2007

Happy New Year! What an interesting tradition. That's what I was thinking as I typed it. Yes, I hope it is and then I thought in some ways it couldn't be worse. But anyway. It's nearly 2:00 a.m. and I wanted to share my word before I went to bed.

About 3 weeks ago I woke up and laying there in bed I spoke to God and said, "God, it's time to ask you for my word for 2007. So I'm asking." And immediately the word "Heaven" came to me and immediately I was covered in goosebumps, head to toe. It was amazing. That's how I knew. And now I can't wait to see how "heaven" unfolds this year.

Remember you don't come up with your own word, you ask God for it. It's His word for you for this year. I don't know why this works. It just does. And don't panic over it. Just let it happen. Sometimes it takes some time. You don't have to have it by January 1 at 12:01 a.m. It comes when it comes and you know it when you know it. Trust me on that. Trust Him on that.

Happy New Year!

Word for the Year

It's that time of year again - time to ask God for your word for the new year. Last year my word was "wonder". I was really excited about that one. It's amazing how one word can work it's way into your world. Sometimes it's slow and gradual and sometimes it becomes apparent early on in the year. But I guarantee you that if you will ask you will receive and you'll get a word that will rock your socks off at some point. I believe God is like that - He wants us to want Him to touch our lives. I imagine Him grinning at us and thinking "Okay, now, let's have some fun with this word." I know my word comes from Him each year. He places it in my mind or in my heart and I have a knowing when it is revealed. My word for 2007 was given to me about a week or more ago. I'll let you know what it is on January 1st. (I don't want to influence anybody else's word.) Now sometimes it's not such a fun word as "wonder". One year I had "trust". Although I think God still had some fun with that one, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I have "wonder". It's always been a growing experience and I've never regretted asking. My word for 2007 has already begun to open up in my heart. Our experience with the Sheets family this last week has been a catalyst. Oh how they're on my heart. Please continue to pray for them.

Let me know what your word is when you get it. It will be fun to look back this time next year and see what we all said.

Bear with me a minute while I talk about "wonder". This year I've experienced more of God in nature than ever before - in my own backyard. Thank you Geoff for opening up this world to me through the purchase of the macro lense for my camera. I've shared some of the pictures here. Trust me, there will be many many more. I've had to put my picture files on dvd's. It took 4 dvd's to store them all. There are a whole lot of them. I've been filled with wonder as I focused on the smallest intimate details of a flower or a butterfly or even a moth or bee. (Have you ever noticed how much hair there is in the world or how many stars? Hair and stars are everywhere.) And I've been filled with wonder as I look up - into the sky. And I've wondered about many things this year too. I have had a lot of why questions rambling around in my brain and now in my heart. But I've also been taken into a world of wonder as I soak in His presence. I've had words spoken over me this last year that make me wonder what God is up to and where He is taking me. I'm anxious to find out. I'm anxious to go there with Him. Well, I could go on and on. But mostly I'll just ponder this stuff in my heart and when I'm prompted I'll try to share with you.

Merry Christmas!

Max just finished his letter to Santa and put out the cookies. Never ever stop believing. This year his letter touched my heart. Let me just say I couldn't be prouder of him. I'm still pondering it. Maybe I'll share later, but for now I was just thinking of my favorite part of the Christmas story. Here it is from the Message:

"An Event for Everyone

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!"

This Christmas I'd like to let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything I've heard and seen Him do this last year. It has been a year of Wonder for me and it's not even over yet. Look for Him. He's all around you.

Merry Christmas!

This is Tyler Blake Sheets. Yesterday we attended his funeral in Muleshoe, TX. It was something special. I felt the love of the Father so strongly in that room. His Spirit fell and his love stirred all of our hearts. My prayer is that those who attended who do not know of his love for them came away with a knowing beyond description and that their lives will be forever changed - especially all those kids. God is like that. He can do anything. Tyler would like that, he would deeply desire it.

In case you missed Danielle's comment from yesterday's post, I wanted to restate that sentence in the last paragraph. Danielle said, "Let's hope they will continue to count to 10 because sometimes, what we cannot see counts as much as what we can." I believe this - with all my heart. In light of that Kyle and Bernita will indeed continue to count to 10 because what is unseen now is that Tyler has always been, is now and will always be there with them and their family and with us. That gives me great comfort.

(Picture stolen from Tyler's sister Sarah's online album. Thanks, Sarah!)

Not Just Another Day

Yesterday afternoon we received the news that Tyler Sheets had died in an automobile accident. Tyler is the 19-year-old son of our dear friends Kyle and Bernita. Within an hour a group of us were on the road to Muleshoe, TX. We had to be there. We got home at 2:00 today and we'll be going back in the morning.

This family mean more to us than just friends. Our lives are uniquely entwined in ways we cannot describe or explain. Today, on Max's birthday, we cannot help but remember that their son, Landon prayed Max into this world. He was 5 years old and he prayed for us to have a baby every single day long after the rest of us had given up asking God for a miracle.

The day Tyler was born we were all there in the birthing room with Bernita and Kyle. We (well the men anyway) were watching the basketball playoff games and anxiously awaiting the birth of this child number 5. Geoff was a little nervous about the whole process so he did what he could to entertain the older kids by taking them on wheelchair rides. Then after he got them all rowdy he threatened them with warnings that the nurses would be doling out shots if they didn't mind their manners. The kids loved it. The nurses didn't. When Tyler was born he had the chord wrapped around his neck 3 times. It was very tense for a few minutes and then all was well and there was cause for great celebration! And then guys got back to the basketball game. I remember we ordered pizza. Yes, pizza to be delivered to the birthing room. When the delivery guy came he asked us what was going on up here. We told him Bernita had just had a baby about an hour ago. I'll never forget the look on his face when he looked over at her and she smiled and waved at him. He was gone in a flash. We just laughed and passed the pizza. In case you hadn't figured it out yet, Bernita and Kyle are fascinating and wonderful people - full of life and love. As are each of their 10 children. Each is unique in their own abilities and gifts but the same in their hearts for each other and for all of us - those on the edge - completely enveloped yet looking in. This family and Tyler in particular exude the gifts of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. He was a quiet, kind, funny, loving, peaceful, gentle young man. He was humble and loved. I could go on and on with stories of this family and who they are and what they mean to us but like I said this relationship is indescribable in it's depths.

A terrible thought occurred to me today. Did I mention that Tyler was one of 10 children? Kyle and Bernita will never be able to count to 10 again. Please keep this family in your prayers. And don't forget to celebrate with your kids. They are so worth celebrating.

Birthday CELEBRATIONS!!!

Today my dad turns 91. (That's him on the right! The other guy is my brother Randy who loves cars more than just about anything.) Amazing. He doesn't drive anymore. He hates that.
Tomorrow Max turns 15 and that means only one thing to him - a driver's permit. Monday we celebrate the birth of Jesus. I wonder what he thinks about driving.

In An Effort to Keep it Merry...

More scenes from the tree:

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like....

Last night the finishing touches were put on the tree.

And the family photo was taken.
Wishing you love, light and laughter this holiday season! Merry Christmas!

"There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!" Luke 2:8-20 The Message

More Snow fun

Here are a couple more pictures of snow fun. We even baked Christmas cookies. Although they look very intense it was a great day full of love and laughter. What is it about snow that's so magical? Maybe it's because we don't get that much of it here so when it does snow, it's a huge treat. Anyway, it was a great day.