Thanking God for 2014

For me this year has been an eye opener. The Lord has shown me what I need in my life to be happy, what I need is Him. I am so thankful for my new found gratification for being home with my children. I have learned without a doubt how to be happy at home. Maybe it is because my children are still young and I just had to get use to it all to enjoy myself. I realize that the Lord made this possible for me this year and I am beyond grateful for this. Nevertheless He gave this gift to me this year among many other blessings. I cherish all the memories made with family this year. Thank you Lord for these wonderful memories. Thank you Lord for my children, this year and all years!

Here is a graphic design/poem I wrote about the wonderful Gifts God has given to me.

If for some reason this image does not appear or it is difficult to read, I will post below.

These Gifts

I’m astonished that the person you saw fit was me. Forever blessed to just be considered worthy.

These gifts reveal the purpose in which you created me for. Giving me a glimpse of who YOU really are, everyday I’m determined to know YOU more.

These gifts allow me to see that you are exquisite, with you there is no limit.

These gifts are so divine, I am so overjoyed that they are mine.

Of all the gifts you have given, my heart grew full when you gave me my children.

* © Lauren J. 2015 – All Rights Reserved

***

Next I would like to share:

New years resolution  New year PRAYER.

Again if that didn’t appear here it is.

Lord,

My prayer  for the new year is simply to know you more. For the world to know you more. I pray that all the decent and kind people I have met (and not met) who laugh at the idea of you, soften their hearts. That they give you an opportunity to come into their lives. A lot of people say hurtful things “in your name” which turns these people far away from you. I pray that these people will let down their, “scientific & logical” wall for just a moment, to feel Your love. It truly is undeniable when you feel it. Although doubt may still be there from time to time I pray that your love will grow inside of them until they never want to live without it again.  In Jesus’ great name I pray, Amen.

Many blessing to all in 2015!

-Lauren

Glorify our King

Christmas is in just a couple of days! I have to stop myself and remember what this time is all about. I need to give praise for the birth of our savior. The world needed Him and I always need Him.  I don’t want to even think about the world without Him and thankfully I don’t have to.

I understand not everything in our modern-day traditions are accurate to the actual birth of Jesus.There is controversy on the time, location and all other small details. They are small details because it really doesn’t matter, what matters is that we give honor and praise for the coming of our King.  Our savior’s birth regardless of the details, is momentous and deserves our celebrated recognition.

I just wanted to take a moment to share a couple of things.

First, is the “reason for this season”.

He is the reason for the season not only because of His birth but because we would be so consumed in our sin that we wouldn’t have any reason to celebrate anything.

Second, is what I’ll call a “poem?” that I wrote (with my husband’s assistance).

 © Lauren J. 2015 – All Rights Reserved

One last thing.

Luke 2:1-21 (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

5 suggestions for growing our faith

Seeing how this is my very first post on wordpress I wanted to start out with my main purpose for this blog. This blog is my journey in Christ. I will be sharing some personal thoughts and goals in Christ that I am applying to my life.

I also have a passion for art and I am just learning how to use adobe so I am also going to be sharing along the way.

Just keep in mind I am a beginner with graphic art. Hopefully I will make progress.

1st

Live for Him. Do not hesitate in fear of how being Christ like will benefit you. Follow with an open heart to show Christ to the world. Instead of pausing to consider the benefits in it for you. I’m suggesting to just live for Him, not for yourself. Of course make responsible decisions. He won’t ask you to do anything irresponsible in my opinion. I am just suggesting we not act with alternate motives such as, fame and riches. Just do it knowing it is what Christ would want us to do.

2nd

Stop turning away when you are content and have nothing to ask for. Unless I am the only the one, when I have nothing to ask for is when I tend to let my faith take the back burner. When things like money and health are good I forget to seek him and thank Him. Its a constant cycle and I never feel content for long when I don’t seek Him. I’m suggesting to just cut out the “content” attitude. It doesn’t last long anyways. It’s good to be content in life with what you have. But I think it’s a little different to be content with our relationship with the Lord.

3rd

Always seek Him, everyday. I saw this quote somewhere that said something like, “He’s the key in the morning and the lock at night.” or something like that. I’m just saying talk to Him and thank Him, everyday. I am so grateful for all of the wonderful resources for seeking him. Music, books, online picture quotes, and online sermons.

4th

Talk about Him, Do not be Ashamed. Let all that I say and all that I do to point back to the Lord. I want the intentions in my words to always point back to Him. We need people in our lives that we can talk to about the Lord so to evaluate this, I say just go for it. I am suggesting to speak about him to your friends and family how ever it comes up naturally. My friends in the past were not so excepting but I don’t care anymore. He matters more to me than anyone else. To not speak up because you are afraid of offending someone, is offensive to God.

5th

Live for Him, Show Christ through your actions. Let your actions show who you are and it will be apparent to everyone that Christ leads it. You don’t have to go around telling the world who is most important to you, just show it. One of the biggest compliments I ever got was when I was a teen and someone told me they could tell I was a Christian and that faith was important to me. I found it strange how someone could know that without having a specific conversation about it but it was a blessing to hear that.

This is just a challenge for myself. if you would like to participate, go right ahead.

-Lauren