May your Christmas be filled with the glittering light of faith, hope, love, peace, joy, and grace brought by the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV
I want to give you an early invitation to a New Year’s Eve party….the annual Seekerville ’round the clock New Year’s Eve Party….and a bit of a preview. My critique partner and I will be hosting the 7 pm EST hour of the Seekerville New Year’s Eve party on December 31, 2013. As an early treat, please join me for tea today and try a sample of what we’ll be serving during the party–Fire-Crackers….yummy spiced cheese crackers. My critique partner will be bringing a sweet *chocolate* treat to the party. 🙂
Seekerville (www.seekerville.net) is a special community…..a place where a group of Christian authors offer valuable writing advice and encouragement to unpublished writers. Seekerville celebrates the year’s end with a virtual New Year’s Eve party–giveaways, food (with recipes) and a time for fellowship as we each reveal the “My One Word” we have chosen for 2014. During last year’s party, the book My One Word, by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen, was featured as a thought-provoking way to look at resolutions for the next year. (www.myoneword.com) The challenge is presented to Christians to “Choose just one word that represents what you most hope God will do in you, and focus on it for an entire year.”
Their message calls to me. Last year, I chose LIGHT as my 2013 word. I decided on this word since I wanted to spread the LIGHT of God’s love to others because He is the LIGHT of the world. I believe God did use me as a vessel for shining the light of His love. I pray I will continue to shine His LIGHT in all I do.
Please join us for the party on December 31, 2013. I hope you’ll choose one word that will shine a LIGHT on what you hope God will do in you during 2014.
May your Christmas be blessed with glittering love as you walk in the LIGHT of our Lord!
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
This week, my real life hero and I celebrate our forty-two years of Happily Ever After. We’re gathering at the Old West Book Shop today. In my husband’s honor, I’m serving his favorite Arbuckles coffee (strong) and his favorite treat, Oreo cookies. He’ll be reading his treasured Louis L’Amour books while we’re lingering over coffee.
This is the man who asked me to go to the Junior Prom with him for our first date.
This is the man who still wanted to marry me when I told him I wasn’t able to have children.
This is the man who stood by me as I went through many years of infertility treatments.
This is the man who calmed me as we went through high-risk pregnancies.
This is the man who was by my side both times we brought miracle babies into the world.
This is the man who comforted me when two of our babies went to heaven before being born.
This is the man who is a wonderful father to our two sons, who are amazing men.
This is the man who has always worked hard to provide for his family.
This is the man who delights in being Granddad to the most adorable grandchildren in the world.
This is the man who strives to live a Christian life every day.
This is the man God created to be my best friend, my companion along the trail.
This is the man who is my hero.
This is the man I love.
Blessings to you, DEAR HUSBAND of forty-two years….and forever!
We went hiking recently….in a land that looks like wilderness.
The trail starts innocently enough…a dirt path with unnecessary cairns marking the way.
But as we hike further, the trail turns into the stone of old lava flows.
The cairns become vital to showing us the correct direction.
The black layers of lava are pushed into mounds. Deep crevices split the rough surface.
But here among the rocks of the wilderness, bright desert flowers grow.
How perfect an example of God leading us through the wilderness…with a gift of life at the end.
The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; 2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, The excellency of our God. Isaiah 35:1-3 (NKJV)
So enjoy a trail bar and sip some iced tea from your water bottle as we marvel at God’s blessings.
Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4 (NKJV)
I believe God has a purpose when He puts people in our path as we travel our trail in life.
Years ago on a backpacking trip in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming, we were hiking a trail through a meadow. We hadn’t seen anyone for three hours since we left the trail that circled Green River Lake. We came to a woman standing right in the middle of the trail–not to the side to let us pass or off the trail a ways where her husband was finishing up dinner at their campsite. She waited for us to reach her and said excitedly that she was SO glad to see someone else out there in the wilderness. She hadn’t camped outside of campgrounds before, so just having someone else in the area was a comfort to her. We talked with the two of them a bit, then went just a few more feet up the trail and put our tent up, just over the slight ridge. The next day on our way out, we passed them as they waved while taking down their camp. We crossed paths with them a couple of times as we returned to the trail head.
We learn from others who we meet along the way. At times we help others we find crossing our paths.
Two Love Inspired Inspirational Romance books I have read recently mention this same thought, Mending the Doctor’s Heart, by Tina Radcliffe, and Georgia Sweethearts, by Missy Tippens. These are stories of finding love in our lives, but I think the thought also applies to meeting new people as friends or acquaintances.
Sometimes I don’t understand why a person is entering my life, but God has a plan for us. It’s not my path, but God’s path I am following.
It is good to have companionship along the trail. May I be open to learning from this path God has prepared for me. Blessings to you as we meet along the trail.
Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4 (NKJV)
LIGHT is “My One Word” for 2013
I subscribe to Seekerville (www.seekerville.net), a blog that helps aspiring writers sail from “Unpublished Island” to the mainland of successful publication. Their blog is always timely and of great encouragement. They had a virtual party on New Year’s Eve, featuring the book My One Word, by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen. (www.myoneword.com) They challenge Christians to “Choose just one word that represents what you most hope God will do in you, and focus on it for an entire year.”
Their message called to me. After some consideration, I have chosen LIGHT as my word for 2013. The main reason, or the first one that came to mind as I decided on this word, is that I want to glow in the LIGHT of God’s love for He is the LIGHT of the world. This is a good choice for many reasons which I will discuss in future blogs.
May you walk in the LIGHT of our Lord!
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
I love all the lights of Christmas!
I love the multi-colored lights sparkling on our tree.
I love the icicle lights hanging from the homes in our neighborhood along with bushes decorated with tiny flowers of light.
I love the dancing flames of our fireplace.
I love the glowing luminarias lighting the path for Mary and Joseph.
I love the flickering candles.
One of my favorite Christmas memories is attending church on Christmas Eve as child…..the pageant, the carols, the story of Jesus’ birth….but especially holding the white candle lit by passing the flame from the candle on the altar to each person from the front pew to the back. As we silently left the church, we would shelter the flicking light wanting to arrive home with our candle still shining.
Jesus is that light.
There is a lighted cross in our window this year, a reminder that there is a light in our lives—always.
Our prayer for you this Christmas is that your path is always lighted.
Blessings to you for a shining Christmas!
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Sherida Stewart 