Sweet Harmonies of Home: Faith

Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts

Day 24 - The Perfect Tree

Christmas Eve is and has always been one of my favorite points in the holiday season. I love singing the songs and hearing the Christmas story.

For many years my family would sing at church and tonight was no different. My father was asked to sing this beautiful song: The Perfect Tree.

Our day has been spent with traveling, 2 church services, dinner with my grandparents, followed by a late night party at a family friend's annual Christmas Eve get together.

I wish you all sweet dreams and safe travels wherever you are this night.

Blessings for your Christmas,

Kristin Noel

Today was our annual Christmas Cantata at our church. It is always a grand affair with our Celebration Singers, membership orchestra, Chapel Ringers, and our children's theatre production. We also have our WONDERFUL Christmas banquet following all the festivities. It is the PERFECT way to get us in the mood for the season!

Today I played with the Chapel Ringers and played and cued a few things in our children's production "A Christmas To Believe In." I had a blast as always with the children and the bell ringers.

Please enjoy our fun and energetic arrangement of Good King Wenceslas! Way to go bells!

Thank you CUCC for a wonderful day full of music, fun, and fellowship! NOW….I'm ready for Christmas!

Blessings for your Sunday,

Kristin Noel

What is Driving Your Home?

Week 7 focused our hearts and minds on Our Ministries. Those in and out of the home.
As a wife and potential mother in the future, it was important for me this week to focus on my role, where my ministry is, where it should be, and how this might change in the future.

{Week 7 Challenge}: Pray that God lays on our hearts people we can minister too. Then think of some practical ways that we can bless them.

{Week 7 Memory Verse}:

{Week 7 Statement}: This week I'm going to be intentionally focused on where and how I am ministering.

{Week 7 Lessons}:

invest your time and talents where they will make an eternal difference (1Peter 4: 9-10)
invest in people
use our gifts for others - not to please ourselves
my first priority for ministry is in my home (Proverbs 31:27)
be intentional about ministering in my home - attentive to their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness
devote time and energy to help those around you (1 Tim 5: 10)
do not hesitate to offer hospitality (Romans 12:13)
do not entertain, but practice hospitality
build your home on the foundation of God's love (Proverbs 14:1)
sometimes tearing down what is not God driven is necessary
guide our home with Christ as the center

When speaking ---> speak as if you are speaking the very words of God!

When serving ----> do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God will be praised through Jesus Christ!

{How to use our abilities}

as God directs
to help others
see Jesus in our service - "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me" (Matthew 25: 40)

{Characteristics of a faithful woman}

care for those around her
does good deeds
raises or helps raise children to know the love of God
shows hospitality
does humble deeds for others
is a caring ear to come too
help for those in trouble
takes time out of her day to help those around her

{How to practice true hospitality}

focus on the guests and their needs
be a place for others to stay
offer food for nourishment
be a listening ear
show genuine acceptance and support

*Hospitality is not about inviting people into our perfect homes; it is about inviting people into our imperfect hearts!*

{Characteristics a Godly home should embody}

be a sanctuary for our husbands and children
be safe from worldly seductions and temptations
where the weary find rest
where the sad find comfort
environment where character is formed
be joyful
be peaceful
be filled with love!

During this week, Adam and I took time discussing practical ways to build our home on God's foundation and maintain it with Christ as the center. We spent time answering this question: "What is driving our home?" The discuss that developed from this question was profound and enlightening for our family. I encourage you; whether married, married with kids, or single to answer this question honestly. We found it to be pivotal for our relationship and how we build our home and will continue to build our home as it grows and changes.

"What is driving your home?"

"Are you building up your home or tearing it down?

"What are some practical ways to make Jesus the center of your home?"

{Quote}

"Home is the true wife's kingdom. There, first of all places, she must be strong and beautiful. She may touch life outside in many ways, if she can do it without slighting the duties that are hers within her own doors. These are hers, and no other one's." - J.R. Miller

{Prayer}

"I pray for each of you, that you be encouraged to minister using the gifts God has given you, to serve others, please God, and grow closer to him. I pray for your homes, that you let God lead them and take time to assess what is driving your home, your schedules, your meals, your free time. I pray you grow closer to God with each passing second and that your ministries inside and outside the home are blessed and prosperous in showing and sharing love." - Amen

Blessings,

Kristin Noel

Preparation for the Future

Week 6 was about children.....hope for the future!
I found this to be an enlightening week full of thoughts and ideas to store up and consider.

{Week 6 Challenge} Spend time with children around you and intentionally make a point to talk about the praise worthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.

{Week 6 Memory Verse}

{Week 6 Statement} "This week I will be intentionally focused on my example and discussions with the children in my life."

{Week 6 Lessons}:

Make God apart of your everyday life (Deut. 6:7-9)
Teach children to see God in every aspect of their life
Children have a RIGHT to knw about God. They are 1st His children! (Psalm 78: 3-4,6-7)
Tell children of God's love
Show children God's love by your actions so they will trust in Him!
Children are a blessing, not an inconvenience (Psalm 127: 3-5)
It is an honor to be asked to raise God's children
God regards children highly
Interact with children with an open heart and mind....they may have things to teach us
Show children the importance of serving rather than status (Matthew 18:5)
Do not be a stumbling block for children (Matthew 18:6)
It is our responsibility as adults/parents to share God's love with children (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
Teach children to analyze, trust, and use God's word
Seek the scriptures often to know how to do God's work

Action steps to living with God everyday and being an example for the children around us:

Know God's word - spend time in the scriptures as often as possible
Use God's word - ineract with God's word and apply it to your everyday life
Speak God's word - share God's love and forgiveness

This week I found myself focusing on these lessons in 2 ways: 1) preparing if the day comes when God calls us to have children, and 2) in the present with the children and families I interact with daily. Although it might not always be appropriate to sit down and talk about Jesus, specifically in a school setting or during therapy, but I can ALWAYS show God's love through my service and interaction with them. I found myself spending more time contemplating how I would speak to the children and how I would engage with them in a loving way to intentionally show them God's love and encourage them to trust me and therefore learn to trust God. This is a huge responsibility as a therapist and teacher, one that I do not take lightly and take even more intentionally after this week's study. I also spent a fair amount of time thinking and mostly praying about the future. Praying for God's timing, praying that I will have what it takes, that if we are called to raise children that we do it right, that we lead them to God and that we show His love. This week's recap questions Adam and I actually went through together and these are the points we came up with--->

How do we plan on incorporating God into our everyday life when/if we do have children:

Teach and model radical forgiveness
Teach and model critical thinking and analysis
Be intentional with our actions and words that they show love and forgiveness above all.
Spend time daily in God's word as a family
Spend time daily in God's word as a couple
Encourage our children to spend time and interact with God's word individually
Make child-approachable material available for our children to learn God's word
Highlight an attitude of thankfulness in our actions and words
Spend time daily in prayer as a family
Spend time daily in prayer as a couple and individually

This was an extremely informative and thought provoking week of study. One I am thankful I worked through. One final note that Adam actually mentioned while we were discussing the recap questions together. We were discussing the importance of preparing ourselves for God's calling and he said:
"Well, it's just like if you were to raise bilingual children. You can't learn the language along with them, it has to be something you already know and live." - A

This was a profound statement to me. God is a language, He is that essential and we can't begin to think that we can teach our children God if we don't already know Him. We are preparing NOW for God's calling. Thankful for my husband and thankful for this week of study!

{Prayer} "I pray for each of you, for your influence on children. I pray that you first look to God for guidance and then lead little ones. I pray your heart is open to the children around you and that you recognize that they are 1st God's children. You have been honored to raise them and influence them, they are a blessing. I pray you own this blessing and take responsibility for it by showing them the radical forgiveness and love God has for you. Amen." - K

Blessings,
Kristin Noel

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Without You I Can Do Nothing

Week 2 of our bible study on being Intentionally Focused has come to an end. This week was much more challenging than the first. At the end of week 1 we were prompted to write down what is truly important in our earthly lives to help us FOCUS on what is important.

{Here is my list}:

Relationship with God
Our marriage
Relationships with family, friends, etc…
Service…..to those in need

My {goal} for this week was to be intentional and focused on bringing God into my work!

I came into week 2 with excitement and passion and by the end of the week I had realized what God was teaching me this week……I can do NOTHING without Him!

{Highlights from this week}:

Remove myself from this world and PRAY……and pray often!
God is everything!

Our nourishment (our hunger and thirst) - John 6:35
Our eyes to see (light of the world) - John 8:12
Our protector and watch (good shepherd) - John 10:11
Our guide and teacher (way, truth, and life ) - John 14:6
Our heart and source of life ( I am the vine…) - John 15:5

The things of this life can make us happy for a moment, but the joy God gives is eternal!
The word of God is powerful and can change us from the inside out!
Because God's love is the richest of all…..praise God without thoughts, words, & actions.

This week God humbled me in many ways and showed me His greatness each day! I realized that it is the days when God isn't my focus that are troubling and hard to get through; but the days I consult God, praise God, and listen for God are the days the trouble and hardships don't seem so great! It is true what our memory verse says this week…..

{One of my prayers this week}…"God, You are the vine and I your daughter are the branches. If I remain in you and You remain in me, I will bear fruit and fulfill my purpose for each day. Without You, I truly can do nothing and will miss the opportunity to serve with love."

Blessings,

Kristin Noel

Rejoice, Rejoice!

Rejoice, Rejoice.....again I say Rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say Rejoice!

What a glorious day, what a perfect day!

Today was a day I've been waiting for this entire week! It was the light at the end of my tunnel in the midst of the "t" word challenge......how perfect that this day shall be Easter! The day our Lord rose from the dead and gave us peace in the midst of fear!

It began bright and early with a workout at 5:15am, by 6:30am we were at sunrise service in the shelter house at our church! It was the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen - maybe it was the dreams I had, had of how it would be after the challenge was over.....it was even better then I had imagined!

It followed by grocery shopping for baking stuff as we gave up sweets for lent and haven't had a sweet in 40 days! So we stocked up so I could do a little baking!

By 9am we were back at church where I corralled my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders around to the Easter festivities at church where we heard all about the Easter story.....o and hunted for eggs also! Adam was one of the readers for the children and did a great job! It was certainly a great way to jumpstart Easter celebrations!

10am I am chatting with a few ladies and who comes up behind me to surprise me......my mom and dad! O MY GOSH! I had NO idea and being overcome with emotion I cried right then and there like a little kid coming home from camp.....weeping and wiping tears from my eyes......mom cried, I cried......and I think even dad cried! I hadn't seen them since Christmas and it was joyously overwhelming to see them. With LOTS of hugs and LOTS of tears we gathered ourselves there in the middle of the gathering area at church and then enjoyed a PERFECTLY lovely church service! What a service! We are normally in the choir, but with the business of our life at this time, we had the great pleasure to LISTEN.....I know right! It was beautiful with a full orchestra and chorus, with children and the joy they bring, with a peaceful and encouraging sermon.......what a day already and it isn't even noon yet!

By noon we were on our way to a lovely lunch with my parents where we sat outside with the beautiful sun and enjoyed a perfectly delicious meal together!

By 2pm we were back at our apartment telling stories, laughing, smiling, ......eating candy.....and enjoying every second of our time together! There truly is nothing like family and wish for everyone to know the joy that is family and the joy they bring to life!

By 5pm they were on their way back to the farm and the two of us sat and enjoyed the sun of the afternoon, planted a few more herbs (Rosemary and Mint), and soaked in every ounce of the day!

I truly can't imagine a more perfect day.....a more perfect life! In the midst of trial and hard, hard work......there is nothing like a perfect day to refill your battery to go out and do it all again!

Today was everything and more that I dreamt it to be......much more!

My Lord rose today, Your Lord rose today and as a result we can LIVE! So LIVE and live fully in all you do!

Day 4 - I DID IT!

The day I finished!

Yes, that's right I FINISHED!!!!!! I met my goal at 10:24pm on Saturday night! Deadline Sunday @ 6:15am........I made it...early even!

I owe day 4's success to my husband, Adam! He encouraged me every second and even spent the day reading and editing my literature review. If you have ever read a lit. review you know it is extremely interesting to the researcher and well......not to anyone else.......that's saying a lot!

That man spend the day cleaning the house....as I had definitely NOT done the previous 3 days and with various runs to the kitchen.....I had tea cups sitting here and there and well......he is a saint for helping so much!

I finished...with the encouragement of my parents and Adam......it is finished!

Well.......that being said, a thesis is really never FINISHED until it is handed in and approved so we have months until it is really FINISHED, but the big start is in......I'm waiting on a few method things and will probably add a few more articles here and there as I come across them in the next month and edit phases, but for now, it is in a working order and I did it!

Close to 100 articles read and put into place.......for now I can say....I did it!

Ok....now the 100lbs of weight can be lifted from my shoulders that I've been carrying around for the past 10 months.......no wonder I felt so heavy at times!

In true "t" word fashion:

Acknowledgments

Adam Veteto: To my husband, you are the bread to my life and the life to my bread and I love you for all that you are and the strength you encourage in me each day! Thank you for the smiles!

Melinda Whiteman: To my mother who taught me never to give up and who has encouraged me every second of this project with famous words of wisdom "it will all get done, don't stress." I love you and I thank you.

Vince Whiteman: To my daddy, you have taught me so much about life and loving life even when you have to work hard at it. For always reminding me that life is all about what you enjoy and about enjoying what you do! I love you and I thank you.

Kayla Whiteman: To my sister who always loves me even when I seem too busy to call and who always reminds that things will get done in their time and in God's time! I love you, I thank you, and I miss you!

Rev. Steve: I thank you for the encouragement and the sincere thoughtfulness you bring to every conversation we have. I thank you!

Family and Friends: To all of you, you know exactly when to send a thoughtful card, text, or message to encourage me and for your caring I thank you! For your friendship I thank you!

To my GOD: You are truly what brings me every joy! You are what gives me strength to continue when all feels worthless. You are who makes me laugh and cry all at the same time which somehow makes everything feel right. You are where my hope and dreams are from. You are the reason I get up every morning, the reason I sing, and the reason I want to be a better person - even when it hurts to grow. You are my strength and my ever constant companion and to YOU I give my heart and my life to Your will and Your plan! To You I thank you!

What's in a palm?

Did you know that a palm branch, like the ones we waved around today for Palm Sunday, are symbolic for "victory?"

In the process of working through my Sunday School lesson this week and the lovely sermon given by our pastor (Rev. Steve) I've come to look and maybe understand this day a bit better....here is what I've been mulling around:

The story goes that the people from long ago (that is those alive when Christ was) were looking for a king to come in victoriously to concur and save them from the Roman Empire. Now they expected a military king. A king riding in royal garb on a big beautiful horse with guards and militia who would overthrow the empire and set them free. Did you also know that the word "Hosanna" is translated into "save us now." A very likely thing for them to say and expect with their understanding of the type of "king" that Christ was to be.

Now the King of Kings did not ride in to overthrow the Roman Empire and neither did He ride in on a gallant horse with militia. No, no, no....this King came in plainly colored cloth, likely barefoot, and rode in on a donkey he borrowed (he didn't even own it). A less observant follower might have missed his entrance.

In our Sunday School class today we engaged in the humor of this scene......what do you think the people with the palm "victory" branches thought as Christ came in riding a donkey? I imagine some of them probably thought "this is the guy that is going to save us from the empire....how?" They might also have been wondering "how is this guy going to save us "Hosanna"? I don't doubt that all these things crossed their minds...I mean we are human right and Jesus' entrance had been built up for hundreds of year in the early scriptures to be a victorious King........

I also found it interesting to learn that riding in on a horse is symbolic for a "concurring hero", whereas riding in on a donkey is symbolic for "coming in peace." Now, isn't that just like our Jesus...the servant - He did not come to rule and have authority over all, but to serve. What better message to take out of today than that!

We know Jesus is victorious and does save us all, but not in the way we (as humans) expected. I assume this is still true today and only when we are with our Heavenly Father will we truly understand what God intended by sending a King to serve rather than rule.

Happy Palm Sunday and welcome to Holy Week!

Singing Over Me

You know those songs that touch you and make you cry uncontrollably and you can only account such an emotional outburst to God. Well today was one of those days and this is the song that took me there.

I can only hope it was God calling something of me and I wanted to share this beautiful song in the hope that it might bring just one person closer to the feeling it gave me. A feeling of extreme helplessness and extreme hope at the same time knowing that I (each of us) are here for a reason and it is through these small moments that God leads and calls us to be greater people!

Singing Over Me by: Kari Jobe

Sometimes He makes me laugh out loud!

Some might not think of God as a humorous creature, but I know this to be false. Why you ask......well I'll tell you:

After a few horrible nights sleep that felt much more purposeful and much less of a mistake on my end, I find myself searching before bed for answers. I grab the book I've been reading "Having a Mary Spirit" by Joanna Weaver and think I'll dive in and get some answers. Well, much to my surprise the answers were not found on the pages of the book, but between the pages (on my bookmark that reads "Where to look when....."). The ending that caught my eye was "when you feel too busy" - which directly linked me to Ecclesiastes 3:1-15.

Please look this verse up if you do not know it - it speaks that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven - much like the famous tune "Turn, Turn, Turn" by the Byrds. "To everything turn, turn, turn, there is a season turn, turn, turn, and a time to every purpose under heaven." These lyrics were directly adapted from this verse! Beautifully written if I do say so myself.

As I began to read I literally began to chuckle out loud that a bookmark would lead me to exactly what I needed to hear and exactly what I thought God wanted me to hear.

Verse 12 and 13 state: "I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God."

This struck me as so simple and yet so powerful that even with a full plate it is not what this world wants us to get done that is important, it might not even be what we do that is important, but HOW we do it that is the key to this life.

I, of course, began to correlate these words into my current questioning of the meaning of life and came to this conclusion: God designed me exactly the way I am and He intends me to use all of me. I was not designed to find a previous life to fit into like a cookie cutter, I was designed to create a new shape and to use all the characteristics and talents I've been given to do just that. Sometimes I feel God telling me "don't you see, there isn't any perfect job, there isn't a specific place I want you to be. I simply want you to use all that I created to do something you enjoy." Wow....when that actually comes out on paper I understand how powerful that is.

This meansYOU too ------ this is a statement that is true for all of us. I believe God is reminding us that we will serve the best when we are enjoying what we do. God will spark ideas and lead when we begin to acknowledge this.

It is my hope for you today that you look at your life and enjoy what you do!
Have a happy Friday!

You know He's a calling when.....

Last night was undoubtable the worst night sleep I have had in probably years. I couldn't sleep ---- for some reason I just couldn't sleep. I've been getting up more in the middle of the night the past week than I can ever remember.........and last night was the worst.......but why?

The first things that come to mind are: coffee, sick, napping during the day, stressed, and the list goes on, but not any of those are the reason. The most likely one would be stress, but I am getting lots of exercise so that is releasing a lot of my stress......hmmmmmm

As I tossed and turned last night I remember praying........God this is You and I know it. What are you calling of me at this hour? What are you speaking to me that I'm not hearing during my waking hours? I can't answer these questions, but I know God had me right where He wanted me.........praying for answers, praying for guidance, praying for His input!

If you have been following the past few blogs, you know I'm coming up against some career altering decisions with lots of questions. Questions I know God is leading me to ask. At this point, I'm awake at night, praying for guidance and praying for answers.

That being said, I'm in no rush - for the first time in my life I don't want the perfect ending to be here right now, I think I need the journey and I'm looking forward to it! So God, thank You for the sleepless night and for this unsettling feeling inside that encourages me to look up!