Christmas Light 2015

It's a week before Christmas and all is calm... all is bright... 
don't you love the sparkle at Christmas. 
Each reflected sparkle from the light source to the silver and glitter around the room and as a result each room is lit up in an array of dancing lit joy. 
Just as we are in Christ... reflected bits of glitter from His faceted light that spreads throughout our world.
I love the sparkle... It seems to shine brighter at this time of year as we join in unity to celebrate the Saviors birth. 

This Christmas I wanted to let my light shine bright...
Light shines brighter in darker places... when it seems the darkest in your life, that is when the light breaks through brighter then you could ever imagine. 

John 8:12  Then Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world, He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life."

This Christmas I was tempted, to not celebrate... just get through the Holidays and move on. Stay in the dark and submit to feelings of sadness...

And then I thought about the heavenly celebration that goes on continually for what Christ did for all mankind... and how we that walk in the Light are to bring heaven to earth. 

Our Father in heaven... Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come quickly, your will be done the same on earth as it is in heaven... let heaven come to earth, as it is in heaven... let heaven come.

For Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the Power, Yours is the Glory forever...

Let Heaven Come...

As I brought out the boxes of decorations this year one by one I put my focus on the very reason why I do this.  
I celebrate Christmas because God himself chose to give up all His omnipotence, all His omnipresence, all His Glory, all His God-ness... 
The Creator becoming the created, choosing to walk in my footsteps, being tempted in every way like us but denying himself over and over again laying down His natural desires for His Father's will, so that He could show me how to live...  
Laying down His own life in place of mine, in place of yours, so that He could give it back to us... 
A gift.
The greatest gift to all mankind
A gift, you cannot earn
A gift you can only take and say thank you
A gift you celebrate with every breath you take

How could I not celebrate... 
So with each decoration,  I celebrated the God who loved me that much.
How could I not celebrate Christmas!

So... warning there is great celebration here...
you might want to take a coffee break!

(I told you to get coffee...)

Thank you for staying with me this long... I went overboard on the pictures this year... but I had fun. 

Leaving you with one of my favorite Christmas songs by Downhere

How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many Gods have poured out their hearts to romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one has done that...

 From my home to yours have a very blessed Christ celebration!

Blessings
Rebecca

Taking time for me... in Alaska

Hello,
I want to thank all of you that left such encouraging words and thoughts on my husbands passing. Even though I might not have written all of you, I want you to know how much I appreciate you.
Thank you...
I am settling into somewhat of a routine and the house is starting to feel comfortable. I have been blessed with beautiful, thoughtful, and loving family and friends that have shown me so much love.

My family, celebrating my mother's 90th birthday this fall.

They have not only been here for me but have worked hard to help me get the house ready to sell in the spring. We've been painting and repairing, you know those projects that keep getting put to the back burner. 
A larger project was a new roof and repairs, cleaning the basement which filled a 20 yd. dumpster and cleaning the attic.

 Painting and ceiling repair

I like the end result, I think the warm grey was perfect for this light filled room.

I still have a lot of work ahead of me as you may know if you have followed this blog... I have a lot of stuff!  It hasn't been that many years since I had the shop and I still have a garage full, but I am slowly sifting and will be selling everything. My plan is to go into something very small that is easy upkeep, as I want to go into ministry full time. I have a call to the mission field on my life and I want to follow my dream that I feel is my destiny in my Kingdom walk.

Haiti 

With all that, I got the opportunity to travel with some very dear friends to Alaska, a little girl time is good for the soul. 
I had not been there before but my friend Nancy has been there many times, her daughter went to school there. 
So we were blessed to see Alaska through her eyes. 
Such a beautiful place. 

Just a sample of Alaska through my lens...

Over the Mountains...
Over the Sea...
Here you come running, my lover to me.
When I feel the cold of winter and this cloak of sadness, 
I need you.
All the evil things that shake me, all the words that break me, 
I need you.
Over the Mountains... 
Over the Sea... 
Here you come running, my lover to me.
Do not hide me from your presence, pull me from these shadows,
I need you.
Beauty, wrap your arms around me, sing your song of kindness,
I need you.
Over the Mountains,
Over the Sea,
Here you come running, my lover to me.
All through the valleys, through the dark of night, here you come running to hold me 'til its light. 
Hold me 'til its light... I'll come running, come running, come running, come running back to you...
(Song of Solomon by Jesus Culture)

Blessings,
Rebecca