We cannot come the 28th as we are having our family Christmas dinner that day.

Teresa, I could be there either weekend!  Too early to tell for Elliott yet, he goes back to work today so all say a prayer for him as he works the soreness out!  =)

Teresa I will be there BOTH weekends!  :)

Christmas/New years

How about since I can't get any of the family to respond to me about the Christmas/New years get together: me and Steve will just open our house to our family both weekends. whoever can make it the weekend of dec 28th can come in and bring your food and your white elephant gifts,those who can't come then can come the following weekend Jan. 4th and bring your food and white elephant gifts. That's the only thing I know to do. Any other suggestions? Don't everyone speak up at once!!!

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

See!?  I come by it honestly!

My Birthday Prayer

As the clock struck midnight last night I was awake and immediately thought, Happy Birthday to ME! I began to think of my 48 years on earth and how circumstances change. Situations change, life changes, people change but the one thing that doesn’t change is God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8(NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever

In life, I am not so sure that changing situations is a bad thing. If nothing changed, ever, how would we grow? We would become stagnant. No matter what happens in our life, no matter what the circumstance, God makes it good!

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

When my circumstances changed last year so did my situation, my life, my childrens lives, people in my life and yes, even I changed. I really could not see anything good…even in the distance I couldn’t see. I wanted so much for my life to be the same, to be what it was. Many times I wished I didn’t have to go on because it was painful. I didn’t want to grow because I felt like I was leaving a very important part of me behind as I grew. But one day when I woke up I realized that not only had my circumstances changed but so had I, I had grown. I was kinder, my heart was bigger, I was more compassionate, and I was stronger. How did this happen? When the best part of my life was gone, how did I grow?   I grew “up” in God when I wasn’t looking.  It should be no surprise though because I got exactly what I asked for.  I prayed for words.  God granted that.  I prayed for health.  God granted that.  I prayed for a job.  God granted that.  I prayed for insurance.  God is granting that as I even write this note.  These are the big things He has granted.  Big answers to my prayers.  The little prayers also get answered!  He keeps me safe, He keeps my children safe.  He supplies us with plenty food to eat.  He always pays my bills at the end of the month.  When I am down He supplies me with friends to lift my spirits.  He even supplies me with laughter.  And not just a chuckle, He gives that gut wrenching laughter that makes your ribs hurt!

Proverbs 17:22

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

I pray that He completes my family because Danny is missed so much and don’t you know He is supplying that with our church family.  Every Sunday He gives me someone new to add to my family tree!  And today on a typical Monday, He gives me a lovely new branch to add to my tree.  A branch that is similar to my branch.  Similar in that we both have lost the trunk of our tree.   We are both broken, struggling for our tree to stand.  But God is so good!  He just takes all these broken branches and puts them together.  And as we nurture each other our branches begin to grow together.  As we lean into each other, before you know it we are almost growing straight up!  I notice we are still leaning on each other but our branches are forming a trunk and it reaches heavenward.  The roots of our trees were established long ago.  They go deep and were never an issue.  Sometimes one of the branches has bigger roots than another branch.  You know the big gnarly roots that not only run deep but also on top of the ground.  Those are the roots that catch us by surprise when we are walking along and we trip on them!

Psalm 25:4

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

That’s how we are!  God has placed people in my life with roots so deep and so big that I trip when I get close to them!  Without meaning to I fall right into them!  And with their deep roots they don’t waiver, they support me even though maybe their branch is broken like mine!  I am growing my roots deep and I’m growing those big gnarly ones that will trip someone on top of the ground.  I want to be able to support someone when they fall into me!  I want to be a trunk for that someone whose branch is broken like someone was for me!

 God has blessed me with so much I want to give it back.  I feel like on my birthday today I have been receiving for 48 years and I need to give back.  Life is give and take.  I have taken and people have been so generous.  Generous with their time, and mostly with their love!  When I hear people say the love of Christ is dead, I just have to tell them, they don’t know my Savior!  Because He surely is working in my life, my church, my community!  And He is doing it BIG BIG BIG!  So I thank you all for your birthday wishes!  It truly has been an awesome day.  From waking up to a birthday text, to a lunch of fruit with some fruity friends, supper with a stranger who is now considered a branch on my family tree, numerous hugs, phone calls, emails, text messages; I just can’t even name them all!  I am truly blessed!  But I can’t take all these birthday wishes without giving one back in return!

James 1:2

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Enjoy your journey.  It’s the only one you are going to have.  Smile more, laugh often, love fiercely!  If you are a Christian you know you are going to Heaven and of course that’s a great ending!  But what God wants us to know is that our time in between can be just as good!  Show love to the least of these, you will be blessed.  Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, love the weary!

Matthew 25:34-40 (NIV)

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Just give as Christ has given unto you!  After all we all know:

John 3:16 (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I have learned a new walk.  It’s kind of scary at first, just like a toddler learning to walk for the first time.  But after you take off its exhilarating!  And after you step out, there is no turning back.  You will be hooked!  That’s my prayer for you all today, on this my birthday!

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

By Faith We Understand

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Happy Birthday Trish, you look great on that scooter! Oh to be young again. Love you David<14 pt>

We can't make it the 28th but can make it the weekend after New Years.

This is me!

It is never to late to ask yourself "am I ready to change my life, am I ready to change myself?" However old we are, whatever we went through, it is always possible to reborn. If each day is a copy of the last one, what a pity! Every breath is a chance to reborn. But to reborn into a new life, you have to die before dying.

Happy Happy Birthday Trish.

Happy Birthday Trish!  Love you and pray for you a wonderful day to know how very special you are in the lives that you touch everyday!

Mark and I vote for December 28th.

Christmas/new years

We need to decide when we are going to have our family get together because some of the family may need to put in some notice to have the day off. So lets do this guys!

My Christmas Spirit

If you ask anyone who knows me they will tell you I am a pretty genuine person!  If I say something I mean it.  If I am your friend you can depend on me.  But if I am your friend I may need to depend on you!  That’s how friendship works, any relationship really.  It’s give and take.  I talk you listen, you talk I listen!  It’s a marvelous concept and works well actually.  My earthly relationships work  so well that when I was in that big black hole last year, I had no other choice but to treat God the same way.  I was taking, taking, taking.  It was my turn to talk, talk, talk.  And he listened, listened, listened!  What an amazing feeling to pour out all your troubles to someone who you now loves you no matter what you say!  And it’s like you are having coffee and you are chatting and the waitress keeps coming back to top it off.  But you know how it is when you are out with a friend having coffee and you get that feeling that someone is waiting on your table or your kids or husbands are waiting at home on you to do something!  Well when I talk to God I have His full attention and our cup of coffee has been getting topped off for a long time now!  Our table is reserved for just us!  So just like any good friendship I have to take my turn!  It’s my turn to listen and the things I hear are amazing!  How I hear them?  You will probably think a little unconventional, definitely not God like!  But He created ALL things.  And trust me if He created it, He can talk through it and work through it!  A friend had shared a song with me on Thanksgiving Day.  A beautiful song, but the most amazing thing was that a 10 yr old girl is singing it! She sounds like she is 30.  So yesterday I am with my sister braving the elements of Black Friday which is kind of funny because the title of the song was Dark Waltz! Anyway, she decides to get a haircut so I say cool I am gonna sit in this other chair and put my head phones in while they do hair!  I look this little girl up on YouTube and watch her amazing woman voice come out of her tiny child body; The Dark Waltz.   Then that peaks my curiosity.  What else has she sang! So as I look for more I see where she sings with a famous opera singer.  I begin to listen to it!  So beautiful the voices that take the notes to an octave that I can only dream of.  But then I begin to hear past the angelic voice and “hear” the lyrics, “Time To Say Goodbye”.  I feel just a little tug at my heart and say OK enough of THAT song, NEXT!  Meanwhile Rita and her hairdresser are all this and that with a snip here and a snip there, like ¼ inch is really going to matter?  But Hello!  I do the good sister thing and give her a thumbs up, take off the head phones and tell them, “wonderful, looks good!”  Back with the head phones.  So I go back to YouTube and you all know if you pull up one child singer with a famous person you will get 10,000!  So here is another child singing with Celine Dion.  Beautiful again!  Singing for her mother who is there with her as she sings!  As the song ends once again I feel that tug at my heart as I listen to the lyrics, “Because You Loved Me”

“You were my strength when I was weak, You were my voice when I couldn’t speak, you were my eyes when I couldn’t see you saw the best there was in me.  Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach you gave me faith cause you believed, I’m everything I am because you loved me.

You were always there for me, the tender wind that carried me.  A light in the dark shining your love into my life, you’ve been my inspiration through the lies you were the truth.  My world is a better place because of you!  I’m everything I am because You loved me! 

I raise my head up as the tears start to sting my eyes and Rita and her hair dresser are still in “hair mode”.    Tuck it here, snip it there!  Trivial things!  But yet, still necessary every day moments that we call life!  Yes God talks to me through YouTube!  Just as sure as he talks to me in church on Sunday morning, He was talking to me through those songs!  Telling me, Yes, it’s time to say goodbye but not SADLY!  Say goodbye GLADLY!  I can say goodbye because he loved me!  Danny was my everything and I will carry him with me every day I go forward! He was my encourager, my inspiration, my eyes, my voice, my strength, the wind that carried me!  And yes my world is a better place because of him.  And not only my world but so many others!  God handpicked those songs for me to hear at that moment so that I could say goodbye.  I struggle with the whole “Christmas Spirit” thing!  I don’t like Christmas because that was Danny’s time!  He loved everything about it.  The excitement, the surprised, the wonder of it all!  The children, those young in age and young at heart!  Since he passed I just can’t find my Christmas spirit.  In December 2011 I bought a book called “The Spirit of Christmas”.  A childrens book complete with illustrations!  Because I knew in my heart this would be his last Christmas.  I never read it.  Didn’t want to!  And I was right, it was his last Christmas!  But this book has something for me!  I just don’t know what!  So I sat this book on a shelf in my Living Room!  It stays there all year!  Every season!  It has been there for 2 years, never moved, never opened, never read.  Last Sunday as I go to Jacob’s room to wake him up for church this book falls out of its spot that it has been for 2 years right in front of me!  So I pick it up and yes, acknowledge God with the fact that He put that before me!  “OK God, I get it!  I need to read the book!”  So I take it with me to church and I find time to read it between worship service and play practice.  I squeeze it in my schedule!  But that’s it!  I didn’t want to give it too much time because I knew there was something in there for me!  Well after I read it, I was like, “yeah nice” Christmas Spirit!  I know I need it!  But knowing it and getting it are two different things!  So after the Celine Dion song and trying to hold back the tears I take my head phones off and say alright God, enough of that today!  I came here to shop!  When I step back into reality of the beauty shop, Rita is almost finishing up.  Of course there is music playing inside the shop!  Back to the relationship with God, it’s still my turn to listen, listen, listen!  We are still topping off that cup of coffee!  Just because I said ENOUGH, didn’t mean He was finished talking.  And I have to listen!  After all He listened to me!  So the song playing as I fight back my tears and feel my heart breaking all over again is Faith Fill singing “Where Are You Christmas?”  You know God has to get that last word in!  He is telling me, “yes, it’s ok to say goodbye to Danny because he loved you so much that’s what he wanted for you!”  To move on and be happy!  And above all he wants me to find “My Christmas” not his Christmas spirit; he wants me to find my Christmas spirit!  So I jump out of my chair and tell them I have to get out of there before I cry all over the place and of course they have no idea what’s been going on in my chair!  Had no clue God was pouring it all over me!  So I go out to wait for Rita to finish up and there by the jewelry store I see a necklace with a cross-not just any necklace but the new style, a sideways cross!  Then I say, nice!  No sooner do I say that, turn around and a lady passes right in front of me with that very necklace on.  That sideways cross!  And it’s like ding ding ding ding!  THAT’S my Christmas Spirit!  It’s not the excitement or surprise!  It’s not the lights or tinsel! Not even the presents or the food!  As I read the book, The Christmas Spirit, yet again, right now, this is what it tells me about The Christmas Spirit!

He spoke to me then in a whisper of wings.  “There are gentle things the season brings.”  Snow that lies silent.  As quiet as a mouse. And all roads that lead to your grandmother’s house.  Ten lords – a leaping as seven swans swim.  And of course, Santa Claus, I’m just getting to him!  I lifted my chin and stared up at the ceiling.  I still wasn’t getting that warm Christmas feeling.  That’s when the spirit of Christmas smiled.  “Remember, this all began with a child.  Because it took nothing but love to begin it, it’s not really Christmas if love isn’t in it.”  Your tree may be large as the room will allow with a big yellow star on the uppermost bough, but of one thing I’m certain, I’m sure of one thing.  It is love that makes the angels sing.  And that’s when I got it.  That’s when I knew!  The thing that was missing from Christmas was you!                          Nancy Tillman, “The Spirit of Christmas”

Psalm 39:7

But now, Lord, what do I look for?  My hope is in you.

That’s my Christmas spirit!  My hope is in Christ Jesus who came to earth as a baby to give us a hope and a future!  But it doesn’t stop there, No!  He walked upon this earth just as we do, talked to his heavenly father, just as we do, and he worked all manner of miracles!  But even that wasn’t enough!  He loved, loved, loved!  He loved us so much He died for us!

John 3:16 (KJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

That’s my Christmas spirit!  So I may not have a tree with sparkling lights.  I may not have presents under the tree.  I won’t have a wreath on my door but I will have Jesus in my heart and that’s my Christmas spirit! 

My prayer and hope for each of you is that you find “your” Christmas spirit just as I found mine!  And while you are finding your Christmas spirit take just a few moments to find Jesus and let Him fill your heart!  Trust me; it’s the greatest gift of all!  And it will be the start of a beautiful friendship and an “endless cup of coffee”!

Merry Christmas!

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! (Luke 12:24 NIV)

From emily: reminded

Things are different, but they're also the same.

Just when I think I'm lost in newness and change and loss, things happen that are just familiar enough to remind me. Of what I'm reminded I'm not exactly sure. But I am reminded.

______________________________

A wood stove with a fire in it, a pan of bread sitting on the table, and an old Bible laid open on the counter.

A new garage covered in old license plates and that sawdust smell that never changes.

A sweet old man with a big belt buckle that I've never met who thanks me for the wrapped up plate of food and gives me a hug and it's like I've known him all of my life.

Visiting a family I have known all of my life. His suspenders are bright red and I barely notice the oxygen he's wearing. She's tiny, but she hugs me tight and she's so much like my Grandma that I have to swallow the lump in my throat. So many hugs all around, and another wood stove. While I'm there, she and I pick up right where we left off, like always. We laugh and roll our eyes and it's like we're 13 again.

Praying around the table. Chex mix, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. Stories of when I learned to read the word 'neighbor'.

Visiting another couple I've known forever. They're a lot frailer than I remember but they want to know all about school and about the new buildings in Morgantown. He begins to list all the weddings that he can remember that have ever happened at our church and she chimes in every little bit. More hugs.

New babies and little boys and cousins. Sneaking M&Ms and looking out the window at the dog. Those cookies with the hershey kisses stuck in the middle.

Ravioli from a can and Heiner's bread.

Songs they sang and recorded in 1960. One is about a great speckled bird and the rest are about Jesus.  At the beginning of one they say a little message for him in the army. At the beginnings of all the others, they are shushing several kids.

Long talks sitting on the big bed. Old quilts and new boots.

Going to the hospital (that I've been to a million times) to visit another man that I don't know. More hugs, more thanks, more like I've known them forever.

Even Wal-Mart. Can't go there without seeing at least 14 people you know.

__________________________________

I am thankful for many things, but today, right now, I'm thankful that He reminds me. When I forget, when I feel lost and uncertain, He wraps me up in familiar things and lets me know that no matter where I am or what the circumstances, I am home.

Out of Control

In our society today everything is about control.  We are in control of every aspect of our life.  Modern technology sees to that!  On our smart phone we can control our TV programming from across the nation!  We can pay our bills while sitting in traffic.  Thanks to Spotify and Pandora we even have control of our radio!  Gone are the days when we listened to what the radio DJ played.  We pick which songs, what order, and when we want to hear them- We Control!  While control is good, do we allow Christ in?  Do people see Him in everything we do?  Because if you don’t see Christ in what I am controlling then I am in BAD need of a tune up!

Philippians 1:27-28(NIV)

²⁷ Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel ²⁸ without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God

And I hope someone gives me a clue.  Because I am here to tell ya!  Sometimes I just don’t have a clue!  That’s where my friends and family come in.  God gives us accountability partners. Some folks require more than one!  Hello!  That’s me!  I am a lot of work people and I am not ashamed to tell it!  God wants to do something with me and He is cleaning up a big mess so it’s gonna take a big crew!  Gods PIT crew!  Just when I think I have everything under control! I am rolling along doing what I think He wants me to do and BAM  He changes gears and sometimes He fills me so full with His spirit, I literally bounce off the walls!  Gives a whole new meaning to ADHD!  It’s like I try to control myself but when I pray I sometimes forget that, Yes, He answers!  So Sunday morning I prayed, “Lord just fill me so full of your spirit I am running over with it!”  Well do you know what?  And don’t be surprised, hold on to your britches, but HE DID!

Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

⁴ Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart

God knows my heart and right now He is the only one!  Danny was the only person that knew my heart.  Knew it even better than me!  I have prayed and prayed and prayed!  And one day I noticed Oh my goodness, He is listening.  Just when I thought He had given up on me, He was right there waiting for me to finish pouring out my heart!  He waited until I got the whole thing empty!  He wanted it all!  And then I noticed He started filling it back up.  Little by little He took over until one day- this past Sunday- I noticed I was completely out of control!  But the great thing about that was while I was out of control, God was in control!  And oh my, what a feeling!  It’s better than any drug or alcohol high you could ever get!  I couldn’t sit still in my seat, I wanted to meet and greet and just shine for Jesus!  As we sang each song I just knew God was hanging on every note to hear “Oh How We Love”!

 

Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

God is just so good and I know He wants us to have control over our lives, but He wants us to know that when we feel that control slipping we have to turn to Him.  We have to say, OK I know I can’t do this but you can!

Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

As much as I like having control over my situations in my life, I like giving Him the control so much more!  Because I can’t take care of the messes that I make, but He can!  And when I give Him control and let Him drive me around, WOW!  I don’t have to think about things, I just DO!

Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

I just go and do!  I don’t even make plans anymore.  I literally say, OK God what are we gonna do today?  Where do you want me to go?  How can I help YOU today!  And it never fails, when I give Him the control of my life and follow him wherever, I always receive a blessing.  I always receive far above and beyond anything I could’ve imagined to even ask for.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

God wants us to ask Him to take over our lives, not because He likes control, but because He knows what’s best for us.  He knows how the story ends!  He just wants to help us get there!  I am so glad I have learned His voice and even more thankful that I not only hear it but that I let Him have the control!  After having the control for 47 years and seeing what “I” did, and looking at what He has done with the control after 1 year?!  I am sold!  I am a slow learner when it comes to some things but you don’t have to tell this old girl twice when it comes to allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way!

God has a perfect plan for us.  He never does it all at once just step by step because He wants to teach us to “walk by faith” not by sight.    Anonymous

He is teaching me to walk all over again.  Just as if I was a baby crawling and have just turned toddler age!  I am starting to walk and just as a baby feels like a whole new world has been opened up to them, that’s how I feel!  With Heaven in my view, I can do anything with Christ by my side!  Me out of control= God in control!  Lord, when I forget, help me to remember your promise!

Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)

¹⁰ Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

He has been faithful to me in so many ways!  I know each of you can tell the same stories of His faithfulness, because that’s just who He is!  He is all powerful and can handle anything we dish out!  He wants us to dish it out to Him.  He wants all of our story!

Proverbs 15:23 (NIV)

²³ A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—
and how good is a timely word!

Then after we given Him the story we will give Him the control and He will give us something beautiful!  A fairytale if you will!  Yes I believe Jesus believes in fairytales!  After all the greatest fairytale of all will be when we reach Heaven and look upon His face and know we have an eternity to spend basking in the love of my Lord and Savior!  Now THAT’S a fairytale!

Happy Thanksgiving Y’all!

I can do either if it doesn't snow!