Cranberry Tea Time

Daily Grace and Mercy

2013-05-22T13:03:00.000-04:00

In recent years muscle pain has become an increasingly bothersome symptom. This winter it was my constant companion. Most often it was just annoying and uncomfortable. Sometimes it was an intense ache that sent me to bed to lay motionless until the pain subsided.

This month I had a week without muscle pain. Oh, it was so nice! Relief from pain! I could rest and be comfortable, not bothered by waves of pain washing through my muscles. Without the daily ache it was easy to forget just how sick I am. I’m used to being tired, so it was easy to become comfortable with my slow pace of life.

On Saturday the pain came back. It is not at its worst. It is mild, and I'm thankful for that. But with the pain comes an unsettling feeling, a constant reminder that something is very wrong inside my body. It’s a reminder that we can’t fix what is wrong and that only God completely understands what is happening with my health.

When I am feeling well, it is easy to think that I am going about life with my own strength. When a setback comes, I realize how little control I have over my health, energy, and strength. Even if I were in perfect health, I would still need the Lord every day, but I think it would be easy to forget how much I need Him. The pain doesn't let me forget. Therefore, I am learning to see this pain as a daily grace and mercy. How merciful of God to remind me each day of my need for, and dependence upon, Him. What a grace to be reminded that my life is in His hands and that He is in control!

God is the One who holds all things together (Colossians 1:15-17). Apart from Him I cannot take a breath (Acts 17:24-25, Isaiah 42:5). My life is for His glory, and He will give me the measure of health which He chooses.

Can it really be that these daily muscle pains are a grace and mercy in disguise? Yes! God can take this pain and use it for my good. He does as He knows best, and I can rest securely in God’s plan for my life. Muscle pains are a reminder that God is in control, that I need Him, and that my life is in His hands.

Thank you, Lord, for your daily grace and mercy.

Reflections on A Mother’s Prayer

2013-05-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

I am thrilled to have Kristyn Getty here today to share with us her thoughts on motherhood and their new song, A Mother's Prayer. The Getty's music has been a blessing to me. It is lovely, deep, and rich, and it has brought encouragement and refreshment to my soul. I hope that you enjoy this new song and music video they have created. If you are reading this in an email, you will want to click over to watch the video. Here is Kristyn to share her heart.

In the spring of 2008 I first prayed for a baby, and in the spring of 2011 God answered that prayer with the birth of our beautiful daughter. My joy was full but so were the fears I wrestled. In some ways I felt like a baby Christian again, caught in a whirlwind of emotions, learning and applying what I have known and trusted into a completely new life - I know I'm definitely not the first to feel that!

Friends of ours had given us a card when their first son was born; it was full of prayer requests for his little life, a prayer for every day of the month. My prayers were not quite as coherent as those, especially at first, but the urgency of the moment drove me to my knees. “Help her, help me” baby prayers at 3am; prayers as I heard the baby monitor light up in the morning; prayers when I thought of her safety, her soul, her future; prayers with my husband; prayers while Eliza listened in.

When people found out that I was pregnant one of the most frequent comments I received was how my creativity would discover a whole new vista of inspiration as I became a mother. So, when Eliza came I was anticipating a fresh flow of profound poetic thought, but instead I was swept up in the constant flow of changes and feedings and “Old MacDonald had a farm!” I was expecting full sentences, but I was blubbering looking at my beautiful girl! I actually wondered if I'd ever be able to write again. I just about tucked some thoughts away to ponder later when my brain would start to fit itself back together again (still nowhere near a completed process!). As I continued to learn the wonderful balancing act and privilege of mothering, homemaking, writing, traveling and singing, Keith and I began to write a song for Eliza choosing this theme of praying for her, and the end result was “A Mother's Prayer.”

My parents have faithfully prayed for me my whole life, and I remember when I was younger my mum met with other mums to pray for all their children – a “Moms in Touch” group in Belfast. Even just the knowledge of that helped me, and I want Eliza to know we are praying for her and trying to guide her in this context that reaches to the call and purpose of her whole life and an understanding of the Lord's grace and faithfulness. We're now in the toddler stage and some of the prayer needs are shifting. We wanted the song to reflect the different seasons - ones we had discovered and then those still to come. We also wrote it to remind us of our promise to pray for her through all the years we're given. We hope this song for her – and even more our praying for her – might catch her ear and help guide her heart as she grows up.

Thank you, Kristyn, for sharing your words and your song here today.

If you would like to connect with the Gettys, you can find them on Facebook, Twitter, and their website, GettyMusic.com.

The song, A Mother's Prayer, is on the Getty's new album, Hymns for the Christian Life. It can be purchased on their website and from Amazon.

Mercy House Shop Giveaway Winner

2013-05-01T13:12:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone who has shopped at Mercy House and/or entered the giveaway! I am pleased to announce that Kristin has won the $25 gift certificate. Congratulations, Kristin, and have fun shopping!

I did some shopping of my own last week, and the items arrived on Monday. I bought some earrings to use for gifts, Mother's Day cards, and one of Violet's t-shirts. I like all of them, and I love supporting such an incredible ministry.

The Mercy House has some happy news this week. One of their new girls, Maureen, gave birth to a baby boy on Tuesday! In the past she had tried to abort twice out of desperation. But God, in His mercy, had a different plan for this little family.

(in) Real Life

2013-04-29T12:40:00.004-04:00

This past weekend (in)courage hosted their annual (in) Real Life conference. This conference was such a blessing to me! It suits my energy levels perfectly. The (in)RL conference is the conference that comes to you. You don't have to get on a plane and fly across the country. You don't have to buy an expensive conference ticket. The (in)RL conference is free, and you can watch at home while wearing your jammies! Which is exactly what I did on Friday night. :)

If you follow me on twitter, you might have seen me tweeting up a storm on Friday as I was watching the (in)RL conference webcast. It was so much fun to watch the conference videos with online friends and connect through twitter. I went to sleep that night excited for the next day.

On Saturday for the (in)RL conference, we step out of our homes and travel to local meetups. This year there were 6,000 women who attended (in)RL. There were 590 meetups in 20 different countries! Women all over the world were stepping out from behind their blogs and meeting up in real life.

I grabbed a friend and we went to a meet up hosted by Kristin. She opened her home to us and prepared delicious food. We enjoyed talking, eating, laughing, and watching the Saturday conference videos. I came home that afternoon exhausted, but refreshed, blessed, encouraged, and very grateful for our time. Thank you, Kristin, for opening your home to us!

I had considered hosting a meetup for (in)RL this year, and I was going to invite ladies from church and from my town. I ended up deciding against it, however, because I knew I was going to be at the Mayo Clinic only a few weeks before. It was likely that I would be too exhausted from my Mayo trip to be able to plan and prepare for having women into my home.

I decided against hosting, but the conference was so good that I do want to share it with more friends. I have purchased the (in)RL conference DVDs, and I am planning to invite some friends over for an unfashionably late (in)RL party!

Thank you, (in)courage, for hosting this conference. I am already looking forward to (in)RL 2014!

I am linking up today with (in)courage sisters who are sharing about their weekends.

Love Mercy

2013-04-24T14:02:00.000-04:00

"He has shown you, O man, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8

Hello Friends! I have something very special to share with you today! I want to tell you about The Mercy House, a maternity home in Kenya founded by Kristen Welch.

In 2010 Kristen traveled to Kenya with Compassion International. Through this trip the Lord burdened her heart for the girls in the slums of Kenya. When she saw the slums firsthand, and later heard of the horrible circumstances the girls face, she knew she had to do something to help.

These are just some of the issues these girls face in Kenya (as listed in a Mercy House brochure):

Annually, 21,000 women are hospitalized from having an illegal, unsafe abortion in Kenya.
13,000 Kenya girls are kicked out of school for being pregnant.
Every 30 minutes a woman is raped in Kenya.
Mothers often force their daughters into trading sex for food in the slums.
More than 20,000 children are sex trafficked in Kenya.

Kristen founded the Mercy House to provide a safe place for young moms and their babies. The Mercy House provides prenatal and postnatal care, good nutrition, counseling, education, and Bible teaching. They also teach girls skills, such as jewelry making and sewing. The girls and their babies are given a safe and nurturing home to live in while they learn and heal. There is also a graduate program to continue to care for the girls once they leave The Mercy House.

Last year (in)courage created this video to tell the story of Mercy House. Please take 6 minutes to watch it. I promise it will be well worth your time! If you are reading this in an email, you may need to click over to the blog to view the video.

I love the work that Mercy House is doing. I have been following them through Kristen's blog and through their facebook page. It has been so encouraging to see the moms' smiles grow, to hear stories of how they are coming to know Jesus as Savior, and to see their babies grow and thrive.

Kristen recently spent a week visiting Mercy House. You can read about her trip in these posts on her blog:

Would you be interested in helping to support Mercy House and the girls there? Mercy House has an online shop featuring jewelry and other crafts that are handmade by the young mothers! Do you need to stock up on items in your gift closet? Shopping at Mercy House would be a great way to add some unique items to your gift closet and bless the girls at Mercy House in the process. Are you looking for a unique Mother's Day gift? If you order this week, you should receive your items before Mother's Day.

They have a beautiful Mother's Day card.

These Mother/Daughter necklaces are lovely. Are you a mom with a little girl? You can treat yourself for Mother's Day! The necklaces can be purchased as a set or individually.

One of my favorite items is this rolled art with the Africa mat. You can also buy this with a mat in the shape of Haiti, China, or a cross.

If you don't need to go shopping, but want to support the ministry of Mercy House, you can do so here.

Mercy House sent me a blue Large Funky Paper Bead Necklace in exchange for hosting a virtual party here at Cranberry Tea Time. Isn't it such a fun necklace? And I love the fact that it was made by one of the girls at Mercy House. It is a tangible reminder to me to pray for the girls and for the ministry of Mercy House.

Mercy House is offering a $25 gift certificate to one of my readers! To enter the giveaway, please visit the Mercy House Shop. Then come back here and leave a comment to let us know what your favorite item is! A winner will be chosen next week on May 1st.

* This giveaway is now closed.

Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story

2013-04-15T13:37:00.000-04:00

Ken and Joni Tada, along with Larry Libby, recently wrote a book about their 30 years of marriage. Joni has been a quadriplegic since the age of 17 when she broke her neck in a diving accident. She also suffers from severe chronic pain, and she recently battled breast cancer. Ken and Joni know what it is like to suffer and struggle through marriage with a disability, and in this book they share about their struggles and triumphs. It is rare to find a book that talks about marriage and disability and to now have one written by Ken and Joni Tada is a treasure.

In this book, Ken and Joni give us a glimpse into their life as a married couple. It is a beautiful story of how God brought them together and what He has done in their lives and in their marriage. Ken and Joni have faced very difficult times in their marriage, and have come through it stronger, more in love with each other, and with a deeper love for Christ.

Ken and Joni share about their testing years, during which Ken was very depressed. Joni’s quadriplegia was wearing on him. The day in, day out struggles of living with someone with such a profound disability had taken its toll. “Somewhere along the way, the never-ending demands became abrasive, scraping away at the romance of their marriage, grinding down perilously their resolve to go on” (page 84).

In 2010 Joni was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was on top of quadriplegia and on top of chronic pain. Life was going to become even more challenging, but God had been preparing Ken to walk through these hard years with his wife and to faithfully care for her.

Throughout the cancer treatment, Ken and Joni became stronger together and in their relationship with Christ. “This cancer was turning out to be a severe mercy. A bruising of a blessing, and a blessing out of brokenness” (pg. 154).

Because of the trial of cancer, Ken and Joni fell in love all over again. Ken’s loving care for Joni increased. Joni’s respect for her husband grew and grew. Ken says, “Joni and I have talked about it, and I don’t think a lot of couples get a chance at a love like this, at closeness like this. It’s like all this has been a gift God has given us” (page 156).

Joni agrees, “It’s like a wedding gift all over again. I would never thought this journey through cancer would have given us so much” (page 156).

Catching a glimpse into Ken and Joni Tada’s marriage was a blessing and an encouragement. They are godly examples of love and faithfulness in marriage. This couple has faced hard times, and they have come out stronger and more in love. God has used the suffering in their lives to sanctify them and make them more like Christ.

If you haven’t read previous books by Joni, or aren’t familiar with her life, then the book Joni and Ken might be a little bit confusing. It doesn’t give the details of Joni’s accident or her ministry, Joni and Friends. Reading her first book, Joni: An Unforgettable Story, will fill in more of the story of her life.

When I reached the end of Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story, I found myself wishing that it was a longer book! I wanted to know more, wanted to glean more wisdom from their years of marriage. This book is a treasure!

If you are struggling through a marriage with a disability, or if you want to read an encouraging book about marriage, I recommend this book. You are not alone in the challenges you face. Let Ken and Joni encourage you to press on and remain faithful, even when marriage is hard.

Would you like to learn more of Joni and Ken's story?

Purchase their book here:

Joni and Friends Store

ChristianBook.com

Amazon.com

Watch the video of Joni speaking at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention.

Read on the Joni and Friends website, listen to Joni's radio programs, or browse the Joni and Friends store.

Here

2013-04-12T18:26:00.000-04:00

Today I'm participating in 5 Minute Friday with Lisa-Jo Baker and her delightful blogging friends. We write for only five minutes; this is quick and easy blogging! This week's word is "here."

One year ago today we arrived here in southwest Minnesota after three long days of driving. The king and queen of Minnesota were here to greet us.

Grandparents and puppies were here to greet us.

After a year, we have settled in, made friends, and become very involved in church. We are at home here.

It has been a good year. We have been to parades and participated in the county fair. William was baptized. I said hello and goodbye to a dear friend.

The winter season was a hard one for me physically, but I seem to be pulling out of that for the time being. I am looking forward to spring and hoping for some better days ahead.

Will continues his work as an associate pastor. The church has been so good to us, allowing Will to have a very flexible schedule that suits my needs. We are so blessed to be here serving the Lord!

This is the sixth place we have lived in only 10 years of marriage. I hope to be here for a long time to come!

The Purple Bullet

2013-04-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

A little over 8 years ago I bought my first wheelchair. I felt such relief when it arrived because the wheelchair gave me more freedom. It enabled me to go on shopping trips and go to church more easily. It helped to get me out of the house.

Six years ago I bought my second wheelchair. I didn't feel relief when it arrived; I felt disappointment. I was sad that I needed another wheelchair. I hadn't gotten better like I thought I would. I was only getting worse.

Now I'm on my third wheelchair. It arrived this winter, and I am so excited about this new wheelchair! I've gotten (mostly) used to the idea of being sick for a long time, so I'm totally having fun with my wheelchair this time around! I chose a purple wheelchair with light up wheels. I'm probably the only 32 year old in Minnesota with light up wheels, but who cares? I'm having fun!

Because I have help from insurance and a medical supply store this time, I was able to get a very good wheelchair. It is sturdy, has nice wheels, and it rolls oh-so-smoothly! It's an ultralightweight, which makes it easier for me to roll on my own. I still need to do some wheelchair adjustments to get it to fit me just right, but overall I'm pleased with the chair.

Will has named my chair The Purple Bullet because it can roll so quickly.

My color choice was Electric Plum.

My favorite part? The light up wheels!

I chose light up wheels mostly for fun. After 8 years, I'm ready to have fun with my wheelchair. No more black wheelchair blending into the background. It needs to have a little pizzazz!

There is also a purpose for the light up wheels that goes beyond just fun. My hope is that the light up wheels will make me and my wheelchair more approachable. Wheelchairs can be awkward and make people feel uncomfortable. It can be hard to get to know people from in a wheelchair, but light up wheels might be an ice breaker. Hopefully others will notice them and realize that I don't take myself too seriously.

My insurance company doesn't actually cover light up wheels, but the kind people at Sanford Home Medical gave them to me for free. They've been great like that. :)

See the light up wheels in action!

Happy Easter! He Is Risen!

2013-03-31T12:29:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter! Jesus Christ is Risen! Because Jesus died for our sins and rose again, we can have hope in this life and in the life to come.

This morning I am unable to go to church, but I am celebrating while resting in bed. I was blessed by this song that Keith and Kristyn Getty shared on their facebook page. I hope it blesses you too!

Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed

How can it be, the One who died,
Has borne our sin through sacrifice
To conquer every sting of death?
Sing, sing hallelujah.

For joy awakes as dawning light
When Christ’s disciples lift their eyes.
Alive He stands, their Friend and King;
Christ, Christ He is risen.

Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!
Oh, sing hallelujah.
Join the chorus, sing with the redeemed;
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed.

Where doubt and darkness once had been,
They saw Him and their hearts believed.
But blessed are those who have not seen,
Yet, sing hallelujah.

Once bound by fear now bold in faith,
They preached the truth and power of grace.
And pouring out their lives they gained
Life, life everlasting.

The power that raised Him from the grave
Now works in us to powerfully save.
He frees our hearts to live His grace;
Go tell of His goodness.

He’s alive, He’s alive!
Heaven’s gates are opened wide.
He’s alive, He’s alive!
Now in heaven glorified.

"Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed"
by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Ed Cash

Joy in the Pain

2013-02-18T12:20:00.000-05:00

My friend, Jennifer, at Live Art.fully is skilled at finding beauty in the ashes and joy in the pain. She recently posted about life through her eyes and shared pictures of the beauty she has found in the everyday. She inspired me to do the same!

These past two months have been difficult ones for me. My health has been pretty unstable, and I've had one symptom flare up after another. I have been dealing with migraines that come in cycles. There have been weeks at a time with little respite from migraine symptoms. As soon as one migraine ended, another one would begin. The fatigue and sensory overload that comes with migraines required that I rest in my quiet bedroom.

On other days I have been stuck in bed because of muscle pain and weakness. Sometimes I couldn't even read because holding a book open was too hard and too painful. Simply scrolling on my laptop caused intense muscle pain. My muscles wouldn't allow me to do anything but pray or watch television.

My struggle with brain fog has been nearly constant. I often find myself unable to think clearly, stumbling over words, or saying the wrong words and not even knowing it. Some days the brain fog has turned into confusion and disorientation.

All of this has been isolating and discouraging. It has been a hard two months. What's a girl to do? Start counting her blessings and find beauty in the everyday. Find the good gifts from God that are all around.

I made it my mission to find beauty when I'm stuck in bed. Here are just a few things for which I have been especially grateful:

smooth, clean sheets

a beautiful handmade quilt

my ring, a symbol of love and faithfulness and promises made 10 years ago

lovely purple walls

my favorite verse framed and hanging by my bed - a reminder that this body is failing, but will one day be replaced with one that is imperishable

happy children who love to come in and visit me and give me hugs and kisses

Beauty and good gifts from the Lord are all around. What good gifts are you thanking God for today?

Ten Years

2012-12-28T12:17:00.001-05:00

Ten years ago I walked down the aisle to meet my groom. We said our vows and promised to love one another and be faithful to one another for the rest of our lives. We joined in the covenant of marriage, "...for better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health..."

How thankful I am to the Lord for blessing me with a godly and faithful husband. Thank you, Will, for staying by my side these past 10 years in sickness and in health, or as we often joke, "in sickness and in more sickness."

Merry Christmas!

2012-12-25T01:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, friends! I hope that you have a wonderful day of celebration. This truly is a day for celebration, so feast and rejoice and have a party! The Savior has come for you and for me

One of my favorite songs this month has been "Here With Us" by Joy Williams. It is absolutely beautiful, and the words express the wonder of God coming to earth as a baby. If you are reading this in an email, please click over to see the video. It is well worth the five minutes.

Here With Us

It's still a mystery to me
That the hands of God could be so small,
How tiny fingers reaching in the night
Were the very hands that measured the sky

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Son of God, Servant King, here with us

You're here with us

It's still a mystery to me,

How His infant eyes have seen the dawn of time

How His ears have heard an angel's symphony,

But still Mary had to rock her Savior to sleep

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Son of God, Servant King, here with us

You're here with us

Jesus the Christ, born in Bethlehem

A baby born to save, to save the souls of man

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Son of God, Servant King, here with us

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Son of God, Servant King, here with us

You're here with us

What Child Is This?

2012-12-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

What Child Is This?

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Words by William C. Dix, 1865

Painting by Gerard van Honthorst

I Wonder....

2012-12-20T11:47:00.001-05:00

As a child I loved to play with the nativity scene during the Christmas season. After I finished playing, I would set everything back in the stable in the way I imagined it would have been. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and even the animals, were all crowded around the manger. They all wanted to be as close as they could be to baby Jesus. When I arrange our nativity scene today, I still crowd all of the people and animals around baby Jesus.

I wish I could take a peek into the stable on that first Christmas night. What would it have been like?

I wonder...

Did the animals crowd close to the manger to see baby Jesus? Did they know that something special was happening? Did they know that their Maker was right there in the stable with them?

Were Mary and Joseph able to sleep that night? Or did the wonder of having the Son of God in their arms keep them awake in amazement and delight?

Did the shepherds crowd close to the manger? Or did they stand back in reverential awe?

I wonder...

What were the angels thinking as they saw their God in the manger? Were they watching in amazement as the mystery of God's plan of salvation began to unfold before their eyes? If we could see the spiritual realm in the stable on that first Christmas, would we see angels crowded around the manger, along with the shepherds, to catch a glimpse of their God as a baby?

What were Satan and his demons doing? Did they know that God had come to earth? Did they shriek in terror when He was born? Or did they cower in fear, unable to make a sound for the knowing that their doom was coming?

I wonder...

Were the Old Testament saints watching from Heaven as the angel announced the birth of Christ? Did they sing along with the angels in praise to God? Did they gaze in awe at the baby in the stable, thrilled that God's promise to send a Savior was being fulfilled?

I wonder...

What was it like that first Christmas night? I wonder...how could God love me, a sinner, so much that He would come to earth to save me from my sin?

I wonder, and I stand in amazement of His great love and mercy.

Christmas Tour of Homes

2012-12-18T16:46:00.001-05:00

Brrr.... It is cold outside!

Welcome to our home.

Please come in!

We have tea steeping and Christmas music playing. Come take a seat and make yourself at home. I"ll give you the tour of our living room and show you some of my favorite Christmas decorations.

If you don't mind, I'll take the comfy elevator chair from Arlene.

I have it all cozied up for the winter holidays and it is just what I need today.

This is my new Christmas tree. I am the very fortunate grandchild who inherited it from my Oma! I think it is just lovely. I like to lie down in my chair in the evengings and look at the beautiful tree all lit up and sparkly.

We have our stockings hung above the cedar chest with care.

The nativity scene is kept on an end table so that children can see and play with the figures.

I like to arrange all of the people and animals so that they are crowded around to see baby Jesus. That's how I imagine it must have been when the shepherds came to see Jesus that first night and then again a couple of years later when the wise men came to worship Him.

This is the top of the Schrank (a German china cabinet).

The smoker man is smoking.

The choir boys are singing.

The pyramide is turning.

a close up of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus

Do you have time to stay for tea?

Thanks so much for coming to visit!

I am linking up with The Nester for the Christmas Tour of Homes.

Favorite Things Winner

2012-12-17T12:53:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Jamie! You are the winner of the favorite things giveaway! I will be putting your tea in the mail soon. I hope you like it as much as I do. :)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

2012-12-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep"
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sharing today with The Sunday Community at Jumping Tandem.

Photo Credit: gb_packards

A Few of My Favorite Things

2012-12-14T14:09:00.001-05:00

Today the Nester is having a Favorite Things party. We're linking up to share some of our favorite things that are under $15.00. I am sharing five of my favorite things, two of which are just fun and comforting, and three of which have been very helpful to me as I face life with a disabling chronic illness. If I could send a care package to all of my friends who live with a chronic illness, are facing some other kind of difficult diagnosis, or are going through hard trials, this is what I would send:

There is something special about drinking out of pretty china teacups. Tea served in a fancy cup says, "you are special!" There are some very expensive teacups out there, but Gracie China is very reasonably priced. These particular teacups and saucers, Gracie China Rose Chintz, are sold as a set of two (one for you, one for a friend) for $15.17. That still counts as under $15 since you get two for that price, right?

This pomegranate tea from Bigelow is my very favorite herbal tea. When we lived in the south I could find it at Wal-Mart for about $3.00 a box. We haven't seen it in stores here in Minnesota, so I bought some on Amazon.

If you have been reading here on Cranberry Tea Time for very long, you've already seen me mention When God Weeps by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steve Estes. It is one of my very favorite books and an excellent resource for anyone who is suffering or counselling someone who is suffering. It is currently $10.39 on Amazon.

I don't think I have ever mentioned Heaven by Randy Alcorn here on my blog before, but this is another one of my favorite books. Learning more about Heaven and gaining an eternal perspective has increased my joy here and now. It has made it so much easier to let go of dreams for this life as I look forward to the life to come. After the Bible, Heaven and When God Weeps have been the most helpful to me in my Christian life as I learn to live well with a chronic illness. The list price for Heaven is $24.99, but you can currently buy it for $14.99 on EPM.org. They always have Randy Alcorn's books on sale.

The music of Keith and Kristyn Getty has been such a blessing to me. The songs are beautiful, and the lyrics are deep and meaningful, full of good theology. On days when I am too weak and tired to read or watch tv, lying still and listening to their music is enjoyable and encouraging. Awaken the Dawn is my favorite album, and it is available for $13.99 at gettymusic.com. You can also find their music on amazon.

So there you have it, 5 of my favorite things for under $15.00. But wait! I have a giveaway too! I would like to give one of you a box of my favorite pomegranate tea mentioned above. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment telling me one of your favorite things. A winner will be chosen on Monday, December 17th.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

2012-12-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite Christmas songs is, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." I love the beautiful, haunting melody. I love the way it expresses Israel's longing for her Messiah. It is a reminder to me that God fulfilled His promise to send His Son, and that He will fulfill His promise to return.

Emmanuel means "God with us." God came to dwell among people! It never ceases to amaze me that the God of the universe chose to come to earth as a baby, live among fallen people, and save us from our sins.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (NIV 1984)

Matthew 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” - which means, “God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (NIV 1984)

Last week at church my husband, Will, and I sang "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" in church. The special music was video taped, and I am sharing it with you today. It isn't perfect, but we pray that the King will be glorified. (If you are reading this in an email you will need to click over to my blog to see the video).

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O Come, Thou Wisdom from on high,

And order all things far and nigh;

To us the path of knowledge show,

And cause us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind

All peoples in one heart and mind;

Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease,

Fill all the world with Heaven's peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Emmanuel has come, and He will come again! Are you ready for His return?

O Little Town of Bethlehem

2012-12-08T22:19:00.003-05:00

O little town of Bethlehem,

How still we see thee lie;

Above they deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by.

Yet in they dark streets shineth

The everlasting light;

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,

And gathered all above,

While mortals sleep the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars together,

Proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the King,

And peace to men on earth!

Words by Phillips Brooks 1835-1893

Photo Credit: Kyle Taylor

A Special Friend, A Special Gift

2012-12-06T13:11:00.000-05:00

One of the first friends I made after moving to Minnesota was a sweet, godly lady named Arlene. She understood me well because she had a chronic illness, too, only she was more sick than I am. She was a godly example to me of what it means to suffer well. She lived Romans 12:12, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (NIV 1984).

Arlene was a prayer warrior. She had hundreds of cards with specific names and prayer requests on them. A few years ago she heard about a friend of mine who was sick, and when we moved here this spring we found out that Arlene was still praying for my friend! Her faithfullness in prayer has been a great challenge and encouragement to me.

Arlene was homebound, and since I am mostly homebound we didn't get to visit with each other very often. Will would go to visit her when I couldn't, and I would hear about how she was doing and what she was praying about.

One specific request that was on Arlene's heart was a lift chair for me. She knew that I was having trouble with my muscles. There were days that I really struggled to get around our small house, sit down, and stand back up. She prayed faithfully that the Lord would provide a lift chair for me.

Last month Arlene went home to be with the Lord. I really miss her, but I am so happy for her! She is no longer suffering terribly as she was here on earth. She is with Jesus, right where she wants to be.

Arlene no longer needs her lift chair, and her husband, Gary, generously gave it to me. "It's what Arlene would have wanted," he said. What a blessing this chair has been to me! This particular lift chair doesn't just lift me up when my muscles need some extra help; it also reclines all the way. I can lay down completely flat or even have my feet slightly elevated above my head if necessary!

Adelaide calls it my "elevator."

As I sit in my new chair, I remember the godly woman who used it before me. I am reminded of her faithfulness, her love for the Lord, and her love for people. I am challenged to be "joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer" just like Arlene.

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

2012-12-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear Desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

by Charles Wesley

Photo Credit: Benjamin Nussbaum

Love Came Down Giveaway Winner

2012-11-26T11:20:00.001-05:00

And the winner of this Love Came Down Advent Calendar and Tea Light Trio is...

Melanie!

Congratulations, Melanie! I will be in touch and get your package in the mail to you this week. :)

He Is Good

2012-11-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

You are my God, and I will give You thanks;

    You are my God, and I will exalt You.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

His love endures forever.

Psalm 118:28-29, NIV 1984

God Is Love and Love Came Down

2012-11-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

I love this time of year - the pretty lights, dark nights, Christmas music, sparkling decorations, cold weather, hot chocolate, presents, and happy smiles. It is a season of celebration. Everywhere you turn there is a reminder to celebrate! There is a purpose to this season, a reason to be joyful and have hope.

I started listening to Christmas music over a month ago. Why? Because it is never too early to celebrate our God coming to earth! What wondrous love God has shown us in sending His Son!

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:7-9, NIV 1984).

Love came down. God sent His Son, Jesus, the Messiah. Immanuel. God With Us. Prince of Peace. Bread of Life. Light of the World. Savior.

Jesus came to earth as a baby. The God of the universe came to dwell among fallen people - doesn't that just astound you? Doesn't it make your heart sing? God loved us so much that He came down to live among us and save us from our sins. He lived and suffered as we do. He was tempted, yet was without sin. He was a perfect and holy sacrifice, and He willingly gave His life to redeem all who will believe.

Love came down, died for us, and rose again. If that isn't a reason to listen to celebrate, then I don't know what is.

My prayer for you today, dear friend, is that you will know the mercy and grace of God, that you will have His peace and joy in your life, and that this Christmas season you will truly celebrate God coming to earth.

I like the Love Came Down collection from DaySpring because the items are not just beautiful decorations, but they have words that express the meaning for the celebration of this season. Every piece of this collection is a reminder that Jesus came to earth, a reminder to celebrate.

One of my new favorite items is this reversible Table Runner. It is just beautiful! Our table is too small for this large table runner, so instead I am using mine for a tree skirt. It works very nicely, I think!

If you need to do some shopping for gifts or Christmas items, DaySpring is having a 30% off sale going on now until November 26th. Using the code 30SUPER you can get 30% off any item except for the Super Specials, which are already deeply discounted. You can even get 30% off of the clearance items!

DaySpring has provided me with these lovely items in exchange for a story/review post. All words and opinions are my own.

Giveaway! I appreciate these items from DaySpring very much, but I do not have enough space to use them all. I would like to give these Tea Lights and Advent Calendar to one of my readers! Just leave a comment to enter. A winner will be chosen and announced on Monday, November 26th.

* This giveaway is now closed. *