I heard this song on the radio yesterday, I have no idea the name of it or even who sings it, but the chorus said, (& I dont even know exact words) "empty me & fill me w/ you, Jesus!" Well I've been sick & when I first heard "empty me" I thought, "I know I'm pretty empty...especially after last nite!!! There can't possibly be anything left in me!!" But then as I was listening & the "empty me & refill me" kept singing I was thinking of what I truly needed "emptying" of...fear--insecurity--selfishness--hatefulness--a bad attitude--or bad thoughts. These are just a few things that I should be emptied of. Why do I hang on to them? Some of these things are satans weapons that he uses against me. "Your not____" fill in the blank. Some of them are just things that I hang on to--for whatever reason, their familiar would probably be the biggest reason. So I thought as I was listening to this song, "I need to be emptied & then I need to not just be filled, but to be overflowing w/ Jesus!!!" That is my prayer!! "Overflow me w/ you!! Let my identity always be in You--let my focus be on Your will & not mine--let me lift my family up to You w/ great expectation of what Your going to do in their lives--& let my passion be You!! Always You!!!!" There are so many verses that God gives us on these things!! He speaks to us on them so that we are in Him--on His page!!! But my favorite verse has become Ezekiel 3:26- I will give you a new heart & put a new spirit w/ in you; I will remove your heart of stone & give you a heart of flesh. Did you catch the promise..."I will give you!!" God wants us to be after Him!! I want to be after Him. He wants to take the heart of stone..the un-responsive heart out & give us a heart of flesh!!! That might not seem that exciting but let me tell you what a heart of flesh consist of...a heart that's alive & tender, one that is beating & responsive again. Engaged again--able to believe w/ all that we have & more!!! Isn't that wonderful!!! I was so excited when I read that!!! So glad that I can be emptied of the other stuff so that I can be filled w/ this good stuff--great stuff!! So if you are feeling "full of yuck" & want to be emptied...ask Him. Go to Him & pray that He empties out this old stuff that isn't useful & puts in more of Him & gives you a "heart of flesh!!" Of course He will & how much better we will be & feel when He does!! I know I'm looking forward to it too!!

Luke 1:37- For no word from God will ever fail....I love short verses w/ such big impacts. I think it's so great to know, & I'm sure I've said this before, that God never ever goes back on what He says!! People do that all the time. Whether they mean to or not, they let us down. Sometimes, w/ some people, I've even said (in my head), "I'll believe that when I see it!" And it's mostly b/c they've said something-promised something & they've not come through. It's disappointing at best, but God doesn't do that to us. What He says He means. What He says He's going to do, He will!! His word will not fail us!! We can count on Him--we can take His promises to heart & know they will happen, know that they're true!! I pray this gives you comfort. I pray that it makes your hope & your trust just grow stronger & stronger. That you can go through out your day w/ the godly confidence of who you are in Him--His child & of His great love for you!!! It seems like a good way to not only close out this year--but start the next!!! Makes you just want to say, "Aahhaa!!!! Thank You Jesus!!!"

Luke 2:10&11- But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, The Lord." Merry Christmas to you all!!! Praying the great joy that was w/ the shepherds on that night will be w/ us today & all in the new year!!! Have a presence filled day :-))

Monte & I went out yesterday to finish up on the things we needed. It was a good day, but I will say...I'm so glad we're done. I even have everything wrapped & under the tree!!! Which is huge for me, I'm usually wrapping things on Christmas Eve lol. At midnight!!! Lol. So as I'm listening to the news (I've told you all about Montes love for the news right!?) & they're talking about the hustle & bustle & the last minute shopping & the stores that have extended hours, the on-line places that will "ship in 1 day, but it will cost extra" I'm thinking, "I hope that we all remember why we're doing this. I hope our hearts are full of love & joy & hope, b/c if it wasn't for God giving us the greatest gift--the gift of His Son--we wouldn't even be doing this!!" So here's a little prayer that we each can say, that will hopefully keep our minds on the true reason for this season!!! I love you all, am thankful for each of you!! And I pray your Christmas is filled w/ family, friends, & blessed by our Savior!!! "We're thankful for family & food, we're thankful for gifts & presents--but Father, we pray for the ultimate gift of Your presence!! Amen!! Isaiah 9:6- For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, & the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called (this is my favorite part :-)) Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I was thinking about the birth of Jesus yesterday. I was thinking about the shepherds. Imagine being one of them. Your in the field w/ the sheep, pretty much minding your business and all of a sudden.....Luke 2:9- An angel of The Lord appeared to them, & the glory of The Lord shone around them, & they were terrified. Oh my goodness I imagine they were. They were kinda the last people that got important information anyway & here, right now, they're the 1st!!! So the angel is saying, "don't be afraid. Here's what I'm here to tell you & it is GREAT news!!!" So they calm down, listen, & then say, "okay-let's go check this out!! Verse 16 says, "so they hurried off..." I bet they did. Starts out a normal, maybe even boring night, & then all this excitement--this great news. So they go to Bethlehem & sure enough, just as they were told, there they all are!!! Wow!!!! Amazing!! Now I will tell you I would be just like them, verse 17-"When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, (18) & all who heard it were amazed. I guess so. I bet some people even thought, "how or why did these shepherds get told before we did?" Then when I read verse 20-"The shepherds returned (I'm sure to the sheep) glorifying & praising God for all the things they had heard & seen, which were just as they were told!!" How exciting. I just picture them back to work, but they are different now. They've seen Jesus!! The Messiah!!! Our Savior!!! They are worshipping, heads back, arms raised, maybe even dancing, tears flowing, hearts touched-changed!!! Oh wow!! That makes me so excited!! I picture myself there w/ them, & the joy in my heart can't help but well up, overflow. I want to be like the shepherds. I want to go & tell people all of what God has done & continues to do. I want to do this not just this time of year, but always!!! God is good. His grace & mercy & love are flowing, ready & available for each of us. Let's be like the shepherds. Let's be reminded & go & tell & then let's worship & praise God for all that we have been told & seen & know. Most importantly, let's take that right w/ us waaay into the new year. I know we'll all be so glad we did. We'll be changed-a new & good different, b/c our hearts will have been touched by the hand of God. Oh man!! No better way to be!!!

I don't know about you, but this time of year can just get so crazy. And the older the kids get the crazier it seems. You've got so many different schedules that your trying to work around, that it just seems like nothing is working out. Then you've got presents....your trying to get everyone taken care of & it seems like there's always one that you just can't figure out what to buy them. So you start wrapping & oops everybody has 4 gifts....they have 1!!! It's hectic, it's crazy, this is not how it's supposed to be. These are the things that make people stress out. Well I'm not sure where I heard this or read it but in Psalm 136 God reminds us 26 times that "His love endures forever!!" So I looked that up & sure enough after every thing that is said it follows up w/ "His love endures forever!!" (v1,4,713,23-26) these are a few that stuck out to me, especially last 3... "He remembered us in our low estate--His love endures forever and freed us from our enemies--His love endures forever He gives food to every creature--His love endures forever Give thanks to the God of heaven--His love endures forever!!!" A week from today the hype will be over. Heck my tree will probably even be down lol. But the great thing is, Gods love for me--for us!!--is going to keep going on!! No matter if people like their gifts or not--Gods love is going to continue. No matter if we can all find a time to get together--Gods love is going to endure. Long after the mess is cleaned up--Gods love is going to be what lasts!! His love is what matters. His love is what sustains us!! So as we excitedly await for Christmas morning, let's all remember that God has already given us the greatest gift ever...the gift of His son & that His love truly endures forever!!!

I love the promises God gives us in His word!!! His promises are always true, something we can always count on--stand on!!! My favorite promise, is the promise of Him never leaving us. Have you ever felt alone? Like nobody cares, nobody understands? You're in the middle of a crowded room & just feel lonely. I'm sure at some point we all have, but the best thing to remember is--we never are alone!! God is w/ us through the good & the bad, the crazy days that turn into tired nights, He is present!!! How encouraging & comforting. What great hope we have in Him!! I'm going to leave you w/ a couple verses that I pray will give you that hope today. That you'll be offering up a praise today saying, "thank You for these promises!! thank You for You!!!" Have a fabulous Friday!! Matthew 28:20- "I am w/ you ALWAYS, to the end of the age." Ezekiel 33:14- "My presence will go w/ you, I will give you rest."