Here's To New Adventures...

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
-- J R R Tolkien


Well, Christmas is over and as the new year is fast approaching, I find myself faced with another year of the unknown. Another year of potential sorrows, another year of potential joys, another year of potential defeats, another year of potential victories. As I think forward to the future, I am poignantly aware that I have no idea what is in store. There is nothing in my life that I can say will be the same a year from now with absolute certainty...except for one thing. My salvation. Another year of growing to be more like Christ (for He who began a good work us will bring in to completion), another year of experiencing God's sustaining grace, another year of knowing that Christ died for my sin, another year of learning to find my joy in God and not my circumstances, another year serving in the dearest place on earth (the local church), another year of knowing that even when I am faithless He is faithful, another year of trusting in the sovereignty of God, another year of seeking to grow in my knowledge of His word, another year of undisclosed adventures for His glory...Lord willing. These things are what lay ahead for us, as well as so much more! When I look to the future with eyes of faith and not in apprehension and worry, I have a peace and joy for the days to come. Not because I control them, but because I know my life rests secure in the hands of a sovereign God. My prayer is that I will walk faithfully this next year and honor God by displaying the kind of peace and joy that speaks of my ultimate trust in Him.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."-Matthew 6:25-34

Blissful Security

The weight of my sin can often be oppressive to me. It can pull my spirit down to the point where I am longing with all my heart to be in heaven where I will sin no more. But this morning I was reminded that until that day comes, I still have the hope of knowing that Jesus has paid the cost for all my sins and my salvation can never be dissolved. What Christ did at Calvary, gives me hope to "joyfully" live out my day to day life. Until the day I die I will sin, but that sin no longer has power over me. God has called me and therefore He will continue His good work in me (Philippians 1:6). May I live out my days with a holy confidence in Him!

"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. - 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Heaven is a place where we shall never sin; where we shall cease our constant watch against an indefatigable enemy, because there will be no tempter to ensnare our feet. There the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. Heaven is the undefiled inheritance; it is the land of perfect holiness, and therefore of complete security. But do not the saints even on earth sometimes taste the joys of blissful security? The doctrine of God's word is, that all who are in union with the Lamb are safe; that all the righteous shall hold on their way; that those who have committed their souls to the keeping of Christ shall find him a faithful and immutable preserver. Sustained by such a doctrine we can enjoy security even on earth; not that high and glorious security which renders us free from every slip, but that holy security which arises from the sure promise of Jesus that none who believe in him shall ever perish, but shall be with him where he is. Believer, let us often reflect with joy on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, and honour the faithfulness of our God by a holy confidence in him."- Charles Spurgeon

Let It Snow

I thought it would be fun to give my site a Christmas/Winter makeover! I love creating new banners. It's so fun. Maybe we'll get some snow this Christmas!...or not.

"Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
he refreshes the soul of his masters." - Prov 25:13

I Heart You

My sister sent me this and I thought it was just so sweet...and funny.

What Love means to a 4-8 year old... Slow down for three minutes to read this. It is so worth it. Touching words from the mouth of babes A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?' The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss' Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.' Bobby - age 7

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'
Nikka - age 6

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.' Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'
Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' Karen - age 7

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.
The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

All I Want For Christmas Is...

Christmas is definitely my favorite holiday! I love everything that goes with it from decorations, to the shopping, to the movies, to the family times, to the presents! It always seems like there's a little extra joy in the air, a little extra magic. But with all the great things to enjoy this time of year, I have to be careful to put the true meaning of Christmas above all the rest. We are celebrating the day our salvation became tangible. The day it became flesh. Without this day occurring, it wouldn't matter how many holidays we had, it would only matter that we would be at enmity with God with no way to be saved. This Christmas, I am overwhelmed afresh at God's great gift of sending His precious Son. No, one could ask for a better gift than that!

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14"

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!