The Smithson family thinks to a different beat on a few things.  One being how the Christmas story is told.  Steven and myself love the traditions of the Nativity story but much of the story is just that– traditions that ADD too Scripture. We personally own three Nativity sets.  Steven loves to dote on the fact that they are ALL far from realistic.  I must admit we have gotten into a few light-hearted “arguments” over how we want the story told to our children.  Steven’s version– facts only.  Mine–  build the basics and then reveal the trivia later. I mean you don’t have to tell them Jesus wasn’t born in a stable when they are two!!!

Regardless, have you been able to do your research this year??  Do I have you totally bewildered by what I’m talking about??? Well here’s a little clip we loved so much we showed to the youth department this morning.  Igniter Media did a great job in capturing both truth and the real meaning of Christmas in this little diddy…  Enjoy!

I’m slacking in blog land these days. Don’t worry though, we are just fine around here!!!  Superhero get ups and princess dresses fill our days with fun.  However, there is ALOT happening right now within our country and in many lives of those around us.  I guess I just feel like it’s better for me to be silent at these times rather than to talk of triviality.  I’m sure I’ll be back full swing in due time! For now though, when you think of us just know we are nestling in for upcoming cold weather and praying for all of the things God is showing His hand in daily.

To those of you that stop by this blog regularly –  know I love you and am so grateful for your thoughts!!  If there’s any way I can be in prayer for you please know I ALWAYS count it a privilege to do so! If there are not any specifics be encouraged this is still my prayer for you:

Ephesians 1:16-23

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of WISDOM and of revelation in the KNOWLEDGE of HIM, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the HOPE to which He has CALLED YOU, what are the RICHES of HIS glorious INHERITANCE in the saints, and what is the IMMEASURABLE GREATNESS of HIS POWER toward us who BELIEVE, according to the working of His GREAT MIGHT that He WORKED in CHRIST when he raised Him from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all RULE and AUTHORITY and POWER and DOMINION, and ABOVE EVERY NAME that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put ALL THINGS under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the FULLNESS of HIM who fills all in all.”

ESV

Sorry about the delay in posting.  We’ve been running quite a bit.  Monica has shown a pretty serious interest in potty training and we’ve begun the battle of weaning her from the passy. Needless to say it’s been pretty exciting around here without mentioning the x-tra’s going on in the rest of the family’s schedule.

Honesty will prevail today.  Along with busyness, I’ve also been mulling around in my heart a few life situations that tend to make me very sad.  Sometimes these things I’ve found can be quite difficult to yank yourself out of and just “move on.” I must say though, God promises to never leave us or forsake us no matter what we go through. If you can take just a few minutes I’d love to share with you how He showed up in my life this morning…

As I drove to my Bible study I had tears streaming down my face. I called a precious friend to ask for prayer. (Jan you’re such a highlight in my life.)  The main reason for my tears was fear of the emotions brimming beneath the surface of my heart.  Pulling it “together” upon arrival, I entered in and put on a great smile. Yet, when I sat down I wasn’t “together” enough for my mouth not to drop at the instructor’s first words.

“Have you ever found yourself in a ditch? I don’t mean in your car but in your life?  You were facing something that causes confusion, despair, depression, ect?  Something that is fractured and you can do nothing within yourself to make it right?

Some people slide into these ditches, others are pushed; some jump in, and some people just plain like rolling around in the ditch.

Life is NOT w/o ditches! Today we are going to talk about how NOT to become a ditch dweller!”

I couldn’t believe it…. It was as if God was speaking directly to me.

Okay so I’m going to break these posts in two parts…. Click on Part Two if you want to read about the points to overcome “ditch dwelling.”

“Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.“

Psalm 112:4

ESV

We’ve been studying the life of Moses. This week found us in chapters 5 and 6. It’s at the point in Moses’ journey that he had first decided to be obedient.  He had gone to Pharaoh as God commanded. Instead of finding blessing he found both Pharaoh and the Israelite people turned on him. Things went from bad to WORSE—all because he was obedient.  Pretty serious stuff!!! I mean most people expect that when you are obedient to God great things are supposed to happen, right?!?!?  Not always…

Anyway- The speaker entitled the lesson. “How to not become a Ditch Dweller.”

These are the points that ministered to my heart.

I. God ordains disappointments to develop our relationship with Him

• God allows ditches or chasms in life to come so that we MUST draw closer to him

• Most ditch dwellers, just like Moses, tend to ask ‘why?’ instead of ‘who?’

* God wants us to look to “who” is in control not the “why” of the situation
* You’ll find as you read about Moses, God not once answered “why” He just told him, I AM and poured forth promises. (chp6)

II. When Life becomes Discouraging and Difficult– Go to God

• Assurance and revelations are ALWAYS there for those who will listen to God.

• Go to God before you go to Friends and Family.  This is when the deepening of relationship with God will happen.

III. God is NEVER discouraged and disappointed by MY discouragement and dissapointedness

• Remember when things go from bad to worse practice speaking to yourself truth versus listening to yourself rationalize situations

• Have you ever thought that God wants people and situations to disappoint us in order for us to get to know Him more

Each syllable of the documentary above impacted my heart this morning.  If you’re in one of those “ditches” I pray they were an inspiration to you.  Check out Exodus 5 and 6! It will make these principles come alive.  Also if you have time watch the video I made below as well.  It’s an old song but was as if I heard it for the first time today! (the pics are from our vacation) God is GREAT….

I’m thinking if you’re like me, the economic turmoil of our day may have you a bit shaken. I watched this video again tonight and wanted to share it with you….  It’s nothing new and cutting edge but it’s filled with inspiration and truth.  We serve a king that is in control of government officials that don’t know what’s going on as well as a King that has wealth unprecedented. Turn up the speakers and listen- If you are a believer this is the King in whom we have hope!

I don’t say this lightly… Steven and I had the PRIVELEGE to be apart of a very special congregation yesterday.  Steven was asked to preach at a small country church where the pastor recently resigned. We had a blessed day with a sense of God’s presence all around!! To God be the glory….

A quote Steven shared from the pulpit yesterday I thought was worth passing on to you.  It is this:

“I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am.”

John Newton  1725-1807

Steven reminded us that we ARE products of our past.  No matter how we might try to bury the things we have walked through(good or bad), those experiences are what has formed our thinking and who we’ve become.  However, because of the power of the grace of God we DO NOT remain prisoner to our past.  God is the great deliverer and giver of hope for a bright tomorrow.  It was such awesome reminder to me….

It was neat to see God bring this excerpt to my attention right in the middle of my “thinking.” It’s from Beth Moore’s Things Pondered . pg.91

“For Today’s frustrated Christian, trying to do all she can do (rather than be all she can be), here’s Biblical permission to resign a few activities–

“whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ” 1 Cor. 10:31

Let’s face it . None of us can do a thousand things to the glory of God. And in our vain attempt we stand the risk of forfeiting a precious thing– EXCELLENCE. Oh, that we might discern the will of God, surrender to His calling, resign the masses of activities, and sell out to do a few things well. What a legacy that would be for our children.

‘and this I pray… that ye may approve things that are excellent.’”phil. 1:9,10

Okay so that’s my lesson for me. God’s reminder to be still, strive for excellence, but don’t strive to be excellent in the things He HASN’T given me to accomplish.

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While out for our anniversary Saturday, we swung by the mall for a few minutes. Steven was looking for something and I was shopped out!!! (I would make a big deal out of the fact that Steven shopped longer than me but the real truth is my feet were hurting in my new shoes.) Plopping down on a bench, I enjoyed some quality “people watching.” It had been a long time since I’d done that. Without my kidos with me, I was still enough to really ‘watch’ the crowd pass by.

Well the mall was packed!!! I don’t know if it was back-to-school shopping or what but there were a million people there. The goth, the Hispanic, the uppereclass society, the psychotic delusional, the unwed moms, the poverty stricken, the elderly, and the countless hopeless eyes passed by. The time on the bench overwhelmed me with the reality of needs. Without question I knew the greatest need was Jesus. Most days laundry, shopping, house cleaning, and keeping my kidos out of the ER consume me!! My moment of being still was a needed reminder there is WAY more than me and my house out there–

Monica was awake at 6:30 today. This is unusual for her. Normally she sleeps until 8:30 or 9:00am. Yes mommies out there, I know that’s FABULOUS sleeping habits!! However this morning her early rising made me a bit sad. It wasn’t because I was missing sleep but because I had set my alarm in hopes I could get up before the kids. I had some things I wanted to talk to God about —- alone. Obviously, my plans went amiss. However, God was good to honor the desire for some “alone” time. Monica was very relaxed and enjoyed some time by herself watching Sesame Street- the very early showing I might add.

Here’s just a tidbit of what the Lord blessed me with this morning–

I really love the names of God. I know I’ve talked about them before on the blog but they are special enough to mention again and again!! Over the summer I’ve been going through Kay Arthur’s book Lord I Want to Know You. It’s been a GREAT study on the names of God! Check out this clip on the name El Shaddai God Almighty. A man name Andrew Jukes is quoted:

“The thought expressed in the name “Shaddai“… describes power, but it is the power, not of violence, but of all- bountifulness. “Shaddai” primarily means “Breasted,” being formed directly from the Hebrew word Shad, that is, “the breast,” or, more exactly, a “woman’s breast.” Parkhurst thus explains the name — “Shaddai, one of the Divine titles, meaning The Pourer of Shedder Forth, that is of blessings, temporal and spiritual…”

If this is seen, I need hardly explain how this title, the “Breasted,” or the “Pourer-forth,” came to mean “Almighty.” Mothers at least will understand it. A babe is crying— restless. Nothing can quiet it. Yet, the breast can. A babe is pining— starving. Its life is going out. It cannot take man’s proper food: it will die. No: the breast can give it fresh life, and nourish it. By her breast the mother has almost infinite power over the child…

[pg. 38 - Andrew Jukes, The Names of God (Grand Rapids, Mich; Kregel Publications, 1976), 74-79]

God is my Shaddai. How about you?

I think all that can stand alone. Blessings~

Sweet event today–

As you know Steven is gone (coming back tomorrow- YAY!!) I’ve made sure I’ve stayed busy this time and one of the things we have done is to make an overnight visit to Mamaw and Papaw’s house. I’m so blessed to have in-laws I can be comfortable in doing that!!

My Father-n-law is a music director in a teensy Baptist church about an hour from where we live. He’s been there almost 5 years and is dearly loved by the congregation and pastor. This morning we got dressed for church and for the first time trekked to Booneville with them for service. Well like I said I’ve never been there for a Sunday morning service BUT I ended up singing in the choir and HAD A BLAST!!! It totally got me reminiscing about my elementary and younger years. We were apart of a itty bitty church family. It was the kind of church that I, as a three year old, got to sing specials in at least once a month. It never matterd if I forgot an entire verse or not, the people always loved me. Very sweet unity in my childhood church as well as the one I was apart of today! This mornings service was followed by picnic on the grounds. Which of course added to the fun memories!!!!

The morning as a whole was such a precious reminder of how God uses His servants in so many different places and stages of ministry. Great reminder to be faithful where I’m at…

p.s. the pic above isn’t the church- just a close visual! My father-n-law’s church is brick and a bit bigger! didn’t want to be misleading!