Jubilee

 Happy New Year! 

Gonna start trying to blog more this year! :)

I started this blog for my mom (8 years ago!) to see pictures of us. She lives 3 hours away.

I want to keep posting pictures for her.

I always struggle with social media because it can be used for good or... harm.

But God's Word says that the redeemed are to SPEAK OUT! So, I've gotta speak!! God's Word is fire in my bones... I can't hold it in!

"Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies."

Psalm 107:2

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I hope you had a great Christmas break. We spent Christmas at the beach and had a beautiful time. God brought peace and healing to my heart. 

We packed our van to the max with people, presents, and duffel bags and went to the place our family loves. Our condo has been a real refuge for me. I don't know why exactly but it feels safe there.
Maybe when I see the magnitude of the ocean, my trust in God's power is renewed.
Maybe seeing creation do what God has created it to do is a reminder of how purposeful God is in EVERYTHING.
Maybe being with each other playing board games and throwing football is a reminder that life truly is simple. 

It's about relationship.
Relationship with God and people.
Somehow the ocean/beach re-sets my thinking back to where it needs to be.

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We are remodeling our house so we didn't put up a tree.
I But I did buy two strands of colored Christmas tree lights on the way to the beach and hung them when we got there. 

It was SIMPLY lovely. 

 I want y'all to get to know my baby! I feel like I blogged every day and every detail when his older brothers were little. Rhett is wonderful. God knew I would need a baby during this season. I'm not kidding you, I can't help but smile when I look at him. He is into everything and a total handful. He babbles in sentences. :) I love this onesie that says "the one you love". I can't remember exactly when I got this outfit but most or all of my boys have worn it. I want each one of my kids to feel like the one I love. God has made me feel like that and He has WAY more kids than me! 

He has no idea how much joy he brings me. Ha! That's makes him even more fun!

 For my birthday, I went to see Big Hero 6 with some of my little friends. I never watch movies with them because it is so hard for me to sit still. We had a great time. 

My boys surprised me with a necklace for my birthday... It was from the toy store they walked to. It is a charm necklace and they bought me 2 charms for it. It is so cute and means the world to me because it was their idea. 

 We had friends come visit us and we packed in like sardines. It was a blast!

 Thankful I got to see my grandparents before we left... They are steadfast and constantly loving.

Tim reminds me so much of my grandfather.

 We put up more lanterns as we celebrated the New Year! It is always so powerful to see light in the darkness and think of the impact we can have...

“Let your light so shine before men, 

that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Matt 5:16

"Do everything without complaining and arguing,  so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, 

shining like bright lights 

in a world full of crooked and perverse people."

Phil 2:14,15

 Power couple! :)

 I did such a good job this year with presents. We can't buy too many because of the number of kids we have so I have to choose wisely. It made me think of the verse...

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts toyour children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:13

Crew is easy. He gets the same gift every Christmas and birthday.

A new ball.

Every time is as good as the first! :)

 Heelys for Bubba...

(He LOVES them)

Lake got a snow cone machine that is blessing the whole family!

He wanted one so bad and it is a WINNER.

He says he's gonna start his own business so if you need snow cones at your next event, let me know!

 Hope got a new dress and a Lego friend set. Rhett got a new broom/ dust pan combo because that is his favorite thing in the house. He loves it and it is handy for me too! Score!!!

Reece got to go to the UT bowl game!

 On a morning walk, we went through this path behind Alys Beach. A verse jumped out of nowhere at me when we were in the section of the walk... ( I think it is so neat when God speaks like that). His Word truly is ALIVE.

I just had to take a picture so I wouldn't forget!

"For I am about to do something new.

See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."

He makes a pathway for us through the wilderness. We are going THROUGH it... safely!

Most of the time we can't see it. But that is when He is doing a NEW THING! A great work in our lives! 

I am encouraged. I am eager and expectant about 2015. I truly believe that it is going to be a year of jubilee and rest for the wearied laborers. If that is you, be encouraged. I think you have much to look forward to this year. I think you will experience rest. I believe that God is going to bless His hard-working farmers this year 

with rest and jubilee. 

Laborers need rest. He knows that. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Matt 11:28

 "For six years you may plant your fields and prune your vineyards and harvest your crops,  but during the seventh year the land must have a Sabbath year of complete rest. It is the LORD’s Sabbath. Do not plant your fields or prune your vineyards during that year.  And don’t store away the crops that grow on their own or gather the grapes from your unpruned vines. The land must have a year of complete rest.  But you may eat whatever the land produces on its own during its Sabbath. This applies to you, your male and female servants, your hired workers, and the temporary residents who live with you...

Set this year apart as holy, a time to proclaim freedom throughout the land for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you...

Lev 25

If you don't like cheezy pictures, you won't like my blog. I am wildly in love with my husband. We are hanging on to Jesus Christ for dear life as He has called us to do the impossible.

Thankfully, with Him!!!, raising 6 children IS possible!!!

We often cry together over our failures in marriage and parenting. 

But God compels us forward. 

He tells us not to look back but to PRESS ON in His strength... and by His Spirit.

 "but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me."

Phil 3:12

"I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

Phil 3:14

I really like this version of Hebrews 12. It is from the Message which is not the most accurate translation but its still based on the truths of Scripture. I wouldn't suggest studying from the Message but it's fun to read sometimes. 

 "Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. 

That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"

Heb 12:1-3

Ha! 

That does shoot adrenaline into my soul!! 

Now get going! Enjoy life! Serve God. Walk by faith, not by sight. If you don't know that you are going to heaven, open your Bible. You will find life there. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and become a NEW CREATION in 2015.

Fall to your knees. Ask Christ to forgive you, come into your heart, and change you from the inside out. He LOVES you so much. He is calling you by name! Respond to His voice!

Happy New Year! 

Press On!

Be Blessed~

Steph