Just Think.....

Here is a message from the co-founder of DaySpring products, Roy Lessin that touched my heart, so I wanted to pass it along to each of you for 2013:

Just Think,
You're here not by chance, but by God's choosing.
His hand formed you and made you the person you are.
He compares you to no one else -- you are one of a kind.
You lack nothing that His grace can't give you.
He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation.......Just think...........

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Absorb........

Absorb the beauty around you.  Look left, then right...look up, then down - soak it in! 
Give your full attention to the dawn of a new day..........to the ending of a peaceful day.........
Beauty is all around us if only we will open our eyes and see. 

Have you noticed how beautiful your child's eyes are lately?  If you are not a parent, what about your pet's eyes or your neighbor's eyes?   They shine with love each moment you give them attention.

Have you noticed how beautiful the full moon is recently?  When was the last time you stopped and gazed at something extraordinary? 

Take the time to slow down and smell those proverbial roses or perhaps a buy a real one for yourself.  Watch its petals unfold......smell the fragrance it exudes........feel the softness of its velvet upon your cheek.  Absorb its exquisite beauty into your soul.

Become engrossed.......become mindful..........watch the snow fall........catch a snowflake!There are nuances of beauty all around you...if only we will look for them, take time to notice them - show them to a friend. 

Give your full attention to noticing beautiful things around you each day, each moment.  Allow beauty to soak into your pores.......your heart.....your soul.

Look up into the night sky and sigh.....the beauty is yours to behold!

Into our Hearts, God comes...

Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy!  Unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and he will be called:  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!!!
(Isaiah 9:6)

Into our hearts, God comes..........

 

The Bethlehem Stable...

Amongst the lowliest, God comes.....

The Bethlehem Angel...

Into Mary's heart, God comes.....

The Bethlehem Star...

Shining Brightly to light our way, God comes.....

The Bethlehem Wise Men...

Amongst the Magnificent, God comes.....

The Bethlehem Babe...

Into our hearts, He comes.

 

(By Pam Spencer, Copyright 1993)

The Stillness of Advent....

The stillness of Advent is upon us.........travel lightly.........walk slowly..........eat slightly..........focus inward..........then..............face upward.

Seek the stillness before the Birth.

Look for the Star..........and follow it.

Stand before the Manger........hear the angel's song!

Allow the Christ Child to fill your heart........

Stand in awe and wonder........

Be amazed by the beauty.....

Let God's stillness blanket you........

Celebrate the Birth of His Son.

(Copyright by Pam Spencer, 2002)

Sense of Wonder....

Sense of Wonder.........do you have one?  Do you have a sense of awe as we enter into this joyous season of Christmas?  What makes you sit back and think "wow?"  What excites you, puzzles you and brings you joy?  Will you allow the marvelous message of peace on earth fill your heart this Christmas?  Will you show your generosity by sharing a warm smile or a cup of coffee with a friend or maybe someone down on his luck?  Will you marvel at the night sky filled with stars on a crisp winter evening?  Will you spread Reindeer food on the lawn so that Santa's sleigh will be sure to stop at your house?
Or, ring a set of jingle bells by your children's room after they are asleep?  Will you listen to, play, or sing Christmas carols and remember the "days of old?"  Do you enjoy watching the snow fall from a warm, cozy spot on your couch?Or, just like to sit by a fire and watch the flames aglow?  Perhaps this year, you will try baking some old family favorite cookies and enjoy the smell as they are baking.....invite some friends over and bake together!  Whatever it is that will bring your heart joy - do it!

I know Christmas can be difficult for some of us..........some of our hearts are heavy this year (or each year) because we have lost someone we love or have to fight yet another battle with our health or a family member or friend's health.  But, even now, there are reasons to rejoice!  Even through the difficulties and tears, there is joy in knowing there is a sense of wonder in the air - if only we will look for it, listen for it and allow it to settle on our shoulders and down into our hearts....this sense of peace is as lovely as snow falling.....

Isaiah 9: 6
"For unto us a Child is born, to us a son is given....and He will be called
Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Sing this Christmas Carol in your heart each day - it is bound to make you feel joyful once again!

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

 

And wonders of His love..........think about that - wow!  We are so blessed to have such a Savior as ours!!!  Invite Him into your heart....allow His peace to fill you.....turn out all the lights and lay by your Christmas tree - look up into the branches covered with lights.....say a little prayer and ask for awe and wonder, surprise and joy and to be astonished with delight each day!  

 

Remember you are a gift to those in your life....go spread a little joy and Christmas cheer.  Cherish this beautiful season - it only comes once a year!

Thanksgiving.......

Thanksgiving.......an act of giving thanks or an expression of gratitude especially to God. Wow!  How many of us gave our gratitude to God this season?  Or, each day?  How about to your family and friends who mean so much to you - did you say "I am glad you are in my life - thank you for being my friend" lately????  If not, now is the perfect time to stop and do so!

Can the Thanksgiving holiday really be over with already this year in 2012????  This year has just flown by, hasn't it?  With all the hustle and bustle of our lives, time seems to go faster and faster as I get older.....and older........LOL

One of my favorite songs at this time of year and all year round says:
"Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks unto the Holy One, give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.  And now, let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich, for what the  Lord has done for us.
Give thanks, give thanks, give thanks."  

Let that sink into your soul for a minute..........are you grateful to have breath this day?   To see the sunshine or clouds today?  To have a roof over your head and food in the pantry?  To have responsibilities to take care of?  To love those around you?
Have you stopped to say thanks to our creator for all the waterfall of blessings He bestows on us each day?  If not, consider doing that today!  There's no better way to start a day than to say, "Thank you!"

Each Thanksgiving I send my family a saying I got in a Hallmark card years ago that says:
"Like an old country road, our Thanksgiving memories bring us to the warm familiar places we love, and the cherished faces waiting there."  

Give thanks for those faces that you got to celebrate this Thanksgiving with - whether in spirit or while being together!  It is a wonderful thing to give thanks!  It opens our hearts to all the love just waiting for us to give and receive!!  I am thankful you took the time to read this.......thank you!

Friends....

Friends.....have you ever thought about what a gift you have in the friends that are in your life?  If not, sit back, make a list of those dear friends, and thank our Creator for that wonderful relationship in your life!  Perhaps, even write them a note of gratitude or call them today and let them know how special they are to you!

Friends are trusted companions along the this journey we call life!  We know them, we trust them, and we share our lives with them.  They are our pals, chums, buddies, comrades, schoolmates, colleagues and confidants.  Treasure them.........enjoy their company and advice!  Allow their gifts to enhance your life and then offer your friendship in return!  We all need people to help us through difficult, tumultuous times in our lives, but what about just sharing the joy we feel because they are in our life as well???

Invite a friend to have coffee, lunch or brunch together!  Form a book club and get together once a month!  Take them a basket of homemade goodies (or store bought, if you don't bake!)  Set a time to take a walk together, go to a movie or watch home at home together!  Have a giggle fest!  Tell them silly riddles or jokes that you told your kids (or you) were little!  Sit down, relax and just enjoy their company!!!

We have so many gifts in the friends around us and many times, we take them for granted or worry that we are all too busy to get together.......maybe your friend needs a little cheering up and hasn't reached out to you in a while - break the pattern and get together!

F = Fun
R = Relax
I = Imagine laughing and giggling together....
E = Embrace - give them a HUG!
N = Nostalgia
S = Serendipity

Most of all ENJOY this wonderful thing called friendship!!!