Christmas Thoughts

It is Christmas Time!! Even though the ground does not have snow and it is so mild out, you can tell it is Christmas time. There is a presence in the air that says this time of year is different.  I watch as people give to our shelter to ensure that the women and children who are experiencing hard times this season, know that they are cared for and matter. There is an excitement as we get ready to come together with family. Our girl comes home in 3 days!! There are parties to go too.
  All of this is great and I love it, but I think for this year I needed a much needed reminder that God is with us. I love that the Christmas carols are on. Good to hear that Christmas is about God is with us. Emmanuel did come, and He is still with us today. I was on my way to work on Saturday and I put in old c.d. On came Amy Grant's God is with us. Such a beautiful song. The chorus states:
God is in us
God is for us
God is with, our Emmanuel.

So often we can go about life and wonder where is God is all of it? Is He really for us? Yes He is. I have seen God in our own little family. Things that others may call coincidences I call God moments.  The right people in our world at the right time. The scripture in devotions that I needed for that day to help me keep having hope and reminding me to love. That God loves my people even more than me and He will help me have the patience and love I need.  We are reminded this season that love, grace , mercy and forgiveness is so important for our own hearts as well the hearts of people we come in contact with daily.

 I am grateful this season that my boy is home,  making better choices and that I have seen God's hand in His world. Will keep praying!! Grateful my girl is nearly done university and I see her making good choices. Will keep praying also for her future.  I am grateful for family that supports us continually. For my amazing hubby.  Trying to trust that my God is for me and I need not fear the future. ( some days easier than others)

I realise that Christmas is hard for many. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones, for those that may not have family support. For those that are going through sickness with loved ones and may not have that child at home this year. It is harder to see God in these times, but He is there.

I think it is our responsibility to make sure people are not alone at Christmas. Open your home up. If you have family, share them.

This year the Loner house is having soup and turkey sandwiches on all day Christmas Day. All are welcome. We may be in our pjs when you come, but that's okay. You can wear yours too!!

Wherever you are on your journey this Christmas, remember God is with us, He is for us!

I can breathe!

Well, it has been about a month since my last post and I can't say the road has been any less rocky. If anything a bit more. However, I was driving to work this morning I was reminded once again through music that all is well. I was starting to think in the quiet of the car and had to remind myself to take a deep breathe. I was starting to worry. I thought, put some music on so I put my cd on which happen to be David Crowder. I selected random and on came  Here's my life Lord. Beautiful song I have listened to many times, but still exactly what I needed this morning.
The words spoke to my heart in so many ways. First, right at the beginning " Here's my heart Lord." God knows my hurting heart, He knows my cares and concerns.  It goes on to say "Speak what is true." I have found myself too many times listening to lies like it is never going to get better, you weren't good enough, the situation is impossible and no one really cares, you don't matter. I so needed to be reminded to listen for the truth which the song then states. It says,

Cause I am found, I am Yours
I am loved, I'm made pure
I have life, I can breathe
I am healed, I am free

I was reminded that I am loved and cared for. That I can take that deep breath, relax and allow God's love to speak to my heart. To offer up my cares because He does care.  The song goes on to says,

Cause You are strong, You are sure
You are life, You endure
You are good, always true
You are light breaking through

I believe God gives us special people to help us remain strong, to show His love and concern to us. There are little lights of love breaking through whether it has been a reassuring hug or just an encouragement that I am not alone in this. He uses His word and music to bring hope.

So whatever you are going through, ask God to speak the truth to your heart. Be assured that even when all around you seems wrong that He is still good. He is still true. His heart grieves for us. Look for the ways He tries to bring healing to your heart and love. Maybe stop and be that person He uses for someone else. We can still be wounded healers, still caring for others while we have our own struggles. 

I will link this song to this. Take time and let your heart relax, just breathe!

Love and Prayers,

Jen

Rocky roads

Well. I haven't blogged for a while, but I have had lots of thoughts. I think I don't blog as I should as I don't want to seem too real, or be judged. But I think I have come to a point where this doesn't matter anymore. God keeps giving me words, so I will write them down. I am not a very good writer but I like to write, so I will as long as He gives me the thoughts! Very grateful for friends who just said write and encouraged me to get blogging again. So here I go with a thought that I have been mulling around in my head. Actually, I went on facebook and my cousin had posted a song No Longer Slaves by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser. It states, " I am no longer a slave, I am a child of God.  How appropriate for this day as I sit wondering how someone very important and dear to me is doing.. Will they be ok? What more can I do? My anxiety is high today.  I do believe God is in all this. What worries me is how we as humans always have a choice. God can keep giving us signs and opportunities, but we have to choose to see and take them. It is so hard to try and sit back and allow our loved ones to make their own choices. To not become a slave to fear, to the unknown. To not let it cripple us.
It is like being on the motorbike the other night. I was afraid!! It was my first time on a path. I liked driving on the side road that was smooth. I could manage that, but as we drove on this path the rocks became bigger and it was harder to drive. I felt like I didn't have the control I needed. I couldn't go my nice safe speed or I would fall. At one point I wanted to give up. I stopped ( and of course stalled the bike). I told Paul I didn't like this and wanted to go home.  He encouraged me that the bike was made for this. It would go find on the rocks as long as I kept my speed up. To just move with the bike and keep going.  He promised he was right there and  I would be okay.If I did fall he would be there to help me up and keep going. He knew what he was talking about. So I tried again. One reason because I knew this meant so much to him. He had rebuilt this bike just for me. He knew once I overcame my fear I would love it. Also, not far up was a beautiful lake with our path down the middle that Cory had found a few nights before. He reminded me we were over halfway through. So I did. I was scared but the ride back was easier as I got used to the bike and the speed. I also knew Paul was right there.I know that Paul and I will have many bike rides together. I imagine I will fall ( hopefully not break anything major!). I know we will also find smooth paths that I will love and see scenery and nature that will be beautiful.
As I was speeding along ( praying I wouldn't fall) I thought this was much like life, even the christian life. At first the idea of being a christian is great,  that peace you get, the high of realizing you are not
 alone and feeling the Holy Spirit fill you is awesome.Of feeling made new. Of being loved.  You think " I can do this." This is going to be awesome. Then life hits. the road gets rocky.  It can get down right scary. You are holding on for dear life, but sometimes you just want to say I can't hold on anymore. The fear is so overwhelming, whether it is your own world you are worried for or a loved ones.  We always have a choice. To stop and give up. To say I am done. I can't do this. Or we can keep going, driving ahead, praying and reaching out to God for strength and help.
Because you see Jesus is there beside you.He is saying " I planned this life for you. It is okay. There is beauty just up around the corner. I'm here if you do fall, to help you back up. Let's keep going together."  If we quit our walk with God then we will miss out on the beauty He has planned for us.
And  know that as I walk this christian walk, I will continue to have rocky roads. Yes some days are great. I see answered prayers, I see the beauty of nature that only my God could have created. I am so thankful for all that has been provided for us. For a great job with beautiful women who care for our community, for my awesome partner in life. I could go on and on.( the posts you see on facebook:)
Then there are times of sadness, of heartache where the road just seems to be getting too rocky. ( the ones we often don''t talk about)Today is one of those days. So...back to the song. I want to be able to sing it out. To say that I am not longer a slave to fear, but honestly I am afraid. My heart is hurting and so want God to just come in and make things all better. I have to just keep praying, believing God is bigger than any of my fears. He can handle my loved one. ( I just know my loved one is stubborn!!)
So I will think and listen to the words of the song:
You unravel me, with a melody
You surround me with a song
Of deliverance, from my enemies 
Till all my fears are gone

I’m no longer a slave to fear 
I am a child of God

From my Mother's womb 
You have chosen me
Love has called my name 
I’ve been born again, into your family
Your blood flows through my veins

I am surrounded by the arms of the Father
I am surrounded by songs of deliverance
We've been liberated from our bondage
We're the sons and the daughters
Let us our sing our freedom

You split the sea, so I could walk right through it
All my fears were drowned in perfect love 
You rescued me, so I could stand and sing 
I am child of God

https://youtu.be/f8TkUMJtK5khttps://youtu.be/f8TkUMJtK5k


God knows my heart. He knows my concerns for my loved one. He made them too and I believe has chosen them. That is why there is such a fight for their heart. I will keep praying, knowing that God loves the one I love even more than me. i will try to let God's love drown out this awful fear. I will keep going!
Praying that whatever people are going through today, that you know that you have a God who loves you, that He is there through the rocky roads and the smooth ones. We need to remember that we will have sun shiny days in among the rocky darker days, but even more importantly an eternity in heaven with our God.

( Glad I didn't give up the other night.I would have missed this.Beautiful!)