Just for Fun

Just for fun, we thought we'd share a few of our most recent pictures of our sweet girls.

Kylee & Aubrey playing dress up.

I love their sweet smiles in this one.

Two princesses

Playing in the "Cinderella" kitchen

Cinderella LOVES to cook!

This was the day a couple of weeks ago we got a little (and I do mean little) snow.
They were anxiously watching from the window for the snow to come.

So cute in her pig tails!

There is nothing quite like the wonder and excitement in a child's eyes.

Apply it to Me Monday

We experienced a beautiful time last week on our pastoral staff retreat at Pastor's place in the Ozarks.  It snowed our first night there, and we enjoyed the beauty of the snow for the remainder of our time there. We forgot our beloved camera, so we do not have pictures to share. 

Today is our first morning with Kylee and Aubrey back, so they are keeping me extra busy.  Today's post will have to be quick, but I did want to share a verse I was reminded of during our retreat that has carried me through some hard times.  Sometimes we just need to be reminded of the security God has for us even in troubled times. 

"He is your constant source of stability.  He abundantly provides safety and great wisdom; He gives all this to those who fear Him.  "  Isaiah 33:6 (NET)

I don't know about you, but sometimes I just need to know that God has security and safety for me.  Sometimes life is scary and unpredictable.  Sometimes life is just stinkin' hard.  I am so thankful that He is my CONSTANT source of stability, safety, and wisdom! 

We hope this verse encourages you today.  If you are in a difficult or scary season in your life right now, you may want to write this verse down and take it with you everywhere you go as a constant reminder to you that God is so mindful of you!

~Josh and Jill

Apply it to Me Monday

This morning I woke up with a reminder from the Holy Spirit of a scripture I memorized when I was a little girl in the Missionette program at my church.  I don't know why when I think of my Missionette experience this scripture stands out over all the others I memorized, but it does.  On occasion, the Holy Spirit will remind me of it to keep my thinking and my conversations in check.  It's found in Philippians 4:8, and this is what it says:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellenct or praiseworthy - think about such things."

Josh and I talked last night about how it's so easy at times to focus on the negative or hurtful situations we find ourselves in.  If we do not guard our thoughts and our "talks,"  we will soon feel as if the whole world is against us, even when it's not.  So we made a commitment only to focus on the praiseworthy things in every situation.

Many times when we are focused on a negative situation, it is out of our fear and anxiety.  For example, we may see only bad qualities in a particular person, because at the root of our feelings, we are afraid they do not accept us.  We may see only bad qualities in a group or organization because we are afraid we cannot really be included.  We may see only negative realities in a medical situation because we are afraid God cannot really heal us.  The list could go on. I found it so interesting when I looked the scripture up, the verses that precede it.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

Heavenly Father, I want your peace to guard my heart and mind today as I strive to think on those things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy.  It's only in your strength that I can do this.  Drive all negative thinking far from my mind, and replace it with your thoughts! 
In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen.

We love all you guys out there, and hope these scriptures encourage you the way they have encouraged us!

~Josh and Jill

Apply it to Me Monday

While today is a little bit of a "sad" day in that the holidays are officially over, we are very excited to see what God has in store for the New Year.  One thing we are excited about is our challenge to memorize scripture.  If you haven't made that a resolution, we challenge you to do so.  Keep it simple so that it's do-able, but if you commit to memorize God's Word in the New Year, even if it's just one scripture a month, you will see God work in mighty ways in your life.  His Word never returns void.  Never.

I only have a minute today since we are spending it together as a family, but I do have a verse to share that has been on my heart for about a week now. 

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"  1 John 5:4-5

In an earlier post I shared with you about persecution around the world, and how much of God's Word we would have stored up if persecution should come to America.  I think of all the trials we experience in this world.  Some small, others devastating to the point we don't think we can survive it.  What an encouragement to know that we overcome the evils of this world when we simply believe in Jesus Christ.  There is nothing that He can't carry us through.

Happy 1st Monday of 2011!

~Josh and Jill