Merry Christmas

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Have a very merry Christmas, From the amazingly Crazy Douglas Clan! We Hope you have a wonderful holiday and are more then ever aware of His many mercies! Blessings!

Remebering Our Past Christmas Fun!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Even though, Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I have been thinking much on Christmas and what this year will hold. I looked through many of our photos of the time and put together this slide show, some of the pictures are cell photos so please forgive the low resolution and enjoy remembering Christmas with us, as we gear up for more fun this year! I am very excited to be having thanksgiving this year, we have some special plans! And especially we are excited to begin decorating and celebrating the birth of our Savior! Have a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas Folks!

My God You Are My Stronghold

This is one of my most favorite worship songs. I have lately clung to this song as a cry unlike my oftimes muddled thoughts. I Hope that you will be burdened to pray in your worship as I have been lead to prayer in my own times of song. I am so thankful for people who are gifted in these ways to bring God's word to us in such times as makes the words that much more meaningful!


Send Out Your Light and Your Truth
Psalm 43

1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?

3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

One thing I have to remember. Is not so much understand the whys and werefores of a certain situation or condition, but I am called on to worship and enjoy my Savior forever, because He is worthy to be praised and because I was created for worship! How often I am distracted by "issues" when my concern should be greatly overshadowed by my overflowing worship! O God, I desire to be ravished by Joy in You! Delighted by your glories alone!

Our First Time

We had the boys first halloween celebrations at school this year. We have never done anything for halloween before. So we were nubies at this whole dressing up and trick or treating thing. But it came off well and the kids had a good time. I enjoyed going and helping out in their classes and seeing all the cuties dressed up. And the costume parade was great! We also spent about 2 hours trick or treating on saturday night and the boys got a boat load of candy. We came home and had hot chocolate together after the cool walk and helping daddy with the "truth or treat" at church. It was a good time together. Now we are looking forward to thanksgiving and putting the tree up for Christmas! I am sure you will see a whole lotta pictures from us in the very near future!

Around Our House

Grams and Gresham are "resting" while she visited with us! So comfy!



Silas and Kace were sick recently and so we spent some time taking photos and all three boys "did" my hair (although I won't burden you with those photos!) it was fun to be sick together!



Winter seems to be in the air and we busted out the winter coat and hat for my girl!

I think she enjoyed it, in spite of the fact it lasted all of five minutes in the car!

I am tenacious though, I don't give up too easily!

These faces are the cutest I know, How can you resist a grin like this?

Okay couple it with a giant mess and it makes it easier!


Cuteness seems to be genetic! I think both faces are sooooo CUTE!

How could you not want to kiss these fellas? I ask you!!!

Are Children Really A Blessing?

I hope that your answer to this question is a resounding “Yes!” However, the troubling reality is that many in our nation would not only give a different answer but would also offer up a host of pathetic reasons why children are a bane and not a blessing. With such insane sentiments abounding we would do well to be reminded of the many ways children are indeed blessings from God. In this post I have no intention of providing an exhaustive list. Rather, I merely want to offer up 5 reasons why children have been and will always be blessings.

Children are blessings:

1. Because life is precious.
This is a simple truth but one I believe many Christians have expressed verbally yet denied practically. So many say they believe life is precious, yet they want very little to do with any life that makes their life uncomfortable. We need, now more than ever, to affirm by our actions not just our words that all lives, even the youngest of lives, are precious -- precious enough to trade our comfort and quiet for diapers and colicky cries.

2. Because they present the greatest opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission.
Where is your greatest opportunity to make disciples? It is not first and foremost in your neighborhood or in your community. It is not first and foremost in a village tucked away in the Ukraine. It is under your very own roof. Do you realize the blessing this is? For better or worse your greatest sphere of influence is your home. Make it count for the Kingdom. Love your children deeply, teach them God’s precious word, model humility, spend more time crying out to God for the souls of your children than whining about your 401k, and let them know every chance you get that they are desperate sinners in need of a Savior.

3. Because they are professional idol-demolishers.
The statement I am about to make may be a stretch but I doubt it. You probably have a lot of things around your house that are idols you didn’t even know you had. Am I wrong? Junior will vindicate my proposition the minute he slams into your 52 inch flatscreen and smashes it up. What do you have around your house that is so precious to you that you just can’t do with out it? Your child will help you find out. Now, you can either lash out in anger or stop and appreciate an unsolicited reality-check. I am not advocating allowing your children to be destructors but you miss a redemptive moment when you yell at them for jacking up one of your things instead of repenting for clinging more to junk than Jesus.

4. Because they drive us to prayer.
Nothing can bring a man or woman to their knees in prayer like a child in need. I have seen people who ordinarily want nothing to do with God all of the sudden become self-professed prayer warriors. Unfortunately, many of these “prayers” are pleas for some sort of physical deliverance. But what our children help to show us is that their real need is not Cipro but Christ. Do we pray for their eternity or simply focus on today’s emergency room visit? Our children drive us to prayer and we ought not squander such an opportunity. May God help us to passionately pray for their souls not just their bodies.

5. Because they comfort us in our old age.
Before I comment on this last reason I want to state an important preliminary fact -- no matter what their age the only person anyone ever needs is Jesus. Having said that, it never hurts to have adult children who comfort, encourage, visit, and speak truth in one’s twilight years. Though I have yet to experience these benefits first hand, I have witnessed the joy of old dads and the loneliness of childless old men. Contrary to much selfish rhetoric abounding today, children truly are a blessing. Not only as five year olds, but also as fifty year olds.

Be Bold...and Yet Grace Filled

Wrote this post several months ago and although a little dated I still believe the points are true! So here goes....

In light of the many abhorrent realities of our current state of culture, I have truly felt burdened to encourage many of the people of the Church. I know that the recent elections and inaugurations have left many of us feeling dissatisfied, no matter who you voted for no one ended up with every choice they wanted. But as believers in the cross we are often scared to engage the problems that are very apparent in our culture, more now then ever. God has in many ways given our nation over to it's sin. Open and flagrant disregard is not only practiced but heralded in the guise of personal freedom and moral plurality. Truly the base truths of the Book of Judges are manifesting themselves in our culture..."Everyone did what was right in their own eyes."

My heart is disturbed not simply that we are embracing so much sin and unrighteousness, but that the only ones with a solution to this problem are retreating inward. Sitting back in their chairs. Disengaging from the culture. Sitting apart and unwilling to get our hands dirtied in the mess that is our nation.

WE MUST ENGAGE!

Did you know that the United States of America is the 4th most UNreached country in the world? Every year more then 3000 churches close their doors. We as a holy priesthood are NOT standing on the promises of God and taking the message of redemption from sin, in Christ alone to the people we are amongst! We are not going!!!

We must stop closing our mouths!
We must stop sinking into our seats!
We must stop FEARING men!

Now, hear me! I am not saying we should bicker with other people, when has that ever accomplished anything for the kingdom of glory? I mean that we need to engage the culture with the gospel. We need to get into people lives! Come along side them and encourage them in the paths of righteousness. We need to have people we are uncomfortable with in our homes, in our churches, in our lives. People cannot see the redemptive nature of our Savior if all His people hide out! We can live and work with these people and never engage in their lives or never let them see the work of God. We can sit by as Christ's name is defiled in our nation because of our blatant sin. Or we can stand up and show the glories of our Joy in Salvation from that same sin that has our neighbor Locked and bound in bondage.

We must start in peoples personal lives, we cannot start at the top of our nation and work down, the only way for our nation to change is if people like you and me go to people in our towns, jobs, neighborhoods and families and share the good news of the gospel of Christ. We need to look with rejoicing on the salvation that has so richly blessed us and freely give all of ourselves.

.......Go therefore.....

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
--Jim Elliott

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

This is a super easy recipe and really delish! I got it (mostly) from a friend!

1 Box Spice cake mix
1 can pumpkin (16oz)
1/2 bag of mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Dump the cake mix and pumpkin into a bowl and mix until moist. then stir in the chips and separate into your muffin pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden and tops pop back when pressed.

A Must Read!

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Jesus Is Not Ashamed I'm His Brother

Does your family ever embarrass you? If you are like me, your "Yes!!" answer was more an involuntary reaction than a well thought out response. I mean, who needs time to contemplate the obvious. Nearly all of us have cousins or uncles that we are sure were adopted into the family. Perhaps, some of us have even wondered about relatives a little closer to our own branch on the family tree.

The truth, however, is that all of us have been an embarrassment to somebody at some time. When sinners sin it is always embarrassing to somebody. Being a sinner is a shameful thing BUT for all those sinners who have been made saints we have reason to hold our heads high.

Hebrews 2:11 says that Jesus is "not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters". "Them" the context tells us are "the ones who have been sanctified". This means Jesus calls every believer his brother or sister. He does not roll His eyes at the thought of me. He has not proposed any conspiracy theory about the "adoption agency" that made me a part of His family. He has not (and never will!!) deny that I am His brother. Nor is He at all ashamed about this fact. Despite the everpresent truth that I do much that is shameful, He is not ashamed that I am His brother.

Now, I could end the post at this most encouraging of realities but there are two things I don't want you to miss. First, if Jesus is not ashamed of me or any other believer, what right do I have to be ashamed of the siblings His death made possible. Now, I am not talking about unconverted church-goers. They are no more my relation than an anthiest. I am talking about genuine brothers and sisters in Christ. If Jesus says they are His siblings than who am I to treat them any different! Do we really treat other believers as brothers and sisters? Do we really view the church as one big family? If we don't, we must. Secondly, this word "ashamed" is the exact same word used by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:16. If you don't quite remember what this verse says, take the time look it up. Are you "ashamed of the Gospel", the very message of the One who is "not ashamed" to call you His brother? I wish it were true that we could honestly say that we are not ashamed of the message of our Brother who is not ashamed of us. But the sad truth is that our lives often reflect the embarrassing reality that we are ashamed. If this is true of you don't be discouraged. Simply repent. Turn to your Brother Jesus and know that he will forgive you not disown you. After all, that's what true brothers do.

A Grief Sanctified Passing Through Grief to Peace and Joy (9780892838417) J. I. Packer, J. I. Packer, J.I. Packer, Richard Breviate of the Life of Margaret, Daughter of francis Baxter |PaperBackSwap.com

A Grief Sanctified Passing Through Grief to Peace and Joy (9780892838417) J. I. Packer, J. I. Packer, J.I. Packer, Richard Breviate of the Life of Margaret, Daughter of francis Baxter |PaperBackSwap.com

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This Book is amazing! It is basically an excersize in grief by a husband who deeply loved his wife, but it recounts her Christian walk with such tranparency that is touched my heart and life deeply! I LOVE this book and have since come to admire and cherish this woman who lived so long before me! Purchase this book! You won't regret it!!

Early Halloween Fun

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