A Simple Ministry Evaluation

- Ministries I have been involved in this past year

- 3 life-changing things God accomplished 

- 3 people that mentored/encouraged me

- 3 ways I said thank you

 

- 3 people I mentored/encouraged 

- 3 things God taught me

- 3 areas where I messed up  

- 3 lessons I learned 

- 3 things I will give up so I can be more effective

- 3 things I need to have in place so I can be more effective

- People I need to ask forgiveness of 

- People I need to forgive 

Pondering with you ~

Linda

Your Opinion Counts

Check out our new weekly poll on the right side of the page! We'll be posing some serious questions - and some fun ones, too! Your opinion counts ... exercise your right to VOTE! And see what others think, too.

~ Enjoy ~
Linda

Pursuing God

"Whenever we insist that God should give us an answer to prayer,

we are off track. The purpose of prayer is that we get ahold of God,

not the answer."

- Chambers

"You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.

I will be found by you," declares the Lord ...

Jeremiah 29:13-14.

Seeking & Finding ~
Linda

"I'll Be Home for Christmas ... If Only In My Dreams"

"Often, family members who can't make it to a holiday celebration feel left out, even resentful. They may think, 'The rest of the family's together and I'm not there.' 'I'm overseas in Iraq' or 'I'm away at college' or 'I'm elderly and away from home.' It's very isolating.

If possible, use technology to stay connected, such as conference calls, instant video messaging, webcams or mailed video greetings. Think, too, about sending distant relatives packages containing traditional foods and photographs of past parties. Dig out that picture of you with that person at the holidays, celebrating when you were children or from a few years back.

Gifts are another way to bring together people who are apart geographically. Early on, have people draw names for a gift exchange, including those people who won't be able to attend the later celebration. Then mail the present to the person in time for the holiday, thereby including him or her in the family's festivities." (Note - it's not too late ... get on the phone today and set it up!)

~ Linda

Quoted in Poughkeepsie Journal

December 9, 2007

Moving Ahead - and Being Still

"While Christian coaching focuses on goal-setting, action, and moving ahead, spiritual direction encourages the development of stillness in the life of the believer - a stillness with God that enables us to hear Him more clearly and enables our faith in Him to grow much deeper. Spiritual disciplines like solitude and silence, contemplation of Scripture, and the journaling of our conversations with God develop a focus on being with God."

~ Linda ~

Quoted in Journal of Christian Coaching

Winter 2008

Volume 1, Number 3

Melanie Noelle Willhite

We are delighted to announce the birth of our 4th grandchild,

Melanie Noelle. Little Mels was born on Monday evening,

December 8th, weighing in at 7 lbs., 2 oz. She joins Lydia, Katie, Andrew, and our daughter Jennifer and her husband Barry.
Rejoicing ~
Linda & Tim

Pondering the Incarnation

John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

This is the most concise statement of the Incarnation in John’s Gospel. “The Word” refers to nothing less than God Himself. “Flesh” is almost a crude way of referring to human nature – body and soul. Think on it – The infinite God, Himself became totally human.

“Dwelt among us” speaks specifically of pitching one’s tent – joining the campsite. John, wants us to recall God’s presence in the tabernacle in the wilderness during the wanderings of the Children of Israel who had left Egypt and were headed to the Promised Land. God made Himself “touchable” to the desert wanderers in that “Tent of Meeting.” The “glory” or presence of God had come to live in their campsite as they trekked through the wilderness. What was true for them has become more real and true for us. In Jesus, God has pitched His tent with us; wherever we are, we are in the very presence of holiness, grace, mercy, justice, protection, strength, truth, love, guidance and hope.

What comfort - all the ways of the tabernacling of God among Israel that had been transitory and incomplete, are now fulfilled and superseded by the Word-made-flesh, dwelling among us. What had been hinted at and even realized in a dim fashion earlier was perfectly fulfilled in the Word made flesh.

What was that “Word” like? He was filled with “grace and truth.” “Grace” basically denotes that which causes joy - kindness, winsomeness, favor shown that is undeserved. “Truth” is more than the opposite of falsehood (deception). It is life and light, the total reliability of God. Truth cannot be known apart from God – Jesus is the revelation of truth. “Grace” taken by itself may have given us an unbalanced picture of God for He is also truth who demands “truth in the inward parts” of man as well as that we are doers of the truth.

What peace to know that the infinite God of the universe has chosen to become flesh and take up His dwelling among us. Ponder His Presence; bask in His blessing; feel secure in His truth – no deception; accept His grace; walk to the “tabernacle” – the “Tent of Meeting” like Moses did and enjoy the glory of His presence.

Pondering the Incarnation with you - Bob

Here Comes the Nativity

1. SIMPLICITY'S STRENGTH
Keep it simple. Real simple. Activities, menus, shopping, traditions, decorating. Expensive or elaborate is not better.

2. START FOCUSING
Take time in the next day or so to sit down with pen, paper, and calendar. Keeping in mind your time, energy, and finances, realistically plan your tasks and activities, so that they don't control you. Regular time with the Lord is of utmost importance, yet is often the first thing to go. Make it a priority for you and your family. Allot time for yourself, too, and for those people that bring you joy!

3. STAY HEALTHY
Sugar-laden, fat-filled foods beckon! Allow yourself a very small helping, and then get back to eating sensibly, drinking lots of water, exercising regularly. Get outside! Walk in the snow. Go ice skating or cross-country skiing.

4. SIMPLY DELEGATE
You don't have to do it all. Be surprised at what your spouse, children, or nieces and nephews can do! Let them help wrap gifts, decorate the tree, or bake the cookies. They can address and stamp Christmas cards or lend a hand with household chores. This is not a time for perfection - it's a time for joy!

5. SAY "NO!"
You don't have to attend every event. Your children don't have to be out every night of the week. Give yourself permission to stay home!

6. SHOP SMART
Make a complete list before you venture out. Go by yourself, so you're not distracted. Shop early, wearing good walking shoes and loose clothing. Be sure and stop for a healthy lunch along the way. Gift cards save lots of time when shopping for picky teens. Gift certificates for restaurants are a treat for recipients on a tight budget. Utilize the internet and catalogs. If you're home during the day, home-baked goodies or hand-crafted items are a real treat for those who work outside the home. Is there someone on your list who has everything? Check out Samaritan's Purse. They offer a beautiful gift catalog that allows you to provide urgently needed necessities to those who have little, in honor of the recipient.

7. SILENCE SELFISHNESS
To ward off the propensity for greed, encourage your children to make a list of what they want to give to others instead of what they want for themselves. Assist them with their gifts - a plate of cookies that they bake and decorate, a framed hand-crafted drawing, coupons to shovel snow, babysit, walk the dog, or clean the house. Participate with them in toy, food, or clothing drives that emphasize giving to others.

8. SELECTIVELY DECORATE
No, you don't need to put out every Christmas decoration you have. This year, only choose to display and use the things you really take pleasure in. A simple candle in each window and a beautiful wreath on the door goes a long way.

9. SHOW HOSPITALITY
You are most likely surrounded by people who find the holidays difficult - the elderly, the handicapped, those who are grieving, people away from their families. An invitation for a simple home-cooked meal is a tremendous blessing to both the giver and receiver. Or show Christ's graciousness at a local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or home for abused women.

10. SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS
Christmas caroling in the neighborhood. A birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve. Attending holiday services as a family. Reading of the Christmas story in Luke before opening gifts. Three gifts under the tree for each person, honoring the three wise men, instead of piles of unappreciated, expensive presents. Taking turns sharing what you're most thankful for during Christmas dinner. Using the Christmas cards you've received, praying for one family each day.

Making my list ... checking it twice ~

Linda

= joining the gang at Songbird and Cottage Magpie =