Our present - His presence.

The one who came to save His people from their sin has been celebrated this month.  I pray that He is born in our hearts each day as we follow Him.  The focus of the past days for me has been on family and celebration.  I have enjoyed being present for family gatherings this year instead of just having a short phone call during the events.  Really, presence is what this season is all about.

He came as a baby.  God wanted to be with us.  He wanted to be present.  He became our present that we celebrate every year at least for a little while.  He still wants to be present to us today and every day.  He wants us to know Him and His presence in a real way.  Counting my gifts this year has helped me to do that.  I hope you have found ways to help you enjoy his presence in your life too.

As the year comes to a close, I have a few more gifts to list.  God is so good and I have enjoyed this year of listing my gifts.  It has helped me to stay focused on the giver and  on how blessed I am.  This is a habit I will keep, but I may not list all of them here.  I will keep counting though and periodically share a few with you.

1102. Christmas cookies made

1103. We can draw near to his throne without fear!

1104. Cat in a box

I fits!  Really, I do.

Why you takin' my pitchur?  I'll shoot u wit my laser beam saucer eyes! 

1105. Singing His praises with friends.

Joy To The World!!

1106. A handmade gift from a friend.

1107. No car trouble and a safe drive to IN.

1108. Snow at Mark’s!

1109. Family! (missing one very important person though)

1110. Baking with Mom and Dad.

1111. Shopping for the feast with the whole family – what messy joy.

1112. Card shark Dennis!

1113. Christmas gift shopping.

1114. Family and tenderloin sandwiches.

amazing my cousins are so old and hadn't had these before :) 

1115. The Annual Family gathering – I’m here to enjoy it!

1116. Late nights and drinking it all in to save for more solitary times.

Yes - 2 games of Euchre going on in this picture.

1117. God is coming!  He is near! He is here!  He is coming again!  All at once!  Alleluia!!!!

1118. Sharing the light and remembering He is the Light.

1119. Worshiping with family.

1120. Celebration of real Love.

1121. A new family member met and loved on.

1122. A dog and her present.  Missing Chewy!

His favorite sleeping spot

last Christmas in Lodwar 

1123. Les Miserable movie – Grace rejected or accepted.

‘to love another person is to see God!’

1124. Blizzard and loving the snow.

1125. Slowed down restful day.

1126. Unexpected extra day with my parents.

1127. Brother’s love – shopping and returning things with me.

1128. The cold and snow scenes all around – seen and felt.

1129. Dinner with family.

brother, cousin, me, great aunt and another cousin taking the picture

1130. Icicles on striated cliffs in KY.

1131. A beautiful tree - bare white branches on a dark trunk.

1132. Safely home in TN.

1133. Just breathing.

1134. Pondering a movie or two.

1135. Church with friends and lunch after.

1136. Gumbo taste explosion (to spicy for me!)

1137. Italian food and friend time.

1138. Broncos win!  Clinch playoff advantage!

1139. A new year coming!

1140. His multitude of blessings this year!!! 

He loves us so!  It is so easy to miss the evidence when we don't examine our days.  Praying for a bright New Year of His presence in my life and in yours!

linked with Ann

  

Tis the season of...

A season of joy and a season of sorrow.  A season of pain followed by great delight.  A season of fear and awe followed by rapturous praises and running to see.  A season to know that the darkness has not and will not overcome the light.  A season of the here and the not yet.  A season to relive and anticipate Theopany - God's coming.

This is a season of many things.  Often these things are mixed together.  Sometimes these things can even seem opposed to each other and yet they stand together in history and in our hearts.  This seems to be especially true in light of recent tragic events.  Words cannot express the emotions about this event.  I'm thankful the Spirit will utter these groanings and sighs in prayers to the Father.

I pray for those closely connected to these events.  I pray for the impact it has had on so many people that are only connected by these deep emotions all across the world. I pray for healing and wisdom.

At the same time, I give thanks to the Lord that we are told that the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome the Light (John 1:5).  I am thankful that God came in the form of a little child and that he promises to come again.

In this season of so many things, I am also thankful for many small ways that God has blessed me.  I share these with you and hope that you might find your own ways to see how the small, ordinary everyday things around you are really gifts from his hand.  Enjoy the list!

1043. Window shopping with Indy

1044. Christmas lights

1045. Candle scents

1046. Outdoor World – amazing!

  

1047. Relaxing kitties.

1048. Time with family

1049. Deer in the yard

1050. A safe flight to Indiana

1051. Help from a friend

1052. New projector for ESL

1053. Made it to church on time in spite of my car not wanting to start (again!)

1054. The projector worked (mostly) for my presentation at church.

1055. Potluck dinner fun with the folks at MPCC of Hall

1056. Meeting a possible new Turkana teammate on the way to TN!

1057. Car didn’t strand me in Corbin, KY as it didn’t want to start for quite some time.

1058. A nice new apartment

1059. Help with my non-starting car and moving in to my new place

1060. A car loaned by friends for me to use.

1061. A rolling heater loaned for the cold coming soon – I hope!

1062. Advent Market fun

1063. An unexpected gift to make creative things

1064. Lunch with friends I unexpectedly met at the market

1065. The songs of the season

1066. Branches found for my Jesse Tree

1067. Storytelling and Jael’s story

3 gifts from the savior

1068. A robe of righteousness

1069.  His presence with me

1070. A beautiful day to enjoy with others

1071. On the way to Bethlehem

1072. My name written on the Palm of His hand and never to be forgotten. Isaiah 49:16

1073. A beautiful park to walk in

Can't believe the warm weather in December!

1074.  A fun baked goods auction

1075. Come, Lord Jesus, bring your peace

1076. Lunch with good friends and the Broncos win again!

1077. Sharing baked goods bounty with my new neighbors :)

1078. They figured out my car problem – A new crank sensor and I am good to go

1079. Help picking up my car

1080. Lunch at Freiberg’s German Restaurant

1081. Wandering through a music shop with Laura and Jerry

1082. A Season of Joy concert – what fun!

1083. Talking about a class – to take for credit or not??!!

1084. Aunt B’s – good food and memories with friends

1085. Carolling with DCC folks

1086. Many old treasures found in long stored things

1087. Lunch with Carolyn and Beth

1088. Fun times with Kathy and friends

1089. A very hard thanks – Bring your light to this dark world!

1090. The Hobbit movie with Yance

1091. Sword packing angels!

http://joshuaruthbarron.cmfmissionary.org/2012/12/09/the-angels-carried-swords/

1092. A beautiful sunset

1093. Journeying with Mary and Joseph

1094. My little Christmas tree found at the dollar store

1095. Praising the Lord with His people

1096. Sunday afternoon naps :)

1097. A fun ornament

1098. Dessert at the Mad Greek Restaurant

1099. A visit to Bristol Motor Speedway

1100. Dinner with friends

1101. The reason for the season

I pray that you are finding the time to focus on the real reason for this season in the midst of all its busyness.  It is a great stress reducer!!!

Linking up with Ann