COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

AS I REFLECT back over the past year, a song comes to mind:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed;
When you get discouraged thinking all is lost;
Count your many blessings name them one by one
and it will SURPRISE you what the LORD has done!

YES, I CAN look back and see that life had its many billows; life had its sorrows, its disappointments, its stress and uncertainties. Yet, when I count my blessings, when I begin to name them slowly, one by one, what an encouragement! What faithfulness and how trustworthy the LORD has proven Himself to be. What blessings overflow my life even in the midst of all the billows.

All thy waves and billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Psalm 42: 7, 8

WHEN IN A TRIAL, start counting those blessings right where you are, one by one, and soon you will be rejoicing in the loving-kindness of God.

ONE TIME I was having a particularly stressful day. It seemed to my mind that everything and everyone was turned against me. I remember driving in my car and I was beginning to fret in my mind. But I thought of this song, “count your blessings name them one by one,” and so I decided that was exactly what I was going to do. My mind scanned the day’s stresses and looked for the blessings: “Thank you, LORD, that I have this car to drive and it is working in good condition. Thank you, Lord, that I have my health. Thank you, Lord, that I live in America and have the freedom of choice. Thank you, Lord, that I have plenty of food to eat,” ect… and before I knew it, my cares melted away and my eyes were on God, loving and adoring Him.

HE WAS with me. He was blessing me, one blessing after another. Yes, the trials were there, but they no longer were so big and looming. Now my dear Heavenly Father was big – bigger than life itself – able to calm the wildest tempest; He was with me, loving me, taking care of me. And my prayer was unto the God of my life!”

AS WE LOOK BACK over our year, let us begin by counting our blessings one by one. Write them down. You will be pleasantly SURPRISED at what the Lord has done!

EMMANUEL – “GOD WITH US”

EMMANUEL. What a beautiful name and what a beautiful meaning: “God with US”!

THERE ARE many names in the Bible for Christ. Just to mention a few . . .

Almighty, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and Ending:
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8

Anointed:
And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. 1 Samuel 2:35

Author and Finisher of Our Faith:
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Branch of Righteousness:
In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. Jeremiah 33:15

Bread of Life:
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35

Bright and Morning Star:
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Revelation 22:16

Dayspring from on High:
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, Luke 1:78

Emmanuel:

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23

HE CAN BE all these things and more to you as He is to me! This is just the beginning. The list goes on forever . . . WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE . . . . He can be real in your life. He can be more than just a “story”, more than a figure of history – He can be your Best Friend, your Counsellor, your Guide, your Confidant, your Burden Bearer, your Everlasting Father, your Prince of Peace, your Savior - EMMANUEL!

LET THIS CHRISTMAS be more than just a “holiday” – let it be a celebration of our most awesome, amazing Savior! Let it be a celebration of  EMMANUEL – God with US!

WISHING YOU ALL the best Christmas – a Christmas that is blessed by His love! ~ In CHRIST,

EMMANUEL

“FOR UNTO US a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

~ ISAIAH 9:6

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK column is hosted by Miss Felecia V and appears weekly each Sunday morning, featuring an encouraging scripture from the Bible as an uplifting way to start the week.

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

by Nastya Andreyovna

FOR YEARS, OUR FAMILIES have had a tradition of caroling to the elderly in convalescent homes. Every Christmas, the moms make a trip to the grocery store to buy candy canes in mass amounts, we children gather together and sing through all the beautiful carols we know, and everyone piles into the vans to make a day of spreading the message of Christ’s birth.

“Oh, Come….all ye Faithful…”

THIS YEAR WAS extra special – our group of homeschooled carolers almost doubled and we had several extra guests that decided they wanted to join in on our effort.

NOW – WE HADN’T PRACTICED with any of these new people. My family and Miss Felecia’s family are quite familiar with the program and the way things work (namely, sing as loud as you possibly can so the old people can hear, smile huge, and make sure everyone gets a candy cane) but the others had to jump right in without any rehearsal whatsoever. Fortunately, most of our new members could carry a tune quite well and there were no issues.

my mommy tuning up before we start…yes, we were accompanied by a harp…and yes, it was a hit!:)

our enthusiastic audience

Carol, one of our “guest” carolers, and Miss Felecia

Priscilla in the process of handing out candy canes

My sister Grace playing “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen”

The Girls – Carol, Grace, Miss Felecia, Alexis, and Eva

Miss Felecia and Carol in the process of making music

Carol decided to shoot a family photo for us

The gentlemen being…er…gentlemen

Lunch break! the girls chatting

Priscilla

When lunch is finished and the grownups are still conversing…

When children have behaved like angels for too long…

When carolers cannot stop caroling…(I WAS singing, ok?)

…strange things begin to happen.

Lunchbreak doesn’t last long if you’re  businessman…

“Away in a manger, no crib for a bed…”

Carol trying out the harp

what it feels like after singing all day long…

or maybe like this…lol

WE VISITED A TOTAL of 4 resthomes and sang for probably over 150 people. Going to these resthomes is a very unique experience – sometimes more than interesting .  Most of the time the old people are well taken care of and in their right minds – however, that is not always the case. Some of the resthomes aren’t so fancy, and the inmates not so sane. It can be a little disconcerting to try to sing above the growling, mumbling, and babbling of the elderly whose bodies are bent into queer shapes or are shaking uncontrolably.

BUT SINGING FOR THESE people is such a rewarding experience. We walk into a room full of old, wrinkled, frowning faces who have no hope but to live out the rest of their days in that very building. We begin to sing and the poor faces light up in delight, joy, and happiness. It’s worth every effort we put forth to make those people happy and show them where to find hope. When we leave, we are given such enthusiastic thanks and we’re begged to come back again. And to make them so happy…well, it makes us so happy! All in all, I don’t know who gets the bigger blessing – us, or them!

MAY YOU HAVE a wonderful Christmas, and may you find a way to help someone less fortunate see the real meaning of Christ’s birth this season!

NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD

“FOR THE LORD GOD is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

~ PSALM 84:11

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK column is hosted by Miss Felecia V and appears weekly each Sunday morning, featuring an encouraging scripture from the Bible as an uplifting way to start the week.

A MERRY HEART

“A MERRY HEART maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.” – Proverbs 15:13

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK column is hosted by Miss Felecia V and appears weekly each Sunday morning, featuring an encouraging scripture from the Bible as an uplifting way to start the week.

GIVE THANKS

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say “I am strong”
Let the poor say “I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us.”

And now let the weak say “I am strong”
Let the poor say “I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us.”

THANKSGIVING IS NEARLY upon us! The preparations are being made. Since we host, there has been plenty of cleaning, planning and such going on. Today mom plans on making some pumpkin pies.

THANKSGIVING HAS ALWAYS been one of our most favorite holidays. For as long as I can remember, we have always hosted and Nastya’s family has come every year to celebrate with us along with some other friends and family members. It is one holiday that is looked forward to with much anticipation!

THIS YEAR, as we enjoy the all the good food, the plentiful sweets, the warm fire, our friends and family, our health . . . let us not forget what this is all about! Let us not forget to be thankful . . . AND let’s not forget those who are less fortunate than we are . . . maybe it’s that little one in Africa that is starving for lack of food, perhaps it’s the one with cancer that has only months left to live, maybe it’s the husband and father in Afghanistan who is wishing right now to be home with his family, or even, could it be? someone right next door to us or in our very own home church. The one who is sick and been enduring pain for years, yet has kept their faith in God. The elderly lady who’s husband just passed and this year must celebrate the holidays without him. Or maybe it’s that one that is slow or crippled . . . but they never seem to complain about their “defect”.

OH GOD, HELP US to remember and help us to pray! Help us to not go into this holiday not caring at all! Maybe right now, there is not much you think you can do, but there IS one thing that is more powerful than anything else – and that is PRAYER! You can pray!

SO THIS THANKSGIVING, let’s determine to not forget! In all of our fun and festivities, let’s take the time to remember and say a prayer and be thankful that we are so fortunate and blessed! May you all have an awesomely blessed Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKSGIVING

“O GIVE THANKS unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.” – Psalm 118:29

 

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK column is hosted by Miss Felecia V and appears weekly each Sunday morning, featuring an encouraging scripture from the Bible as an uplifting way to start the week.

HOLIDAY EXCITMENT

WELL EVERYONE, the excitement of the coming holidays is upon us! As you may have noticed, we have done a bit of slacking on the job here lately in posting articles and one of the reasons is because of the business that comes about this time of year. Plenty has gone on, the subject of this post being to update you all on a little of what we’ve been doing.

NASTYA has been busy with school. She is currently enrolled in a few classes in a nearby community college: orchestra, voice and Russian. Of course, she has plenty of homework assignments. With that and chores, she is kept plenty busy during the day and even on weekends (oftentimes much to my displeasure since I would wish to do something with her ). She has also been given the place of organizing and leading the choir for the church’s annual Christmas special. Picking about eight girls between the ages of 6 and 14, she has had her hands full trying practice with them and teach the songs as well as their own parts. She is a busy young woman, but still has her vip, vem and vigor! Nastya is looking forward to the holidays as well too. Her family usually always spends Thanksgiving with mine and the tradition has made it one of our favorite holidays, one that we look forward to with great anticipation!

AS OF right now, I am sick. Yes, sick! About a month ago, Nastya had gotten sick when she was spending some time with me at my house. Her whole family came down with it, but I waited to get sick until just a short time before Thanksgiving! *-* It has been a very nasty sickness, but I’m doing better and I thank God SO much for that! I am still volunteering weekly at a local hospital in out patient recovery. Recently, I went through the “Informal Interview” (or orientation) to become a senior volunteer. Once you are 18 years old and out of high school, you are eligible for becoming a senior volunteer and no longer a junior. So I am committed to at least another year of working for them unless something comes up. I would like to eventually train in another department (ER or nursery would be my ideal), but we will see what God wills. I am continuing my work helping to build the website for the church congregation in Kenya, Africa. I have been posting articles weekly that the  brother has written. It is a blessing to be able to help out in a small way!

LAST MONTH brought about the celebration of my younger sister’s 14th birthday. My sister is has very mild cerebral palsy and seizures. She almost didn’t live at birth. The doctors said she would be in the hospital for at least 30 days, but the church prayed earnestly for her and in 11 days she was home! She was a miracle baby and is still a very special person in our family. My Aunt Sherry kindly opened up her home and my family and Nastya’s gathered for a little party. We had enchiladas for dinner and my mom made a delicious cheesecake. A bit later a few other friends stopped by to visit and give my sister a gift. We all had a great time together and my sister had a fun birthday!

NASTYA & I also had a great time together on our trip to Apple Hill with my family and a couple of friends. For those of you who don’t know about Apple Hill, it is hard to explain. It is a beautiful place up in the foothills that becomes alive during the fall season. All the family owned shops and bakeries there open up. Vendors bring their goods to sell. The smells of pine, cider and baked goods pervade the air. There are many festivities, crafts, booths and shops. It is hard to portray exactly what it is like in writing, but it is a lot of fun to visit. We spent one Saturday afternoon up there, grabbing Starbucks on the way. We came back with a few nick-knacks, a half bushel of apples and very tired, but happy! Nastya was planning on doing specific post just on the adventures of the day with more pictures, but I don’t know if she’ll ever get around to that!!!

Warm, sugared apple doughnuts and chilled apple cider

OF COURSE, as you all know, last month ALSO brought around that time of year that is so meaningful to us – Alesya’s birthday and 1 & 1/2 year anniversary since her death. On the day of her birthday, I went and visited the grave but Nastya was not able to go with me that time so I went alone. A few weeks later, we were able to go together and take a bunch of pink/peach colored roses to put on the grave. There were some flowers there already and Nastya had to arrange them and take some of the old ones out so that they’d all fit in the space. As she did so, she remarked something to the effect, “Alesya, it must mean you are REALLY loved when we can’t fit all the flowers in!!!” When she was done, the compartment to hold the flowers was STUFFED and as she was trying to stuff in one last stem with three little roses on it, she came up with the idea to save it and put the little buds on some of the babies graves that we’d seen there. We strolled around looking for some special little child’s grave to place a rosebud on. It was really a beautiful day, though it always is a bit sad and our drive back is generally a lot more quiet than the one there, especially the first half of it. God’s ways sure are a wonder and past finding out!

THIS COMPLETES my update for now! I hope you all enjoyed getting a peek into what we’ve been doing and what’s been going on in our lives. I encourage you all to keep your eyes on Christ Jesus, no matter what! Our goal is Heaven and that is worth more than any passing pleasure in this world!!! As we enter the holiday season, the celebrations, gifts, shopping, business, all being madly rushed upon us, let us not forget our Lord in it all. Let us not forget to stop and pray, to include Him in our celebrations! He is the reason! God bless you all!

The BEHIND THE SCENES column appears at least once a month to give an update on the activities and events on our personal lives.

HAPPINESS IS THE LORD

“…WHOSO TRUSTETH in the LORD, happy is he.” – Proverbs 16:20b

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK column is hosted by Miss Felecia V and appears weekly each Sunday morning, featuring an encouraging scripture from the Bible as an uplifting way to start the week.