Prettly little ducks. . .

I admit it, I love Duck Dynasty. I'm not however so crazy about the food they eat sometimes, I think I can live without ever having a squirrel pass my lips. Although, I'm sure Miss Kay is  a fabulous cook.  I do wonder how those Robertson women do it? They all have to be pretty smart and savvy to keep up with those interesting men and their antics. I was excited to see that one lady Robertson in particular has started her own clothing line.  Now, I'm a girl who loves pretty fashion. Can't wait to add one of Missy Robertson's designs to my wardrobe. 


http://www.southernfashionhouse.com/

Love-gift- The Power in Identity

Girls, I'm not afraid to say that I'm a week or so behind in reporting my love-gifts. Such is the life of a full-time working wife and mother. I will not beat myself up about it. I think this year I have come to the realization that I can't do it all or be all I need to be at all times. I'm at peace about. God still loves me no matter how much I accomplish or not accomplish in one day.  His grace is truly sufficient for me. 

The love-gifts continue to swirl about me every day in this new year. At times I am acutely aware of their presence and at other times I almost miss that something special hovers about me. My love-gift this week came in a simple white envelope.  A very special document arrived in the mail.  I'm still in awe at how one little piece of paper can bring me to tears. 

Gary and I have been so incredibly blessed to have adopted our son Andrew.  After you've waited for a child as long as we had, it's the little things that seem to spark deep emotion in me as a mother.  A birth certificate.  Most everyone has one. It's purpose is two fold, to establish the day of your birth and make known who you belong to.  It represents the origin of your identity.  As Christians our origins are clear no matter where we started in life. We have been marked with a seal by the blood of Christ.  If we believe in Him, we are fully His. Our identity begins and ends with the God of the universe. That should make you want to shout! There are no limits to what we can do or accomplish! I can't wait to see all that God has in store for our little miracle. My forever love-gift!

 

 

Ephesians 1:13 (NASB)

¹³ In ^[a]Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also ^[b]believed, you were sealed in ^[c]Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.  . .

Galatians 4:5-7 ESV     
    
To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

love-gift-front row favor

    

It seems the weather forecast these days is rain and more rain.  Or it sure feels that way lately.  One day it’s brutally record high cold and the next day I’m not even sure if I need a coat when I go outside.  So how am I looking for my love-gifts in this up and down weather frenzy? I found one this morning as I was driving into work.  My love-gift for the day—a front row parking place on a rainy Friday morning. Yay!! It made me smile and I was less wet by the time I walked into the door.  I reflected further and thought God’s favor does follow God’s people. Even in the small things, his favor rests upon us. And because His favor rests upon us we can walk in faith knowing that God provides everything we need. He reserves his best just for us!

 

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12

 

 

 

love-gift day one

My love-gift --

My husband Gary serving my son and I dinner. This gave me a few extra moments to sit and relax after a long day at work.  I love these boys!!

Yay! I made it to day one of my love-gift blogging. I pray I continue the trend. LOL. 365 days of this already sounds arduous. I had to stop and think about what love-gift did I receive yesterday. It seems life in general can be so busy but yet so routine. I am quick to forget something small that actually meant a lot to me. This is part of why I wanted to keep up with the big and small blessings I receive on a daily basis. It's a way to remember the good things I have in my life and learn to celebrate them.

Psalm 34:8

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁸ O taste and see that the Lord is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

 

The Love-Gift

"Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift." -Oswald Chambers

 A love-gift. There's something divinely sweet about this that puts a wide smile across my face. I smile because the first image that pops into my mind is my son Andrew. What a blessing! What a gift! He fills my heart with deep love and great joy. If anyone knows my story, my battle with infertility story, you will know that every day I'm reminded that Andrew truly is God's special gift to me. The gift of my son is a gift that is immeasurable and priceless. It's a selfless love-gift that I may never fully understand this side of Heaven. Just as in the gift of God's son Jesus is to all of us, a sacrifice too incredible for us to wrap our minds around. God gave his son so we could have eternal life. It's the gift of all gifts!

So as I begin to examine my life in 2014 and what this new year holds, I have to begin with this question: what am I doing with all the love-gifts God has freely given me? And not only the "big" gifts He gives, but what am I doing with the every day love-gifts I'm given; the small, often seen as insignificant gifts God gives, as well as the love-gifts we give to one another. Girls, I'm talking about simple things like the kind smile we give to a stranger, or a compliment we give to our spouse, or just taking the time to pray with a dear friend. The list is endless if we just take the time to notice all the blessings around us.

As Christians, we are to be known by our love (John 13:35). We are to be known by the fruit we bear (John 15:16). The love-gifts we give away. So I'm issuing a challenge to myself and anyone who wants to join me? In 2014 I want to be purposeful in giving a love-gift every day.  Not only is it important to give away a love-gift, but I want to be conscious of the love-gifts that are given to me, no matter how big or small.  I'm going to make a huge effort to blog about it daily. Which if you noticed my archives of blogging--this will be a challenge in itself.  All this sounds easy enough, right girls?  Let's try this thing together and see what love-gifts are waiting for us in 2014.

 

Don't back UP!

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68-19 I read this now and shake my head in humility. He bears our burdens, even the ones we have yet to stumble upon. Ironically, I read Psalm 68 in my quiet time at lunch yesterday. Somewhere between lunch and leaving work for the day, I stumbled upon stupidity mixed with careless driving and an unpredictable gear shift. I backed into a parked car. Of all things to happen at the end of a long work day, I was mortified. I’m thankful no one was hurt. I can’t say that for the two cars involved. What I do know is that no matter the incident, God was there in the midst of my internal chaos. He was already there waiting for me bearing the burden. As my shaking hand gave my license and registration to the very kind officer, God was there. As I drove away feeling frustrated and beaten down, God was there. And God was already there as I greeted my understanding husband at home, eyes red from tears. Accidents may happen, but whatever burden we face, Jesus Christ died so that we would never walk through life alone. He finds us in the middle of our parking lot mishaps and covers us with his shielding arms of love and strength. Thanks be to my Savior who daily bears my burdens, big and small!

An Act of Evil

Driving to work this Monday morning, my mind began to drift towards the families of the lost children in Newtown, CT. An act of evil, so unthinkable, that one would slaughter innocent children presumably safe in their school classroom. I still can’t wrap my mind around it. I watch a school bus go by and I began to think of what those last moments with the lost children were like. Those last fleeting moments as parents sent their children to school, unknowing of the tragedy to come. As a new parent I know how busy mornings can be. Time is swift and there seems to be barely enough of it to kiss your kid good bye for the day or say I love you. I can imagine how these parents of the fallen will linger over moments lost to a forever memory. Children scrambling to get dressed or brush their teeth and grabbing a quick breakfast before they head quickly out the door. My heart aches. We as a nation are filled with anger and quick to react to make sure this never happens again. There is only one answer. It’s not less or more gun control or more pad locks on school doors. The answer is not hidden in mystery. The answer is simply, Jesus Christ. A close friend tells of how he always prays over his children that the schemes of the enemy be revealed. Friday, in a small town in Connecticut, evil made a horrific visit. The Word of God says the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). I’m reminded how as Christians, we must be vigilant to seek God in our lives, for our families, for our friends, and to seek God for the communities in which we live. And yes, we must allow God back in our schools. It does not mean that evil will not come again. It simply means we are inviting God back in to where we so often have shut him out. My fear amongst this tragedy and I speak for myself as well as our nation is that once the media coverage has moved on to the next big story, the kids have returned to school, the dust has settled and Newtown becomes a fading memory in our hearts, where will God be? Will we seek him for the day to day, we will invite him? We must. Our lives depend on it.