Merry Christmas (belated)

I took a risk and gave my coworkers a very God-centered gift... some I knew would be receptive and others, I wasn't quite sure...but prayed and gave them out, asking them to open on Christmas, hoping some quiet time to reflect might help them be more receptive or at least not so pissed :) LOL... Here is the note that my out-of-the-office boss sent me :)

"Leslie thank you for your kind gift. Now maybe I know how you get through all that is thrown at you. Keep it up and I wish you all the best. Take care and thanks again. ~Larry"

I'm SO glad that I stepped out, even in my shy-way, and helped open a door for them.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:15-16 NIV

Unique Creations

We are each as unique as snowflakes, yet God knows every hair on our heads :) How amazing is that?!?!!? I hope that everyone took time this holiday season to thank God for all He has given us: health, family, friends, etc. IF you haven't, please do so now. Life is just too short and there never seems to be enough time to thank Him. Blessings for 2010 and beyond.

"But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." Luke 12:7 (KJ)

It all comes down to this!

We're all fallen from God's grace. Jesus took the pain for everyone. We can be saved and redeemed by His shed blood. We choose to accept the gift of salvation. We are wiped clean of our sin. He took our punishment so that we could live life to the fullest, not just life life, but live life abundantly. Are you? Am I? I know we can do better! Get out there and move, be His hands and His feet!


But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. ~ Psalm 13:5, NLT

The importance of community

I was reminded of this today and thought I'd post about it.

God made us for community. Not just for ourselves or our families. We need to reach out and join a local church, a bible based church, and let others impact our lives and vice versa.

We need to rely on one another, to be accountable to each other, to love one another, to hold each other up when we don't have the strength to hold ourselves up and to be His hands and feet when we see others who need His words, love, strength and wisdom. A simple smile, hug, letter, meal or probably 100 other things, can bring someone back from the edge, ledge or end of themselves. Sometimes we never learn of how our lives impact others, but we know they do, as we know our lives have been greatly impacted by others.



"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." ~ Hebrews 10:25, NLT

Today... a day in the life!

Today is a special day for a handful of reasons...

Today is my 8 year work anniversary... not a lifetime, but meeting my previous record
Today is also my DSs last day of high school
Today is also my DDs last day of freshman year
Today is also DSs GFs birthday
Today is a great day to celebrate being alive AND
Today is a great day to donate to Operation Quiet Comfort.

As you know, OQC holds a special place in my heart, because they are a grassroots non-profit, who lets each person help in whatever creative way they can, they don't just ask for monetary donations... but now they are faced with the harsh reality of the current economic times and might virtually close without monetary donations.

You can contribute without spending a dime, here's how:
Login to www.GoodSearch.com
Enter Operation Quiet Comfort in the charity box and press verify
Then proceed to search for whatever stuff you usually search for in the course of a day in your life
Each search generates income for OQC

IF you have the ability to donate any funds to OQC - you can click on the OQC button on either of my blogs or go directly to http://www.OperationQuietComfort.org and click on donate, either thru google or paypal (but there is a fee that paypal charges).

Thanks in advance for your loving support of me and OQC.

Forever!

We know how the story ends, we've read the book. We will live with God forever. This world will fade away and we'll live on. Make the choice! Choose God!

And this world is fading away...But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. ~ 1 John 2:17, NLT

Ahhh, retreat!

What a wonderful maker! Molds us like clay in His hands.

We had a great retreat last weekend. It went too fast! It was rainy but the weather couldn't stop about 250 of us from having a great time.

We were at Silver Spur, a local Christian camp, where we were treated to great food, super company, and a God-loving speaker, Carole Wolaver - boy can she multi-task. Her hands were usually on the clay when she was speaking. She was even throwing pots during the "free time" - what an amazing gift she has. I can barely chew gum and walk at the same time. LOL

There were so many things to do: lectures, card crafting, movies, raffle for some great baskets. Our group of 16 won 5 baskets. Amazing! The food was excellent, the site was lovely even thru the gray haze, the company was interesting and hilarious at times. The art was fantastic - I've never appreciate pottery as much before, probably because I took it for granted as my grandparents used to have a kiln and we would do pottery when we visited them.

I'm already looking forward to next year and plan to visit the church that invited me to attend, last year and again this year, on Mothers Day. I'd like them to meet the family behind the pinched and unbalanced retreat-goer.

I'm still tired and sore, but it was well worth the time. I am feeling more balanced and less pinched. I'm sore because I chose to walk up the hill 3 times, which is a lot more exercise than I usually get in a month :) My calves are just hating me!!!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." ~ Psalms 139:14

The Silent Sermon

I got this in email today, from my father... I thought it was quite good, so enjoy!

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.. Guessing the reason for his preachers visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more.. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow,once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down hi s cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.'

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!
I shall not want ----- that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness --that's Guidance !
For His name sake ----- that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death--that's Testing!
I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!
For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me -----that's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies------that's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life----that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of t he Lord -----that's Security!
Forever ----- that's Eternity!

Face it, God is crazy about you!

Send this to the people you are crazy about.I thought this was pretty special, just like YOU! What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives.

Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”~ John 8:12, NLT

Happy Easter

Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice that all may live eternally with You and the Father. May your church continue to increase daily, in faith an
d in numbers until that day you return again to claim your people. Maranatha!

He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. ~ Matthew 28:6, NLT

Being Joyful

Choose joy! Sounds easy doesn't it? Well sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't, but it is a choice and with God we can lead our minds with our hearts.

Three car accidents in four months? Choose joy! Two flat tires in one week? Choose joy! Coworker that drives you nuts, finally no longer working with you, leaving you all the work to do? Choose joy!

After a tough morning, even before I left the house today... I saw a beautiful rainbow and chose joy! Did you choose joy today?!

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT

His hands are holding me

Things were going fairly well lately, then I hit a snag or two. Unfulfilled expectations mostly and the evil one messing with my sense of personal value to the world. It started, well I noticed it on Valentines Day, when any expectation of appreciation was dashed, leaving me to cry myself to sleep.

Comments and lack-there-of continued for the weekend, stretching into Tuesday, my weekly mandatory unpaid day off... which brought me to a commute this morning in full breakdown mode. I was almost to work, thinking I'd maybe park around the corner and finish my cry so I could enter my workplace with a semblance of dignity, when this song came on. I love it, but don't think I really heard the words until today.

By Your Side ~ Tenth Avenue North

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go


As I said, I was crushed by the lack of love I felt from my earthly husband, when in the greater scheme of things, what does that matter? I have the Lords everlasting love showering me 24/7/365. I was able to enter work with my head held high knowing that I am loved, valued, and important - even if no early being ever tells me or shows me that again. Even at work, I'm not 20% less valuable... I am chosen, I am loved and I am saved. What more could we all ask for?!?!?

"I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!" ~ Isaiah 65:24, NLT

He is the gate

And what a lovely, majestic, awesome and loving gate He is. All we have to do is have faith and knock and the gate is open for us. The gift is free, but we have to ask for it and embrace it. Jesus paid the price for all of us. He washed our sins away, clothing us in white - a spotless bride.

'Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures." ~ John 10:9, NLT

I'll call you

How many times have you said you'd call someone - and just never did? How many times do you have to remind yourself to call so-and-so? How many times have you sat on hold for too long? How many cell phone calls do you ignore?

I answer the phone at work, because I have to... and I really don't enjoy talking on the phone, particularly my cell phone ever!

But when we call on the Lord, He answers, with a quick reply as He promises in His Word. How wonderful is that!?!? If that doesn't make your day, not sure what will :)

"Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ He will quickly reply."
~ Isaiah 58:9, NLT

Ripples to eternity

Just like pebbles thrown in our calm waters, they ripple to eternity. Our large problems today, soon fade and make sense when we look back later.

Looking forward to a new year in 2009. New challenges, new triumphs, new friends and many blessings.

"For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!" 2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT