On to the next place!

There is something exciting about turning the pages of a calendar.  It's wonderful to see a fresh open slate.  But I love what Josh said today at church; that a new year is not about starting over,  it's about starting whats next.  As I begin to look into the new year, there's a bit of grieving that takes place.  Realizing that I wasn't able to finish things I started.  Didn't accomplish much of anything really.  Had many failed attempts at trying to be better.  Stopped and started a few times to write but never felt a surge of energy or any real insight.  But whatever that all means, I'm ready to turn the pages of my calendar.  Looking forward to the next year.  Allowing God to take me to the next place He has for me.  The journey of brokenness and blessing continues.  Finding God faithful even when it seemed he was silent.  Being ok as I let go of some things and hanging on to other things.  Asking God to continue to remind me to have a grateful heart.  Remember to be thankful for the blessings of 2013.

Father God, I pray that you will be glorified in our lives this year.  I pray for new direction in 2014.  Grow us in compassion and knowledge of you.  Show us a deeper conviction and strengthen our desires to serve where you place us.  Show us Lord your next place.

Ezekiel 11:19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God

34: 25 -“‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety. 26 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing.[a] I will send down showers in season;there will be showers of blessing. 27 The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.

Choose joy and magnify the Lord !

Christmas this year, has been a time of great joy for me.   I know it seems that joy often eludes us this time of year.  With all the hustle and bustle, it's easy to forget about the gift.   This gift is amazing.  I don't want to miss the blessings of a joyful heart.  When I allow myself the time to reflect and lean into a joyful heart, I sense God at work.  I'm thankful for the moments of reflection.  I was reading in Luke 1 this morning and I just fell in love with the words that Mary speaks....My soul magnifies the Lord.  How I desire a heart that magnifies the Lord.

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
 and my spirit rejoices in Christ my Savior.
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

I love Mary's words, My soul magnifies the Lord.  I cannot imagine how Mary must have felt when she realized she was chosen to carry the Christ child.   What beautiful words she prayed back to her Father.  The word magnify means - "to speak or act for the glory or honor (of someone or something )  In the greek - it says to esteem highly, to extol, laud and celebrate. to get glory and praise. 

Let our hearts magnify the Lord this Christmas season.  Teach me Lord how to magnify your name as I celebrate your birthday.  

Some of my Norwegian favorites!  

Brooklyn's love song !

When I was young, probably around 10 years old or so, I remember my Mom memorizing 1 Corinthians 13.   I remember her walking around the house repeating the words over and over.  I think, as far as I can remember she finally did memorize it.  I don't remember how long it took, but she accomplished it.   She never made a fuss about it or complained how hard it was to memorize.  She was determined to do it.  This past week in my Bible Study, we studied 1 Corinthians 13.  As I was reading, my first mind picture was of my Mom, memorizing this chapter.   It prompted a desire in me to memorize it as well.   I'm not sure how long it will take, but I'm going to commit to it during this Christmas season.  

God's love humbled me as I studied this chapter.   I have had many moments where God reminded me through unique and precious ways of His love.   I love how He uses my beautiful grand babies to teach me about love.  It's often through them that I learn lessons.
They greet me and shout "AMA."   They say it with  joy.  What says love better than that!   Our sweet Brooklyn (Beeba), she says love so beautifully through her smile and the sweetest songs you have ever heard.   Brooklyn can sing an amazing amount of songs.  She loves to stand on the table and sings loud and with the biggest smile on her face.  Brooklyn just loves to sing!  One of her favorites is ~ 

"Oh the Lords been good to me 

and so I thank the Lord

 for giving me the things I need, 

the sun and the rain and the apple seed, 

the Lords been good to me. 

 Amen Amen Amen Amen, Amen 

Aaaaaamen." 

 I'm touched by those words when they're sung by this precious little girl.   She may not understand the words of that song, but I understand them and those words create a precious reminder of His love and goodness.  I'm always amazed how God uses her life to pour love into my own.  Our hearts were broken 4 years ago when she and her brother Jayden were diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome.  But now He uses their story and their lives to pour His powerful love back into mine and to many others.   I can't understand it, nor will I ever, probably.  But God teaches me, changes me and moves me through their lives.  I'm so glad that God doesn't give up on us, but continues to provide and offer us His love in such unique ways.  Those blessings are new every day.   I'm glad He reminds us.   Chapter 13 says that no matter what I say or how I speak, without love I am a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have gifts of knowledge and faith, but have not love, I am nothing.  It doesn't matter what I do or how much I give away, without love I gain nothing.   I'm so blessed that a little girl whom God brought into my life, reminds me of the amazing love of God.  I'm blessed to have had a mom who loved me enough to share His word and love of memorizing.   Its His way to remind me of the greatest gift of all.  And now these three remain:  faith hope and love.   But the greatest of these is love.  His love never fails.  Thank you Jesus for reminding me!  Now lets give it away!  

          

1 Corinthians 13

New International Version (NIV)

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.