What is your word?

 Do you set a word for the year? I set a word for me to help guide me through the year. It is hard to think of a word that reflects you and what you feel will guide you. You may think this is silly, but a lot of us out there do this. I have used words like intentional, consistent, love. This year I have struggled with coming up with one. I was listening to the radio and heard one of the DJ's talking and I think his word is a great one and I am going to use(steal) that one too! I will get to that here soon. Let me build up your anticipation!

This past year has seen its ups and downs but I have survived, as you have too. For me that has been lots of changes..... with my job, moving, building a new house, new mission challenges. Thank God I have not had any health scares this year! God has really carried me and walked with me. But it isn't about me. Everything I have become and everything that I have is because of God and the many blessings he has given me, despite me doing my human, stupid things sometimes. I am so thankful that God is loving and VERY forgiving.

Winston Churchill said, "Mountaintops inspire leaders, but valleys mature." Valleys help us grow and learn. Those low times, whether it may be having to making difficult decisions, or going through some rough times, help make who I am. 

So my word for this year is LESS

Less of me. Empty me of me and fill me with more of you (God). More of His love, grace, forgiveness, joy. More of Him, less of me. The more there is of God and less of me, that love will spill over to others. I ask God to teach me to speak with love, hear with compassion, and respond with grace. If I am full of myself, I can't do that. 

So what is your word that you will use to help guide you this year, the new year 2026. For me 2026 is Less. 

Isaiah 43:18-19; “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Love to all,

Merry CHRISTmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone! Christmas for me is a remembrance of God's promise through Jesus. God came down to earth as a human, fragile as a baby and we know him as Jesus. Sometimes we get carried away with Christmas with all the shopping, gifts, food that we lose sight of what we are really celebrating...Jesus.  

Jesus was prophesied long before he was born. 

Isaiah 9:6; "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:11; "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord"

Don't get me wrong, I have gotten caught up in it all too. But I remind myself to slow down when I am wrapped up in all the chaos and frustration and remember to focus on God. This time of year can be hard for some people too. It can bring up good memories but can cause sadness in remembering. It can be through a lost loved one, a bad experience, a bad interaction and that just stays with you.

BUT.....SANTA CAME TO MY HOUSE! Here I thought I was on the naughty list. I must have just skirted by to get on the good list. And did  you know, I have met Santa! A few times.  Here is a picture of the proof!

I pray everyone has a wonderful Christmas and sending love to everyone that is having a hard time through this holiday season. 

Love to all,  

Don't forget to live

 I went to the Cincinnati Museum and was able to experience the Holocaust exhibit. If you have not read, or seen anything about this history, you need to. It is very difficult to see, but it is necessary. Why? Because we need to know history. We need to see that what happened in the past, even though it was in a different time and different county, it is still hatred. Hatred toward humanity. And if anything, it teaches us and shows us to love one another. We are not different. We are humans, living beings, a person. 

But going through this devastating and heartbreaking story, and seeing the artifacts, it has taught me something. To live life. To love. 

The above picture was taken at the exhibit and it is the words of a survivor from Auschwitz camp.  It hit hard to see this at the end of the exhibit with their words of "it would be too senseless, after all, for so many to have died while you live, doing nothing with your life." WOW, that is powerful. I listened to their storied, through their own words and they survived. Then after they survived, they lived!

So whatever it is, do something. It can be something small as a kind word, or something big, whatever that may be for you to do. But whatever it is, just do it, live life and love the life you have been given.

Ephesians 2:10; "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

1 Peter 4:10; "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace"

Love to all,

Quiet time

 Well I woke up at 4:45 am today. I feel like I have already put in my day and need a nap at 9 am! When I wake up early and can't sleep, I enjoy my quiet time. You see, everyone is still sleeping and this forces me to not make any noise. And if you know me, that is a feat in itself! Hubs is always telling me that I am a bull in a china shop. When I do wake up early, I use this time as "me time". I do my devo, reflect on yesterday. I should journal and maybe I will start that too. That gives me an excuse to go get a new fancy journal!!

Do you have any quiet time? A time that you just reserve for yourself? On days that I don't have to go into work, I usually have about an hour for just me. Just me and my chair and my thoughts. One my work days, I have to get up earlier and I usually have 15 minutes to get my mind in gear for the day and get my body going. It usually consists of my devo while I am on my vibrating plate.  I have learned how to read while the vibrating plate is shaking me up!

As I have grown and gotten older, (ummm, more mature), I have found the value in taking that few minutes before each day to reflect, connect with God and make my mind and heart right and ready for the day. Without it, I feel disorganized, discombobulated. And I do find that I am more calm on my drive into work in the traffic, I don't find myself talking to the other drivers or yelling at them as much because of their horrible driving skills. 

So my challenge for you is to make time for yourself, especially during the holidays when things get so crazy, just chaos. Take care of yourself, fill yourself up with Jesus, so you can overflow his love to others.

John 3:30; "He must become greater; I must become less.”

Love to all,

Christmas fun or frustration?

Do you believe? You bet I do! Christmas, Santa, whatever it is, it may mean something different to you. 

Once my kids were told about Santa (and that is a story to tell in another entry!), I always said, if you believe, Santa will come every  year! Santa does come every year, even though they have moved out. BUT.. with the holidays, there comes fun and frustrations. Here are some of mine!

FUN: My kids come home! Spending time with family I don't see too often. Shopping! Decorating! Christmas Carols! Papaw's turkey dressing! Traditions that continue every year. 

Frustrations: Shopping, traffic, rude people that are not in the Christmas spirit like me. Wrapping presents (thank goodness for gift bags, because I suck at wrapping boxes!)
 

What are some of your traditions? My family Christmas traditions are:

We go to my parents house for dinner. (This is the last year at their house. Next year the tradition will continue but at my house!) We always eat at 2 pm. My family that I don't see to often, comes out and we eat, talk and get caught up on the going's on in our life. We ALWAYS have papaw's turkey dressing and it is the highlight of our meal. We all look forward to this. Even though my papaw is gone now, we still make his famous dressing from the recipe he has handed down to us. We all bring our to-go containers so we can take some leftovers home! After dinner we play games, watch a little football sometimes, but we always read the Bible story of the birth of Jesus.

You see, Christmas is about celebrating Jesus and his birth. Without Jesus, we would not have Christmas. It isn't about gifts, or things or food. That is a plus that comes with holiday we celebrate. It is kinda funny that Christmas is celebrated by a lot of people, even those that don't believe in Jesus. But when you celebrate Christmas, I think you celebrate Jesus. 

As Christmas comes around the corner, remember to bring Jesus into your celebration. Do you Believe?

The birth of Jesus:

Luke 2:1-20; "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Love to all,