THANKFUL THURSDAY ... all in a years time

I cannot believe that as I write this post, it is the beginning of the last day of the year 2009. I always find it interesting to look back thru my calendar and see all of the happenings for the past year. It never ceases to amaze me how many things have happened in my life.

Babies were born.
Weddings were performed.
Precious loved ones passed to their glory.
Prices increased.
Children moved away.
New furniture was purchased.
Old friendships were rekindled.

What do you see when you look back over this past year?
Do you see heartache? pain? loss?
Do you see blessings? joy? wonderment?

I have always thought that no matter what our circumstances, the outcome depends alot on our perspective. Have you ever considered it a blessing to endure pain? Have you experienced joy while your heart ached? Have you stood in wonder at how God has stood with you during your loss?

Perspective

This is how I would like to remember 2009 ... that with every tear I have cried, every smile I have smiled, every pain I have endured and every blessing I have counted ~ that each moment has had a purpose to bring me into the full understanding of what my salvation means. (Grace, love, forgiveness, redemption, undeserved merit)

2 TIMOTHY 2:10 "For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory."

What is your perspective of what 2009 brought to you and yours? Rejoice in everything and as we say good bye to an old year and ring in a new one ... may your perspective remain on the joy of the Lord, even in your suffering.

Please join us this week for THANKFUL THURSDAY by linking your TT post below in Mr. Linky. I have enjoyed being your host this month, and hope that you will come back and visit my blog as often as you can. Next month Lynn will be hosting, so be sure to check out her blog as well. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The "sick" bug

I am taking a day or two off from blogging...

due to a "sick" bug that has officially attacked my body!

 But I will be back soon....

MARY ... did you know?

Today, I have shared the following devotion over at the LACED WITH GRACE site. (http://lacedwithgrace.com/) I would like to share it with my readers here as well. I pray each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to come!! Thank you for being a faithful reader of WOMEN TAKING A STAND!

One of my all time favorite Christmas songs is “Mary, did you know?” Every time I hear that song, it just tugs at this mothers heart. Have you ever considered what that question is asking?

I don’t know about you, but each and every time I gave birth (4x) – my heart was filled with so much love, excitement and anticipation of what the next 18+ years would hold for me and for the child that was just entrusted to me. What an awesome responsibility motherhood brings.

Many times I have wondered what joys, disappointments and challenges would come to my children as they grew up. I always prayed and envisioned my kids to become strong, dependent and successful. But nothing was more important to me than to know that my children were walking in Gods will and making an impact in their world for the cause of Christ.

Considering how my mothers heart has leaped for my children’s triumphs in life, I have often wondered what it must have been like for Mary. Knowing ahead of time that she would be the mother of not just an ordinary baby, but a savior.

Did Mary know the suffering that lay ahead for her baby?

LUKE 2:11 ” For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.”

•  Did Mary know that her baby would be King of Kings?
• Did Mary know that her baby was sent to save the world?
• Did Mary know that her baby would suffer and die?
• Did Mary know that her baby would impact her world and the world of many for years to come?

 I wonder … just how much DID Mary know?

THANKFUL THURSDAY ... giving the gift of "Worship"

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a list for Christmas. Whether it was my "wish list" as a young child or the list that I comprised of what my own children were hoping for. Many of us have our own list in our heads of what we are hoping to receive for Christmas this year.

I find it very interesting that only at Christmas time, we receive gifts on someone else's birthday. When it is my birthday ... nobody else receives presents except for me. So why do we not consider what the birthday boy, Jesus, may want for His birthday on Christmas Day?

When I read about the wise men bringing gifts to Jesus, I see that their giving was expressed in worship...

MATTHEW 2:10 "when they saw the star, they rejoiced, exceedingly with great joy."

When the wise men saw baby Jesus, they bowed down and worshipped Him ... AND THEN ...  they gave Him gifts. Giving is part of worship. This Christmas, I want to be sure to express my worship in my gift-giving, and this may mean that I need to present my heart to Jesus as His birthday present.

I am so thankful today that I live in a country where I am free to give the gift of "Worship" to my Savior! What are you thankful for - why not share your grateful heart with us today here on THANKFUL THURSDAY!

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD ... love with "skin on"

Not long ago, I read a story about a little girl who was frightened during a storm. The little girl's mother came in to her room to comfort her but when the mother tried to leave, the little girl objected. The mother said to her, "It's alright honey. God is here with you". But her daughter said,  "I know Mommy...but I want someone with skin on."

I am sure that all of you have heard that story as well, but I was thinking that this picture is one of what it is like when we forgive a brother or sister. Forgiving them helps them to see God "with skin on".

In last weeks YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I asked the question, "When you are feeling guilty about something you have done to someone, what do you do?" The top 3 responses were:

1. 88% of those voting in the poll said that they just talk to the person.
2. 5% voted and said that they would "kiss up" to that person by saying nice things.
3. Another 5% polled said that they make amends in some other way.

No doubt, we have all done or said something that we later might feel guilty about. Sometimes this guilt keeps us from maintaining relationships with the ones that we love, and unfortunetly our guilt can even keep us from a fresh, daily walk with our Lord. Really what we are all looking for is "love" with "skin on it".

John said it best: "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:12)

I think what John is saying is that we, as God's children, have the ability to show one another what love is with "skin on". How much skin have you shared today?

This week for WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD, I have shared some thoughts on a study that I was doing on Jacob. When I came to the passage about Jacob wrestling with the angel, I wondered to myself just how many times I, as Gods daughter, wrestle with things such as guilt. Is it the guilt or the love of God that others see in me? I had to stop and ask God to help me show others what all His love covers.

A PIECE OF MY HEART...I'll leave the light on for ya!

One of my favorite memories of my children when they were young happened on saturday mornings. The one day that we (my hubby and me) had to sleep in, the kids would rise early and clad in their pj's would come to our room and climb up in our bed with us. We would cuddle, talk and watch tv while we all laid out in our bed.

That memory often times comes alive again now that my kids are grown up. It never fails ... just when we are settled in our pj's and about to turn the light out, our grown sons while home visiting, will come into our room and crawl into the bed with us and talk. It's pretty amazing how we all lay across our bed and talk about really important issues in their lives and at other times, we just laugh about something funny that we have recalled.

It doesn't take long either ... if one is in our room visiting with us, the rest will soon follow. What a sight to see ~ all of us sprawled out on our bed. What a wonderful feeling!

This weekend, when our son and daughter were sprawled out in our bedroom with us talking, I was reminded that it is in the dark of the night, when we need our Heavenly Father that we can call out His name and He is right there in our bedroom with us. We don't have to get up and find Him in another room, He is with us right where we are.

MATTHEW 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

One thing that I have learned with our kids is that they may need to come in and get sprawled out on our bed at all hours of the night to talk. Even if we have drifted off to sleep, we want them to know that our light is always on for them. Isn't that a neat way to remember how God is always here for us ... He always has a light on for us. It never burns out, blows up, or blows a fuse. His light is eternal and everlasting.

Do you need to crawl up and have alittle talk with Jesus?

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR PEACE?

Is there peace in your house? If you are like me, you might be feeling the "crunch" or the "countdown" to Christmas. Only five more days to get the shopping done, the gifts wrapped and the baking done. As I look around and see all of the hustle and bustle, it reminds me more of chaos than it does of peace.

The shepherds received word of the birth of Jesus with these words: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:13-14 NIV).

It was God's desire that when His son came to be "with us" that peace would reign on earth and in our hearts. This was not wishful thinking, by no means. It was a proclamation of what can happen when we receive the Messiah. Peace on earth!

Having this peace does not mean that there will still not be chaos in your world...but the peace of God will allow you to look at your circumstances differently. As we approach this marvelous celebration of the birth of Christ ~ I wonder if you have found the peace that the angels proclaimed?