JOY

     Happy Christmas Season everyone!

     I keep being reminded to choose joy: from the Tuesday afternoon kids program at church, to my devotions, to my planner, to the decorations at my job... to constantly choose to be joyful, even in the midst of this insane thing called life.

     This is a crazy time of year, but honestly, it is my favorite. I love everything about the holiday season. But it is so easy to get hung up on the "holiday season" - shopping, traffic, nasty people, addressing cards, endless hours of running around, wrapping gifts, gatherings and parties, exhaustion, the credit card bills to follow, the weight gain from all the times you said "Well, just one."

     We get so stuck on all the stuff we dislike that we forget to enjoy it all, even the things that drive us crazy. Sitting in traffic gives you time to listen to more Christmas music; the more cards you address, the more people you can call friends and family; the endless gifts you have to wrap are ways to show people you care about them; all the parties and gatherings, and everything that goes with it, are reminders of how many wonderful people you love and have around you.

     Enjoy this beautiful season. It does not last very long. Appreciate every bit of this holiday time, even the parts you hate. Cherish those special times because the memories will last when those people or traditions are not around anymore.

     At the heart of the season is Jesus. "Jesus is the reason for the season!" The center of Christmas is Christ: the Son of God came down to be a Son of man. To live here and love and save us. Remember that this Christmas season.

     And choose joy.

2016... Knowing Him.

   How was everyone’s Christmas and New Years? The week of Christmas was ridiculously busy, but in a good way. I had my company’s Christmas luncheon the same day my sister and I had our annual Christmas party! (Pictures to follow.) Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were both quiet and peaceful spent with friends and family and I was even able to get a bit of homework done Christmas evening. A few days before the new year, I was sick with some sort of 24-hour stomach bug and thankfully, I’m beginning to feel better. I’m still a little achy and tired, but overall, much better.

   The year ended on a good note: our college Sunday school class was able to get together for breakfast on New Year’s Eve which was wonderful. We don’t get to spend a lot of time together because so many are busy with jobs, school, or live out of state. But I’m so thankful that we were able to spend some time together. Later that afternoon, my best friend, whom I haven’t seen since the end of July (!!!), drove up from down south and spent New Year’s with me! Finally able to catch up in person and share things that happened in the last five months was incredible, and then we ended the year at my church, taking part in Holy Communion right at midnight. There is nothing like beginning the new year with God.

   Our church’s verse for this year is just the first five words of Philippians 3:10… “that I may know Him…” Our pastor said how, yes we want to know about our God and that in itself is marvelous, but our goal, our resolution, should be to not just know about Him, but to actually know Him. It struck me how I may know Bible facts, I may know characters and stories from the Bible, but how much do I truly know Him?

   Personally, I do not make resolutions, mainly because I have no confidence in myself to keep them. I’ve gone two, maybe three weeks keeping my goals and then I fall off the wagon. As people kept asking me what I was going to do in the new year, I began to think of this year and how many times I failed to turn to the Lord when I should have. Then, someone out of the blue asked what my favorite Bible verse was… of course, there are tons, how could I choose?! I was reminded of the Scripture that I have been given several times over the last eight or nine years of my life.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk, and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31

   Patience is not one of my strong points (not sure if it ever will be). But my promise for 2016 is to turn to Him in those moments when I cannot handle anything else. When this world becomes too overwhelming and I feel myself falling, I can turn for one more ounce of strength, one more ounce of faith, to my Father. This world does not offer a remedy to those moments and situations, all they can give is a temporary fix, a distraction. But, my God can offer the solution: HIMSELF ALONE. So that became my promise to myself: in my moments of panic, distress, loss of trust, worry, stress, I will take the time to pause, give Him everything, and wait on Him.

   I pray that if you make resolutions, you are able to keep them with God’s help and that you, my dear readers, will grow closer to our Lord. Take time this year to actually know our Creator. Not just know about Him (which is awesome!), but to know Him.

May you be blessed in 2016!

~Abby

(There was no copyright with the picture, but I wanted to note that it is not mine.)

Busy & Blessed

     It's the most hectic, crazy time right now and not just because of the Christmas season... I realized that when people ask me how I am, I always say busy. I've been saying "Good, busy, you?" for probably the last five years of my life. Maybe it's the just this time in my life, between being involved at church, college, trying to have a little bit of social life, and everything else. Honestly, I'm one of those people who need to be busy because otherwise I am incredibly lazy. So yes, while it's exhausting, I don't think I could not be busy. But that's when this passage comes in as a great encouragement:

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. ~ Galatians 6:6-10

     While I do not always want to be this busy, maybe this is God telling me that while I can, I need to use this time for Him. Yes, I get stressed out over it all at times, but honestly since I have been listening to the Lord's voice more and more over the lat few months, the busyness and stress has a point. It's not just me making myself crazy. I have this time and I have to use it wisely.

~ Abby

Christmas meditations...

merry Christmas to all!

just a few thoughts about Christmas...
family.
friends.
music.
food.
sleep.
presents.
movies.
games.

most important... the birth of JESUS.

shine His light into the world around you this season.

have a wonderful rest of 2014!

blessings
~abby

sisters.

A song & a prayer

CHRISTMAS!!! IT'S HERE!!!!! FINALLYYYY!!!!!!

Now that I got that out of the way, a post on Christmas. I wanted to share a Christmas Carol today and I couldn't pick one... then I got it. 

"Away in a Manger"

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.

It tells the Christmas story so simply, a child can understand. But it also has meaning for us older ones too, the children in heart! ;)

The third verse, especially the last line, contains a simple, yet wonderful prayer! Something we should ask on a daily basis: "Fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there."

I'm not going to talk about it because it is self-explanatory, but maybe in your own heart, ask that of the Lord today. Jesus, fit me for heaven so that I can live with You there!

Christmas Time is Here...

It's the most wonderful time of the year!
There'll be much mistltoeing,
And hearts will be glowing,
When love ones are near!
It's the most wonderful time of the year!

~Andy Williams

Not only is it the most wonderful time like the songs says, it's also my favorite time of the WHOLE year! I love the sounds, the cold weather, the music, the lights, the trees, the business, the overall excitement! It's just a happy time. At least for me. I still get a little perturbed over the traffic and nastiness of people who don't enjoy the season, but I know that there is a good reason to celebrate!

I had a conversation with someone at my workplace last week. This person is not a Christian, dislikes anything to do with family, friendships, and holidays, especially Christmas. She was commenting on how when I "grow up"and "go through bad situations" I will understand why she hates Christmas and I won't love it as much as I do now. I said that I would never not love Christmas or this season. But I bit my tongue because I didn't want to "preach" at her. (She knows I am a Christian.) This little interlude made me realize even more how lost this world is. I love Christmas for the reasons I stated above, but I also love it because it tells us the beginning of the story of our Saviour. Jesus Christ came down from Heaven where He was sitting next to His Father to save us and this sinful world! What a pitiful sight we must have been! Yet, He came down here because He loved us!

I never want to lose the real reason behind Christmas. I never want to lose my joy and happiness throughout the craziness of this season. It's a time to be blessed and to bless other people!

Well, my Christmas Eve was quiet and rather uneventful. I am suffering with a slight cold, but it hasn't prevented me from the celebration! Last night we had our candlelight service at church. (Picture at left, sorry it's edited but it's the only one I have!) We had a video going on the screen of a yule log! The tree and Nativity scene on the piano was looking spectacular with all the other lights dimmed in the church! We had had dinner before service at Grandma's then returned there after the service for dessert and presents. But the biggest surprise was when my cousin and my aunt showed up at my grandparents' front door! They flew in all the way from Arizona to spend Christmas in Jersey! It was a great surprise and it was wonderful to spend some time with them!

Christmas Morning! Because of this cold, I was up at 4 am, but I didn't get anyone else up until 7:30am. We dressed and went downstairs, all sitting on the couches to listen as dad read the Christmas story from Matthew. Then, the presents. Books, calendars, slippers, sweatshirts, a wafflemaker, bobbleheads, giftcards and more were all in the mix! It was so fun to spend time with family! Then the extended family came at 10. (My dad's parents and sister.) We had brunch! So yummy!

 We had muffins, fancy coffee cake, a German breakfast dish (far right) that I can't pronounce, lol, and quiche: spinach & swiss, and three cheese!


We also had blueberry bread and a bowl of fruit! Delicious!

 



Here's Opa and Oma after eating talking to Mom (not pictured.)

                              Aunt Linda and Dad chatting in the kitchen.

Elizabeth working on her guitar. It's all tuned and ready for her to start teaching herself!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to wish you all a Happy Christmas, as they say in Great Britain, and a Blessed New Year!

~Abby

 

Elizabeth (right) and I
 

Christmas Time is Here

Time flies! It's the holidays!

Well, I have not posted anything for over a month! It is now the first of December! Christmas is around the corner. What are your upcoming plans for the holidays? How have you been, my readers?

Since I last posted, Hurricane Sandy came through and destroyed most of the East Coast. There has been much damage here in Jersey. We were safe, thank God, but I have a few friends who were affected. I would appreciate prayer for them. There are so many people who were affected and lost so much and many lost everything. It's a time for Christians to step up and help others. Don't just read about it or watch the news. Prayer is always good, but sometime, we need to get up and do something for others. God is faithful!


Thanksgiving arrived with full force. We had a full house: nine of us around the table! It was enough, believe me! But it was a great time! Two days before Thanksgiving however, my family and others from our church put together and delivered our Thanksgiving baskets. We filled up boxes with food for the holiday, including a turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and pies, and delivered it to families in our church and in the area to people who were suffering financially. It was such a great blessing to us to be able to help them at this time.

Our Thanksgiving, as I said, was great! We had the works: turkey, rice dressing, stuffing, sweet potatoes, veggies, cranberries, pies, cake, cookies, ice cream, etc! After the majority of our company left, we had a number of teenagers and young adults at the house to have some desserts with us, play some games, and just be together at the holidays!

Two friends slept over from Thanksgiving and we went shopping on Black Friday! Unlike the people who were on line at 3am, we slept then went to the mall around 10. It was busy and crowded, but not too bad. We got a lot of Christmas shopping done! It's always more fun to do things around the holidays with other people than by yourself. At least that's my opinion.

The majority of my Christmas shopping is done!!! So happy! Aside from ordering a few things here and there, I have all my presents done! Now I just have to wrap them all... the joys of the season!

Well, I promise to post soon about Christmas!

Merry Christmas! ~Abby

past couple of days...

Christmas Day was really, really, awesome! We opened Christmas presents- I got mostly clothes, and a curling iron :) We had a hour church service and then went over to my grandma's house for dinner. But the best part of the whole day was when that night my best friend and her family came over. We laughed, cried and watched a movie.

The next couple of days were really busy. I had work every day. Monday and Tuesday were really long, but Wednesday and most of Thursday were pretty uneventful. But last night (Thursday) I was able to go out with my best friend and another really good friend of ours to Starbucks. We needed that. Just time together to laugh. AND THEN I SLEPT OVER HER HOUSE!!!! Sorry, I'm very excited.

Right now, I'm actually at her house waiting for breakfast. But I probably don't thank God enough for her. She will always be the best friend I could ever ask for and I don't tell her enough. But I hope she knows that.

Okay. I better go. I'll blog later or tomorrow.

Really quick- song of the day~ Healing Begins

Previous postings to deleted blog :P

My blog somehow got a gadget added to it that I couldn't remove so my previous four or five posts are below. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Merry Christmas!




12/24/11 at 10:14 pm.

It's 10 o'clock on Christmas Eve. My sister is staying in my room for the night, and we're listening to Christmas songs :) I really can't stop listening to Christmas music!

We had our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service tonight at 6. We sang a lot of songs, read from Isaiah 40 and Luke 2. My favorite verse from tonight was this- "The glory of the LORD shall be revealed. And all flesh shall see it together..." What a wonderful promise! God's glory will be revealed to all! What a glorious hope that He gives to us! Thank you, Lord for all the wonderful promises You give us! Sometimes we forget that He is coming back to fulfill all of His promises. He has already given us so much- His Son, Jesus Christ, love, joy, peace, food, clothing, family, friends, and the Holy Spirit! 

Well, I shall say G'night! 
A Merry Christmas to all!

12/24/11 at 8:10 am.

It's Christmas Eve! I can't wait!

I've been up for a while tossing and turning for some reason, but now I'm up and getting ready for breakfast at my Oma's!! (That's German for grandma) I'm thinking red sweater with my black jeans. Anyway....

MY Christmas song for the day is...Andrea Bocelli- The Lord's Prayer

Beautiful song for the Day!

In Him,

Abby

12/23/11 sometimes in the evening.

So it's the day before the day before Christmas!

I love this time of year! The music, the lights, the joy, and so much more! People seem to be a little different around the holidays. Sure, most people are grouchy some are in a rush, and some are just plain unhappy. But people forget to easily what Christmas is really about. It's not just the presents, and the food, and the movies, the pictures, seeing friends and family. There was a little Baby who came to earth over 2,000 years ago. Most people even then didn't know He was here. Most thought it was another ordinary day. But what they didn't realize was that day would change the course of EVERYTHING on earth. Nothing would ever be the same again. And why? All because of a little baby, born in a stable, in Bethlehem. "And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!" So this Christmas season, let's remember who it was that came to this poor, lost world, all to save such wretches as us. The presents, lights, music, food, games and everything else is nice. But HE is the real reason for Christmas! 

In Him, 

Abby

12/22/11 sometime in the morning.

Today... 

I am coming to realize that I am not strong enough to handle everything on my own. God only can do that. He creates a plan for your life and then acts on it. That's when it's hard to follow Him. It's in these times that we learn to lean on Him more.

The song below is really how I have been able to go through this last day and a half. God's plans don't always make sens or seem right. But He knows BEST.

Strong Enough

I have a busy day, but hopefully I'll be able to post again :)

Love in Him,

Abby

12/21/11 late that night.

..............hmmmmm........ a new beginning........ 

I had another blog on here but my life has been changing a lot and I didn't post for months at a time. :/ ill be posting more on here though. Ill give a more detailed posting later but below is my song for the day :)

Our God

In  Him, Abby