Emmanuel God is with us

In the joy and in the pain
In the pressure and the promise
In the fun and the frustration
In the wonder and the worry
In the love and the longing
In our grief and loss
In all of our 'firsts' and 'lasts'
He is here.
With us in it all
Immanuel

~Jo Saxton

Here are a few of my favorite quotes, songs and lyrics for the Christmas season.  Have a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah and a wonderful New Year!

                 

        Lyrics to 'King of Heaven' by Hillsong United.

                                                           You tore the night apart

                                                 And ripped the silent skies in half
                                                Your glory breaking through the dark

                                                      And here our worlds collide
                                                          Divinity in man confined
                                                   This great design drawn out for me

                                                                     Emmanuel
                                                                    God with us
                                                                     Emmanuel
                                                                     Hallelujah

                                                        You hold the ends of time
                                                     Yet placed Yourself here into mine
                                                       My life is now forever changed

                                                            Our eyes be lifted up
                                                       Our great eternal hope arise
                                                   This great design drawn out for me

                                                                     Emmanuel
                                                                     God with us
                                                                     Emmanuel
                                                                      Hallelujah
                                                                          
                                                                     In our silence
                                                              Heaven whispered out
                                                                   In our darkness
                                                              Glory pierced the night

                                                                   We were broken
                                                                But now we're lifted up
                                                                     King of heaven
                                                                 God is here with us

                                                                       Hallelujah
                                                                Angels crying aloud
                                                                      Singing holy
                                                               All the praise resound

                                                                    King of Heaven
                                                               On the Earth be found
                                                                    King of Heaven
                                                               On the Earth be found

                                                                       Emmanuel
                                                                      God with us
                                                                       Emmanuel
                                                                        Hallelujah
                                           

Simple music can make you sing, a simple hug can make you feel better, simple things can make you happy. I hope that my simple HI will make you smile.~Ritu Ghatourey

Can you listen to this song without smiling?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXMFopMSsxc
Christmas Everyday by Unspoken

Share a smile with those you love and pass it on! ツ

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Luke 2 :10

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
Isaiah 9:6

Letter to my daughters

Here's to strong women.
May we know them,
may we be them,
may we raise them!
~unknown

  A new baby girl quietly observing the world with her bright eyes and warm smiles.  This is my new granddaughter that arrived this last summer.  A pretty little thing, absorbing the world through her blinking eyes and long lashes.  Wondering what she really sees in that observant little mind of hers.

I think back at all the strong women I have come to know and in the past and how much I have learned from them.  I was always insecure growing up so I know God has placed some amazing woman in my life that have been wonderful examples for me.  My husband was also a really good father to my two girls as they were growing up.  He was very involved and hands on in their lives and instilled in them a healthy self esteem.

A few hand painted pendants I did for an event.

I admire woman that are strong, quiet, but bold and know who they are in Christ.  Never limiting themselves in boundaries defined by others.  They always realize that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them, and never cease to stretch those boundaries and do amazing things.

 

“A woman with a voice is by definition 
a strong woman.
 But the search to find that voice
 can be remarkably difficult.” 
~Melinda Gates

One of my
daughters
proofread this post
and I didn't get a
"Duh, Mom". :)

Some keynotes...

*If you fail, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again, get gritty!
*If anyone tells you that you can't do something, prove them wrong.
*Don't be afraid of trying new things, have courage!
*Never give up, (adjust your sails if you need to) always persevere.
*Be kind but don't be a doormat! (set boundaries)
*God's love is your measuring stick. (Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket)
*Live by the fruits of the spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control.
*Pursue God wholeheartedly.

A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.~Max Lucado

 

My girls have a good sense of who they are but there may be other woman (or girls) out there that don't.  I hope you find this post to encourage you to understand your value and to make the changes in your life that honor that.  Walk in victory in the assurance that Christ died for you and trust Him with your shortcomings.  He will make a way for you to walk in victory over your present circumstances.

As you admire the wonderful things God has made today, remember you're one of them, wonderful inside and out. You are blessed, you are special, you are loved. ~unknown

I would love to see women finding their voice and embracing their unique qualities. Not for women to feel that you have to be a carbon copy of what the world says is worthy but to be all that God created you to be and walk that in all the stages of life.  He made you for a purpose and until you discover what that purpose is, just follow and trust that God will lead you.  Our worth is not in what people say about us, it is what God says about us.

In Him we find our greatest advocate,
our sense of worth,
our greatest love.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, 
such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 
 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, 
the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
 which is of great worth in God’s sight.

1Peter 3:3-4