{ Consider the Lilies }

Isn't a CHRISTmas Cactus just amazing?

How in the world does it know it's supposed to bloom during the CHRISTmas season?

I'm pretty sure God has something to do with that, don't you?
😉

{ SONday Morning Song - HOPE Was Born This Night }

Since HOPE is just about my favorite word EVER,

I thought this song would be very fitting to share today!

Jesus is our One and Only HOPE!!!

Romans 15:13

I pray that God, 
the source of HOPE, 
will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. 
Then you will overflow with confident HOPE through the power of the Holy Spirit.

HOPE each of you have an awesomely blessed SONday!

{ Tutus and Football and Horses }

Wondering what those things have in common?  Why, they're all Christmas ornaments, of course!  We give our grand kiddos an ornament each year, and sometimes I make them.  I had the bright idea of felt ornaments this year, but didn't really take into consideration the time involved.  It took over 3 hours to finish up the last one.  I HOPE it'll all be worth it when they see the ornaments made just for them.

A horse for Silas.....

A pink elephant wearing a tutu for Ruby Kate.....



A Colts football player for Sawyer.....




And, a Broncos player for Sam.....



So glad these are finished since I still have doll bedding and a pillow and a couple of other gifts to make.  
I seem to do this to myself every year?

Am I the only one?!?!?

Next year, I think I'll start in January.....LOL!

HOPE everybody has a great Thursday!

{ Prepare Him Room }

"The coming of Jesus into the world".

Just typing those words gave me such a sense of wonder and excitement and joy.  This is why we celebrate CHRISTmas. What an awesome thing to celebrate, right?  Does accepting this wonderful Jesus into our hearts make everything in our lives all warm and fuzzy and without trial and trouble?  Just looking at Jesus own earthly life will give us the answer.  Jesus, God's own Son, suffered terribly.  He was rejected and humiliated and despised.  He felt the same emotions that we do when we go through similar things, which is why He understands and often is our ONLY help during our suffering.  He also had the satisfaction of knowing He was doing the will of His Father.  Although I might  balk and fuss and not want to budge out of my comfort zone sometimes.....

oh, what peace and satisfaction of doing the thing that I know pleases my Father,  too!


The first day of December.
HOPE everybody has found the devotional or reading plan that was meant just for you to read and "ponder" during this season of Advent.  And, I pray that God speaks to all our hearts so that we can prepare Him room!

And, if you get a bit stressed because of all the business of this time of year, take some time to just......

breathe in Grace!!!

Merry CHRISTmas.....

I am thinking of you today, 

because it is Christmas, 

and I wish you happiness. 

And tomorrow, because it will be 

the day after Christmas, 

I will still wish you happiness. 

I may not be able to tell you about it every day, 

because I may be far away or we may be very busy. 

But that makes no difference; 

my thoughts and my wishes 

will be with you just the same. 

Whatever joy or success comes to you 

will make me glad. 

Clear through the year. . . 

I wish you the Spirit of Christmas.  

 ~~~Henry van Dyke~~~

My sincere HOPE is that each of you has the most blessed CHRISTmas ever!

Breathing in Grace,

Wednesday's Word - Praise.....

AMEN.....
and AMEN!!!

HOPE y'all have a wonderful CHRISTmas Eve!

Breathing in Grace,

Willing Vessels Outreach Ministries (WVOM).....

During this season of giving and being kind-hearted and thinking of others.....
(I know this is something that we should do every day),

I want to share with you a local ministry that is near and dear to our hearts.

Two years ago when Pappy started his current job,

he met a fellow driver named Mr. Perry Williams.

Once they got to know each other better,

it was realized just what an amazing singing voice Mr. Perry has.....

(click here to listen to some of the songs he's written,

and some of his favorites)

and also that he is head of a ministry named.....

Willing Vessels Outreach Ministries, Inc.

Here was a statement that Mr. Perry made to me via text recently.....

"we visit people who have absolutely nothing, 

so when you have nothing,

anything is something."

If you find it in your heart to give to this special cause,

I know the money would be put to good use and for a worthy cause!

Merry CHRISTmas, Everybody!

Breathing in Grace,

The Twelve Days of CHRISTmas.....

On the first day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

Salvation full and free.

On the second day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

Everlasting life, and Salvation full and free.

On the third day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

Peace in my Heart,

Everlasting Life, and

Salvation full and free.

On the fourth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

Love for all men;

Peace in my heart,

Everlasting life, and

Salvation full and free.

On the fifth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

Joy for my soul,

Love for all men,

Peace in my heart,

Everlasting Life, an

Salvation full and free.

On the sixth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

Power from on high,

Joy for my soul,

Love for all men,

Peace in my heart,

Everlasting Life, and

Salvation full and free.

On the seventh day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

A Body Glorified,

Power from on high,

Joy for my soul,

Love for all men,

Peace in my heart,

Everlasting Life, and

Salvation full and free.

On the eighth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

A Robe and a Crown,

A Body Glorified,

Power from on high,

Joy for my soul,

Love for all men,

Peace in my heart,

Everlasting Life, and

Salvation full and free.

On the ninth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

Mansions above,

A Robe and a Crown,

A body Glorified,

Power from on high,

Joy for my soul,

Love for all men,

Peace in my heart,

Everlasting Life, and

Salvation full and free.

On the tenth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

Streets of pure gold,

Mansions above,

A Robe and a Crown,

A Body Glorified,

Power from on high,

Joy for my soul,

Love for all men,

Peace in my heart,

Everlasting Life, and

Salvation full and free.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

A thousand songs to sing,

Streets of pure gold,

Mansions above,

A Robe and a Crown,

A Body Glorified,

Power from on high,

Joy for my soul,

Love for all men,

Peace in my heart,

Everlasting Life, and

Salvation full and free.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me

Eternity that's free

A thousand songs to sing,

Streets of pure gold,

Mansions above,

A Robe and A Crown,

A Body Glorified,

Power from on high,

Joy for my soul,

Love for all men,

Peace in my heart,

Everlasting life and

Salvation full and free!

~~~~Inspiration Daily~~~~

Breathing in Grace,

SONday Morning Song - Mary, Did You Know.....

This is one of my favorite CHRISTmas songs,

and this rendition is awesome!

Merry CHRISTmas, Sweet Readers!!!

Breathing in Grace,

Jesus Is Alive.....

After hearing a sweet young man.....

(well, he's young to me)

sing this song SONday morning at church,

it's a new favorite this CHRISTmas season!

Breathing in Grace,

Three in One.....

The Trinity.....

it's somehow difficult to explain that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all the same.....

yet, they are separate.

To the non-Christian, this probably makes absolutely no sense at all.

Even to us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.....

well, for me anyway.....

it can be confusing if we try to get somebody else to understand.

Several years ago, I heard a minister explain it so well,

so I thought I would share it to you.

Let's take Pappy for instance.

He's a man.....

but he's also a husband, a Dad, and a Grandfather.

That statement just settled into my heart and gave me such a better understanding of the Trinity.....

Three in One!

(also, the book "The Shack"  by William Paul Young really helped, too.

It's not for everybody, because some people just wouldn't understand the portrayal of the Three.....

but since I'm such a visual person, it helped me tremendously)

Breathing in Grace,

Friday Fotos.....

I don't do quite as much decorating as I used to.

I actually am planning to go through all my seasonal decorations next summer and donate a lot of them.

(because they're stored in our cold basement)

Pappy bought this little nativity set at a yard sale just for our grand kiddos!

I saw them rearranging it when they were here last night!

This is on top of an old dresser that sits inside our front door.

It was actually my Mom and Dad's first bedroom suite,

and I refinished it many years ago.

The "hurricanes" were made from vases and candle holders purchased at the Dollar Tree and glued together with E6000 glue.

My sis-in-law gave me the rusty "peace".

And, that ship in the background.....

my precious brother made that just for me when he was just a teenager!

This nativity is one of my very favorite CHRISTmas decorations.

Pappy and I bought it the first CHRISTmas after we were married.....

thirty-eight years ago.

It's "Home Interior".

See that stable?

My Daddy and Pappy made that out of paneling that looks like barn wood.

I hot glued Spanish moss to the top.

It just means so much to me knowing my Daddy had his hands on it,

since this will be his 20th year actually celebrating CHRISTmas in heaven.

So, that's that about that.....

a little saying my Mammie used to quote.

HOPE y'all have a Fantastic Friday!

Breathing in Grace,

Wednesday's Word - Gift.....

Our pastor made this profound statement during his SONday morning message.....

"God sent the gift of His Son.

His Son gave the gift of His life."

Breathing in Grace,

Why we celebrate CHRISTmas.....

I John 3:5,8

And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, 

and there is no sin in him.

But when people keep on sinning, 

it shows that they belong to the devil, 

who has been sinning since the beginning. 

But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.

Amidst all the craziness that can happen trying to prepare for CHRISTmas.....

all the decorating and shopping and cooking and baking and wrapping.....

all the stress that can come from trying to get ready.....

the first and foremost thing that I need to have ready.....

is my heart!

I need an open heart to accept the ONE who came to this world as a tiny, precious baby.....

as meek and mild as a lamb.

And just like lambs were used in the Old Testament as a sacrifice for sins.....

Jesus was The Lamb who became the ultimate sacrifice.....

who took my place on the cross.....

to pay for my sins!

This is exactly why we celebrate CHRISTmas!

Praise His Holy Name.....

thank You, Jesus!

Breathing in Grace,

SONday Morning Song - Hallelujah CHRISTmas....

This is one of Pappy's favorites.....

and mine!

 "I know You came to rescue me

This baby boy would grow to be
A man and one day die for me and you
My sins would drive the nails in You
That rugged cross was my cross, too
Still every breath You drew was…..

Hallelujah
Hallelujah"

Breathing in Grace,

Crafty Thursday.....

 "Mary, Mary, hush, 

see the Child.  

Joseph, Joseph, look 

see how mild! 

This is Jesus;

this is our King. 

This is our Savior,

His praises we sing. " 

~~~The Shepherd's Carol, 

Children's Songbook, page 40~~~

If you know me personally.....

then you might know that I adore nativities!

I have quite a collection.

My mother-in-law brought me back a small brass set when she visited Mexico. Our kiddos gifted me with a gorgeous hand carved set from Uganda.

Out of curiosity, I thought I would find some nativity ornaments to make,

so here are a few with the links to the instructions,

or where they can be bought.

A sweet lady I know tagged me on her blog to show me this one.
I think she knows me pretty well....;-)

Adventures of a DIY Mom

My Chicken Coop

Seven-Alive

Red Heart

Annie's E-Patterns

Giuliana Handmade

I actually have one similar to this one.

The children at our church make and sell ornaments at CHRISTmas-time for a donation,

with the money going to the Lottie Moon offering!

Learning To Be Me

Tip Junkie

And, here's one to go outdoors!!

Would you believe these are made from concrete landscape pavers?

The lady gives the instructions on her site.....

Mollie's Mom

So that should get some of us started who want to make some of these in the next couple of weeks......

or, if you're like me.....

there's always next year!!!

HOPE y'all have a Terrific Thursday!!!

Breathing in Grace,

SONday Morning Song - This is CHRISTmas.....

"What is CHRISTmas.....
without CHRIST?
This is CHRISTmas.....
because of CHRIST!!!"

Breathing in Grace,

SONday Morning Song - Light Has Come.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb

Friday Foto.....

....isn't actually a photo!!!

If you've visited here often, then you might realize I kinda like emoticons!!!

Here are a few cute ones for CHRISTmas.....

HOPE y'all have an awesome weekend!!!

We're gonna be keeping our kiddos so our daughter and son-in-law can celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary!!!

With four kiddos age 7 and under.....

I definitely am gonna have to do a lot of.....

Breathing in Jesus,

Deb