tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post3617900273643427202..comments2023-08-11T07:27:23.158-04:00Comments on Kisses of Sunshine: This Year Was The Year Of My Undoing!GiBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03717697386035335817noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-62238638631567125952009-01-10T16:58:00.000-05:002009-01-10T16:58:00.000-05:00This year wasn't the year of my undoing, but it ce...This year wasn't the year of my undoing, but it certainly was the year that God showed me that it's best not to get too comfortable. New house, new job, less time to blog and read blogs... all things that make for change in my world.<BR/><BR/>I have the feeling that God is not done with me yet. At least I hope He's not!<BR/><BR/>And I too have learned the lesson of being satisfied with less. I don't want to teach my children that Christmas is all about finding the perfect gift. That gift has already been given and nothing I can purchase will ever top it. <BR/><BR/>I love your gc idea though; it makes it easier to be prepared and it's easier on the budget overall!Shaleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02364055849106684154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-10984638002527251682009-01-09T16:53:00.000-05:002009-01-09T16:53:00.000-05:00thanks so much for opening up and posting about yo...thanks so much for opening up and posting about your struggles. i too seemed to rush through Christmas this year, leaving behind traditions that have always been a part of it all....most mostly, skipping devotions and always bumping it to the bottom of the list. <BR/><BR/>i am hoping that this year will be a year of refocusing my attention on Christ first.<BR/><BR/>thanks again,<BR/>kristakristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11926074924671161707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-70087744666947711082009-01-09T15:18:00.000-05:002009-01-09T15:18:00.000-05:00GiBee,Great post, Praise the Lord for the convicti...GiBee,<BR/>Great post, Praise the Lord for the conviction the Holy Spirit has put on your heart!<BR/><BR/>I'd like to share two things that have provided clarity to my family and I through almost the exact situations:<BR/><BR/>1 - Even our best works are nothing compared to the Love of God, regardless of our intentions.(Isaiah 64:6 - NASB)<BR/><BR/>"For all of us have become like one who is unclean,<BR/><B>And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment</B>; And all of us wither like a leaf,<BR/>And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." (emphasis added)<BR/><BR/>That word for "filthy garment" in Hebrew, actually means "menstrual clothe". I'm sorry to use that, but I think it provides much more clarity than "filthy garment"<BR/><BR/>2 - The key to enjoying life is not what you do, it's Who you are doing it for. While just a subtle difference, the effects can be eternal. Think about point #1 in this context. This also relates directly to Matt 22:37 which you referenced, but Mark 8:34-36 speaks to the eternal consequences and the sacrificial heart we are to have in service to God:<BR/><BR/>"34And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "<B>If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.</B> For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. <B>For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?</B>"<BR/><BR/>"Less of me, more of Him." That is what we've been saying around our house. <BR/>For His Glory,<BR/>-W.S.Wretched Sinnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05888613744021329745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-74017566467365445292009-01-08T18:39:00.000-05:002009-01-08T18:39:00.000-05:00Aw, honey - I'm sorry to hear that it all came cra...Aw, honey - I'm sorry to hear that it all came crashing down around you but glad to her your voice still singing thru the resulting rubble still with God's hope and knowing His grace! Praise Him! Proud of you, girlfriend. Hang in there.Beth/Mom2TwoVikingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00093286971978819404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-56418047506325758212009-01-08T15:31:00.000-05:002009-01-08T15:31:00.000-05:00GiBee: Thank you so much for being vulneralbe eno...GiBee: Thank you so much for being vulneralbe enough to post this about what you have gone through and then been convicted of. It is soooo easy to fall into this without even realizing that one is headed there until we need a huge wake up call to see where we are at! <BR/><BR/>I love your idea of already starting to purchase gift cards now so that you have a stash by December to either give or use to shop.Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02757963698816530787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-72654805711981289052009-01-08T13:27:00.000-05:002009-01-08T13:27:00.000-05:00I can not thank you enough for this post! It was e...I can not thank you enough for this post! It was exactly what I needed to hear and a very clear answer to prayer. Thank you for sharing your heart!!Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00677720009504035257noreply@blogger.com