More Good Stuff

Hi all!  I am taking a quick break to say hello and spread a bit of good stuff.  I have been completely unmotivated slow to get back into the swing of things after the holidays. 

I have been a busy bee taking down Christmas, cleaning. etc. but I am just now feeling like I am getting back in the groove.   This week I talked Wonder Hubby into a complete master closet makeover.   We are literally knee deep in junk clothing and sick of purging!  Hopefully I will be done with this project (except for hauling literally two SUV's of stuff to Goodwill, yikes) by Monday.  I can't wait to share the transformation with you.

In the meantime I do have some really good stuff to share.  Mini's 2nd column was on newsstands yesterday.  This edition has her new photo byline

(I know I am prejudiced but she is just the prettiest thing!)....and a brand new article to kick off the new year.  I will copy and paste below.   I hope you are enjoying the brand new year and can take something away from this article that helps you have a blessed year!

            Hey there, readers! It’s around that time of year where everyone starts making those silly little New Year’s resolutions. You know, those promises you make to yourself that you’re going to stop biting your nails or lose those fifteen pounds you’ve been trying to get off all year. As we all know, those little resolutions often times fall empty when it’s time to follow through with them. In two weeks your nails will have ragged edges again and your treadmill will have piles of clothes strewn on top of it. I think this year we all need to make a more purposeful New Year’s resolution. I think we all could use a stronger relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and our Father in heaven. “How can I do this?” you may be asking yourself. Granted, this isn’t necessarily an easy task if done correctly. But it’s one well worth the time and effort it will take.

            To do this, we need to take a good, long look at John 15. This chapter is titled “The Vine and the Branches”. Here we learn that God is the gardener, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. It’s common knowledge that if you have a plant, you’re going to cut off whatever branches on the plant that don’t bear fruit. After all, that’s what the branches are for, right? Well, the bible says here that God will do just that. The branches that are useless (aka, the stagnant, normal people of the world who do nothing for the glory of God) will be cast off. As we read more, Jesus tells us that in order to bear fruit, a branch must be connected to the vine. Our vine is Jesus Christ. In order for us to bear fruit, we must have a relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We must acknowledge what he has done for us and also his teachings. Did he not command us to take up our crosses daily in Matthew 10? He told us things would be difficult. He told us we’d lose friends and even family members who think we’re crazy for taking what he tells us so seriously. He also told us that no man can come to the Father except through him (John 14:6). Jesus’ life is an account of how we grow in Christ and how we can develop a closer relationship with our heavenly Father. But why would anyone want to do that?

            What’s the point of developing a relationship with God? Freedom. Freedom from sins. In God our chains have been removed and we have been set free! Isn’t that a wonderful feeling? It’s already programmed in our hearts to love and follow Christ. We ache for him. The question should be what is stopping us from going the extra mile for God? This is my challenge to you. This year, live a life for God. Pray with fervor, read more in your bible, find friends of faith. Have a relationship with your Lord that bears the fruit that John 15 is talking about. I promise you, you won’t be able to recognize who you were a year from now.

            Thanks for stopping by!