Nicole's nickel

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Give thanks that you don't have to read this if you choose not to. If it were an email you might feel obliged.

I have decided my thoughts are worth more than a penny, probably more like a nickel hence the title of this blog.

I have some free time today and I have been wanting to set up my account on here for a while so here it is. I am going to be transfering my blogs from my space over here so for a bit it is going to look like I am printing press. Most of you who know me know I am never usually short on words anyway.

It's turned out to be a pleasant day here in South Dakota, it is colder than Texas but it is a very nice day today. The tryptophan is working nicely everyone is napping with the excption of me. We were supposed to have my grandparents here but my grandfather fell twice this morning and is resting. We are waiting to hear how he is feeling. Please pray that he will heal and strengthen.

My sister, Katie made some outstanding pie crust and she says she can't cook. Can't means Won't! Silly sister!

I love seeing my boys and hers play and love one another, it brings me back to my own childhood. I spent 90% of my time as a kid playing with cousins and it was always great!

Holidays are filled with a vast array of emotions for me as I am sure many of you can relate. Today God spoke to me through the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-41). Here is a version with a bit of a holiday twist.

Jesus is at my house several hours before the ‘festivities’ begin and of course, I am a procrastinator by nature so I have a LONG list of things that normally takes 3 days to complete but now I will complete them in 4 hours! My family has also gathered and are visiting and listening to Jesus teach. I am frantically mixing up the pie fillings, checking the bread to see if it’s doubled in size, walking out to the garage to check the turkey cooking in the roaster and I trip with the cream pie I was carrying out to the extra garage fridge. I am now cleaning up the mess, wondering why no one has checked on me, no one is offering to help, don’t they know I have to finish the lacing the ribbon through the eyelets on all 22 of the name cards? My heart grows bitter and all I see is how everyone isn’t seeing me and all I am doing to make this a success for them! Or was it for me? I seem to loose track. Then when I have finally broke and my bitterness takes over, I go and say, “Lord, can’t you see no one is helping me! Tell them to help me!”
Jesus takes my hand and says, “Nicole, you are worried about many things but only one thing is needed. Your family has chosen what is better and it can’t be taken away from them.”

My dear family, it is easy to get distracted with all the holiday preparations, from the gift buying, Christmas card sending, decorating, meal planning and all the other scurring around that we do. How challenging to be Mary in the Martha world we live in. It is easy to have an excuse not to seek time with the Lord each day, even a short 5-10 minute devotional but I encourage you to try especially during this season. If you are looking for a place to start there are many FREE online resources that can send you daily scripture and questions to help you think more deeply and apply it to your life. Plugging yourself into a Bible based church for encouragement and accountability would also be a step in the right direction.

I find it is easy to be Martha but focusing on God and what Jesus taught, I can be Mary instead. I am going to try and post a picture of the boys..