Merry Christmas

Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

 I've have really tried to discipline myself to stop and enjoy the moment, to take time out to do special things with my husband when I might otherwise be inventing more work to get done before the kids start coming in on Wednesday.

I have enjoyed everything I've done so far and none of it has seemed like a chore but totally enjoyable.

I have a wall plaque I got years ago that reads, "It's not doing the things we like to do, but liking the things we have to do that makes life blessed.

I think there is a lot of truth to that old adage.

 Here are a few things that have been going on in our lives.

Our 13 year old granddaughter, Ashton, was promoted to 'pointe' in ballet this past week.  That is a great accomplishment for her and something she has been working hard for for several years.

We have mirrors across from one another in the master bath.  I strung lights over my vanity and ended up getting an infinity effect--it just goes on and on and on.

These are right out of the oven--my husband went golfing and brought back these big, beautiful pine cones.  But it's a good thing to bake them in the oven at about 200 for an hour to kill any varmints that might be residing in them.  They make their presence known later if they are not eradicated now.  But that's all I'll say about that.

Then i placed them in an arrangement in my new dough box.  They were just exactly what it needed!

Yesterday I made place cards for the "girls" table.  I have never done this before but I'm having a table for the boys and one for the girls.  We will have 9 at the girls' table and 6 at the boys.

Still need to make the boys' place cards.  Theirs will be a bit more masculine!

I hope your holidays celebrating the birth of our wonderful Savior are the best ever.

God bless you and talk to you soon!

He Restores My Soul

This is short and very sweet.

Sweet because it speaks to the spirit within us and calms and restores our soul. I studied with Randall Hasson a few years ago and this is a website hosted by him and his wife. This particular post is written by his wife about a canvas he painted that I was privileged to see in person when I went to his studio in Santa Fe, NM. Her post is about the peace of God which we all immensely need especially during this Christmas season. Praying that it will calm and restore your soul. Merry Christmas!

Here is the link.

Let Your Heart Be Light

Time is marching on and Christmas is almost here. I can't believe it's been nine days since I have posted. I am so sorry. I had such awesome plans at the start of December for all the wonderful things I was going to post. Things about Jesus--after all, He is what this season is all about, right?

There are so many loose ends I need to tie up and it seems that every Christmas I am never as organized as I want to be--I want to have things DONE so I can just sit back and relax and take in the sights, sounds, smells, joys of the season.

I think I've done a little better this year as far as not stressing out about not getting everything done that I want to get done but I still find myself more anxious than I want to be at times.

I try to keep reminding myself that this is about love, togetherness, and celebration.

Not about things or glitter or presents.

However, I did get my husband the best Christmas gift I've ever given him. (Well, maybe the second best)  I am so excited for him to see it and to tell you the story behind it--it's not about the cost of the gift, it's about the thought behind it.  I think he is going to love it and I think he might cry.

I only made him cry one other time in all our years of marriage.

His mom had an old "seed" box--yes, years ago when you ordered seeds for planting in the spring--they were sent to you in beautiful wooden boxes.  She had had this old box for 30 years most likely.  It was dilapidated and falling apart at the seams.

We usually don't spend very much money on each other at Christmas but I did splurge a little by taking it to an antique furniture refinisher.  The box turned out so gorgeous.  I had the kids and grandchildren write him letters and filled the old box with their letters of love.

If I remember correctly it was the first Christmas after his mom had died--between the sentimentality of the box and the letters from his descendants, he pretty much dissolved.  I love gifts like that.

So I say all of that just to say something--just to converse with you--just to let you know I am thinking about you, loving you, praying for you wherever you are.

I know that Christmas can be such a hard time for so many--my sister lost a son two years ago and Christmas with all of its joys can still be very hard for her.  There is a big vacuum in a room that is not filled with his presence.

I pray that Jesus' presence is what we focus on and that knowing He is here for us always will drive away all doubt, fear, unhappiness and sadness and all that remains will be seeds of joy that will spread the gospel of the greatest gift to ever be given.  And it was given to all.

I pray your heart is light this Christmas!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S.  The above pictures are the dough box my brother-in-law made me--Got the table all ready now all I need is my family!

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Just Keeping In Touch Here

Hi from me here on my little end of the sofa.  This is where I blog from, have my devotionals, read, write, etc.  It seems like the only picture I ever take is taken right here.  

My hubby brought these this beautiful poinsettia plant home to me the other day.  It is huge--maybe 3 feet tall-- Anyway, when he first brought it in the door my heart sank as I thought, "Where in the world will I put that?" But I found the perfect spot for it and now I think the room really needed it. I just ran and took this picture and it is late at night.  The lighting was terrible but you can at least see the size of it and where I put it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I don't have a lot to say today--my heart is hurting and I am not handling it well. Our family has been going through a particularly hard trial since last March.  I'm thinking of all of you who are in difficult spots at this holiday time. My heart goes out to you and I pray His peace for you. She Reads Truth (at www.shereadstruth.com) was particularly good today. It really helped lift my spirits. It helped me get in the mood to "get on" with the decorating.   I spent the whole day working in my living room.   I purged a lot of the pictures I had on the walls--I now have a more "clean" look. It is nice, I think, for the holidays since I have a lot of other clutter in the house that I don't normally have but I also miss the "homey" feel that all the pictures gave. I wonder what I'll end up doing after Christmas.  I don't think I will go totally back to the way I had it but will probably add something.  I don't do the "bare" look very well. God bless you sweet friends.  I am praying that God especially touches each one who comes here today. I hope I didn't sound like too much of a "downer." I know they (whoever they is) say that bloggers are supposed to be transparent etc. And it's not that I care if you know when I'm hurting, it's just that I believe what the Bible says about "counting it all joy." That is the way I try to live my life--I don't always do it well but that is my goal-- To handle life like Jesus would want me to.

One Deep Cry

'I
f we maintian the place of humility and stillness, and surrender until God's spirit has stirred up in us confidence that He will perfect His work, our waiting will become the strength and the joy of our soul. Life will become one deep cry: 'I have waited for Your salvation, O Lord."

Andrew Murray from Waiting On God

In this advent season, may we be willing to wait on Him so that His complete redemptive work will be made manifest in our lives.

Tonight:  Pondering and waiting for changes--come and make them, Lord Jesus. 

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

He is Worth Waiting For

As we patiently and humbly wait for our God to appear at this Advent season, may we learn the true joy of waiting and total dependence upon Him.

Just as the tiny babe made his appearance and lay helpless in His mother's arms, so we are to make our appearance into the kingdom of God--not demanding when and where our birth should take place but in all faith depending on the God of the universe to govern the circumstances.

It is amazing to think of the circumstances surrounding Christ's birth--the journey on a donkey, no room to house them, no familiar surroundings of home, family or friends--just the quiet dependence on a Holy God to bring all of the circumstances together.

The babe lay helpless, totally dependent upon His parents to love, clothe, feed and nurture Him.

Can we come to Him today just the same?

Why, Father, do we fret and toil so hard when You have told us to be reliant on You, that You will take care of all our needs?

Father, forgive our faithlessness and show us how during this season of waiting to truly learn what it is to wait for You.

When I am rushing, help me to slow down.

When I am fretting, let me learn to give my anxious thoughts to you.

When I am distrusting, pierce my spirit with conviction and show me your faithfulness once again.

When I am not loving, quicken my heart to the needs of those around me and my need to depend on You to love through me.

When I am being less than the vessel of Your grace you intended me to be, empty me and fill me up with Your power and goodness.

When I am impatient, teach me to wait on You--You are worth waiting for.

Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Son of God, Love's Pure Light

I would be hard pressed to try to define pure light.

When I started researching it for this blog post, I quickly got in over my head--just in the physics of what pure light is.

 But one thing I do know is we were a people who were walking in great darkness and a light appeared to us--the light of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Son of God.

Today I look forward with anticipation to welcoming this great light into the world all over again.  I welcome His light into my life for wisdom, guidance, and knowledge.

The passage of scripture below is from the She Reads Truth devotional for today.  I read it very slowly, meditated on it and it blessed me so much, especially the verse right before "Unto us a child is born, to us a son is given."

Peace on Earth, good will toward men.

No wonder the angels declared it loud and clear.

In the words of Joni Eareckson Tada,

"The war between heaven and earth, God and man, ended with the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  And the beautiful thing was this:  it wasn't just for a day.  The war had not simply been suspended.  It wasn't a temporary truce.

Christ, our Prince of Peace, was God's way of announcing the close to an awful war.  The Lord Jesus invaded enemy territory to lay claim on what was rightfully His.  He confronted sin and His battle cry told men that He had come to set them free.  Through his death and resurrection, He signed the peacy treaty with His own blood." 

When Jesus was born, no wonder peace was declared--the greatest peace treaty ever known was sanctioned by our heavenly Father.

THE WAR WAS OVER--even the boots and garments rolled in blood were to be burned--the government will be on His shoulders!

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Psalm 9:2-7

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Messiah Come, Be Born In My Heart Anew!

This reckoning of the past with the future--this looking ahead anticipating His arrival--but looking back at what happened in a lowly stable over two thousand years ago--brings us to a crux--the crux of now--this minute--this moment--will I invite Him in to my heart again?

There to rule and reign and have full control of my life, my thoughts, my actions--

 or will I leave Him stranded out in the cold of my hardened heart?  

So tonight, Father, I ask You to come into my heart afresh, anew--

Cleanse me of anything that is foreign to faith in You.

Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

I will start over with no past to bind me.

I will fly free to explore the heavens you left in all your glory,

To come, a meager babe, like me in so many ways,

And yet divine,

A n d   Y e t   D i v i n e!

As Christians we speak of being 'born again'

Tonight I want Him to be born again

Right in the middle of my heart.

Come, thou long expected Jesus.

Come, Messiah, Come

Be born In my heart anew!

"There is something extraordinary about Christ being born in your heart, isn't there?  There is something special and unique about having Jesus live within you.   And although you may not be wealthy or wise in the eyes of the world, the very riches of His kingdom have been promised to you. The Word of Christ can dwell in you richly, giving you His very mind. And if you remain available to Him, He will use you to accomplish His wise and mighty plans in this old world.  Like Mary, you have something to sing about this Christmas season!  Because God has chosen you.  Because you've been blessed.  Christ the King has been born--not just in a stable, but in your heart." Excerpt from A Christmas Longing by Joni Eareckson Tada

© ALL ART, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT PROPERTY OF ELIZABETH DIANNE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED