GOODBYE, 2011, HELLO, 2012!

Ah, so we've come to the end of yet another year! What has your year been like? Did you accomplish anything that you set out to do? Did things happen to change you or your life's path? Can you look back and count all of the blessings that God has bestowed on you this past year?
My year was pretty eventful and full of changes. It started with my surgery in January-a hysterectomy for health reasons. The Lord brought me through wonderfully, although I still struggle now and then with the emotional sadness of the finality of such a surgery.
There have been struggles and trials through the church, but the Lord has seen us through, and I have grown spiritually because of these. I have learned to lean more on the Lord, and not my own understanding.
Hurrican Irene hit us in September with quite a punch. How blessed we were that God took care of us and kept us safe!
The original "First Lady" of our church, our previous pastor's wife, passed away this month. I know that she is now at peace and is in heaven.
When we look back at the past year, we can see how God has blessed us in so many ways. We see all that He has done for us.
 Now, look back again.What have you and I done for HIM? Did we do all that we could? Were we the best witnesses that we could be, telling others about Christ and His saving grace? How about that ministry in the church that you know He is calling you to do, but you keep putting it off with excuses (fingers pointing back at me, too!)? Hmmm.....
Just about everybody makes "New Year's Resolutions". I actually call them goals. This year, I want to definitely work on being more consistent with my personal and our family devotional times and witness more for the Lord. I also want to be more "natural" this year-I am going to try my hand at making my own soaps and lotions (in my "spare" time, ha!) and make more of our snacks that I put into the boys' lunch boxes and for our family snack times. The Lord has been dealing with me for sometime about starting a group for the young girls in our church. Even among the children of our church members, modesty, home skills, etc are quite lacking.
If we are serious, let's start praying that God will use us in a tremendous way to reach others for Him. Pray, then go ahead and get into that ministry that He has been calling you to do. Put some Bible tracts in your purse, and when you go out in public, leave one on the bathroom counter, or leave it on the table with your tip money. When you visit someone in the hospital, place one on the table in the waiting area. Plant that seed! Make this the most fruitful year that you have ever had for the Lord!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MY HOUSE TO YOURS!

I just wanted to say, "Merry Christmas!" from my house to yours. I pray that it is a blessed day for you and your family.
Christmas falls on a Sunday this year. Don't forget to go to the Lord's House and worship the One for Whom this day is celebrating.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!!
Beth :-)

WHAT IS IN A NAME?

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:" Luke 1: 32
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11.
What is in a name? You know, when my husband and I were trying to decide on names for our two boys, we wanted good, strong Biblical names. We searched the Scriptures to find men who had lived uprightly and completely for God. Believe it or not, that was hard! We finally decided on the two Old Testament Prophets, Nathan and Samuel. These two men were not afraid to do what God told them to do, even if it meant death for them. Nathan had to approach and confront King David after his affair with Bathsheba. Samuel had many situations where he had to bring the Word of God to people, even if it was not what they wanted to hear and would make them very angry. We need more preachers like that today! Amen? Amen!
These are just a few verses that mention names given to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. All through the Bible, He is given many different names. Isaiah 9:6 is my favorite, though. As I read the names, I get so excited! Think about them.
WONDERFUL-He is our wonderful Saviour, One Who didn't have to, but came to earth, lived, died and rose again that we might be with Him in heaven one day, if we only believe. He is WONDERFUL, for all the blessings that He bestows on us each day. He is WONDERFUL, because He is there to hear and answer our prayers.
COUNSELLOR-The dictionary defines Counsellor as "1: A person who gives advice or counseling. 2: Lawyer. specifically : one that gives advice in law and manages cases for clients in court." We need Someone to help us through and give us advice on our daily struggles. Who better to go to then Jesus and the Bible? He is also our MEDIATOR, according to 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;". When we sincerely ask for forgiveness for our sins, Jesus is our mediator, our lawyer, who goes before God our judge and pleads our case on our behalf.
THE MIGHTY GOD-Jesus and God are one, "In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1.
THE EVERLASTING FATHER-Everlasting is defined as "lasting or enduring forever: eternal." (Websters Collegiate Dictionary). He is our eternal Father. Earthly fathers may leave or abandon you, but Jesus will NEVER leave you or forsake you!
THE PRINCE OF PEACE-Peace. There is so much turmoil and unrest in the world today. People's lives seem so upset, crazy and hopeless. They do not know any peace in their lives. But when you give your life to Jesus, you will know peace. An inner peace that you haven't known before.
How about you, my dear reader? Does life seem hopeless? Do you have inner peace in your soul? Jesus can give you that peace. All you have to do is ask! Ask Jesus to forgive your sins, ask Him to be your Saviour, give your life to Him. He will give you a peace that "passeth all understanding". It is true. I have been there. When you experience that peace, you know it is a completely different peace than you have ever experienced!
Have a wonderful and blessed Sunday!
Beth :-)

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING-VENDOR SPOTLIGHT-MISTY SIMMONS WITH INITIALS, INC

Well, it's that time of year! Time to start thinking about what we are going to buy for our loved ones and friends.
I would like to help you out this year. I believe in supporting home businesses, and especially Christian home businesses, so I would like to post about some of these businesses that I know about.
Today, I would like to introduce you to Misty Simmons. I met Misty at our East Coast Ladies Retreat this year. She is an independent consultant for Initials, Inc.
 What is Initials, Inc? Well, it is a company based in Georgia that was started in 2005 by two sisters who wanted to stay home with their children, "but still having a desire to find something that would stir their souls creativity, fill their well socially and allow them to contribute to their homes financially." (under 'Our Story' on the website).
The company offers personalized bags (all sizes and shapes!) and accessories. Oh, and by the way,  personalization is always FREE.
I had a chance to talk to Misty for quite a while at the Ladies Retreat, as well as by phone a couple of weeks later. I enjoyed both conversations as she is very friendly and outgoing. Her love for the Lord shone through. She is also very knowledgeable about her product and is happy to answer any questions you might have.
Stop by and visit Misty at www.myinitials-inc.com/msimmons and see what she has to offer. You just might find that gift you were looking for!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

MAKING TRACKS

The weather Saturday was just SO beautiful that my family and I (our cats came along, too!) took a walk in the fields behind our house.
Nathan and Samuel love to look for animal tracks. The ground is still kind of soft, so the tracks show up pretty well. Among the tracks that we found were tractor tire tracks, deer tracks and, of course, people tracks (ours :-)!).
Some of the deer tracks were old, but my husband said that you could tell from the track how heavy the deer was, along with whether or not it was a buck or doe, as well as if it was running or walking. Boy! I learned alot that day. See pictures below:

BUCK TRACKS
MY HUSBAND SAYS THAT YOU CAN TELL THE BUCK WAS RUNNING BY THE WAY THE FRONT OF HIS HOOF IS SPREAD.

DOE TRACKS
MY HUSBAND SAID THAT THIS DEER WAS JUST WALKING.

PEOPLE TRACKS

TRACTOR TIRE TRACKS

CAT TRACKS
OUR LITTLE "TAG-ALONGS"

When we got back to the house, I started thinking about my life's path and what kind of "tracks" I was leaving behind me.

I have a poem on my refrigerator that reads, "The future lies before you like a field of driven snow; Be careful how you tread it for every track will show." Author unknown.

You know, everything we do, every decision we make, how we talk to and treat people (our families included), all leave "tracks" both in our lives and the people around us.

Our children are like sponges. Whether we are aware of it or not, they watch us VERY closely. Sometimes too closely. Often times, I will see an attitude or action in my child that I know they have seen in me. It's often hard and most humbling to see yourself reflecting back in your child, especially when it's a not-so-pretty attitude.

We as Christians have to be so very careful how we walk down this path of life. We should be a light, a beacon, shining out and showing people the way to Christ, starting with our own families.

Saturday's walk opened my eyes to a few life lessons. I am so very human. I need to rely on the Lord an awful lot. But, you know what? He is there for us. Keep praying, stay in your Bible, attend church REGULARLY.  We will fall, that's the truth. But He is there to catch us and put us to right again.

What kind of tracks are you leaving?

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers! I can not begin to thank the Lord enough for all of the blessings that He has bestowed on my family and I!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

A MONTH OF THANKS-DAY 23

"Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name." 2 Samuel 22:50

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I am so thankful today that my son, Samuel, joined me for my morning devotions. He has always been an early riser, but I usually have already had my devotional time with the Lord by the time he gets up (I try to get up atleast an hour before the rest of my house does).

Well, this morning, I told him that I hadn't read my Bible or had my special time with the Lord yet. He was excited to join me in my devotional time. We each took our Bibles, climbed up on my bed (my husband had already left to go deer hunting), pulled the quilt up and read. I read three verses and he read three verses. At six years old? Why, yes! As soon as each of my sons started to learn how to read, I would give them verses to read out of the Bible at our Family Devotion Time. It is VERY slow going at first, I must admit, and takes alot of patience. But they do eventually start doing better and better.

After reading, we prayed. Then Samuel jumped up and said, "Mommy! We have to sing some Bible songs!" So I said OK. He ran into his room and grabbed his little song book. We sang about five songs.

 Let me tell you, nothing, absolutely NOTHING, could have made my morning any better! What a joy and awsome privilege to share Jesus with my children!

Have you shared Jesus with your children today?

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)



A MONTH OF THANKS-DAY 22



"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15



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Well, it's been a few days since I've posted. Between sick children, sewing bag orders and laptop issues, it's been difficult to find time to just sit down, so I am going to pick up my Month of Thanks from today, Nov 22.

Today I am thankful that our local Wal-Mart put their full-service fabric department back in. Now I don't have to travel an hour to buy fabric!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

A MONTH OF THANKS-DAY 15



"Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:13

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I am so very thankful for the healing that my friend received from cancer. We were praying for what ever the Lord's will was for her life, because, since she is a born-again Christian, she said that she is a winner either way. Praise the Lord!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)

A MONTH OF THANKS-DAY 14

"Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Psalm 50:14-15

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I am thankful for a wonderful, Christian mother-in-love. She took me in with arms wide open and accepted me into the family with love.

You know, before my husband and I were married, I heard all sorts of "mother-in-law horror stories".

 My husband and I lived in two different states before we got married-I lived in New Jersey, and he lived in North Carolina. We decided that, when we got married, we would live in North Carolina (much to my Mom's dismay! But that worked out, and that is another story of God's grace to tell!). This meant that I would be moving ten hours away from everything I had ever known, to where I knew absolutely NO ONE except my husband and my uncle, who had introduced us. Alot of my friends and co-workers tried to talk me out of it. They said that was too far away to go where I didn't know anyone. They especially emphasized the "mother-in-law" factor, for , you see, she lived next door.

Well, let me tell you. All those stories were FAR from the truth about my husband's mother. She is a sweet, loving and kind woman. She never intrudes in our marriage, and will not take sides when we have disagreements, unless absolutely necessary, which does not happen very often.

I could not have asked for anyone better for my mother-in-love!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)