Busy Days

I've been so busy I forgot to post a post today! Been getting ready for Christmas, shopping, practicing for our Christmas cantata...

I'll let you figure out which one is me.

My son is one of the narrators...he did a great job! These pictures were from our Dress Rehearsal Thursday night. Our performance will be Sunday morning at church.

Also been watching the birds in "Still Waters Pond", when I can sit still long enough to relax and enjoy them...

 This white egret has been coming back quite often to pat the water with her foot and stir up the minnows or whatever it is she is fishing around for...

 I think she got a leaf here...probably not what she wanted...unless it has some tasty bugs on it...

 And these two are still hanging around...looking quite proud of themselves...

 Maybe we need a caption contest for them...

And even though this is a bit blurry, it shows that there are two male Wood Ducks and two females...so they must be traveling together...

So, what do YOU do to relax in between all the Christmas activities that are going on?  I know that in the New Year I am going to be more intentional about spending more time with the Lord, hopefully outdoors as weather permits...I'd like to get back to writing like the "Secret Garden Chronicles" I used to do again.  This time it will be from a new perspective...I really haven't established the "secret garden" yet here in this new home...but there are plenty of places to sit and meditate on God's Word and spend time in prayer and pondering what the Lord is speaking to me at that moment.  

That's my goal for the New Year...I know I need to get back to that "place" in my walk with the Lord. This past year has been just too busy to concentrate for any length of time, and I miss that daily communion with the Lord. 

How about you? Perhaps you can also be looking for that special spot where you can spend time alone with the Lord and be more intentional about what His message is for you each day. Maybe we can encourage one another in our pursuit of being still before the Lord... and then perhaps we can each write about our experiences...just a thought.  I know that with all that is going on in our world and nation today, we need to spend more and more time in prayer and in reading God's Word and spending time with the Lord. We need to strengthen our armor  (Ephesians 6:10-18) as the battles are getting harder.

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 46:10

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

The Armor of God

10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

Yes, this is what I know I need.  I hope you will join with me in this pursuit of growing in Christ in the New Year.  Maybe we can remind each other to keep looking up!

In the meantime, enjoy your Christmas with your loved ones and family...and keep Christ is Christmas in every way that you can.  I may not have too much time to write over the next week, so just be safe and be blessed!