Abide in Me

⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

                                                                   -John 15:4-5


   This year, instead of making a list of resolutions that I won't keep, I decided to choose a word that correlates with a verse to use as my 'word of the year'. Can you guess what it is? Yes, it's 'Abide'! God really laid this concept on my heart last month, as He took me through a cleansing process. He brought me to a place where I saw myself as I am, and showed me that as long as I tried to make myself holy, I would fail, but if I let Him mold me, then I could gain even greater ground. At first it was hard for me to understand how doing nothing could accomplish anything, but then He showed me that I could do something, I could simply abide in Him. So this is my goal this year: to learn to abide in Christ every moment of every day. I have found that listening to an audio bible as I clean my room or do laundry is a very practical way to accomplish this. (here is the one I listen to online) There are a lot of verses that come to life when you hear them compared to simply reading them. Another way that I'm working on, is choosing a verse or quote to meditate on if I have some mental down time, such as while I'm doing laundry or sweeping the floor, and you can't beat prayer as a way to stay close to God. I would love to hear some of your thoughts on this, and if you have any ideas for practically living out the call to abide in Christ I would love for you to share them!

Thank You!!!

   I can't believe it's a new year already! It seems like we were just starting 2011 a couple of weeks ago and now we are in 2012. I would like to take a minute to send out a 'Thank You' to some people who encouraged and impacted my life in 2011. Just as an aside, I will not be able to get everybody on here that I'm thankful for or that I love, but I would like to mention a few that don't get thanked enough.



My Mom- I would like to thank her mostly because she thinks that I'm ungrateful... kidding!!! Actually she is one of the best moms in the whole world. She knows when to be a friend and when to be a parent. She struggles against Fibromyalgia everyday to take care of us, and others, even when no one else knows. She loves and serves my dad unconditionally and is a wonderful example of how I should one day love and serve my husband. She is not perfect, but she works to overcome her imperfections and I believe that is one of the best legacy's any mother could leave her children. So thank you Mommy for just being you!

My Dad- My dad is the smartest person I know! He can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about politics, economics, church doctrine, end time prophecies, history, math, computers, English... (I think you get the point) and if he doesn't know he finds out. He puts up with three girls and is not above sitting down to watch Pride and Prejudice or Anne of Green Gables with us. And lest you think that takes man point away from him, I should probably tell you that he can also fix just about anything, and often drags, I mean brings, us along to teach us something of the handyman persuasion. (How to build a fence has been the most recent lesson) He supports me in my ventures, even if he doesn't always understand or agree, and he consistently encourages me to delve deeper into my interests. Thank you Daddy for always standing behind me and encouraging me in everything I do.

Lauren- For being my best friend! You and I don't always get along, but we are always able to put our differences behind us and have lots of fun. Thank you for not being afraid to point out where I'm wrong (no this does not mean that you can do it any more than you already do) and for giving me someone to boss around. Last of all, thank you for your humble (most of the time) spirit, and your ability to apologize to others, it has truly challenged me!

Mrs. Cyndi Warren- Thank you so much for blending spiritual encouragement with writing advice. Every email from you blessed and inspired me more than you can know. You truly have the gift of kindness and encouragement!

Mrs. Bonnie- For getting me to the writers conference in the first place and for making me feel welcome. It is where I recieved so much inspiration and I believe that God has used it in a wonderful way.

Jenna DeWitt- For being a nice editor! lol And for keeping such a good attitude while dealing with my inexperience.

Allie Lloyd- Thank you for the deep discussions and letting me know that I was not the only one struggling with different things. Thank you also for being a wonderful sounding board, for me to bounce all of my scattered writing ideas off of, and for getting just as excited about them as me!

One last thank you to my family. You are all more precious to me than any other thing in this world (the fact that I love Jesus the most is a given) and I will always treasure the time I spend with you. Love you all!

The Tuesday Before Christmas

                         I know, I know, I said that I wouldn't post anything this month, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share with you this wonderful Christmas poem from my very talented cousin. So really, if you think about it it's not my post at all! :) Hope you enjoy (even if it is a little late)!             

                                         The Tuesday Before Christmas
                                                               
                                                         by Allie Lloyd

‘Twas the Tuesday before Christmas,

And all was abuzz

The people weren’t ready—

In fact, no one was!

There were presents to wrap

 And stockings to hang,

Plus cookies to ice

Before the church bells rang!

But no one was more behind

It seemed

Than the old man himself—

It was worse than he’d dreamed.

“They’ve all forgotten,”

He said to himself.

“They think it’s all about

The toys on the shelf.”

“And why not?” he asked.

“I’ve been bad as they.

Pretending to ride

In some old-fangled sleigh.”

“The true reason has been buried—

Long ago forgotten.

Is there anything to be done

To keep Christmas from being rotten?”

“Of course there is,”

Said a voice from the hall.

“Don’t you remember why we’re here?

Why there’s a Christmas at all?”

“That’s the problem,”

Said the man to his wife.

“It’s all about presents now,

Not the true gift of Life.”

“That was to be

My job, you see.

To make sure they remembered—

And remembered with glee.”

“It started in Israel,

The place of His birth.

There were no pine trees then,

No cookies, no hearth.”

“I stood on street corners,

Telling the great news

That little town of Bethlehem—

Back then there was no ruse.”

“I gave presents to the poor,

As all are supposed to do,

And by and by

I gave to the rich, too.”

“This was my pattern,

I was being a Light.

Until I got scared

And started giving at night.”

“And that’s where I am now.

I have quite an operation.

The myth of Santa Claus

Has spread to almost every nation.”

“But as what cost?”

Cried he.

“No one remembers.

No one but me.”

“That’s not true.”

His wife hurried to add.

“There are plenty who remember,

And plenty who are glad.”

“If we all join our voices,

Together, it’s true,

There’s no telling—no telling

What our voices can do!”

“By jolly you’re right!

That’s just what I needed!”

And he hurried away,

His path not impeded.

Next Tuesday morning

Dawned happy and bright

Kids ran to the tree

After a restless night.

And under the tree

They found presents galore.

It was everything they had wanted—

Plus many more!

As they grabbed their gifts

Brought by good ol’ Saint Nick,

A note caught their eye—

They read it right quick.

“Dear child,” it read.

“I know you haven’t been good.

But you’re getting presents anyway.

Do you really think you should?”

“On this Christmas day

Two thousand years ago

God’s Son came to Earth

‘And lo

The angel of the Lord came upon them,

And the glory of the Lord shone round about them,

And they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not:

For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,

Which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David

A Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel

A multitude of heavenly hosts praising God, and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill to men.”’

[Luke 2:9-14]

We didn’t deserve

This most wondrous gift.

It was given to solve

The most awful rift

Between man and God

(Because of our naughtiness.)

This is the true reason

For this most joyous of seasons.

So as you open your presents

This Christmas morn

Just remember—

A Savior has been born!”

Media Minimization Challenge

   Over the last couple of weeks, God has been convicting me about my media usage, specifically the computer. And for most of that time I have been justifying it by comparing my time online to others time on other types. Until I saw these videos, and I felt God telling me it was time to get over myself and seek Him. So, I'm going to take the challenge this month, and you are my accountability partner! I knew if I posted what I was doing here, then I would have to do it, so make sure I do. And, what would be extra awesome, would be if you would do it with me! I will post the rules below so you know whats going on, and then pray about joining it with me.


Rules: 
- only 15 minutes a day of email time
- only 5 minutes a day of  emergency internet time ( i.e. looking up directions, paying bills, placing an order)
- NO internet at all on Sunday's
- at least 15 minutes a day of  time with God

And because blogs do not count as emergency time, I will not be updating this month. I will however receive comments in my inbox so feel free to comment if you are doing this and we can pray for each other!

Vision Forum

   Two posts in one day, I'm a real blogger now! No, actually, since I kinda bashed media in my last post, I wanted to share with you all some media that has actually encouraged my walk with God and has helped me to redeem my time here, as I am also entertained. My mom and I found Vision Forum a few months ago through a blog and we have made several purchases that we are very pleased with. They have a HUGE array of Christian books, toys, homeschool curriculum, and movies. Some of our favorite products in the movie department are: The Runner from Ravenshead (Lacey's all-time favorite!) and The Widows Might. These are two wonderful family movies that have great christian values as well as super cute story lines. So, hop on over, and before I forget, they are having a ginormous sale so you had better hop quickly! Happy shopping!


P.S. They are also having a great giveaway for gift certificates worth $100, $200 and $300!!! so run over to A Wise Woman Builds Her Home  to get your name in!

Eternity Perspective

¹⁷ For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 
                                                                     2 Corinthians 4:17-18

    I wonder how often we see our daily lives as eternal, as vessels to impact eternity, as Paul does in these verses. Knowing the American way of life as I do I would venture to guess that few of us do. I know that I don't. I get caught up in myself, and what I want to do -whether that be watching television, reading a book, or just sitting around- and totally miss out on the fact that God has a plan for this moment of my life! So, often we quote Jeremiah 29:11 and use it to soothe our worries for the future, without realizing that it also applies to us now. It applies not just in a passive way either, this thought that God has a plan should spur us to action now!
    Step back with me for a moment and lets take a look at our lives. I once read that the average person spends approximately 4.5 hours a day on the computer and television. (This does not include texting, or videogames which can cause some people to easily rack up 10, 12, and ever 16 hours using some sort of media!) Now if Mr. Average keeps up the 4.5 hours a day thing, he will have, by the time he dies at 75*, have spent 14+** years on the computer and television!
   Oh, my friends, life is so short already, how can we justify squandering the time that we do have in such a manner? This time is not given to us, that we might spend it for ourselves, but that we might spend in the service of Him who gave it to us. We have not been placed here haphazardly, nor has our allotted time been given us randomly. We have been placed in our families, in our churches, and in our generations, that we might impact certain people. The time that we have is to be used as a tool to further this end, please, let's don't squander it on the temporal things of this world. I don't know about you, but it would absolutely break my heart if on judgement day, Christ asked me what I did with the time He had given me, and all I had to give Him was dust, when He deserves all that I am. We only get this one chance, this one gift of time to work for Christ, may we spend it with eternity in mind.



* This, of course, is assuming that you began seriously surfing the web at 2 months. (hehe)
** This is according to my very faulty math skills, and it does not take into account the other forms of media that are popular today (i.e. texting, videogames, etc...)

Dead Prayers

   There are no possibilities, no necessity, for prayerless praying; a heartless performance, a senseless routine, a dead habit, a hasty, careless performance - it justifies nothing. Prayerless praying has no life, gives no life; is dead, breathes out death. Not a battle-axe, but a child's toy, for play, not for service. Prayerless praying does not come up to the importance and aims of a recreation. Prayerless praying is only a weight, an impediment in the hour of struggle, of intense conflict, a call to retreat in the moment of battle and victory...
   The process of hindering prayer by crowding [it] out is simple and goes by advancing stages. First, prayer is hurried through. Unrest and agitation, fatal to all devout exercises, come in. Then the time is shortened, [and] relish for the exercise palls. Then it is crowded into a corner and depends on the fragments of time for its exercise. Its value depreciates. The duty has lost its importance. It no longer commands respect nor brings benefit. It has fallen out of estimate, out of heart, out of the habits, out of the life. We cease to pray, and cease to live spiritually.

                                            - E.M.Bounds in Purpose in Prayer