"This is a day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it!" Psalm 118:24

I LOVE my little Kaders and his morning hair. He has started calling Drew, "Bubba." Drew turns around and says, "No, I'm Drew." Last night Kade was chasing Drew around the living room and both of them were laughing the entire time. It just makes my heart fill with joy when I see them loving on each other. I bet that is how Jesus feels when He sees his children loving on one another. Hebrews 13:1-5, "Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it..." When Ronnie and I put up the tree Tuesday Kade sat underneath it, clapped his little chubby hands, and oohed. Drew lined up all the stuffed animals and the reindeer around the tree and told them, "Look at the tree and all the lights...oh, goodness!"

Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

Christmas is fast approaching. Don't you just love this time of the year? The music, the trees, the lights, Santa Claus, etc. I don't know about you guys, but I am having to take every thought captive, 2 Corinthians 10:5, and keep my mind on what Christmas really stands for - the birth of our SAVIOR...God's ONLY son. It is so easy to forget the ultimate gift that was given to us. A preacher I admire from Welch helped me think of Christ's sacrafice in another way-I would like to think that if push came to shove I would lay down my own life for many of you. But, if you asked me to give just one of these sweet boys for you...I wouldn't even think twice about saying, "NO WAY!!!"
We need to really work at focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. My 27th birthday was a very sad day for me. I was having a little pity party for myself and told my husband not to give me anything. It was just another day...I wasn't anyone's little girl anymore. My time to be the focus was over. Of course Ronnie, being the super husband he is, ignored that comment and celebrated the day to the fullest. I think about Jesus during this time of the year. He sees us spending countless hours picking out and wrapping gifts, attending parties, and addressing Christmas cards. I have to wonder how that makes him feel. I wonder if he feels like we think it is just another day...like I did this past May. Except instead of having a pity party for himself...he feels sorry for ME. The only reason he even had a "birth"day was to reconcile the relationship we severed with the Father. He just wants to spend time with his children...he aches for me to crawl up in His lap and tell him about my day. Glory to God for this sweet, sweet gift.
It is easy to overlook the birth of our Savior in the Babylonian society we live in. Our society is so fast paced and focused on get there, do that, check it off your list. It is okay to enjoy Christmas and all the traditions surrounding Christmas, but when we are influenced and ruled by the busyness of getting to all the parties and decorating our homes we are playing in the enemy's playground. Satan wants to keep us busy, so we can't focus on celebrating the ultimate "birth"day and sharing it with others.
I encourage you this Christmas season to do what you were created to do. Worship Him, remember Him, tell others about what He has done for you, and spend time loving others the way Christ has loved us. Give the sweetest gift this Christmas to someone you love...the gift of your time!!! It might mean we have to prioritize a little, and cut out some of the fluff, but isn't He worth it?
I will also encourage you to share your relationship with Jesus with at least one person. Be bold in sharing your faith...quit worrying about being politically correct or hurting someone's feelings. Love others enough to tell them the truth because the truth will set them free, John 8:32. A friend told me yesterday he was scared to tell others about Jesus because he didn't know all the answers; he hadn't read the entire Bible. Guess what? You don't have to know all the answers...just memorize a few scriptures and God will use those few verses to work in mighty ways. One of my mentors says, "You can't do publicly what you don't do in private." If you are in the Word in private, you will be able to share it publicly. Get in the Word...it's God's love letter to you. God is able...we just have to be willing.
Beloved brothers and sisters, join me in prayer, "Glorious Father, thank you for Jesus. Thank you that you sent your only Son to die for me...just for me. Help me to keep focused on the true reason for the season. Help me to say no to things that take my focus off of you. Give me the strength to be bold in telling others about you. Thank you for your Word father. It says in Romans 10:17, "Faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Word of God." Your Word is alive God. It is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Help us to hide your Words in our heart that we might not sin against you. We love you Father. In sweet, sweet name of Jesus, Amen!"

Ephesians

For the last year I have had an unquenchable thirst for God's Word. I just can't get enough, and I feel like God is calling me to further my education. Ronnie and I prayed and decided that I should take a four-week class from the International College of Excellence in Lubbock on the book of Ephesians. Anyone can join...the class costs $160 for credit or $40 to audit (just to come and listen). Daphne Delay will be teaching the class at the Family Harvest Church in Lubbock. Class dates are January 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th from 7-9:30. If you are interested in joining me you can click on Daphne's website for more information or call 432-758-3316!!!

***Please be in prayer for my friend Teresa Howard. She lost her 26 year-old daughter to meningitis yesterday.

Third Time is a Charm!!!

For a year I have questioned if the Holy Spirit was really telling me to be baptized again. After several nudges, I now know without a doubt He was/is. As a baby I was sprinkled in the Lutheran Church and was then baptized in September of 2001 at a Baptist Church in College Station. Baptism, I thought, was the next logical step to finding Jesus. I knew I had to be baptized to become a member of the church, and I wanted to get married there the following May. At that time, I knew who Jesus was, but I had not surrendered my life to Him. My nose was pointed in the right direction; I was going to church, reading the Purpose Driven Life, and trying to make good decisions. It wasn't until January of 2002, when I realized God was all I needed because He was all I had, that I finally gave my life to Him. Everyday for the past 5 years I have lived in Him and for Him, but during this last year thoughts about being re-baptized have continually come to mind. Praise God!
In Matthew 3:15 Jesus said, "It (baptism) should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires." Baptism is a picture of many things. 1) It pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. 2) It pictures the believer's death to sin and resurrection to a life in Christ. (Romans 6:1-4) 3) It pictures a new life and union with Christ. (Gal. 3:27) 4)It pictures the union of the believer with the Body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:13)
I know my salvation DOES NOT hinge on this baptism; however, I want to be obedient to Jesus Christ. Through obedience all blessings flow! I want to celebrate God's love and presence through this means of grace He has given to me. During the invitation at Church this Sunday, I will walk down to the front and with boldness proclaim Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Glory to God!!!

My First Post

I'm at my sister-in-law's house and she is teaching me how to blog! I'm so excited!