Always wanted to do this...

Candles... love'um. The smell. The little flickery light.

For years I've been saying that I'd like to take the wax

that's left over in a candle, melt it down & make a new

candle out of it.

Last week I did just that!  

(Can you see me smiling with satisfaction?  hee hee)

It's sorta.. in a strange kinda way... like JESUS!

He's takes our burnt out, used up efforts.
He melts us down (humility hurts).
Then He reshapes us.
Adds color & new life.
Pours in His beautiful fragrance and gives us
the ability to be pleasing to God!

And... although the outer "container" remains
pretty much the same, the inner change makes
the outside glow with His beautiful light!

(Just like this little snowman candle that Courtney
made in Kindergarten... it has new life...)

The Best Seats

Serving

UGH! I keep hearing/reading that word.

Don't I already serve you, Lord?
Don't I already serve those around me?
Don't I usually take the back seat?

But..
When I'm serving, my heart is the happiest...
if I'm doing it out of true love for Jesus, that is.

Yet, honestly... it feels like I miss things sometimes.

John 2 proves otherwise.
Jesus performed His first miracle at the wedding.
The big shots at the wedding didn't have a clue
what was going on behind the scene....
 ONLY the servants knew about it.

Miracles. The Power of JESUS at work.
I wanna see that!!!!

Of course... Serving is worth it.
It's where JESUS is!
I'll keep serving... I wanna be with Him!

Menu Plan Monday, Dec. 20, 2010

MONDAY
Lunch- Potato Broccoli Soup
Dinner- Lasagna (w/hidden veggies inside)

TUESDAY
Lunch- Homemade Mac & Cheese
Dinner- Chili & Mashed Potatoes, Gr. Peppers & dip
 (make extra for Thursday night)

WEDNESDAY
Lunch- Soup (left over from Monday)
Dinner- White Chickn Pasta in Crockpot

THURSDAY
Lunch- Meaty Nachos
Dinner- Chill-ehtti (chili over spaghetti noodles)

FRIDAY, Christmas Eve!
Lunch- Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
Dinner- TBA

SATURDAY, Merry Christmas!!
Lunch- Strata (and all the candy we'll get in our stockings!  hee hee)
Dinner- Beef Wellington, White Pasta, Cranberry Jello, Candied Carrots

SUNDAY
Lunch- Chicken Gumbo, Rice
Dinner- TBA

---------------------------------
Since my Mom will be with us over the holiday I'm planning
menus ahead of time!
---------------------------------

MONDAY
Lunch- Scrambled Eggs, Toast, Homemade applesauce
Dinner- Little Mamas, Rice

TUESDAY
Lunch- Chicken Tortilla Soup
Dinner- Homemade Pizza Roll ups

WEDNESDAY
Lunch- Waffles, Bacon
Dinner- Ranch Chicken Casserole

THURSDAY
Lunch- Lunch Meat Roll-ups
Dinner- Warm Chicken Sandwiches, Buns, Carrots, Celery


For more ideas check out Orgjunkie.com

The Right Order

(Cute Shepherds)

Angels told them the Great message...

and then sang...the first Christmas Carols!

Then Shepherds go, "Hey, The Lord just told us

something great. We can't sit around. 

We've GOT to go see this baby!"

They sought Him out... and found Jesus.

THEN... they rejoiced & spread the news all around.

And people were amazed at their words.

-------

Don't try to tell people about Jesus & expect them to

be amazed at the Story if you haven't

first spent time seeking Him out, seeing Him, Face-to-Face..

being with your Savior & Lord.

Only when we've been with Him first will other people

take note of our words (and our life).

Have you spent time with Jesus today?

What did you do?

Where was it?

What did He say to you today?

Twelve Days... Kid Style

Twelve day of Christmas usually makes me think
of a bunch of weird stuff and a strange bird in a tree.


This year our church was inspired to put together
a list of 12 things to bless others & share the
Love of JESUS!   You can view our list here and 
click on the bottom left "What's New."


But... My kids & are NOT gunna do that list.
Instead, we are doing our own version of the list.
We don't get out much... so we're having to be 
creative.  What things are you doing this Christmas
to be purposeful about sharing the LOVE of JESUS?


_________________________________________________
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS

Day 1 – Write a note or draw a picture for your Kids Pastor/Director

Day 2 – Help select a gift for “Joy to the D” (see day 12)

Day 3 – Select 3 toys ( in nice condition) to give to a shelter

Day 4 – Make a thank you card for the mail carrier & attach it where it’ll be seen

Day 5 – Let your brother and/or sister go first or get the bigger piece

Day 6- Draw or  list 3 things you love about your Grandparents & then

            Mail it to them

Day 7- Make a treat for your neighbor & deliver it

Day 8 – Do a chore that isn’t assigned to you

Day 9 -  Take a short walk on your street & pick up garbage

Day 10- Perpare a food gift for a homeless person you see regularly

Day 11- Call a friend & invite him/her to church

Day 12- JOY to the D (an outreach to the children/parents of Detroit)

Menu Plan Monday, Dec. 6, 2010

MONDAY
Lunch- Scrambled Eggs
Dinner- Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

TUESDAY
Lunch- tba
Dinner- Dorito Casserole

WEDNESDAY
Lunch- Lunch Meat Roll-ups, apples
Dinner- Chicken Tortilla Soup

THURSDAY
Lunch- Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
Dinner- Gumbo in Crockpot

FRIDAY
Lunch- Potato Broccoli Soup
Dinner- Pizza Rolls

SATURDAY
Lunch- Eggs & Toast
Dinner- Lasagna, Broccoli

SUNDAY
Lunch- Ham w/Crockpot Br. Rice, Gr. Beans
Dinner- Cheesy Roll-ups

Not Expected

Last night some sweet young ladies from our church came
over to help me decorate our house for Christmas.
This has been a tradition since the start of my "grown-up" life...
an all-girl night of putting up the tree, eating cookies, laughing, etc..

They were all nothing but adorable, helpful & sweet.

But I felt poopy.
But I wasn't sick.
Truthfully, I was completely disappointed in myself.

-My kids were arguing with each other & acting like people I didn't know.
What kind of a mom am I anyway?

- My gorgeous historic house deserved beautiful holiday decor...
and I don't have much... and I'm lacking the skills to do anything with
it even if I did have more.
What kind of homemaker am I anyway?

- The lights were hung uneven, so the top of the tree is dark-ish.
It looks kinda silly. Who strung those lights?  Oh... me... sigh
 Apparently I can't even do the simplest tasks of decorating.


- etc....etc...

This morning in prayer I pathetically told Jesus how I felt
bummed out... for no reason.

Oh, there's a reason!


Really, Lord? What?

Expectations.


Huh? Oh... yeah. You're right. (Like Jesus needs me to tell Him, that! ha)


Sadly enough, I'd let my "ideas of what it SHOULD be" cloud my
gratefulness and it robbed me of the joy of the actual moment.

Expectations keep us thinking about self... ick.

Forgive me, Jesus, for thinking about myself and what I think
things should be. 
That's so NOT like You. 
It's NOT the joy of CHRISTMAS.
I refuse to think of myself.
JESUS!!!!!