Christmas Break!

Hello Blog Readers,

We will be taking the two weeks of December 24-28 and December 31- January 4 off.

We look forward to starting up again in 2013!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Esther Ruth

Esther Ruth..............

It's almost Christmas! Can you believe it?  I am so excited for this season!  The Lord has been blessing me and I am looking forward to celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ!

 My family had been memorizing Mary's song of praise.  It is very thought provoking and helps me remember how big of a deal it really was! 

Luke 1: 46-56

⁴⁶ And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹ for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
⁵⁰ And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵² he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶ And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Amy :: Christmas!!!

I love Christmastime!  

Our family has a fun tradition of picking names for each other and buying them a special gift that will help them grow in their walk with the Lord Jesus.

We also do a small stocking stuffer for this secret person each morning starting 7 days before Christmas.  This is a lot of fun :)

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

"For to us a child is born, 

to us a son is given

and the government shall be upon His shoulder,

and His name shall be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over His kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it 

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."

Isaiah 9:6-7

Theme this week is.............

Christmas!

Week 10- Love through Suffering...

Love Through Suffering...

This christmas season, I have really been captured by this particular picture. From the time Jesus was born, until his horrid death for us he was always loving, always serving us, his people. We didn't deserve his gifts yet he gave. We didn't except his glory, yet he still came. This Christmas Season may you find yourselves with open hearts to him and be captivated in his arms.

Merry Christmas...

XOXO-Hanna  

          

"For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past."    ~Romans 3:25 NLT

Happy Birthday Jesus! ~ Tricia Week 10

Merry Christmas everyone!! It's JESUS'S BIRTHDAY SEASON!!!!! :D I don't know about your families, but whenever we have a birthday, our mom always tells us our birth story. When she found out she was expecting, how it happened, how the pregnancy went, coming up with a name, the first contraction, the first look at us, the first time she held us in her arms, etc. Well, it's getting closer and closer to Jesus' birthday and I ponder about doing the same with His birth story. It's all there for us in God's word. Every single piece mentioned above is written in The Marvelous Book. God lifts the latch to the window of His Son's story to let us not just see the facts of the story-the where and when-but to see the heart. The emotion. People are emotional creatures, made in the image of God, and wired to love stories. To connect to the common bond of experiences and emotions. And in this beautiful story we get to connect to the best, and most powerful birth story ever. The story that stirs our hearts to the Father. In some ways the majority of the Old Testament is the first part of Jesus' birth story. The stories of love and life that led up to that one very dear couple: Mary and Joseph. The preparation of the Savior of the World's birth. I have been doing the Christmas devotional by blogger and author Anne Voskamp. In it every day is another part of Jesus' "birth story". His family history. His people's history. I have so enjoyed this devotional and this look at the ENTIRE Christmas story. To realize that all of those other events and experiences before Christ's birth are leading up to the final stroke in the grand masterpiece. The music is swelling, violins begin dancing, and then the trumpets of the angels sound and The Lamb of the World takes His first earthly breath. The earth is still while we wait for our first glimpse of The Savior. Then He takes our breath away with His last, and awes us with His resurection. We are saved. Redeemed. Free. It all began with the creation of beauty and climaxes at the most beautiful picture of all~Christ laying down His life for His people. A Gift. The lights, the sweet perfumes of the season, the shimmering garlands, the colors of loving sacrifice and friendship (red and green), and the darling decorations everywhere you turn, is all celebrating His Story. The whole story. The love exemplified from Christ's first breath in the cold stable to His eternal breath He breathes into us. So let us celebrate well. Let us sing joyfully in praise of Christ's whole story. May every shimmering light remind us of the Eternal Light from above. And may we remember the entirety of the story and share it with all. Christ is born. He is risen from the dead. We are one with Him again. Come awake. Come awake! Christ is risen from the grave! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.’” John 3:16-17

Enjoying celebrating with Laina, Melika, and Elliot (M's boyfriend)!! Merry Christmas everyone!!

Esther Ruth.....

                                                                     Peppermint Plate!
I made one of these last week. We were able to display it at our Open House last weekend!  Here is how to make one. Enjoy!!!!

I want to encourage you to remember what this season is really about! It is about remembering the birth of  Christ our Savior!

^{Luke 2:10-12 says,}
  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

Amy...........

This passage is called 'Mary's Song of Praise' or 'The Magnificat'.  

It expresses her thankfulness to the Lord after the birth of Jesus was foretold.  

What a wonderful expression of worship and thankfulness

that can be an example to each of us today.

 "And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
 

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
 

And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
 

He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
 

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
 

he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
 

as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” "

Luke 1:46-55 

Patricia

Well, Merry Christmas everyone! It's freezing cold and snowy here right now. And the world is just awful Christmas-y. :) I'm a sun flare addict so I love this picture....hehe. And now I'm off to work.

xox trishy

Christmas Music!! ~ Tricia Week 9

December is here and Christmas music is in full swing!! You hear it everywhere you go, malls, gas stations, grocery stores-everywhere! Not all Christmas music is created equal, but some songs are excellent. Those are the ones that stir your heart. Especially the ones that stir your heart to Christ. To His birth, love, death & resurrection, second coming, etc. From old Christmas carols/hymns to new contemporary songs, I love them. Some of my newer favorites are Welcome to Our World, This Baby, Winter Snow, One Wintry Night, Where's the Line to See Jesus, It's About the Cross, Breath of Heaven......this could go on and on. :) But one that I really, really like is called "A Baby Changes Everything" by Faith Hill. It starts with the Christmas story, and ends with how Christ has changed everything for her. Absolutely beautiful. I have to share it with you! This video splices scenes from "The Nativity" movie and the song, and I think it's really pretty. Please enjoy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’” ~Luke 2:10-11

Esther Ruth.............

 My cute dog!  Isn't he cute?  We always joke that this is our dog's favorite Bible verse....(yes, he's very spiritual...can't you tell from this picture?)

  Matthew 15:27 says,
"But He answered and said, 'It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.' ”

Find the whole passage here! 

Amy.......

I am so thankful that the Lord has given us different seasons to enjoy!

Today it feels like springtime outside even though it is December :)

 

 "I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears."

Psalm 34:1-4