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To All the Mama’s……
10 May
O Holy Night
24 Dec
~ O Holy Night~
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn”. Hope, our great hope in Jesus Christ who came to the world in the most humble and lowly ways to be our sin bearer and to give us hope (Google Jesus and hope). When there seems to be nothing left to give, feel, or even take-we still have our hope in Christ and Christ alone. His mercies are new every single day! Amen!
“Chains shall He break,for the slave is our brother. And in His name all oppression shall cease”. He came to break the bondage of sin and Satan’s hold on us. There is a constant struggle of things that can hold us in bondage-grief, food, drugs, alcohol, p*rn, and just about anything else you can think of of this world. “For the slave is my brother” With Christ, you see a brother or sister in place where you might of just seen a prostitute, a drug addict, a beggar, a Muslim or Jew, or any other undesirable or different beliefed person we live among. To love them, so that even if they don’t seek or know Him, they will recognize Him in us.. Oppression of worldliness will no longer weigh me down in spirit and will cease to have any hold on my life.
Our Savior came to be the light of the world (John 8:12) and to save us from sin (Matthew 1:21). Rejoice with greatness and gladness that our Savior lives and our Savior brings with Him hope and life.
Merry Christmas. May you be filled with renewed wonder about the babe in the manger who came to live among us and die for us.
I leave you with a few versions of my favorite song-take a minute to really hear the lyrics and see how it resonates in your soul.
http://youtu.be/4Zh-yR0pbmU
http://youtu.be/lKSknasrE3k
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
Image courtesy of [dan ] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com
Continuing to Love Every Age
14 Nov
As many of you know, I LOVE my birthday! It is a great time to reflect on the year past, to see where I was, where I am, and where I am going. Our culture reveres youth and anything over 30 as a has been. I disagree! I think we need to celebrate every year and thank God for the privilege of age and wisdom! Aging is inevitable. No matter how much you dwell on it, wish it away, or daydream of your younger years, they are not coming back. So celebrate! Be proud of your age and wear it to the glory of God! You never know when it will be your last, so make it memorable not only for you but for those who love you!
I am so grateful that 37 years ago today I was born! I am grateful for all the experiences, all the tears, all the laughter, for all the things that built endurance and character, and mostly for God’s faithfulness through it all! Today I celebrate and wear my age with pride.
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
Age 37
You can find me on Pinterest
Image courtesy of [ tiverylucky] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com
A Letter to my Daughter…
13 Oct
The world will tell you that beauty can be found in a certain bra size or certain jean size but the truth is is that beauty is found in your heart size. Let me be honest, you will be judged on these and so much more and it will sting. The enemy uses those weak spots, those areas we are most conscious about to wiggle his way in and whisper destruction to your soul. Don’t be fooled or transformed by the vainness of the world but rather inspire true beauty even when it is hard or ignored or mocked.
Women, in particular, are digging themselves into pits so vast that they can’t find their way out. Their struggle to conform is killing them. Maybe not always physically but emotionally. Searching for that one magic thing that will all of a sudden transform their lives from mediocre to magnificent.
It’s amazing the depths we will go for vanity or pleasure and how shallow our efforts are toward the Lord. Proverbs 31:30 reminds women that our physical beauty will fail us all eventually.
We are so busy chasing someone else’s best 10 seconds that we lose sight on how terrific our life can be. Until we center our focus on the Creator and let Him lead us through the beautiful mess of life we will never find the magnificent we are looking for-it doesn’t exist apart from the Lord!
When you start to see yourself and your life through the eyes of our Creator you will be transformed by the marvelous creation you are. It is then that you will truly see and understand your gifts, talents, and the greater purpose of your life. Matthew 10:39 reminds us that if we are only concerned about finding ourselves first you will never will but if you pursue the Lord first you will find both Him and you. So pursue the Lord with eagerness and expectation!
Fill those cracks and gaps in your armor with the life giving words of God and focus your efforts on becoming who He says you are! Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and hold you accountable. God never intended us to make this journey alone. Female friendships in the media are always portrayed as conniving, selfish and, jealous. Women using and abusing each other in hopes of gaining power and popularity. Don’t buy into the lie. Sisterhood, when Christ centered, can be one of the biggest blessings of life.
It’s not always easy but with that foundation of Christ in place whatever the stumble, you have that compass always pointing you back to the arms of the one who makes everything beautiful….even the broken and messy.
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
You can find me on Pinterest
“Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.
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It Also Looks Like This
30 Aug
I would like to introduce you to Thomas. He is the 8 year old best friend of my son Jacob and the son of my dear friend, Joelle. These precious boys have been friends since diapers and are definitely two peas in a pod. They love to be together doing all those neat things little boys like to do. They run, climb, and jump and when they have done all of that, they fall into a heap laughing like only innocence allows. No matter how much fun they have the same conflict always arises. There is a constant disagreement with Thomas’s mind and his legs. After a short time of boy play Thomas starts to get an all too familiar ache and stiffness in his legs. He wants to keep going but his little body says no. You see, Thomas was born with Muscular Dystrophy, Becker Muscular Dystrophy to be exact.
When we think Muscular Dystrophy we automatically think of young, wheel chair bound, gravely ill, children or more recently, ALS, thanks to the recent awareness from the ice bucket challenge. Becker Muscular Dystrophy usually presents itself slow and steady. Thomas has experienced gradual changes in mobility throughout the years but the changes are definitely a challenge not only to Thomas but to his family. Without a cure, his days of depending on his arms and legs are numbered.
Thanks to MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association), they have been able to access state of the art services, help, and support they need to help Thomas strive. Great breakthroughs have happened thanks to the research grants and clinical trials and studies they have been able to fund. The MDA association has given hope to families when all seemed hopeless.
This weekend, when you flip through your TV channels and see the MDA telethon, would you please take a moment and make a donation. Even a small donation helps in giving hope to families like Thomas’s.
Our greatest prayer is that Jacob and Thomas can experience being old men together and that their laughter will continue to fill our lives for all of our days.
I am inspired by this family’s courage, their joy, and mostly their faith. If you would like to learn more about MDA or would like information on how you can help just click on the link. http://mda.org/ Have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend!
If you make a donation we would love to thank you! Please use #mdaforthomas on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
Come see what I am Pinning
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Frogs and snails and all the Wonderful Things Little Boys are Made of
5 Jul
With an extra goodnight kiss he will roll over and easily fall asleep just like most nights. I will retreat upstairs and watch the clock and time will pass all too quickly. I will sit and think of precious thoughts like sweet baby breath on my neck, those far too early mornings rocking a well fed baby watching the sun rise, and that one book I read 3,000 times…..and I will think how I would give anything to just do that one more time.
Babies don’t keep and neither do kids. The years fly by, one quicker than the next and in the busyness you all of sudden think, “we are here, already?”.
I smile thinking of those first moments and years.
Tonight, in this dark room, I think of how he is now…smart and handsome as his daddy. Persistent, hard working, and loyal, character traits well beyond his years. He is a saver and a planner, so much so that his life is already planned. He is funny and goofy and his laugh brightens a room faster than the summer sun. He is brave even when he doesn’t feel it and he is always observing on how he can be his very best. He is kind, thoughtful, and tender hearted to those who are hurting or lacking. He would give you his meal, his favorite toy, or the shoes on his feet-he sure teaches me what it means to have a servant’s heart. He loves Jesus, soccer, chicken kabobs, chocolate fudge ice cream, his hero-daddy, his big sister’s, Ninja Turtles, but right now mostly his mama.
He is getting so tall but he still fits in all the crooks and spaces of my lap and even though these snuggles are getting far and few between when he finds me he knows it is all his. His sweet head resting on my shoulder I close my eyes as I rest my head against his,breathing in the sweet smell of little boy. Fleeting but lost in the moment for this will soon be just a tender memory.
Tonight as the clock quickly finds its way around a sweet little boy is dreaming sweet thoughts of presents and cake. For when he awakes he will be 7.
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
Come see what I am pinning!
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Remember to Pray
4 Jul
Happy Independence Day!
I am reminded today to take a moment to reflect on the tremendous blessing it is to be an American. That despite all that seems to divide us here we are truly blessed to enjoy the freedom of difference.
We can easily take for granted that as Christians we can freely declare, worship, and proclaim that Christ is King without fear of persecution.
I am asking you, my brother’s and sister’s in Christ, to remember our persecuted brother’s and sister’s who are being persecuted but still hold fast to their beliefs no matter what the cost. I wonder if I would be so bold for Christ if under the same pressure.
Prayers for our soldiers who bravely give…… sometimes everything to protect the flag and country they love.
Have a wonderful celebration!
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
Come see what I am pinning.
“Image courtesy of [nixxphotography] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.
Copyright © 2014 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com
Connecting in a Disconnected World
20 Oct
We are such a fast paced busy society. The 21st century has us overbooked, over stressed, and completely disconnected with each other. We are families with busy careers and too many activities. The time spent face to face with each other is being replaced with being shoulder to shoulder in the car distracted by some sort of gadget. I Pods, cell phones, and video games have replaced real human interaction. Families used to treasure the time around the dinner table just sharing and talking, creating strong family bonds. Now, it’s a race to throw something in the microwave or visiting the drive thru in between activities. We are losing the true purpose and beauty of life and our families are missing out on the deep bonds that make family so precious.
Don’t get me wrong, I love social media. I have reconnected with friends, “watched” families grow through shared pictures, and kept up to date on all the happenings of family and friends near and far. I love reading blogs and having answers to questions only a Google search away. But, I am not cultivating real relationships by starring at a screen all day, actually just the opposite is happening. We are becoming an anti social culture losing our ability to have meaningful person to person relationships.
Having a presence is social media is fantastic and can be incredibly beneficial. It is a great tool to reach masses, connect, and network. Placing limits, especially for our children is vital. We need to give them plenty of opportunities to be disconnected and let them have the chance to develop organic imaginative play, learn social cues and interaction, develop critical thinking skills, proper communication skills, and time to build lasting strong relationships. In order for my family to see the value of disconnecting I have to demonstrate healthy social media habits.
I found myself slipping lately. My son called me, “laptop mommy” the other day, YIKES! I don’t want to be remembered as the mom who wasted her day in front of a screen “Liking” someone else’s memories; I want to be making my own. Imposing healthy limits on myself will keep me mindful of what is valuable and meaningful. The importance on being present in your home and limiting outside distractions be it social media or too many activities will have positive impacts on children especially as they grow into their teen years. Having meals together and making time for each other will greatly reduce the likelihood that your children will abuse drugs and alcohol and they will experience a greater sense of joy and satisfaction not just with their family but life in general.
I am making the commitment to reconnect and be present with those I am with and focus on things that have eternal value.
What are some steps you take to limit computer, cell phone, extra curricular activities, etc..? I would love to hear from you! As always, thanks for taking the time to visit.
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
Let’s connect on Pinterest!
Image courtesy of “FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.
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