Kayla Marie

On January 16, 2008 Kayla Marie Scottberg was born making me a grandmother for the thrid time! I was filled with awe when Parker and Kent were born and Kayla's birth was no different. As I held this beautiful little girl in my arms I was once again amazed at God's miraculous creation. It had been a difficult delivery and many prayers were prayed. As I prayed for Brian and Melissa and this tiny little gift from God, he spoke to me through his word. I was struck by the words we all know "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:14). And then in Ephesians 2:9"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do."

God has already ordained and determined the life of this tiny little girl. She has been created to walk in His divine purposes and according to His plan. His works are wonderful and beyond comprehension. Another version says in Ephesians, we are God's masterpiece- priceless works of art in God's eyes. He has re-created and fully equipped us to do good and what God requires.

Parker, Kent and Kayla all masterpieces-priceless works of art and created to do amazing things. I am stuned and overwhelmed at God's wisdom in creation. He is amazing God! He is far beyond my understanding and closer than my next breath.

I can't wait to see what he is about to do in each of their lives and the micaculous ways they will impact their generation.

I love being a grandma!

Pastor Ross talked today about having a generous spirit. He talked about how everything God does he does it abundantly. He turned one barrel of water into gallons of wine. He took 5 loaves and two fishes and fed a multitude. The principle is that of sowing and reaping and what Luke says chapter 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Our God is a generous God. His love for us is demonstrated in His generosity. "For God SO loved the world that he GAVE... (John 3:16) He freely forgives, abundantly blesses and is gracious in mercy. His greatness overwhelms the enemy and when his light shines the enemy must flee. The whole earth is full of his glory. He is a God of abundance and he has blessed us abundantly.

The word of God challenges us to give; to give out of our abundance and out of our need. We need to forgive freely, bless always, love passionately, give financially to God's kingdom purposes and worship God with abandon. A withholding spirit and the cares of the world will choke out the harvest and will not allow blessing to flow. God asks us to be generous and He will generously give back to us in salvations, blessing, restoration, healing and finances.

We just finished our week of prayer and I am excited to see what God is going to do this year. Our theme was Dare to Ask: to repent, ask for forgiveness and believe he will do it. Dare to wait on God and see what he is doing, and get in step with him. Dare to ask for His will as revealed to us through his word and be obedient to it. Dare to believe. Believe that he wants to answer our prayers. To live by faith and not by sight. And dare to rest. To rest in the promises of his word, know our God is faithful and will accomplish His good will for us.

I believe that as we dare to approach God with humility and an understanding of our position in him, and as we live lives of generosity, knowing that each one of us is important to God and we matter to him and his kingdom purposes, we will see a year of miracles and the church impacting people in the church and throughout the world in amazing and God honoring ways.

My Resolution for the New Year

I like this song that Jeremy Riddle sings and it is my prayer for the new year. I hope it blesses you as much as it does me!

FULL ATTENTION

May Your voice be louder
May Your voice be clearer
Than all the others
Than all the others

May Your face be dearer
May Your words be sweeter
Than all the others
Than all the others in my life.

Please keep my eyes
Fixed on You
Please root my heart
So deep in You
Keep me abiding
Keep me abiding
keep me abiding
That I may bare fruit

May Your presence be truer
May Your presence be nearer
Than all the others
Than all the others

May Your light burn brighter
May Your love move deeper
Than all the others
Than all the others in my life.

Another song says: In the quiet of my soul, in the stillness I hear Your voice call, and I am overwhelmed, and I am lost for words to describe You.
Jesus, You're more than a friend. Jesus You're more than my heart could ever express.
Your love and Your grace never fail me. Your merciful touch always heals me. You bring joy to my soul!

My heart longs to worship You my king.
I long to bring You a pleaseing offering. 'Cause I am overwhelmed and I am lost for words to describe You!

My prayer for each of you this year is that you will come to know our Father in heaven in a more intimate way, that you would understand who you are because of Jesus, walking daily in his presence with boldness, authority and great love for the people around you! I pray that you would know Him more intimately, have a passion for his word and choose follow him daily.

The Wonder of Christmas

I don't have many readers out there but to those who do, I pray you have a most blessed Christmas. I also pray that you would have a revelation of the Wonder of the season and be amazed as you see the miracles happening all around you. Jesus didn't come as a baby born in a manager so we could simply celebrate Christmas with family, and loved ones. Though celebrating together is one of the great blessings we enjoy because of Christmas, we do good to be reminded of the greater purposes for his coming. During this season why not take time to consider: why did the angles come to the shepherds of all people? Why Elizabeth in her old age, and Mary who was just a girl and why Joseph? Why a manager in Bethlehem? Why wise men and Herod? What was their purpose? Doesn't it amaze you that God put all of this together at just the right time and just the right place? What a Wonder He is! It was a miracle that a child born to a virgin. If a child can be born of God to a virgin then certainly God can to anything. For he tells us in his word that for God all things are possible. Does that not encourage you and make you want to shout for joy. "Joy to the world the LORD has come" He is the God of possibilities! We can trust Him for a miracle in our lives. He is God of creation and God of all glory. He is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace! (Isa 9). Worship Him this Christmas and stand in awe of His wonder!

Have a Blessed Christmas and a Year of New Beginnings!
Joan

Contemplating God

A friend of mine has a friend who just lost his 16 year old son. He never woke up in the morning. Died sometime during the night. I cannot wrap my mind around that. I can't begin to understand the pain his parents are dealing with as they experience grief so profound and unbearable. I have heard people say that God understands this because He also lost his son to a cruel death by the hands of the people He was trying to save. I find that somewhat comforting. But I also find myself thinking "but He is God" and yes he lost His son but he knew the outcome and that his death was only temporary. What do you say to father that asks you "is my child in heaven?" "Will I see him again?" Sometimes we don't know the outcome. We just don't have the priveledge of knowing what God knows. We know God's word. We know that he says all who believe will be saved...and those who don't will be condemned. We understand that God is loving and we know that he is just. How do we reconcile it all and how do we minister to those who grieve without knowing or without hope.

God asks us to trust him and reminds us that he gives beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for those who mourn. We know that he is good and he is kind and desires that no one leave this earth without coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. God's words tells us that Jesus searched everywhere until he found the one lost sheep. He didn't give up and when the lost was found he carried the lamb home in his arms. We may not know the outcome of a loved ones life. But we can know that God will give them every opportunity; that his love is even greater than our own and that he will not give up on them; he will seek them out even to the very end with a heart that desires to carry them home. As the song Leeland sings says: He carries them to the table of the Lord.

Our job is to allow these kinds of situations to wake us up to the importance of sharing the message of the gospel with the people he has put in our lives. Our job is to trust God enough to step out in faith and believe that the people around us want what we have....they just don't know it. When death comes knocking at their door will you be the one they turn to for answers? When difficulties come are you the one they seek out to ask for prayer?

God's word says it's a race we are running and for some is it over quicker than for others. The idea is to get as many to the finish line to receive the prize as possible. It doesn't matter who finishes when. It matters how we run the race. Am I taking time to help the one who is lagging behind or encouraging the one who has given up. Am I so concerned about my own race that I have ignored the one who is watching me run and doesn't know how to get in the race? Will I stop long enough to help them? What is God saying to you? How will you respond when difficult questions arise? Will you become discouraged and faithless or will you respond with faith and trust that God is who he says he is and will do what he has said in his word that he will do. He IS faithful and we CAN trust him.

Off to Arizona

I'm off to Arizona tomorrow and excited about seeing my sisters Mardi and Carol. I seem to have developed a cold though and I'm afraid the plane flight will be difficult. I am really looking forward to basking in the sun by the pool and enjoying the warmth!

This will be a difficult trip in some ways. Tomorrow is dad's birthday and in the past I would be going to Phoenix to see him and celebrate our birthday's together. It will be strange to be there and know he's not. It reminds me how much I miss both him and my mom.

It also reminds me how important it is to remember our history and to celebrate our future. I was so blessed this weekend to attend the baby shower for Melissa and Brian. It was so much fun to see all the beautiful little girl things and so different from what we have been use to. I also got to see Parker and Kent and Erik and Bethany on Saturday which was so much fun (except for when Parker choked on his hot dog which really scared us)

I look at Parker and Kent and I am amazed at how they are growing and becoming little boys who are creative and inquizative and so full of curiosity. It causes me to appreciate even more God's intricate design of creation. And then to consider the tiny little girl that Melissa is carrying. How amazing! We are all so anxious to see this precious gift from God.

Thanksgiving is next week (already!). I look forward to spending time with family and making special memories. I hope we can really grasp how important family is and how important it is that we do life together.

To Erik Brian and Michael, I love you and am so proud of each of you.
To Bethany and Melissa, I couldn't be more blessed to have you a part of our family.
To Parker, Kent and baby girl. What gifts you are! I look forward to seeing all of the ways God is going to use you.
To my friends, thank you for your friendship, your love, your prayers and for all the ways you bless me.

OK I found it!