I Believe!!

I was reminded and freshly inspired while reading in Luke chapter 5:4-7. At Jesus beckoning to Simon, to launch the fishing boat out to sea and to cast the nets, I found Simon's response interesting. He was full of respect, as he said, "Master, we have toiled all the night,and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. " 

What Simon couldn't even begin to imagine, was truly already accomplished in Jesus. Before his astonishing eyes, the nets became so full that they needed the assistance from another fishing boat! 

I just found this whole account amazing indeed!! There have truly been times in my life where God beckoned me further into the great deep.. Even promising me through Scripture and worship the blessing that awaits. I have seriously on occasion said, "Okay, Lord, this is what the world around me is saying...but this is what You are saying.." 

Finding myself at this spiritual crossroads and the need to choose. It was impossible to stay standing in that one spot, cause had I not chosen, my silence would have proved my choice. There is no middle ground to stand on.   

And sadly, sometimes in trying to convince our loved ones and friends around us only bring the sad realization that we are humanly in this one alone. Even saying, "This is what the Word of God says and I choose to believe it" has brought condemnation from even so called Christians as they have responded, "That is a very scary place to be". 

I have sometimes seriously doubted my own ears and hearing... Playing the conversation over and over in my mind, I've had to think that surely they didn't just say that!!

The difference is in believing what we literally can't see, because it really doesn't matter, cause our heart is so full of trust to our loving Saviour. When times have made it difficult to believe something that I knew to be true based solely upon Scripture, I have had to ask myself, how if I don't believe "this" how can I believe anything at all? How can I believe in salvation or even heaven then? 

About 1 1/2 years or more ago, God took my faith to a much larger degree.. I wanted to believe all of Scripture with my whole heart, but being sensitive in my nature, there were just certain things that kept me from shouting freely, "I believe!!" So I tiptoed around those verses. I desperately wanted freedom in my spirit in even those verses, but I just couldn't get past the oblivious of what I "could" see to the seemingly impossible promise that scripture was saying.

After being spiritually boosted and stretched at a weekend conference, and after crying all weekend at the preciousness, I returned home. I had heard and seen so much that contradicted every lying argument that had secretly taken root somewhere along the way in my heart.

I began right away to allow the Holy Spirit to combat every temptation of satan to get me to doubt, by saying out loud in reference to my God and scripture, "I believe". And I would not let my sensitive nature wash me in doubt as to whether or not I was lying because in reality, I didn't have anymore to go on than before other than what scripture says even though the world seemed to prove otherwise.

I stood confidently in my position in Christ and kept confirming to myself, "It doesn't matter if I really think it could be true or not ( by what my eyes see or my experience tells me)  scripture says it and I believe scripture so I know it's true." Before I even realized what was happening, my spiritual boat was filled to overflowing with fishes! I tasted such freedom in Christ. I drove to a private country road and stood in the road with only God, myself, and the cattle for my witnesses  as I shouted, " I believe!!"

That belief in Christ has made some difficult decisions in my life conquerable in Him!! It hasn't made others understand me any better, but it really doesn't matter, because what I am living in everyday, the joy, the life giving exuberance, I wouldn't trade! 

When we live our lives completely surrendered to God, is only then, when we taste of the most beautiful life. It's not bondage as some think, it's freedom! We are free to live, literally dance!, the biggest smiles threaten to cover our whole face! It radiates and pours from us from every fiber. Our intimacy and friendship with our spouse, our relationships in child raising, our visiting with the cashier at the grocery store, our attitude just because someone pulled out in front of us or took our parking spot, ;) all changes! Because what we live in every single day has nothing to do with the external and yet everything in the external is affected! Amazing, isn't it?! ;) ;)

Then I look at what the world calls freedom...and I shake my head and am bewildered that they could possibly think for a moment that I'd trade what I call freedom for theirs. 

Just last night I kissed my sweetheart goodbye and blessed him again that he's such a good man...remembering that not all men are good men. The cheating "while their away" on their spouses.. Freedom?? Not the kind I ever want Mike and I to experience. 

When he puts his arms around me and I know in my heart that I am the only one, my most intimate heart of hearts is bonded with his securely for life. 

And as much as I would stand and testify from the top of the highest mountain that what I taste is freedom~it can only be convinced in a person's soul as they first surrender to the God of this freedom..    Only then He opens up His treasure chest full of the rarest of riches!! :):) 

And they all truly becomes ours, in Him!! 

"I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. "

 I believe!!!!

                            

For more on this subject feel free to check out the post titled, "The Joy of the Lord is my Strength". I am a bit more specific on how fear cripples. But you won't be left hanging there. Jesus has a full measure of life and beauty in Him to offer!!

Tasting More than Joy in Our Mommyhood ;)

The softly padded footsteps as one of my little ones make their way across the living room to me with a sleepy smile on their face. My heart is exuberantly quiet. ( Is that possible?! ;) whatever this emotion is called, I feel it. ) As I hold them close in the warmth of my arms, kiss the top of their silken hair, taking in the beautiful scent of their shampoo, I am overflowing with the whole beautiful role of mommyhood. 

Raising children and fulfilling my title as mommy is more than getting creative with meals and snack ideas, more than keeping our house cozy, clean, and inviting. More than kissing and patching up owies. Way more than pressing uniforms and Sunday shirts, making sure teeth are brushed and keeping intentional in their education. 

It is in actuality raising souls that will continue choosing Jesus Christ or one day to reject Him. If I look to my resources to conquer this serious task before me,  I find myself quaking from within. It is in those moments that my loving Heavenly and Kingly Papa assures me that He will carry out His beautiful and altogether lovely masterpiece in our life.

All He ask of me is my complete givenness and undivided loyalty and trust in His ability. To allow the beautiful pruning of growth in my own life. Somehow, as I yield myself in obedience to Him, a selfless spirit of caring for and nurturing my little family flows naturally from me! 

Is that beautiful or what?! Yes, it is very beautiful indeed!! As I live my life for my Kingly Papa, I also taste of exclusive wonders that graces the life of a princess daughter! It is actually having His royalty surround us, and we find that no matter if it's tidying the house or hiking the magnificent Rockies, we are basking in exuberant joy!! 

This freedom and fulfilling life, in Christ, I would not exchange. With all this, I hasten to add, that because my flesh would naturally stray it's own way, I have found the Great Shepherd's hook, about me more than once, gently guiding me to where the pastures truly are lush, but in my single inward focus, somewhere else looked a bit lusher. What I failed also to see were the bramble bushes that I found myself tangled in. As my Sweet and caring Shepherd gently untangled the mess I found myself in, it hurt to have the thorns and brambles removed and in His gentle ministrations, I mistook the pain that my wanderings brought and as He painstakingly set me free, I associated the pain with Him at times. 

My wonderings brought consequences and He risked setting me free, but knowing at the same time, that freeing me from the bramble bush also brings pain and there is no way around it. You know, (smile) as ironic as it may seem, those times that has been the very things that drew me to my Saviour's sheltering embrace are the times in life I've thanked Him for the most.

It is not freedom to me, to wander from Him, it is discouragement, disappointment and if I get any pleasure from it whatsoever, it has been fleeting, unsatisfactory, and temporary. 

Whereas my life is filled to overflowing as I bask in His love, makes all of life peaceful, restful and joyfilled. Even the call for down moments where in myself, I would feel unsure, I find myself more and more naturally turning to see if this paprticular situation has taken my Kingly Papa by surprise and every time, without fail, I see His completely unruffled confidence and smile, and I rest in Him and find the peace that passeth all understanding as Scripture promises.  

With every good thing, there comes testing to build strength. There is just no way around it. If I want a healthly body, I have to eat right, exercise. If I want to build muscle or tone, I have to make the required effort. And if I want my life to be the real deal, as pure as silver or gold, I have to allow for the heat and fire moments in life to melt me down enough so that the impurities can be filtered out. The more our lives experience this, it has a astoundingly rippling effect in our life that can't be pursued any other way. Our marriages, our families, our relationships prosper. 

When we are free to love selflessly, we experience love in return and as our arms are emptied of ourself we can love and hold others close. It's beautiful! When I nurture only myself, I am filled up in a different way, and I have almost no compacity to reach outward and in the end, I am an unhappy self-riddled person. Jesus created us to love outward, to live outward, and then is when our life becomes full and overflowing with all the good stuff!! 

A mommy's life is definitely full, but all the living, giving, sacrificing and what could seem like "missing out" times is small in comparison to the fulfilling of Proverds 31:31

31 "Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates."

And even now, God lets us catch glimpse of what these are...the little arms wrapped tight around our necks, the wet kisses and I "wuv" you from our littles, the confidence and trust the children place in us, the times the kiddos insist on sharing their sweet treat with us..(just last night little Branson wanted me to take turns with him in sharing nibbles from his sweet treat leftover from his valentine's goodies. My mommy heart wanted him to enjoy it, but the truth of the matter is, his enjoyment came as he said in his baby voice, "you turn" and I'd take a tiny little nibble and then he'd take his turn. ) ;) Or all the years we invest in teaching our boys to grow into gentlemen who are caring and preferring to the ladies around them and than I have to allow them to take the lower place in their desire to serve me. That is and has been hard for me sometimes! They are still my littles ( even tho' Michael is much taller than me and Cameron isn't far behind! ;) ) I have to allow them to exercise their integrity-filled manhood in giving me the last piece or sometimes slightly bigger piece of dessert~all because they want to! To give me their chair if one of us must stand. It's the years of toilsome effort and then we taste of our "works praising us" through our children who are choosing to also live outward. The caring and giving and loving one another is the most beautiful artwork of a Master Creator's Hand. 

And I quietly realize that my Kingly Papa smiles upon me as I taste beautifully and am credited by my children as "the fruit of my sacrifice in their lives"  when it was really my Papa behind it...just as He promised. ;) And somehow, I ponder in the quietness, if I didn't see my Kingly Papa also add a joyfilled wink with His smile. ;) 

                                 

Just a reminder of our adoption! Our sweet M and M made us very lovely valentine cards. :)  What a joy to bond with these precious kiddos!! We trust our Kingly Papa to do what we never could in bringing these kiddos home! If He has laid it on your heart to bless this adoption, you will find a donate button at the top right of this blog. Feel free to leave us a note of encouragement and/or prayer! We look forward to hearing from you!! 

A Heart's Longing to Belong

Last night as I was reading adoption stories on youtube, specific to the Country where M and M are, and listening to different songs, and as I gazed on the faces of kids who truly long for a family,

I realized that I do not know what that emotion is... I allowed my mind to drift and picture what an abandoned child perhaps thinks and feels... To somehow try to grasp the deeply till it hurts desire for their own family. That restless longing to belong... 

One of the "longing till it hurts" experiences our family walked through was some years back... Forced, due to a downhill economy, to sell our lovely little house on the prairie. The home we not only had built, but we also helped to do it. We labored with our own hands, sweat, and time into this charming starter home. It graced 6 acres of open ranch land. We had our own pond and lots and lots of outdoor garden and play room space for what would later be our growing family. We built within our means, not fancy, but modern and beautiful. 

Being the simple house that it was, we received many compliments..people were always surprised at the spacious living /kitchen area when they stepped inside..delighting in being a homemaker I loved decorating and keeping it cozy and country feeling.

We called this lovely rancher "home" for over 9 years.. It is at that house Cameron changed the "Home Sweet Home" all familiar motto with, "Sweet Home Sweet Home". ;) Our family realished home more than anywhere else! Michael was 2 1/2 when we moved in and as the years slipped by we filled our little sweet house with 4 more cuddlable kiddos. :) 

I walked thro the years of healing over my mamas death in that house, and many many years later, I grieved my daddy's soon to be and passing. It was that house where first I saw my Mike literally make the choice in his life that he will step up to the spiritual plate with God's strength and without flinching, flexed his integral muscles that he would hit a home run. Not because he had the ability in and of himself to do so, but because he chose to place his trust in the One who did.

Our life became more and more beautiful with the passing of time, our love deepened, our commitment to Christ strengthened.

Then about 1 to 1 1/2 weeks after burying my sweet daddy, who went to see His Saviour,  we drove away from our little house for the last time, to a temporary vacation home. I was carrying within my womb, with all his preciousness, our fifth child. 

Mike's prayer as we drove away from our little house on the Florida praire will forever be a testimony to me of God's great faithfulness, "Thank you for the nine years You gave us to enjoy and now someone else can. Help us know that all is still good in Your eyes." 

We had a six month commitment from the vacation rental owner, and then we would have to vacate the house due to regular yearly winter guest. That would take us to November.

Meanwhile, it was past saving our house, and we knew of an empty house on the very same road. It sat empty for at least 3 years. Before we moved from our house, we would take our gulf cart and go in the lane to the house and hope, dream, and pray. We looked in every window that we could! ;)

And Mike would think, "Who are we kidding?!" It would be our dream house.

Mike inquired about the house and we found out that it was listed on the market again and it was a foreclosure. We continued to pray, we fasted, having absolutely no idea of the even possible reality.

One night at about midnight, Mike was returning from another town and headed back to our rental, when he drove by the, what we called, "The Yellow House" and he parked at the end of the lane and prayed that we could actually buy this house.

Our longing, the waiting, our inability to do anything about it...we were homesick for the country. We were tired of using someone else's furnishings, as ours was in storage. We didn't feel settled, things were hanging in a temporary balance. We lived day by day, and the months were slipping by... We found out the house has a buyer and is scheduled for closing.

We waited, we prayed, we dreamed, hoped, and longed for our own home... A family member had offered to buy us a house to eventually rent to own, a house of our choice. We had told them of this house than found out it was not available.

Late late summer, after almost ready to settle on another country home, we got a call from our realtor that the yellow house is available as it fell thro with the other people..he said the bank was tired of it always falling thro and are ready to pull it off the market again. There were others ahead of us, we were told, but our realtor begged that we be given the opportunity to buy it as he stated that he is sure he has a buyer. We are down to about a month left in our rental and we were told foreclosed homes can take at least 6 months to buy....

                                        

But....not with God it doesn't... ;) About 1 month later, the end of October, we moved into our lovely and what we called and still do, "Our Yellow House". ( We don't live there anymore though as we moved to where the sweetest little Church is nestled near the Rockies.) :) 

                                              

But the longing, the wait...we would sit around our rental apartment living room and turn all the lights out at night and dream out loud together with our little family, what all the inside of the house must look like... We drew pictures of the rooms as we dreamed they might be.... We were filled with the desperate longing to have that house..it's where we wanted to be, in the country, down the road from our little house on the prairie...

M and M's longings are more than all that....do they dream what being a part of a family must mean, what it looks like?? Are they filled with so desperate a longing that it hurts...? Do they pray, beg and pray some more to our Heavenly Father that He would do what they never could??

Yes, yes, I am sure they do!! And it is something we cannot ignore.. We've had to remind ourselves, when others haven't understood our adoption, that it is us that are being called, not them. God has taught us to extend grace and understanding when others don't see it this way. It is our responsibility. We don't feel capable and equipped of ourselves, but we rest in His heart and His ability to carry His own heart's desire out.

We still have a road ahead in our adoption of M and M and would love and be honored to have your prayer support.

If you care to support this adoption financially, there is a donate button on the top right of this page. 

We thank you and bless you In advance!! 

Also our picture puzzle fundraiser is still going. It is $10 to sponsor a puzzle piece(s) where we will write your name on the back of the piece and when the puzzle is complete, we will frame it in a double-sided frame assuring M and M of the many people's love and support that brought them home!!!

                         

Intrinsic Joy

As the sun was tinting the eastern horizon, casting it's soft pink glow across the landscape, I donned cap and coat and went for an early morning walk. The world lays under a blanket of white.. The snow- covered magnificent Rockies still towering strong and handsome in the background.

The world is quiet, peaceful..my soul is quiet, peaceful..

I enter my cozy and warm home, it's twinkling Chrsitmas lights, with a soul that carries the warmth also. I am reminded again that a soul whose refuge is in the Lord, does indeed experience a peace that passeth all understanding, as Scripture says. A life that cherishes and holds close her Lord, is not defined, cannot even be defined in anything of this world, save Jesus Christ, He alone is the definition.

He offers peace when otherwise there would be no peace. He offers rest when there are no easy answers. He offers joy no matter what the circumstances. His love fills and ultimately spills over in a life who cherishes Him. 

To me, this is absolutely the most beautiful...

 I have seen many a person whose smile is literally from the heart and their laughter comes from deep inside somewhere. An outflow of a well springing with eternal life that is always overflowing just as our Lord has promised.

 The ever present soft glow surrounds their lives as I saw on my morning stroll...something beautiful, magnificent..a strength that seems to be everywhere present..I cannot explain it and realize that it can only be defined in Jesus Christ.

To me, this is the most beautiful...

When I see young mommies in the grocery store who smiles on their children with love, I applaud them.. An older couple whose years of faithful toil, marking their brow, loving, enjoying their last remaining years together, I applaud them and a sadness touches me as I think how this world is loosing something very valuable with the passing of that generation. When I see beautiful families whose children reminds me of the song, "Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight" and I smile inside as I witness the beauty of their adoptions, I applaud them.

When I see mommys and daddys just like Mike and I, busying raising their kiddos amidst bringing in the bread and butter on single incomes, all the while cherishing each other and continuing to build and nurture their future together, I applaud them.

And if I listen, just still myself and listen closely.....all these are living in the music, the soft glow, from the same beautiful song..

*faithfulness

*trust

*beauty with scars (a lovely medal of victory won)

*agape love ( much, much richer than our own, even tho we would have loved our best)

*obedience, humility (Christ truly is much much more noble than we could ever be on our own)

All these different stories on different walks of life, experience rainy days and even stormy days, but they all believe the same beautiful Truth~the Son will shine. He offers them peace when otherwise their would be no peace. He offers them His rest when there are no clear answers..and like my mommy always said, "The proof is in the pudding." And that my friend, would be the over flowing and ever glowing, always present "Joy" that surrounds such a life.

The most absolute astounding and magnificent beauty is this: 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life,  and that they might have [it] more abundantly." John 10:10

                                It's all gift wrapped and ready for the next reaching soul(s). 

         

                                        

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Choosing the Music Over the Noise

As we found ourselves busier than we tho't possible, raising our first child, well meaning people would add their depressed comments so to prepare us for what lies ahead..

As the years slipped by, we continued to receive preparational advice ( much of which we didn't ask for ;) ) about what to expect as we raise, our now, several children.

Sill the years went by, and God would bump us into families that hadn't lost their vision for their parenting and we would catch the perfume of something different...a different kind of music met our ears. It had a beautiful sound, contrary to the noise and clatter of the other...

Looking back it seemed like it was thro' the fog, something greater, something higher, nobler, was calling us... I now know it was the fresh voice of the Holy Spirit. It was awakening within our soul, a longing so deep, to search out this that God was laying on our heart, that it wouldn't be quenched.

Amidst the normal and mundane challenges of life, God was indeed calling us to something higher and nobler..."faithful is He who calleth you, who also will do it"...has been the testimony that has filled our life.

Even tho' for most of our married life, we were in desert settings spiritually, God kept stirring the embers of our soul and we found a great cry welling up within us, to seek out what this was. 

God miraculously transformed our marriage in those years and He sent beautiful families across our path that majorly impacted the vision that He was birthing within us for our family raising, marriage, and life.

I found my handsome Mike stepping up to the plate of fatherhood, and loving attentive husband,  determined to hit a home run, not
because he was confident that he could, but because he was confident that God would. To be honest in admitting he did not want to follow the footsteps of men before him who cause their sons to rebel, but to be the dad they need, a dad who blesses them, praises them and is there for them, guiding them and communicating with them. To be their first hero. It was contrary to the lies we've been fed most of our life. Truth waged a mighty battle within our hearts and it swings some serious blows.

      

We've had to let God do His beautiful sifting in our hearts and separate the noise and clutter, from the music and beauty He wanted to build upon in our lives. We had to trust Him when we were called to live differently than our upbringing. It has been a time of much prayer. Much soul-searching. Having to allow ourselves to be stretched, and allow God to show us His pattern for parenting. And to make the needful changes in our life so we can be the parents to these kiddos that would win their hearts instead of turning them away. And we're still growing, still learning. And meanwhile tasting the beauty of our little family! :) 

We are a continual work in progress and we are excited! Sometimes when we hear Scripture explained to a greater level of understanding than we've ever been used to, it can almost be frustrating! Because it seems so simple that how could we have not known it! But we rest in the Soverignty of our great God that we are confident in. We know He loves our precious children even more than we do, and that is what we rest in that God will continue to reach into our home and family and complete His work. We anticipate our tomorrow's. Some of the lies have been that someday our children will pull away from us in rebellion. They won't want to be seen with us. I remember as a younger mommy fearing that, as so many other "so called Christians" kept warning me of. I would kind of watch for our oldest to turn his heart from us. Then we would see these beautiful Godly families and it was in complete opposite of the lies. Faithfully the Holy Spirit convinced me that God's beautiful design for families was possible in Him. I've stopped believing the lies awhile back now, as there was no place in my heart to room both and have any kind of peace. 

                                        

Now our oldest is over 14 years old (15 years old now! ;) ) and he is such a blessing in our lives! 

                                     

He still flashes me his boyish smile across the room and it definitely causes his mommy's heart to sing for joy!! As he is reaching these youth years, we have been savoring his friendship, his trust, and his choice to walk in integrity and honor. He loves the Lord Jesus! His heart is passionate for God's stuff and God's pattern for manhood. We are honored to call him our son. The choices he is making in his life, amazes us, and we are excited at his future. Just last night I shared with him how he inspires us. He truly does!! When fear tries to rear its ugly self in my life with all it's what ifs.. What if you did not give him the training he needs to keep him faithful? What if lust creeps into his life? I choose to believe, that even admidst our parenting mistakes and inconsistancies at times, that our God is so much bigger than that. Then this mommy chooses instead to pray big prayers for her children. I just recently began to pray differently. Instead of asking that they have the strength to say no to lust and temptations, I pray that the God of strength would come in and fill them with His strength. That is where my confidence rest~in God. 

                        He which hath begun a good work will finish it, scripture promises us. :)

         

(A reminder about our adoption...If you missed the announcement see our older post,  "Twice the Blessing and Double the Expectancy!"

 You will find a donation button at the top right of this page if God prompts you to support this adoption. We thank you in advance for your gift of any amount! God bless you!!) Below you will see we are also still doing the picture puzzle fundraiser. It is $10 to sponsor a piece. We will write your name on the back of the piece and when the puzzle s completed, we will frame the puzzle in a double-sided frame. M and M will see who helped bring them home! So when you donate through the button above, there will be opportunity to leave us a note. :) Thank you!!

                         

Merry Christmas!

There is something about the sights, sounds, and taste of Christmas that stirs within me the memories past and the new ones we're making as even now we live in the glow of cherish-able moments. I know of no other birthday that arouses so much peace, joy, and celebration...except for the birthday of a King!! The celebration that goes on for weeks, but that seem as just days when December 25th actually arrives!

The soft flicker of candles, the mesmerized lullabies of our son finger picking Silent Night..or hearing the sweet words of Oh Holy Night (Which has become another favorite of mine..it was one of my daddy's favorite too. Maybe that's why it stirs me so!)

I also love the brighter lights of Christmas and the glorious proclamation of the more upbeat songs as Joy to the World!! The festivity that reminds us that truly and awesomely there is joy to the world because a King has truly come!! The holiday cookies that kids have lavishly sprinkled with colored sugars, the jovial tones as daddy whips up homemade eggnog...it is all good. 

Interesting enough, 

I remember reading that, long ago God pronounced something else good. The beautiful world He created. It's sad that sin tainted this beauty, but the hope that we have in Christ, the assurance of His redeeming work on the cross returns to us the joy of celebrating!! And with it the return of beauty!! And in light of that, the age old~that miraculously never grows old, beauty, is all good!! I am exhilarated to remember He created us to love beauty!! 

The light in children's eyes, their overflowing enthusiasm and excitement, their contagious smiles and laughter fill our home, and I am reminded again to embrace even closer the eternal gift I have been given! And in turn our smiles become contagious! Our excitement and enthusiasm and the light in our eyes is truly a reflection of the candle burning in all it's luscious glow  within our heart, spilling
over no matter where we are and who we meet.

Here's a touching song by Cris Rice-Go Light Your World

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4ePwMcrkgPs

 And something happens...something only He can do...souls are drawn and  pointed, guided once again by that Star Light. The sweet rescued souls ponder their Silent Night Holy Night reflectively, and as His peace washes over them...all becomes bright.. And a great anthem breaks forth as morning light in all it's glory as they truly taste for themselves, that because of Christ, the joy is theirs in this world!!!

This is so awesome!! The ever-living, breathing, life changing, peace in abundance, life in Christ! It is all good, and our celebration flows from us from truly all that we've been living, tasting all year! 

                                                      A Merry Christmas to you all!

                                     

                                        May His Light fill your heart with peace

                                                            and joy all year!!

(A reminder about our adoption...If you missed the announcement see our older post,  "Twice the Blessing and Double the Expectancy!"

 You will find a donation button at the top right of this page and we thank you in advance for your gift of any amount as God prompts you. Thank you and God bless you!!) 

The Mind Of Christ

I am not sure that this blog will answer the serious question of, "What exactly is the mind of Christ" but perhaps it will lead you to the precious feet of our Saviour and seek the answer from Truth Himself.

Recently, a certain debate, had this argument of the mind of Christ. I saw the stones of piety and religion thrown and sincere answers misinterpreted ...as self composed respones of each ones view were given, about a particular situation, of what is the mind of Christ.

It has stirred myself to much thought...and I have come up guilty. 

We can zoom in on a certain area or two and form to ourself of what the mind of Christ is, and walk away feeling just pretty good about it and perhaps our conclusion is a good one in that particular area.

But if we look at it Biblically you can't take the mind of Christ on as a clothing accessory that some days you wear and somedays you do not. 

And that's where my guilt has recently been. Not intentionally, and yet, quite intentional.....

A few weeks ago, I was walking in a lovely and charming mountin town with my little family. 

I saw and heard there the shuffling footsteps of a man and a bit later, as I paused to look through a store window with my little ones, and he walked past, I smelled the awful stench, the telltale signs of his bondage. 

What is the "Mind of Christ?" Not just in the situations that we feel like excercising it but what is the  "Mind of Christ" in its entirety?

You know, that night, I knew what I should do.... Let me tell you a very short story...

About 12 years before my birth, another old drunk, perhaps sober for the moment, was walking toward a local bar when he encounted a group of strangers holding an evangelistic street meeting...who would have thought that this broken piece of man would start sobbing, convicted of the Holy Spirit, and of the empowering love of Christ Himself as He reached this broken miserable piece of clay?!

That man, was my daddy..(For more check out the blog post, "Filthy Rags Transformed into Armor of Honor". )

Now, you understand better the sorrow I have carried since that day, a few weeks ago, of not truly being the hands and feet of Christ to this wasted bit of drunken man...I knew the secret to life abundantly for him, and I did nothing about it. Or in otherwards, I did not embrace the beautiful mind

 of my Christ.

So back to the debate...We do not need arguementive debates that are oft times filled with self righteousness. Christ has something greater for us!
  

Today, I am deeply grateful to realize that God truly has a greater answer. It has set my soul free...free to love wholly, free to worship, and free to allow the Holy Spirit's convicting voice speak into my life! And therefore free to live victoriously! Thank You Jesus!! 

And it's His gift to each one. May you allow Christ to clothe you with Himself and experience the abundant life He's promised and therefore, truly receive His mind also.