I do not make New Year Resolutions, rather I like to reflect on the previous year and count my blessings--we are not to look back with regret on our lives, but rather take from it, learn from it, and be blessed by it--2008 was in so many ways a great year for us, but also a troublesome one in many ways--even in the trials though I can see the Lord working, shaping and molding us for this next season in our lives--early in '08 DH's business fell to an all time low in income,it was a very scarey time for us--BUT the Lord never waivered and was there for us and saw a through a very trying time--Spring of '08 was a very blessed time here on the homestead--new life was everywhere here--baby goats were born, chicks were hatched and tiny little baby ducks were hatched, life was abundant here--Our garden did not do as well as I hoped, but nonetheless we had more than some and less than others, but it was all from the Lord and we were grateful--DH's business began to pick up and once again we thanked the Lord for seeing us through a huge trial--Summer was great as well--we havested what the garden produced--I canned and froze what I could--we blessed others by selling what goat kids we did not need and met some really awesome people in the process--We were also looking for land to purchase during this time--we were only looking for an acre or 2--we looked a few tracks of land, but it just didn't work out--early fall we found 18 acres, way more than our original plan--but notice I said "our"--the Lord seemed to have other plans for us--after much prayer, negotiations, and more prayer we signed papers on an awesome 18 acres of land, this was more than we ever imagined we would own--God surely blessed us many times over--We are still praising him today for his goodness--Late fall my vehicle basically quit so it was time for another one--i was apprehensive since I a huge fan of debt free living--we purchased an 01 Ford explorer--well just this past week, I regret to say that the rear-end went out of it--BUT the Lord was faithful and we were able to purchase a Mini-van--a 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette Luxury edition--Very low miles--leather interior--VCR for the kiddos to enjoy movies while driving--looks brand new inside and out and its cheaper than the explorer--Just another blessing to count!--Christmas Eve this year I was informed I will be a grandma again( 3rd time) in late August!--Yes my oldest is expecting--she is about 5 weeks--DH's job also slowed way down this year, but the Lord blessed him with a temporary job to see us thru these next few months--not an ideal job, but nonetheless its a job in a time many are losing theirs--All and all 2008 was a good year--Yes, we had many trials, but trials keep us close to the Lord--don't ya think?--Its those trials that test and stretch our Faith--its in those trials we grow--with 2009 only a few hours away I look forward to new trials and I feel there will be many--I feel Christians will be faced with challenges we have not ever had to deal with, but I know for those of us truly trying to serve the Lord He will not fail us--We must keep our faith and focus on the Lord--we need to be out there supporting other Christians, sharing the gospel and creating a safety net ready to share whatever we have with other believers if need be--Times are going to get rough--BUT I know the Lord will see us all through--We need to be speaking the truth now more than ever--there are going to be those that do not want to hear it, or will not believe it, but NOW is the time--I pray you are blessed beyond measure in 2009--I pray for courage and strength for all believers in 2009--Look back to your blessings in 2008 and look forward to be a blessing to someone in 2009--

~Kris

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As I watched my evening news and heard of the tragic death of a wal-mart employee it made me sick! A human being trampled to death by shoppers! Is stuff really that important--that other people could kill someone for it?? I don't get it--Have we as a society have lost so much of our roots and grounding in the word that we have all but lost sight of the holiday season?? I guess so!--I totally get that Christmas is not even when Christ was born--but aside from all of that it is a day that some of us have set aside to observe Jesus' birth--again I will reiterate I am a simple person, with a simple life, on a simple little farm, with simple little critters, that simply love the Lord--STUFF is not my cup of tea--for pete's sake a man was killed for material possessions--Wonder if the plasma t.v. or the ipod was worth his life??? People actually got angry when they were told the store had to close due to an employee death!!--WOW! -- Sad thing is--the family of that man will not have him this year--but the people that killed him will have their families and their stuff!!-- I guess I am more simple minded than even I care to admit, because I truly just do not get all the hub-bub with shopping and great deals-- Its just possessions--when we leave this ol' world to make the trip to heaven it can not come with us, so what is it gonna matter?-- Many purchase expensive gifts for their children on credit cards and are still paying on it well beyond next Christmas-- We pay hard, cold cash-- We have taught our children that if you don't have cash, you don't buy it--if its that important to you--save your cash for it-- Black Friday sales are really kinda silly--they mark down 'stuff' to get shoppers in to purchase it--people buy it and in 6 months no one remembers they have it--LOL--This year someone lost their life for worldly possessions--This is not taking into account the people shot to death at Toys-R-Us--We have got to get our priorites in order--time is short--stay home--hug your children and tell them you love them--that my friends will mean more later down the road than any package under the tree!!! And the best part--It's Free and no crowds to kill ya!

~Kris

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For the past 12 years or so I have hosted Thanksgiving at my home for my oldest daughter and her family, my in-laws and my mom--this year I am simplifying--it will be spent with my immediate family meaning, hubby, youngest daughter and oldest daughter and her family--Our meal will be very traditional with turkey, homemade cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, greenbean casserole, homemade hot rolls, pasta salad, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, apple pie and cherry pie.

This is one more step to a simpler life--Holidays should not be stressful--not on the host--not on the pocket book--this year of all years--I feel the need to focus on truly being thankful for what we have--freedom--the abiltiy to worship a risen savior as we see fit, freedom of speech, freedom of the press--etc--there may come a time when we no longer have these freedoms--I want to enjoy my holiday with my family--not be so tired and overworked that I cannot enjoy my children and grandchildren--Every year I am so tired from all the cooking and cleanup that I do not enjoy the holidays much--seems so many have lost the true meaning of the holidays--but I can recapture that in my family by changing my focus--I want to focus on the fact my family is together--we are healthy--we have food on the table and clothes to wear--We are blessed in so many ways--Our way of life is not for everyone--but God is so good to us--we may not have much by the worlds standards--much of that is by choice--but the one thing we do have is salvation and no one can take that from us--

This is one year I challenge everyone to stop, and reflect on those things that are important in life--and thank the Lord for them--so many this year will be without--and be alone--wives will be without husbands due to the war--moms will be without children--children without daddy's and mommy's--family's will be without a home--many without power or water or money to buy the basics of food--many have lost jobs this year--if you are not in those groups of people you have so much to be thankful for--so many sit around pondering what latest and newest gadget to purchase for their child/ren for christmas and worried about how to pay for it--many will do without this year--if you can afford any thing for christmas this year--count yourself among the blessed--We all need to get back to the basics--Serve God--Thank him for what you have--God will bless you for it--

~Kris

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To Fear or To Fear Not?

 by Faith Noles

The week following this 2008 presidential election has left many feeling as if they have just walked through a cold mortuary filled with the post mortem remains of a once beautiful and blessed America. I’ve seen the solemn expressions of prophecy teachers and anointed preachers who have spoken since the election. I’ve seen the down cast faces of faithful believers who have passionately prayed for the healing and redemption of this nation. Many are disheartened and may even feel as if God has not heard their prayers.

David Wilkerson wrote in his book, God’s Plan To Protect His People In The Coming Depression that “Every serious follower of Christ has to realize America deserves the full fury of God’s wrath”. History is filled with examples of God’s judgment upon wicked nations. With the election of Obama, Christians in America see the ‘writing on the wall’ and know that God’s judgment on America is right at hand.

I do believe that America is about to be judged. However, God wants to remind His children that He is still on the throne. Billy Graham once made the statement “God is unchanging in His love. He loves you. He has a plan for your life. Don’t let the newspaper headlines frighten you. God is still sovereign; He’s still on the throne.” God has not changed. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Malachi 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I change not.” None of the events of this old sinful world has taken God by surprise.

Multitudes of people are making preparations because they expect hard times are on the way--storing food and water; buying guns and ammunitions, etc. What preparations, if any, should we as Christians be making? Christians should be preparing their hearts. In Luke 21:28, Jesus tells the disciples “...then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”. If you’re a backslidden Christian or if your love for Jesus has grown cold--then beloved, it is high time to get right with God. James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” My mother used to use the term ‘straddling the fence’ when she talked about lukewarm Christians. Brothers and sisters look around you and open your eyes. Romans 13:11 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed”. It’s time to get off the fence!  Stand up and be the man or woman of God that He would have you be.

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We have a channel on our Satellite called RFD-TV--its rural televison and I have recently discovered it airs the show Hee Haw--anyone remember that? Maybe I am just giving away my age--LOL--Anyway we have been watching it as a family as it comes on--We watched it last night--an episode from 1969(yes I was alive back then)-- the humor was clean--the prop was simple--the singing meant something--and it was good clean fun--I long for that simpler time--back then no one had heard of a drive by except to say--"I drove by and saw ya on the porch'"-- Going out to eat was something that was a treat--women still for the most part stayed home to raise the youngun's they had--people still wrote letters back home--I remember every Saturday my mom sitting at the kitchen table writing a letter to her mom and letting her know we were all ok since we lived in Dodge City Kansas and my grandma lived back here in Arkansas--We lived on a farm and my dad was a farm hand and worked the farm for rent--People barely had phones and televisions--little lone gaming machines, computers and all the other gadgets we have today--and you know what--people worked harder--work meant something--very few back then got to sit on their bums all day and push a pencil--people worked hard--Technology has brought about changes since the 1960's--some good and some bad--some I enjoy--some we as a family choose to not allow into our lives--some have a purpose--some really don't--I would love just one week to step back into that time and bask in the simplicity of it all--yes it was harder in some ways--but it was also a time when families enjoyed being together--and Sundays were the Lords day--not just another day off work or school to sleep in--I know I cannot turn back the hands of time--but I can sit here and enjoy those old nostalgic shows like Hee Haw, I love Lucy--Brady Bunch--and take a trip down memory lane and if only  in my own mind --for a moment recapture a simpler time!

~Kris

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I have spent the last few months decluttering and reorganizing our home--what a blessing it has been to get into those closets and corners and clean them out--how freeing--I honestly think my home decluttering is very much like what needs done in our hearts from time to time--There are times we just need to pull away from everything and spend some time deep cleaning our hearts--go into those hidden places that others do not see, but we know is there and just begin purging all the dirt, grime and filth that accumulates--We all have those hidden places--When we go into our 'prayer closet' and begin looking deep within we will find things we forgot were there--things that burden and weigh us down--much like 'stuff' we horde in our homes--We must get rid of that stuff in order to move on and experience God grace to its fullest--I am in the process of purging my heart as well as my home--I have held onto things for way to long and its time to let go--when that root of bitterness takes hold it grows into so many areas of life and a person becomes depressed, saddned and angered over the smallest things--Sometimes these bitter roots took hold in childhood--or maybe as an adult someone or many people wronged you and you never forgave them--when left unattened these roots ruin all the other fruit that may be there--This is not an easy process because when we let go of that anger, resentment and bitterness our walls come down and we are vunerable--we open ourselves up for all kinds hurts--Kinda like when we purge our homes of clutter we open up spaces we forgot was there and if we are not careful we will fill them right back up with junk--we must stay on top of our household chores and decluttering--such is our spirtual life--once things are purged and thrown out--we must be diligent to not allow that garbage back in--We must deal with situation when they arise--don't stuff it--I am famous for stuffing my feelings when they get hurt--I pretend all is ok when inside I am crying--then one little thing may happen and I blow up--but still I am angry--the only way to get over that is to give it to God--fully and completely--Doesn't this all sound so easy--LOL--It isn't--its hard to look at all the garbage--sometimes its even overwhelming--some you may have to deal with daily--but you can learn to distance youself--and learn to say no when you mean no--learn to be assertive and let someone know when they hurt you--It really is ok to stand up for yourself--Sometimes parents may be the ones that hurt you--sometimes it friends--church members--regardless of who it is--we must GIVE IT TO GOD--and walk away--don't go back and pick it up--God already bought and payed for it all--now give him what belongs to him and HE will take care of it! I will quit rambling for now--have a great day!

~Kris

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Good Morning--This is God. Today I will be handling All of your problems for you.

I do not need your help.

Have a nice day. I love you.

P.S. And, remember... If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.

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