What Are Your 2011 Goals?

Maybe you have a goal in 2011 to get more exercise, but what is your number 1 goal for this year? Is it the same as Paul's in Philippians 1:21?

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

How is this accomplished? I was inspired to write a few thoughts after hearing my husband's message this past week.

As Christians, we should have the goal to live for Christ, and we are not alone as individuals in this endeavor. God has placed us in a family of believers called the Church. He expects us to gather with one another on a regular basis. (Hebrews 10: 24-25) By faith, Christ is at the center of our gatherings.

What does Jesus' church look like? She worships and glorifies God and enjoys Him forever. She builds the Kingdom of God. Thankfully Christ's gates are strong enough to withstand the darts of the enemy. Jesus said, ... I will build My church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Worship is the offense against the gates of Hades. The enemy can only be silent as we give our worship to God.

As we enter into worship we are brought into a heavenly company of angels and to the assembly of the firstborn in heaven and the just men made perfect. (Hebrews 12:22) We have been transformed, as those who have gone before us, from the worship of idols to the worship of God through the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a time of rejoicing in all the Lord has done for us. We have to put aside all the sins that entangle us and look to the One who has redeemed us. By faith we are lifted up into the the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrews 12:22-23

When we gather together each week and are brought into the worship of God with the heavenly hosts, it's as if we get to go to heaven. Who would want to miss out on heaven? We are a part of the Kingdom of God now and Christ is the King. It is not something we have to wait for later - it is happening now! We must look with anticipation to entering into the joy of going to heaven each Sunday! It should be the highlight of our week - the beginning of a new week to serve the Lord.

Our Sunday worship connects us to the rest of our week where we live out the goal of living for Christ. We continue in that Sunday dialog with God as we work, sing, pray, read the Bible, and serve others. It continues in a cycle as we again look forward to gathering with God's people and dialog once more - God speaks His Word (He initiates - He calls us) and we respond in faith with recitations, singing, giving, listening, and prayer- it's our work. Someday our worship will be made perfect when Christ returns- we must be ready and practised up for that glorious day!

May God be glorified as we enter into heaven each Lord's Day in 2011, and may that worship carry us through living for Him each week and into eternity!

Christmas Tradition

I was told to post something, so here is what I've come up with. ;)

My family has a tradition about Christmas trees. I don't know who's idea it was, but it has been carried out pretty regularly every Christmas. We don't get a Christmas tree till the week of Christmas. In some ways it's nice: Cheaper tree, more anticipation, less pine needles. One downfall is when we get asked about it. "So how is your Christmas tree?" "Um, I'm sure it's nice, sitting in the lot where we are going to buy it from."

This year I tried to break the tradition. I really did. "Hey, Mom that looks like a good Christmas tree!" "Oh, yeah." Well, it's December 15 and we still do not have a tree. It's looking like the tradition will hold. That's okay though. Every family has a tradition and that's ours.

Isaiah 55:12
"You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands."

Happy Birthday milestones!

Last month my oldest son turned 30 and today my youngest is turning 18. These two sons have been a blessing to the family in many ways and I'm truly thankful for them!

It makes me think how much, as a mother, I have learned from all my children through the years. They have challenged me to see my own sins. I have been driven to seek the Lord. He is the merciful Savior, the One who forgives! Am I a mother who is merciful and forgives too? They have shown me what it is like to be a child of the King. Do I depend on Him for everything, as a child depends on his parents? Do I show I am a dependent mother, that I can do nothing without the wisdom and direction from the Lord? Their curiosity has driven me to find things out, to look it up, and dig into the truth of a matter. Am I diligent to keep studying God's world & His Word to know Him more deeply?

This is the constant journey we are all on. Become like a child. Be thankful that the Lord works through the little ones and the big ones to bring you to Himself in a deeper way.

Happy Birthday, Toby & Jeremy!

National Bible Bee Competition

This is it - the moment we've been waiting for! Early this morning 300 contestants (ages 7-18) from around the USA began to regurgitate all they have been committing to memory the last 5 1/2 months. They began by taking a 200 question written Bible test in 1 hour. Following the test, they will recite up to 30 Scripture passages in 10 minutes. From there some will go on to the semi-finals and then on to the finals.

These young people have given loads of time to prepare themselves. One such example is a 12 yr old young lady who, for the last month, spent up to 3 hours a day reviewing the 500 verses she memorized. Also every Sunday her church family gave an opportunity for her to recite in front of the congregation. Thank the Lord for her diligence and her parents as they have prayed for her, quizzed her, and encouraged her along the way. They will never be the same after all this is over.

To go to the National Bible Bee is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the 300+ families. It's like an intensive conference around God's Word and you can never go wrong with that. Can you imagine hearing God speaking all day long?! We ought to pray for the lasting effects of the Scriptures in the hearts and minds of those attending. May those of us who are watching, cheering, and praying be motivated to hide God's Word in our hearts too.

Go here for the live web cast, to see the contestants, and hear the results.

Christians, take heart...

God's ultimate purpose for Christians is not to bring them out of this world and into heaven but to use them to bring heaven into this world. As we hallow God's name and do God's will in how we think, feel, and act- even when it means being unfashionable- the power of Christ's resurrection flows through us, and as a result we bring heaven's culture to earth; we give people a fortaste of what's to come. In this manner we continue the work Christ began and will one day complete.
~pg. 61, Unfashionable, by Tullian Tchividjian~

This can only be accomplished through humbling ourselves before the mighty God and receiving His strength, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to do His will.

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble...Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. ~James 4: 6-10

...I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. ~John 15: 26

...He has given us of His Spirit...Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.~1 John 4: 12- 15

Ephesians 6:1-7 in Pictures

Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.
Honor thy father and mother; which is the first
commandment with promise.

That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live
long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Servants, be obedient to them...

...that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye service, as menpleasers; as the servants...

...of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men;

Passionate About Puppets

This is "Sparky" that I made for an Awana group.

This is Sparky's cousin, "Sparks."

This little girl is "Melody." She taught her grandpa what Christmas was all about, among other stories.

These are 3 of my 5 frogs hopping on their lily pads.They were made from frog puppets that had only heads and croaker noise makers in their mouths. I took out the croakers, made the mouths bigger, and added bodies. I wanted to have a tongue shoot out of their mouths to get bugs, but I couldn't figure out how to do it.

These guys are my first black light people puppets.












This chubby guy was one of my favorites, but I sold him to someone.

This puppet, being one of the oldest, has been many characters;

one time he was "Christian" in Pilgrim's Progress.