Shine in 2013

    Psalm 16:5-11
"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord who councils me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal life at your right hand."

  Psalm 17:6-8
I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings"

    When I was in the hospital 5 years ago, praying desperately for the life of my daughter, I read and reread this passage over and over again. My faith in Jesus, the creator and Savior of this world, was all that I had to hold onto as I waited hour after hour for what seemed like an eternity for some hope, some news, any news. The season of uncertainty with her health and life lasted two years. To me those two years of worry, fret and fear seemed like a lifetime. In that season I leaned so heavily on my relationship with God and my faith in Him that it came to me as easily and naturally as my next breath.  I was so solid, so unshakable. As different seasons came and went so did the closeness. In my time of desperate need, God came through for me, not once, but twice he miraculously healed my sweet little girl. I may have seasons where I do not feel the closeness; but because that experience, I have always known my place and always remained completely dependent upon Him, through every season. He has faithfully kept me as the apple of His eye; safe, secure, protected.

   There is a season for all things. Since those days in the hospital with Lils, He has graciously allowed me to experience different seasons and faithfully walked with me through each one - Joy filled mountain tops, wandering in the wilderness, valley's where I watched unhealthy branches be pruned away and a season of new life and growth beautifully springing up and blooming into beautiful character. This has grown me up and taught me of His goodness and grace, love and forgiveness . In light of His unwavering, unconditional love, I have seen my humanity in a truer clearer form; my shortcomings, failures and lack of faithfulness to the ever faithful One. Through the many seasons one thing has remained - my need of a Savior.

   As I step into this new year, whatever seasons it has in store for me, my desire is to be firmly rooted, unshakable and unwavering in my faith. I want to be an exceptional wife, nurturing mother and devoted friend. There is too much crazy in the world, too much uncertainty and too much evil. I choose to live in a way that rests securely in God, His promises, His council, His boundary lines and filled with joy in His presence. That is the world my kids are going to know, despite the darkness around us. We will be the light.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4-6 "  

Happy New Year from the Libby's!!! 

May your light shine brighter then ever in 2013 
and may you live this year completely dependent on Jesus 
- the way, truth and life.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! 

     What a year it has been. I feel like this year has been a roller coaster for me, a lot of ups and downs. Thankfully, I have come out of it a little wiser, stronger and so thankful for the work God has graciously done in my life. I know He still has plenty of chiseling to do, but I will take a moment to bask in the glory of the victories and all the work that He has accomplished in me thus far!

    This Christmas has been different for me than most. I have been far less stressed (for the most part) and exceedingly more thankful for all that the Lord has given me. My life is so rich and full of all the things that truly matter. Despite all the hustle and bustle around me, I am content, I am grateful and I am soaking up the moments I have with the people in my life who matter the most. I feel so blessed by my husband and beautiful children, my family, and my sweet friends. But what has blessed me the most this year is how God has anchored my heart through the storms we faced. I have never felt more grounded, more rooted or more secure than I do now. I have come out of this year with a greater and deeper knowledge of Christ and His Word. I know life's waves will still keep coming, but my heart is anchored like never before and that gives me hope for whatever may come, and a desire to worship through it all. I could not be more grateful.

     This year has made me all the more grateful that God sent His perfect and holy son into this dark world to shine light into the darkness, to save and rescue us from sin and death and to give us hope that only He could deliver. As I look at my babies, I know I would not have the courage to do the same. I do everything in my power to shield them from the darkness, but Jesus was willingly born into it. He was raised by sinners, lived among the broken, experienced life in this fallen world and was hung on a cross, separated from the Father and experienced pain that we only experience a hint of as he bore all our sin and shame so that we could be saved. That is love in it's truest and deepest form and all for you and me. The light of the world came into the darkness, died for us all and then rose from the dead...the light is greater than all the darkness, more powerful then death and continues to shine... What a precious gift born - Jesus the light.

         His light shines today in you and in me, it is still changing this world, just as it did when Jesus was born. The world seems so dark, but in the darkness His light shines brighter, His love reaches deeper and He continues to bring hope to our world. It is the contrast between the light and the dark that has given me such a strong desire to pursue His light, His love and HIM. So, that makes this a very Merry Christmas for me.

        May Jesus bring His light, love and hope into your world this Christmas and always.

 Merry Christmas from the Libby's