Reflecting on 2007 & my prayer for 2008...

As I reflect on the past year it would be easy to feel overwhelmed with sadness. In fact, 2007 was a year of pain for me and my family. The loss of my sister and best friend last April 12th brought things to surface in my heart that I never knew were there. I am only beginning to learn that the heating in life's crucible does that though. Wow, the depth of my humanity (that I was truly fashioned from dust) has become so real to me in my walk through Psalm 23rd's Valley of the Shadow of Death.

I am grateful for my circle of precious ones (you know who you are) who have patiently loved me through my stages of grief...praying for me, sending cards and personal notes, calling to check on me, hugging me, letting cry on your shoulder, lending an ear for me to vent as I have sometimes blubbered and even cussed through sobbing tears in expressing my dismay of seemingly uncontrolled circumstance. Thank you for being there...please know that I am truly indebted to each of you...you are true treasures in my life!

Most of all, Jesus has remained my closest companion through this tough time. My tremendous need for Christ to be alive in my everyday, within the caverns of my heart and a light in the dark crevices of my mind. He's been faithful even though my sins have been many. Boldly, yet in humble thanks, I say that I think I will not fully understand the depth of His mercy to me. Maybe in Glory when I meet Him and fathom that Hell is real and by the power of faith on Christ's shed blood my sins were washed away and my redemption becomes reality in eternity!

As we look forward to 2008, none of know what the coming year will bring. However, there is hope in our Lord Jesus Christ because He holds it all in His nail pierced hands and His grace is sufficient for whatever will come. My prayer is that you will grow in your faith, endeavor to praise and trust Him each and everyday, in each and every circumstance and in the trials of life be encouraged by others like I have been.

Finally, as a New Year's Eve blessing to you...Building 429 sings this song, so dear to my heart. It is an adaptation of an old hymn, "Grace That Is Greater". This You Tube time-lapsed video, of some picturesque places God fashioned, is well-worth savoring as you listen.

My prayer for you is that...
You have a Happy and Blessed 2008...
As your walk with the Lord becomes great!

Love ya all,
In Christ,
Ter

Kids' Christmas Collage

It amazes me that God has blessed me with four awesome children...in my humble opinion...very amazing models for my photo hobby to say the very least!

Merry Christmas

I recently ran across identical greeting cards which two of my three sisters sent to me a few Christmas seasons back. The message meant a lot to me as my one sister has now spent her first of all her Christmases in the presence of Jesus. I just felt like I should share the beauty and truth in the words of this card. The newly added pic at the top of my blog is one I recently took of sunset behind the Chapel at Willow Valley Resort in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

SOMETHING IN THE FLURRY
OF THE SEASON
MAY WE FIND
TIME TO DREAM
ABOUT THAT BLESSED HOLY NIGHT
THAT CHANGED THE WORLD...

TIME TO WONDER
ABOUT THE AWESOMENESS
OF THE DAY HE COMES AGAIN...

TIME TO REMEMBER
THE TRUTHS HE TAUGHT
AND EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE FOR US...

TIME TO GIVE THANKS WITH ALL OUR HEARTS
THAT GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD.

WISHING YOU
THE GIFT OF
TIME
TO SHARE WITH HIM
AT CHRISTMAS
AND ALL THROUGH
A BLESSED NEW YEAR.

(Author Unknown but published by THE WORD in the USA)

Amazing Piece - Amazing Peace

Here's a beautiful music video I just have to share. On a recent telecast there was a tribute to Dr. Billy Graham's life-long mate, Ruth Graham. This song by Fernando Ortega is an amazing piece proclaiming the amazing peace in finding wholeness in Jesus Christ. So Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoy the video "Give Me Jesus".