Happy New Year!

Wishing all of you a blessed New Year!
Linda

Family

The house is quiet. The house is neat and orderly. The laundry is folded and put away. The cookie tins are empty. They are on their way home. I miss them so much already.

We have had a memory-making few days. For the first time in a long time the whole family (except our sweet daughter who is in Paris) was together in one place. We gathered at Mom and Dad's - four generations of us. As my Dad told his dialysis nurse, "There were fifteen people in my tiny living room, and it didn't seem a bit crowded".

How the Lord blesses. Forty-two years ago, we celebrated our first Christmas together - never dreaming of the precious lives that would fill ours with so much love and joy.












The kids received all of the newest "techno" toys, but the amazing thing was that it was the simple toys they enjoyed the most. This little game, made up only of wooden sticks, was the favorite.
From Great-grandpa;



to Papa;



to Daddy (to some), Uncle Todd (to others);


to grandson. They played for hours. We are nothing if not competitive!


And a coloring book and colors for the two littlest ones.



My heart is full to the brim and running over. I think of all that the world has made of Christmas and realize anew that it is the people - the "more precious than gold" people the Father places in our lives that matter most. We are rich beyond measure because each of these dear hearts belongs to Him. If I had all the money in the world, I would not be able to buy a greater gift than that.

Thank You Father.

Blessings,
Linda

Dream

Dream

A dream set in motion
by heavenly word
A child to be born
she would one day call Lord.
A dream that invited
her heart to take wing,
Seeing the time all would
see Him as King.

Did she see in her dreams
from her small, humble home
A day when this Son would
stake claim to the throne?
Did she even imagine
the way of the cross,
The pain and the heartache,
the deep sense of loss?

Though it seemed like her dreams
had just slipped through her hands,
The Maker of dreams
had a far greater plan.
A dream far more glorious
than any she'd known,
A dream for the ages
to take us all Home.

I, too, have dreamed dreams
that I thought were His will,
And I've stood in the ruins,
shattered and still.
Yet He comes to assure me
that His dream is best
He asks, as He asked her,
to trust Him and rest.

This is my poem for the poetry prompt at L.L. Barkat's blog. Please visit her. She is amazing!

Blessings,
Linda

The Dallas contingent arrives tomorrow. I'll be busy for a few days. What fun! See you soon.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing each of you a Christmas filled with every perfect gift in Jesus. May His presence fill your hearts with joy and peace.

With love,
Linda

"Stand Back"

The days are passing so swiftly. About this time I begin to wish that I could somehow extend this season - lengthen the days - slow down time. I love everything about the Advent season, and I especially love the music.

There is a song we sing at our church that I want to share with you. It was written by one of the most gifted singer/songwriters I know. She is on staff at our church. She blesses me more than I can say. She wrote this song several years ago. I pray the words will minister to you as deeply as they minister to me (I wish you could hear her sing them.):

Stand Back

Some see a baby in a manger, but I see the perfect Lamb of God.
Some see shepherds and wise men, but I see worship from their hearts.
Some see angels in the highest, but I see a symphony of praise.
Some see a star above a stable, but I see radiance and grace.

Stand back, I want to see the Child, the One who'll take my sins away
and make a way to heaven.
Reach out, I want to touch the hands sent to heal my broken heart
and all of my diseases.
Listen, I want to sing a song, "Glory in the highest"
along with the angels.
Stand back I've come to worship Him, I've brought an offering of praise.
This child He is the Lamb.

Some see a man who healed the crippled, but I see the One who heals the world.
Some see a man who was a martyr, but I see the plan of God unfurled.
Some see a fairy tale of heaven, but i see the King of kings in my eternal home.
Some see a God who is distant, but I can see Him seated on His throne.
This child He is the Lamb.

These are the hands that will be nailed upon the tree.
There is the head to wear a crown of thorns for me.
There flows the blood that will be shed to set me free.
I've come to worship Christ the Son.
I've come to worship Christ the Holy Child who brings new life to me!

Stand back I want to see the child, the One who'll take my sins away,
and make a way to heaven.
Reach out, I want to touch the hands sent to heal my broken heart
and all of my diseases.
Listen I want to sing a song, "Glory in the highest"
along with the angels.
Stand back, I've come to worship Him, I've brought an offering of praise.
This Child, He is the Lamb.
Jesus, You are the Lamb.

words and music by Amanda Singer

Blessings,
Linda

Multitude Monday

"And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"
Luke 2: 10,11

I find my heart filled with that great joy as I walk through these days of Advent - joy and gratitude. I have finally learned that this kind of joy has nothing to do with the circumstances I am walking through - whether they are all I had hoped they would be or my worst fears come to pass. It has everything to do with the earth-shattering message delivered by heavenly messengers to the humblest of men.

Four hundred years of silence ended with a tiny baby's cry. The Messiah had come - the Father's gift to a dying world. I am so very thankful He included me.

I am thankful for:

- answered prayer - so unexpected - so humbling - so miraculous.

- seeing my Dad begin to rally and the light return to my Mom's eyes

- my husband who works tirelessly to help my parents without ever being asked

- little granddaughters' welcoming hugs

- the celebrations of Christmas: the music, the Word, the remembering

- watching the heartwarming trend toward giving more of ourselves and less to ourselves

- sharing a cup of tea and Christmas goodies with family and friends

- the strains of "Silent Night" filling the aisles of the grocery store - trying to hide the tears that would come

- kindred hearts warming and encouraging one another - using technology to share the Good News


To join the Gratitude Community just hop on over to Ann's. There is a lovely guest writer there today. You will be blessed.

Christmas Blessings,
Linda

Seeing Christ in Christmas

This week Ann has suggested we share a glimpse of where we've seen Jesus this Season. Our church Christmas Program was this past weekend, and surely I saw Jesus there. I saw Him in the faces of those who sang, danced, played instruments and shared the message of the Savior's birth. He was there as His Spirit filled that place, inhabiting the praises of His people.

However, the place where I have seen Jesus most vividly this Christmas Season is in the lives He has touched with the gift of His own life. I see Him in my husband, delivered from alcoholism and drugs many years ago, face radiating the joy and peace of His presence.

He is there in the lives of those whose testimonies cause the tears to course down our cheeks - lives changed in dramatic ways. The chains of bondage have been broken, and they walk in the freedom of forgiven sin.

I see him in the face of a friend who suffered abuse at the hands of a broken father - a face filled with the love that comes from knowing He is loved by a Father who will never hurt him in any way. His life changed dramatically from one of bitterness and isolation to one of gentle compassion and giving heart.

I see him in the life of a young man saved while serving time in prison - now serving as the Pastor of a little church. His passion for the Savior pouring out in grateful service.

The One whose birth we celebrate knew before the beginning of time itself that He would one day leave heaven to come and rescue us. He saw each life, each desperate heart, and deemed them worthy of the sacrifice He was willing to make on their behalf. I see Him, the glorious Lord of lords, in the face of that tiny baby cradled in the arms of a young girl. I see Him as a young man, as He stepped into earthly time and announced His ministry:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."
Luke 4:18,19

He came so that we might live - and live an abundant life in Him. Thank You blessed Jesus.



Please visit Holy Experience to read more about seeing Christ in the Season.

Blessings,
Linda