This blog was created with the hopes of helping women discover the treasures within themselves and God's Word.
...And it has a become a platform for me to share these truths through my stories.
I am the world's worst gift wrapper. The person who invented the gift bags must have worked with me at the Colony Shop before I got married. I took so long wrapping gifts that the manager sweetly asked me to never enter that room again. Ha!
The other night, after buying my FIRST Christmas gifts, I went into hiding to wrap some of my children's presents. I wanted them to have a few things under the tree. Two hours later I emerge triumphantly. My family looks at me in unbelief. Why? Because I only had six presents wrapped.
And I thought I did well! humph!
Well, the greatest Gift ever given was wrapped also.
God sent the Gift special delivery. I shouldn't feel bad, because God took His time wrapping the Perfect Gift.
He took 9 months.
He wrapped the Perfect Gift in humanity.
As usual, we tossed the wrapping aside - wadded it up and threw it away~ tortured Him and crucified Him.
Little did we know we threw the Gift away with the wrapping.
But God, took the wrapping and the Gift, and re-wrapped our Gift in His original state with Power and Glory~ enabling us to have eternal life!
So, as you are wrapping your gifts (if you are late like me) 0r- as you are un-wrapping your gifts, I hope you think about the greatest gift of all - Jesus Christ!
Philippians 2:5-11 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
John 3:16 "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."
Merry Christmas! May you "un-wrap" the Greatest Gift this Christmas! And may you find the love and forgiveness He so much wants to lavish upon you!
I would like to give each of you a gift~ but being the "un"wealthy person that I am, I don't have that much moola. So, I will give you laughter today.
Here is a true-to-life story that I think will at least make you smile. :~) It is one of the very first blog posts I made. I edited it a little for you just in time for Christmas!
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Have you ever felt so unspiritual and unChristlike that you thought you'll never make it to heaven? I have those days - often. Oh, the day will start out fine, but after a few minutes of life in the Blann home, I know it's going to be a doozy of a day.
Let me share a particular day with you.
We had just moved to the area. It was fall, but not quite cold yet. One of my children had some type of sports practice in the Marion area and I was driving on the service road.
Now, it may come as a surprise to some of you, but don't be too upset - I was running a little late. I had to choose when we got in the car, be on time or get gas.
True to my personality, I chose to be on time (quit laughing!). I really do try. Plus, I did the mental math, 2 gallons and a few fumes would get me to Marion and then I would get gas before heading back home.
Here's where the really human part comes in. My mental math was correct. I made it there fine, my child was NOT late and life was good. Now understand that if one child is practicing, then the other two are with me. So, somehow a sibling disagreement broke out on our way to the neighborhood gas station.
Being the "focused" parent that I am, I immediately set out to teach my children some great principle about life, love, and stop hitting your sister. The next thing I know, my wonderful car, that has been heaving itself on the last few fumes of gasoline, has given up the ghost. It is at that moment that I realize we did not stop at the little gas station a half mile back.
No problem. I have a cell phone and I have a wonderful husband. Meanwhile, my wise words of parental instruction have gone unheeded and World War ten thousand and fifty-two has erupted in the back seat.
Ring Ring. Ring Ring. Ring Ring.
Hmmmmm. There is no answer on my wonderful husband's phone - and then I am reminded that he was going to be in an area that did not have reception.
At this time, I see very bright, very vivid blue flashing lights in my rear view mirror, while I am looking at two very misbehaving children, who at the sight of the very bright flashing lights began to wail and scream.
(Have you ever had a day like this? Well, put your seat belts on 'cause I "ain't" through.)
A nice over-sized gentleman walks to my vehicle and asks if there is a problem. I mumble that I have run out of gas. He asks me if he can call someone for me and I tell him I am getting in touch with my husband. He says that since it is getting dusk and visibility is not its best that he would keep his squad car behind mine to prevent a traffic hazard.
I am thinking - "Traffic hazard! "You got the blue lights flashing so that all of Memphis can see and you think my suburban is a traffic haszard?!!!!"
Not wanting to tie up the kind man's time with his very bright, very blue flashing lights that I am sure can be seen five states over, I call my parent's home, knowing a land line will surely get reception.
My dad graciously said he would be right there.
In the mean time, the very kind man with the very bright and very blue flashing lights approaches my vehicle again. He was checking on some things- which I am sure he was probably trying to make sure I had not kidnapped the sweet, wonderful children in the back seat who are still making enough racket to disturb the fish in the Mississippi River.
I proceed to get out of the car to tell him that I had reached my father who was on his way with precious gas.
In my nervousness I began twisting my hair between my fingers.
No big deal. I talk. I get nervous. I twist my hair.
Always have. Always will.
It's not a bad habit, ...................unless it is way past time to go to the salon and get your acrylic nails filled in.
I mean, as in, some of the nails are lifting off and you are just praying they don't pop off at some really bad time- .............like when you are stranded on the side of the road talking to someone who thinks you might have kidnapped your own children.
Good news.... not one of my nails popped off.
Bad news..... my hair got all tangled underneath one as I am twisting my hair.
Worse, somehow or another it was my left hand on the right side of my head.
Go ahead.
Put your hand over there to try and figure out how on earth I did that.
You figure it out and you can call me and tell me. Then we will both know.
Okay, let's review.
I am stranded on the side of the road with no gas in my vehicle.
My children are screaming. And I am standing there talking to an officer with my hand crossed over my head and can't move it.
Try that and act sophisticated!
I yank and I tug, all the while trying to act calm, cool, and collected.
Yeah, right.
Well, I finally yank hard enough and my hand gets free.
I look at my newly acquired hand and you guessed. I am minus a nail or two.
Where? Hanging out my blooming head!!!!!
Thankfully my dear old dad drives up at this time. Then my phone rings and my husband has seen where he has missed my last hundred calls and is worried sick about me. The kids now decide to go to sleep. I have gas in my car and can go home. But of course, now it is time to pick up the child that I dropped off.
Now, I shared that story with you - and without much exaggeration- to let you know we all have those days. Those days that make you think, "Why on earth did I even bother to get out of bed this morning?" Days that years later may be humorous but at the time are trying.
So - for Christmas today, I give each of you the gift of laughter ~ at my expense. Go ahead. It's okay.
You know you already laughed anyway. And maybe even you are thinking, "And I thought I was bad!"
Merry Christmas! May the Joy of the Season reside in your heart every day of the year!
In my devotion time this morning I read Ephesians 3~ another one of my favorite scriptures.
I wanted to share with you today what God spoke into my spirit.
Prayer for the Ephesians
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now 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, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
I especially love verses 20 and 21:
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,
to Him be glory in the CHURCH and in Christ Jesus
throughout ALL generations,
for ever and ever,
Amen.
When you stop to think about this verse, it can catch you off guard!
God WANTS to do the Extra-Ordinary in YOUR life!
We have dreams.
We have desires.
We have goals.
He is able to do IMMEASURABLY MORE
than we can even ask for~
but it doesn't stop there.
He is able to do IMMEASURABLY MORE
than we can even imagine.
God goes beyond your "wildest dreams".
He goes farther than your "secret desires".
He does the Extra-Ordinary!
All because He wants to lavish His love upon you!
Wow!
I hope that ministers to your spirit like it did to mine today.
I pray His Word sinks down into your soul and spirit and produces a hundred fold in your life!
Blessings to you and yours during this Wonderful Christmas season!
The meningitis is Viral ~ not bacterial ~ which is a very good thing. The viral meningitis just has to run its course now.
She is still nauseas and has severe headaches. But she was able to keep food down yesterday. She ate an ice cream sandwich and a granola bar and some other things.
I was talking with Melanie a while ago and Ashlyn woke up asking for some cereal! If you know Ashlyn, you know she has a HUGE appetite. :) She is an outstanding athlete with a great metabolism. If I ate half as much as she did ~ well, it wouldn't be pretty. ha!
Anyway, she is getting her appetite back in spite of the nausea. She still has some recovery ahead of her getting her strength back and energy- but she is getting there.
We are SO grateful to everyone who prayed for her. Please keep it up, but thank you for interceding for her. It was a very scary situation but God prevailed!
Just wanted to fill you in! blessings~ and thanks again! dorinda
Oh- If you prayed for her, please leave a note on this blog - or send an email to the church address or you can leave a note on my facebook.
She has enjoyed us telling her who all sent little notes and words of encouragement. Thanks!
I just received a text message from Melanie that so far no bacteria has grown in Ashlyn's spinal tap cultures. PTL! They still have to wait another 24 hours to make sure it is not bacterial meningitis, but it is looking good.
Tommy is better also. He was hospitalized last night and is showing some improvement.
Prayer to the Omnipotent God is amazing!
What the enemy does has no bearing on God's final outcome. Nothing takes God by surprise.
All things will work together for the good of these two young people who love God!
Keep on Praying!
blessings, dorinda
Jennifer has an update from last night also. Click on her name to go there.
(Oh, and if you are looking for Part 2 to the Christmas story- it is coming. It has been a little hectic this week with all the viruses my kids are bringing home~ its kind of like brining home stray pets, your stuck with them whether you want them or not. :0 )
My husband's baby sister's son- Tommy - is being admitted to the hospital. The last result I heard was that he had a staph infection in his blood stream.
Again, I do not know details but please pray for Tommy!
Tommy is 10, almost 11. He is a gifted ball player and is big bud's with his cousin Mackenzie!
The majority of my husband's family are in the medical field. If it hadn't been for my brother-in-law doing his blood work and my mother-in-law nurse, Tommy would not be here with us now.
The good news is that because the family knew what to do, Tommy has been on heavy duty antibiotics for several days. (He was released from a hospital earlier this week.... because that hospital didn't get the same lab results as my brother-in-law.) That is when the family doctor began the antibiotics.
God is good and again, He is our Healer!
Thanks for remembering Tommy in your prayers also!
My lifelong "bestest" friend sent me a text message in the wee hours of the morning that said,
"Not Good- 911".
My heart sank as I shot up to call her.
Her daughter, my daughter's best friend, was in the ER with an infection in her spinal fluid.
The official name of what they are looking at is Meninga Insephilitus. (I have no idea if I spelled that correctly.)
Ashlyn needs your prayers. Please pray fervently for her. She is a beautiful young 13 year old who is smart, athletic, and hilarious! She has a talent of memorizing movie scripts by hearing them one time. She and my daughter can mimic scenes from movies- doing the voice impressions and all. Ashlyn is a joy! Ashlyn needs a miracle.
So~ I beg you, please pray for Ashlyn, and her parents Byron and Melanie.
They don't have a lot of answers right now, and Ashlyn is NOT in ICU~ which is a good thing. The doctors need to find the right antibiotics to administer to fight the infection. Please pray for the doctors and nurses.
God is a great God. He is Jehovah Rapha- the Lord our Healer.
There are times when life just doesn't go the way we hope, expect or even think it should.
I was drawn this morning to read about Job.
I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and horror of that day when he lost everything except his wife and four servants. (And you thought he lost every thing except his wife.... :0 Read it in Job 1.)
But the devastation that occurred that day was unbelievable and imcomprehensible.
Sometimes it is easy to read a Bible story and stay disconnected from it. I guess that is why I like to write my stories. I like to get into the feelings, the atmosphere, and the full "drama" of what really happened in God's Word.
How would I even begin to write from Job's perspective? I can't imagine losing all my children ~at one time!
I believe that Job was disturbed when he lost his oxen and donkeys. He was a businessman. He was accustomed to losses.
I believe Job was shocked when he was told about his sheep. He had probably lived through natural disasters before.
I believe Job was outraged when the camels were stolen. He now had no way to go recover his oxen and donkeys~ or to get his camels back.
But I believe Job felt helpless and in despair when he was told that all of his children died. All of them.
Totally helpless.
Nothing left but his wife and 4 servants.
His livelihood~ his life's work was gone. His children~ his pride and joy were gone.
In one day. In one afternoon!
Almost everything.
We hear sermons about Job. We look to Job when things are bleak for us.
But it is so easy to look at the whole story at once.
We see the loss, devestation and the restoration in one sitting. We see that God's hand was with Him the entire time. We see the beginning and the end of the story, the bad and the good.
But what did Job see? What did Job hear? What did Job feel?
He didn't see God's hand. He didn't see the restoration until it came to pass. He didn't hear God's conversation with the enemy. He didn't feel blessed and prosperous.
There were years of depletion and leanness.
His fortune was not restored the next day.
His children did not come back to life.
He did work hard and rebuild his business. He did have more children.
But that rebuilding took time and immense effort. He had more sons and daughters~ but he still missed his deceased children.
Basically, Job still experienced the pain that came with that emotional loss. The physical loss we can bear, but that grieving of the loss of loved ones is not so mechanical.
Put yourself in Job's shoes.
I don't care how many children you have, if you lose your child~ let alone - ALL of them~ you would still miss Susie's laugh, Johnny's smirk, Sallie's twinkle, etc.
You couldn't just have more children and that grief and loss be gone. So what is my point?
Even though Job couldn't see God's hand with him through all of the difficult times, God was with him. God never left him.
And.... if God never left Job, He will never leave you!
No matter what calamity, No matter what disaster, No matter what misfortune comes your way~
You can rebuild. You can have happiness again.
Rebuilding takes time Healing takes time.
But there is HOPE.
God is faithful and His Mercies are new EVERY morning!
We must put all of our TRUST in Him. That is what was so special about Job. Every thing went wrong. Things were not good.
But ~ he still said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Job 13:15
Ok. So I drove just a leeeeeeeeetttle bit recklessly today. I didn't mean to. I was just coming back from the doctor (my 10 millionth trip for my family in the last 2 weeks), had my son in the car, and had to turn in at the last minute to go through the drive thru. (Because sick mommies don't cook.) :)
We are about to order whatever it is Jordan wants before his ballgame and this motorcycle comes pulling up beside us.
I ignore it.
But Jordan thinks it is one of our motorcycle guys from the church.
NOT!
Jordan rolls down the window.
And the next few minutes for me were like~ surreal. A blur of abstract memory.
I hear, "Great driving, STUPID!!!!"
I next hear my son, "You calling MY MOM STUPID! No one calls MY MOM STUPID!!!"
Then, the aging gentlemen, proceeds to get off his bike, and starts walking toward my baby boy(who is 6'1" ~ almost 6'2" and weighs almost 180) asking him - "You want some of this?!!"
Then, a mother's WORST, might I repeat - W O R S T - nightmare happened~ my son starts to open the door!
I hear him say something like~ "You Bet! NO ONE CALLS MY MOM STUPID!!!!!"
Oh. my. Word!
Do you know the horror I felt at that moment? Was this guy on drugs? Or was he so old, he was still tripping from the 60's? Was he one of these guys that was on his way to have a shoot 'em up at the post office, but decided to take his holiday depression out on us?
Oh. my. Word!
All I knew was that my son was reaching for the door! Of all things, to protect his mother's honor!!!!
Say it with me~ a mother's WORST nightmare!
An ice cold chill ran thru my veins. I murmured a prayer~ "in the Name of Jesus!"
There was a static from the intercom.
"Ma'am. Order when you're ready."
The Popeye's people!!!!
I manage to gather my coherency. "Uhmmmm. Yes!!! Can you please call the police! There is a man out here trying to pick a fight with my son! He is coming towards our car!!!!"
Static. "Yes ma'am! We are calling them right now!"
In the mean time, the deranged gentleman was still making threatening motions and antagonizing my son to get out of the car!
I grabbed my son's arm and in that firm First name, middle name, last name tone said, "You are NOT getting out of this car! It is not worth it!"
I finally had the sense to lock the doors and pull off! (I know ~ you are thinking "What on earth took you so long!" but I promise ~ this all happened in like 5 seconds!)
When I pulled around by the actual drive-thru window, all of the Popeye's employees were hanging their heads out of the window to see the action. (Well, I guess three. :0) ) And the manager was on the phone with the police.
They wanted a description of the man. I rolled my window down, and said, "An old white man!" The employees craned a little further to see him.
I said, "Well, here he comes!"
And then, he starts in again! But it is not so much at me, but on my son.
See, remember why he first pulled in? I drove foolishly. (Yes, I did. I admit it.) He wanted to make sure that I knew he thought I was STUPID.
But somewhere along the way, he became a bully to a 15 year old young man.
Long story short. We drove away. I assume the man left. My husband went back up there a few minutes later (My son inherited his father's chivalry). The police didn't come because we all left. .... blah blah blah.....
Went home and have retold the story a hundred times since. :0)
But my point in blogging this today is :
Today my son got a glimpse of the sickness of this world. He, in his chivalry, was willing to fight for the honor of his mom. He, in his youth, did not stop to think about the consequences his chivalry could cost him.
I was proud of my son for "wanting" to "protect" my honor. I was scared for my son.
He was sooooo angry. But he, (my son) did not sin in his anger.
Real life is like that. We can't make everything right. We can't make evil people good by force. We can't make them see things our way.
They have to choose that on their own.
That gentlemen was a class A jerk. Road Rage.
Senseless. Violent. Lack of self-control.
Today was a lesson my son will not soon forget. We talked about all kinds of stuff this afternoon. What do you do if.... What about this.....
Driving (very carefully) to my son's basketball game tonight, I prayed for Mr. Road Rage. I asked God to forgive me for driving foolishly. I asked God to somehow touch that man's heart with his love. I asked God to help me forgive him. I asked God to help my son learn the life's lessons he needs from Mr. Road Rage.
Road Rage at Popeye's! Who would have thought?
Psalm 25:2-3 (My favorite passage of scripture~ now more than ever!) In you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
"Elizabeth! Please bring in the linens from outside!"
"Samuel! Samuel! I NEED you to stay focused and be a big boy tonight. I need all the help I can get! Where is the firewood I asked you to bring in?"
"My darling, Abijah. Would you please see to it that Samuel gets that firewood in? I am trying to be patient, but I reeeeeallly need everyone's help if we are to get all of these boarders fed and bedded down tonight."
"Yes, my love! Is there anything else I can help you with before I make sure that group from Gilead does not tear our little inn apart?"
"No, dear. I would rather you keep our home in-tact."
...................................................................... Miriam appreciated the extra money that was coming in, but the added work load was putting a strain on her nerves and her worn out body. Elizabeth was such a big help. She was definitely turning into a little lady. It would not be long before she was running a home of her own.
Oh, my. And Samuel. Well, he tried to help. Sometimes Miriam laughed her head off at his boyish whims, and other times, she wanted to pinch his head off. Oh, well. She loved her little family and her dear Abijah. He was her rock.
Miriam was blessed to have a husband who loved her and provided well for their family. Their little business was booming these days, thanks to the Roman government.
She had one more room to prepare for the last guests that arrived during the dinner hour. That was it. Their inn was full to the brim. They weren't planning on allowing travelers to stay in Samuels room, but the extra income was sure going to help.
Abijah was waiting for her in their cooking room. He was counting, or rather examining, the coins from the Gilead group.
She chuckled at his lack of trust for these burly fellows.
Miriam sank onto the floor beside him. She wasn't sure if she could be any more exhausted than she was right now.
"Listen! Do you hear that?," she asked Abijah.
"What? I don't hear anything, except maybe that big guy snoring."
"That's just it," Miriam said in a whisper. "It's quiet. No yelling. No demands for more fish. No squabbles over the Roman taxes. No debates over which tribe is responsible for our servitude to the Romans. Just peaceful silence!"
Miriam had no sooner said the words, when the household dog, Baalum, started barking. She moaned from deep within as Abijah made his move towards the door.
Well, she didn't have to worry too much. There wasn't a single room left in their inn or home to put up another traveler.
As she swept the room one last time, she heard the voices.
She stopped in mid-sweep.
Did she hear correctly?
She quietly went to the window to see.
She gasped as she realized what she heard!
Why, she couldn't be much more than Elizabeth's age. And.... and... with child!
No! What was Abijah saying!?
She tugged on his cloak. He turned and looked at her as if to say, "Don't worry. I've already told them they can't stay."
She tugged again. This time a little harder.
As he turned again, she grabbed his arm to pull him closer so she could hear him.
"What! They don't want to do that!"
He excused himself from the young travelers and Abijah and Miriam went to the cooking room to speak.
"Abijah! She is just a child! And she is expecting~ from the looks of it, she could have that baby tonight!"
"I don't know what you want me to do. We have sold out every possible sleeping quarters in our home and the inn. The only place we don't have snoring bodies is the little stable outside!"
"That's it!" Miriam quipped. It's not the most comfortable, but it is the only private accomodations in this entire town! And if she did happen to have the baby, at least she would have some privacy."
As soon as she said it, Abijah knew there was nothing else he could say. She had that tone in her voice and the look in her eye that let him know it was decided. That is, if the young couple accepted, which he doubted very much.
Before Abijah could even blink, Miriam was back at the door talking to the couple.
He couldn't believe it. They were accepting her offer of staying... in the stable!???....
Abijah thought about awakening Samuel to help him move the hay and animals around so the couple could have a make shift bedroom, but he thought better of it when he saw he was sleeping so soundly.
It didn't take too long to get the stable situated. The young man, Joseph was his name, helped him. Abijah learned they were from Nazareth and had not been married more than a year. Abijah liked Joseph immediately. Carpenter by trade. Hard worker, and he could tell he loved his little wife.
There was something different about these two. Not just that she was expecting her first child.
No.... It was something else. Abijah, couldn't put his finger on it, but he would think about this some more.
What was it?
As Miriam found some more linens, she thought about the young couple. The girl said her name was Mary and that this was her first child.
Miriam found herself smiling. She hadn't even had the chance to share her news with Abijah.
She knew he would be glad, but she wanted the moment she told him to be special. She would wait another week.
She walked across the dirt path to the stable with the linens. The sky was gracious. No need for a clay lamp tonight!
It was in the light of a very bright star that she saw why the young couple were so insistent on taking any accomadations they could find. Mary's water had broken.
There would indeed be a baby born tonight! .............................................................
Well, I guess I will save the ending for next week. Check back!
blessings to each of you as you remember the reason for this WONDERFUL season!
dorinda
I've joined this MEME. (I don't even know what that means!) Laurie sent me the link and I am so excited! Now at least I know I will get to write a story each week - on Fridays! Thanks, Laurie!
We have been so busy ~ and sickly :( ~ that there are no lights and decorations. No tree. No nativities (my favorite!) and to Taylor's dismay - no presents (yet!)
But back to that FIRST Christmas, the one that started it all............
I am sure millions of stories have been written and literally thousands of songs, all about that night.
That night.
The stars were dancing in the heavens in anticipation of it! The trees in the forests leaned a little closer. The birds of the air and animals in the barns, hushed their chatter just to listen for it.
All creation without a soul must have known about it THAT NIGHT.
Did God's creation WITH soul's discern that something was different? Could they see the jumping stars? Did they feel the forests sway? Could they hear the silence of creation?
That night?
What was so special? A pregnant young lady and her husband~ just looking for a place to stay?
What was so special that all creation awaited with joyful anticipation?
That night Emmanuel arrived.
Emmanuel. God with us.
Emmanuel ~ wrapped in human flesh, cradled in His mother's womb.
Emmanuel~ the Creator of the heavens and earth.
Emmanuel ~ the long awaited Messiah.
Emmanuel was born THAT NIGHT.
It's Beginning to Look a LOT like Christmas!
Maybe we shouldn't see Christmas only in the trees and lights, only in the tinsel and garland, only in the festive food and costly gifts.
Maybe we should see Christmas again in the womb of a virgin, in the arms of a mother.
He is, after all, Emmanuel, God with us~
Our Savior Our Redeemer Our Creator Our Strong Tower Our Great God Our Soon Coming King
The Alpha and Omega The Beginning and the End The Most Holy One
Of Whom we cannot grasp His infinite Wisdom and unending Mercy Of Whom we cannot exhaust His never ending Love and vast Goodness.
He IS The Great I AM.
He IS The Son of God.
He IS Emmanuel~ God with us God wrapped in human flesh.
It's Beginning to Look a LOT Like Christmas!
blessings! dorinda
(I am proudly showing off my great niece, Addison, who will be arriving sometime in January! Isn't she beautiful! Just like her mom.) I originally planned to use these pictures of her in a different post about the sanctity of life, but her sweet face made me think of Christmas! Thanks Deanna! Just think, Jesus, the Son of God, was in His mother's womb just like we were....... makes me say, "Wow!"
As I said yesterday, I am looking at "giving thanks in all things" in honor of our Thanksgiving Season.
I made my one millionth trip to my bathroom sink last night :) to wash some dishes (see yesterday's post) and I almost uttered some grumbling. Then I remembered-
"Give thanks in all Circumstances"......
So, I began thanking God for all things.
(Don't think I am super spiritual - just human and trying desperately to be obedient to God's Word.)
That process brought back some memories for me. It was then that the floodgates of my heart opened and praise and thankgsiving poured out of my spirit!
You see, years ago, when I was told I would never have children, God asked me to thank Him for that. Every month when I knew once again a child was not in my womb, God gently asked me to thank Him that I was not pregnant.
It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I felt like I was lying to God. But I eventually obeyed.
I didn't understand then, and I think I am just beginning to understand now.
God was asking me to :
Trust Him
Have Faith in His Will
Thank Him ahead of time that His will is better than mine
God wanted me to Trust Him.
He wanted me to Trust my deepest desires to Him.
He literally wanted me to throw my desires and longings away- put them in the trash heap of life.
It wasn't a bad desire. I just wanted a baby- a part of me and my husband - a baby to hold in my arms and love and cherish.
A baby.
God wanted me to trust Him whether I held an infant in my arms, as my own, or not.
God wanted me to have faith in HIS will for us.
He wanted me to have faith that He knew what was best for us- regardless of what we thought or desired.
His divine and perfect will is best for us.
What we couldn't see (in the future) was the beautiful teen aged daughter God had for us.
What we couldn't see was the fact that if we had a baby in our arms, would we have so readily brought a teen into our home.
God wanted me to thank Him in advance that His will was better than mine.
What I didn't know was that I was thanking Him for my daughter and her family in faith. I was thanking Him in faith for the blessings that I could not even imagine He was going to send our way.
Sure it would have been easier during my "barren" years if I could have seen into the future. If I could have a glimpse of my beautiful Glenda, if I could have felt Macy's arms around my neck, if I could have known the joy of holding Mia for the first time, - then thanking God would have been a breeze- BUT God wanted me to thank Him in advance and in faith- in Trust simply for knowing He is God and His ways are so much more above my ways! Faith is "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
See, I thought during my "barren" years I was to thank God in faith for the children He was going to give me. But God asked me to "thank Him that I was not pregnant each month."
Do you see the difference? Basically by thanking Him that my desire did not come to pass, I was able to thank Him that His will was being done in my life.
Thus- 1 Thess. 5:18
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
I said, "Thank you God that I am not pregnant."
I say, "Thank You God that I did not have a child in 1984, or in 1985, or in 1986, or in 1987, or in 1988, or in 1989 - because in 1990 you gave us the perfect daughter- in Your time, in Your way, in Your greatness!"
I say, "Thank You God for my precious grandaughters!"
I pray I always have a thankful heart.
I pray I always trust Him even when I can't see His plan.
I pray I always give Him my desires and my longings.
I pray I always have a thankful heart.
My prayer for you today is that you have a thankful heart.
God is so good and His love and mercy endure forever!
This week in honor of Thanksgiving, I am looking at ways to be thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Do you want to be smack dab in the center of God's will?
Then here you go! Give thanks in ALL circumstances!
Sometimes it takes a little creativity!
Sometimes things just don't go the way they are supposed to.
Sometimes our level of comfort is changed!
Sometimes we learn to be thankful for things we previously took for granted.
Today is that "some time".
This past summer our kitchen sink got clogged up and before it was over we had two or three different plumbers at our house. It was an inconvenience, but not enormously huge, because I just took the dishes in the back yard and washed them in a big tub. (I felt like a member of the Ingalls family!)
The Roto-Rooter guys came and did something that made my sink work again! Hallelujah! They also said that if this happened again, we might have serious problems and they would need to bust up my living room floor to find the problem.
Oh, nooooooooo!
Well, here we are six months later and we have a problem.
Ugh!
It is a little cold to wash dishes in the back yard. (Goodbye Ingalls!)
The plumber people haven't arrived yet, and I am looking for ways to be grateful.... and they are just popping out all over the place!
I am thankful that I have always had a sink! I never knew how much I used that thing!
I am thankful that I do NOT have to do dishes outside!
I am thankful for my garbage disposal.
I am thankful for my dishwasher. (Both of those are out of commission now, too!)
I am thankful for all of the modern conveniences that I take SO MUCH for granted!
I am thankful for my kitchen drain!
I honestly have never thought about how often I use my drain.
I pour out the watered down diet coke from my glass before I get some more diet coke. (Now that is a lot of uses right there!)
I put the scraps from our plates in the garbage disposal.
I run water to wet a towel to clean my counter tops and stove.
I run water to rinse dishes.
The first day my sink was stopped up, I was just sick. I probably was not the most thankful person then. I may have even griped a little.
Ok. Well, a lot!
But today, I am thinking, I know this isn't forever. There is someone out there who has the proper tools that can fix my sink. I don't have to live like this day in and day out. I will have my conveniences back again.
Wow! The fact that I have a clogged kitchen sink means I have a home to live in. For that I am TRULY thankful!
So, things may not be working the way they should. But I am blessed and very, very,
very,
very,
very,
VERY!
thankful that it is my kitchen sink stopped up and not all my toilets!!!
Today is my birthday. Woo hoo! I am 40 + and loving every second of it!
My life is wonderful!
My husband is amazing!
My family is wonderful!
My friends are the best!
and I am blessed beyond measure!
I feel I have the fairy tale!
I have this amazing husband who never ceases to amaze me. God has given me four precious children- 3 gorgeous daughters and 1 handsome son and a great son-in-law. Of course I must add - 2 absolutely adorable grandaughters! And to add to that- I am blessed with great in-laws- all of them. I love them dearly!
But my wonderful life started with my parents. 45 years ago today in a tiny doctor's office in Tennessee (Yes, TN - gasp! The only non Razorback native in my family!), my mother gave birth to me - and if I remember correctly, my dad passed out- or almost did! :)
The "wonderfulness" of my life started with these 2 amazing parents. I am so blessed. They have served God faithfully for the entirety of my life. Their prayers have benefited me more times than I will ever know. Their faith was instilled into me- for that I am eternally grateful.
If it wasn't for their loving guidance, I would not have been blessed with my awesome husband.
If it wasn't for their faith in God, I may not know my Savior now.
How do I began to thank God for allowing me to be brought up in such a wonderful love filled home? I don't even know where to start except to say from the depths of my being, "Thank You, God!"
I am also thankful that the lady who gave birth to me, is still with me today. Mom's birthday was last Thursday. When I was born, she had just turned 20 years old. Just a baby herself, yet she was already an amazing mother who had an incredible husband at her side- my dear, wonderful dad. (In June of 2009 they will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary!)
In the spring of this year, we all felt mom's time with us was growing short. I honestly did not think that I would be able to celebrate another birthday with her. Yet, God in His great mercy has given us another birthday week to celebrate together!
I am sooooo blessed and full of thanksgiving for ALL of God's goodness to me!
Blessed beyond measure and living in His extravagant grace is the theme of my life!
May you know Him as your Savior and Redeemer today!
As I was driving to work this morning I noticed the beauty of my surroundings.
There was a light fog that hovered just above the road. The wind was gently blowing the trees, and instead of large amounts of the beautiful red and orange leaves falling, just one or two would swirl down gracefully one by one. It looked like the fog would reach out and try to catch the leaves. Then by the artistic nature of God, a single ray of sunshine filtered through the trees and shone on a fallen leaf.
It reminded me of my favorite name or reference to God - Creator of the Universe.
He is the Great Creator - the only Creator!
I am not a super smart person by any means but I do know that to create the universe required intelligent design, not just a big bang or evolution.
I read in Isaiah today:
"He sits enthroned above the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in..... Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."
Yet that same powerful, creative God ends chapter 40 of Isaiah with,
"Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Wow! Even though He is powerful enough to create the ENTIRE universe, He is a personal God.
He is personal in His relationship with YOU!
If you haven't talked to Him lately, He misses YOU!
If you haven't desired time with Him, He longs for YOU!
If you shun His Holiness and Majesty, He knows.
He is not sitting in heaven waiting to bop you on the head when you mess up.
He is the perfect Father. His love is amazing and just. His grace is undeserving.
But above all, He LOVES YOU the way you are enough to give His Son for you to have eternal life.
He is the Creator of the Universe who loves YOU!
May you experience HIM in a personal way today! Seek Him and you will find Him!
In the almost two years I have had my blog, the posts that generate the most random hits are the ones on the Valley of Baca.
This little verse in Psalm 84:6 has intrigued many.
So, I did a little more research this morning. (I really want to write a story, but I don't have time - and that is killing my little soul!)
Valley of Baca:
It seems the scholars can't agree if this was a real valley or just a poetic use of words. It is agreed that the phrase was used to signify a valley of weeping.
The point that I have not mentioned before in my other posts on the Valley of Baca is that of considering the entire Psalm 84.
(Before you go any further, please bear in mind that I am NOT a scholar. :) In fact, although I was able to skip the majority of my college English classes, my weakness has always been when the ask: "What was the author trying to say in this paragraph?" I don't ever remember getting those questions right!)
But, to ME, this whole chapter is about being in the presence of God.
The Psalmist begins with "How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."
Have you been like that lately? Have you just gotten so hungry to feel God's presence that nothing else matters?
If you have no clue what I am talking about, then, trust me, it is high time you did.
To experience the presence of the Creator of the Universe is like nothing you will ever experience anywhere! His love is overwhelming and His holiness is unmistakable.
And once you have encountered His Presence by knowing His Person, you will not be the same.
The psalmist also talks about wanting the presence of God so much that one is willing to go on the pilgrimage to find HIM.
I could go on, but I am going to stop here, and encourage you to read the entire chapter with that thought - "finding and experiencing God's Presence".
Going through the Valley of Baca is part of a journey- a journey that takes you to the feet of our God, a journey that leads you into His Presence.
Sure, there may be weeping, but how it is worth it!
Click on the links below to my other posts on Baca as well.
I have lived the majority of my life next to the mighty Mississippi River. Every time I cross the bridge and peer down into the boisterous water I think I am very glad to be crossing the river on the bridge rather than by boat.
I am not afraid of water by any means, but I do have a healthy respect for the dangers a strong current possesses.
My husband preached on "Five Reasons the Wall of Jericho Fell" last night. It was a wonderful message (as always) and it influenced my Bible reading this morning. (And I am working on a narrative about it.... but that comes at a later day!)
But the part that caught my eye this morning was the Jordan River crossing.
Okay. I am a mom and a grandmother. I can get just a liiiiiiitttle protective of my kids and grandkids. My husband laughs at me sometimes saying that I go overboard. But, hey! I have seen stuff - and want all my little chickens safe and accounted for.
My point? Can you imagine all of these moms (how many ever millions there were) crossing the Jordan River with their children?
"Eli!! I said stay right here! Rebekah, please stop crying. It will be okay. Yahweh will take care of us. Abram! Do NOT GO NEAR THAT WALL OF WATER!!!! Do you want the entire nation to be drowned!!? Honey, do you think you could please hold Eli's hand? I am afraid we might lose him. No, Abram. I don't know why there is no mud. Eli, please do not pick up the fish. Rebekah, it is ok. You are choking me. I promise I won't let you go. ABRAM! DO NOT THROW ROCKS AT THE WATER!!!"
And then, what if your husband or son was one of the priests carrying the ark?
They were the first in and the last out.
Or what about one of the leaders of the 12 tribes. After everyone crossed and the priests were still in the middle with the ark, Joshua tells the leaders to go back in and get rocks to make a memorial with.
I am thinking my response might have been......
"Sure! Have US go down and get the stones. Let us be drowned like a rotten Egyptian. You just stay up there on the dry ground and we'll go get the stones for your little memorial. You could have asked us on the way. We could have just carried it out with us the first time!"
Or what about Joshua......
"Yahweh, You told me not to fear or be terrified. I am trying. These people are looking to me to lead them safely to the other side. Please be faithful to us as you were to Moses and that stiffnecked generation. You promised and I am counting on You God."
Maybe there was excitement that they were experiencing the miraculous like their fathers had seen.
Maybe they were in complete awe of the omnipotence of their God.
Maybe they were in reverence of His majesty.
Was there a holy hush as they walked through on dry ground?
Were they thankful they weren't being chased by Egyptians like their ancestors were?
Were they scared spitless?
Was there an underlying excitement of expectation of the miraculous in entering the Promised Land?
Were the wives and mothers wondering if they would lose their husbands and sons in battle against the people of Jericho?
And my biggest question:
How would I have responded to walking across dry ground in the middle of a river -with the walls of water on both sides?
I only pray I would have responded in faith and trust in the God that I love so much.
I am the world's worst gift wrapper. The person who invented the gift bags must have worked with me at the Colony Shop before I got married. I took so long wrapping gifts that the manager sweetly asked me to never enter that room again. Ha!
