Jesus is Born!

Getting back into the game, so to speak.

I am trying to get myself back into the world of blogging. It helps that a friend of mine is interested in starting her own blog and she's been asking questions. I am so happy to help her in her new adventure!

So, now for an update...

I have been going to a Discipleship study group at church for several weeks now. We are doing the Navigator 2:7 Series. I am really learning a lot; but not doing nearly enough reading. I know the discipline will come. I need to push myself to actually spend time in the Word. I don't understand why this aspect has been so difficult for me. Anyway, I am working on growing my discipline and relationship with God. It's important to me.

Christmas is just around the corner and then the New Year. I don't know what 2016 will bring for me. I can only pray that God blesses me and my BF and helps us to continue to grow in our relationship with Him and one another. It's been a long and difficult journey together. Enough about that.

As for my cross stitching, I haven't been able to do much. Once again, I have poor lighting in my house and my vision has been off (I think from spending too much time looking at a little screen, lol). I am hoping to remedy the lighting situation over the next couple of weeks by either re-arranging my room or getting a better lamp. I really want to get back into it and finish "Praying Hands". This is where I left off (and I may have shown this a few months back):

It seems like there is more done than this. I can't believe I haven't done anything on it in almost 2 years.

Do you know the story...

…of the brave little donkey?

“Once there lived a little donkey whose owner beat him daily. A gentle man named Joseph felt sorry for the donkey and paid a high price for him.
Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary, were kind to the donkey, who felt happy again. Joseph told the donkey he needed his help for a very important journey to a town called Bethlehem.
The donkey proudly carried Mary and waited while Joseph tried to find lodging. Upset that there was no room, the little donkey brayed so loudly that the innkeeper sent them to a stable where the woman gave birth to her baby, Jesus, whom the donkey kept warm with his soft breath.
A brave little donkey carried Mary and her babe.
That night was born our Savior, in a manger now he lay.
God bless the little donkey and the journey that he made.”
*Taken from http://www.stjames-liberty.org/stjames2/2015-advent-calendar/legend-of-the-christmas-donkey/

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Here is the true story of the Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-20, NIV)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.
⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

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My prayer is that this post helps someone, anyone who reads, turn their life over to Jesus Christ. Christmas is not about the gifts that we receive, the shopping, the food…no, it is about the reason we are here and have eternal life: Jesus Christ!

Proverbs

I haven’t finished Acts yet and I haven’t started with the Good Morning Girls readings in Proverbs. I am a bad, lazy Christian, lol.

I have been keeping up with “A.D. The Bible Continues” on NBC though. I think tonight is the final episode in the series, but not certain.

What have I been up to, you may wonder, since I have been neglecting my reading. Well, I was in Denver for a week for another class at NVTI, UC Denver. I had a good time, as I always do out there. Spent much of my free time wishing I didn’t have to leave there but alas my job was waiting. This coming week I am heading out again. This time to visit family and friends for a couple of weeks. It’s a long overdue, much needed vacation. Here are some pictures from my trip west.

Denver VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

When I returned to my office, my computer decided to rebel in a BIG way. I was without it for about a day over the course of 2 days. I can’t imagine what’s gonna happen in July when I come back from vacation, lol!

We’ve also been experiencing some incredible orange sunsets the past couple of nights.

Orange Skies VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Last night there was a partial rainbow in the mix. I love the tropics!

Well, I will get back into my reading. I NEED to get back into my reading and develop a HABIT of reading my Bible every single day.

The Abundant Life…

…not the redundant life.

In church this morning our Pastor made this statement based on the readings. We started a new series simply titled “Go!” As Christians, we are commanded to love one another. We are also commanded to “Go and make disciples” in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).

Acts

I began reading the Book of Acts a couple of weeks ago mainly because of the show “A.D.: the Bible Continues” on NBC. I realized that this show is covering the Acts of the Apostles and wanted to felt the need to read it. I guess that would be the Spirit nudging me.

Anyway, last week our church held a workshop over a couple of evenings and the presenter kept bringing up the Book of Acts. I thought that was a pretty powerful sign as well.

Sunday, the pastor ended a series with Acts 2. Hmmmmm, another sign!

I promise I am getting somewhere!

Sooo, I am now in Chapter 3 and find myself wanting to re-read what I’ve read in order to continue on into the next chapter. After discussing my struggle with the cares pastor, I find her suggestion to be more helpful: just read it through like a story the first time then go back and read it more in depth.

What I can say with some certainty is that it is in chapter 2 where we find the founding of the church. It amazes me every single day how profound that is and how much of an influence Jesus has in my life. Now, in the workshop last week, there was a question posed (one that I ask myself often): Who am I? Have you ever wondered who you are? Who you are in Christ. It’s a difficult question to answer even now.

I know that I am:

• a daughter of God
• a child of God
• a woman
• a teacher
• a veteran
• a friend
• a sister
• a daughter

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. But to really know who I am in the eyes of God, who I am in Christ, that’s going to take more thought. In life group tonight we discussed this as well. I have even more perspective: Who I am in Christ goes to not just an encounter with Him but when my knowledge of him clicked on in my heart; knowledge not just in the head.

So, who am I?

Eternal Life

I have recently begun a study of Philippians. Now, I am only through Chapter 2 at this point, but I am learning a lot.

One of the things I have learned is something we Christians kind of already know, but do we really understand: God will keep us here until we have completed His work and only then will He bring us home.

Philippians 1:21-25 is what brought this home for me.

²¹For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²²If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith… (NIV)

Now, I for one am anxiously awaiting the day I get to meet Jesus face-to-face and be reunited with my family.  But, I also know that God has plans for me and His plans for me have not yet finished. I look forward to learning more about His plans and how He plans to use me. Until then, I will continue to grow in my faith.