Liberation!

That is the word that keeps coming to mind, and how I am feeling....liberated.

Why?  You may ask, if you are interested.

For all intents and purposes, I am doing NO Christmas shopping.

Yep.

My husband and I generally over the past several years have not exchanged.  And this year, with one daughter in East Asia.....it is sort of pointless to spend lots of money to send over stuff she probably won't be able to fit in her suitcase when she comes home this summer.  And our other daughter moved into a new place this past summer, and we helped her out making it cozy and feel like home.

Besides just a few things here and there for some other relatives, I have jumped off of the "retail treadmill."

It is sooooooooooo freeing, and feels absolutely marvelous.

I HIGHLY recommend it.

After all.....

haven't we already received the GREATEST GIFT of ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If you have not ACCEPTED this wonderful gift.....yet, I pray you will.  Nothing compares.

  All you have to do is talk to God saying something like this:

I would like to receive the gift of eternal life and forgiven sins because Jesus, Your Son, came to earth to live and die for ME.  I would like to celebrate the TRUE meaning of Christmas this year by accepting this gift. 

AMEN

If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who took your sins (that you have done things that are contrary to how God wants you to live) away on the cross and was resurrected because He is part of the awesome triune God and He is alive and hears your prayers, then WELCOME to the family!

Please find a church that can help you to grow in this MOST amazing journey.  (Just like there are distinct personalities to each person, so it is with churches.  Keep looking until you find one that is right for you.)  In the meantime, start reading the Bible ~ the New Testament is the best place to start.

GLORY to the NEWBORN KING!

and congratulations to you....

dear brother or sister in Christ.

May this be the most merriest of Christmases.

Giving Thanks

I LOVE November with the crispness in the air, the earthy smell of the fallen leaves, and the cocooning process.  I also LOVE that it is a month in which giving thanks is highlighted.

As I was pondering ALL for which I was thankful for, I thought it would take much more than the thirty days of November to express.....so I'll have to move into December, January ~ ahhh, let's just say 365!

Now, except for the top 25 of so.....they are pretty random, and you will see how scattered my brain can be.

I may have repeated, but I also lumped some categories together; i.e., food ~ so, if I individualized some ~ there would be plenty more.

1.  My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ's humility, obedience, and sacrifice on the Cross.
2.  That He saved me.
3.  That I now have life, and life abundant.
4.  That I will spend eternity with Him.
5.  That my loved ones will be there with Him also.
6.  That He is sooooooo patient with me.
7.  That He loves me unconditionally and lavishly.
8.  That He never leaves me or forsakes me.
9.  That He is trustworthy and faithful.
10.  That He supplies all of my needs according to His riches in glory.
11.  Health
12.  My dear husband
13.  How hard he works
14.  How kind he is
15.  How generous he is
16,  My wonderful children
17.  How thoughtful they are
18.  How committed they are to being authentic Christ-followers
19.  How dedicated and trustworthy they are to all they do.
20.  Their jobs :)
21.  Their friends
22.  Their future husbands
23.  Their future children & my grandchildren
24.  How sweet they are to my parents
25.  That my parents are OK, considering their ages and health
26.  That my sister lives ten doors away, and takes fabulous care of them
27.  My brother-in-law, too.
28.  My nephew and his wife, too.
29.  My extended family.
30.  My in-laws.
31.  My friends.
32.  My church.
33.  My ability to travel.
34.  All of my GREAT traveling experiences.
35.  My giftedness which God gave me.
36.  My senses.
37.  Nature
38.  My house.
39.  My car
40.  My clothes
41.  My jewelry
42.  Books
43.  Pets
44.  Furniture
45.  Memories
46.  Hopes
47.  Dreams
48.  Ancestors
49.  Medical technology
50.  Doctors
51. The GREATEST Physician of all, Jesus
52.  Hospitals
53.  Medicine
54.  Insurance
55.  Helping others
56.  Food in the pantry
57.  That my husband likes to cook
58.  That he likes to fix my strawberries
59..  That S.B. likes to cook
60.  That my sister likes to cook
61.  That my sister-in-law likes to cook
62.  Heating
63.  Air conditioning
64.  Sheets
65.  Blankets
66.  Pillows
67.  Computers
68.  Telephones
69.  SKPE
70.  Indoor plumbing
71.  Winter
72.  Spring
73.  Summer
74.  Fall
75.  Sunrises
76.  Sunsets
77.  Rain
78.  Snow
79.  Airplanes
80.  Cars
81.  Other modes of transportation that makes our lives easier
82.  Restaurants
83.  Summer memories in Potter County
84.  Summer memories "down the shore"
85.  Teachers
86.  Schools
87.  Holidays
88.  Worship
89.  Music
90.  Bible
91.  The written word
92.  Magazines
93.  Acrylic nails
94.  Make-up
95.  Toothpaste
96.  Shampoo and conditioner
97.  Lotion
98.  Perfume
99.  Soap
100.  Stationary
101.  Calendars
102.  Creativity
103.  Art
104.  Stores
105.  Postal service
106.  Internet
107.  Gardens
108.  Farmers
109.  Inventors
110.  Missionaries
102.  Ministries
103.  Selfless people
104.  Clean air to breathe
105.  Clean water to drink
106.  Beauty
107.  Luggage
108.  Television
109.  Weather forecasts
110.  Cameras
111.  Photographs
112.  Writing instruments
113.  Paper supplies
114.  Tea
115.  All Coca-Cola products :)
116.  Nurses
117.  Nice neighbors
118.  Mentors
119.  Mentees
120.  Encouragers
121.  That God is sovereign
122.  That God is victorious
123.  That God is the King of King and Lord of Lords
124.  the Holy Spirit
125.  Dentists
126.  Massages
127.  Stuff that keeps you organized
128.  Flowers
129.  Trees
130.  Gentle breezes
131.  Beautiful waterfalls
132.  Freedom
133.  A country that was built on Christian principles
134.  Wisdom from above
135.  the Peace that passes all understanding
136.  Joy
137.  Comfort
138.  Forgiveness
139.  Security
140.  Women's Ministry
141.  Women's Retreats
142.  Rest
143.  Sleep
144.  Respite
145.  Storage spaces (basements, etc.)
146.  Guest room for company
147.  Porches
148.  Moon
149.  Stars
150.  Clouds
151.  Libraries
152.  Sports
153.  Games
154.  Puzzles
155.  Toys
156.  that Scripture is alive ans active
157.  that God is omnipotent
158.  that God is omnipresent
159.  that God is omniscient
160.  that God is majestic
161.  that God is marvelous
162.  that God is magnificent
163.  that God is my Father
164.  Safety
165.  Protection
166.  Smiles
167.  Tears
168.  Harvests
169.  Angels
170.  Help
171.  Mercy
172.  Grace
173.  Redemption
174.  Quiet
175.  Excellence
176.  Integrity
177.  Honesty
178.  Laws
179.  Traffic rules
180.  Goodness
181.  My God is good.
182.  Kindness
183.  My God is kind.
184.  Compassion
185.  My God is compassionate.
185.  Justice
186.  My God is just.
187.  Love
188.  My God is loving.
189.  Prayer
190.  Jesus is my Intercessor
191.  Dancing
192.  Praise
193.  That My god is worthy of praise.
194.  Restoration
195.  Reconciliation
196.  Righteousness
197.  Plan B
199.  My God is holy.
200.  My God is glorious.
201.  My God is awesome.
202.  My God is the Name above ALL names.
203.  My God is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
204.  My God is unchanging and unchangeable.
205.  I am not alone.
206.  I am God's handiwork.
207.  I am God's daughter.
208.  I am God's friend.
209.  God is my strength.
210.  God is my shield.
211.  God is the restorer of my soul.
212.  Singing
213.  Blogs that I love.
214.  The women that write them.
215.  Time
216.  That God will restore the years the locust has eaten.
217.  Thesauruses
218.  Dictionaries
219.  Concordances
220.  Commentaries
221.  Repairmen
222.  Seamstresses
223.  Light
224.  Power
225.  Chocolate
226.  Fun
227.  Laughter
228.  Candles
229.  Exotic locations and getting to visit them
230.  Bible translators and the translations
231.  Video cameras
232.  Treasured mementos
233.  Yarn
234.  The afghans my Mom made me
235.  The ceramics she made me
236.  The cards my kids gave me
237.  Thank You notes
238.  Gifts
239.  Iron sharpening iron.
240.  A clean house.
241.  God hears.
242.  God cares.
243.  God answers.
244.  Birthdays.
245.  Special days.
246.  Ordinary days.
247.  Windows
248.  Eyeglasses
249.  Contacts
250.  Hair stylists
251.  Good ideas
252.  Plans that come together.
253.  Veterinarians
254.  U.S. Military ~ past, present and future.
255.  God's amazing creation
256.  God's creatures...except maybe mosquitoes ~ why God?
257.  Police
258.  Firefighters
259.  EMTs
260.  Ambulances
261.  Funny jokes
262.  Nice movies
263.  Resources
264.  Personalities like me
265.  Personalities that are not like me
266.  Accessories
267.  Garbage collectors
268.  Things that make my house cozy
269.  Calculators
270.  Oceans
271.  Mountains
272.  Lessons I've learned
273.  My husband is a great father.
274.  The Church
275.  Harmony
276.  People who use their gifts to glorify God
277.  Faith
278.  Carpet
279.  Carpet cleaners
280.  Decorations
281.  Decorators
282.  Clean laundry
283.  Wisdom
284.  that my God is triune
285.  The Father God
286.  His Son, Jesus ~ fully God and fully man
287.  Holy Spirit
288.  that the Holy Spirit lives within me
289.  Unity
290.  My God is longsuffering
291.  My God is my Rock, my Anchor, my Refuge, my Everything
292.  Treats
293.  My husband's unconditional love
294.  My children's unconditional love
295.  My parent's unconditional love
296.  My doggie's unconditional love
297.  that "this too" shall pass
298.  found "lost" objects
299.  Mechanics
300.  Plumbers
301.  Ingenuity
302.  a nice yard
303.  trees
304.  walking trails
305.  tennis courts
306.  swimming pools
307.  sales
308.  coupons
309.  fun opportunities
310.  God's glory
311.  authenticity
312.  understanding
313.  good communication
314.  comprehension
315.  a purpose-driven life
316.  friends to do things with
317.  friends to travel with
318.  friends that are there for me
319.  aunts
320.  uncles
321.  cousins
322.  time with grandparents
323. a sense of humor
324.  remembering....
325.  my heritage
326.  Jesus is victorious, my Victor!
327.  that God works all things together for good for me
328.  that greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world
329.  God's favor
330.  Sanctification
331.  God is my Sustainer
332.  Jesus is my wonderful Counselor
333.  Jesus is the Quieter of the storm
334.  My God is the Name above all names
335.  My God is on the Throne far above all rule and authority and power and dominion
336.  Pedicures
337.  Color
338.  Garages
339.  Garage door openers
340.  Paper Towels
341.  Food
342.  Celebrations
343.  Flowers
344.  Snow
345.  Maps
346.  Hats
347.  Gloves
348.  Ingenuity
349.  Vacations
350.  Sun
351.  Facials
352.  Television
353.  Movies
354.  Videos
355.  My teeth
356.  My immune system

Thank You, thank You, thank You, God ~ from WHOM ALL BLESSINGS flow!

Happy Thanksgiving, ya'll!