You may notice that I have posted a picture in the title of my blog with the word, Simplify!
I did that very intentionally.
I am probably not a lot different from most people, who constantly find ourselves striving for life to slow down, and at the very same time, we are seeking for more! More money, more happiness, more clothes, more shoes, more fun......more! Then we find ourselves wondering why we are bogged down with "more" than we know what to do with. I start to feel like everything around me gets cluttered with the "more"!
I have a burning passion in my heart to simplify! I get this way at the beginning of every year...and I will say that this last year, I did some major remodeling on my life and heart, but God is not finished with me. He wants to take out the "more" that I have stuffed into my life, and bring in the things that really matter.
I am not quite ready to move into a remote mountain cabin with just the bare necessities...but I am ready to get rid of what inhibits me from concentrating on what is really important. I want to have the space in my heart for God to work His plans out in me.
One of the biggest parts of simplifying, is learning to have a heart of contentedness or peace. Help me Father!
So all of this being said, I have set a personal goal for the year 2009....I want to concentrate on filling my life with His Word, His Heart and His Plans...only bringing in that which will be a positive addition to my life, in light of God's plan for me. Will I do it perfectly?.....are you kidding! (This is Sheila, and she messes things up...really bad.)
But I will try, I will get up when I fall down, and the Lover of my soul will not leave me to do it by myself!
May God's blessings be your's in 2009!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Simplify!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas from The Taylor's!
I know that I have no idea how many people read my blog; we want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas!Duane, Sheila, Ashley, Alex and Nichole
Sunday, December 21, 2008
20 Little Things to Treasure at Christmas!
20. Sitting in my family room, in the dark, with only the lights from my Christmas Village shining.
19. Stirring my coffee with a candy cane.
18. Opening envelopes filled with beautiful cards, family pictures and newsy letters.
17. Driving on a road that looks down on our valley, and seeing Christmas lights near and far.
16. Keeping secrets about Christmas presents.
15. Having the freedom to say "Merry Christmas!"
14. Christmas Carols...especially O Holy Night!
13. Watching as people go out of their way to help complete strangers!
12. Listening to bells ring as coins are dropped into red buckets.
11. Simply loving
10. The beauty of innocence in children, as they gaze at all the wonders of Christmas
9. Having my favorite color (red) splashed all around me...everywhere I look!
8. Hanging up ornaments, and remembering where they came from and the little stories behind each one.
7. The smell of peppermint and vanilla and yeast and cinnamon and.......delicacies from the kitchen!
6. Snuggling up with a quilt and reading a Christmas Story.
5. Anticipating Christmas vacation...and still having to remind myself that sleeping in is ok!
4. Recalling memories of Christmas...some make me laugh, some make tears fall....but all are part of my story!
3. Watching a brand new mother gaze with wonder at her new baby, and imagining what it must have been like for Mary on the cold night!
2. Being with the ones that define "Love" in my life!
Last, but far from least.......
1. Closing my eyes and centering my thoughts on a Baby, that was sent to earth for me...and you....and realizing all over again, as if for the first time, that I didn't deserve the Greatest Gift EVER given.
Tonight, I hold in my heart the gifts of mercy, grace, joy, love, peace......and a renewed determination to share them with everyone I encounter!
Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Broken People
This morning, I was wrapping up my Christmas decorating. Let me back up a bit, and tell you about my Nativity set....
The next year ('96), Ashley who was three at the time, was so intrigued with all of the breakable pieces. I set it up very low for her to see, and had even allowed her to pick them up and hold them under my supervision, but had told her that if mommy was not in the room, then it was "hands off". She did good at being obedient...most of the time.
One morning, while sitting on my bed, feeding Alex (3 months), I heard a crash! I went in to the Living Room to see what had happened, and there sat Ashley holding Joseph, or should I say, Joseph's remains, and a now head-less shepherd! I asked her what had happened, and she said, "Mommy, I was making the shepherd and Joseph kiss, and they broke!!!" After discussing that a shepherd and the step-father to the Messiah, most likely didn't kiss....I set out to pick up the shards of porcelain and then with super-glue, I mended the men!
I continued to use this Nativity set throughout the following years.
This year as I was unpacking my decorations for this festive holiday, I came across my box labeled "Nativity set". I set it on the floor and thought, "That set is so old...I need a new one!" I even had decided that I wouldn't use it this year.
So, that brings us back to this morning....I was finishing up the family room, and then putting all the empty rubber-maids back into storage, when I came across my Nativity set. I was sitting on the floor and feeling a tad convicted. I rationalized that I didn't have to have figurines of the Nativity setting out, in order to make Christmas about the Christ-child. But something drew me to open the box. When I lifted Joseph out of his packaging, I thought about how broken he was,
and it was as if I heard Christ say, "Sheila, I use broken people all the time!"
I then lifted the Shepherd out and his head fell off, and when Mary was unwrapped I noticed that her head covering was chipping off....they were all broken!
I sat in a heap on the floor of my Living Room and cried! Not because my Nativity Set was falling apart, but because, just like Mary, Joseph and the Shepherd, I too am broken. Sometimes, I imagine that people must look at me, and wonder what God can do with me...I know I wonder that myself? But that doesn't stop Him. He continues to bring me out of my hiding places and put me back together again, to be used to show the world that He will make all things beautiful-no matter what my condition is! He only needs our willingness...and through our brokenness and pain, His Glory is revealed!This Fall has been one of great pain and trials for my family and at this very moment, I feel so chipped and scratched...I even think that my head might fall off if someone tips me the wrong way.
In all reality, when God made Holy arrangements to bring his Son into the world, He didn't pick perfect people! Joseph was a poor, Jewish carpenter, Mary was a teen-aged bride to be, and when the smelly shepherds showed up on the scene with their even smellier sheep...they caused Joseph and Mary to be very concerned! God used and still uses broken people!
Needless to say, my nativity set is out on display...so I won't forget this lesson!
