Dec 28, 2007

Giving Him the Glory

I felt led to share a little deeper into our Christmas celebration, so walk with me for a few minutes and join my family out back in the barn...
Our traditional picture on Christmas morning...someday maybe we will fill the staircase?!





Our barn manger with baby Jesus


Papa reading the Christmas Story out of the Bible...from Luke, while the children drank hot cocoa.
Christmas morning breakfast in the barn, well ricotta pie of course!












This is our 2nd year of celebrating Christmas morning in our barn-actually, it's our second year of having a barn.
Long before I had a barn, I asked my Father for one- you see I had a, 'heart desire' for a barn. I simply asked God, believing He was able. I actually made a list of my heart's desire and gave it to my heavenly Father. I learned from my walk with Him, that He is a God of specifics, a God of detail and a Father who loves to lavish gifts on His children.


When we came to see this house in March 2005, we didn't know there was a barn, for some reason it wasn't listed as part of the property. What a surprise, as we waited for our real estate agent, when we rounded about the back of the house to see a barn. My heart fluttered and I knew my Father remembered my desire. This was to be our new home, the one God has told us we would need, as He was sending more children.


Looking back on that list I had made, I can see that God is a God that listens, He longs to bless His children~ my home and barn are proof to his goodness and attests to the fact that He abundantly blesses His own.


Now, this didn't happen immediately, this list lay in my journal for several years, occasionally I opened it and reread it, regiving it to God, adding things over time that I realized might be useful or helpful to the vision God had given me. If you saw the list you'd be amazed ...as one by one you could check it off as, "received."

I encourage those of you who walk in a relationship with God through the salvation found in Jesus, to consider becoming more specific in your prayers this coming year. Why? Well, certainly not so you can "get," but so that you can experience His great love for you in a deeper way. Sometimes you don't get what you ask for, because God knows what is best for His children and what is in line with His Will. I encourage you to step out, grab a new notebook and start journaling your prayers, your hopes, your conversations with God. He is a listening God and I believe He is a speaking God...see what He has to say to YOU!

Then when it is all said and done, don't be shy, give Him the Glory~!


Have you received God's first gift to you? It's found in the book of John...
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."



15 comments:

javamamma said...

I love your Christmas celebration in the barn! Loved hearing how God answers prayers too. Cool!

Spirit of Adoption said...

LOVE your Christmas celebration!!!
this is so encouraging as I've been praying for some specific things recently and some specific things over a long season! : ) thanks for sharing, sister!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for this encouragement! My husband and I were just speaking of "sowing seeds", and how they need to be specific, as do our prayers. Thanks for sharing the pictures of your beautiful family as well! What a blessing you are to a tired, busy sahm in Atlantic Canada!

Foxy5 said...

Oh how I love the barn tradition. That is very clever. I'd imagine that even with wrapping paper flying there would be a different spirit of Christmas there. I could be wrong as I have never celebrated Christmas but the idea is just wonderful. Thank you for a glimpse of your Christmas celebration.

Elizabeth said...

I really enjoyed reading your blog. Your children are so precious. =)

Greta Jo said...

AMEN! Love, Love, Love your christmas barn tradition. Your love for our heavenly father is amazing.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful idea, to have Christmas in a barn . . . that´s got to keep the true spirit in the whole celebration! I like how happy your family looks, they are really enjoying the holidays.

We put oranges in our stockings, too! :D

Unknown said...

What beautiful pictures and a beautiful family you have. Are you going to share the recipe for that ricotta pie? It looked yummy. God bless you and your family!

Lovella ♥ said...

Kimmie, your barn celebration is just wonderful.
Thank you for the encouragment regarding laying my requests before God. I intend to do that to a greater level this next year.

Jan Parrish said...

The barn is beautiful. Such a lovely shade of red and I love it's unique details. God just does the coolest things doesn't he? Thanks for letting us in on a little bit of your Christmas.

Cindy-Still His Girl said...

Oh, how wonderful a barn Christmas morning must be!! Thanks for showing us!!

And your words about our Father's generous and specific love for us.... beautiful, my friend.

Martha said...

What a wonderful tradition. And a beautiful answer to prayer. Right now I am praying that God will provide us with a house - I am looking forward to seeing what He does.

Blessings,
~Martie

Sondra said...

How cozy it looks there in your barn. What a great way to celebrate the birth of our Christ.
Oh and what is ricotta pie? It looks so yummy (I love ricotta cheese).

Jenni said...

Kimmie, what a beautiful story and testimony. I will do as you suggest! You remind me a lot of a dear friend of mine; her joy in the Lord is so sweet.

Web-OJ said...

Looks like such good fun.

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