A most wonderful time

I took a long break for the holidays (obviously).  It was a hectic month but a great one as well.  Work was ever-stressful, but I found peace and rest with my family and friends.  I ate a lot, laughed a lot, reflected on Christ's love a lot.

I can't believe another year is drawing to a close.  As I head into the new year, I'm praying for renewed passion, renewed joy, renewed vision for His plan for my life.  I'm asking for more of Him and less of me. 

I love that a new year is dawning.  With it, so much hope and so much expectation comes.  I am excited about things that will be new, things that will change and the things that are steadfast.

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

Laudable Links: 3rd Edition

Can you believe it's December? So, in honor of "the most wonderful time of year," this Laudable Links is Christmas-themed!

RECIPES

• Cathie Filian's How to be Domestic blog always has great ideas.  I love these recipes for chocolate-dipped goodies.  They would be so cute wrapped up to give as gifts.

(photo from How to Be Domestic)

CRAFTINESS

• This adorable yarn ball wreath is super simple to make.  The Pleated Poppy's tutorial is easy to follow.

(photo from The Pleated Poppy)

• The Crafting Chicks have a great tutorial for a cute-as-pie Christmas Countdown Garland with fun daily tasks to prepare for the big day!

FLUFFINATION (this phrase was coined by my friend Wanda and means "the art of fluffing the home")

• PeasandCarrotsToo's etsy.com store has these adorable Christmas tree napkins for sale.

(photo from PeasandCarrotsToo on etsy.com)

• The Inspired Room has a great post about How to Decorate a Christmas Mantel.

GOOD FOR THE SOUL

• Advent season is upon us.  I posted earlier in the week the link to the outline that I follow. Here it is again.

• Another book that is an excellent resource is by Nancy Guthrie. Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus can be found HERE.

Traditions

Christmas is officially here! I love this time of year.  It's full of fun and meaningful traditions and the opportunity to love on your family and friends a little more!  Over the past few weeks I've been taking part in some "traditions." Some are silly and fun while some are serious reminders about the true meaning of this time of year, but all remind me how blessed I am.

An annual shopping trip with friends around Thanksgiving...12 years running.

Celebrating Thanksgiving and taking family pictures.

Decorating the tree while watching a favorite Christmas movie.

Reading Scripture for Advent. I follow this outline.

Drinking Peppermint Mocha creamer in my coffee out of my Christmas mugs.

What traditions do you and your family have around this time of year?

HELP! Has anyone seen this table?

Hey, all! I need help finding a match for this end table. I got this one at TJ Maxx and cannot find for the life of me where it's originally from. Have you seen it?

(Please forgive the doggies toys...they are everywhere!)

Time (for a) Change

Since daylights savings time ended and time changed a little while ago, I have been thinking about how quickly life changes with its ebbs and flows.  More than a year ago, I moved into this apartment and, for the first time, had a place of my own.  In the past year, many things have happened.  Some friends got married, some friends had babies, I adopted a dog, I became a member of a great church, there have been changes within my workplace, etc.

But, honestly,  I feel as if I have not changed and not grown like I really want to, especially in my relationship with the Lord.  I want my relationship with him to be ever-growing and ever-changing.  I want to learn new things from Him everyday, and I want to find new-to-me gems from His Word.  But, this year, I have felt stagnated.  Like I'm treading the same water over and over again.  Learning the same lessons again because I apparently didn't learn them well enough the first couple of times.  When something happens again and again after I think I've let it go, I begin to wonder what God is doing. Is this a test or is it something new that He is orchestrating in my life? I want answers.

It's not that I need change in my personal or professional life (though I wouldn't argue if that were to happen), but I need movement in my walk with Him.  I need a revelation of Jesus.  A revival.  A renewal. A deeper understanding of my identity in Christ.

While I was in college, the mother of one of my "favorite families" told me about a prayer guide book that she had used for several years.  I immediately went online and ordered it.  I have used it for several years.  It's called For the Family by Sylvia Gunter.  You can find it here.

In the little booklet are amazing prayer starters and resources, but there is also a "Renewing Your Mind in the Word" section.  With this tool, you read five Psalms and one chapter of Proverbs each day.  It's so cool because daily you are provided with promises from Him, praises to Him, wisdom from Him and a sound reminder of Who He is and who you are in Him.  What a blessing God's Word is!

So as I am trying to weed through what God is doing in my life right now and what He is trying to teach me, these Psalms and Proverbs continuously remind me that His plan is higher and His Word is continually alive and active, speaking to all circumstances and life situations.  In Him are all the answers.  He is the answer.

Dig in.