What say you?

Christmas time is here...happiness and cheer...

Go ahead, finish the tune, you know you know it!  Nothing says Christmas is here like seeing all those specials, sales, movies, decorations and of course Charlie Brown's sad little Christmas tree on TV.  This is the time of year where we extend a little more grace.  We love a little more, grumble a little less.  But let me ask you this- during all the hustle and bustle to please family and enjoy the "holiday", do you tend to lose perspective of what Christmas truly is?  Do you allow yourself to become so consumed with the commercial side of Christmas that you forget why we even celebrate?  Don't feel guilty, we all have those moments.  We are human and tend to get caught up in this world.  But as God tells us in His Word,

Be careful not to forget the Lord.- Deuteronomy 6:12 HCSB

If the busy pace of the impending Christmas season leaves you robbed of the peace only Christ can provide then you may need to revamp your perspective.  If this is you, you are too busy dear friend for your own good.   In order to be able to rest in the peace that God provides, you must slow down long enough to feel God's presence.  You must slow down long enough to feel His loving arms around you. 

What if, instead of running yourself crazy, you took a moment and accepted a gift from God?  What if you just spent time alone with God?  I've learned through my Bible Study of Revelation that God created us to worship Him.  When we pray, we are worshipping God.  When we sing, we are worshipping God.  When we serve, we are worshipping God.  When we love others as Christ loves us, we are worshipping God.  How amazing that we have a God who loves to hear His children worship and praise Him at all times and in so many ways.  What if, instead of getting caught up in this "worldly" holiday celebration, you took time to receive the gift of love and peace that God desires for you from Him.  Barbara Johnson once said, "Attitude is the mind's paintbrush; it can color any situation".  What's your attitude?

Look closely inside the folds of your heart.  Is the Holy Spirit convicting you to slow down?  How remarkable this Christmas season could be if everyone truly took the time to worship and praise God for the gift of His Son who was sacrificed so that we may be found without fault- as white as snow.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love it when it snows.  I don't see the headaches and frustrations that others see but instead, I see the constant reminder of how God sees me.  One of my BSF friends even went further to say, under the pretty white snow is all the muck and yuck, just like us.  But God doesn't look at that- he sees us as His children.  He sees love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness on each of us.  Shouldn't THAT be a gift worth celebrating this Christmas?  Shouldn't we all slow down and be reminded by the snow that we are loved and forgiven and then praise God that He loves us that much.  The most precious gift any of us could ever receive isn't in a store or online  but rather was given to this world in a manager.  A lowly stable one night in Bethlehem. 

Instead of trying to please everyone on Christmas, refocus and work on pleasing God with your praise and your thankfulness.  Try not to forget that Christ didn't come as a King but rather as a servant and a Savior.  Worship and praise must be woven into our very being.  It must be part of everything we do.  Worship and praise should be our biggest gift to our Heavenly Father this Christmas, and every day.  Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.- 1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV

"Being busy, in and of itself, is not a sin.  But being busy in an endless pursuit of things that leave us empty and hollow and broken inside-that cannot be pleasing to God."-Max Lucado

I challenge you...be busy this Christmas season with God.  Be busy praising Him who desires to lavish you with a love beyond anything you could ever comprehend.  Be busy worshipping God through all that you do each day.  Be busy setting the example. Always remember that today is a gift, a priceless gift given to you by God.  It is a unique treasure and an opportunity to truly show God how thankful you are.  I challenge you to use this Christmas season as an opportunity to be joyful and productive and to encourage others to do the same.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.  Psalm 92:1-2 NKJV

May you find the love and peace God is offering you this Christmas.  May your most treasured gift not come wrapped in a box with pretty paper and a bow but rather, may it come through your praise and worship of your Heavenly Father.  I pray that each of you feels the love and peace that only God can provide this Christmas.  May you exude the love of Christ in all you do in preparing for the birth of our King.  May the light of Christ be with each of you today, tomorrow, and always.

Merry Christmas~

Been awhile....

I just logged onto my blog and noticed, I haven't posted anything since Dec of last year.  That means only one thing....life is good and I am blessed.  The Evoy's are adjusting to their new home here in Minnesota and while life has had it's challenges, God is continuing to bless us each and every day.

This idea that I am happy and content didn't hit me until a sweet friend posted on my facebook page that I looked happy in one of my pictures.  This same friend had once told me in Savannah that I was "too busy with the busy"ness".  Words that at the time, I didn't comprehend but today, I see what she was saying.  Often times, we allow ourselves to get so busy with the business of life that we forget to stop and enjoy the blessings God has given us. Our family has evolved and changed so much in the last few years.  And with some of the changes, we've been caught off guard and have begun to look at life differently.  What's important?  What matters?

What's important?  Lots of things can seem important.  Lots of things can rob us from prioritizing important things in our lives properly.  In our house, family is important.  As Matthew continues to grow into a strong, independent young man, I find my role constantly changing.  It's important that he is raised to value family, be responsible, be honest, be respectful, but most of all to love God.  And since he is your normal 15 year old boy, he tests the limits at times.  I would expect nothing less but it's important that when he is disciplined, he sees grace and love coming from me just as our Heavenly Fathers shows us.  Recently Matthew and I had a "disagreement".  I reminded him that in our house, we do forgiveness.  We do "I'm sorry".  We do respect.  We do honesty.  And most importantly, we do "I love yous".  Family is important.  Putting God first and foremost in your home is beyond important. 

What matters?  Chris and I had a conversation just a few days ago about how our view of what matters changes as we age.  We likened it to a young new teen driver.  They feel they are invincible.  Nothing can stop them.  Then, you grow up and life throws you a curveball and you begin saying goodbyes to loved ones around you.  Loved ones you thought would always be there.  Then suddenly, your own mortality becomes real.  It's not your mortality that changes  you, for if you are a child of God, you know where you will live eternally.  It's the lack of "moments" that rattles you.  Awakens you to see that each and every moment of everyday matters.  Each and everyday is a gift and should be used as such.  What matters is the time you put into others.  Time building them up.  Time making memories.  Time loving them.  Such sweet words were shared by my husband this past weekend as we celebrated Father's Day.  He said that nothing brought him such joy as knowing that everything he does is for a reason.  That reason being his family.  What matters to my husband is making sure we are provided for, both in the present and after he's gone.  What matters to my husband is that he works hard so that Matthew and I can enjoy life.  What matters to my husband is that he is working each day to create memories that we will treasure always.

Do an inventory of your life.  What's important?  What matters?  Are you leaving footprints of God's truths on your family?  Are you living a life full of memories to treasure.  Are you living a life where God is at the center? If you can't answer yes to any of these questions, why not?  What are you waiting for?  Life is so much sweeter when you are living with God.  No, not everything will be perfect but is there such a thing as perfection?  God's path will have peaks and valleys.  But it's your trust in Him that gets you through every valley moment in life.  My favorite scripture is Isaiah 41:10,

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.


Such sweet words from a God who knows what is important and what matters.  Don't allow yourself to get so involved with the busy"ness" that you forget to notice what is right in front of you.  I've been there.  I've missed the little things because I thought I was too busy with my idea of the important things.  God used my friend's post on facebook to allow me to see what I had been doing.  I feel so blessed to have a Father in heaven who will never leave or forsake me.  A God who does forgiveness. Who hears my "I'm sorry".  Who does honesty. And most importantly, who does"I love yous".

Refocus  your priorities.  Take time to be with your family. Be thankful to your heavenly Father for all the blessing he has given.  Remind yourself daily what truly is important and what truly matters.  God is important.  Family matters.