Isaiah 42:5-13

I really enjoyed this beautiful passage.  Read it as if God were really standing and talking to you.  He is Mighty and Awesome!!!  I serve a Righteous God.  Who do you Serve?

Thus says God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its offspring,
Who gives breath to the people on it
And spirit to those who walk in it,
"I am the Lord. I have called you in righteousness,
I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you,
And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people,'As a light to the nations,
To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the dungeon
And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

"I am the LORD, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another,
Nor My praise to graven images.
"Behold, the former things have come to pass,
Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."

Sing to the LORD a new song,
Sing His praise from the end of the earth!
You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it.
You islands, and those who dwell on them.
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices,
The settlements where Kedar inhabits.
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud,
Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.
Let them give glory to the LORD
and declare His praise in the coaselands.

The LORD will go forth like a warrior,
He will arouse His zeal like a man of war.
He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry.
He will prevail against His enimies.

Love in Christ,
Rebecca

Jesus Humbled Himself

Jesus humbled Himself.

He went from commanding angels...

To sleeping in the straw.

From holding stars...

To clutching Mary’s finger.

The palm that held the universe...

took the nail of a soldier.

Why?

Because that’s what love does.

The Gift of God.

The birth of Christ.

This is Christmas.

This is Love.

“This is how we know what Love is:

Jesus Christ laid down His life for us….”

1 John 3:16

Merry CHRISTmas! 

May you enjoy the celebration of the

Birth of the King's Son.

~Rebecca
P.S. I did not write this myself.  It was an e-mail I recieved that I added pictures to.  I thought it was very fitting for Christmas. RLH

Christmas Shopping

Ahhh, the joy of being done!  We are down to very little to do before Christ's Birthday arrives.  Some of us still have a bit to do to finish up gifts, but for the most part are finished.  We just got back from a wonderful evening doing our "Stocking Shopping".  Another tradition in the Heckendorn Herd.  We have taken up this tradition after reading about "Nick" who would leave money secretly to those who needed it.  Not letting the "left hand know what the right hand was doing" sort of thing.  
We have taken it to our family in that we go stocking shopping but don't allow people to know who got them what.  We all get our own baskets (except Caleb, who sticks around with Mom or Dad still.) and travel around the store staying away from members of our family finding our small treasures for each other's stockings.  We pay for it ourselves, sneak our bag into the car and hide it when we get home. 
 Christmas Eve we all take turns going into the living room where the stockings are and placing our little gifts in them.  It is a bunch of fun.  We enjoy the teasing and trying to "peak" and see what people have in their baskets. 

Tonight we went to Dollar Tree (which was just perfect!) then went to Krispy Kreme afterwards. :)  We had brewed a pot of decaf coffee and kept it hot in Mom's carafe.  We then went cruising around town drinking coffee and eating donuts looking at Christmas lights.   We didn't get home till 11!  But hey, that is when memories are made.  This is definitely a tradition we all enjoy. 

Well, it is almost tomorrow so I better get to bed.  Tomorrow holds making our Gingerbread Village and house cleaning. :D

Merry Christmas!
Rebecca

This comes from a Daily Devotional e-mail I get from Mark Hamby.  (with Lamplighter Publishing).  I thought I would share it as it was very good. 

Lending to The Lord

One of my spiritual mentors, Dr. John MacArthur, once told the story of a churchyard in England where a tombstone stands with this inscription: "Here lies a miser who lived for himself, and cared for nothing but gathering wealth; now where he is or how he fares, nobody knows and nobody cares."

In contrast, Dr. MacArthur shares, there is a plain tombstone at St. Paul's Cathedral in London with an inscription that reads, "Sacred to the memory of General Charles George Gordon, who at all times and everywhere gave his strength to the weak, his substance to the poor, his sympathy to the suffering, his heart to God."

What a contrast! If you think about those who have changed the world for the better, you will find their story similar to the latter--they gave for the good of others. They understood the principle that Jesus taught: "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall men put into your bosom. For with the same measure you mete, it will be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38).

Solomon understood this truth well when he wrote, in Proverbs 19, "Whoever is generous to the poor lends LORD, and he will repay him for his deed."

Did you catch that? When we give to the poor, we actually are lending to the Lord! Now that's a truth worth banking on.

So who are you trusting your money to?  God, or man?  What will your life leave behind you.  A Legacy, or a worthless tombstone?

Love in Christ,

Rebecca

Date with my Sister

Sarah and I had a wonderful day going shopping Wednesday!!!  We left here about 10:30 and stayed out till 9ish.  It was so fun!!!  We went out to lunch with Dad, went Christmas shopping, watched a movie, and had a treat.  It was a bunch of fun!!!  It is so nice to be able to do that with her.

We bought gifts for people, (sorry, I can't list those!) more gifts for people, a christmas project for the family to do, and had a blast! 

I thank God for my Sister.  Much as she drives me nuts some days, I do appreciate the difference between the two of us.  The God-given differences.  What can I say?  She is my Sister! If anyone has anything bad to say about her I have first right to beat them up.  :evil grin:

Love in Christ,
Rebecca

Christmas

Christmas.  You think of Lights, Snow, Hot Chocolate, Evenings with Family, Family time, shopping, Giggles as you hide gifts, Bows, Happiness, Joy, Singing, Baking, Smiles, Trees, “White Christmas”, and “A Christmas Carol”. It’s Christmas time!!

If there is one thing I love, it is Christmas and December.  I am finally allowed to play Christmas songs all I want!  (Hahaha)  I love decorating and getting the Christmas tree up!!  We make it a big family event.  Mom passes out ornaments that we get to put on the tree, Dad string lights around the room with one of ussens helping.  Yeah, I really enjoy it. 

One of the things I have always appreciated that Mom and Dad do is make Jesus our focus, and others next.   One year Caleb was so excited- excited for everyone to open the presents HE made!!!  We all loved that!!  Our focus is on others, not ourselves.  We have never done Santa Claus and I think that is part of the reason we focus more on others. 

^Daddy reading The Birth story^

On Christmas morning our thing we do before opening presents is read Jesus’ birth story.  We start out first thing with that as our focus.  Then we open our presents one at a time so that we can see everyone’s reactions.  “Oh, wonder what you got!!”  “Mom, mom, look!  Here is your present I made; you’re going to love it!”  We celebrate Christmas as a big party for Jesus.  As His Holy and God-sent birth.  As His wonderful gift to us! 

Another fun family tradition that we do is a treasure hunt.  J Mom and Dad make one for us kiddos.  Ha-ha, the first one started years ago, when Josh was little.  Well, they put the first clue in a bunch of fabric and wrapped it and put it under the Christmas tree to us.  I opened it up and it said “Go Bush Your Teeth”.  Well, I started crying because it was Christmas, we just finished opening our presents and I didn’t want to leave everyone and go brush my teeth!!!  Hahaha!!  Mom finally convinced me that I needed to go, and had fun at my surprised face when what I found the next clue!!!  I think I just about had Sarah crying from “having to go brush our teeth….”   :D

Here are some pictures from last years treasure hunt.....

   ^Caleb isn't sure what the clue meant.... ^

                                        

                                                 

 

                             

Merry Christmas!!!!

Love in Christ,

Rebecca

Handel's Messiah

Today is our first performance of Handel's Messiah!!  We have one performance today at three, and two more next weekend- one on Saturday and the other on Sunday.  Yay!!!  I really think it has gone well this year.  We didn't have a big orchestra at first, but our Director was able to find a few more.  We have some big drums that really sound great when we sing Hallelujah and a couple of other songs.  Gives you big goose bumps!!! 

Here is a bit of history about Handel; (taken from my score)
The Messiah, Handel's most successful and best-known oratorio, was composed in the year 1741 in twenty-four days, from August the 22nd to September the 14th.  It was first performed at a concert given for charitable purposes at Dublin, Ireland, on April the 13th, 1742, Handel conducting the performance in person.

I don't know about you, but I couldn't write a whole score in 24 days!!!  He was definitely blessed by God.  It is still used and it is pretty much the same score he wrote 269 years ago!  Go you tube Handel's Messiah and enjoy listening to the great masterpieces- or better yet, go find a local group! 

Love in Christ,
Rebecca

Christmas Decorating!

Sunday we didn't have church as everyone couldn't get together, so we stayed home and decorated!!!  We still have a bit of decorating to do, but we have the "big" ones up.  :)  God really blessed me this time, too.  I always love have the lights with the garland (or whatever it is) around the ceiling.  Last year we didn't have enough lights and never got around to buying any.  This year we decided we were just going to use whatever we have and not buy anymore.  Soooo, I wasn't going to get my lights around the ceiling, again.  Then we found a whole bunch of outside colored lights!  We decided we would much rather have lights inside than out, and thus I got my lights!!!  It was sweet to be reminded that even in our silly things- as decorating- God really provides everything for us.  (No, I am not getting into any theological debate about whether that was really Him or not.  It isn't what my point is)   It was nice after a hard year to have that reminder.  :) 

^Our first bit of decorating was Lady!^

^Mom passing out ornaments^

^Josh and Caleb putting on ornaments^

^Joshua's Handsome deer^          ^Josh always has to put a "dainty" bow on Dad's deer!^

^this is an old ornament from my Mom's side of the family.^

  

^Lady isn't much of a lady with that snarl^

(She was just grinning, no one got hurt! )

^Daddy's buddy^

^Caleb took this shot of his eye.  Funny fellow^

^Our tree!^

^Joshua with a pretty tinsel in his hair!^

^Caleb^

Haha, Sarah was saying something funny and "drastic" while I was taking a shot of her pretty glitter shirt!  Needless to say, this is the one that gets posted..... :)

Now I can officially sing all the Christmas songs I want.....

Love In Christ,

Rebecca

Psalm 23

Here is an interesting breakdown of Psalm 23.  I think I have heard it before, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded again. 

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!
I shall not want = That's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul = That's Healing! 

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!
For His name sake = That's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = That's Testing! 

I will fear no evil = That's Protection!
For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = That’s Hope 

Thou annointest my head with oil = That's Consecration! 
My cup runneth over = That's Abundance! 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = That's Blessing ! 
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security! 
Forever = That's Eternity! 

What do you think???

Love in Christ,
Rebecca

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Ahh, it is holiday time!!!  Whahoo!  I love getting together with everyone, and all the traditions that come with Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's. 

I am in Tucumcari visiting my Dad's parents.  We get to spend Thanksgiving with them and my Aunt, Uncle and Cousins here in Tucumcari.  There is going to be lots of food and lots of visiting, games and fun!!! 

Where will you be for Thanksgiving?  Staying home and treasuring the Gifts God has given you at home?  Visiting family?  Family coming in? 

I pray God Blesses you.   Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Love in Christ,
Rebecca

Who will take the Son?

A wealthy widowed man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Viet Nam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

Later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.

He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out his package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.

"Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift." The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son.

The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?" There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."

But the auctioneer persisted, "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding - $100, $200?"

Another voice shouted angrily, "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"

But still the auctioneer continued, "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?" Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting."

Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?", the auctioneer continued.

"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."

"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?" asked the auctioneer. The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice! SOLD for $10!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"

The auctioneer laid down his gavel, "I'm sorry, the auction is over."

"What about the paintings?" - the angry crowd yelled.

"I am sorry, said the auctioneer, "when I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this moment. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!"

God gave his Son, Jesus, 2000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, "The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?"

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

--Author unknown

Wow, makes you stop and think what you are truly "buying" out in the world.  Are you buying things of God?  Or of Man?  And which is worth more.... 

Love in Christ,

Rebecca

My Life

It is so exciting and fun to have my own blog!  Sarah also has her own blog that you can read here.  Mom still has hers at Country Musings that she will be doing.  It will be interesting to see the different perspectives! 

Isn't this picture cute?   I don't know who came up with the saying "fighting like cats and dogs", ours just snuggle together.  Sure they don't always get along, but even our dogs would have bad days. 

Life is going well.  I serve an awesome Father that always takes care of me; a wonderful family who loves me in spite of my quirks; a ranch that is a blessing and a wonderful place to go riding, or go see cows; cats to curl up with while reading books; someone is always around to visit with and discuss deep things; friends who I can always chat with or have tea with; things on a to-do list to keep you busy; and when all else fails, there is always a sink with dishes to wash!   Life is busy which is good. 

We are going to my Dad's parents for Thanksgiving, which will be fun.  Josh and I will be leaving early this week to go and help out on the ranch up there.  The rest of the family will come up Wednesday.  I just enjoy being with the family and using the holiday as a good excuse to get together.  It is always fun to go and stay with Grandparents.  Spending the night with the whole family.  I really enjoy it all!!  What are some favorite things you do for Thanksgiving? 

Love in Christ,
Rebecca

Yeah!

Yay!  I finally got this (somewhat) figured out!  I am still working on the background and getting things to where I like them, but I know someone who can help me.....  :big grin:  But I wanted to get it up first. 

More to come, but now I need to go help in the kitchen.

Blessings,
Rebecca