Short Devotion!

     As I am sitting here and looking back on the past year and realizing there is just under 10 hours left of 2011 it makes me think of all the awesome things God has done.  Then it also makes me look forward to the things he is going to do not only for me and my family, but for my friends as well.  Don't forget to praise God in the trials as well as the triumph, for in each of these there is a lesson that God is just waiting to teach us:)

     Have a very safe and blessed 2012! 

Friday Challenge!

     Today's challenge is to make a dreamboard for 2012.  A dreamboard is something I learned to do while working on Xango.  A dreamboard is made up of your dreams and ambitions for the upcoming year..Craig does this and we even do it with Silena!
     The subconscious has a way of putting everything it sees on a regular basis into it's memory.  If you put the dreamboard somewhere where you will see it, then before you know it, your memory will help you to accomplish whatever it is you want.
     Why is it that only kids get to have dreams?  It is very important as adults to have goals, dreams, and ambitions.  These are what get you through the really hard, crappy days when you just want to lay in bed.  We all have dreams...no matter how silly they are!  They could be simple or they could be a stretch, but remember your subconscious will help you to accomplish them!
     Try doing this and remember...a dream has no limit:)

Happy New Year!

A mustard seed!

     I hope all of you are recovering from your Christmas events and gearing up for another great holiday...New Year!  I didn't know what to write so opened my bible and decided on a scripture.  It wasn't the first one I opened to, but found it after searching for a few moments.
     Matthew 17: 19-20- Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you."
     I didn't exactly know how small a mustard seed was so I went onto google and this is what picture came up:

I can't believe it...We can move any mountain and it doesn't matter what the world says, but God says this is all we have to have, 20 mm worth of faith, for him to move a mountain for us!  How awesome is that?  It shouldn't matter what we are going through here on earth, no matter how hard the trial is, God wants us to know that we just have to believe he will move the mountain for us.  One thing I learned yesterday while doing my bible study...not only do you have to believe miracles with your heart, but you also have to speak miracles, as if you have received them.  Don't speak against the things you are asking to be moved!  We are truly capable of anything:)

2012!

     I can not believe we are a week away from another new year!  It is crazy..I remember this time 12 years ago when people were freaking out about Y2K.  Wouldn't you know it people are freaking about the Myan Calendar and the fact that they "predicted" the world to end at the end of 2012.  Maybe it's hard to believe because we have literally no snow down on the ground and it looks and feels like spring.  Weird!  As I end my year with reading the whole bible and start my new year by running 13.1 miles, I think about how wonderful my life is.  I am accomplishing all these things before my 30th birthday and I have found a new love for the Lord. 
     I think it is an awesome thing to have really small goals and accomplish those because it makes it really easy to get focused on the bigger goals if you can check off the small ones!  What are your goals for the new year?  Not resolutions that will last a whole month, but true goals that you can work towards!  Remember the Lord wants to see if we can be faithful and responsible with the small stuff...and when he can see that then he will give us more responsibility and bigger blessings:)

Have a great last week of 2011!

Take a minute!

     The excitement in my house is brewing!  My princess made a Christmas chain in school and therefore she knows the exact number of days till Christmas.  Which I honestly thought it would get annoying, but it is rather cute.  She knows what night "Santa" is coming and told me last night that the only thing she hopes Santa brings her are Figit Friends...do I understand the big deal of these...nope!  But guess what, she is getting these, which means her grandparents are pretty much off the hook.  Anything beyond these she will love and will be an added bonus. 
     I remember getting this excited for Christmas and always putting at least one thing on my list that I was hoping and praying that I would get.  And now I understand why my "Santa" would always get excited and have the video camera going every Christmas morning...thanks a lot by the way!  I remember getting my first Nutcracker when I was eight and the excitement is just as high 21 years later whenever I get a nutcracker. 
     My point is to really enjoy the last few days...pick out one or two things this Christmas just to take a minute to enjoy.  Whether it be that you were blessed with money to give to the people you love, or given the ability to bake, or given the chance to bless a complete stranger, or watching your children get truly excited.  These are all things God wants us to remember this weekend. 
     Have a great Christmas and remember to take a minute to enjoy the little things:)

     I have made it....the Book of Revelation!  There were points in the last three months where I got bored out of my mind reading parts of it and there were points where I honestly wanted to quit.  I am glad I didn't...the things the Lord showed me through reading HIS word are priceless.
     I have learned how truly amazing his love is, like when he kept giving the Israelites chance and chance and they still refused to listen.  It made me mad just reading it...come on already, just stop causing trouble, was my thought.  But it's just like kids isn't it?  We as parents are saying just stop already and you won't have to get into trouble.  The Lord truly loves us with patience, grace and mercy.
     Another thing He showed me was how much he wants to do awesome things for us.  I have always heard lots of scripture to stand on and think about when I am facing trial, but to actually see this same scripture in context has grown my faith to no end.  Every time I have a thought that I know is not from God I have a TON of scripture now to lean on and recite. 
     Not only do I have scripture, but now I can see all the miracles performed and done so people would believe and see that God was real.  It just shows what he can and will do for the people who love him. 
     I am so glad I did this and am looking forward to reading the last book...I am so glad I was able to spend these last three months so intently seeking after God!

Merry CHRISTmas!

     As we are in the week before Christmas and we all rush around trying to finish the baking, decorating and shopping let's try to really enjoy the season.
     This has always been my favorite time of year...except for my birthday of course:)  I am really trying to enjoy the season and it helps that my little princess is finally old enough to really realize what Christmas is.  I think as much fun as shopping, baking and decorating is we need to remember that all that was created by man!  God created Jesus and it was man that decided to turn it into the big hoopla holiday it is.  Jesus was created for us so that we may be forgiven and granted the privelage of living in heaven someday.
     So, as I am in the middle of baking, this is going to be short!  Remember that the holiday is about our salvation and the gift we got 2000 years ago.  Don't forget to say Merry Christmas and help people to remember the reason that we get to celebrate this awesome day...if it weren't for Jesus there wouldn't even be Christmas:)