'Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house
Gifts were all scattered and plenty of crumbs for the mouse
The stockings were laying all over the place
The parents felt like they had run a 40 mile race
The kids were all tired and cousins they were missing
364 days couldn't come soon enough and they were a wishing
Some little cheeks with tears they were soaked
For a special new present already had broke
But hearts were flooded and were more full then bellies
Even if ham was subperb that was bought from the deli
For Christmas doesn't just come and last for one day
The meaning to all this madness in a little manger He lay
Forget all the food, and the gifts and the mess
Sit down with some coffee and let go of your stress
Jesus came in the quiet one night
A single star shone to celebrate so bright
But He wants to be part of your daily life
To bring joy and meaning and purpose and walk beside you in your strife
Because Christmas can be summed up with the victory of the cross
Where the weight of all sin, the depth of all loss
He took on himself so willingly
Where He shed His blood for you and for me
So if after the holiday you are feeling a bit down
Take a journey back to Bethlehem town
Look to the baby who was resting there
To the one who knows you and so deeply cares
Then look to the cross and the victory won
For God so loved the world that He gave His son
With a heart full of gratefulness fall on your knees
And go now and be the light that this world so desperately needs
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Friday, September 18, 2015
The moment is now, speak truth
I've got today
I've got now
That feeling of looking back at a moment with regret, wishing you had spoken up, wishing you would have swallowed your nerves and spoken even if your heart was pounding. You see their searching eyes, you can feel the pain they are experiencing, you know they feel hopeless and lost. Empty. Confused. Lonely. Without purpose. Without meaning. But oh the truth, if you could just knock them over the head with the truth. Well, maybe not knock them over the head, but certainly pierce through all the lies of the enemy and start to replace those lies with truth.
The truth is so freeing though.
The truth says they are worth while.
The truth says there is hope.
The truth says that the darkness they feel right now can scatter when the One True Light shines in.
You see, I know we all have people in our life that need for us to be truth speakers into their darkness. Who need us to get right there next to them and then remind them of The One who wants to carry them through. Maybe they've known before but somehow the darkness made them forget. Maybe they have no clue how deeply they are loved by a Savior who gave His life willingly on the cross so they could have the hope of eternity, but also the promise to never go through life alone. Maybe it's forgiveness they need to soak up, grace beyond words that erases guilt, gives fresh starts and breaths worth right back to the core. Undeserved grace, that reaches us at our worst. We are promised forgiveness from that weight and draining, exhausting, grouling burden sin gives us. Life is hard, but we don't face this life alone. Be ready to speak truth into someone's struggle today, be a friend, care, and introduce them to Someone who's love is infinite.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life
I've got now
That feeling of looking back at a moment with regret, wishing you had spoken up, wishing you would have swallowed your nerves and spoken even if your heart was pounding. You see their searching eyes, you can feel the pain they are experiencing, you know they feel hopeless and lost. Empty. Confused. Lonely. Without purpose. Without meaning. But oh the truth, if you could just knock them over the head with the truth. Well, maybe not knock them over the head, but certainly pierce through all the lies of the enemy and start to replace those lies with truth.
The truth is so freeing though.
The truth says they are worth while.
The truth says there is hope.
The truth says that the darkness they feel right now can scatter when the One True Light shines in.
You see, I know we all have people in our life that need for us to be truth speakers into their darkness. Who need us to get right there next to them and then remind them of The One who wants to carry them through. Maybe they've known before but somehow the darkness made them forget. Maybe they have no clue how deeply they are loved by a Savior who gave His life willingly on the cross so they could have the hope of eternity, but also the promise to never go through life alone. Maybe it's forgiveness they need to soak up, grace beyond words that erases guilt, gives fresh starts and breaths worth right back to the core. Undeserved grace, that reaches us at our worst. We are promised forgiveness from that weight and draining, exhausting, grouling burden sin gives us. Life is hard, but we don't face this life alone. Be ready to speak truth into someone's struggle today, be a friend, care, and introduce them to Someone who's love is infinite.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life
Friday, March 7, 2014
and then there were four. 4. FOUR. IV.
We welcomed our fourth boy into our family on a cold January day. He is wonderful. Seriously. From his head full of beautiful hair down to his wrinkled little feet. All 10.6 pounds of miracle- placed in our hands to love and raise. What an incredible honor!
His chubby cheeks beg to be kissed. His little snuggles to be soaked up. His adorable little cry to be soothed. We are really enjoying having a baby at home again since it has been almost 4 years since we heard the newborn cry. Diapers, feedings, getting up in the night... it all came rushing back. But along with the challenging parts, the feelings of an indescribable love came rushing back too. My heart could just burst!
The transition to homeschooling, housekeeping, hormones & not enough sleep. Transitions are hard. and this one wasn't perfect. We had some rough days. I had some moments where I felt totally overwhelmed... Like at lunch when Ledger spilled his milk and I just burst out in tears. lol. yeah- that happened. My boys looked wide-eyed at me like "what the heck is going on with mom?! we spill milk all the time and she doesn't cry..." Emotional, sentimental and longing for peace we stumbled through the first few days after Josh went back to work. But we made it! That's the thing: transitions don't last forever and we slowly fell into a rhythm. I made a point to ignore dishes, laundry and clutter as I focused on giving the boys the attention they needed. We watched cartoons when we needed to. Stayed in pajamas. Used paper plates and ate things like chicken nuggets and pizza. We colored, read books together, took naps and played a lot of video games. We had so many close friends & family drop off meals and enjoyed their visits and encouragement. I didn't pretend everything was perfect, but I also didn't let the struggles take away from all the ways we are so blessed. I cried when I needed to, slept when I could, appreciated all the ways Josh was helping & talked to my friends about the rough days. I also laughed at myself for the unexplained tears. I took vitamins, and prayed for the emotions that were running through me... The first month was a blur and we blinked and it had already gone by.
That's the thing with raising kids. They don't last forever either. Our oldest is already 8 and it seems like just yesterday that it were his cries that were waking us in the night. I don't want to experience this season feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. I want to notice and appreciate the little moments in each day and not to let the amount of sleep I got to become the deciding factor in the quality of day that follows. So I'm drinking coffee, soaking up the Word & making a very intentional point to make the most of it all- even the below zero ones where we are cooped up in the house together! (Oh, and I also give Ledger his milk in a cup with a lid and straw now too!)
my hands are full but my heart is fuller
His chubby cheeks beg to be kissed. His little snuggles to be soaked up. His adorable little cry to be soothed. We are really enjoying having a baby at home again since it has been almost 4 years since we heard the newborn cry. Diapers, feedings, getting up in the night... it all came rushing back. But along with the challenging parts, the feelings of an indescribable love came rushing back too. My heart could just burst!
The transition to homeschooling, housekeeping, hormones & not enough sleep. Transitions are hard. and this one wasn't perfect. We had some rough days. I had some moments where I felt totally overwhelmed... Like at lunch when Ledger spilled his milk and I just burst out in tears. lol. yeah- that happened. My boys looked wide-eyed at me like "what the heck is going on with mom?! we spill milk all the time and she doesn't cry..." Emotional, sentimental and longing for peace we stumbled through the first few days after Josh went back to work. But we made it! That's the thing: transitions don't last forever and we slowly fell into a rhythm. I made a point to ignore dishes, laundry and clutter as I focused on giving the boys the attention they needed. We watched cartoons when we needed to. Stayed in pajamas. Used paper plates and ate things like chicken nuggets and pizza. We colored, read books together, took naps and played a lot of video games. We had so many close friends & family drop off meals and enjoyed their visits and encouragement. I didn't pretend everything was perfect, but I also didn't let the struggles take away from all the ways we are so blessed. I cried when I needed to, slept when I could, appreciated all the ways Josh was helping & talked to my friends about the rough days. I also laughed at myself for the unexplained tears. I took vitamins, and prayed for the emotions that were running through me... The first month was a blur and we blinked and it had already gone by.
That's the thing with raising kids. They don't last forever either. Our oldest is already 8 and it seems like just yesterday that it were his cries that were waking us in the night. I don't want to experience this season feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. I want to notice and appreciate the little moments in each day and not to let the amount of sleep I got to become the deciding factor in the quality of day that follows. So I'm drinking coffee, soaking up the Word & making a very intentional point to make the most of it all- even the below zero ones where we are cooped up in the house together! (Oh, and I also give Ledger his milk in a cup with a lid and straw now too!)
my hands are full but my heart is fuller
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Besties vs. Worsties
Fighting
Bickering
Tattling
Name Calling
Rough Housing
Annoying!!
I am up to my eyebrows raising 3 little boys... It is unbelievable to me the fights that break out over a toy, or a block, or a stick! (or anything!) They are crazy competitive, at eachother's throats and have the ability to make me feel like I am totally losing my mind. The messes they make, the disaster that goes in their wake is unreal. They battle tempers, raw and wild emotions, jealousy, anger & selfishness. The things that SCREAM out to me, demand discipline, beg for prayer and take up a lot of our time together.
And then there are the quiet moments
The moments that could easily slip by as I breath a sigh of relief or just try to regroup. Moments where they are sitting together at the table drawing their favorite superheros. Moments where they are laying side by side on their bellies looking at the new search and find book from the library. Moments when they are eachother's greatest defender, protector, best friend. These type of moments do not scream for attention, or demand me to even notice them... in fact, they are much the opposite. These moments threaten to slip by unnoticed in all the hecticness of daily life. These moments must be intentionally sought out- and then I have the choice to let these moments soak deep into my very being. Seeing glimpses of their true character starting to shine through all the negative bits and pieces that are tempting them at every turn gives me hope.
The fight that doesn't take place because my 7 year old chooses to put his little brother before himself. The name that isn't called because my hot tempered 5 year old is actively being changed by a Savior that loves him and called him by name! The bickering that is nipped in the bud because even my 3 year old is learning, little by little, how to be a friend. These moments are silent and filled to the brim with peace- these moments are the ones that are SO easy to miss if my only focus is on the fight that took place an hour ago. The sweet times with these little boys can fade into the shadows if I allow the tattling from the past to hold my attention.
My goal this year is to notice the moments that would otherwise go unnoticed. And to uplift these guys in prayer for all the areas that are still a challenge. I want my perspective to be one with eternal value- and I want to take the time to notice prayers being answered each time the quiet moments surface. God began a work in each of their individual lives the very moment they chose to accept Him as their Savior- and I am going to claim the promise that the Word gives:
What little moments in your life are going by unnoticed today?
Bickering
Tattling
Name Calling
Rough Housing
Annoying!!
I am up to my eyebrows raising 3 little boys... It is unbelievable to me the fights that break out over a toy, or a block, or a stick! (or anything!) They are crazy competitive, at eachother's throats and have the ability to make me feel like I am totally losing my mind. The messes they make, the disaster that goes in their wake is unreal. They battle tempers, raw and wild emotions, jealousy, anger & selfishness. The things that SCREAM out to me, demand discipline, beg for prayer and take up a lot of our time together.
And then there are the quiet moments
The moments that could easily slip by as I breath a sigh of relief or just try to regroup. Moments where they are sitting together at the table drawing their favorite superheros. Moments where they are laying side by side on their bellies looking at the new search and find book from the library. Moments when they are eachother's greatest defender, protector, best friend. These type of moments do not scream for attention, or demand me to even notice them... in fact, they are much the opposite. These moments threaten to slip by unnoticed in all the hecticness of daily life. These moments must be intentionally sought out- and then I have the choice to let these moments soak deep into my very being. Seeing glimpses of their true character starting to shine through all the negative bits and pieces that are tempting them at every turn gives me hope.
The fight that doesn't take place because my 7 year old chooses to put his little brother before himself. The name that isn't called because my hot tempered 5 year old is actively being changed by a Savior that loves him and called him by name! The bickering that is nipped in the bud because even my 3 year old is learning, little by little, how to be a friend. These moments are silent and filled to the brim with peace- these moments are the ones that are SO easy to miss if my only focus is on the fight that took place an hour ago. The sweet times with these little boys can fade into the shadows if I allow the tattling from the past to hold my attention.
My goal this year is to notice the moments that would otherwise go unnoticed. And to uplift these guys in prayer for all the areas that are still a challenge. I want my perspective to be one with eternal value- and I want to take the time to notice prayers being answered each time the quiet moments surface. God began a work in each of their individual lives the very moment they chose to accept Him as their Savior- and I am going to claim the promise that the Word gives:
What little moments in your life are going by unnoticed today?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)