IMAGINE

Our children's ministry begins each Sunday in a room all together. Pastor Walt, our children's ministry leader, leads them in prayer and they sing worship songs together before being released to their classes. Today the children sang a song that is a favorite of our family's, 'Imagine' by Rob Biagi. Looking around the room at each precious child while hearing their sweet little voices sing the words to this song, my eyes misted over. Each small child is a miraculous seed of future hope. Oh, what they will do if they give their lives to the one who gave them theirs.

In my 2nd and 3rd grade Sunday school class I make it a point to teach my children that God loves them (John 3:16) and that He has a plan for them (Jeremiah 29:11-13). If they will just put their hand in His, they can't dream dreams big enough for what He has for their lives...and neither can we.

IMAGINE

OUR RADICAL SABBATICAL

Last year on New Years Eve, my girlfriend and I commiserated over our disgust in our 'captivity of activity'. This conversation was the spark needed for what became a year long family experiment. Our 'Radical Sabbatical' had begun. All of 2007, our family went on a journey together. We cut out all outside activities to make time for things like, well, being a family.

The Christian writers website 'Writer Interrupted' will be posting a two part story of our year long journey on Friday and Saturday this week.

I pray not only that you will be blessed, but that it may encourage others to do something as crazy as taking a 'Radical Sabbatical' for themselves.

Where's My Underwear?!?

Change is in the air. As much as I enjoyed Christmas, it is time for me to get busy and take down our decorations in the next couple of days. This winter cleaning has found its way to my blog as well. As you can tell I have changed the template.

My husband found me once again working on my blog and was a bit frustrated. In his irritation, he said he was going to start his own blog called, "Wheresmyunderwear.blogspot.com". I will let you know if or when he gets it up and running.

For now, I must make this short and keep my husband happy...

Blessings, Joanne

MERRY CHRISTMAS

After the harried chaos of opening gifts, our family had a little devotion time together. We hung the last adore-nament on our tree and Paul read the story of the birth of Jesus, out of the book of Luke.

I shared with the children that no matter how excited they were about their gifts today, these gifts in time would lose their undivided attention. These gifts would break, would be lost and were only temporary. As much as they loved the gifts we gave them, I told them that there is one gift that can never be lost, broken or lose its joy in time, this gift is eternal.

Their father and I are grateful that they have received this amazing gift, which is their faith in Jesus Christ. This gift of faith is the only thing that we can live out in front of them and pray that they receive with as much joy as these Christmas gifts. Our prayer is that over time their love of Jesus would surpass even their love of their most precious gift found under the tree today.

On Christmas day and every day, it is our desire for them.

The legacy we wish for them to carry on to their own children one day.

PROBABILITY

Last Sunday morning I was flipping through the TV channels before leaving for church. I was so sad to hear a pastor of a very large church begin his teaching about the gospel of Matthew, the very beginning of the New Testament. He told his congregation, "The first chapter of Matthew is pretty boring, all of those begots and all…Abraham begot Isaac, and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers, And Judah begot Pharez and Zarah of Tamar, and Pharez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Aram…” He went on to say, “If you can hang in there long enough you will get to the good stuff.”

It grieved me to hear that. This pastor had missed such a great opportunity to share with his church. When I was a new Christian I had no idea what this list of names in the beginning of the New Testament was all about. Now I know differently. This list of names is the geneology of Jesus. Just as God began the book of Genesis with the words, “In the beginning…” so he does the same thing here in the New Testament. He starts in the beginning by fulfilling the prophecy of the coming Messiah being from the line of David (Heir to the throne of David. Isaiah 9:6-7). He gives every single name of every relative of Jesus. He not only proves for us that Mary was from the line of David, but that Joseph, Jesus’ father here on earth was also from the line of David. What an AWESOME way to begin the New Testament!

My daughter Meghan is taking a math class this year called, ‘Probability and Statistics’. In this class she takes statistics and then with this information, she comes to a probable solution to the question given. I looked up the word probable and LOVED the definition…”Having more evidence for than against, evidence that inclines the mind to belief but leaves some room for doubt.” God has given us so much evidence of His existence. We will always have those moments where we may doubt. Praise God, through His Word and prophecies fulfilled, He has given us very little room for that. Our faith does not have to take a very big leap at all. This morning I have included a list of just a few of the prophecies of Jesus.

There are over 300 prophecies of our saviour in the Bible. Again I must repeat that I have included just a few below. I have also included below, an excerpt from an interview with Josh Mcdowell on the internet called ‘What are the Odds'.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

"What is the probability that just eight of these prophecies could be fulfilled in one individual? Dr. Peter Stoner, in an analysis that was carefully reviewed and pronounced to be sound by the American Scientific Affiliation, states that the probability of just eight prophecies being fulfilled in just one person is 1 in 10 to the 17th power.

That's 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000!

Now maybe your minds go that high, but mine doesn't. So let me give you a visual picture of what it is. Take the state of Texas and fill the entire state two feet deep with silver dollars. Then take one silver dollar, mark it with a big red X, toss it back into the pile, and use bulldozers to mix up the entire state of dollars.

Then, blindfold a person, and starting at El Paso on the western border, let him walk the entire length and breadth of the state, from Amarillo to Laredo, all the way to Galveston on the Gulf of Mexico, stopping just once on the way to pick up a single silver dollar out of that two-foot-deep pile, blindfolded. The probability that on his first attempt he would pick up the silver dollar marked with the red X is the same probability that just eight of these prophecies could be fulfilled in any one individual!

In other words, it is nearly unthinkable to imagine that eight Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah could have come true in one man-let alone the sixty major prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth-unless, of course, he is "the Messiah, the Son of the blessed God," the One who was and is and is to come (Mark 14:61; Revelation 4:8)."


JUST A FEW PROPHECIES FULFILLED...
Tenakh/Hebrew Scripture New Testament
His pre-existence Micah 5:2 John 1:1, 14
Born of the seed of a woman Genesis 3:15 Matthew 1:18
Of the seed of Abraham Genesis 12:3 Matthew 1:1-16
All nations blessed by Abraham's seed Genesis 12:3 Matthew 8:5, 10
God would provide Himself a Lamb as an offering Genesis 22:8 John 1:29
From the tribe of Judah Genesis 49:10 Matthew 1:1-3
Heir to the throne of David Isaiah 9:6-7 Matthew 1:1
Called "The mighty God, The everlasting Father" Isaiah 9:6 Matthew 1:23
Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1
Born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:18
His name called Immanuel, "God with us" Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23
Declared to be the Son of God Psalm 2:7 Matthew 3:17
His messenger before Him in spirit of Elijah Malachi 4:5-6 Luke 1:17
Preceded by a messenger to prepare His way Malachi 3:1 Matthew 11:7-11
Messenger crying "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" Isaiah 40:3 Matthew 3:3
Would be a Prophet of the children of Israel Deuteronomy 18:15 Matthew 2:15
Called out of Egypt Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:15
Slaughter of the children Jeremiah 31:15 Matthew2:18
Would be a Nazarene Judges 13:5; Amos 2:11;
Lam. 4:7 Matthew 2:23
Brought light to Zabulon & Nephthalm, Galilee of the Gentiles Isaiah 9:1-2 Matthew 4:15
Presented with gifts Psalm 72:10 Matthew 2:1, 11

MERRY CHRIST-mas!

Magical Reindeer Food

Ingredients

2 cups of oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup red or green sugar crystals
1 cup each of love, hope and faith

Preparation

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

Sprinkle your magic reindeer food on your lawn on Christmas Eve after dusk.

PEACE ON EARTH

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phill.4:6-7


Christmas cards not finished, shopping for the angel tree left undone, two angel outfits to create, twelve pound cakes still to make…frazzled, you might say so. So why was I so surprised yesterday that I had a meltdown after being told by my son that he had forgotten his science project at home? Already at his school, car still idling, his head peeking in the passenger side window...I was not only irate, dare I say I was dressed in sweats and a sweatshirt, greasy hair, glasses on, bra off and morning breath extraordinaire.

Driving back home yet again to pick up my sons’ work, I was on the phone with my sister in a flash, almost in tears, commiserating about my stresses. After receiving some welcome comfort, I then called my best friend and my ‘Elizabeth’. She told me to just stop! She asked if I had been in the Word yet this morning. I told her I had wanted to, had given her the excuses why I hadn’t and then was quiet as she shared what she had read in 1Peter that very morning. I was touched that God had blessed her so, but was a bit irritated that she didn’t share the same comforting words that my sister had given me, nor had she justified my behavior…ouch!

When I got home I gathered up my Bible, ‘My Utmost for His Highest’, ‘Streams in the Desert’, and my journal…I was packed and ready for war. I had my nuclear weapons aimed and ready. Of course only minutes into my reading the Lord spoke right to my heart. As much as I had wanted to make this Christmas about Him, it was slowly becoming about everything but.

In just minutes I was feeling like I could breathe again. Perfect peace washed over me, that peace that surpasses all understanding, so much so, that I fell asleep. Those that know me, know that I am a morning person. I never fall asleep at 9:30am, 7:30pm maybe, but never 9:30am. My husband came in to find me in a state of heavenly rest that surprised even him.

My 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines peace as; a state of quiet or tranquility, freedom from disturbance or agitation. The only way to feel ‘Peace on Earth’, is to know Him. If we are not feeling this peace then we are walking too far away from the one who gives this surpassing tranquility so freely. May His peace be with you today!

(The picture of my Christmas angel was taken quite a few years ago.)

BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes

Merry Christmas and Welcome to BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes.


Come on in, welcome to our home. I am so glad you stopped by. This is my first 'Boomama Christmas Home Tour', so come on in, let me take your coat.

This is our entryway and one of the favorite parts of our home. My husband almost had a stroke when after painting our whole house I pulled out this old farmhouse window to hang. It is such an eyesore to him, but simply beautiful to me. The scripture we had stenciled on our archways was after being inspired by a teaching on Deuteronomy 6:9, "And thou shalt write them (the Word of God) upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates." This scripture is a welcome sight to other Christians and a repellent to non-believers...or door to door salesmen.


This is our Charlie Brown Christmas tree. We go to the same Christmas tree farm every year and my wonderful husband tries to get the cheapest price possible. This year it cost us $20, and it shows. Friends come from miles around to see our tree and laugh.


This is in our kitchen area.



This nativity scene was my family's when I was growing up. If you look closely you can count all of the chipped noses and missing ears on the sheep and cattle. This nativity is very precious to me.



This chandelier hangs over our kitchen table. I found it in my neighbors garage, she was going to throw it out. I just love it.


One of my all time favorite movies...It's a Wonderful Life!



Yes, even the kids bathroom gets a little bit of Christmas cheer.



Thanks for stopping by, I know you have lots more stops to make...Merry Christmas and God Bless us everyone.


(The Family-Christmas 2006)

MAKING ALL THINGS NEW

“Behold, I am making all things new.” This is the first part of Revelation 21:5, and one of my most cherished scriptures in the Bible. These words from God are ones that I try daily to hold close to my heart. In return, I have watched in grateful wonder, as they have become a reality in my life. The Holy Spirit has used this promise as a thread through His needle, weaving together a garment of beauty from the ashes of poor choices and sinful blunders that I was making for so long on my own. As long as I continue to write this blog, you will find these words somewhere upon its pages. After receiving an email from my girlfriend Susan, once again these precious words came to mind.

Susan’s email was so full of joy that I found myself grinning from ear to ear while sitting alone at my computer yesterday. Her son Eric had just graduated from MCRD (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) in San Diego. Like the proud mom that she is, she shared pictures. Her bubbling excitement was contagious, as she told all about her oldest child and his great accomplishment, “Not only did he complete 13 weeks of Marine boot camp, he excelled. Graduating as an Expert Shooter (scored 225 out of 250) and qualified Level 2 at Water Survival.” Her words glowed off of the page.

Last year at this time Susan wasn’t overwhelmed with proud elation, she was heartbroken over a son who had chosen the wide path towards a future of heartache. Eric’s life was not supposed to be this way! He had always been a good son, a great student and a leader in his youth group. His aunts and cousins were shocked and hurt as Eric continued to fall deeper and deeper into a lifestyle of addiction, while bringing his heartbroken mother and siblings along for the ride. All of the dreams she had had for her son seemed to be slipping away. For three years he became someone that she didn’t even recognize, the complete opposite of the son she once knew. Whenever I would see Susan and ask her how things were going, her tears were always close to the surface, yet she never let on that she was in a living hell, she would just ask for my prayers.

As I continued to read her email yesterday, her words of joy pierced my mom-heart, “My first glimpse of him through the crowd I almost didn't recognize him. Since the last time I saw Eric he has lost 45 pounds and I swear he is a couple inches taller, but I think that has to do with how straight he stands now. There isn't just a physical change, but I can see a confidence in him that I've never witnessed before. He uses words like honor, commitment, integrity, brotherhood, future...encouraging words for a mother who wasn't sure where he would end up.”

Once again God’s words flashed, “Behold, He makes all things new.” God is saying, “Just watch and see what I can do.” He is the God of new beginnings, the God who breathes life into dead things, and He is the only one that can turn a life of heartache into a rich and indescribable blessing.

THE MAN-COLD

My friend Mari at http://marislittlecorner.blogspot.com/ had this on her blog. I just had to share.

A man-cold reaches across the vast expanses of the universe. All women no matter what race or creed, will get a laugh out of this!

ADORENAMENTS

We try to do a morning devotion each day before the kids head off to school. At Grace's request, we are now doing these each morning as a countdown to Christmas. They are a product from Dennis Rainey's 'Family Life Today' organization. There are twelve different ornaments representing twelve different names used for Jesus. I have let the children each take a turn at reading the little devotion inside each ornament and sharing what it means to them. After reading, they get to place the ornament on our Christmas tree.

Our children still have the chocolate advent calendars every night after dinner, but this new family tradition I pray will become a lasting one. It has been such a blessing to bring Jesus front and center where He belongs this season.

**I checked and found out that they no longer sell these through 'Family Life' (they were a gift from Papa and Nana), and I couldn't find them on Ebay or Half.com either. Dagnabbitt!**

Do you have a traditional countdown to Christmas that you do with your family???

"Santa, can you please give me..."

...a gameboy."



...my own soccer ball."


...a .22 rifle." Santa told him, "It is a possibility, but you have to promise not to shoot down any of my reindeer."


...a hard bound copy of Gone With the Wind."


Will Santa come through on Christmas morning? Well...I am pretty much done with shopping for the kiddies and I must admit that two of our four children will be disappointed on Christmas morning if they have their hearts set on only this one thing they asked for. I will give you a hint as to who these children are...their names rhyme with 'Famuel' and 'Mavid'....

PRAISE REPORT

I spoke with my Aunt Judy last night. She was out of surgery and on morphine. Her ankle is now held together with pins and it looks like she will not be able to walk for about six weeks. She started to cry when I told her about all you gals who were praying for her. THANK YOU!

I told my aunt that sometimes "He maketh me lie down in green pastures"! She is always doing so much for everyone, now she is being forced to take a much needed break. Of course this wasn't how she had planned to rest.

Thank you again sweet sisters for lifting her up in prayer yesterday. She said she felt them.

Prayer Request

My phone just rang a few minutes ago, it was my cousin Courtney. My Aunt Judy fell last night while leaving church with my uncle. She broke her ankle in three places and is in surgery right now as I type this.

Please lift her up in prayer. I am teaching Sunday School this morning so it is going to be hard to keep my mind off of this.

Thank you in advance sweet friends...

A Glimpse of Christmas Past...

PART II 'Streams in the Desert'

This is part two of the devotion below. I pray it blesses...

We once heard a simple old man say something that we have never forgotten: "When God tests you, it is a good time for you to test Him by putting His promises to the proof, and claiming from Him just as much as your trials have rendered necessary."

There are two ways of getting out of a trial. One is to simply try to get rid of the trial, and be thankful when it is over. The other is to recognize the trial as a challenge from God to claim a larger blessing than we have ever had, and to hail it with delight as an opportunity of obtaining a larger measure of divine grace. Thus even the adversary becomes an auxiliary, and the things that seem to be against us turn out to be for the furtherance of our way. Surely, this is to be more than conquerers through Him who loved us.
A.B. Simpson

I just have to share...

Though I do not at the present moment have my feet to the refiners fire, I have heard it said that either you are coming out of a trial or heading into one. My sister Jennifer has said, "What we are going through, we are growing through."

I love the book 'Streams in the Desert' by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. While perusing in her book today I found a devotion that has blessed me. I have included it below just in case there is any one out there who could also be blessed by it.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

The question often comes, "Why didn't He help me sooner?" It is not His order. He must first adjust you to the trouble and cause you to learn your lesson from it. His promise is, "I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. He must be with you in the trouble first all day and all night. Then He will take you out of it. This will not come till you have stopped being restless and fretful about it and become calm and quiet. Then He will say, "It is enough."

God uses trouble to teach His children precious lessons. They are intended to educate us. When their good work is done, a glorious recompense will come to us through them. There is a sweet joy and a real value in them.

He does not regard them as difficulties but as opportunities.

Not always OUT of your troublous times,
And the struggles fierce and grim,
But IN-deeper IN-to our sure rest,
The place of our peace, in Him.

Annie Johnson Flint
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART II Tomorrow!

SPECIAL DELIVERY

In my opinion, the U.S. Postal Service has overlooked what could possibly be a very profitable mode of mail delivery. I am surprised that our government would miss such a golden opportunity and such cash cow potential. After many inquiries, I have discovered that moms all accross America have frequently used this form of communication with their family. What am I talking about you ask…bathroom-mail of course.

I must admit, like the Loch Ness monster and Big Foot, I had heard rumors about a bathroom mailman when I had my first child. I had even been warned by many ‘expert mothers’ that not only would my alone-time in the bathroom become a distant memory…I would also experience bathroom-mail from time to time. So why was I so shocked when my first delivery was slipped under the door by a four year old little girl in 1995?

Since then my mail carriers have been both male and female, some cute and some not so cute (those would be my teenage mail carriers). I have had letters, homework, permission slips, report cards, birthday invitations and even notes of affection slipped under my bathroom door. I have begged, pleaded, cried and even screamed at them, “RETURN TO SENDER!” all to no avail.

From one experienced mom to any newbie moms out there, remember, your alone time in the bathroom is now a thing of the past. ’Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor the shrill screams of an exasperated mother can keep away bathroom-mail...Not now, not ever…

The Girl's Holiday Getaway!

My sister Jennifer and I hit the road early Saturday morning. We left seven children with our darling hubbies and headed back to where we grew up. We drove two hours back to our old stomping grounds. We called it 'Home-Tour 2007'. Our main goal was to see Anita Renfroe (you know her as the youtube 'Mom's Overture' gal) at my girlfriend's church on Sunday evening. I included the youtube performance of the 'Mom Overture' at the bottom of the blog, just in case you are one of the few who have not seen it yet.

Before we got to the Christmas party on Sunday evening, we drained a whole tank of gas visiting family and friends. From Long's Drugs to the local Greek Restaurant, there was not a single place we stopped where we didn't see someone we knew. That song from the TV comedy 'Cheers' sums up going home for me....

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

The icing on the cake was getting to hang out with our Grandma,our aunt and having a LONG lunch with my mom's dearest girlfriend. We had so much fun last night at Celia's church for their women's ministry Christmas dinner. I have included lots of pictures below. The funniest one is of my sister Jen and Anita Renfroe. Make sure to read the caption on that one!


Me, Anita and Jen after her show last night. She is really a sweet lady.


Jennifer...checking out Anita Renfroe's gorgeous hair-highlights. Jen is a hairstylist and just couldn't help herself! Anita was more than happy to oblige my sister!



There were over 100 tables of GORGEOUS! That is all I can say! It amazes me how our God has created us all to have our own ideas, our own creativity...WOW!!!




Have any of you gals seen these ice cube thingamajigs that you freeze and put in glasses...they are lights that blink in your goblets, so cool!





This table was a group of Anita Renfroe fans...they went ALL OUT. There were pictures of Anita Renfroe in their glasses, on their chairs, they even wore black glasses like her. I didn't know whether to laugh or to encourage them to get some professional help.




The gang's all here! This is some of our group from our table last night.


If any of you get a chance to go to one of these at your church or a friend's church this year...DO IT.

Then let me know when you post your pictures!

Warning: Blogging Can Cause Pruning

While blogging last night I made the mistake of not waiting until all of our children were in bed first. At 7:50pm I absent mindedly sent one child into the shower, helped one with a spelling test, while unconsciously saying prayers with yet another. 8:00pm is bedtime in our home and I thought ALL of our kids were in bed.

I was still blogging at 8:16pm, when I heard my youngest, Samuel(age 6) scream, "MMMMAAAWWWMMMMM!" My world quickly came into focus as I realized that the shower was still going...with him still in it! I ran into our bedroom and pulled him out of our shower. Soaking wet and wrinkled like a little prune, he curiously looked up at me as I threw a towel around him. My mom guilt was at an all time high as I apologized to my sweet boy, and kissed his cheeks over and over while drying him off. When out of one squinted eye, he looked up and asked, "How long were you going to keep me in there?" I started laughing and hugged him tightly to my chest. He squeezed out of my grasp and with a worried little smile, emphasizing each word, he asked "No, really mom, how...long... were...you...going...to...keep...me...in...there?"

Mother of the Year 2007? Not a chance...