Calling all prayers!

Well, I don't think I have ever done this before, but I guess there is a first time for everything...I wanted to ask for your prayers regarding a health issue that has come up with my husband. It could be more serious that we thought, and I am frantic, to say the least. I can't really go into it too much right now, but if you have a moment, I would greatly appreciate your prayers!

I am neither a calm nor patient person, and worrying is what I do "best". It has been hard for me to rest in God's peace, though I know He would rather I accept His peace that be worried! I want to accept it, I really do, it's just I can't seem to stop being me and asking Him, "BUT wait Lord, what if?"

And then I make the mistake of getting on the Web and doing a little research on this particular health issue and end up feeling even worse than I did before! I am really beginning to believe that ignorance truly is bliss...

I just do not like uncertainty at all!

I will keep you as updated as possible for sure, and thank you again for listening. :)
I already feel a little better...

Blessings,

Celebrating Advent...

This third candle we light this Sunday is the Shepherd's candle.

"And there were some shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'

~Luke 2: 8-12


Can you even imagine? You're just doing your job, it's just another day~ I mean night~ and all of sudden, out of nowhere, there is an angel from God telling YOU that the Messiah has come and where to find him! I would have been terrified too if I'd been them, but amazed that out of every one in the world He could have chosen, God had blessed me with such a gift~ to be one of the first of those to meet Jesus! I love this story of the Shepherd's because it reminds me that God doesn't care what we do for a living, how much money we have in the bank, or if we are "someone" in the eyes of this world...He desires a relationship with each of us. We are valuable to Him. Valuable enough for Him to take on flesh and identify with us and share in our humanity. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around this, it's so wonderful!


Come Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Amen.


I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that this post finds you doing well! :)

BLESSINGS,

Rearranging in the living room...

I have been cleaning and preparing our living room for the Christmas tree we will be getting on Saturday, which meant the need for a little rearrangement of the living room...You may remember me talking about our fireplace and how it drives me CRAZY because the hearth is not symmetrical! We have plans to remedy this~ removing some of the brick on the "wider" side~ but in this old house, the list is long, and who knows when this will take place!

BUT...I needed to move a little table from it's normal place and thought this might be a good spot for it, nestled up in the "extra" space to the right of the hearth...




And I think it just may stay here for a while. It evens out the space and makes it look a little more, well, symmetrical! It also adds a bit of well appreciated lamp light to that side of the room! :)






Okay, I do realize I still have my "thankful" arrangement up there on the mantel, but you see I have just finally decided what to replace it with for Christmas...that coming soon! :)

I sure hope this week has been a good one for you all! AND best of all, tomorrow's Friday! :)

BLESSINGS,

The second candle of Advent

The Bethlehem candle~

Well, I meant to post at least once before it was time to light the second candle, but here it is Sunday already!


I found the wreath I made last year, but couldn't resist adding a little twine bow to the center candle. I love twine...it kind of looks silly here, but in "real life" it looks much better. You'll just have to trust me on this one, though...this is definitely not the best picture...




AND it is really hard to find a "cute" place to take a picture in this kitchen-not-quite-finished! SO with my disclaimers aside, let's light the Bethlehem candle...actually, we'll let my son light it! (With my supervision, of course!)




"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times...
He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be their peace."

~ Micah 5:2,4-5


O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

Now we'll enjoy the beauty of the lit candles...oh, and here's a picture of Gracie's Advent candle holder that she sanded and decorated in Sunday school this morning, and is very proud of! It looks so pretty all lit up! :)




Did you have a good week? I hope so! Christmas time can be so crazy, huh? Already I can feel things speeding up! Christmas is coming, ready or not, in just 19 days! (And a mere 18 if you're on the East Coast right now! :)

Hoping you have a wonderful night,