It's lovely outside don't you agree?!

Okay, so maybe it is a bit cold, but it is crisp and clear and beautiful! Maybe scraping your windows in the early morning isn't so fun or the fact that your seats are cold when you get in, but the weather! Oh the Weather! It is magnificent!

We were off on Sunday and last Wednesday, did you enjoy the time off or did you miss something? Did you attend Sunday school or tried but went to church as a Family because we didn't have Sunday school? My hope is that you find sitting in service with your children rewarding. Training begins in the pew and goes into the home and everything you do.

It seems that when we became parents that there was an awful lot of responsibility that came with it. You have a lack of sleep, diapers to change/smell, bottles or nursing every two hours, and caring for your spouse or other children! Whew, it's enough to make you tired just thinking or remembering that!

This little child you held, so helpless and so new soon grew. As a little creeper, you never thought you would have to say no, or maybe you dreaded the day you would have to stop them from hurting themselves or others. When they began to toddle around, you hoped they wouldn't fall too hard and bruise themselves or they wouldn't topple into something else. You watched with the love that beats so hard and tried hard not to cry as they began their first step of Independence, but with that Independence came disobedience in the littlest of things. You knew you had to curb it then or it would grow and fester into bigger things.

That's the way God is with us. He desires us to know and grow in him. He desires us to learn as we toddle through this faith journey, as we grow, we know more, and can become very obedient to Him. When we have fallen and hurt ourselves or others, we hurt God as well. His heart beats for us as ours does with our own children. He loves it when we do what we are suppose to do and gives us great things when we are obedient. He cries for us when we have messed up. He yearns to have us back in His arms and in his loving care.

As we move into the Christ-mas season, what is the gift we can give to Jesus this year? He doesn't need money, although He would love it if you gave out of the abundance of your heart to a place or person in great need. He doesn't need clothes, although, there are organizations that could use them. He needs and wants YOU for Christ-mas. He wants all of you, your heart, mind, soul and strength for His Christ-mas present. What can I give Him, poor as I am, what can I give Him? I can give Him all of me!

Awana meets Wednesday for Soap and Shampoo Night! This will go to the Lutheran Ladies who will take it to the Food Pantry. Last year, the pantry was truly blessed by all that was given!

Sunday school meets on Sunday as we study Mary Did you know?

I remember having 3 babies in 3.5 years and being a single parent! My sons were 3 and 2 when my daughter was born. My oldest was a handful and my second was multi-handicapped and lots of appointments. My daughter was born and quit breathing many times. My youngest son was in the hospital the same time my daughter was born, she stayed for an extra five days to see if we could stablize her breathing. Like I said, I was single at that time. I had become a Christian when I was 6 weeks pregnant, so I was learning that God provided and He met my every need. I remember the discipline of my oldest from the time he was about 1 on. He was hard-headed, defiant and a goofball! He was a tough one.

I remember when my oldest was about 6. I was sleeping until 7 a.m. afterall it was a Saturday morning, he was up and had gotten the other two out of their cribs, was "making breakfast" and thought he would surprise me.

Oh He did! I woke up to find the house in smoke, the frying pan on the counter with a large burn spot under it! and his brother with broken glass on and in his feet and my oldest trying to handle it. My daugther was about 2 year old and crying. What a mess! I wasn't sure what to do first! I picked the glass out, turned the oven off, wiped the tears, and then talked to my oldest. "But mom, I wanted to surprise you!" How can you be upset with that statement? I sent him next door to get the babysitter's mom (She was a nurse) to help fix the cut feet). You see, because my youngest son had many issues, my oldest helped take care of his needs. He was just doing what he could to help. He desired to please me and show me he was old enough!

I believe we try to do that with God too. Instead of waiting on God, we try to do the stuff ourselves, we try to takeover and help, but it isn't always the kind of help He needs from us. We need to learn the patience that it requires to watch Him care for us. He has a hard time watching us grow in that too, he is gentle but firm, loving yet harsh at times when we have taken it on ourselves. When is the last time you gave everything to the Lord and didn't take it back to work on yourself?

Until next week, may your days be blessed by the power of God in your daily walk. May the healing power of Jesus, heal your every need! May His love be wrapped around you like a warm fuzzy blanket and may you know and show the love of Jesus to all. Healing comes from your faith that God can do what He says He can do!