Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Grace & Honor!

We hope that you will have a wonderful and Christ-centered Christmas this year, surrounded by the people that you love best. Thank you for being with us another year. We are looking forward to 2012 with anticipation at what God is going to do!

Michelle Castner – The Castner Chronicles

It is hard to believe that the year is quickly drawing to a close. We will have spent 7 months of 2011 right here in the United States! As I reflect back over these months, I find that the Lord has been very faithful to us.

Beverly Hammett – Streams in the Desert

Greetings from Botswana! It is a beautiful COOL cloudy day with the promise of rain in the forecast. We have enjoyed about a week of delightfully cooler days and lots of rain showers. On our trip to the village yesterday, I noticed that there is a little water in the riverbeds—a very unusual sight. The rains have started early this year, so we are hoping that is a good sign and will mean lots of cool days and lots of rain.

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IBS

She was young, full of anticipation, and overflowing with dreams of the future. She had high energy, optimism, goals and dreams.

Rhoda was a young believer mentioned in Acts who attended a prayer meeting held at Mary’s house for the imprisoned Peter. Now in Rhoda’s day Christians feared death or imprisonment by the Romans. Perhaps it was her youthful ignorance that kept her in the house praying instead of at home where it was safe. Nonetheless, she demonstrated faith in God despite the potential danger.

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How to Receive a Gift You Didn’t Want

The whole family is gathered together. Twinkling lights reflect in children’s eyes as they gather around and Grandpa reads the Christmas story. There is hot apple cider to sip and fresh cookies to munch. Then the fun begins – it’s gift time! The gifts are distributed, and soon it is your turn. You open a soft, lumpy package from your Great Aunt Martha. It’s a… sweater! Yes, a sweater in a color that you despise, in that odd 90’s style that is definitely not modern, but not yet vintage, and hence, a style you would not be caught dead in. Worst of all, there are rabbits embroidered around the bottom edge. Too kitschy, too outdated, too childish, too UGLY. Now what happens?

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Expectations: A Blessing or a Curse

I have spoken to many pastor’s wives all over the country, and there is a common problem that comes up often. This problem can basically be defined as expectations—what others expect of you compared to what you realistically can do and be.

A Life Changed By God

She lived a simple life. She wasn’t flamboyant; she wasn’t boisterous. She loved a good man, and their modest plans for a life together filled her waking moments. She had a happy past, a joyful present and a bright future.

And then her life was turned upside down.

Resting

A holy hush falls o’er my heart,
The snow is falling outside, muffling the world.

The glow of the dancing flame lights my room

And kindles a warm rush of thankfulness within my soul.

Choices

Remember the children’s song: “Oh be careful little hands what you do; Oh be careful little eyes what you see; Oh be careful little mouth what you say for the Father up above is looking down in love. Oh be careful…”? A friend said the other day, “We never grow out of that.” How true that is. It’s not just for little children. We will never grow out of being careful. What a great reminder.

The Coin

The tales ran wild ‘round the roaring campfire.
After a long day of labor, the young men were tired.

Their wages in hard, they were happy – at ease.
They would soon return home to their families.

I’ve a story to share that will make you all laugh
Spoke up one of the youths with a sack on his lap.

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English Toffee Bars

My sister in law gave me this recipe years ago. A very rich cookie, it is a special Christmas treat at our house. Made of four basic ingredients, which sound an odd combination, but don’t let that fool you, they are delicious. They are easy to make and not so easy to stop eating!

I’m sooo tired

How often do we hear this? How often do we say it? I remember being dead tired as a teen. Also, there is the extreme tiredness a new mommy feels from night after night of interrupted sleep. Sometimes, insomnia can make day drag in a foggy state. Then there are the times, we do it ourselves, knowing we are burning both ends of the candle, but pushing our bodies beyond the limits of matter. Fatigue has been linked to anger, irrational thoughts, poor decision making, hormone imbalance, (including leptin, which tells your body it is time to Stop eating), depression and anxiety. Not to mention its link with 56,000 car crashes every year with 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths.