The Bible tells us that all things work together for good for those who love Him. Since finding out that my husband has a terminal illness, I have to say I have had a hard time processing that. How could any good come of a disease so ugly? I kept asking “God, how? If there is any good in this, please show me.”

And He has faithfully,  ever so gently, shown me.

Seeing family come together to help and encourage….even though they are grieving too

The kindness and generosity…often times from people we barely know

Memories captured in pictures and in hearts…that can never be taken away.

Prayers going up…… when we aren’t strong enough to pray.

We could have all the money and the resources in the world and it still wouldn’t cure my husband, but it doesn’t matter because we have what money can’t buy.

They are the things that are working together for good.

Family.

Friends.

Love.

Kindness.

Generosity.

Memories.

Prayers.

The only good I could see is my husband being healed. But He doesn’t promise a healing on this side of heaven. He promises that He will work it out for good.

I am so thankful that His promises are always true.

I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning to sail my ship.

-Louisa May Alcott

We began enjoying the Back To The Bible radio broadcast of the Twelve Voices of Christmas this week. Each of the 12 key character from the Bible stories relating to Christ’s birth give their perspective in a dramatic presentation that will bring to life the amazing events surrounding the birth of our Savior! It has been so enjoyable and meaningful that we are  definitely going to add it to our Christmas traditions for years to come. There are also loads of wonderful Christmas sermons on this site, so type in Christmas and I am sure you will find yourself  blessed and encouraged by them!

I also found this wonderful Christmas program from Teri Maxwell that you can do using your nativity. I am so excited to do this with my family on Christmas Eve!

One thing I have learned about making Christmas meaningful and keeping traditions this year is that I have to keep things simple and manageable. Needless to say, I started out strong with our Jesse tree, thinking I could “find the time” to finish up the rest of the ornaments.  Our Jesse Tree sits, ahem, half done and the ornaments have gone in my sewing box for next year, when perhaps I will truly learn not to be an overachiever at one of the busiest times of the year.

How are your family traditions going this year? Have you added or taken away any? And please tell me I am not the only mom who starts out with grand plans only to shelve them a few weeks later in favor of sanity?

Oh and if you are seeking to make your holidays memorable, you will enjoy this free ebook titled Family Memories and if you’re feeling a little stressed, you may enjoy these resources too!

As long as I remain large in my own eyes, I will never sense the importance of other people because I can’t see them. My own self blocks my view . I’m too busy staring at myself. My needs. My wants. My plans. That’s all that matters to me. But when I put on humlity, I fade from view, setting mself free to become a servant. Then my life can touch and change those whom God brings into my life.

From the book Living With Less by Mark Tabb

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Phillipians 2:3

I have stumbled upon quite a few fantastic looking online Bible studies lately and thought I would share them with you! I haven’t thoroughly checked out and and every doctrine and point of view for these, you will have to discern for yourself which ones you feel comfortable with!

The Hem Of His Garment has a variety of Bible studies for women, such as Why God Made Women, The Proverbs 31 Woman, Virtuous Women In The Bible and many more.

Liberty Online Ministries has a whole host of wonderful looking studies such as:

Proverbs 31

Strengthening Your Purity

Getting It Together

Melissa from A Virtuos Woman has two online studies: From Chaos To Calm and P31 Spring Clean Challenge

Donna Partow is hosting a free online study via facebook called the 90 Day Jumpstart to Becoming The Woman God Wants Me To Be

What Happens When Women Say Yes To God is a blogger Bible study held on Monday mornings which will go through the book What Happens When Women Say Yes To God

Stiletto Army has a study called The Vineyard that you can do at your own pace.

Setting The Captives Free deals with the  areas of habitual sin. The Lords Table is a good study if you are struggling with bad eating habits  and healthy weight loss.

The Homeschool Lounge is having an online study for The Power Of Motherhood by Nancy Campbell. You will have to become a member of the Lounge to join the group. It is a great group!

Living Proof Ministries is hosting an online Bible study based on the book Me, Myself and Lies

Sovereign Grace has a whole host of teachings that you can download on MP3’s for free. My favorites are by Carolyn Mahaney.

So there you have it, a whole list of sources to get you into God’s Word! If you know of any others, please leave them in the comments section!

This post is linked to Thursday Thirteen!

I have been thinking today about how much I like comfort.

I just changed my flannel sheets to my favorite super soft cotton ones. They are so soft and comfortable my bed feels heavenly. I like warm showers. I like hot food on cold days and I like cold food on hot days. I like comfortable clothing and shoes. I like the seat in my car adjusted just right so it doesn’t hurt my back. I really like to be comfortable.

On the flip side, I really, really don’t like discomfort. In short, I think I am spoiled and I *ahem* like it that way.

When I am uncomfortable, I have a tendency to whine and pout about it. Maybe not outwardly, but inwardly. If I am not comfortable, I am not a happy camper. (By the way, comfortable ol’ me doesn’t even like camping unless it is a glammed out RV with a real bed. See I told you!)

As I was thinking about all the things I like and that keep me comfy and cozy I began thinking about Esther. It is safe to say that she probably lived a pretty humble lifestyle until she was brought to the palace. There she was exposed to beauty and riches, specialized treatments and massages, gourmet food served to her on a silver platter, beautiful clothing and I am sure whatever other things come with being a queenly prospect.  I am thinking that even though she got taken abruptly and harshly from her beloved Uncle Mordecai, it would have been pretty easy for her to become accustomed to this lavish lifestyle. I know I would have enjoyed it immensely. Come on, you would too and you know it

Somehow though I don’t think Esther let herself get caught up in those comforts she was given. I think Esther could have cared less about all those riches. I think she cared about one thing.

Making herself pleasing to the king she was about to meet.

Esther didn’t want to be relegated to a harem for the rest of her life because the king didn’t accept her as his wife. So instead of focusing on what pleased her own flesh and made her comfortable, she thought of doing only the things that would make herself pleasing for her future king.

The other girls that were candidates for the title of Queen perhaps did not have the same focus as Esther. Maybe they were so caught up in the riches and comforts of the palace that the last thing they thought of was the king until the moment they met him. Perhaps he could see as these girls approached him covered with jewels, fine clothing, and beautiful makeup that outwardly they were adorned for him but inwardly they were not.

I began to cry when I thought of this. How sad it is that I so often go about my days seeking my own comfort, doing things that make my life easier and simpler, and not thinking first and foremost about making myself pleasing to my king. I have gotten so caught up in the comforts of this world in so many ways, and so often put myself first instead of acting like a bride who is preparing to meet her bridegroom. When I go to see my King, I want Him to see a heart that has prepared itself for so long for that one moment of being in His presence. My outward adornment He will not see, only what my inward adornment is made up of.

What will He see when He sees me? Will I be precious, beautiful, and unforgettable? Will I move His heart with my pure love and adoration of Him?

We are all Esther’s preparing ourselves to become His bride. How do we make ourselves acceptable to our King? How do we become so pure and lovely that He becomes lovesick over us, and we over Him? When we approach Him, will He find favor in us as Esther’s king did?

He is searching for His pure and lovely Queen. Will you stand out among the others as one whose heart is turned completely to Him?

I hope that I do.

Posts in this category will be coming soon! Please check back!