Year in Review

The year is almost over...can you believe it?!

I'm linking up with Silver Lining for my year in review

What a busy year 2011 was. I could share lots, but that would be boring I'm going to stick with three major events in my life that occurred this past year. 

#1

My prince became a youth pastor, and we started attending a new church

My prince and I were only engaged at this time, but I felt God was calling me to join him in His ministry. This was a very hard, scary, but exciting move for both of us. I am so thankful that God knows best. His plans are ALWAYS perfect. 

Actually, our FIRST EVER event with my prince as the youth pastor was the New Years Eve all nighter! 

It has been an amazing year, and we love all of our youth!! 

# 2

We bought our first house

We found the cute little townhouse our first time looking...and fell in love. I remember sitting in the empty kitchen praying for this house, and for God's timing.

We bought the house at the end of May. My prince moved in, and we began the renovations :)

We painted almost every wall in the house!

Of course you eat chocolate while painting...I opened a dove, and it told me "You are exactly where you are supposed to be." 

It became our house in July, and I love to call it home

# 3

I married my prince charming

Definitely the best day this year :)

Looking back over 2011, the overriding theme is that God is faithful. I did not always understand or like what I saw or felt...but I am so glad that God sees the bigger picture. He knows the plans He has for me, and His plans are always the best! 

Happy New Year! 

God's power

"The kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God's power."

1 Corinthians 4:20

Many people believe in God. In fact, many people talk "fancy talk" about God in their lives. BUT, the question is not only do you believe. The question is are you living by God's power?

While thinking about this I was reminded of Matthew 5...otherwise known as the Beatitudes.

Jesus begins each line with "Blessed are..." 

(Check it out)

I was struck by the verse that talked about the kingdom of heaven as it relates to the verse above.

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

      for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

The verse in 1 Corinthians says that the kingdom of God is Living by God's power.

I don't know about you, but I would much rather live by God's power than by my own (there's really NO comparison)...In order for this to happen, we need to grasp the kingdom of God/heaven. 


The verse in Matthew says that the kingdom of heaven is given to those who are poor in spirit and realize their need for him (God). 

Ask yourself these questions...

• Do you realize your need for God?
• Do you live your life knowing that every breath you take is only possible because of God's grace.
• Do you know the difference between what we deserve from God, and what we receive from God? 

Do you answer yes to these questions, but live like it doesn't matter?

OR are you living each day by God's power?

"What do you have that God hasn't given you?" 1 Cor. 4:7

festivities

I had a great weekend!

It was my first Christmas as a wife, and I loved every minute of it :)

Christmas Eve we were with my prince's family! 

Christmas morning by our tree :)

Christmas day was with my family!

Monday we went to an ugly sweater party to end the fun festivities! 

cute, yah? ;)

How was your Christmas??

The shepherds

This week I have been thinking about the shepherds on the night of Jesus' birth.

"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them...

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
      and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”


(from Luke 2)


Do you think the shepherds ever looked at the sky the same? The "radiance of the Lord's glory" was shown to them while they were simply watching their sheep in the fields... an ordinary routine.


Yet God showed up in their ordinary, and made them a part of the extraordinary! 


I drive 40 minutes to work every morning. Sometimes this drive (sitting in traffic) can seem mundane...annoying...or just simply ordinary. 
However, this week God spoke to me in a new way. 


This is what He told me:


Look for the extraordinary in ordinary things

These were taken on different days this week!!

On these mornings, God reminded me of His promises.

I love you

I am with you

I am thinking of you

You are my treasure

I have great plans for you...today

My mercies are new every morning

Now (maybe a little like the shepherds), I cannot look at the sky, and not think of God. He has shown me His glory, His beauty, His love. 

 "The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Psalm 19:1

Don't let all the distractions of Christmas steal from the extraordinary beauty of God's glory! How is He speaking to you today? Don't miss it. 

Jamie Grace - You Lead

Happy Thursday! 

I want to share a song with you by Jamie Grace

Today, ask yourself:

Have I surrendered to God? Not only in a big picture way, but in the little things. Do I make decisions in my life based on God's leading, or on my own wants? Do I let God lead me? Do I follow Him?  

 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
      do not depend on your own understanding.
 Seek his will in all you do,
      and he will show you which path to take."

Proverbs 3:5-6

inadequate?

Do you ever feel inadequate, unimportant, or overlooked? 

Have you ever felt too small, too weak, or too insignificant? 

Recently, this has been me...but today I was reminded of a great truth.

"God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important." 

1 Corinthians 27-28

The Christmas story is all about God using inadequate, unimportant, and overlooked things. 

Think about it

Mary was a young teenager

Joseph was a plain carpenter

Jesus was a helpless baby

...born in a dark, dirty stable

God could have brought Jesus into the world in any way He wanted, but He CHOSE to do it in this way. 

God can use any person He wants to do great things, but He CHOOSES to use the inadequate, unimportant, and overlooked people who depend on Him!

(don't believe me? ...read the bible :)) 

So do you ever feel inadequate, unimportant, and overlooked?

Maybe today God is saying to you,

 When you are weak, then I am strong. Through you I can show the world my power, and my mercy. Others may not understand, they may reject you like they did my son...but keep your eyes on me. I see you. I love you. You are important to me.

Choir, Christmas, and Cribbage

It's the week of Christmas! Wow!

 I must say that it doesn't quite feel like Christmas with no snow...but I'm still dreaming of a white Christmas :) You never know what will happen with Minnesota weather! 

Any who, I had a great weekend! 

Friday,

my prince and I went to a high school choir concert of a girl in our youth group. It brought me down memory lane (I was in choir in high school :)) 

Then we went out to a Mexican restaurant...yum! 

Saturday,

we celebrated Christmas with some of my prince's side of the family!

LOVE him.

My prince had wrapping paper with his name on it!

We got a beautiful handmade cross!

The dice game!

My prize from the game...I mostly liked the basket :)

Sunday,

while my prince was at the Vikings game, I had some girl-time with a friend! 

Lunch and a movie.

We saw the movie "New Years Eve" ...it was cute! 

We then went to Dunn Bros and played Cribbage...yes Cribbage. However, the pegs were missing so we had to improvise (earings) :D 

How was your weekend?

Do you have a busy week ahead? I sure do! 

Tomorrow night I am having my small group of 8th and 9th grade girls over. 

Tuesday night is my nieces birthday party.

Wednesday night is youth group, and a staff party.

Thursday night is ice skating.

...and then it is the weekend of CHRISTmas! 

This week, remember this:

"There is never a time when Jesus isn't right there. He always has the time, a listening ear, and a gentle word." 

Playing House

Last night my prince and I watched our cutie pie nieces.

We decided to make our own versions of Gingerbread houses :)

After this we watched a movie, danced to some music, played house, and then fell asleep.

such fun being an aunt!

It's the weekend! 

Tomorrow we are celebrating Christmas with my prince's mom's side...I'm going to make cheesy potatoes! They just remind me of Christmas :) 

What food reminds you of Christmas?? 

WILW

I'm linking up with Jamie for WILW! 

I'm Loving...

This tea from Caribou. It's way yummy and flavorful and requires no added sugar! You should try it :) 

I'm Loving...

My new journal! 

It just makes me want to write in it :) 

Journaling (not an actual word?) is a habit I get in and out of...but I love it when I do it! 

It's SO good to be able to look back and see how God works in your life, and journaling is one way to do that (along with blogging ;)) 

I'm Loving...

This tutorial found on the one and only Pinterest! Holla! 

What are YOU loving?