Cry out to Jesus.

I am so broken-hearted right now.

I can't tell you many details. But I know if you pray with me, God will know just what you mean.

Sorry for the lack of information, just know that there is a family going through what I imagine to be the worst possible storm on this earth.

But, God is there.

He loves them. He knows the reason for their incredible loss. He wants them close to Him, as He does with each one of us.

Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint.

O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.

My soul is ini anguish.

How long, O LORD, how long?

I am work out from groaning;

all night long I flood my bed with weeping

and drench my couch with tears.

My eyes grow weak with sorrow;

they fail because of all my foes.

Away from me, all you who do evil,

for the LORD has heard my weeping

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;

the LORD accepts my prayers.

Psalm 6: 2-4,6-9

God we are crying out to you on behalf of this beautiful family. To us it seems impossible that this could be your will but we know that in Jeremiah you tell us that you have a plan for each one of us, and it's an awesome, beautiful plan. Bring these sweet children of yours closer to you now than they have ever been. Reveal yourself to them, give them your love, strength, mercy and a peace that passes all understanding. Be near to their hearts.
In your precious Son's name, Ahmen

Heading into 2010

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a lot of Christmas blessings! Our family sure did. We were super busy up until Christmas, but this last week has been so peaceful and relaxing. We basically stayed at home, played a lot of games (and Mariokart) together, went sledding a few times, drank a lot of hot chocolate, and just enjoyed being together and not on a schedule! (Can you believe it???:) Given my schedule-driven nature, it was a welcome change of pace for all of us.


Now that we are headed into a new year, I have spent a little time reflecting on 2009. I think it is a worthwhile exercise to sit down, invite God to join you in some quiet reflection, and not only think about your blessings over the past year, but where you could improve this coming year. Oh how my list goes on, but here are my top five of each category (in no particular order):


My biggest blessings of 2009



1. My husband: I am so thankful that God brought Jason into my life 15 years ago. I am truly amazed at his dedication to God, and to me and our children. He is supportive of me in my roles as a mother, teacher (at home) and church leader. He leads our family in a Godly way. He loves me in my "not so fine" moments, and forgives me when I nag or just am cranky. I could not ask for a better partner on this journey!


2. My children: Each of them in their own unique way makes my life extraordinary. They are full of energy, enthusiasm, questions, and emotions. I am thankful for their spiritual growth this year. It is truly a gift to be able to see God work in the hearts of your own children.


3. My friends: I have to say that I have some awesome friends, some near and some far away, who God brought me close to for a reason. I appreciate each relationship and the special perspective each one brings to me. Some of my best conversations with friends have been on long walks this year..... thank you friends for listening and for literally and figuratively walking with me!


4. My church: Over the past year, God has really made me rearrange my church commitments. Some ministries close to my heart had to be passed on, while one new big one was placed in front of me. I am thankful for my church family for blessing me and allowing me to serve God in many ways with them.


5. My God: My awesome, mighty Father. I am thankful for his never-failing presence in my life. Even when I am not at my best, He is there beckoning me back into His arms. Every moment of pure joy this year came from Him, and he was there comforting me in times of frustration and sorrow. I am blessed that He loves me.


Ok, you will have to wait until next week to find out what I need to work on in 2010. This post is getting too long!!! What were your top five blessings of 2009?


"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." Psalm 40:5 (NIV)

Living in the Grace of God

I just finished reading The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, an eye-opener of a book. The gist of the book is living in the grace of God because we are objects of God's unfailing love. Not a light subject, but a rather simple one. The final chapter, "A Touch of Folly" might be the one that hit me the hardest.

I am still processing all the questions that Manning poses. They are questions that we, as Christ-followers, cannot ignore. Questions that we need to consider. Questions that we need to come face-to-face with. I want to share them with you. Do with them what you wish. My prayer is that you would take time to think, write, pray, seek answers to each question.

We live in a world that is pining for us. We live in a world that wants to pull us away from God. We live in a world where the focus is solely on "me" and what "I" can get. We live in a world where there is a battle for souls. The time is now to think about and respond to God and the call He has put on each of us...."Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Do you live each day in the blessed assurance that you have been saved by the unique grace of our Lord Jesus Christ?

After falling flat on your face, are you still firmly convinced that the fundamental structure of reality is not works but grace?

Are you moody and melancholy because you are still striving for the perfection that comes from your own efforts and not from faith in Jesus Christ?

Are you shocked and horrified when you fail?

Are you really aware that you don't have to change, grow, or be good to be loved?

Are you as certain of the triumph of good over evil as the fermentation of dough by yeast?

Though on a given day you may be more depressed than anything else, is the general orientation of you life toward peace and joy?

Are you diminished by other people's perception of you or your own definition of yourself?

Do you possess that touch of folly to transcend doubt, fear, and self-hatred and accept that you are accepted?

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts. More than that, I would love to know that these questions stirred you up. I would love to know that they made you dig deep into God's word, that you sought HIM out in a new way, that you found peace in the unfailing love of Abba.

A Baby Changes Everything...

I have a new favorite Christmas tune.

Faith Hill's A Baby Changes Everything

Teenage girl, much too young

Unprepared for what's to come

A baby changes everything

Not a ring

On her hand

All her dreams and all her plans

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything

The man she loves, she's never touched

How will she keep his trust

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything

And she cries, ohh, she cries

She has to leave, go far away

Heaven knows she can't stay

A baby changes everything

She can feel, it's coming soon

There's no place, there's no room

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything

And she cries, ohh, she cries

The shepherds all gather 'round

Up above the star shines down

A baby changes everythiing

Choir of angels sing

Glory to the new born King

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything

everything

everything

everything

hallelujah

hallelujah

My whole life has turned around

I was lost but now I'm found

A baby changes everything

A baby changes everything

I hope that today you got what you were wanting under the tree. But more than that I hope that you are surrounded with people that you love, remembering and standing in awe once again of THE baby that changed everything. Allow Him to be the center of your day. Praise God for changing the world with a tiny precious baby. What an amazing Father!

Merry Christmas! We love you!

Holy God,

Thank you for who you are and thank you for sending Baby Jesus! I am awestruck at your amazing and flawless plan. Thank you for using Mary to show us that sometimes faith is WAY outside the box, dangerous, scary and incredibly rewarding. Her faithfullness is an indescribable example. Help me today to remember what this day is really all about. Oh yeah, and hey Jesus, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love you! Ahmen

He Came

I want to remind you all this Christmas season that Jesus came. It is very real. He came to this earth as a child, grew to be a man, and died on a cross so that each of us can experience heaven. Below is an excerpt from the book of Luke...the account of the birth of Jesus. May you be blessed this Christmas season. May you praise Jesus for the blessings you have. May you be surrounded by those who love you and care for you deeply. And may you remember the TRUE reason that we celebrate.

The Birth of Jesus

¹In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ²(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³And everyone went to his own town to register.

⁴So 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. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

¹⁵When 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."

¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The Greatest Story Ever Told!

Christmas. It's coming, fast.

I don't feel like it though.

*There is no snow - which I am actually happy about.

*I don't have a tree up at home - not there enough to spend the time putting it up/taking it down.

*I haven't bought any presents and I only have one to get - Dave Ramsey tells me I am not allowed. Don't know who Dave is? He controls my financial life...well actually he is teaching me how to control my own financial life. Check him out http://www.daveramsey.com/

*I didn't send out any Christmas cards - Dave's fault again.

*I haven't seen any promotions for A Christmas Story on TV yet. This is my all time favorite Christmas movie and also an incredible memory as my family and I spend hours upon hours watching this movie on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...we have been known to schedule various events on these days based on what parts of the movie we have seen the most! I probably haven't seen the commercials because since we don't have cable anymore I get two NBC channels and a CBS...

As I thought about all of these things,

I thought,

yeah, ok, Monica, so what?

Maybe you have also let your heart forget that it's not about decorations, or presents, or movies (although I am pretty sure that Jesus watches A Christmas Story all day, as part of his Birthday Party of course), or cards, or anything other earthly thing you could imagine. It's about

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD!

We are amidst the season where we get to celebrate because God sent His Son as a tiny infant, to save the world. I am so thankful for this reminder today.

Praise God for who He is and that He sent His Son!

God,

Thanks for the awakening in my heart today. I am so excited to Celebrate the love story that you wrote for all of us thousands of years ago. Jesus, the Birthday Countdown is on! Help me keep focused on what this season really means for me! Ahmen

Trust

I told you last week that I would give you more on what's going on with me. Nothing major, first of all. No catastrophes or major life changes. I've just been going through an interesting season. And I think I can label it Trust.

If you would have asked me a year ago. I would have told you that I'm a very trusting person. I would have told you that I know who I can trust and that I am good at trusting. I would have probably told you that 6 months ago. But ... I think I was wrong. I think I am only trully beginning to learn what trust means and how to give that trust.

So I'm basically still a newlywed (yes, you can roll your eyes, or say aawww here). What that means for me, after being single for 30 years is that I'm used to doing things my way, and making my own decisions. I consulted others, yes. I spent time praying about my choices, yes, but when all was said and done the decisions were mine. Now? Now I'm half of a whole. That means that we make decisions together and that I have to trust that we will come to the best conclusions together. I also believe that my husband is the head of our house and that my job is to support him. (no, I'm not belittling my position or telling you that everything he says goes, but I do believe that's what God's plan is for marriage). Sometimes our husbands need us to trust them. I believe they need us to let them know that we believe in them, that they are doing the best they can for our family and that we fully support them.

That's the tricky part for me. Maybe it's the giving of myself. Maybe it's the feeling of losing control but ultimately it's trust. Do I trust my husband enough that he will take care of us? Do I trust that he has our best interests in mind?

As I've been considering this lately, I've realized that it's not trusting in me, or my husband, but it comes down to trusting in God. Do I trust that God has a plan for me/us? When something comes up that shakes (even just a little) my comfortable life, do I trust that He has a plan that will see me through? A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend about this and she basically laid it out for me. She told me that I'm not trusting in the one who has given all for me. Wow, that's an eye opener! I don't know about you but I don't like to be told things like.. well, like that. I want to think that I'm always doing things that are pleasing to my Father. I want to think that I do trust him and that whenever something happens I'll go to him and walk in faith.

Here's what I'm learning. I would do that if it was a major thing. If it was a point where I had no where to turn but to Him. But when it comes to day to day life, I like to keep that in my own hands. that's where I'm sorely lacking. If you'd like to know how that's going for me- the keeping life in my own hands (but pretending that I'm giving it to God)... not so well. I'm falling hard. It's not fun. But I'm learning!

"trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight" Prov 3:5-6

That's pretty basic and easy right? I've been working on even just breathing that silent prayer.. God I trust in you. I know He's hearing my prayers and I know in my head that He will walk me through everything, so now I'm working on moving it to my heart.

My friends. I am thankful for you. I'm going to take the Christmas holidays off as well, but I'll ask that you pray for me. Pray that I'll continue to learn what it means to trust in the Lord with all of my heart.... And I'll be praying for you and thanking God for all of you!

Merry Christmas siestas. :)

Love,

Shan