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