O, Holy Night

“Truly He taught us to love one another; his law is love and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother. And in his name all oppression shall cease.”

Just a few weeks ago, I was singing “O, Holy Night” in the car and a question came to me, followed by an answer that was so powerful!

“Who is the slave?” When I was young, I thought that “the slave” was referring to actual slaves and the need to abolish slavery. I never thought much more of it…just words in a song. Fast forward 35 years, “Who is the slave?”

The slave has been each one of us. We have been enslaved to sin, selfish ambition, pride, loneliness, anger, the need for the approval of others, the list goes on.

Christ has set us free.

There are others who still sit in darkness, who are enslaved and oppressed. This beautiful carol reminds us that we are to love those who sit in darkness. God’s law is love, not judgment. His Gospel is PEACE, not hostility. In His precious name, oppression is broken…the reason Christ came to earth!

May you know true love and peace this Christmas time and all year through. May Christ bring liberty to your life. My prayer, during this Christmas and New Year, is that we all would come into a greater understanding of God's great love for us. And I pray that we would respond to that great love, by loving others!

Merry Christmas!

A Wonderful Walk in the Woods

In October, a friend and I were able to get away to Atlanta for Country Living Magazine's Country Fair. We spent the weekend in Atlanta, and a FULL day at Stone Mountain @ the fair.

It was staged in the woods. Hundreds of vendors...

Excuse me! A girl HAS TO eat...perfect fair fare...ribbon fries and a corndog...mmmmm!

My, oh my!

To say, "we were inspired", would be an understatement!



The whole time my mind was racing with ideas for design, decorating and crafting Christmas presents.





My "workshop" has been under construction with Hubs laying a new wood floor. However, I have still been working on a few surprises...inspired by all of this creativity!

In the midst of all of this, my heart delights...on so many levels!

First of all with creating...we are made in the image of God. He is the creator of all. So, when we create, we are mirroring just a tiny facet of God and that delights me!

Next, all of these particular items here have been repurposed.

I really love when someone can see something other than what appears before them. It's called having vision, seeing beyond the "seen". That is so God!

In the midst of our lostness, He has found us. He has redeemed us. Restored us. Repurposed us for more. That delights me. That brings hope.

He makes beauty from ashes. I am delighted. I am inspired.

A Secret

This is my little friend, Reichen...


Tonight I just had to tell him a secret! I could not hold it in another minute.

Me: "Reichen, I have to tell you a secret...

I am SO in love with you!"

Reichen: "I'm in love with your eye balls!" as he runs off down the path.

Me: "Well, thank you Reichen. A boy has never said that to me before!"

I just love three year olds!