HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!!!

2013 has come to an end.  Do you have regrets?  Disappointments?  Failures?  Let us not look to the past with sadness, but look to it as a reminder to search God for His ways, His path to guide us, to lead us in this coming year. 

What does 2014 hold for you?

Will it be the same as last year?  Or will it take a new direction as you look to God and His Word for how to live your life this year?  

         Obedience to Him.  

                Trust in Him.  

                        Faith in Him.  

                               Seeing through God's eyes.  

When you make a decision, will you 1st ask God what His desire is for you? 

"Seek the Lord while He may be found;

Call upon Him while He is near."

Isaiah 55:6

Our 1st Christmas ornament I made as husband and wife...

A dear friend made for us, no, I am NOT that talented :)

Tomorrow is January 1st of 2 0 1 4, and I have a few goals for this coming year.  Not resolutions, I break them oh, so easily.  My reading list is very long and I never know where to begin, so I am beginning ONE book, a 1 page devotional a day, working on a Bible study I had already begun, and continuing reading The Valley of Vision of prayers.  

My list for January of 2014...
Mere Christianity by C S Lewis
Morning by Morning by Charles H Spurgeon
Idols of the Heart by Elyse Fitzpatrick
The Valley of Vision by

As a family we are going to read through the Bible again this year together.  We haven't done that in the past couple of years.  It is wonderful with a one year plan or the Chronological Bible to keep us on track.  Each time we do this, I always, always learn something new.  God's Word is always new, no matter how often I read it.

This next year is an entirely new season in our lives as a family.  All of our children have graduated our homeschool, and since we have chosen to not attend college, they are constantly helping and serving anyone who needs them around us and especially with our family and on the farm.  But, our young adults are now looking to see where God would really have them to be, to serve, to help provide for their needs, and especially our son as he will be the provider for a family someday.  

We are in prayer as to God's plan for their and our lives as a family.  God has been so good to us, has blessed us, has provided for us, has loved us, and has shown us constantly His will for us, and we continue to look to Him for His direction. 

Sit down together and discuss what you need as a family, as a couple, and as individuals.  Pray, listen, and surrender...yes.just.surrender.all.

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord.

'For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways 

And My thoughts than your thoughts.'"

Isaiah 55:8-9

What are some of your goals for the coming year?

Books you are going to read this year?
I will have a list of other books I intend to read this coming year later, but I am beginning with one...

Studies you will go through, alone, or with a group?

What will you use for your family worship time?

I would love, love, love your comments and they might help someone else decide what they may read, or do as a family...

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

Frosty Morn

We awoke to a beautiful frosty morning...looking like it just snowed.  God chooses to blanket us with many different versions of His love throughout the seasons.  Take in a bit of His creation and let His grace, mercy and love cover you through this day.

Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!

Silent night, Holy night...

Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

December 1 - Advent: The Coming

Advent

What is it?

It originates from the Latin and means "coming."

Our family is reading The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp, and we are excited because it will lead us through the Scriptures to the "coming" of Jesus Christ.  This is what we celebrate at Christmas time.

Chapter 1 -  It is Advent: Come

"Gaze on shoots of glory to grow deep roots in God.

The theology of the Tree, of the Cross, always seeks the presence of God in the belittled gifts of the world.

The small Babe of Bethlehem, the dismissed Son of God, the stripped and beaten Messiah hanging exposed on the Tree-He begs us to spend the attention of Advent on the little, the least, the lonely, the lost."  (excerpt from The Greatest Gift)

Get Ann's book and cut out the ornaments she has so graciously allowed us to download to hang on our own Jesse Tree for this Advent, this Coming of the Christ, the Messiah.

Our 1st ornament we hung last night on our Jesse Tree.

"Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot-

yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.

And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him-

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding.

the Spirit of counsel and might,

the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the 

Lord...

In that day the heir to David's throne

will be a banner of salvation to all the world.

The nations will rally to Him,

and the land where He lives will be a glorious 

place."

Isaiah 11:1-2, 10

What traditions do you have to await or celebrate His coming?

A book, a devotional, God's word each day?

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

What's For Dinner?

What do you when you want hot dogs and don't want to go outside to the fire pit to roast them???  You roast them over the fire in the house!  How fun!  My wonderful husband sat close to the HOT fire and roasted our dogs. :)

Thank you hubby!  We had fun having such a simple meal!  I love to make adventures out of the simplest things, or if they seem chaotic or difficult, think of it as an adventure, one that may not happen again and make some memories.

What is a difficult situation you have had that you could have made into an adventure and had wonderful memories?

What is a different way your family has had dinner? A picnic on the floor?  On the front porch?  Out back?  Let me know...

"A joyful heart is good medicine,

But a broken spirit dries up the bones."

Proverbs 17:22

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

A Cold Day

Our day began with temperatures in the 20's, so this is what you do for lunch when you still haven't turned your heat on, and heating with only the fire place.  You bring the card table and chairs in front of the fire and eat!  So much fun!  So many little adventures to be thankful for!  What a joyous day!  Even the cat likes being by the fire...

Sarah made spaghetti and meat sauce for lunch and, boy, was it good!  All warm and cozy and food, what could be better?!

What do you do to stay warm?  Blankets? Yes! Fires? Yes! Extra layers? Yes! Fuzzy Socks? Yes! That too!

It warmed up to the 40's so we didn't stay here all day, just in between daily happenings.

What is your temperature where you are?

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

A Day in Pictures

Be encouraged today, be grateful for simple things, love life.  Love. Just. This. Moment.  Love someone close to you and lift them in prayer, smile at a stranger, and be a blessing.

"Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord,
Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
The name of the Lord is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations;
His glory is above the heavens.

Who is like the Lord our God,
Who is enthroned on high,
Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
To make them sit with princes,
With the princes of His people.
He makes the barren woman abide in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 113 

How did you encourage someone today?

Did you pray for a loved one?

Have you smiled more today?

Praise our God!

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

Autumn

(A gift from a sweet friend)

"If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit."
Leviticus 26:3-4

"Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
You will come to the grave in full vigor,
Like the stacking of grain in its season."
Job 5:17, 26

"He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers."
Psalm 1:3

"Preach the word;
be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."
2 Timothy 4:2

Autumn is absolutely our family's favorite season of the year.  The colors of the changing leaves, the gentle, cool breezes, cooler temperatures, open windows, fires at the fire pit with friends, weenie roasts, hayrides, hooded sweatshirts, boots, scarves, hot chocolate and even our hot teas taste better in the fall season.  We love it!  

God is so very good to give us the beauty we are surrounded with, especially in the area of our farm.  We are so grateful and thankful for His goodness.

What is your favorite season?

What do you love about fall, and do you have plans to celebrate this season?

Tell me how God has blessed you this past week?  

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody