New Beginnings

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I enjoy this time of year. I have a few things that I always try to work into the last week of the year. Things like deep cleaning my room, taking a spiritual retreat, setting goals, reflecting on the past year, and enjoying leftover chocolate from Christmas.

Every year is a new beginning. A chance to grow. An opportunity to celebrate what God did in the year and look forward to what He is going to do in the new year. A fresh start. 

Even with the challenges of this year, I'm so grateful for all that God has done in my heart and life. I'm so glad for the adventures that I've been able to go on and the great people that I've been able to grow with. 

I'm excited to see how the Lord is going to continue the adventure in 2021.

Love Came Down

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Close your eyes and share the dream. Let everyone on earth believe. The Child was born. The star shown bright. And love came down at Christmas time.

This song by Point Of Grace is one of my all time favorite Christmas songs. It encapsulates so much. 

The Lord of love Came down as a man. 

He shared in our humanity. 

He humbled Himself. 

The One who is worshipped, became the lowest of the low. 

The one who is limitless took on limiting flesh. 

Love walked among us. 

This God is worthy of all our praise, glory, and honor. 

He is so good. 

Have a very merry Christmas in Him. 

The Light

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Today shine out His light. 

Today illuminate His love. 

Today burn with His passion. 

Today be a child of light. 

Today reflect the brightness of His glory. 

Today stand firm in the Light. 

Today be a light. 

Taking Time

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In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's easy to get so busy that we miss the the wonder. 

But today I challenge you to take time and breath. 

Remember the wonder of Christ coming down to earth.

Dwell on the Redemption story. 

Let your eyes focus on the graciousness of God.

Be amazed at how our God chose to step into the history He orchestrates. 

Any time I dwell on these things they blow me away. Today I hope they blow you away too. 

The Weight Of Years

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Today marks 4 years since I was asked out on date. Almost 3 and 1/2 years since I broke up with the same guy who asked me out. 

In 2021 it will have been 10 years since I made my wedding dress. There was no guy in the picture at the time, but I wanted to make an elaborate dress and I knew that I didn't want to wait until wedding crunch time. So I sewed, embroidered, and finished my dress. I packed it away for a day that I hoped wasn't far away. 

Now as I stand here years later I feel the weight of those years. I feel the time that has passed. The dreams that have been collecting dust. The hope deferred. The disappointments. 

It is so tempting when I feel the weight of years to let it drive me into self focus and discouragement. To let my gaze drift down to the pain. But praise God, there is another option. When I feel the weight of years pressing down on me, I can choose to transfer that weight onto Christ. With all the years of the Lord being faithful, it has built a support beam that holds that weight perfectly. Any time that the pressure to cave starts to press down, I can transfer the weight onto the beam of faithfulness. With all that we have walked through together, I know that it can hold the weight of whatever I am facing. 

Even in the things that break me down and make me feel like quitting, God supports the weight of years. So instead of crushing me, the weight is lifted off of me. As I turn my gaze to His faithfulness, the weight slips off my shoulders. It becomes yet another part of my journey with Him. One where He sustains me and dances with me. 

So the next time I begin to feel the pressure, I can by the grace of God transfer the weight and dance free. I can let it become part of my story, not pressure that makes me cave into selfishness. 

Yet again something that could break me becomes a testimony of God's grace and love in my life. And I am grateful. 

Thankful Thursday #4

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For the last of my gratitude lists I'm going to make a list of the events that I'm grateful for. Some of these it took me awhile to see a reason to be grateful for, but in all of these I'm so so grateful to God for His Sovereign plan. 

Being born. 

Every birthday since. 

Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. 

The day that I realized it was all about what He did for me not what I do for Him. 

My baptism. 

Engagement breakup. 

The day I thanked God for hard love. 

The day I realized that God had worked healing in me. 

Washington DC trip with the family. 

Family trip to the beach. 

Family staycation. 

Leaving a job, not knowing where I was going to work. 

The day I flew to Michigan to work on Beyond The Mask. 

Starting a new job. 

The day my friend confided in me. 

Working on a film where I was accepted and appreciated. 

Celebrating 4 years of volunteering at a hospital. 

When I got to do spitiual battle for a friend. 

When I was accepted for who I was. 

The day I started the Ellerslie Online Training. 

Celebrating Christian Passover as a family. 

Quarantine. 

All of these events have a story. There are so many memories attached to each one of them. So many ways that God showed His love and grace in each event. 

Most of all I am so thankful that Jesus has been there for every event in my journey. He's been my strength, the love that sustained me, and the heartbeat of my life. He is good. 

Thankful Thursday #3

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For this list I want to share some of the great things that God has given. 

A warm and welcoming home to come home to. 

A job working with kids. 

A closet full of pretty clothes and shoes. 

A working phone. 

More good food than I can eat in a week. 

Craft projects. 

Hot showers. 

5 acres that I get to walk on. 

AC. 

Fun purses and bags. 

Glass water bottles and my lunch bag. 

Pictures. 

Books. 

My kindle. 

Airplanes. 

Stamps and stationary. 

Smoothies and hot drinks. 

Journals. 

Cats and dogs. 

Music. 

Bibles. 

Flowers. 

Jewelry. 

Trains. 

Scrapbooks. 

Notebooks. 

Colored pins. 

Quilts. 

A comfy bed. 

My teddy bear collection. 

Art from my dad. 

Gifts from friends. 

Keepsakes. 

Doll collection. 

Mini tea set collection. 

Seasonal decor. 

Lotion. 

Facials. 

Nail polish and stickers. 

Clean water. 

Clean air. 

Cute masks. 

This is just a few of the physical blessings that I enjoy on a daily basis. And I'm so grateful to God for them.