An Early Christmas Gift

Well, this year has been a little different than last year. I'm exhausted! Between all the Christmas shopping, shipping, Christmas cards, decorations, wrapping, baking, cleaning, parties, rehearsals, weddings ... came a very needed word. Thank you, Lord, for friends! My best friend of five years, Robyn, and I had a quick cell phone chat on my way to the grocery story at 8PM on Monday night (yes, right now I'm having to grocery shop at 8 o'clock at night!). She and I passed a few words to catch up and filled each other in on what's weighing on our hearts lately. And mine was EXHAUSTION! Not in a complaining way or an unhappy way because I am so excited this time of year to speak to hearts that are softer than normal but ... just a lot to do and not enough time to do it all. (A quick rabbit trail - our Women's Ministry Christmas Dinner was Monday the 11th and our gracious speaker spoke a lot about feeling inadequate and how that is the perfect, fertile soil for God to be at work ... I'm there! Thanks for the encouragement and challenging word of faith, Terrie!) Anyway, after hearing my heart and sensing my need - Robyn said "two words, Lela, Psalm 16". She had found encouragment of why we do what we do and what/Who our portion really is in this life and offerend it to me. Verse 5 reads, " The LORD is the portion of my inheritance" and verse 11, "You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever." After reading and meditating and changing the focus of my heart - my thoughts turned to the praise of verse two, "You are my Lord, I have no good besides You." My heart was so lifted1 To remember WHY we all that we do and unto WHOM we do it. With Him as my focus and purpose - I can do anything! Thank you, Robyn, for your precious heart to lift me up and encourage me to focus on what is important ... after all - HE (that is Jesus) is my portion and I'm going to celebrate that this Christmas!

PS - Robyn is the one on the far right in the picture.

Thanksgiving

Okay, I am WAY over due for a blog entry! Yikes!
To update Thanksgiving ... it really couldn't have gone better. I am very thankful for the guests that we had, such a wonderful group of people: Jean (Artie's mom), Don (Artie's stepdad), Dixie (Artie's great aunt), Mamah (my grandmother), Chrissy (a college student), Tom & Pam Sander (from church, and neighbors), and Artie & Me.

Being our first hosted Thanksgiving, Artie and I decided to carry on a tradition we learned from some very dear friends. After fellowship over food, Artie read a Psalm of Thanksgiving and then started us off as we went around the table to say what we are thankful for. There were tears, laughter and countless "I'm thankful for..."

This year, I had so many big things to be thankful for. Thanksgiving weekend marks my spiritual birhtday, making Thanksgiving a very special holiday for me. This year is SEVEN years of walking with Christ in the newness of life! Can't even believe it ... I wouldn't trade one day of it for another 1,000 away from Him. Also - my relationship with my husband has grown in depth, love and fellowship. The gift of our home! The opportunity to go to Africa on my first mission trip and all the wealth of experience that goes along with it.
I think the provision of God sums it all up. I am incredibly indebted to the Lord for all that He has given me. I am forever grateful, but especially thankful this Thanksgiving.