Advent confronts this corrosion of the heart with the insistence that God has not abandoned the world, hope is real and something is coming.
- Rob Bell

Christmas Season

Thanksgiving has been celebrated, it is officially the "Christmas Season".

Let the preparation for the birth of Our Savior, Jesus.

Is that always the focus?

Yesterday, I pulled out the Christmas Tree, hung the ornaments, and have started to transform the house with red, green, lights, and little trinkets.

I am questioning, is this all in preparation for the birth of Jesus?

While, some of the items are a bit much ... they do provide a consistent reminder of the upcoming celebration.

It is my prayer that I will keep my eyes focused on the REASON for the SEASON.

In addition to the start of Advent ... this weekend Northview Church is launching the Brookside Christmas Experience.

This will include a gift drive (now until 12/16), a Family Festival (12/12) , Christmas Dinner (12/19) and the Christmas Store (12/21&22). We are so excited to be working with Shepherd Community Center to offer similar services to families during Christmas. The gifts collected will be used to stock the Christmas Store, the store will provide an opportunity for families (adults and children) to select items for family members.

As the Volunteer Coordinator for Urban Ministry for Northview Church I have been charged with the task of lining up the volunteer force that will be needed for ALL the events.

Please pray that those able and willing will provide the gifts needed for the Christmas Store and those called to serve, will move into action.

If you want to serve, click here!

On a different note, Beads By Beth is heading into a fantastic season - this Friday the 3rd, I am working with 2 other local artists to host a holiday open house. Along with 3 other custom parties - LOVING IT!

You are also invited to attend, OPEN HOUSE

To keep the business moving forward, I started a facebook page :beads by beth and a twitter @beadsbybeth, and have continued the original blog ... check 'em out!

GRACE AND PEACE!

thankfulness

great devo for today, thanksgiving ....

November 25, 2010
Finding Thankfulness / Rachel Olsen

"They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness." Psalm 145:7 (NIV)

Devotion:
In the American tradition, today is an official day of thanksgiving - a day to reflect on, celebrate and express gratitude to God for our blessings. Many will gather with family and friends ... perhaps by candlelight, or firelight, or the light of a TV screen broadcasting parades and football games. Many will eat turkey - some hot and moist, and some slightly overcooked and dry, but well-rescued by gravy or cranberry sauce. And many will acknowledge Who provides both family and friends, as well as food and fire.

In the Judeo-Christian tradition, every day is a day to give thanks to God. In fact, each day that the Lord allows us to draw breath is cause to give thanks. Have you thanked Him today?

Have you praised His Name?

Perhaps this day finds you in a tight spot. Maybe this hasn't been your week, your month, or even your year. Maybe you're having trouble seeing what you have to be thankful for. How about your heartbeat? How about the sun that rose today to illuminate and warm the earth? How about the clothes on your body, or the food in your cabinet?

Take a moment to absorb the great gift that the forgiveness of your sins and the purging of your guilt through Jesus Christ is. And the fact that a day is coming when there will be no more sickness and no more tears. That's cause for deep gratitude.

One thing I'm giving thanks for today is my Bible, which is the living, active Word of God preserved for me and you. It teaches me to count my blessings and focus my mind on the gracious loving kindness of God. The Psalmist David leads me to do that through Psalm 145. Let me leave you with his words today, to jumpstart your own Thanksgiving.

A psalm of praise by David

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. 
Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 
One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. 
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works—and I will proclaim your great deeds. 
They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. 
All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people extol you. 
They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 
so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.

The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.
The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. 
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. 
The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. 
Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever. Psalm 145 (NIV)

Dear Lord, today I want to say thank You for my life. Thank You for the chance to feel sunshine, to taste fruit, to swim in water and to watch lightening. Thank You for my home and family, my church and friends. Thank You for the chance to know and serve You, now and eternally. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

GRACE AND PEACE!

believing HIM

the word fills me up! and i will keep my eyes fixed on HIM ... believing in HIS promises

from joel osteen

Persevere Until You See the Promise

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised” (Hebrews 10:36, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria What are you believing God for today? Promotion? Healing? Stronger relationships? Deliverance? God has promised all these things to you in His Word because it’s His heart for you to live in blessing and wholeness.

When you follow the will of God by obeying His Word and precepts, it opens the door for His promises to be fulfilled in your life. You may be doing all the right things today — don’t give up! Perseverance will carry you to the promise.

Perseverance means that you are focused, that you are believing what God says about your situation. It’s looking away from distractions and any negative, defeating thoughts. Perseverance looks away from discouragement and looks to the Word of God. Perseverance has a voice, and it says things like, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper! If God is for me, who can be against me! I am more than a conqueror through Jesus!”

Whatever you are believing for today, keep believing! Stand strong and fight the good fight of faith. Ask God to give you endurance, perseverance and patience so that you can see His promises fulfilled in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father in heaven, thank You for Your good promises to me. I ask that You give me a heart that is steadfast and fixed on You. Fill me with Your peace and perseverance so I can live in victory all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

GRACE AND PEACE!

a whisper

During my stay in Denver and since, I have heard a whisper of the Lord asking me to prepare a room.

More specifically to prepare a room for children.

Before I go further, we are not at this time expecting. pregnancy remains a prayer request

I think I have a bit of a feel for what Noah felt when the Lord commanded him to build the ark. He lived in a land with no visible body of water and they had never experienced rain. Noah was obedient to the Lord and spent the next 120 years building an ark. The result, when the rain came he was ready.

I have been reluctant to write about this, but I desire to have all prayer warriors to have some insight for specific prayers.

In obedience to the whisper, I will be transforming the "middle room" into a kids room. I had a vision of a crib and bunk beds in that room. Before any of that happens, I must reorganize and reevaluate the items in the room.

Overwhelmed by the work ahead of me, I began in the attic on my Birthday. Yep, making room there - so we have areas to store the items I do not re-purpose, give away, or throw out. We received an amazing blessing from dear friends and family of gift cards to Lowes. These gifts will help us to paint, create window treatments, and develop storage solutions. I am so excited to get to work on the space. So when the kids come, we will be ready.

Northview Church just completed a series called *free. I learned that I am overly concerned with how others think of me - when really I should only be concerned with how God thinks of me. "Am I not trying to win the approval of men or of God? Or and I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, i would not be a servant of CHRIST." Galatians 1:10

So the whole idea of preparing a room, for our future family seems a bit crazy in the present. ... with GOD all things are possible. I certainly do not want to miss a blessing.

I have started a private blog, writing notes to our future children. I do not know exactly how these children will come to be in our home - I only know that the Lord is doing a work in my heart and I love the feeling of being in alignment with HIM.

Exciting times lay ahead ...

GRACE AND PEACE!

mounting a comeback!

the artist in me is awakening ...

yesterday I met with two other local artists that create handmade items. We are planning a holiday open house to peddle our wares.

who are these ladies ... click on them to learn

Wendi Hull, Whimsical Dezign, handmade Handbags and Totes

Stephanie Williams, Blue Eyes and Bare Feet, Clothing and Design featuring a collection for girls created from vintage and recycled fabrics.

I was so inspired by these two ladies ... I look forward to how we are going to work collaboratively and encourage each other! What a blessing.

our open house is set for December 3rd ... details to follow, be on the look out for new designs!

humbled

Today I visited Fishers High School.

More specifically I was a guest of Matt Rund, Performing Arts Department Chair /speech and drama teacher, and Speech Team Coach.

Before Matt taught at FHS, he was at North Central ... his 2nd year was my first year.

So why the visit?

Over a year ago, shortly after Matt and I became friends on Facebook, he asked for permission to use my blog/my story of Jeremy, for a script to use for a speech. I said sure.

Fast forward to last week, Matt sent me a note that he had the student that was perfect for the script would I like to come in and observe.

Honestly, I had forgotten that he had asked ... so I was surprised at the invitation. But made plans to attend class today.

So 10:30 am rolls around - so different to be visiting a school after having been a teacher for so long. My feelings were mixed, what was she going to share - how would i feel hearing someone else share my story - how would i feel hearing someone share her interpretations of my story - I was concerned about my emotions, would i even be able to hold it together.

the scripture from Joel was quite timely:

"Be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go" Joshua 1:7

With the strength of the Lord, and peace from HIM ...

I sat and observed a fantastic prose performance by a talented Senior at FHS.

She was outstanding.

Yes, it was emotional, hearing my story through another voice, my journey with Jeremy and trisomy 13 ... what a blessing.

I am so humbled that the Lord continues to use Jeremy in such a powerful manner. What an honor to be his mom.

How fitting that this weekend Pastor Poe asked us all to bear our hurts and scars to others ... reminding me that HE uses ALL things for HIS glory.

today was no exception.

i am so blessed and humbled.

GRACE AND PEACE!