Christmas time is here!

So...it's been a year almost since I posted on this blog. Sheesh! Time to get crack-a-lackin' on this! :)

It's 2 days until Christmas Eve. The weather here is nuts...one day it's cold...the next day it's warm enough to wear shorts. But, crazy weather is normal around here. Needless to say, it doesn't feel like Christmas in regards to the weather! :)

One thing I've noticed myself getting caught up in is comparing our household to others. This year we get the blessing of having one of my stepsons here for Christmas which is awesome! Seems we're more focused on love & giving this year than lots of presents for the kiddos which is great, but man, it's hard not to focus on that when you see trees in other households that are full of pretty wrapped presents. The Holy Spirit has kept this verse in my heart:

"Let us not grow weary in doing good for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Galatians 6:9

What an awesome promise, right?! Straight from The God of the universe to me & you! :) God doesn't want us comparing our situations to those of others. We have no clue what they've went through to be in the position they're in, so to compare & be jealous or want what they have would mean we'd have to go through what they have to be there. Umm...no thanks! Sometimes I think my life is pretty rough...until I hear another's story!

God wants us to be content with where we are (Philippians 4:11-13). That can be difficult when it feels you work so hard & have very little (or so you think) to show for it. This Christmas I can be thankful that I get to teach our kiddos about the importance of giving & we get to show them lots of love...love that may be scarce coming from others. :) So smile! Even if the kids don't get a lot of "stuff"...give them a lot of LOVE! That lasts so much longer than the stuff does! :)

Photo credit: Jennifer Woodruff (2009)

It's ok to crave!

God made me to crave! This has been such a relief to learn & sink into my heart depths. I was made to crave Him. It's when I start craving other things more than God that my life gets twisted. I've been going through the Made To Crave online Bible study with Proverbs 31 & it's been such a blessing! Did you realize Jesus Himself gave us an example of how to deal with temptation? So did Eve in the Garden of Eden...except hers wasn't focused on God.

Eve focused only on what she wanted. She didn't look away. Satan had convinced her through her craving, her eyes, & her value that indulging in this would be eternally satisfying. Jesus, on the other hand, focused solely on God. He replaced Satan's twisted truths (or lies) with God's Truth! He overcame!

I've personally struggled with this for years & always thought cravings were horrible...like a ball & chain that I could never get rid of. What about you? What do you do when you crave that junk food, or that next new gadget, or that next promotion?? What thoughts go through your head & what actions, if any, follow??

My Favorite Verse.

Let me just start by saying I have many fav scriptures! One I've held most all my life is Philippians 4:13. The Message version reads, "Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One Who makes me who I am." That verse has gave me hope in so many situations I've faced since I was a teenager. God is able & because I am His child through Jesus Christ, He enables me to make it through ANYTHING! What a promise! :)

I would have to say that for this season in life though, my favorite verse would be Ephesians 3:20. From the New Life Translation, "Now, all glory to God, Who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." In the Message version, it says God can do more than I could imagine or ask or guess even in my wildest dreams! Isn't that awesome?! :) Let's break this verse down...stick with me for just a minute...

First, anything done in God's magnitude can give glory ONLY to God as it is something that humanly we couldn't have done if we tried.

Second, God is able. Do you realize just how powerful that statement is?? God can do ANYTHING. Just like in my life verse. God isn't restrained by limits, especially our limits. We can't put Him in our favorite box. He's bigger & greater & stronger than any other! And that power, if we have received Jesus in our hearts, is in us! Can you believe this?! :) Again, like my life verse...I can do anything when God is doing it through me. WAHOO! :)

Third, I've experienced this part of the verse in 2013. See, in 2012, I had a year from the pit. It started with my grandma passing away on January 8th & just snowballed from there. My husband left me closer to the end of that year (this was the last time he left...we had many times of him leaving & coming back!) & that separation lasted 2-3 months. But then...that's a favorite PHRASE of mine! But then, God caused a miracle. In the first week of January in 2013, He changed my husband's heart. My husband came home & worked ALL YEAR on our marriage & family. I couldn't have asked God for this in a husband if I tried! Kima has worked hard at what's hard in our marriage. He's replaced same-ol-ways with new-Christlike ways! :) It's been awesome & God can be the ONLY One to receive glory! :) Do we still struggle?? Yes! Just like any couple. BUT, God is Head of our marriage & family now, & that in itself makes ALL the difference.

So, now I ask you...what's your favorite verse/quote/song?? Something that's seen you through some really hard times or some really great ones. Please share in the comments as I'm sure your story can help someone in a similar situation that can't find the strength to share right now. ;)

Lots of love,
Jenn

Join me & other ladies for the "Made to Crave" Bible study starting this Sunday! :)