January 28, 2008
morning pages

Thank you Father for the verses of focus for 2009. Thank you for confirming these in my heart!

"Teach, me, O Lord to follow every one of Your principles. Give me understanding and I will obey your law; I will put it into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your decrees; Do not inflict me with love for money (selfishness)! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your word. Reassure me of Your promise, which is for those who honor you. Help me abandon my shameful ways; Your laws are all I want in life. I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness."

Psalm 119:33-40

The greatest intention I have found myself to practice so far this year is that I now have a

Time, Place, and a Plan

for both the reading of the word and prayer and it shall not be moved. And although I have not blogged regularly I have journaled daily!

Constantly remaining In His Arms, B.

Thursday January 1, 2009

I am not up for resolutions but I do like to have intentions ... so

I intend on being in the Word daily!

I intend on praying often!

I intend on writing more!

I intend on communicating well and often with friends here and in Peru!

I intend on reading what I want to read not what I have to read daily!

I intend on walking on the treadmill at least 3 times per week!

I intend on learning to cook gluten-free!

I intend on learning Spanish! (thanks to a gift from Lisa)

I intend on selecting some verses of focus from God's word for the new year! (more on this soon)

I intend on spending time in special devotionals and books that I have selected and have put aside in the kitchen where I have my quiet time!

Finding myself In His Arms again and again! B.

Christmas Day Personal Devotional Thoughts

Christmas Day
December 25, 2008
morning pages

ponder; to weigh in the mind; to consider carefully

treasure; to keep as precious; something of great value

As I have focused my study these past 25 days on the Christmas Story in Luke Chapter 2 I have thought deeply about the word "ponder" as it states in the NIV and the ESV and the word "treasure" in the NLT. What does it mean to ponder and do I take the time to ponder? And what about treasure ... what do I treasure, keep at precious and think of as great value. Well after time, thought and deliberation, I have found that I do indeed love to be able to take the time to ponder God's words. I like to study, and come up with questions regarding the scriptures. I often can not answer the questions myself, but I love that I can go to Terry and Andrea who usually have an explanation for what I am unsure of. Recently, while reading the story in Luke 2:9b I began to think, what does the radiance of the Lord's glory look like? For this question, I had some thoughts that others, who are fully and totally in love with Jesus, display this radiance. But I believe it is more than this, yet I am just not sure. Because of my uncertainty, I will ask. Yesterday, when I read through the story the word that struck me was "ran" in Luke 2:16 NLT.
I like to think, that I too, am like the shepherds, and that I "run" to Jesus, not just on the day of his birth, but daily and often during the day. My prayer today is that you, the reader and I the writer, will daily and often during each day run to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good day and night!~ In His Arms, beth

Christmas Day 2008

Even though this photo display took some time to enter into the blog I know it is well worth it for Carrie and Jacob and of course our sweet Annika to see ....

We miss you more this Christmas and we love you more this Christmas ... Wishing you were here.

"How does one photoshop those cousins who were not with us into this photo anyway?"

"It always begins with Luke Chapter Two."

"Leg Warmers, Yeah ... I love them!"

"Voted, Best Gift ESV Bible to Adam from Ashley"

"Do you really have to wake me up just to open gifts?"

"OK so I'm not in the PGA but I will be dry on my way to and from work!"

"How does this work anyway?"

So Grateful

YouTube - Team Hoyt - Redeemer

This is one of the finest I have seen ... so grateful this Thanksgiving for each of you my children and grandchildren, Lisa, Matt, Carrie, Jacob, Adam, Renee, Kelley, Josh, Ashley, Sid and Annika!

I thank my God everytime I remember you in my prayers.
lym mom

A Tribute to Laura Pederson ....

We will miss you mom but memories of you will always be our comfort ....

Blessed are they who mourn for they will be comforted ....

Peru Praises!

Milagros, Praises God for the gift of mobility and the gift of salvation!

Love Sundays

Saturday, November 15, 2008
morning pages

Who ever would have thought that it would take me almost a week to enter a "Love Sunday" that was written last Sunday in my quiet time notebook ... despite this I will now entry it on my blog before we have another new week starting tomorrow ...

Love Sunday waking up in Peru

Love Sunday as I wake up to hugs and happy birthdays from my Peruvian sisters and roommates Cecilia and Norma

Love Sunday morning quiet time in the word as the roosters crow outside the guest house window

Love Sunday breakfast of eggs and fruit, all food I can eat

Love sharing the word with Norma and seeing the Holy Spirit open up her heart to Christ

Love Sundays sharing in the fellowship of Peruvian believers

Love Sunday lunch with the team

Love Sunday bus tour of the wheelchair distribution site and the beach

Love sharing my birthday with John from CA, his wife Norma, and the team.
(John, Norma and myself laughed so hard we cried all day)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008
election day prayer

Heavenly Father I approach your throne today in freedom and confidence that Your kingdom come and Your will be done on this election day!

I like these journal prompts from the Simple Women's Day Book ... Above is the picture thought I would like to share for today ....

Monday November 3, 2008

evening pages

Outside My Window ... it is now dark due to daylight savings time.

I am thinking ... about the reading I need to do for school and the reading I want to do for fun. Which will I choose?

I am thankful for ... my husband and the awesome eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns he fixed for dinner.

From the learning rooms ... I am learning how to better manage my time and take the time for the things I want to do.

From the kitchen ... I am about to stop blogging and clean up the dishes. I have a plan with my husband that he makes dinner and I do the dishes.

I am wearing ... cords and a short sleeve shirt but I will soon be in my jammies.

I am creating ... a scrapbook of my pictures from South Africa so when I return from Peru I am ready to scrapbook those pictures.

I am going ... to Peru on Friday (I am very excited).

I am reading ... War of Words by Paul Tripp.

I am hoping ... to build relationships with the people of Peru and to bring Christ to people with disabilities and bring people with disabilities to Christ.

I am hearing ... the washing machine as I try to get a load of towels washed and dried tonight.

Around the house ... I found signs that my grandson had visited today while I was at work.

One of my favorite things ... writing, of course!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: pray, read, work, eat, play and pack.

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