I have created this blog primarily for God's glory. Through this gift of networked writing, I am learning through my reflected writings, loved one's comments, and all the still framed moments how to daily run hard in our unstructured life. One saturated in inspiring purpose and passion for our Lord. The result is shared in a mere posting; a taste for our readers of all the richness He pours into our lives daily.
Matthew McCoy and Kassi Deel are officially engaged!!
Meet my new inlaws :)
And my new family!
We had a fantastic time planning this out and getting to know one another!
Where all the magic happened: Centennial park in Atlanta!
The eager family awaits for yeh lovely couple!
Here they come....
She said yes!!!
The future McCoy couple walking away from all the fun...
... Just to reunite with the family at the Deel's City of Refuge ministry warehouse!
The chef's delicacies prepared for the big event!!
Yum!
This is he beautiful necklace matt gave Kassi for Christmas to replace the first one he ever gave her! So sweet and very beautiful!
We love you, Deel family! Thankful we can soon call you family-- thanking God :)
We love you Matt and Kassi! Congrats!!
Blessings-- Xoxoxo
'With songs of joy I speak of Thee, for I know not how to cease',
The Thornburys and the McCoy family
-- Jeremiah 20:9--
(Sorry this didn't post earlier! My phone died. I have today's on the way)
Well, its the 22nd. We are on the 10th day of Christmas today: 10 lords of leaping!
...representing the 10 commandments.
Yesterday (ok, now two days ago) I prosed the question of what true happiness is all about. Charlie Brown helped us uncover the true meaning of Christmas.
But what about true happiness??
Before exploring this from a biblical standpoint, I would have defined happiness as a feeling, as getting something you've really wanted, a completed to-do list or a result of an enjoyable activity.
However, this morning I found some verses that helped me uncover this question better.
One verse states: "13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold."-- Proverbs 3:13-14
So happiness here is wisdom and understanding knowing God's word.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:3-12 what happiness is. Happiness here is what Jesus says makes someone blessed (I used the Message just for a clearer reading)---
3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."
And actually, if happiness is to be blessed, then we can find happiness in the commandments of God. Yes, it doesn't really make sense to us who think commandments and laws are something that keeps us from happiness...
But God's word says: "21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." 1 John 3:21-24
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."-- John 15:7
Therefore, as His children, let's remember where our true happiness flows from today.
"Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. "
--Psalm 43:4
Blessings! Xoxoxo
'With songs of joy I speak of Thee, for I know not how to cease',
Happy claps for the Knoxville light show... In the convertible!!
(....does that count?? Hehe)
Chocolate yummies!!
Sugar cookies!! (and funny shaped cookie cutters-- money for the person who guesses what that cookie cutter is!)
Honestly, when doesn't my lovey count for a happy moment!
Spicy hot cocoa: Absolutely incredible (email me if you are interested in this recipe... It's amazing!! I am not kidding when I say this is SPICY though!)
My new favorite treat: date raisin bars... Mmm...
Handsome husband with a beautiful and clean car on a gorgeous night...
A happy dog watching the huskies on Palin's Alaska.
While these are super happy and cherished moments, what is TRUE happiness?
What does that mean to you?
What does that mean to God?
I am going to explore this tomorrow after I get more sleep...
...On the 9th of Christmas!
Until then...
Blessings! Xoxoxo
'With songs of joy I speak of Thee, for I know not how to cease',
Kati Thornbury
-- Jeremiah 20:9--
Blessings! Xoxoxo
'With songs of joy I speak of Thee, for I know not how to cease',
I may be behind, but I will not let my slacking discourage me enough to give up on my journey to savor Christ for 12 days. This movie is a great reminder that the battle isn't lost... It just needs an encouraging blanket of God's truth to turn it around!
I intended the 12 days Of Christmas to really help us drive this fact into our hearts and minds daily... And yes, the last couple of days have really fought my heart's desire to do that. The seasonal craziness really sucked me into busyness, commercialism and materialism in a most subtle way. And it's half of that busyness isn't even bad... Like being with my sweet cousins and family.
But the biggest problem is being busy and spending no time in front of the Father's throne.
Yet we have Hope.
Thus I am not letting my heart be condemned... For God is greater than my heart (1 John 3:20). Instead, let us both embrace the truth from this lesson and get our hearts prepared for good news and the approaching day. And let's look some gifts of the season given from above.
For God's greatest gifts bring us greatest joy.
One of those gifts is John.
Why John? Let's look at Luke 1:14-17-
"14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be GREAT before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."
Great because he didn't drink wine or lived in the desert....? No. Great because of the message he brought.
Another: His calling. Example: Mary.
Luke 2:30-33, 38--
"30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. 38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her."
Mary was given a great mission and great faith with little details... And she had great joy (Luke 2:46-55). AND it was not by looking at herself for that task before her, but her faith in the holy and faithful God. What a wonderful reminder of hope!
Lastly, God has given us His Christ. Luke 2:39-44--
"39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy."
Your joy comes from Christ. It does not have to be intellectual or rehearsed... It comes in permitting the Spirit to work in your heart, rejoicing at this news of his coming... Christmas day. In Christ.
'Our joy is in the messengers of peace and great tidings, the purpose He gives us and who we are in Christ.' --Jeff Hodgson.
I hope this encourages you in your busy schedule this week! Have joy, be encouraged, take hope and enjoy His charity :)
Blessings! Xoxoxo
'With songs of joy I speak of Thee, for I know not how to cease',
