sweaty palms, a flutter of your heart, a warm and fuzzy feeling? Or maybe it’s being sick at your stomach, ready to hurl? As I lay in bed unable to sleep, I listen to the song Labor of Love. It is all about Mary and Joseph and the Love they brought into our world so many years ago. It was all but warm and fuzzy! None of the circumstances were right to bring a baby into this world. It was cold, cobblestone floor, no relatives to support Mary or Joseph, no warm bed, just a shed, not really even a barn. For Mary it was a labor of love. In life we are too ready to give up when love becomes labor. We are all about warm and fuzzy. But real love, true love, is a full time job and its hard. It doesn’t happen overnight and it takes a lifetime to nurture and protect. Sometimes you have to labor. You have to do things you don’t want to do! You may say, but I didn’t sign up for that! Do you think Jesus signed up for the Cross? Wouldn’t He have rather said let’s do a warm and fuzzy? But no, He did the ultimate Labor Of Love. He died for us! None of His life from beginning to end was without labor but it was full of love. And through His brief stay here on earth, He showed us how to love. Gave us examples. This is how you do it! Not by warm and fuzzys but by laboring! We have to act! Our actions are to speak louder than our words! If we love someone then do something about it, don’t just speak it. Shovel their drive way, visit them when they can’t get out, take them a hot meal, and if you can’t do anything else pray for them! Prayer is powerful! It moves mountains and has moved many of my mountains! If someone you know is sick, go visit and ray with them. More often than not that is the medicine they need! Faith is a wonderful thing. Without it I could have checked out long ago! There would be nothing left in life for me! No faith, no Hope. But my God is merciful and gracious! He offers us His mercy and grace, just for asking! At Christmas time, people lose hope. Because sometimes commercialism just gets in the way! It brings out the ugly and the nasty in people. My prayer for you all this Christmas is that you all labor a little! Labor for those you love. go the extra mile. Offer yourself for someone! That’s what they really want for Christmas! They want you! Your heart that flutters in your chest, your sweaty palms, your warm and fuzzies! You will be amazed at where that labor will take you! If you are stuck in a marriage, a relationship, children, church family, it doesn’t matter a little labor on your part will bring it to life and love will heal it all and it will grow into something beautiful. Something- everything - God intended for it to be! Don’t disappoint Him. Don’t disappoint yourself. Your labor of Love will bring forth great and wondrous things.

2 Corinthians 4:12

So then death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

1 Thessalonians 1:3

We remember before our God and father your produced by faith, our labor prompted by love and your endurance inspired by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Love prompts the labor, endurance inspiried by hope

Jesus Christ prompts my labor. He is my endurance, my HOPE

The Reading of the Poem

Bobbie, our employees had this poem engraved on a plaque that they gave us at our company Christmas Party.  I think Denise Harkless actually wrote it but I believe it went through several rewrites with other employees helping out.

We will get together at 12:00 if that is ok with everyone else?!? Don't forget everyone bring a dish and your white elephant gift on the 28th. Hope to see everyone then.

Where are you Christmas

Where are you Christmas? Why can't I find you?

Why have you gone away?  Where is the laughter you used to bring me?

Why can't I hear music play?  My world is changing I'm rearranging, Does that mean Christmas changes too?

where are you Christmas?  Do you remember, the one you used to know?

I'm not the same one, see what the times done, Is that why you have let me go?

Christmas is here, everywhere.  Christmas is here if you care.

If there is love in your heart and your mind you will feel like Christmas all the time.

I feel you Christmas, I know I've found you, you never fade away.

The joy of Christmas stays here inside us fills each and every heart with love.

Where are you Christmas, fill your heart with love!

 

It is no secret that I can't find my Christmas spirit.  At one point I thought I would be content not having IT.  I could still do my part and just get through Christmas!  But the more I see people that actually have IT, I realized I don't want to just get by!  I don't want to just get through Christmas!  I want to have that Christmas spirit.  I want to be that light at Christmas that someone else sees and they say, "Ooooh Oooooh I want THAT Christmas spirit that she has!"  As I struggle and search to find it I hear a song by Steven Curtis Chapman "Christmas is All in the Heart".  So I searched my heart.  And do you know what I found?!  I have Christmas there!  In my heart!  I just can't seem to get it out!  Everytime I try, it comes out like Christmas used to be.  And I don't want that Christmas-how it was!  So instead of making it different I just decided not to do it at all.  So thats where my Christmas spirit is.   I found it!  It's trapped inside my heart, held hostage!  And I don't know how to let it out!  Thats my dilemma now!  Not where is it?  But how do I get it out of there and out here!?  Out here in the world where it needs to be.  Jesus said to love one another.

John 13:34-35

A new command I give you, love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

 That's what's in my heart, that's my Christmas spirit.  Love.  How hard is that to give away?  Sounds easy, but not always received.  When love came down over 2000 years ago people weren't receiving then either, but He didn't give up.  That's my goal for this Christmas season.  To love and not to give up!  So many don't know love.  A simple kindness that costs you so llittle but yet can mean so much to someone!  That's the Christmas spirit longing to be released from my heart- its hideing place.  And I know in gods time it will happen.  I am not a patient person, but I am obedient.  So I wait.  God is good and He wants me to have that Christmas spirit that's in my heart, but what He really wants is for me to share it with you!  So brace yourself because when it hits me watch OUT!  Cause I know it will be explosive!  That's just how God is-explosive!  And when it finally hits me I will be the Christmas bomb I have wished for!

What love sees(Mac Powell)

Blessed are you as you weep on your knees

With perfume and tears washing over My feet

And blessed are you, beggar, hopeless and blind

Calling for mercy when I'm passing by

Blessed are you, shaking your head

At two tiny fish and some bread

And blessed are you as you tremble and wait

For the first stone thrown at your sinful disgrace

Tell Me your story, show Me your wounds

And I'll show you what Love sees when Love looks at you

Hand Me the pieces, broken and bruised

And I'll show you what Love sees when Love sees you

Blessed are you, walking on waves

To find yourself sinking when you look away

Blessed are you, leper, standing alone

The fear on their faces is all that you've known

Blessed are you, lonely widow who gave

Your last shiny coin to Yahweh

Blessed are you with your silver and lies

Kissing the One who's saving your life

Tell Me your story, show Me your wounds

And I'll show you what Love sees when Love looks at you

Hand Me the pieces, broken and bruised

And I'll show you what Love sees when Love sees you

I see what I made in your mother's womb

And I see the day I fell in love with you

I see your tomorrows, nothing left to chance

I see My Father's fingerprints

I see your story, I see My name

Written on every beautiful page

You see the struggle, you see the shame

I see the reason I came

I came for your story, I came for your wounds

To show you what Love sees when I see you

That is soo nice!  So who exactly penned the poem?

From Cadle company employees

In Appreciation of

DAN and RUTH

It all began in 1986, Two people with a dream invested a little money & took a big risk.

Their business had been blessed, and in the basement on LaFrance, they ran out of space, as their success progressed.

So they moved to an office in front of Bliss place, and hired some town folk to share in their chase.

The Cadle business was booming in the Falls, more loans were purchased and debtors needed called, so they bought the old High School and hired more people to fill up its halls.

For many years lots of money was made,
And to their employees, “Thanks a Million”, “Acts of Random Kindness” and “Pay it Forward” were gifts they graciously gave.

Their generosity did not stop there, and in true Cadle fashion,
They created an ESOP and with their employees, they once again did share.

Then the economy sank,
And there was no help from the banks,
And if not for their personal sacrifices, we all could have been in the tank.

We fought a tough battle, we all stood together and we now declare, Our staff has grown stronger and smarter beyond compare.

Because of Dan and Ruth’s faith in us, hard work and much prayer, The Company has survived, and today is still here,
And we take pride when we say,
The Cadle Company is open for business today.

We now “Pay it Forward” and give them our thanks.

As we walk through the “Door of Knowledge” we pray for continued blessings on The Cadle Company and its families.

THANK YOU
From your extended family at 100 North Center Street

2013 

Freezing Rain

My morning yesterday was met with freezing rain and sleet, like most everyone on the east coast.  Precipitation in one form or another!  So my day that I had planned began to unravel.  No church, no play practice-which we desperately need-no evening church either.  So I was feeling pretty bummed.  Because without those services, I don’t see people.  It also means I don’t get my spiritual meal for the week.  If I get that meal, that one meal, I am pretty good all week with that little snack we get on Wednesday night.  So I began to dread the day which lay ahead of me; Stuck in my own home, with no people.  Well don’t you know God always has a plan?  My neighbor Tina Forren calls and says Randy is out getting gas at Sam Black for the generator, he will stop and pick you up for a cup of coffee.  So I jump at that!  After all Jacob is snuggled in front of the TV with the latest Xbox game, Call of Duty!  His idea of being snowed in and mine are totally different.  So I visit for a while.  Enjoy good company and good coffee.  Tina is putting up her Christmas tree.  I like that!  Not quite in the mood to put mine up.  But it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling just for a few minutes.  We even talk about Jesus and the Bible.  What God has planned for our lives.  Not as good as the spiritual meal I would get at church but a close second.  After I came home, Jacob of course is hungry.  He is always hungry!  Tanner is stuck on the road trying to get home from Wheeling.  I fix lunch and the mound of dishes in the kitchen is calling my name!  So I start all those little chores I had hoped to avoid today.  I don’t get a lot accomplished but I make a dent.  Then the power goes out.  As I set in the dark I thought about the day and how Gods plans interfered with mine.  But at the end of the day, it wasn’t what I had planned, but it was good.  I got to visit with friends, did a little cleaning I had put off for way too long.  I even enjoyed my kids, although brief.  God is like that with every aspect of my life.  I make plans and what I call interference is actually THE PLAN for my days.  It’s just I don’t check with Him first.  I try to remember to ask Him, what are we doing today?  Instead of saying this is what we are doing!  But sometimes I forget.  I start getting bogged down with life and I realize I am trying to do things my way, my time without asking God for direction.    And yes, sometimes it takes a freezing rain storm and a power outage for me to get it!

Are you like this?  Is life getting you down?  Or maybe things just aren’t going the way you planned them?  Or maybe you just don’t know which direction you are supposed to take?  Well I can tell you, I have been or actually I am at these very cross roads.  Things aren’t going the way I planned them because I planned them!  I don’t know which way to go, but God knows!  So yesterday I had plenty quiet time.  I asked!  And oh boy, He just doesn’t hesitate to tell me!  Just like the freezing rain came down all day on Sunday, so did Jesus!  He rained down on me all day long.

Hosea 6:3

He will come to us like the rain.

Sometimes in life we don’t slow down long enough to hear what He has to tell us.  We may pause long enough to pray, but do we wait around for the answer?  So yes, He sends us a storm to get the answer across to us!  And sometimes the storm is accompanied by a power outage.  He takes everything away from us so that we have no other choice but to hear.  So here I am in the dark with no distractions and I hear Him say this way!

 

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart

So for those of you today who have prayed and haven’t heard back?  You haven’t received your answer?  Chances are He is trying to tell you but you are distracted or you are busy with work or even church.  Sometimes you schedule so much “stuff” that you can’t even enjoy the real true meaning of Christmas!  So here is what I suggest.  First of all slow down, life will still go on no matter what!  Even if you don’t get to that sale at the mall before Christmas!  Slow down and listen with all your senses, even your heart.  Most of all your heart!  You may have to power “down” not necessarily “power out” as I had to do!  I am a tough nut to crack sometimes, so He has to use drastic measures!   Just listen and you will hear Him!

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

What time are we meeting on the 28th Teresa?

Christmas/New Years

I know everyone is getting tired of this subject but we will be having our family get together on the 28th of December so bring your finger foods and white elephant gifts and join us in our celebration. I am so sorry that there are going to be some that can't join us and I hope no ones feelings are hurt but I had to make a decision and the majority of the family could come the 28th. We are going to really miss those who cannot come. I love you all and pray that everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God Bless Everyone!!!