The Little Things in Life

Sam has recently discovered his tongue. This is one of many times where his tongue is hanging out of his mouth!

Sam in one of his MANY outfits Aunt Lissa bought for him (he can finally wear them!)

Bundling Sam up to go to the park...he looks too cute!


He really liked his "eskimo" suit.

Sam will be running for office in the near future (notice the peace sign)

Can you say "Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!"

Thanksgiving has now come and gone. The Hollier's had a most relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving. We got to see family but on a slower pace, stretched out over two weekends instead of one day. It seems these days we like to do things on a slower pace. It's funny how 7:30 used to be so early and now it's really sleeping in. I used to always love to run the roads and now I just like being at home. I hated cleaning house, now a clean house makes me feel refreshed and energized. We're starting to get in a regular routine of going to the park and running/walking. Life as we know it is good. It's funny how the little things in life make me so thankful. At the Hollier Thanksgiving there is a tradition of two things. 1. THE hayride. 2. THE bonfire. This was the first year I went on the hayride. We sang Christmas carols and I froze my bum off but it was great. I love my life. Right now, I'm listening to Jared play with Sam. He is such an amazing dad. I can't imagine my life getting any better. God is so good to bless us with so much. It just takes some perspective to look around and see all that is good. It doesn't have to be huge. Just the little things. I'm so thankful for the little things God has blessed me with. A relaxing, refreshing holiday. A beautiful healthy family. The list goes on and on and on. Even after Thanksgiving, remember to thank God for the gifts He gives us on a daily basis.

Give Thanks In All Circumstances

This morning in church, we looked at 1 Thess. 5:18, where Paul says, "Give thanks in al circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Here, basically, is the outline of my sermon:

Who?- "Brothers," or Christians. This message was for all believers, without exception.

What?- "Give thanks" I asked what everyone was thankful for, and got the usual and expected answers- family, job, home, Jesus, etc. Wrote them all down on a whiteboard I had up on the platform.

When/Where?- "In all circumstances" Here's where it starts getting tricky. When I asked what everyone was thankful for, nobody said sickness, bankruptcy, marital problems, rebellious kids, cancer, or poverty, and yet, God's command, through Paul, is to give thanks in all circumstances. Hmm...

Why?- "Because this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" In other words- "Because God says so." Our natural reaction in difficult times is to get angry, upset, disappointed, envious of other people's situations. These reactions are not of the spirit (See Galatians 5) We must choose to ignore our "natural reactions" and respond like God wants us to. We must choose to be thankful. Example: When the results come back, and the doctor says it's cancer- I know that God is my Father, and He's in control of all things, and for that I choose to be thankful. When the bills total more than I have in my bank account- God provides food for the birds and dresses the flowers of the field. I know He'll provide for me, and for that I choose to be thankful.

How?- By remembering that God works all things out for our good, and for His purposes (Romans 8:28). He is in control of all things, and I belong to Him. With His help, I can always find something to be thankful for, and I should, because it is His will for me to live a life of thanksgiving.

We are ridiculously blessed, and really should take time every day to thank God. Not just on a Thursday in November before we stuff our faces, but every single day. Be blessed and be a blessing this week.

-Jared

26 Days of Thanks

So I know I haven't blogged much about my thankfulness in a while, but it's been kinda busy around here. I have been updating on facebook very briefly each day. Today I'm thankful for the godly friends God has surrounded me with all my life. Being a pastor's wife isn't always easy, and sometimes it's hard to be able to be real and transparent with others, but God has blessed me with amazing friends who challenge and encourage me and let me just be ME! Sometimes, believe it or not, I don't always have the right heart or attitude (even at church). Insert gasp here. But I have friends who understand and encourage me to stop and breathe! I'm so thankful for them. Thank God today for the godly people He's surrounded you with.

~Elizabeth

Me and Sam had a good day. Played lots, laughed lots- he's a fine boy.

-Jared

Happy Fall Yall!

My friend Kim took these pictures the other day. These are just my favorites! Sam is getting so big so fast. I can't believe he's already 3 months old! What a little man he is indeed becoming. He already has me wrapped around his little finger.

This one is my absolute favorite! Don't worry Mom, I'll bring you pics this weekend. :)

26 Days of Thanks...what day am I on????

While I keep losing track of what day I'm on...I am still thanking God for something everyday. Today I'm thankful that death is not the end but the beginning. A precious 92 year old lady that was a faithful member of our church passed away this week. Her visitation is tonight and the funeral will be tomorrow. As I drove to school thinking about her this morning, I rejoiced that she is worshipping Jesus forever now. Her sickly body is no more. She is able to do things she hasn't been able to do in so long. You know people always say, "She lived a full life." Well, she did, but the eternity that she will spend with God is way better than the "full life" that she lived here on earth. I'm so thankful that we don't just live and die...blah blah blah. It's more than that. We live. Our earthly bodies may die but we live on for eternity.

I know a lot of people read this blog. Friends, family, even coworkers of my parents! So I can't pass up the opportunity to ask you. If you were to die today, would you spend forever with God? The Bible says that we all have sinned and the punishment for sin is death, but God loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to take that punishment for us. By believing in Him we can have eternal life with God. One day, we're all going to die and we will stand before the Lord. Maybe He'll ask, "Why should I let you in?" What are you going to say??? Because I got baptized when I was a baby? Because I went to church every Sunday? Because my grandpa was a deacon? Because I'm a good person? None of those answers will get you in. Trusting in Jesus Christ as Your Saviour (He is the one who saved you from the punishment of death) and letting Him be Lord of your life (that means He gets control...not you!) That's the answer that will get you "in". I pray that you have a personal relationship with the Lord and that it's more than just getting to go to heaven when you die. God is worthy of so much more than that.

Day 9

Today I'm thankful that we have men and women who have fought so that we could have the freedoms that we do today. I almost teared up explaining this to my students. How I wish they understood how much we have to be thankful for. They don't even realize that life hasn't always been like this. There's so much that I haven't even experienced, but I am thankful that we have come so far, yet we still have so far to go. Thank someone who has or is serving your country today. And thank God that He has blessed us enough to live in a safe country.