Beyond the Shoebox

Tomorrow night is ghosts, goblins and sneaking the kids candy.

After that the countdown for Christmas begins.



The other day I sat down with the kids and talked about what they could do to help someone during the Christmas season, besides packing a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child.


Make no mistake, we LOVE OCC and will be packing our three boxes again this year!

But, I want to get them thinking outside the box (<----see did="did" font="font" i="i" there="there" what="what"> ).


So I'm asking you, Dear Readers, what ways do you practice being the hands and feet of Jesus during the Christmas season that 3 kiddos ranging in age from 14 to 6 could do?

Or maybe you've never done anything but would like to-I'd love to hear those ideas too.

Don't be shy, inquiring minds want to know !



May you score lots of the good candy tomorrow,

WordsTo Live By

The Princess made this at school yesterday.

She said "It's not all the 10 Rules but I think these are the best ones".
                               (that would be the 10 Commandments)

She's a smart one, that girl of mine.

Blessings,

Days Like This

Autumn in the middle of the country can be a beautiful thing.

And this year is no exception.

Once again I've been struck by the magnificence of God's creation, as I watched Him take out his

glorious paint brush and color the world with reds, yellows, golds, orange's  and browns.


And let's face as with weather and life we'd all prefer days like this:

But, perhaps even though they might not be our favorite, days like this make the beauty more clear to see.

On those dark and cloudy days that can mirror our lives so well, maybe just maybe we notice the colors more, the beauty more. . .that in the grey of what is surrounding us, there is such a  contrast to the beauty we can't help but notice it more, appreciate it more.

So that when the sun does shine again and it does always shine again. . .even though those days may be long and far between. . .it will eventually shine again, and when it does we can appreciate the beauty even without the grey.

If you're in the 'grey' of your life today would you join me in looking for the beauty somewhere.

Anywhere. It's there. I promise it is,

We've just got to look for it-don't let the grey of right now hide it from you.

Blessings,

Calling God a Liar

Every time we say we don't have enough

We call God a liar.


Every time we think our children are an inconvenience

We call God a liar.


Every time we think we'd be better off just walking away from our spouse

We call God a liar.


Every time we say NO to our calling

We call God a liar.


Every time we call ourselves  ugly

We call God a liar.


Every time we say we aren't good enough

We call God a liar.


Every time we let our past define us

We call God a liar.


Every time guilt and despair consume us

We call God a liar.


Every time we walk in defeat

We call God a liar.


Every time we let man made rules win over love

We call God a liar.

Every time.

I don't know about you, but I am fed up with the lies.

I want to live and walk  in the Truth.

Will you join me?

Blessings,

We are the Champions

Our middle child was at soccer practice this week and while coach was trying to explain something to the team, J was chatting.

Coach said, "J are you paying attention? I'm trying to make you a Champion."

Of course, that got his attention and he practiced  hard for the rest of their time together.


I haven't been able to get that phrase off my mind, "I'm trying to make you a Champion!".

I wonder if God is ever looking down from his heavenly throne and saying, "Angie are you paying attention ? I'm trying to make you a champion!"


I love the first two verses in Hebrews 12.  They say:" Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus,the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. "


God and all the Saints who've gone before are cheering us on in this race called life.

Telling us to throw off all those things that hold us back; fear, worry, anger, deceit, envy, pride-
anything and everything that is holding us back from reaching the finish line, where we'll find Jesus there waiting for us.

But are we paying attention? Do we really want to run like the Champions He's created us to be? Or would we rather hold on to all the J U N K that is holding us back and keeping us from running the race well?

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to run full speed ahead-like a CHAMPION.


Blessings,

For shame. . .

Shame on me.

Shame on you.

For shame.

Ever hear or use those expressions?  

I know, I said them before, most often to myself.

I'm in the midst of a Bible study right now that has me peeling back the layers.

The process of peeling away is not an easy one, it's often very painful.

Last night  I was thinking about this idea of shame.

The thought that I could not escape, nor did I want to was this:

"Thank you Lord, for tearing up MY rule book and replacing it with you.

Thank you for NEVER using shame to humiliate me."

Maybe you need to hear that today too.

Shame is not an emotional  tactic God uses.

Shame pushes you low and focuses on self. 

Instead of seeing our sin for what it is-SIN- in shame we only focus on ourselves.

Grace instead sees us for who we are and what we've done-and doesn't sweep the sin under the rug-but it does reach down and pull us up, washes us clean and NEVER reminds us again of shame only of our forgiveness.

Shame is Satan's tactic.  He whispers our shame in our ears and says," How could you?".

Shame on you is his chant. His accusation. 

Christ, says Come to me and I'll wash you white as snow and put your sin as far as the East is from the West.

Satan says SINNER.

Christ says REDEEMED.

If you feel like the shame of your past is beating you down, know that isn't from Jesus.

Lift your head high and bask in the glorious thought-I AM REDEEMED.

Shame  has NO power over me.

Walk in grace today!

Blessings,