I Breathed a Sign of Relief

Day 355 of Photo Inspirations -- I Breathed a Sigh of Relief
In years past, my Christmas traditions started right after Thanksgiving.  I loved this time of the year so much that  I decorated every bedroom with it's own fully decorated, lit tree.  The inside and outside of the house looked like a Christmas Store.  I had several nativity sets throughout my house....after all -- I wanted Jesus to be prominent amidst all the Santa Clauses and snowmen.  I had a huge village of little houses and ice skating pond, trees, churches (lots of churches).  I made dozens of cookies and candies to share with family and friends.  I handwrote and mailed a flood of Christmas cards with my family's picture on it.  That was a "must do" every year -- getting the family Christmas picture at Thanksgiving.  I purchased way too many gifts.  I spent hours and hours shopping for just the right treasures to give.   Despite my best intentions to make Christ the center of our Christmas, hper mode was my mode of operation for years.

I never felt guilty about the flood of activity and way-too-much-attention to so many details. I loved this time of year so much that I gave it ALL I had.  The family traditions were so dear and precious to me. It was a work-out, but at the end -- we had made so many precious memories, and it was worth every effort.  But, today, my story takes a big turn.   Now I realize -- finding balance is the real key to having a very, merry Christmas.

Being in this "single" phase of life, it's a lot easier to simplify.   And, that's what I did this year. I have been determined to keep the focus on Jesus' birthday.  Yesterday, I made my way to Texas to celebrate with my family here for a few days before heading to my Washington family.  I'm breathing a sigh of relief -- shopping and baking and decorating is all done.   Because I had only 4 hours of sleep the night before, while the kids were at their Christmas program rehearsals, I snuck away to take a little nap.  I'm in that sweet season of life that I get to do that!     All the hustle and bustle has ended, and  now I can lean in to the real sweetness and tenderness of this season.  The principle thing is finding balance and spotlighting the STAR of the story.

If you've been like me -- whether in an utter frenzy-mode to this point, or we have taken a more laid back approach this year -- we can still live a guilt-free Christmas.  We really have nothing to prove to anyone, because we're already approved by Christ.  And, since it's His birthday.....we get to just show up and celebrate Him.  No matter how we decorate the house for His party, it is still ALL ABOUT HIM, Who is ALWAYS the life of the party.   And He has come to give life to all the people at the party.  And, when we lean in even closer, we'll find that the LIFE of the party holds out Himself as the gift that keeps on giving.  And the gift tag?    It has our name on it.  Oh, what a relief it is!
“See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” ~ Isaiah 49:16

Indescribable, Uncontainable, Amazing God

Day 259 of Photo Inspirations -- Indescribable, Uncontainable, Amazing God
For the last three months, I've been privileged to be part of a retreat team that is working diligently on an October special women's retreat.  Weekly, we meet for prayer, study of God's Word, and then it's "all hands on deck" -- to diligently work and prepare for the event.  What a joy it is to know that we will be getting to take other women to a place of "green pastures" -- to get away from EVERYTHING -- families, work, electronics, schedules, routines and "to do" lists -- to enter into a new or deeper relationship with Christ..  That happens when we go to that "Secret Place".  Psalms 91:1-2 "The one who lives in the shelter of the Most High, who rests in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “You are my refuge, my fortress, and my God in whom I trust!"

I'm baffled when I think that THE GOD of the universe is my loving Father and He knows me by name.  His arms are outstretched to me/us 24/7.  Shouldn't we be the most excited people on the planet because His arms outstretched means PARTY TIME.  The party begins when He is invited into the innermost recesses of our hearts and lives.  

I want my passion for God getting stronger and stronger, and my light to burn brighter and brighter, and a sweet way of doing that is to REFRESH and RECHARGE at a retreat (a place of refuge and restoration).   Some things with God are so personal, so intimate, that they cannot be described with words -- they can only be felt with the heart. This is how true intimacy with God is; we feel that no one else can really understand the special bond that we share with Him because it's altogether personal.  But I assure you of this -- that intimate place of relationship -- removes doubt, worry, concern, and fear consciousness and replaces it with "Savior" consciousness.

This describes my relationship with Christ. He has comforted me as I have cried.  He has directed me, taught me, reproved me, guided me and loved me.  Only God knows us perfectly and intimately. He understands our desires, motives, and thoughts. Nothing about us escapes His notice. In fact, God knows infinitely more about us than we will ever know about ourselves.  He not only knows all about us, but He will never forget us. He even keeps an account of the number of hairs on our heads.   God promises in Isaiah 49:16 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands."

Perhaps it's not possible for you to go to a physical retreat location to find Him, but you can find a "hiding place" or a "secret place" where you come to know the indescribable, uncontainable, all powerful, untameable, uncomparable, unchangeable -- AMAZING God...for yourself RIGHT NOW -- wherever you are.  His arms are outstretched to you.....and in case you haven't been told 'you are loved today', through me...He is telling you now.....'YOU ARE LOVED'!

I love this song by Chris Tomlin.  Maybe, right there at your computer or cell phone or iPad, you can find that secret place right now.  Listen and know HE IS AMAZING GOD who loves you so much!           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpLqAUJcUbo

My Name is in His Hand

I'm a fan of Max Lucado's writings -- he's so real and relevant, and what he says touches my heart so much. This one, I just had to pass on to my wonderful FB friends:

"When I see a flock of sheep I see exactly that, a flock. A rabble of wool. I don’t see a sheep. I see sheep. All alike. None different. But not so with the Shepherd. To Him every sheep is different. Every face has a story. John 10:3 says, “The sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep by name.”

When we see a crowd, we see exactly that, a crowd. We see people, not persons. A herd of humans. But not so with the Shepherd. To Him every face is different. Every face is a story. The Shepherd knows you. He knows your name. And he will never forget it.

God said in Isaiah 49:16, “I have written your name on my hand.” Quite a thought isn’t it? Your name on God’s lips. My… could it be? -- Max Lucado
In the 7th grade, I fell for a boy named "Ronnie" Wuerch. I wrote his name in the palm of my hand. It meant I was thinking about him all the time. And how awesome to know that our names are written in the palm of God's hand? He's thinking about us all the time. We are individualized. We are so special. We are exactly who He planned us to be. We are one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Yes, that my friends, is TRUE LOVE!