Well, not really, but the end to Streams in the Desert visuals. No worries though I will continue posting here. I was given the book 'Jesus Calling' by Sarah Young. I'll be working my way through that this year, but not via a blog, just on my own. 2011 has been a great adventure and I am so thankful that many of you have been part of it. 

We are ending this year with warm weather. (I still haven't gotten used to the idea that sometimes a coat isn't necessary in the winter time in Kansas.) My dear husband and kids are outside raking in the yard. I am finishing up a cabinet staining project for my main floor bathroom. And we are preparing for guests tonight. 

So onward to all that is new in 2012. Things to look forward to...a new blog format, more products in the little shop and more variety in my blog posts. Join me in the continued adventure of 2012. 

Happy New Year and may God bless all that is before you.

This is the thing about captivity...sometimes we don't even know we are captives. Jesus said he came to set the captives free...but free from what. I'm sure there could be a thousand sermons preached on just that so I'll stick with what I know on this. Hearts can be held captive by sin (hidden or visible), by shame, by memories and physical situations. The good news (or why we call it that) is that hearts can be set free. When we ask God to come into the memories, the sin, the shame to heal and forgive he works in our hearts to set us free. I see this kind of like peeling an onion - there are always more layers to 'peel' away, but over time we are free, though in some case it can be instant.

The following excerpts from the reading today further explain...
"Perhaps there is some 'iron gate' in your life, blocking your way. Like a caged bird, you have often beaten against the bars, but instead of helping your situation, you have become even more tired and exhausted and caused yourself more heartache. There is a secret for you to learn--the secret of believing prayer." - Streams in the Desert

"Many of your loved ones have been bound by Satan, and imprisoned by him for years, and they are simply waiting for the gates to be opened. They will be set free in Christ when you pray fervently and persistently in faith to God." (C.P.P)

My hope for this coming year is one of growing in the freedom that Jesus offers and also praying that others find and understand it. How about you?

Freedom's song sounds like this...We are the free by Matt Redman

Do you remember saying 'Come on...' when you were a kid? Come on let's go or come on (whiny voice) give it to me...The bible says it too (not in a whiny voice though). 'Come on! We have seen that the land is very good...God has put it into your hands, a land that lacks nothing whatever. (Judges 18:9-10). It's an encouragement to take what God has promised us. "The upright have good things in possession." Proverbs 28:10

The reading today goes on to say...How much of God's word have you received and been able to say 'This has been done in my life?' By how many promises have you signed your name and said 'This has been fulfilled to me'. I haven't actually done this, but it would be an interesting excercise. 

Check out this amazing promise: 

For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. 
Zeph 3:17

How about we start the new year with our name 'signed' next to it? Come on!

The yesterday I was 'sleeping' late. (The kids are at Grandma and Grandpa's). Laying in bed I heard a spring bird singing. Real winter hasn't hit us yet. and I imagine this bird has not yet flown south or maybe Kansas is south enough. What a pleasant and refreshing sound it was...

"Be a nightingale, my heart! 
Sing across the winter snow, 
Pierce the cloud; 
Sing when mists are drooping low -- 
Clear and loud; 
But sing sweetest in the dark; 
He who slumbers not will hark."

When we sing God finds us refreshing and takes pleasure in it too. The reading says "And when He hears you sing, He will bend down with a smile on His kind face. As He cheerfully listens, He will say, 'Sing on, dear child. I hear you and I am coming to deliver you. I will carry that load for you. So just lean hard on Me, and the road will get smoother by and by." - Streams in the Desert

Now for a song about singing how about this....Endless Hallelujah by Matt Redman. Hope you are inspired as I was.

Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape. --Charles Dickens

At the mall this morning, looking for after Christmas bargains, a kiosk vendor managed to grab my attention and thumb and proceeded to buff my thumbnail from a dull bumpy matte to a glossy shine, just by scouring it. She informed me that the shine would last two weeks and tried to sell me her product. Being the tough sell that I am, I said no. 

Previous to this I thought shiny nails were only achieved through nail polish of which I'm not a big fan. Reality is nail polish is just a slick coating on a  rough finger nail...fake in a sense, while the buffing worked out the ridges into a natural smooth shine. 

My thumbnail 'suffered' under the buffing but was made shiny. So it is with God...so often we don't even realize what he is capable of making us into. We try to put on the fake veneer with our own strength, yet the difficulties he allows into our lives buff us and make us truly shine.

Nothing says Christmas like touring a missle silo (converted to a house)...my dear mother-in-law is  full of sweet ideas that lead to exploration and learning and this was a great one. The Christmas celebration continued with games, food and family fun all thanks to her for hosting everyone. 

In circles of people who believe, there can be a perception that doing 'great things for the Lord' involves leading bible studies or being missionaries or pastoring a church. Yet simple things like living peacefully with family and inviting neighbors over are just as important.

"But there are some lives that come into this world neither to do great work nor to bear great burdens, but simply to be…They are the flowers in the garden that have no active mission. They have won no major victories or been honored with the best seats at a banquet, however, they have gladdened the sight of Jesus for through their mere fragrance and beauty, they have brought Him joy. And just their loveliness in the valley has lifted the Master's heart."   

Have you experienced one of these 'flowers' too, or maybe you are one?

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! 

My take away this Christmas...gifts are best when they totally suit and fit the receiver. If you line up one hundred 13 year old boys, they will likely each want something different. The anomaly is Jesus. He is one gift that fits the longings of every heart uniquely. What a wonderful gift indeed!

This morning we explained to my dear daughter that there was a time when there was no Christmas. Hard to imagine for her...seeing all the gifts under the tree. One birth long ago made all this happen...the joy, the anticipation, the generosity, and the celebration, and that was just the tip of the iceberg of what he brought and did.

Hush
Sssh.
Can you hear it?
An expectant silence,
a hushed anticipation,
as if the very galaxy
is holding its breath.
There are some truths
even the stars know,
like darkness,
like loneliness
and how the night
can be a living thing.
And how once, long ago,
the night waited in wonder
along with the darkness
and the loneliness,
for the sound of a baby’s cry,
for the miraculous
to come down
to the earth mundane.
— written by Lucinda Hynett, in Alive Now.

If you have minute...enjoy the song "The night before Christmas"...are you ready for Him?

One day before Christmas eve...rest? My kids for one are having trouble getting enough rest because they are so EXCITED about all the presents under the tree. As for me, my christmas shopping and bustling are done. Christmas cookies baked, gingerbread village built, presents shopped for and wrapped, christmas eve meal planned, and the kitchen is stocked. Bring on Christmas!

But if we must talk rest our cat is a good model. They say to learn from the best and he is a pro at resting (and eating). Our cat, Cuddle, lives with the assumption that we will feed and care for him. He just happily rests in that. Oh to have the innocent trust of a child (or cat)...yet that is what are asked to do...

I'm pretty sure I don't have a lot of gentlemen reading this blog, but if you can get past that this christmas carol from my husbands favorite christmas CD might be just the right reminder for rest...

Life really is a series of ups and downs. Sometimes there seems no rhyme or reason to it. Today my dad finally moves into his apartment, a close family friend will be helping. It was her persistance that brought it about.  Just yesterday my dad was down about not getting in before Christmas. And yet one phone call (from her to the landlord) changed it all. We never know when things will turn around. Sometimes it happens quickly, other times years.

"Let us enjoy His light and comfort when it is His pleasure to give it to us, but may we not attach ourselves to His gifts. May we instead attach ourselves to Him, and when He plunges us into the night, where pure faith is required, may we still press on through the agonizing darkness."