Good Morning,

This morning I have to admit I became a little overwhelmed with the “list” I began to make. You know the one. The list that is suppose to help organize. Okay, I’m  visual person and the “list” freaked me out. Panic set in. How can I possibly get all that done in time…..Yup, lists backfire for this mama. Anyways after I took a couple deep breaths and started driving to Christmas concert number one I began thinking about the gifts that we scurry around trying to shop for, wrap and keep secret until the “big” day. Do we actually need them, nope..do we actually give what we need, nope. Not all the time! Love, mercy, grace, hope and forgiveness…..those are the gifts that we can give to one another everyday not just Christmas. They are gifts that we never deserved but arrived in a manager in the promise of a baby.

It always takes my breath away to hear the stories of those who “sacrifice” for others at Christmas. Truly they are demonstrations of love, but why are these stories only ever highlighted at Christmas. Are we not meant to impart these sacrifices, these gifts everyday? I was challenged this morning to rethink my gift giving. I can sacrifice daily, I can give unconditional love, share hope, extend grace and forgiveness.

So friends while the world is whirling around trying to find the perfect gift, you know and can give those around you the perfect gifts that because of Jesus’s birth can we receive and give to others.

Merry Christmas, Journey On

Good Morning,

Has the Christmas chaos stolen your joy of the season? I ask because on Saturday we “foolishly” went to the mall with our children. I must have had a moment of pure ignorance, because it honestly did not dawn on me that everyone and their brother would be attempting to get into the mall never mind the thousands who were also trying to find a precious parking spot. I definitely was not feeling holly or jolly on Saturday. Can I mention that at the end of the family shopping extravaganza we left pretty much empty handed as they did not have the stores we were needing. YAH! Good times.

When we returned home my eyes landed on “Mary”. She is at the center of our nativity scene holding baby Jesus. Mary was about to give birth, to the Saviour of the world. Um, kind of a big responsibility, wouldn’t you say? She was about to deliver in a stable, with animals, unsanitary conditions, no other women to support and encourage her through  labour. Yah, the weeks leading up to her Christmas day were much more stressful. I exhaled very slowly, thanked the Lord for His upcoming birthday celebration and asked that for the next few weeks, the Prince of Peace invade this harried mama’s spirit. My gift to the King is my dependence on Him to enjoy, survive and complete the season to His honor. I know it’s possible because its not about me!

So friends, I encourage you to work hard at not allowing the “stress and chaos” of the season take over the joy, the purity and the hope that Christmas offers us all.

The Birth of Jesus

 18-19The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.

 20-23While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—’God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term: 

   Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; 
   They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).

 24-25Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God’s angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus

Journey On

Good Morning,

I was chatting with my honey last night about fear. It is a strange beast. As I grappled with the reality of fear,  imminent fears, perceived fears. I began thinking that fear can be healthy, it can protect us from danger and yet it can paralyze us. Healthy fear is the kind we teach our kids. Our youngest is “fearless” he will run into the road, he would touch anything shiny and bright, the waves of the ocean do not intimidate my little dude. He is yet to learn to have a healthy fear/respect for those things that could knowingly harm him. This is a process of learning for him. And yet how many of us, let our fear of failure, ridicule, self couscious determine a life of inaction. If we expect and challenge our children to overcome fear should we not expect the same for ourselves?  When fear becomes a manipulator in determining what we will do, could it be an excuse? Is it from the Lord?  

I didn’t think I was a fearful person, however when I look back I realize that stepping out into something that was not in my repertoire of “strengths” was not an option for me. My fear of failure, my choice to allow fear to dictate my actions and choices is not what God has in mind for me. He tells us to “fear not” in the Bible. He promises to fill in the gaps of our less then perfect lives if we chose to trust Him. He promises to allow and produce every good and perfect gift in our life. 

Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:5-6

It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit–depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm].
Deuteronomy 31:7-8

How about you? What fears are keeping you from stepping out and doing something the Lord is asking you to do? Have you talked to the Lord about them. Try Him, He won’t let you down!

Journey On

Hey there,

Today we said good bye to dear old Joshua. I had no idea the man lived until he was 110 years old. Talk about a wealth of wisdom. Thankfully we have his life story to read and learn from. As I thinking back over the last few months and the journey the Lord has taken me on through the story of Joshua I realized that radical obedience can only occur when you take the time to look back and in complete confidence know that God has allowed you to go through, persevere and live to tell the tale about the events on your life. Every small step you take in obedience can string together your journey, your life story of an amazing and unfailing God. It is at that point when you hear that small still voice to go, do. become involved…. whatever you are being asked to do, will you in confidence know through experience that obedience is your job.The Lord is in charge of the details.

Can I challenge you in the chaos of the next few weeks to look back at your year. Gods provision, your small steps in daily obedience may be leading you to your Red Sea moment. Are you ready? Do you trust Him 

            Proverbs 19:21

            Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails (NIV)

            We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails. (MSG)

Journey On

Good Morning,

I’ve already planned our route today in order to get our Friday fill of doughnuts? Have you had your sweet treat for the day?

I sent my son off to school this morning with tears in his eyes as he was anticipating getting his name on the board  as a consequence for forgetting something at school. The mommy in me is so wanting to call the teach, explain how he could have forgotten, change the course of the consequence that will cut his prized recess short. As I prayed  I felt like I needed to let this one go. AGGGGG, it is so hard though. My son is a compliant boy, he does not cause trouble, but I respect his teacher and need to comply to her rules. So I will wait, I will pray that his little mind is protected and he feels love and knows at the end of the day his name on the board does not mean is is any less worthy, smart or loved as the day before when his name was not there.

It’s not too far from the truth that as adults we can often feel like we are one mistake away, one bad choice away from losing God’s love. I know I’ve been there. Just as I want our guy to know he is fully loved no matter what, I need to constantly work on fighting back the thoughts that only the deceiver sends my way to make me feel unworthy, unloved.

As you know I’ve been studying Joshua. I was thinking about the walls of Jericho.  God allowed the walls to fall, He allowed it to happen. The walls represented life to me. Only when God allows my life, my walls to be cracked, to come tumbling down, do I get the opportunity to see in a new and fresh way just how much I am loved. For it is in the dust and rumble of the broken pieces of my life’s walls do I start to see clearly and experience God’s love for me. 

So as my sons walls have come crashing down today,  as a mommy who so wants to protect him from the dreaded moment of today, I know and have complete confidence that the God I know and love, knows and loves my son even more then I can imagine. He will fill in the gaps. 

By faith, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days, and the walls fell flat. Hebrews 11:29-30 (The Message)

Have a great weekend.

Journey On,

Hey Everyone!

Wow it has been a long break from the cyber space world! Life got crazy, visitors, Thanksgiving..life! I know you can all relate. Feeling a little rusty….

So last night as I was running on my elliptical I had my music blaring as it motivates me and it helps pass the time, when quite frankly I didn’t feel like exercising after a long day. 

As I was running I felt the gently nudging of the Holy Spirit encouraging me to tum my music off and spend some time praying for a few people who were brought to my mind. I knew it was the Holy Spirit because I need my music to stay on task, and the names of the people who were brought to my mind are not the “typical” people I pray for.

I would love to say I was all over the idea, but I begrudgingly turned my music off, looked at the timer on the machine and groaned as I still had a chunk of time to go! Well friends can I tell you it was the best run I have had. The Lord not only wanted me to stop and spend some time with Him, but I was met with the sweet refreshment that only being in the presence of the God of the Universe can bring. I was shocked when the beeper went off to indicate my time was up. It is in those moments of sweet relationship that I wonder how it is people who experienced God can deny Him. 

So friends, my challenge to you is to respond to the whooing that you may be feeling.  It is an invitation from the King of Kings to spend some precious time with you.  Will you meet Him?

I love this verse. In the chaos of the Christmas season life can feel a little bit overwhelming. I love the decscription of the how the Psalmist was feeling. Read the last sentence, th

Psalm 42:6
When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, From Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God’s prayer.

Have a great day. Journey On