David, Goliath and Our Problems

Worry VS. Trust

If we are worrying we aren’t trusting God. 

It’s amazing how at one minute you are on top of the world and then something comes and makes you fall off. If not prepared for lives little trials it can get the best of us. We fall to the earth begin to dig a hole of worry.

I have not perfected this “never shaken” thing yet but I’m working on it.

Oh Jesus….How You love me so well! Just when I have the shovel in my hand, ready to dig deep into worry, You come and show me that there is another way to do this.

“Trust me sweet one, let’s get back up. Don’t dig into useless worry. Take my hand and let’s get back on top.”

Oh my God. Time and time He does this to me. So sweet and kind He reminds me that he has is all under His control…and that I can trust Him. Peace rushes in and I remember that He  has always been faithful and trustworthy.

Ha-ha Sometimes I laugh at myself…after He pulls me back up I look back at where I was digging that hole and realize it wasn’t even a big deal really.

If we are worrying we aren’t trusting God.

Take a deep breath. Help is on its way. And it’s a Help you can count on. Every time.

Whatsoever Think

Photo Credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/402087072951362845/

Happy Birthday Jesus!

And now the whole reason I get to have so much fun and celebrate Christmas. Jesus. He deserves all the glory and honor. Don't forget that while you open gifts and eat your Christmas meal it's all happening because Jesus deiced that you were worth receiving the gift of his life. Don't ever forget about it. Share the story of his wonderful entry into earth with your family or whoever you are spending time with.

Thank you so much for joining me this year! You are one of the reasons I do this countdown. So thank you! Merry Christmas and Happy New year! Oh and my all your days be merry and bright!

With love,

Janell

#janellschristmascountdown

It Is More Blessed

Look at that smolder!

Today's blog I would like to dedicate to my brother Justin, whose birthday is today! Happy Birthday bro! May this next year be grand! Love you! 

1 day! No way! 

I love buying gifts for other people. One of my favorite memories of buying gifts is when I was when my brother, sister and I were little. We didn't have any money but mom would take us to Walmart and we could shop for each other. She would give us a price limit and she would turn us loose in the toy section. I remember Justin, Janae and I looking through the toys trying to find the perfect gifts for each other all the while trying to keep secret what we were gong to buy. We would use our coats too cover up them up. Ha sweet memories! Now that we are older we can go to the store by ourselves we have our own money (excluding Joy) but we still have fun shopping for each other.

My brother likes to give me gag like gifts for my present! If we have shared a joke throughout the year then you can count on it being my gift.

Here is what Justin has gifted me the last three years:

1. Angry bird plush toy
2. Thor action figure
3. Toothpaste dispenser

And Christmas will only tell what this year I will get!

What was your favorite gift you ever gave or received? I would love to hear about it! Comment below!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."- James 1:17 

Christmas Stockings

2 Days! "Did I really fit in here?"

Ah Christmas stockings (or Christmas socks)! They come in all shapes, sizes, colors and themes. I probably wouldn't really care either way for them had I not been handed to my parents in a big red socking as a newborn. I was born on Christmas and someone thought it would be cute to put the Christmas baby in a stocking. Haha So they did and it was totally cute (I mean come on why wouldn't it be?)

These days I don't fit in this stocking, so now every year we just hang it up! It's a little family tradition. Every family has their traditions, some serious, silly, sentimental and just plan crazy. What are some your your favorite Christmas traditions? Do you have a favorite stocking? #janellschristmascountdown

A Christmas Problem

3 Days My Friends!

Today I'm going to get real with you. I'm going to invite you behind the scenes into my heart and head, and share with you what I'm really feeling.

The last few days it just hasn't felt like Christmas. What? Did the Queen of Christmas just say that? I told you I was going to get real! But it's true, and I want to find out why. Because it kinda sucks.

I was thinking what could cause me to feel this way? I thought of a few good reasons that I could blame for this. For starters, it could be the freakish 60 (F) degree weather we are having (FYI that is extremely abnormal here in Oklahoma this time of year). But then I remember that most of the world isn't cold with snow during Christmas.  

So then I thought it could be that we haven't done our traditional Christmas Church activities and haven't been to any festive parties? Then I discarded that one too...it wasn't the real reason. 

Could it be that I haven't had my fill of Christmas drinks and cookies? Ha, no that certainly not it! Oh  or it could be that I have only seen 3 Hallmark Christmas Movies this Holiday season? Nope I don't think that's the reason either.

Well I guess I need to dig deeper...I refuse to blame the little things that I think "make" Christmas for my un-Christmasy feelings. So what could it be? Why do I feel this way? Why don't I "feel" like it's Christmas? Where is the joy, the excitement...the child likeness. 

That's it...child likeness. As we grow older the danger of loosing our child likeness also becomes greater. As adults we have responsibilities, things we have to get done...we are just so busy!

I really noticed the answer to my Christmas problem when I observed my sister and her friend Kasey. They decided not to "adult" the whole week they were together. As I watched them I realized that my "adult life" was creeping in to rob me of my child likeness. I was so serious and busy in comparison to them. It really felt strange and now it makes me laugh!  

Now hear me out, I'm not saying that being an adult is bad and we should just shrug all of our responsibilities and act like kids. I'm talking on more of a Spiritual, inner being level.

We are all supposed be like children in faith. Jesus said that unless we become like little children you don't enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:2-10). So if we aren't like a child we can't operate in the kingdom and really Christmas is a big part of the kingdom. For the Christmas spirit to really be felt I have to be a kingdom child. 

So I realized my Christmas problem really isn't limited to Christmas time at all. On a spiritual level I was just too "old". I was letting the weight of the world rest on my shoulders instead of giving them to Jesus to carry. I was overloaded! I wasn't resting on Jesus. Kingdom Kids have peace, they are worry free and have unwavering joy. They know that their heavenly father has it all under control. And I needed the reminder.

I was seeing Christmas through adults eyes, when really Christmas is best seen through a child's.

Maybe you've felt the same way... If so, join me in remembering that Kingdom Kids really do have all the fun because their heavenly Daddy backing them up.

So now that I remembered to be like a child I feel better. I let those un-Christmasy feelings go. Because really who as time for that?! Haha When we let the child inside out we see Christmas and everyday life in all it's glory. 

#janellschristmascountdown

See you tomorrow!

Where The Light Is

Ekk 4 days away folks!

Oh my goodness! The smell of Christmas is of my favorites! Cinnamon & clove ahhhhh. It's warm and lovely! I also love the warm light they give off. I love to sit down wrapped up in a blanket with my Christmas drink have a candle lit in a darkish room. It's so relaxing

There is another Christmas light that I just love! And that is Jesus. In a world of darkness the most beautiful pure light came to earth.

The world layed in darkness…it had been since Adam and Eve sinned. Can you imagine when he entered the earth. Meditate on that. Darkness was what the world knew, it was it’s life. It once knew what it was like to have light. It was really a distance memory. But now it’s here! Totally slicing through the thick darkness. Ha! That’s Jesus!

He is the light of the world and forever will be! What's neat and completely mind blowing is that He puts his light into us. Are you letting his light shine in you? His light is unstoppable.

So when you go to light your Christmas candle remember that the world was laying in darkness and just like how you light a match is light was on the scene ready to rid the earth of darkness.

Post a picture of your favorite Christmas candle and a bit of your reflections regarding today's blog. Don't forget to  hashtag #janellschristmascountdown so I can see!