God is GOOD!

See? I just knew I would be horrible at blogging. Life is too busy it seems!
But life is good too because God is good and blesses me everyday. It may seem small and insignificant but I lost my camera this summer and I was very disappointed because I had some pictures from the house renos on it and I came across several instances this summer when I wanted to use it. Plus I have a little niece on the way and another niece or nephew in February so I will want to take pictures. I was thinking I would have to ask for money to buy one for Christmas. But then just this past week, my brother in law Matt, whom we gave our couch and chair to when we moved, texted Jon and asked if we had lost a camera. It had gotten wedged in the couch cushions! I was so happy! And I know that God was blessing me even through that.
Last night Jon, myself, my brother in law Matt (who recently came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ – Praise the Lord!!), my brother and sister in law Paul and Megan, as well as our friend Soupy all got together to have a Bible study and pray together and it was so encouraging. And just to be able to share and minister to one another through prayer was such an encouragement to me. I have been feeling overwhelmed with all of God’s blessings and lately I have been thinking that even though Jon and I are not living in the lap of luxury, God is providing for us so that our needs are met. I usually get very stressed about money and debt and the whole thing, but Jon and I are making a real effort to trust in God and that whatever trials we may face, He will not give us more than we are able to bear if we are relying on Him for strength (especially now that OSAP has come knocking for money).
I know that I need to continue to strive at a deeper prayer life. Reading the Bible is not enough. But I need to earnestly seek God’s face through prayer and lift up my praises and my supplications to Him. As well as praying for the lost souls that I may encounter, and for the strength to stand up for Christ and share Him with those I meet.
These are just a few of my thoughts today. I pray that you are able to see God’s blessings, even through the hard times, because they are there – even if we do not see them.

Christmas without Santa

Jon and I have decided that Christmas really needs to be about Christ. We, without even knowing it, make it about other reasons. Without the birth of Christ, we would still be held accountable for our sins and would be destined to a life apart from the Father. So how can we take Christ out of Christmas? You cant. Without Christ, it is just a MASs of consumerism, selfishness and Santa. Don’t even get me started on Santa. Jon and I discussed how Santa may seem innocent, but that is exactly what Satan wants us to think (notice how Satan and Santa are composed of the same letters?). Santa is honestly viewed by so many children and families as a god. He is idolized at Christmas when the only one we should set our focus on is Christ. For that reason, Jon and I have decided to take the Santa out of our Christmas. We are not putting up Santa decorations, we are not listening to songs about Santa or even watch movies about santa. We are going to keep our focus on Christ. And one day, when we do have children, we don’t want them to be disillusioned with Santa either. We want them to know the real reason for Christmas, right from the get go.
My dad told me that he and my mom never told me or my brother that Santa was real because one day we would grow up to learn he was made up and they did not want us to ever question whether or not Jesus was made up – they never wanted us to question their word. And I think that is another valid point. Satan uses Santa to get people’s focus off of where it should be and boy does it ever work. Everywhere you turn, Christmas is all about Santa. It really makes me sad to think that Christ has been replaced by so many in the world today.
It may seem extreme…but I want to be extreme for the sake of my Saviour and I want to put nothing else before Him.