12/1/13 - 1/1/14

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6.12.13

A Snowy Welcome in Oklahoma!



This weekend, Hubby is doing a little work in Tulsa. Remember all the cathedrals I showed you this summer? I do hope we can attend church in the biggest one, but that may not be possible.



I little thought when I arrived that it would be snowing! What a treat for this Houston gal to have snow.. maybe a bit too much snow! HaHa!

You can't help but remember Bing Crosby's version of Silver Bells walking down the snow covered city streets. :)





We South Texas girls are not used to bundling up, sloshing through brown snow and protecting ourselves from a wintery blast on cold city streets! 




But I have to say Tulsa has it's consolations in winter.

Real winter beauty is something we don't get to admire very often in our little country home in Willis, Tx.










Snuggled down in a city wrapped in snow and Christmas finery made me smile. I could not have asked for a more pleasant way to spend the weekend such a short time before Christmas. :)

Winter-Time

  by Robert Louis Stevenson
Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,   
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;   
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,   
A blood-red orange, sets again.   
   
Before the stars have left the skies, 
At morning in the dark I rise;   
And shivering in my nakedness,   
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.   
   
Close by the jolly fire I sit   
To warm my frozen bones a bit; 
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore   
The colder countries round the door.   
   
When to go out, my nurse doth wrap   
Me in my comforter and cap;   
The cold wind burns my face, and blows 
Its frosty pepper up my nose.   
   
Black are my steps on silver sod;   
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;   
And tree and house, and hill and lake,   
Are frosted like a wedding-cake.
- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/19310#sthash.os1Rur47.dpuf




 Though the weather outside is pretty frightful, it's quite delightful in our warm cozy hotel. I am sipping warm coffee, listening to Christmas music, and happily bundled away from the wintery blast.




 The next couple of days, I'll be addressing Christmas cards from my hotel room and it does seem strange to feel as if I literally 'stepped' into a live one!

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed, A frosty, fiery sleepy-head; Blinks but an hour or two; and then, A blood-red orange, sets again. Before the stars have left the skies, At morning in the dark I rise; And shivering in my nakedness, By the cold candle, bathe and dress. Close by the jolly fire I sit To warm my frozen bones a bit; Or with a reindeer-sled, explore The colder countries round the door. When to go out, my nurse doth wrap Me in my comforter and cap; The cold wind burns my face, and blows Its frosty pepper up my nose. Black are my steps on silver sod; Thick blows my frosty breath abroad; And tree and house, and hill and lake, Are frosted like a wedding-cake. - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/19310#sthash.os1Rur47.dpuf

Taking in all the snow and the bright Christmas ornaments..and the tall city skyscrapers made me think of this poem...

Winter-Time

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.

Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
The colder countries round the door.

When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
Its frosty pepper up my nose.

Black are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding cake.

5.12.13

The Heart of Joyful Gift Giving



 A reader from Primitive Homestead  brought up a very important problem   that we often have to deal with at Christmas--the promotion of materialism. It is sad that gift giving sometimes comes down to just the price tag,  the brand name or even one-upping others by our gifts.

 But we can take a different approach to gift-giving
--it's all up to the giver. 

There is no question that stores promote  the 'love of stuff' to a degree that could leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth.  I'm sure it's a bigger problem here than in any other country on the planet! 

That being said though, I do think that it is important to reflect on the true meaning of giving at Christmas.. at least what I see as the real meaning behind giving gifts.


In many ways God set the example of gift giving by giving his Son's life.. for us. In fact, he commanded us to 'love one another as I have loved you'. Regardless of why we celebrate His birth by giving gifts to others, the fact is that giving to others in the right spirit is always a good thing!


It takes a certain amount of unselfishness to give anything to anyone. There is something just intrinsically good for the soul in giving. :)

Here's what the bible says about giving...


God Loves a Cheerful Giver
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;…

Admittedly, this refers to giving to God and to those in need.. but if our hearts are right, we can give to others in His name and it is the same thing.  We should do everything as 'unto the Lord and not unto men.'.. even in giving Christmas gifts. Generosity is always praised in scripture.. and selfishness, or stinginess is always condemned.

Even if we have two coats...the bible says we should share with someone who has none. I have been trying to put that into practice. I found out very quickly that I don't like giving as much as I thought I did. lol   I had to learn to be more selfless--it sure doesn't come naturally. I wrote about that struggle on my devotional blog on a post called--Surrendering my love of money.

I can remember times when gift giving at Christmas seemed like a daunting task.. especially when we had so little.. and it was hard not to feel embarrassed or pained at our lack of 'splash'.  Still, as I tried to teach my children, giving is good for everyone and regardless of how little we have, we can always give a little. :)
As far as traditional secular gift giving during a holiday, I for one am so glad that people have one day a year where they would feel awful if they didn't give something of their worldly goods.. to someone else.  It really does shine a little light of love and joy when we learn the joy of giving.

Otherwise some people might spend every year just being selfish with their stuff. I do hate how businesses capitalize on that by promoting stuff to the point of materialism, but that shouldn't ruin the heart of our holiday giving.



 
Giving gifts is a love language and something mentioned often in the bible. God loves giving gifts to men. And He commanded us to love one another as He loved us and to emulate him. He gives freely to us and wants us to give freely to others.

 Jesus himself said, give to him that asks of thee, and to him that would borrow.. turn not away. In another passage, he says our Heavenly Father gives good things to those who ask .. not to consume on our own 'passions' but still.. giving to others is a beautiful way to show God's love.. and what better time than Christmas?

However, it is sad that it's been so commercialized. We are challenged by the Lord to give to those who cannot give back and for many Christian families, we consider Christmas the best time of the year to do that. Angel Tree, Operation Christmas Child, Salvation army, needy folks in our neighborhood and church.. are all ways to do that.

But just to give simple gifts from the heart to those we love, once or twice a year, could never be a bad thing. Our gifts for others don't have to be expensive.. but always say--you are special in my life and I want to bless you. :)




If you are giving from the heart, and you love the Lord with all your heart, then you need not fear that there is anything at all wrong with gift-giving at Christmas time.

So even if the world commercializes it, and tries to change the name from Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays.. I for one am glad because for so many Christians this is one chance of all others..like Easter.. to share the good news without any compunction whatsoever. Many more ears are open to that truth at this time than any other.

My prayer, is that we can demonstrate to the world, the true spirit of Christian love by giving in such a way, that the recipient knows he is loved with uncommon love.. in a way that honors the God of the bible and not the 'god' of this world.

Our family has always been careful to give as we have been blessed through the year. We have never had much in the way of funds, but we gave the best we could.. without any desire or need to give the perfect gift or to give beyond our means.. which would not be a blessing to anyone.



As I'm sure my readers know, giving is a chance to think about and care for someone else and say I love you in a tangible way. It really is the thought that counts.  This year I tried to give a lot more thought to my gifts. That way they truly were a blessing. The pottery above was purchased from art students on our college campus for $4-7 per item. I am giving them to our Deacons at church as a thank you for all their faithful service all year.
 
Some of the best gifts have more to do with heart and thought than time... gifts of service, photographs and videos for loved ones living far away, gifts that grow, or handmade gifts.  Sometimes we even have to be a bit sneaky and find out.. what does that person like to do.. what makes them smile.

This year, I tried to focus on only one person or family per shopping day as I hunted for gifts, so that I could give them my whole heart and attention. It really did change my perspective on gift giving. :)

May the Lord help you to give in His name for the sake of blessing those who receive your gifts and may you be double blessed by having a joyful attitude as you do so.  Be sure to find someone who won't be getting gifts or is in need too. Such a wonderful way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Happy Homemaking and Merry Christmas!

Donna :)



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3.12.13

Eliminating Stress, Worry, and Frustration During The Holidays



I don't know what it is but despite the joy we want to feel and are supposed to feel at Christmas, that is often not our experience is it?  Somehow the stress rises with every passing day, even hour. But this year I have a secret source of  help to  get through the hustle and bustle with not only a good measure of peace, but true joy!

Sunday, we had our first advent celebration and the focus was on John the Baptist's impending birth. Because the Lord sent him to 'prepare the way' for the Lord, we decided, as a family, that our first advent candle this year represented preparation.  

It occurred to me that if we do what we usually do.. jump headlong into the Christmas to do's without heart preparation, this Christmas will be just as stressful and 'un-joyful' as all the others have been at times.






So as a family we agreed to do all we can to  stay focused on the REAL reason for Christmas.. the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus.  We are reading daily from an online advent devotional plan by John Piper called Good News of Great Joy: Daily Readings for Advent.


As long as we focus on the best gift of all.. the birth of our Lord and his coming down to earth to bring salvation to a hurt and dying world, we have done the most important thing on our Christmas list. :)  Everything else is extra.

However, in spite of our good intentions, for some reason, a whole list of projects, concerns, and tasks were on everyone's minds this morning at my house. The sheer weight of all those things that needed to be done, must be done, and weren't yet done, caused a bit of tension to hover just on the edge of the various conversations we were having.

I felt such an intense pressure! Before I started seeking Jesus with my whole heart, I would have had a few sharp retorts to throw into the mix, or just curled up on the bed for a little pity party. 

But no.. the daily time in the Lord's presence that I keep so faithfully in times of ease, trusting the Lord was changing and filling my soul.... paid off beautifully under the pressure of everyone's anxious thoughts as to all the needs looming on the horizon, and their fears that all might not get taken care of.

The Holy Spirit immediately brought this verse to my mind, when I was tempted to get weighed down by it all.  I chose to grab on to and rely on it's precious truth! 

You will keep him in perfect peace  
whose mind is stayed on you
because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 


All the future and it's details are in God's capable hands. We have no reason to fear, when we choose to walk by Faith.

 I had to laugh when I finally read the assigned bible reading for the morning and there was the very verse the Lord had reminded me of! It's amazing how He really does bring all things to our remembrance just when we  need it.

A few thoughts on what this verse really means...

keep- maintain and hold fast

perfect peace - no fear, no doubt, steady and dependable, unshakeable

mind - a mental focus, all our thoughts, hopes, imaginations, understanding

stayed- focused, glued, concentrated (no wandering or doubting)

on thee - God himself

trusts - Has faith, knows that God is trustworthy 
and will keep his word and knows what is best for us

A simple summary is that as long as we have FAITH in God and keep our eyes on Him and his wishes for us, refusing to doubt or entertain sinful  or fearful thoughts, God will guard our peace and keep our hearts tranquil and at ease. Nothing will be able to shake us.

God will do the keeping.. but we must believe (inspite of any evidence to the contrary)  and take captive our thoughts and imaginations and force them to stay focused on the truth of God's strength, love, capability to provide, and his sovereign plan for our day and our future.



Worry is the result of doubt and self reliance. 

Peace is the result of relying on God day in and day out and having faith in Him and his provision and guidance.

 We must stay close to the Lord and seek Him daily, if we want to walk in faith and enjoy peace in the midst of difficulties.

Don't let your mind wander from God's 'reality' to the long list to be done. Instead, accept each day's work as God's assignment to you, trusting that he will make you able to do it.

Do the next thing and leave the list in God's hands. Worry won't get it done--but it will freeze you in your tracks. 

Nothing wastes more time than anger, worry, self-pity, and fear.

If you must waste time.. do it with God. You will be so full of peace, joy, and self-control, that you will whip that list out in no time!


If it doesn't get done, then the Lord didn't want you to do it. :)

 Do the Next Thing" 
From an old English parsonage down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the doors the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration: “do the next thing.

Many a questioning, many a fear,

Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.

Looking for Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering, be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons thee, do the next thing.

~Author Unknown


Dear Lord, We thank you for your promise to give us your perfect peace to preserve and protect our joy, when our minds want to derail us with doubt, fear, and discouragement. And if we are not stressed right now, may we take the time to seek your face and 'store up' good treasure against the days of storm which will certainly come in time.

 Lord, help us to press in, by faith, to Your grace to enable us to withstand the temptation to worry or get frustrated over others lack of  cooperation. You will not give us too much to bear. Grow our faith so we can honor You today in everything we do. Amen
“There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.” ~ Margaret Sangster

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