It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all

With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap- happiest season of all

There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories
Of Christmases long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year

This is a famous Christmas carol written years ago to best describe what they thought Christmas was about. And in essence it is a large part of Christmas. But they forgot the most important part of Christmas, CHRIST. As I lay here in bed, listening to the rain fall contemplating what my first overseas Christmas was like, that song came to mind because of all the wonderful things that God blessed me with today and over the past year. Yes, I'm far away from family, living in a land where people hardly think anything of God, and yet He is the same God here in Australia as He is in America and His blessings don't change, I do. God came to earth, as a baby, to fulfill the greatest plan that ever was thought of. One of complete salvation and freedom from sin. Yes, the gifts are fun, the tree is a special part, and if you're in the right part of the world, snow brings a sense of Christmas spirit. But those things eventually leave you empty and the newness of the presents wears off, the happy gatherings fade and the weight gained rarely goes away. And yet when we have the right perspective and the Christ is back in Christmas the blessings never stop flowing, the joy never stops filling our days. It truly is the most wonderful time of year. 

Merry Christmas Everyone! 

God Moves in

God's Timing.....

Time, it is something that no one truely understands. It is a gift that is given in a pre measured  amount. And we never know when that measurement is done. This is was crossed my mind the past couple days as I dragged myself out of my warm cozy bed and forced myself to get ready for work. All the while complaining to the Lord about having to be up and being so excited about going back to bed. I was convicted when I realized that I was blessed with another day to serve my Savior. How selfish of me to grumble about being able to get up and work when I could have been taken home to Heaven or not been able to get up. I purposed today to step up to the challenge of being joyful and choosing to be thankful for the time given. I was also challenged today that am I doing everything in my power to glorify God with what He has given me? Or am I choosing to serve self?
Time is also something when lost we can never regain. It's also something God uses to teach us patience. His timing is always perfect. Sometimes it drives me nuts. Yep I confess I'm a recovering control freak. I came to that realization when God put me on a horse and a trail ride that turned into a training ride vs a pleasure ride. I also find myself wanting my timing over God's timing. My timing would ruin my life in what I thought should happen but God's timing is wonderful! It may not seem that way at the time but we only see the small picture. He sees the big picture. Thank you Lord for giving us the time we have and for showing us Your timing! 

Seasons

Ever have the days were you feel like you've lived through every season of life (and weather) possible? This week has been one of those weeks. Time is slow yet fast, the sun is out but it rains, the warm air suddenly turns to cold and you don't ever seem to catch up. Circumstances and situations blow what you believe out of the proverbial water and you feel as though you're finding your feet again.
The Lord has shown me a deeper level of life this week. I cannot even begin to explain the recesses of where He has taken me but I do know that I am becoming a tried and true soldier of His. He has been walking me through some of the most difficult yet healing streams He has ever asked me to swim across. It all began with a phone call and that phone call released so many pent up and stuffed up and squelched feelings that I didn't know where there. The relief and healing that started from ripping open a wound that I though had healed was soothing and terrifying all in one. He reminded me in the swirling and churning emotions and everything that came along with that were all part of His plan. Even though I feel like there is absolutely no direction given, deep down I know that He is working all of this out for His glory. The hard times come not to break us but to build us up and bring us closer to the Father who created us. Nothing happens in this world or in our lives that God does not know about or does not care about. How comforting that is! And as we head into the Fall season and the different seasons that God has for us we know that we are forever in His hands.



My hope is in the Lord who gave Himself for me. For me He died, For me He lives, and everlasting life and light He freely gives!

Beautiful Things

Sometimes the most beautiful things come from the most painful things. My heart yearns for times past to return (I realize it is all for selfish gain). I don't know why God brings certain people into my life and then takes them away. Sometimes I feel like it was all a dream, a beautiful dream and I can never go back. This new season that God has brought me too will not be easy. This I know. So very desperately I look behind say I want to return because I was comfortable there and my life was "easy." And as a very wise person in my life told me, "Nothing good can ever come if there is no change." Nothing will ever happen the same way twice. It is a reality that must always be faced. God is sovereign, and in that I must rest. For He will guide me in the paths of what I need and whether it is leaving everything I've ever known, or people coming and going from my life, or seeing someone get what I so desperately want knowing and resting in the knowledge that He is controlling everything and that His timing is best.
  Taking
    Rest
      Under the
          Savior's
             Timing


Truth Nugget            Jeremiah 29:11

God of Heaven

This evening as we did chores, I looked up at the sky and saw the dark clouds rolling in, and smelled the on coming rain, soon the thunder began rumbling and threatening the world with it's power. We finished up chores and the song that was in my head was one that was sung at our S.O.D. Graduation, "God of Heaven" As I looked up into the sky and wondered at the magnificence of it and also the twinge of fear that comes with not knowing what the clouds hold. But knowing the One who filled those clouds with the electrifying power was incredible. The rain poured forth from the heavens and watered the earth, and the lightening lit up the sky and the thunder rattled my little trailer and I was awed by how my God knew exactly how much rain to let fall, and exactly when the sun needed to peak out and warm the wet earth. As I sit here looking out the window at the glowing sunset and the glistening raindrops I am falling in love with the Creator of the universe, who tells the sun when to rise, and the rain to fall, and the flowers to bloom.

God of Heaven, God of all the earth and sky.
Great Creator, Master of all nature.
Who gives birth to snow from heaven,
Holds the waves at ocean’s edge,
Gives the orders to the morning,
Shows each dawn its place to shine?

God of Heaven, God of all the earth and sky.
God of Ages, God who wrote the Book of Time.
Sovereign Ruler, Alpha and Omega.
Saints before, He’s guided safely.
History’s pages signed by Him.
Author of our days and hours;
Things to come are held secure.
God of Ages, Alpha and Omega.

God of Power!  God who breaks the darkness.
Righteous Warrior, Champion of His children,
Goes before us into battle;
Good and evil bow to Him,
Those in bondage freed forever,
Victories won at  His command!

God who heals us, God who gives us peace and hope.
God who listens, Carries all our fragile

Dreams and heartaches, wins and failures;
Binds the broken; hides the weak.
New beginnings freely offered;
Who can make us whole again?
God who heals us, God of Power,
God of Ages, God of Heaven,
God of all the earth and sky.

Words and Music by Heather Sorenson
Sung By The Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team- from  album Come Boldly.

Change

Change. The one thing that no one really enjoys yet every life must have change in order to grow. We change growing up, we change when we go to college, we all must change when we step out on our own. And within every aspect of life there are seasons that are painful but underneath the "growing pains" is the knowledge that God is ever Sovereign and loves us more than ever. The current season in my life is saying "see you later's" to some of my dearest friends and adopted family members. The School of Discipleship students have graduated and moved on to the change in their lives that God has asked of them. As painful as it is to see them leave I am very grateful that I was able to spend a year of my life with them. As a Father figure told me as I was (yes I'm a big soft teddy bear inside) crying and trying to pull myself together: "Good things do not/cannot happen without change."  It is never easy adjusting without someone you love in your life. But in the times that the silence is almost deafening and the loneliness seems to be unbearable the comfort of Jesus Christ drowns out the noise and reminds us that He is the ultimate Comforter (John 14 & 15) and one who brings us hope (Romans 15:13)

Friends, Thunderstorm Parties, God's lightening show, and Dancing in the Rain

Last night whilst on Close up for camp, I was blessed with just a fun night with people I love dearly and to top it off we got blasted with an incredible storm! I had been sitting in the entry way to our Town Hall and heard thunder so immediately myself and good friend Jenny looked at each other and darted out the door to see the oncoming storm. Sitting on the porch listening to the thunder rumble and the beautiful lightening flashing, it was amazing. As soon as chapel had ended I was walking to my house and I looked up and it was so very dark. I haven't seen clouds that black in a very long time. I knew that I might want to grab my duster and just be ready for rain and adventure! I had just grabbed my duster and headed out the door when the first sprinkles started, mind you the lightening was getting more and more intense and the thunder louder. I hurried across the lawn and went to join my close up crew on the Ox Yoke porch, whom are hilarious and so much fun! Just about when I sat down, Chapel let out and whoooosh! The rain came down in a torrential downpour which was incredible gorgeous! Now, if you don't know me in person you must know how much I just positively love rain and storms (as long as I'm safe), something about it just makes me laugh and get really really excited. So I'm literally bouncing, laughing and just enjoying the mini niagra falls from the roof when my friend Aime dashed out and started dancing and I just couldn't resist so yep! I dashed out and we were spinning and just enjoying God's creation, while praying that lightening wouldn't strike us :) The power flickered quite a few times and the contrast of the sky and lightening was stunning! Then we looked up and saw the pink and blue night sky peaking through the storm clouds and it was breathtaking. A bunch of us went over to the backside of our new bathhouse which has a perfect storm watching porch and watched lightening and the sunset. I just couldn't stop smiling and giggling at how amazing and powerful our God is. Sometimes I can't even keep it to myself so I shout that God is amazing!!!! To think that we serve Him is even more humbling. He is so gracious to love and use us for His glory. I never know what He is going to do and in that I am really ok with. What better place to be than in the center of the will of the one who created you?Just the raw powerful beauty......yep I really don't even know how to finish this sentence because there is no way to describe the matchless grace, beauty and love of God.

Memories

Did you ever have a time in your life when you were looking at old photos or something triggered a memory in your brain that made you almost cry and want to go back to those times? This has happened to me quite frequently the past few days. Most of my memories are of myself and my best friend Mia gallivanting across the world (ok maybe it was just the Ranch) having adventures and just being country girls. I think this was spurred because she has moved across the United States to Texas. Now I'm super duper excited for her and the family but it's like a season has come to an end and I know it will never be the same. Ever, I grieve because I know I will never go back and be the carefree young girls riding our "hobbit ponies" in the woods and crawfish hunting. God has chosen to move us apart and give us separate lives. And we both must adjust and know that we will still always be sisters in Christ no matter how far away God takes us.
   Another change and memory that is sweet is the memory of Holidays and the special times at home. You know you're growing up when the new generations don't know certain tv programs like "Magic School Bus", "Bernstein Bears", Looney Toons, etc. Gone are the days of summer with no responsibilities and cartoons with a sugary breakfast you only get at Grandmas and Grandpas.  My parents are preparing to retire and selling our house and moving. Just knowing that I may never be in that house again is just so weird. I spent my teen years there, learned to be a woman there, lost my childhood friend (my dog Bully) there, bought my first horse there, graduated there and the list goes on and on. Mom says "Home is where family is" which is true but going to "my parents house" for Christmas vs "home" is definitely different. 
    Now don't get me wrong. Growing up is an adventure and totally fun, and sometimes completely overwhelming and terrifying but a necessity of life. We only get to live once. Make the best memories possible and be sure to love the family that God gave you. Things always change but God never does!

These are the Days of our Lives

Days. The gift that God gives us to simply glorify Him. The man made 24 hr time created to match the design that God gave us. They're intricately designed for the seasons and things to grow and die. For people to sleep and be awake. Even the animals sleep and know when to go rest. Everyday we make choices that God predestined and that will mold our lives and prepare us for the next day. What a blessing it is to be able to live life here on the planet that was designed for us. Imagine what Heaven will be like!!!!

Story of My Life

Wow, seems like forever, and yes I admit I am a horrible blogger. I know most of you have heard of the newest song from Piano Guys "Story of My Life" (first made big by One Direction). I have to say it is one of the ones that has hit home with me. God has brought me on an incredible journey the past couple months/weeks/days. We are entering into our summer season and so desperately I want to have a Story of My life that is fascinating and meaningful that when people look back at it they say wow. And then God pokes my heart saying, "Am I not enough for people to look back on and say she loved Him with everything in her being?" The pppptttthhhhhh (that's the sound of air leaving something inflated) I am again humbled and made to feel so utter small and selfish. I have an amazing life that God has blessed me with to be able to serve hundreds even thousands of people all the time and reflect God's amazingness to them! God is totally worth looking at and saying WOWOWOWOWOW!!!!
    This summer is very stretching already and I've only had one week of semi summer camp. I literally looked up to heaven one day and said, "Lord, I have absolutely nothing, I am yours use me as you will this summer. Break me if necessary, and bring my heart so close to Yours that nothing can get between them." Sadly, He has revealed how much I have allowed and chosen to come between He and I. But by the grace of God He has washed me clean and renewed me to be able to walk closer to Him. And I have a whole new picture of what Grace looks like. Praise be to God!!!