Need Peace?

It never fails - this time of year my husband and I both tend to fight stress. 

To be honest, I am starting to (finally) view this as Satan's way of trying to steal our joy.  The joy of celebrating the best time of year - the time when we were given the ultimate gift of a redeemer that would pay once for all time the penalty of sin. 

My husband is a carpenter by trade.  Christmas time tends to put a halt on building and renovations - I mean, common, who doesn't want to have sheet rock dust all through their home when they're trying to decorate?!  Totally understandable.  Regardless of knowing why things get sketchy with work this time of year, we still stress out a little wondering what he'll have for work if any. 

With that said, a couple of winters ago, things were incredibly stressful.  I was having panic attacks (was this my lack of faith in my God who is able?  I believe it was.  I was not in control, nor was my husband and that looked scary!) and remember thinking "there's nothing I can do about this situation, I'd better pray about it and look for comfort from God's word."  So I did. 

While going through many pages, I decided to just read verses I had underlined from other times I read it and found it "extra meaningful".  Man, those words, those verses, were like espresso coffee mixed with soothing calmness that just covered my mind, my heart and my soul.  (in other words, they were very exhilarating as I remembered what my Lord had said and promised, and He calmed my racing heart - all at the same time.  Very good, by the way. lol)

It was then I started a peace journal. I needed quick access to my lifeline.  Those verses.   It's not like this just happened once and it was done with.  No.  I had to continually run to Him throughout that season of our lives and be reminded again from His word and to pour out my concerns to Him through prayer.  This is what I later understood to be "giving it over to God." 
Every time the stress of something would attack, I would pray and ask God to help me not to worry, to remember what he promised and to leave my concern with Him.  Then (a crucial part) I would make myself think about something else.  Something good.  Count my blessings.  And for goodness sake, I couldn't sit idol.


God is so good.   We made it through that season.  We survived.  Barely, at times, it seemed, but here we are, looking to see what God has in store for us this winter.  It's scary, yet exciting, sometimes humbling.  And that's ok. 

Do you need peace?  Let me share some verses with you that helped us. (see link Peace Journal below) Or maybe the journey of finding your own is better. Regardless, read them slowly and listen as you speak them out loud.  Put your name in there if you can.  Remember what God promised. I just printed a copy off myself this morning for my husband and even as I was preparing that for him, I found my soul refreshed and calmed.

It may not be a perfect life, but really, we're just passing through - it was never meant to be all roses.

  Peace Journal

 

Oh, I'm going there!

It's the beginning of November and I'm seeing blog posts of my favorite bloggers with Christmas titles.  At first I was a tad bit frustrated about it because I find Christmas can be a little stressful for me. Then once I got thinking about it, I thought, you know, planning for Jesus birthday should take lots of preparation, kind of like a 50th BIG BASH or a major Anniversary party or something, but EVEN bigger....I mean, seriously, do you know his family!  They're Royalty!  That should cause me to put my BEST efforts into gear planning for his birthday! 

So, oh, I'm going there!  I need to talk and plan for Christmas now, so I don't ruin his birthday by stressing out about money or gifts or the stuff that doesn't matter! 

My hubby once shared a line with me that he heard once and I do believe it could be applied here.   "Proper planning prevents poor performance."  Not that I think Christmas is a performance, but I do think it needs proper planning in order for it to be focused and meaningful!  (I totally can get caught up in the "expectation" of what it should look like, and I'm a serious procrastinator to boot!)

So, what should a celebration for Jesus look like? What do you do for his birthday?  I'd love to hear your comments on this. 

Hey You! Yah, you! Wanna Party For Jesus?

It's Party Time!!!

 

My heart rate is going through the roof, I can hardly stand the excitement of sharing this with you.  Shoeboxes.  Who would have thought that filling a shoebox would bring us just as much joy as those we pack them for!

 

BLAWICKQLCJJPQJKFHBNDKWPFUVND.  BLAAAAAA!   I have so many thoughts running through my head I'm having a hard time getting it down here!

 

First things first.  What shoeboxes? 

 

    Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritans Purse, is a wonderful way to be the hands and feet of Jesus to oppressed and needy children. 

 

So many kids, so many needs and we get to be part of God's love around the world just in time for Jesus Birthday!  In Luke 10:30-37 Jesus tells about a good Samaritan who helped a man that was attacked by robbers and left for dead.  He didn't know him, didn't owe him anything, he was just helping in a time of need.  He gives us a clear picture of God's desire for us to help those in need wherever we find them.  Jesus said at the end of his story to “Go and do likewise.”   

 

SO LETS DO THAT! 

 

Ok, here's the deal.  I want to have a shoebox packing party on Saturday, November 10th.  I'm thinking 6:30pm sounds like a great time to start.  YOU are invited!  If you'd like to help pack shoeboxes for needy kids all over the world, please come! 

 

I have tons of shoeboxes (ordered them from OCC website!), so we don't need those, just the fillers to go in them!  All you need to do is drop me an email and let me know you're coming and I'll send you a list of items still needed for the packing party.  You can then pick item(s) that you would be willing to bring several of and together we will fill boxes!  They do need to have a $7 donation to ship the box as well, so if you could help out with at least 1 shipping fee, that would be STUPENDOUS! (Last year we made our donation online and just before Christmas OCC sent us an email telling us what country our package was delivered to!  We opened that email Christmas morning.....loved it!)  

 

The more people we can get involved the more fun it will be and the more boxes we can pack and send.  

 

 I can not wait!  What a great way to wish Jesus a Happy Birthday!!!!!!

 

 

 

****UPDATE****

 

We had a blast!  We were able to fill 33 boxes for these kids this night.  Combined with our church's afterschool program, we filled 56 boxes!!!  YAY!!  Thank  you for all who helped out.