REJOICE!

Hooray for Christmas trees

And candlelight

And the good old church pageant.

Hooray for shepherd boys

who forget their lines

And wise men whose beards fall off

And a Mary who giggles.

O Lord, you were born!

And I will celebrate!

I rejoice for the carnival of Christmas!

I clap for pajama-clad cherubs

And the Christmas cards jammed 

in the mail slot.

I o-o-o-oh for the turkey

And ah-h-h-h for the Christmas pudding

And thank God for the alleluias

I see in the faces of people.

O Lord, there aren't enough choir

boys to sing what I feel.

There aren't enough trumpets to blow.

O Lord, I want bells to peal!

I want to dance in the streets of

Bethlehem!

I want to sing with the heavenly host!

For unto us a Son was given

And he was called God With Us.

For those of us who believe,

The whole world is decorated

in love!

~ Ann Weems

"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again."

Psalm 71:20   

Fully Believing,

"I do not believe there is such a thing in the history of God's eternal kingdom as a right prayer, offered in the right spirit, that remains forever unanswered." ~Theodore L. Cuyler 

The Face of Encouragement

I've had a period here lately where I have been praying heavily for many things, and one has been encouragement. Encouragement for myself and my family as are hearts are heavy and weary with this leg of service in our lives and we are all very much looking ahead to the moment when we can fully sigh with relief and soak in some time of each other, uninterrupted. 

When I pray something such as this, it is always overwhelming to witness God's response. When He is ready to move on our behalf, he doesn't do it just a little. No, He does it in a way that we have no chance of denying that He has been with us. How grateful I am! How grateful that He is indeed always with us, and, that He loves us so deeply to remind us in very personal ways that touch our heart like nothing else. 

Today I pray that I can be that for my family. 

That I will not miss an opportunity to lift them up and show them my love for them, each in their own personal way. 

Today I pray that I will not be distracted by the things that are out of my control, but instead, I will rest in the knowledge that He is sovereign over all.

Today, I hope we are a light in a dark room that proclaims His glory so clearly that tension and disorder fall away and TRUTH is left standing.

While I also pray for results, more, I pray for His will in our lives and for His peace and protection to blanket us as we wait for His timing to reveal His perfect plan.

"The hedges, or hindrances, are right for us, or He will quickly remove them. And doesn't it stand to reason that whatever seems to block our way may also provide for our protection?" 

~Frances Ridley Havergal

Trusting, Waiting, Hoping,

The Beauty of Mother Bear

My boys and I are reading the delightful story of Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik and I'm not sure who is loving it more! (not to mention the girls instantly halt their lessons to listen along as well!)

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Mother Bear is such a real, loving, playful and beautiful mother that I just enjoy learning from and being encouraged by. 

Simple Pleasures!

And a reminder that all mother bears also have another side that I equally admire...

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FIERCE: A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path. (Agatha Christie)

One of the great balances of life!

National Adoption Month

A flicker

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It's there.

It may just be a glimmer.

It may still be far in the distance.

BUT......

It's there.

And some days, that's enough.

Psalm 71:14 "As for me, I will always have hope."