Happy New Year!

With the New Year here I thought I would start out with a blog on what some of our upcoming plans are.

The first major event that is currently taking place is that we are in the process of getting licenced to do foster care.  Some of our Montana friends might be saying, "WHAT!"  I know God changes people's hearts :)  We have attended 2 out of the 3 PRIDE classes so far and had 1 of the 3 home studies done so we are getting there.

When we were first married we talked about doing foster care.  Shaun always had a quick, "no" to doing foster care because he felt he would not have the strength to give them back when it came time.  I understood and just went with his wishes.  But since we have been in Dickinson God has been changing both of our hearts on the idea of doing it.  There is a HUGE need in this community for foster parents.  It also helps that we have a bigger house that can hold more children than what we used to have. And we have a strong desire to be a loving family for a child/en that need a safe environment and a positive family to live with.  I am so excited to see how God will help us grow as individuals and as a family through this whole experience!

In February, Shaun will be going on a mission trip to Africa to help out at New Hope Uganda.  This trip has been a test of our faith all along the way and God has shown Him self time after time that Shaun is suppose to go on this trip.  It is amazing to see the generosity of God's people!  One of the things we have learned already is that God will provide when He wants you to do something!

I am so excited to see what God does in Shaun during this trip.  One thing I have learned from previous trips that I have gone on is that you always come home learning and being changed more than the people you serve while on the trip.  I am pretty sure it will be a difficult thing for him to not take one or more of those sweet children home in his suite case.    

School!  Shaun has been with his company working as an apprentice eletrician for 2 years now!  It is crazy that much time has passed.  In order to get his journeyman he must have 3 years as an apprentice, a certain amount of hours worked (He has enough) and a certain amount of credit hours.  He has done a few classes but has a ways to go if he is going to complete them when his 3 years is up.  So I will be encouraging and pushing him along during this year to complete all of his classes! It has been so great to watch him do something he loves.  I am looking forward to watching him accomplish one of his big goals!

Remodeling lets face it, in the Christison home there will always be some kind of construction going on!  Just before Christmas we completed our second bathroom remodel (in this house) on the main level.  It has been a HUGE blessing to have a second bathroom!  I know my parents were happy it was done when they came for Christmas :)  Our plans for this year, as of now, are to get a bedroom done in our unfinished (except bathroom) basement.  My little brother lives with us and I know that he will be happy to have 4 walls and a door to keep 2 little boys and an Oscar dog out of his space!  I would love to complete the ENTIRE basement but with school for Shaun and $ I am thinking that will wait till later. 

I am praying that God changes our hearts in BIG ways this year.  I am praying we do BIG things for God this year.  And always I am praying that we do all that we do for His Glory!

Be content

Be content! Be content! This is the phrase that keeps coming up over and over again in sermons, conversations with friends, and just in my random daily life.

We live in this world that shouts and screams be discontent. WANT! WANT! WANT! You deserve! Think about YOU!  Love yourself! Get the bigger house. Get the brand new car. Be perfect.

How does it work to be content in a discontent society?  That is the question I keep asking myself.  I look around and very easily see the things I don't have.  I see the things I want.  When I look to my self I see the "flaws" and the awkwardness that just seems to happen. :)  When I focus on these things all it does is make me more discontent! How do I get the point of being content?

Does this ever happen to any of you, you learn a life lesson, you feel like you have a grasp on it and then a few months later completely forget what you had learned and are right back to doing the same thing as before?  Ohhh it makes me crazy!  I have learned this lesson so many times before but apparently it didn't get to my heart because I keep forgetting!  And why am I still asking the question that I already know the answer to?

This past year I did a study on the book 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp http://onethousandgifts.com/the-book.  I learned in that book to give thanks in all things.  In the big and the little.  In good times and in bad times.

In Philippians chapter 4, Paul speaks of the same thing!

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God,which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Did you read that first part? Rejoice in The Lord ALWAYS!  Today I am making the choice to, "take every thought captive to obey Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5.  I will rejoice in The Lord for He is good!  He loves me even though I am a sinner.  He paid the price for my sins so that I can have a relationship with Him!  He will always provide what I need (maybe not what I want but what I need)!  I have a Savior that listens to me and corrects me.  I am Thankful for that!

I am giving this over in prayer and not going to worry about the things I don't have and what the world says I need.  I am going to think on the truth, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence, and praise worthy things! And I can rest in the truth that He will give me the strength to do it!  :)

Thanks for reading,
Lindsay

Finding my blogger voice

Hello everyone!

Alright, here we go, my first post!  I have had several people ask if I have a blog.  I have responded with, "no, I don't have time for that!" and "I don't want to have one more thing in my life to feel guilty for not doing".  But I have been considering doing a blog for awhile and have come to the decision that I can start a blog if I post, I post, if I don't, I don't and that is fine.  My objective in this blog is to have a place to share things that are on my heart and to keep connected with my family members and friends by sharing what is going on in my family.

You may already see from my first paragraph, I am not great with punctuation, spelling or grammar!  This area has never been a strong suit of mine!  If you ask my mom she will tell you!  Maybe I should have her proof read before I post haha.  So I will apologize up front if I am driving you nuts with all of my flaws in those areas!

Part of my reasoning to do this blog is to face some of my fears!  I am an expert at hiding myself.  I don't like to be noticed.  I have a small voice. I am great at being "invisible".  I am also a horrible communicator!  I never feel like I really say what I am trying to say.  But in light of some recent events in my life, I am learning that the desire to hide is not necessarily a good thing and using the excuse of not being a good communicator doesn't get me anywhere.

God has really been showing me that He is the only one that I should be putting my trust in.  If I am using my fear of failure, fear of what others will think and fear of people really seeing me for the truly sinful person that I am, I am not really trusting in The Lord for every thing!

I have recently been listening to a message series on the book of Hosea by RW Glenn.  (You should check it out really good stuff!) http://redeemerbiblechurch.com/grow/series/  Glenn referred to this type of thing as whoring ourselves to our idols.  That hit me HARD!  That is exactly what I am doing when I let my "idol of fear" rule me. I cling to fear, I am giving my time and attention worship to fear!  I turn my back on God by not trusting in His best for me and that is wrong. So now, I am facing a fear allowing God to be the driver and I am writing a blog :)

I just wanted to end by saying the verse that is in my title:
Isaiah 55:6-9  
“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;
⁷ let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
He is a gracious and loving God that is near to us when we call upon Him!  I am so thankful that despite our sinfulness He forgives and makes us clean!  If you have never experienced this and would like to know more about it I would love to talk!

Thanks for reading!
Lindsay