Here's to 2012!

Today is the final day of 2012 and another chapter closes. It was a dream of mine to blog and I committed to write every day and have been able to follow through and thoroughly enjoyed it! It has gone quickly and it is hard to believe that 2013 is literally around the corner.

This year has been a wonderful year with both sadness and moments of joy...

two dear kids of ours were married, my father was declared cancer-free, my daughter made it into the nursing program and continues to do well, my son is in his senior year and we are enjoying the events that go with that, a dear friend went home to be with the Lord, another dear friend was diagnosed with cancer, and there are many many more memories-that is what our lives are made up of-events take place and choices we make take us down certain paths and when they are done it is nothing more than a memory.

As I look back over the year, my desire is that through it all, my heart would draw closer to God and that my life would point others to Him.

Maybe it hasn't been a memorable year for you, or maybe it has been one that has been full of sorrow and tears. The Lord knows. As we live one day at a time, we don't know what tomorrow will bring. But, whatever God does allow into our lives, remember that as Christians, we never have to handle it alone.

It has been my honor and distinct privilege to write and have you follow along. I will be continuing to blog but I'm not sure yet how often or on what topics. You still have time to accept Christ as your personal Savior if you haven't made that decision yet and if you haven't then I urge you to do so and make this year the best one of your life!

Jude 24-25

"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Sick-Blah!

I started not feeling well on Friday night and have continued to go downhill. I finished my responsibilities last night around 9 pm and I think that was when I gave myself permission to collapse in bed and officially be...SICK! Ugh! I have had a fever off and on which means chills and then sweats and you layer and then unlayer. I have been so tired and thankfully have been able to just lay in bed and sleep. My family has been wonderful-helping out. My friends have been so sweet with messages. I am so thankful that this will be a temporary situation and that I will be feeling 100 percent again soon.

But it did remind me that we all have a sickness-sin! It is a permanent situation that we deal with one day at a time. All of us are born sinners.

Romans 3:23

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

I have to say that I am even more thankful that Christ provided a way for us to be cured from this sickness. It may seem too simple, but all you have to do is acknowledge you are a sinner and repent and accept the gift of salvation given to us by God's only son dying on the cross and taking all of our sins on Him-once! Life may seem gray and you may be in despair but realize that Christ can lift you out of that. He is the one true Physician and although we may have to endure physical ailments, injuries, or diseases, Christ has the cure for the worst one of all that counts. Turn to Him-it will be the best decision you make this year!

Just like you would send a get well card to someone who is sick or take some tea or soup, take the gospel to those around you that you know are not saved and will be dying and going to Hell. You won't regret the time spent in sharing the medicine to those that are sick.

Forever After...a Union of Three

Today I had the privilege to coordinate a wedding for 2 of "our kids". The day started off rough. I was sick with chills and a fever throughout the night. It was raining when we got up and the wedding was supposed to be held outdoors. So, I loaded up on medicine and went off to the church to prepare for 2 weddings-the outdoor one and indoor if we needed it. We pulled the reception inside so we were able to get that whole room decorated. The rain cleared up right at the time we needed to make the call and we believe it was due to many praying and so the Lord would get all the glory for this union. The bride was gorgeous and the groom was stunned. The ceremony was beautiful and the part that stood out to me the most was the fact that they used a unity cord. They took three strands-God, Madeline, and Andrew and braided it to show that God would be in their marriage and that would be what holds them together.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

"And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

I am thrilled for these two young people who love each other and love the Lord. It was a wonderful day of celebrating and they are now Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Gay.

It is something we can all take away with us, especially if we are married, As we live one day at a time, we will be stronger if we allow the Lord to be the head of our relationships. Because, we want it to be...forever after!

Rehearse & Coordinate

Today I coordinated the wedding rehearsal for two very sweet young people that grew up in our church, fell in love with each other, and will be married tomorrow. We were able to run through the ceremony and work out all the kinks and go over all the little details so that hopefully tomorrow will run smoothly and they will live happily ever after.  

They were able to rehearse. We are living life one day at a time and we are not afforded a dress rehearsal. What we do and how we live counts now.

One day Christ will return for all those that have accepted Him as their personal Savior. Then we will live happily ever after with Him in Heaven.

We aren't perfect so we will make mistakes and some will stray away. But, once you realize what you have done-confess and run back to the waiting arms of our Savior.

1 John 5:20

 "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."

Known by it's Logo

This is the only sign that this store needs and yet just about everyone knows what it stands for-The Apple Store. The only items that are sold in this store are their products. It's the same for a lot of other products as well. When people see the swish they know that it is Nike. I'm sure all of us can name some different companies by their logos. 

As we live one day at a time, can it be said of us that we are known by our branding? Do people see something different in you and know that you belong to Christ? I want to be known as a Christian-a follower of Christ-a daughter of the King. I want to act as Christ would act. I was at a shower for a young bride-to-be and she was asking for advice from the married women. I want to learn things from people that I look up to and want to imitate my marriage after. I wouldn't want to listen to advice from couples that are struggling or don't feel that they love each other as much as they did when they first married.  I want to learn what makes a great marriage-how to overcome conflict, and communicate better, overlook faults, and choose to love, compromise, and keep Christ as the center of my marriage. 

Christ is the groom and we as the church (saved ones) are His bride. We should stand out and be noticeable to others. Our marriages should be stronger and be able to be examples to others around us.

Ephesians 5:25-27
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."

Dealing With Disappointment

Sometimes, the day after a big event or holiday can be a let down. I enjoy the day after Christmas because I normally don't have any obligations and can relax and enjoy the day. Today was that kind of day. I was able to sleep in and then spend the day cleaning and organizing and running out to catch a sale-all things I love to do. But we were planning for an exciting day tomorrow-we were supposed to go on a Hot Air Balloon ride. But, the phone rang at 8:15 pm to tell us that due to the cold front coming through they were canceling our ride-disappointment! We have been planning this trip for the last six months and now we have to re-book it for June. It was a disappointment to all of us. I was excited to be able to go up in the air and take pictures and see the beautiful landscape from the air and be able to experience something I have never done before. As I live one day at a time, there are many disappointments that I will experience in my lifetime.  People will disappoint me at one time or another. Circumstances may not go the way I had planned and will cause me disappointments from time to time. As long as we are here on earth we do not live in a perfect world, due to sin, and disappointments will occur. How you handle them is a testament to your relationship with Christ. Think of some of the disappointments that God has endured over the years. He created a world out of nothing and put everything on it and then created man and woman so that He could have fellowship-only to have man sin and have to be put out of the garden. 

Genesis 3:22-24

"Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life."

He had to send a flood during the time of Noah due to all the sin.

Genesis 7:7-12

"So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood. Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights."

I also think about how Christ chose to come to earth as a man so that He could die on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice and take our sins on Himself so that we can receive the gift of salvation-and then to be rejected by those that He came to save.

John 1:10-11

"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him."

But He still loves us and wants us to accept Him as our personal Savior. My disappointments pale in comparison to what Christ has endured. Doesn't this help put it all in perspective for you? Take your disappointments to Christ-lay them at His feet and ask Him to help you overcome them.

My picture for today? Another small disappointment-my phone was charging yesterday and there was a short in the cord and it burned my phone. It won't charge anymore and so I am unable to use it until I take it to the store tomorrow and have them look at it (it isn't under warranty any longer and may cost me). We will have to wait and see.

Merry Merry CHRISTmas!

This month as I have lived one day at a time, I have used the phrase 'Merry Christmas' to a lot of people with whom I have come in contact.

It is important to me to say Merry Christmas because this is the holiday that I am celebrating. I don't begrudge anyone else their holidays-some celebrate Hanukkah and other Kuwanza but to me this is more than just a winter break or holiday. Christmas was established in America as a federal holiday in 1870. But to me, Christmas is not just a day off of work or a day to get and give presents to family and friends-although I enjoy all of those things.

Christmas has a wonderful history since it first took place a little over 2000 years ago over in a small town named Bethlehem.

Luke 2:1-7

" And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

We take the time set aside to remember this birth and have a wonderful time celebrating this joyful occasion. He chose to come to earth and live His life on earth so that He could then die on the cross for our sins. Since He was perfect He became the ultimate sacrifice and took our sins upon Him so that we can accept His gift of salvation and have eternal life with Him.

Hebrews 4:15

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."

My prayer is that today was a very Merry CHRISTmas for you and yours as you celebrate the true reason for the season.