Book recommendation number 2

"Grace offered what Truth demanded- the ultimate sacrifice for sin."

Ok now really read that last sentence again. Did you just gloss over it like "yeah...I know that"? If you did then you need to read this book. It dissects these words in ways that those of us who "grew up" in the church NEED to hear.
Simply awesome.

Book recommendation number 1

"God is Love. Crazy, Relentless, All-Powerful Love. Have you ever wondered if we’re missing it? It’s crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. Whether you’ve verbalized it yet or not…we all know something’s wrong. Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts—it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything."

Thought for my day:
Joy is an intentional choice.
I have to work at attaining it- then choose to exercise it to keep it alive.

Schoolwork

Me Three Kings

Sunday was a proud day for me as a mom.
The 3 and 4 year olds were singing their long practiced Christmas songs that we, as per requested, practiced at home complete with jumping, clapping and twisting for joy! I don't, however, recall practicing the verse about picking your nose - but apparently Seth thought it fit well into the sementics of the day- and proceeded to pick through-out the length of the 2 songs.
I was just howling and wish like CRAZY we had been sitting closer to get a picture of the picker!

Family Christmas part 1-

I know Christmas pictures are really only exciting to the people who experience them so I'll keep it brief-
All 11 of us Howells were so excited to spend this past weekend together. We are very blessed to truly enjoy each others company. (well, Andy is questionable ;-)

Defining JOY

I have so been enjoying this season of intentional anticipation- as I was awake (annoyingly) at 2a.m. again last night I was thinking about JOY. We talked last night at dinner about what the different characters in the nativity story had to be joyful about.
Mary- I'm sure she was joyful that her labor was over!
Joseph- Knowing that his wife was chosen by God because no one could make up a story like that!
What about the angels (this one stumped us)- They were filled with joy so much that they broke out into song about it. Perhaps seeing the Word being fulfilled.
And those shepherds- they went and told everyone around their joy-filled news.

That was what had me thinking about defining JOY- an inward contentment with an outward expression.
Somewhere around 3 a.m. I remembered that I have forgotten all about this song- what great lyrics to meditate on as I consider my level of inward contentment and my outward expression of it...

Come thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a Child and yet a King.
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Spaghetti, trains and a green shepherd

We've had some snow days lately. I've loved them. It's been so great to snuggle on the couch and read some books, get some extra tickle torture in, sip on some afternoon coffee, READ (!) play some games, referee sibling rivalry - ya know- the normal family time. =) We opted not to set up our Christmas tree train this year simply because figured it would be just way too tempting for a certain curious 18 month old. (Not to mention the fact that he already had an upclose and personal encounter with the Christmas tree)
Today we (ok I) decided to have a backwards menu day. Why not? So we ate spaghetti for breakfast, French toast for lunch and are planning on some hot dogs for supper. (and for the record- Owen thought spaghetti made a fabulous way to start the day....he was the only one.... )

We found this fun nativity cutout project that we all (except spaghetti-man) have fun coloring, cutting, folding and playing with.
Kudos to Brad for the very life-like stable. Not so much the green shepherd .... ;)

Because he's cute...

The first haircut- (altho I let his adorable curls still intact). He, obviously was not a fan (are they ever?) but the cuteness pictures to follow tell me all is forgiven...

And you...

I love Christmas music.

Bing, Amy and yes even the Chipmunks have a way of drawing out my sentimentality that lies rather dormant the rest of the year-
but I think the sweetness of it (at least to me) rests in the fact that we'll put it away (and typically I'm more than READY to do so) and be just as glad to dust it off next Christmas.
So- I'm curious...
What are your favorite Christmas songs?
Any one specifically "take you back"?
For me- I have to listen to a (sorry mom) super hokey CD by Christy Lane (bonus if you've EVER heard of her!) at least one time each year.
I also love the Kathy Troccoli Christmas album - it's jazzy and smooth...mm..love it!
So what about you????

the slow demise of Will

We were THRILLED to have our first snow day yesterday!
So this is how our snowman (we named him Will) began...

and this is how Will B. Tippin looked 24 hours later...

and Brad finished him off ...

Hope

I've never participated in a personal Advent season before. When we started thinking about what we were going to focus on for our family devotions this month- we chose to research a bit and come up with our own version of this season of expectation (including our homemade $3.00 version of the, in my opinion, ridiculously overpriced store version of the advent wreath =) Typically I know this time of year is to spend time remembering Jesus' birth but this week as we've discussed "HOPE" (side note- just how DO you explain what hope means to a 3 year old??? ideas anyone?!) I've been challenged with the amount of time I spent (or don't spend!) anticipating Christ' return.
Now that alone is reason for Hope this season!

So one of our dinner time questions this past week that I'll ask you too -
What are you hoping for?
P.S. My kids had a hard time distinguishing this from the every night "what are you thankful for" recent activity!

Christmas Change

I recently stumbled upon this blog- made up from what I can tell of a whole assortment of bloggers. In case you don't have enough to do today- check this out:

http://www.christmaschange.com/wordpress/

If...Then...

My latest Bible study I am in on the book of Esther. How many times have I heard this story and yet I am amazed how many more things I am learning and discovering by taking the time to go through it slowly, deliberately and putting feelings to the people behind the story.
There are some truths that I've been chomping on for a while. Love to hear what you think too.

Fill the the blank. If ( enter your greatest fear) then ______.
So what is your greatest fear?
Betrayal?
Wayward children?
Car accidents?
Cancer?
the death of your children?
the death of your spouse?

The point made is that whatever my greatest fear is the 'THEN' has to be GOD or else my faith is completely conditional!
What if (fill in blank) happened? Then what? Would you quite living? stop breathing? stop going to church? stop tithing? stop loving? live differently? OR would you weep, mourn, grieve, question ... and continue to trust? I can't help but think of the Chapman family. The death of a child is certainly high on my list of greatest fears! What a great testimony that their "THEN" has been to continue on in their trust of a trustworthy God.

What's more - is knowing how Satan plagues us with our fears! Moment of truth- I KNOW what it's like to experience the type of psychological fear that is all consuming and crippling. Satan cannot read our minds but he sure knows how to put thoughts - lies!- inside that can be debilitating for us. He is a student of humans and knows- especially for us women I think- that we wage our war in our minds! Our greatest fear can become our greatest handicap if we let it. Or we can find genuine security in Truth himself and truth itself and find freedom from our fears. THAT is amazing grace!

"Our conditional trust not only makes us an open target for enemy torment; it also positions us as negotiators and beggars before God instead of secure children who trust their lives to their faithful Father."
"We don't just trust Him to let us avoid what we fear most. We determine to trust Him no matter what, even if our worst nightmare befalls us." - Beth Moore

I'll end this diatribe with lyrics from a familiar song:
"My chains are gone- I've been set free!
My God, my Saviour has ransomed me
and like a flood his mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace.

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my HOPE secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures."

Amazing Grace