Can't believe I'm about to say this but......

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

May God continue to pour blessings on you and yours in the coming year!!

When Love Came Down at Christmastime!

Just a quick shout out to say "Merry Christmas" to all of you!! Christmas is about the ONLY time you'll find my kids like this.......

tee hee... aren't they sweet?

May the Lord bless you and yours this Holiday season!! Merry Christmas from the Elswick Crew!!!!

His name is Jesus.......

Well the weekend was a whirlwind but it was GREAT! We had our program at church "Savior Christ the King" and it went well. A few bobbles here and there but I'm sure no one really noticed. All in all, the name of Jesus was lifted high and souls were saved.....mission accomplished!!
It was funny because during the program our baby "Jesus" - which was a live baby, not a doll - had a little problem. The bright lights and the heat was a little much for the baby - I think. Anyway, all I could do was pray for the Mom and Dad because I can only imagine how they felt hearing the little one wailing and not being able to do a thing about it. (Both were involved in the program as well) But the crying really had a profound impact on me. After all, Jesus was as much a man (baby) as He is Deity so I'm sure He did cry. I'm sure as He made His arrival on the planet He was overcome with emotion as He learned to deal with His new found limitations in this tiny body. In fact, the Bible confirms my theory as just before His death He prayed for the cup to be removed. He did, however, surrender to the Father's plan and follow thru. So the crying baby in our performances brought tears to my eyes and not just because I felt bad for him and the parents, but because I thought of what Jesus gave up....for me....for you.
As you're celebrating this season I pray that you'll find something new and fresh in the story of our Saviour's birth. I pray the Father will speak anew to you as He did me. I pray that you'll stop to praise the name.......Jesus!

Predictions.....

Have you ever had someone tell you something would happen and then it does? Like, one time I had a dream about a co-workers Father being trapped inside a burning house (awful I know) and he died a week later. (I didn't share the dream with her by the way!) Also, 3 days before my brother-in-law died I was riding in the car with Jimmy and said "I don't know what it is babe, but I just feel like there's something BIG around the corner for us?" There's been other things that have happened. Some good, some bad. Has that ever happened to you? If so, tell me about them....I love that kinda stuff.
I don't believe in psychics. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe that the Lord gives us those dreams or those feelings to prepare us for something. Not sure how theologically correct it is, I just know it's happened to me A LOT!!!!!
The Bible is FULL of predictions. FULL I tell ya. There's one that I came across this season that is familiar to us all, but for some reason just really got my attention.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isa 9:6
One thing that hits me. Isaiah says "a child IS born" and hello.....this was written YEARS before Jesus was born. Don't ya love that? Isaiah was already anticipating it as if it had happened. LOVE it!
I know that in the day and time we live Jesus is not called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". In fact, a lot of people throw His Precious Name around as a word to use in frustration or excitement. But know this, there's another prediction that gives me great joy in this season and in this time we live...."Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him" Rev 1:7a (emp mine) Even so, come Lord Jesus!!!!

Oh my WORD, people PRAY!!!

Well we're getting ready for our children's Christmas program tomorrow night at church and I've been over there every day since Wed. UGH. 2 of our cast members have come down with colds, 1 hurt her knee, and so many other things have gone on/gone wrong so the Lord must have something HUGE He's wanting to do in this program so please pray that He'll show up and SHOW OFF thru these kids!!!! (Especially my oldest Chase. This is his last Christmas performance as he'll move to MS next year and he has one of the lead roles.) I'll be sure to post pics when I can. For now......PRAY!!!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.....

Well I certainly hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving. Mine was GREAT!

I'm slammed the next two weeks with our children's Christmas program this weekend - which I'm the "stage manager" and my oldest has the lead and my other 2 babies are in so it's a busy week getting ready for that! THEN next week is the adult program on Sat and Sun so it's pure-T madness in the Elswick plantation. PLUS Chase has a trip to DC coming up in Feb and they've picked THIS weekend to have a big fundraiser for the event. Now, y'all know we are po - can't even afford the or - so we're trying to participate in that as well. WHEW!

Anyway, not much blogging this week but did wanna share this........

Yes that's my baby girl getting baptized and my Josh waiting his turn! God is good!!!!

Pray for my sanity this week and for my kids to stay well! Thanks.