That’s alright. Tonight Andy and I are going down to the city of Atlanta to celebrate in a different way. If you are interested or know someone who is… leave me a comment or tweet. To learn more about how and why Andy are doing this go here. Thanks for being some awesome and giving readers, even if you’re not in the ATL. Perhaps we can start a worldwide movement?
I pray for you and your new year. Who knows what it may bring?
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I have a lot of serious stuff happening lately. Why do family problems seem to permeate adult life at every turn? I have yet to figure that out….but I will be praying and sharing more later. Right now, I still feel like
ignoring half the time and slowly processing the other half.
So instead, I will say this, I have not shared a lot about my weight loss in a while. I have settled in between 148 and 152 pounds for a while now, which is nice. I just still have a lot of fat around my middle, which I know is NOT good for women. The holidays really had me on an emotional see saw. Some of the time I ate well over what I should have, not caring about the consequences, the other half of the time I cried about my size and tried to eat what I think I should. While I think this is normal for women I am sad to say that I have totally gotten out of the habit of regular gym workouts. I have been doing some stretching and mini yoga/pilates sessions at home, but the cardio I was getting is quickly falling to wayside. I just cannot seem to get there! And walking by myself has lost its appeal now that the weather is either rainy and warm or sunny and cold.
I think that I am not writing this to say anything new, I am really writing this to say: I wish that I could eat chocolate for the rest of my life without feeling bad about it! I wish that I could be motivated to work out everyday because it really does make me feel better, and I wish that organic produce was cheaper! On an end note, for the people that say buying bigger sizes for people makes them feel better when they try it on, they are wrong, if I received one more sweater that was drowning on me for Christmas I was going to scream. Apparently wearing (mostly) older clothes does continue to make me look fat. There was one particular person who bought me a large from a store that I wear a small in, I am not mad at them, but I really wish that I felt all my hard work was apparent. Perhaps not humanly possible?
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But seriously, I hope you all have a very wonderful Christmas! Don’t forget to say thanks (for the awesomely huge gift of Christ as well as the abundant gifts from others), remember the good qualities about your family, and try to take a time out to give to those in need, whether it be small or big ways. Thanks to so many of you for making this a wonderful year.
Truly Shalom.
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If you really ponder the Christmas story you notice there are some amazing glints of God’s love. The Easter story tells of our salvation, yes, and how much He loves the world, but the birth of Christ is the sign of his promise, the fulfillment of the prophecies.
Everytime I think about the Christmas story or read it through or learn something new. When Joseph and Mary took Jesus to be dedicated to God at the temple I always thought it was lovely that Simeon got to see the Savior. The thing he had been waiting his whole life for. The words he speaks never really hit me before now though.
This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others. Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.
I could not say it any better- when I think of all that Jesus has shown me, and how much joy he has given me. Over the years and through different periods he has been my rock, my grace, my strength. He has shown me my deepest thoughts, desires, and given me a calling from him. And on the cross he gave me the chance for Christ in me.
WE are chosen by God and called according to His Purpose. And Christ gave us the chance to be right with God. It IS amazing.
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Playing with cars, running and playing group games are Ranfis’s favorite activities. In primary school his performance is average and he also regularly attends church activities, Bible class and Vacation Bible School.
Please remember Ranfis in your prayers. Your love and support will help him to receive the assistance he needs to grow and develop. This is a huge opportunity, and I know that it is so cool when you get those letters or updates from your child and see what the support is doing. (There is also nice artwork sometimes inolved!)
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| Name: | Ranfis Núñez Polanco (DR3090760) |
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| Birthday: | December 17, 1998 Age: 10 |
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| Gender: | Male |
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| Region: | Central America and Caribbean |
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| Country: | Dominican Republic |
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| Program: | El Shadai Student Center |
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To change a life and make a real difference in the life of one boy, please click HERE. To sponsor another child from Compassion or look through their many opportunities, please click here.
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Does anyone know who sings “Last Christmas I Gave You my Heart”?
Yeah… I didn’t either. Wham. I know, who knew? Who knew there was even a group called Wham? When I looked it up I saw that someone actually thought it was Queen. It’s a sad, sad world. Consequently, they also sing one of my other favorite eighties songs (I think)- Wake me before ya go go, I’m not planning on goin’ solo. Yeah, all their songs have awesome lyrics.
When I was little I LOVED THIS SONG. This song officially meant it was Christmas. I would go in my grandad’s office (where he always had the radio playing) and wait for it to come on after Thanksgiving dinner. Oddly, without being a Christmas carol, they still play it just as much. And call me crazy, I still LOVE it.
What song means it is Christmas time to you- serious, silly, funny, classic? What do you crave to hear? Any more fans of “Last Christmas” lurking out there??!
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I have a lot of hurt in my life. I think everyone does. Some of it is uniquely different, and some of it is relative, because, well, we’re all human. The past few days I have been really struggling with myself to lay some things down. I would probably punish myself for the rest of my life if I could, I realize that partly the things that have happened to me have made me feel that way. That’s not God, that’s not the gift he gave me when his son died on the cross. I keep thinking, I’m so convicted and so alive and in love with Jesus in some ways, and for some reason, even though a part of me has held onto pain and not really wanted to accept myself fully, Jesus has held onto me and kept that passion alive and burning.
I have been emotionally bruised and beaten by several of my past relationships with men, father included. My father loves me unconditionally and while he was never a bad father, his failings contributed to the person that I am and some of the relationships I gave into. I did not have a bad childhood, and I am not the victim, it just is what it is. My father went through a very personal struggle that bled into my life when I realized it in a very unfortunate way.
Except for my husband (thank God) I have never had a relationship with a man where I felt valued as a person, save for a few friendships that I unwittingly tried to turn into relationships for that sole reason. I have been held down emotionally, physically touched, and ridiculed. In the good situations I was valued for my physical being and initial layer of innocence, nothing more. As I bring all this to surface and struggle to find the comfort in words of Jesus and ask for the strength to forgive myself and others, once and for all, completely, I thought of this song. And honestly I don’t know why I wrote all of this. My full intent was to post the song only. Maybe someone needed to hear it.
We fall down
We lay our crowns
At the feet of Jesus
The greatness of
Your Mercy and love
At the feet of Jesus
And we cry holy, holy, holy
And we cry holy, holy, holy
And we cry holy, holy, holy
Is the lamb
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We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.
Restlessness? Me? Never. Sometimes we try, try, try, try. Always trying to make or achieve something. Try- a word I use often, without waiting and watching and just listening for God. I am not exempt from pretending as if there is no time for silence. My husband gets frustrated at me because I interrupt. When I have something to say it comes rushing out and I will keep talking and talking (and talking) until it is all out. Often I will not even notice I interrupt because when it is in my mind to say something, nothing else really interferes with this. (Even the sound of another’s voice, odd). He either- a, moves on, or b, tells me in a slightly frustrated “you should shut your mouth and maybe you would learn something” way.
I wonder if sometimes God thinks this, like, “It’s really great what you are trying to do, but if you would be quiet for one second you might learn something…. like, ummm, I am God ya know.” BUT I CAN’T. I have this and that and then that other thing and…. then you realize, wait a minute, perhaps I am losing something. Perhaps there is some beauty lost in moving so quickly in our “restlessness.” Maybe we should just take a “time-out” as a positive thing, a reflectional moment. Have you ever sat outside and breathed in deeply on a crisp day? It feels good, doesn’t it? Maybe next time we should try it a few times, and look around, and just be open. Giving a moment to think things through is not the kind of thing that usually gets me in trouble. It is usually, in fact, quite the opposite. Right??
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I think this time of year, when emotions are heightened, people probably feeling more stressed or painfully aware than ever, it might be nice to have a LOT of compassion. So, there are a million things going on around the world right now. Some of them great things, some of them horrific tragedies. So, I know that if you have a big heart, you have a lot to choose from. But I will still share this short story with you…
Burma, also known as Myanmar, has had little peace. Period. Not in the last few months, not even in the last few years… Not in a long time. They are ruled by a militant authority called the State Peace and Development. Every question uttered or cry for a better government has been met with attacks, murder, rape, or imprisonment by this establishment. I have a student who is from Burma, and she does not like to talk about it. Her family was granted refugee status to the U.S. But what if they hadn’t been? She is one of the sweetest and brightest young women I know. So, between right now and Monday is a chance to contribute to the fight for BASIC human rights in Burma for a friend or loved one as a gift. You can give anytime, but if you do so by Monday they will send a card to your friend or family member to thank them for the gift you give in their name. I cannot imagine or explain what it must feel like to live in a state like that. To give or learn more go to US Campaign for Burma.
If you would like to sponsor a child from Compassion, please click here. There are hundreds of children waiting for someone like you to take a chance on them, so they might have more opportunity for growth- physically and mentally, AS WELL as a chance to here about the wonderful love of Jesus. Isn’t that amazing? I am at a loss for words when I think about the magnitude of the opportunities we are given to share.
And it’s not just online, it’s not just around the world. Heck, if you really know you can’t commit to this, buy someone a cup of a coffee. A friend, or the guy standing behind you in line that looks like they are having a bad day.
If you are having a bad day: here is my virtual cup to you! I know how it feels. With some help I am getting those little demons out.
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