Good morning all! What a cold crisp morning it is here in central IL. It's cold in my house too since we woke up to no heat. The propane people are on their way since the smell of gas is so strong around our furnace and the furnace people should be headed here too. So, hopefully I can get this post done before I freeze! (I guess that's probably not possible since it's still 53 degrees, but that's what I feel like!) or I guess the other option is, until my house blows up.

But don't worry about me, just prepare yourself for a wonderful time of enjoyment with friends and family tomorrow! I'm so excited to have a four day weekend but unfortunately my hubby has to work. The kids and I are planning on decorating for Christmas while he's away. What fun we will have!

I ask that you please pray for my granny. Tomorrow would have been her and my gramps 65th wedding anniversary had he lived just a few more months. I know that it will be a hard day for her and it's one of those times that you just don't know what to say or how to bring comfort. I pray for God to wrap His loving arms around her and give her peace as she thinks on so many wonderful years together with her husband.

I pray that you will be especially thankful tomorrow - no matter what is happening around you - God is enough to give thanks for. Take the time to write all the things you are thankful for and give praise and glory to our Father.

Have a great day, a great Thanksgiving and a great weekend

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

It was a rough night last night. Our daughter's basketball team lost in the 2nd round of regionals. The game went back and forth - staying tied the majority of the time. It was a very intense game but in the last quarter the other team pulled ahead and won. Oh how they cried. They all had worked so very hard and had a really great season at 21-4, but only saw the result of the one game that ended their 7th grade season.

How true is that for us so many times? We get so enthralled with our current circumstance that we easily forget the faithfulness of our God throughout our lives. When times are tough do you wallow in now or do you remind your self of what God has got you through? This is where journaling comes in as a great tool. When you have a record of God's faithfulness, you can easily look back and remember. Now, journaling is not something that I have done but I have found that by blogging, I'm doing something very similar. I have taken the opportunity to go back at times and read my past blog posts to remember God's faithfulness. We so easily forget - use whatever tool works for you to remember.

James 5:7-8 "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near."

How are you at being patient? I can say that I'm better than I used to be but still have a long, long way to go. My patience is tried everyday in my profession of a daycare provider - some days my responses are better than others. I also, can be patient on waiting for some things that I desire, but very impatient on others. Patience is a virtue and something that God desires us to have. The farmer cannot rush his crop just as we cannot rush learning patience - it's a process.

We must look forward to our future reward as we use this time of patient waiting to further God's Kingdom. Our patience will pay off when our King has returned for us.

Have a great day

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Yesterday, we attempted to take the picture that would be on our Christmas card. After many tries, with uncooperative puppies, we finally got the shot that I think we'll use. I definitely don't want to continue trying.

The other night, my husband and I drove separately to our daughter's basketball game because we each came straight from work. Afterwards, we all met at a restaurant for supper. Even though I was tired and wanted to go home, I let them all know that we needed to get groceries when we were done eating. My husband, son and daughter all said that they didn't want to go so they would go home while I went. I asked the question: "why is it that I still have to go even when don't want to, but none of you do?" The response from all: "cause your the mom!" So true, I'm the mom, so I'm expected to do even when I don't want to.

I thought about this in regards to my Bible study. In our small group, we are studying the book of Hebrews. In the past, I skip over Hebrews because it is hard for me to understand. Not only Hebrews, but other books of the Bible have been avoided by me due to their difficulty. When I explained to our pastor that leads our small group, that I'm really intimidated by these difficult books and wonder how I'm going to understand them when I start Christian college in February.

I was reminded of the "cause your the mom" story. Even when things are difficult, I can't shy away. Even when I don't want to, I have to. How can I raise children who take risks and trust in God to reveal Himself to them, if I'm not willing to set the example?! I will do hard things not only cause I'm the mom but also because I'm a child of the Most High God.

On to our study of James. 5:1-6 "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Saboath. You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you."

What a great reminder of the worthlessness of money! Now, we all of course, need money to survive. Money in itself is not the problem, it's the love of money that James is warning about. People who have alot of money, are not worthless, in fact that can do much for the Kingdom with the money that God has blessed them with. It's all about what a person does with their money.

You may be like me and be thinking, well I definitely don't have alot of money, so I don't have to worry about these "rich" warnings but we certainly must. It is so tempting for us to put money over people especially when we don't have much and think that more would make us happier. Have you ever considered changing jobs for the money even thought it would take your time from your family or doing something dishonest just to make some extra money for yourself? The love of money is something we must all guard ourselves from. I think that is why God warns us so many times in His word about money.

Where is your love? Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Have you ever worried that someone was hopeless in finding Christ? I have to admit that I have. There are people in my life that I have prayed for, for years, because they reject everything I have attempted to tell them about Jesus. Well, yesterday was the end of my prayers for some one's salvation. A man that I often wondered if he would ever get it, got it!!! My husband and I and many others had been praying over the last 5 years and our prayers have been answered! God is so good! God is so faithful! I continue to thank Him for never giving up on us and I also continue to do a happy dance over one more friend that I will spend eternity with.

Now, on to our study of James. 4:17 "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin."

O.K., you may be thinking that only what you do, causes sin, but James explains that what you don't do can also be sin.

Has someone that you don't really like, told you about their difficult life and you show no compassion for them or help in what you are able?

Have you known the truth about something and not or only partially share about it?

Have you kept your mouth closed when you wanted to speak badly about someone, only to continue the thoughts in your mind?

Have you seen a need and not fulfill it, when you are able?

Have you been prompted by the Holy Spirit only to reject the calling?

What we do or don't do can equally hurt our relationship connection with God. Keep your mind open today. Realize what it is that God wants you to do or stop doing. It is only through a closer relationship through studying His Word, prayer and quiet time with Him that will steer us more clearly.

Have a great day and a great weekend

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Have you ever had to keep reminding yourself of this. There have been many days that as I get to the point of complete frustration/melt-down-point, that I have to stop, get my bearings, pray and then force myself to sing "This is the day". Now, this doesn't take everything away that is happening, it doesn't really change anything, but my attitude. I believe attitude is key. Do I naturally want to have a good attitude when everything around me is falling to pieces? Absolutely not - but praying and singing of God's goodness, brings the reminder that I don't have any control, anyway. I helps me to focus on Him instead of my circumstances.

No matter how your day has been going, join with me today in singing "This is the day" because it just may give you new perspective.

James 4:13-16 "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.' But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil."

How many times have you heard the saying "life is short"? How many times have you heard "just do it" because "you only get one chance at life"? Why is it that when it comes to doing something that we know we shouldn't do, we justify it with these words?

When its doing the right things: obeying God, spending time with your spouse our children, loving others, etc., we tend to lean more towards "I'll have plenty of time for that when _____"?

Remember God is in control. It doesn't matter how many plans we make or why we make them - God is in control. Are you living your life and then asking God to bless it or are you living your life to be a blessing?

You and I are but a vapor - a vapor that can be sucked away at any moment. Are you ready?

Have a great day
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Yesterday, our dogs were in BIG trouble! We have been trying very hard to contain our dogs in our "yard". We allow them to run free on about 6 acres and then on the fields to the east and west of our house but they know that they are not allowed to cross the street in front of our house. For the most part, they do a good job at staying where they are supposed to. Well, I caught them not just once, but twice in the field across the road. Their punishment for crossing the road is being tied up to a tree in our back yard. Oh, how they hate to be tied up but as we all know, there must be consequences for our bad decisions.

If you look very closely at the pictures, there is a squirrel on the side of the tree. We don't see many squirrels around here, but there just happened to be one yesterday. The dogs went crazy being tied up and not able to chase said squirrel and he antagonized them most of the afternoon. Just one more example to me of making good choices makes life so much more enjoyable but the consequences of the bad ones, is enough to drive me crazy!

James 4:11-12 "Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?"

Who am I? Who are you? God knew how we would struggle with loving others. In many scriptures, God tells us to show love. Why is it that we think we know so much better? Why is it that we allow our emotions to override God's commands to us?

PRIDE and SELFISHNESS. Those prideful thoughts of "I'm better than you" "You can't make that mistake on me" "I deserve better" "Do you know who I am?" "I give, give, give and I get nothing"

Any sound familiar to you? Me, too. We will only be able to control our sinful tongue, heart and mind, when we fully humble ourselves and submit to our Lord. It's only His love and mercy that can shine through us to be a blessing to others. Will you let Him shine through you today?

Have a great day

Living fearlessly in Christ

Christie

God accomplished something very big in me, yesterday. See, I have this tendency which is really dumb. A tendency in which is very difficult for me to overcome, but praying throughout the entire day, I did it for the first time. I have this tendency to get angry at someone who is angry at me. I know, it doesn't really make any sense, but when someone is upset with me, I get very defensive and become angry at them for being angry at me. This is especially true when it comes to my husband. I knew when he left for work, that he was angry over a misunderstanding - a miscommunication. As my defenses began to rise, I decided to stop and pray. I prayed that I would only respond in a way that would be pleasing to God. I prayed this and much more throughout the entire day as the situation would arise in my head. When he came home last night, I was able to keep a positive and non-defensive attitude throughout our entire discussion. I was amazed at what God had done. Because I know myself so well, I knew this was definitely not something I could have done on my own, so I have continued to thank God ever since. Our God is an awesome God who is willing to help us in any and every situation!!

James 4:8-10 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you."

How can we draw near to God?
Submit to God
Commit your life to God
Recognize satan's lies and defeat him
Replace your desire to sin with leading a pure life in Christ
Have sincere sorrow for committing sin
Humble yourself before God

Those sweet words, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" have brought me much comfort. The thoughts of the God who created and sustains our universe, drawing near to me is an unfathomable idea but an amazing experience as I feel it happening.

Praise God for His goodness
Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie