2010 Christmas Letter

As 2010 comes a close, it is always  fun to reflect on our year and see where God has blessed and encouraged.  This year has had many changes, and we know that in all things,  God’s glory is truly what matters!

As for Bruce, you can go back to the last 5 or so years, and it’s still the same.  Just the way he likes it!   He didn’t do a whole lot of fishing this year, but was able to reconnect with some of his old fishing buddies and went up to the Sierra’s and had a great time!  Except, of course, coming home with a pulled hamstring and that  hasn’t been fun!  He is still anxiously awaiting that retirement date, unfortunately, with the economy,  and it may mean a couple more years of working.  Bruce’s highlight for the year, is making it through the worst part of this recession.

Terri’s 2010 has been pretty good. She had been praying for God to show her where her ministry would be and is now  a Bible Study Leader on Tuesday mornings at church and has gotten a group of amazing young moms.  She has had fun getting to know them and some other young college age women to talk with and help them to be able to see how important they are and how much they truly matter to Jesus!  She is still loving being at home,  most days, it’s a whole new ballgame with two “adult” children living in the home and all that that brings!  She also has finally picked up her camera again and is ready to do some learning and explore some new options.  Terri’s highlight of the year would have to be her trip to Seattle with Ryan to see the Mariner’s vs. the Angels series over Mother’s Day weekend. It was truly a blessing.  Fun times!

Ryan turned 20 in September and is growing into a pretty amazing young man.  He still enjoys his job at Bob Marriott’s Fly Fishing Store, and tries to fish whenever he has a moment.  He works there every moment he is not in school.  Ryan has declared his major in Biology with an emphasis in Zoology!  He wants to be a Zookeeper and is working towards transferring to Humboldt State in the future.  His newest love this year has been golf.  When he gets an interest, he goes all out, and now,  is known to go out the door at 6am to play a round before work or even at 9pm to hit the driving range…oh to be 20 again!   Ryan’s highlight of the year would be his road trip he took with  his buddies Adam, William and Cody.  They spent a week traveling  to see 4 different baseball games in 4 different states: Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Colorado.  They truly had an amazing time!  What memories!

Dylan has had a year of growing up…started dating a wonderful girl, Renee in March, turned 18 in May, graduated high school n June and started Fullerton College in August!  He went to school part-time this semester and still works at Palace 4 Paws at Downtown Disney.  He is a pretty amazing guy too!  I guess I am partial, but if you ever get the chance to sit down and have a conversation with him, he will blow your socks off!  Dylan is one compassionate person and the heart of him is one that makes you want to be a better person.  And of course, his dog, Roxy is still absolutely his best friend!  Dylan’s highlight of the year would have to be Renee.  She has brought him much joy and gives him a reason to be the person he is.

We would have to agree that the biggest blessing of 2010 was our trip to Kauai, Hawaii!  What an amazing trip we had.  It was so fun to be able to have a once in a lifetime trip.  We went tubing down old sugar cane canals, sailing down the Na’Pali coast with snorkeling and an awesome spinner dolphin show on the way, yummy food and good times hanging out in the sun.  It will always be remembered, and hopefully will not be the last time.

We pray that your 2011 will bring much joy as you seek to know what God would have for your life this coming season.  May God grant you all that your heart desires as you lean daily on Him and let Him guide your every thought, attitude and motive.  Jesus loves you and so do we!  May we continue to grow in love and character together in 2011!

                                                      Bruce, Terri, Ryan and Dylan Harris
                                                                 (Roxy and Lily too!)

“Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through who also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”  Romans 5:1-4

Choosing Joy

Webter's Dictionary Definition of Joy states:   the emotion evoked by wel-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: DELIGHT;   the expression or exhibition of such emotion:  GAIETY;  a state of happines or felicity: BLISS;  a source or cause of delight;  to experience great pleasure or delight:  REJOICE, GLADDEN, ENJOY.

Last Sunday, our Pastor began our Christmas season theme of JOY.  I must say, I am pretty excited about this, being that  one of my 2010 visions was learning Joy!  I want to get to the place where I truly live each day full of joy.  What is joy and how are we supposed to live with joy everyday?  I don't know all the answers, yet, but I am sure that God will reveal all this to me.  I wait with great anticipation to see where He will lead.  Sure, it is the end of the year, but hey, I believe in God's perfect timing and so here it is! 

I want to share a glimpse of how I've gotten to this place.  This year has been just slightly overwhelming with changes.  I'm not one who embraces change.  I don't like when things don't go as planned. I want it all to just stay the same.  But really, can that be?  Nothing ever stays the same, and if it did, what fun would that be, right?

These past few weeks I have had a general overwhelmed feeling.  I prayed and asked God to show me areas that I could let go of adn where I needed to refocus and redirect my energies. I made the painful decision to give up one of my bible study groups and a very part-time job I was doing, and although, it was a hard decision, I know it was the right decision.  Since doing this, God has given me some confirmations! 

First, church on Sunday morning was amazing.  One thing that stood out to me was, that challenge + risk + hope, brings JOY.  We have to be challenged and take the risks involved and know that our hope will bring us ultimately to JOY!  Wow, so in all the struggles and worries, we can still have JOY?  Yes!  This is exactly what I needed to hear, there is JOY in the midst of it all!   

Monday, I get a text from a friend asking me if I feel distracted?  Absolutely!  My mind is so full of what's next on the to do list, that I can't focus, or enJOY what I am doing right now.  That's what I want to change!  Anyway, through the conversation she says I need to pray about the "right things."  She went on to say "Sometimes we engage in things in our lives that we think we should be in and God doesn't want us there.  Sometimes we get in too deep, sometimes we do it for other people.  Only you and God can decide what role you play in each."  That was exactly where I had gotten! 

So then yesterday, I read Beth Moore's study of Daniel, and she says, "I understand how difficult this is.  But you must let it go.  Don't just release it.  Renounce it.  Push it off. You must, or it will eventually destroy you...get to it, because it's getting to you!"  As Isaiah 1:16-17 says, "Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!"  It's my time to have JOY in doing the "right" things, and not what I "think" I "should" be doing.  And to top of the day, I get an invitation to do a study over the Christmas break from our Tuesday morning bible study, and guess what the book is..."Choosing Gratitude...A Journey to Joy" by Nancy Leigh de Moss!  It is a study about being thankful and learning how to live that way!  Of course I'm in!

So, I have the Christmas lights on the house, decorations in the yard, tree is up and the inside of the house is all ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus!  I am excited to sit back and see, "The Lord is Good!"  Remember, we are His gift, and we are the only gift He wants!  I pray that we all find and experience His JOY as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Blessings to you,
Terri

As Luke 1:45 says, "You are blessed because you BELIEVED the Lord would do what He said!"

Celebrate The Memory

Today would have been my Dad's 63rd birthday.  Unfortunately, he isn't here to celebrate with.  Nine years ago he went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with heart disease.  Every year this day comes and instead of it being a good day of remembering him, it always seems to be more of a sad day in remembering that he is not here!  As I was talking with God this morning, I felt that I needed to focus on the good I got from my Dad, so here are my thoughts on what I learned from my Dad!

1.  I learned that the greatest gift in life is to love.  He was a man who gave his whole heart and never regretted.  He loved to the ends of the earth. 

2.  I learned that I couldn't do anything to earn his love.  He loved me anyway!  Although my Dad wasn't around much for the first 16 years of my life, the day he can back, it felt as if he were never gone.

3.  I learned that a flick on the back of my head was a good thing.  It was his love pat and something that would be deeply missed.

4.  I learned that everyone should have a nickname and that it really makes one feel special.  There are so many: Termite, Cryin Ryan, Bubba, Baldy, Spaceshot, BubbleButt, Nickel, Lady Di, it goes on and on!

5.  I learned that working hard and giving your all makes a world of difference to those around you who are watching everything you do.

6.  I learned that the way you treat people is how you earn respect.

7.  I learned that smoking is a terrible addiction that is extremely and almost impossible to break and that it definitely shortens your life!

8.  I learned that one man giving his life to Jesus, can affect so many! 

9.  I learned that ultimately no one can make you happy, you have to be happy with yourself.

10.  I learned that very few people get the honor of having that one special person that they fall in love with and will love literally until the day they die. 

I definitely miss my Dad, but I can honestly say, I am so thankful that I had him in my life even though it was for such a short time!  It is a true blessing to have been his daughter and to have been so loved.

Blessings,
Termite

"There is a time for everything, a season for very activity under heaven. 
A time to be born and a time to die. 
     A time to plant and a time to harvest. 
A time to kill and a time to heal. 
     A time to tear down and a time to rebuild. 
A time to cry and a time to laugh 
     A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. 
     A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 
A time to search and a time to lose. 
     A time to keep and a time to throw away. 
A time to tear and a time to mend. 
     A time to be quiet and a time to speack up. 
A time to love and a time to hate. 
     A time for war and a time for peace."    
                                                           Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Perception

Florence Chadwick was a swimmer and she was pulled into the boat after giving up.  Because there was so much fog, she could not see how much further she had to go.  She was exhausted and decided to give up.  Once on land, when she was told that she only had half a mile to go before the shore, she said: 

"All I could see was the fog, if I could have seen the shore, I think I could have made it."  Florence Chadwick

Our Youth Pastor, John Riley spoke on this last Sunday morning and it really touched my heart!  Isn't this how so many of us live our lives?  We only live for the moment.  We can't see past the one thing (our fog) that is so consuing.  Every decision is based on the hear and now.  Long term thinking, or long term waiting is not what we practice.  If we believe in a Sovereign God, why do we limit ourselves?

We tend to only focus on the fog.  Think about that.  When there is heavy fog, we can only see right in front of ourselves.  We can't see past the fog.  Even in light foggy mornings, we only see the fog, we don't see the sun that is looming in the distance.  We only see the one thing that is right in front of us, the fog.  When we face our "fog" what do we, we give up, because it is too heavy! It is the only thing we can see, we know that the sun is out there, just waiting to break through, but we can't see it.

Our "fogs" can be different for each of us.  Sometimes it's heavy, death, divorce, illness, unemployment.  Sometimes it seems trivial, or what others may see as trivial, to us it may be overwhelmed with housework, spouses, children, jobs, basically life issues,  BUT, in our fog it is real to us.  It is overwhelming, stressful and scary.  We can't understand why we are in this fog.  We think we will never be able to see the other side, so it seems easier to give up.  Just give in and let life pass us by, because, really what's the point of all this?  And yet, we find out it's just a little bit further to get to the shore!

So, what to do when in our fog?  I believe the first step is to get to the realization point that we are giving up.  Sometimes, that is the most critical point.  Realization.  Take the time to acknowledge that all you see is fog.  Whether it is heavy or light, it is fog.   And we are in it!

After realizing you are in a fog, accept it.  Accept that you are in the fog, you don't know how thick it is going to be, but you are gonna keep pressing through until the fog gets lighter and lighter.  It may be within minutes, or days, weeks, months or even years, but it will get lighter.

And then, let go and let God.  I know that is cliche, but really, it is what it is.  It truly is our only Hope!  We have to give our fog to the One who can walk us through it, every little step.  Inch by inch.   We have to get to the point of saying, "God, only you know what I need, and what is best..  Give me Your ears to hear and Your eyes to see!  May my will be Your will so that You are glorified in all things.  Amen."

Our lives here on earth are only a small fraction of our lives spent in eternity with the One who loves us.  Let's step into the fog when it rolls in and know that God is in the fog!

                   Photo by The Mighty Neptune

Blessings to you!

Terri

"Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!  Many are they who rise up against me.  Many are they who say to me, "There is not help for him in God."  But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.  I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.  I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.  I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God!  For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;  You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.  Salvation belongs to the Lord.  Your blessing is upon Your people."  Psalm 3:1-8

Friendships

"A true friend is one that you can always count on to support you as you obey God. There are friends who will back you up when you try to do what is right. Thanks for being a true gift from God, a friend who helps me and others when we try to do what honors God."

I received this in a text last week, and to be honest, I didn't know how to respond. This was from someone who I dearly love, but I had not felt that I had been this kind of friend over the last couple months. I found myself pulling back, not giving of myself for awhile, and then this comes out of nowhere!

I got this early in the morning and I thought about it all day. I didn't respond until late that afternoon. Honestly, I didn't know how to respond. Why would she feel that way when I didn't feel that I was being that kind of a friend? So, I responded with "Wow! That's a lot to take in!" She tells me that I'm a smart woman and I can take it, so of course then the process of searching within begins...

This is the person I want to be. It is someone I am when I am willing to be open and honest and vulnerable. We need to be this kind of friend, and we need to have these kinds of friends! Having a friend that you know without a doubt that you can call on at any given moment is a treasure. She is this and I definitely don't want to lose her friendship. We may go through valleys in our friendship, but those valleys lead to a deeper more intimate relationship.

I am learning to let go of my insecurities and fears and being willing to let God do what only God can do! He has blessed me with some open and honest friendships and I need to embrace all of it. The laughter, the accountability, the tears and most importantly, the love.

So my prayer is this: Lord, help me to be a true friend. Someone that can always be counted on to support frieds who obey God. Let me be a friend who will back others up when they try to do what is right. Thanks for giving me a true gift from God, a friend who helps me and others when we try to do what honors God. Amen.

"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17

God Walking

A few weeks ago, I took my 1 year old Lab Lily on a walk. It had been a while since we had walked and it started out challenging. She wanted to go full speed at first, from the beginning, I had to hold her leash at a close distance and keep it taut. She was jumping around, not paying attention, losing focus and I had to keep calling her name, tugging on her collar and even give her a kick on her butt at one point.

As we continued to walk around the neighborhood, she gradually got back into our routine. It's not like she doesn't know how it is supposed to be done, she just had to test the waters and see how far she could go without being brought back in line. She wanted to do it her way, but I wanted it my way, because I knew the dangers of letting her just do it on her own. I was there to guide her and show her how it is done. Little by little, she submitted, and then we were walking side by side, enjoying our surroundings and being comforted that we can do this together as long as we work together.

Which, makes me think of our walk with God. There are so many times that we let our schedules and busyness keep us from walking with Him. We let the pressures of life, our tiredness and quite honestly pure laziness from spending time in the arms of our Savior. We think we can do it our way and on our own. We know what we're doing, but do we? When we finally realize we can't do it all on our own, we know we need God, and then we have an akward time of getting back in the routine.

So, we decide to make a decision, today, I am going to spend more time with him. I am not going to go at this alone anymore, but when we sit down to do it, our minds are jumping all over, we can't settle our bodies down to focus, we want to hear God calling our name, but we just won't sit long enough to really listen. Sometimes it takes a swift kick in the butt to get back on track!

And that is exactly what God does. He will continue to gently call our names and urge us to come back to Him. We just have to be willing to let Him in. When we finally submit to His calling, what a difference it makes! We can enjoy our surroundings, the situations we are in, the circumstances we face, because we know that we have the comfort and security of the One who knows us and loves us no matter what and will guide us every step of the way. Walking right next to our side, and guiding us all the way home! He will meet us right where we are at any given moment, He just wants us to seek Him. May today be the day you submit to His voice and let Him guide you.

Blessings,
Terri

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Stand Up

"Then the king deply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn't refuse her." Mark 6:26

This week as I was read'ing Mark Chapter 6, this verse really made me mad. I read it and thought to myself, Herod is is an idiot, why couldn't he stand up against something that he knew was completely wrong?" I continued to be bothered by this and just pondered it for a few days.

Well, during our bible study session, Sherry Mortenson speaks on Herod a little. Here is a man, who was married, divorced his wife to marry his brother's wife (Herodia) and then is turned on by his step-daughter while watching her dance! John the Baptist comes in and confronts Herod about his lifestyle and his wife Herodia, is angry, she wants John killed! In the end, Herodia's daughter is offered anything she wants and her mother, Herodia tells her to ask for the head of John the Baptist, and she gets it! Interesting, huh? So why does this affect me?

Well, when put into layman's terms, here is a dysfunctional family, Herod is a man who took what he wanted, when he wanted, reacts to his desires with no concern for how others are to be affected, and completely impulsive! This is what I relate to. I come from a background of Herod's!

I grew up without my Dad from the ages of 2-16. He was an acoholic and after my mom left him, he went on to two other women and had more kids with them, not counting the one woman and child before me and my sister. My mom remarried and had another child with him and that ended in divorce, because of impulsive choices on his part. Which then enters my dad again, and my parents remarry, and in the end, is not a good thing because of impulsive choices on my mom's part. All three of my parents, only thought of themselves and what they wanted with no consideration of how the rest of us would be affected.

With a total of 7 of us kids, we all have our own histories. I can only speak on my behalf, but I grew up with no one protecting me, and no one being willing to stand up for me when I was being wronged when they were fully aware of what was happening. I have always felt that I have to protect myself and trust no one, because if I trust, they will let me down! So why trust? I'm gonna lose either way, right?

Wrong! As with the disciples, we all have our moments of unbelief, but, our unbelief amazes Jesus! I didn't realize that my having to be in control of all things at all times is a lack of trust, and therefore is unbelief! Oh, I say I believe in Jesus, but if I stay in fear of losing (or loving completely)those close to me, I am living in unbelief! I don't believe that Jesus can and will stick up for me when I am wronged, I have that underlying feeling that I have to always be in protect mode and only trust myself, but am I really capable of trusting myself, no, because I am not God! Nor do I want to be...I want to believe that He is God and He is in control and He loves and protects me and that is enough.

So, what's the next step, I surrender my will, and let His will reign, from this day forward!

Blessings,
Terri