Our God Is With Us......Emmanuel!!!

Christmas is upon us!  Amazing how it arrives whether we are "ready" or not.

This year is somewhat different for Eddie and me.  For starters, we are "HOME", where we are surrounded with family and friends.  What a huge blessing!  However, this year has been challenging for us financially.  Our income sort of took a plunge with the move....and it's definitely been a "period of adjustment" for us.


With that in mind, we warned the kids some time ago that this would be a lean Christmas.  And, in the back of my mind, I allowed myself to harbor negative feelings about the "lack" of presents.  Every time I was out and about shopping, it seemed, I would see something that would the perfect gift for someone...and I had to pass it by.


But, as I was listening to Christmas music last night, I was struck by the words to the Steven Curtis Chapman song, "Our God Is With Us".  The sheer power of the Message in this classic song struck squarely at my hurting, resentful heart....

"And in one glorious moment, all eternity was shaken

As God broke through the darkness that had kept us apart

And with love that conquers loneliness, hope that fills all emptiness

He came to earth to show our worth. 

And our God is with us, Emmanuel

He's come to save us, Emmanuel, and we will never face life alone

Now that God has made himself known

As Father and Friend, with us through the end, Emmanuel

So rejoice, oh rejoice, Emmanuel has come."

 For the greatest gift of all is not any gift that appears beneath the tree, no matter how grand it might be.  The greatest gift of all was given on the night when Jesus humbly entered this world.

It was as if a bright light was turned on and I saw with clarity all the blessings bestowed upon me, and my family.  And, in that moment, I was able to let go of the negative feelings that I was allowing to stifle Joy in my heart and truly rejoice at the beauty of this season.
 
I hope you will click on the link below and listen to this beautiful song.  I don't know who put the video together and, yes, I know it is over 6 minutes long.  But, the music and the message are worth every second of your time!

My prayer for you this Christmas, dear Friend, is that you will be filled with all the Joy that comes from accepting the greatest gift of all.  Let us not forget the wondrous gift of that first Christmas or the comfort of knowing that our God is with us!

I am linking with Robin over at "ALL THINGS HEART & HOME" because she asked us to share about something that inspires us at Christmas....and even though there's not a Christmas decoration or recipe to be found in this post, it's all about INSPIRATION for me to share of the miracle of Jesus' birth!

Blessings to you and those you love...

Jane

Summer, 2010 - The Walk

I love going to group exercise classes at the gym!  Pumping weights to loud, pulsing music and stretching and doing yoga poses to calm, inspirational music is great.  (There must be big money in sound systems for gym facilities!)

But, I think my favorite exercise activity is my daily walk.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!

I have really gotten into the habit of taking a walk every morning.  It's just something I do - whether or not I "feel" like it.  Get up, throw on my slouchy shorts and a tank top, lace up my shoes, and hit the streets of the neighborhood.

I have a pretty regular 2-mile route, weaving around the neighborhood, and it takes me about 35 minutes to walk it.  I live in the best neighborhood for walking - not much traffic, a good number of other walkers, beautiful homes and lots of large shady trees! 

What makes this activity so enjoyable for me?

Well, for starters - the music.  (Thank you, Lord, for IPods!!!)  I have a playlist that is quite diverse....

Celine Dion, Reba McEntire, Barbra Streisand, Clay Walker, Amy Grant, Andrea Bocelli, Clay Walker, Michael W. Smith, Clint Black, The Pretenders, Michael English, LeeAnn Rimes, Christina Aguillera....

my music is all over the place! 

I listen to my IPod about 50% of the time when I am walking.  The other 50%.....

Well, I think....about lots of different things....

Like, what I need to get done on this particular day; what do we need from the grocery store; what a beautiful shade of blue the sky is; how badly we need to get the windows on our house reglazed before cold weather.   See what I mean?  Totally random....

I look at houses and wonder who lives in them and what they're like on the inside.  I have even snapped a couple of pics on my Blackberry when I noticed an exterior paint color I like or a particular garage door that would work well on our house.

I talk to the dogs, out loud, if they are with me.  I really think they like that!  Their tails get to wagging when I do it. 

I talk to myself, out loud, if I am alone.  I've had some great conversations with myself and even worked some things out.....so, even though I probably look like a lunatic, I will keep doing it.

I use the time to pray, particularly when something is really weighing on my mind and won't wait for "quiet time".

I greet other walkers, bikers and joggers, and people out in their yards.  I always try to smile, make eye contact and say "Good morning" because it's just the right and polite thing to do.

I concentrate on the feel of sweat running down my face, my neck, back, you name it......and know that I am accomplishing something good for my body.

And sometimes, I allow myself to "zone out".  You know, just let go of all thoughts and walk, enjoying the sound of my shoes hitting the pavement.

When I don't make my walk in the morning, I feel a little let down - and a lot lazy!  I usually make the effort to squeeze it in that evening if I can't get to it in the morning. 

I know the day is coming when the weather won't be so conducive to walking in the great outdoors.  That's when I will have to pack it up and head for the treadmill at the gym.  But, that won't be too bad.  They have lots of tv's to watch and you can plug in headphones to listen to several different kinds of music on their soundsystem if you forget your IPod.  (Yep, that fabulous sound system - they even have music playing on speakers outside.)  At least I have the option to take it indoors when the weather turns bad and for that, I am grateful.

But, for the last few months, it has truly been a blessing to be able to get in part of my exercise outside! 

What is your favorite form of exercise?  Do you like to listen to music while you're doing it?

Here's a loaded question....what's on your IPod???

See ya down the road....

Jane