Today is a special day for me, because it commemorates an anniversary that I will forever be grateful and humbled by–the Lord is good.  I wanted to post a poem that I wrote years ago, which talks about all that the Lord has done for me, and happily was a poem that was published in my college’s literary journal.  God bless friends!

“The Gifts”

by Heather Snyder

Love and Kindness are with me wherever I go,
They are a constant reminder of the love that was shown to me.

They are a constant reminder to me to keep going no matter what,
no matter how hard things get, these two things always seem to
give
me the strength to carry on.

They are always there to remind me that I can overcome any
obstacle,
because of being given these two precious gifts.

Whenever I think of them,
a smile comes to my face,
as I remember the day that I was awarded them.
Then with anguish I remember the days I did not have them,
yet everyday longed and hoped for these gifts to come soon.
Wondering what it would be like to have these amazing gifts in my
life,
wondering if I would ever have these gifts in my life.

My life before was filled with pain and suffering,
it was filled with broken dreams and questions of what was to
come,
what was I to become? There were no answers to these puzzling
questions,
just the drive to keep going even though the road ahead held no
promises.

Once these gifts were here it was like a breath of fresh air.
My life was never the same again, it was a thousand times better.
Suddenly the road ahead held many promises with dreams coming
true.
Pain was being erased and replaced with hope for the future.
I now understood what I had been missing for so many years,
and have been in awe of this fact ever since.

I intend to protect these precious gifts, Love and Kindness,
for they were a gift given by God directly to me.
Not to be taken for granted, but to hold dear all the days of my
life.
They were given for me to embrace life,
to embrace Love and Kindness in this life.

I will never forget Love and Kindness,
for they are with me wherever I go.

This month has been a reflective one for me–do you ever have those months?  Times when you stop and listen to the world around you–your own world specifically.  When you consider what you have done in your life up to this point and what the Lord may have brought you through.  That is where my thoughts lie this month.

Throughout my young life, there have been numerous occasions where I have needed help.  Help from those around me, but mostly help from the only person who could faithfully assist me in those moments–Someone who could help me when no one else could.  I’m sure you have already guessed that I am talking about the Lord.  This month marks a momentous occasion for me–a celebration that I thought I would never reach.  And all the glory goes to the Lord and to the love of another family.  Without their selfless decision, I would not be writing this post.

Thanksgiving and gratefulness fills my heart this month because despite what I may think at times–my life has purpose and meaning.  I must carry on because there are others who cannot.  I must live my life with passion because of the gift I was given.  I must live out loud even in a world that sometimes brings you down or questions why you are so vivacious all the time.  In those moments, remember your perkiness may bother them because they are forever in the depths of despair.  Don’t ever feel like you have to match their character.  The world needs you to make it a better place!  There are already too many grumps on the planet.

As you know by now, the Lord always uses music to speak to me and to help me through some of the most challenging events in my life.  And I have attended numerous contemporary Christian concerts throughout the years that always left me feeling inspired and encouraged to keep running the race set before me (Hebrews 12:1).  On a nostalgic note, the song by Third Day entitled “Love Song” popped into my head this past week.  This is such a beautiful song and an incredible reminder of what Christ did for us and gave to us.  As a young girl, I remember a group performing a skit to this song at my church–the audience was in tears along with a young Heather who was bawling her eyes out.  Oh, how imperative it is that we remember all that has been given to us!  Please take a moment to listen to this song today.

Life is a gift.  Everyday is a gift.  Embrace it!  Love it!  Hold on to each and every moment while remembering where you came from and what you have been through.  Live the life that God has called you to live–use the talents you have been given.  Don’t waste moments by worrying about the past and wishing you had done things differently–be different now!

As I stated earlier, this month is super special to me, and as the days go by I recall so many various events that took place long ago.  And I am left in awe and wonder at the greatness of our God.  Relying on Him is the only way I got through any of it.  He is my strength–daily and forever.  When I think back to where I was ten years ago, and what my life could have been–I am so happy to know that the Lord was and is in control.  He knew the steps before I even walked them.  Things do happen in His perfect timing, which are usually the moments that do not make sense to us.  Trust is key in these times.

My life has changed so much in recent years that there is not enough space here for me to elaborate upon it.  Just know that we serve an awesome God, and that He is bigger than anything we may ever face.  I never thought I would get through many of the trials I have endured, but God knew.  And that is all the comfort I will ever need.  God bless each and everyone of you this month!

March is an amazing month for me, because I’m blessed to be able to celebrate another moment again.  I know I have probably mentioned some of my milestones before, which equate to the grace of the Lord.  These pertain to moments in life where it is incredibly apparent that the Lord was the author of such goodness, and I cannot deny it.  Isn’t it wonderful to see how the Lord works?  To know that it is He alone Who could grant such a miracle!  And isn’t it amazing to realize that He is working in your life, because you see and understand that the Lord loves you.  The Creator of the world is saving you!

I know I tend to get a bit excited when I talk about all that the Lord has done, but it just amazes me.  Why does He love me this much?  Why does He even care?  And yet, I am remined daily of His love and kindness.

The song below is from my childhood, but it is one of my favorites.  Every time I hear the words I cry, because this song reminds me yet again about God’s power and love.  And the fact that His grace never changes.  I hope this song touches your heart too.

I am consistently reminded that life is a series of joys and challenges.  No sooner do I overcome one problem, that another problem is staring me in the face.  It seems I can never catch a break—I am always fighting for something.  Every day presents some sort of struggle, and I must rely upon the Lord to get me through it.  Thankfully, we have a God who will carry life’s worries for us, because life is too hard to carry each and every burden alone.

No matter where you are in life, God knows what hurdles you are dealing with.  There is no place too far—He will be there to hold you and guide you through the storms of life.  I once heard a pastor say that life follows the same pattern.  Times are good, bad, good, bad, good, bad, and then you die.  Well, that is not a pleasant thought to consider; however, there is some truth to it, which is why it is vital we place our trust and faith in Christ.  He will stay with us on this roller coaster we call life, and then in heaven He will be there to welcome us into His arms.

I heard this fun song recently—The God I Know by Love and the Outcome.  I absolutely love the video!  It has this amazing 80’s vibe to it with the Madonna gloves, cassette tape player, retro guitar, choker necklace, leather jackets, and the fuzzy streaming video that is playing—simply brilliant.  But the words to this song are so inspiring as well.  For myself, I can definitely identify with the words to this tune.  I remember the day of “once I was lost, but now I’m found.”  The moment Christ chose me and welcomed me into His family.  My life was never the same.  Suddenly, I had purpose, and I knew God loved me.

Now I will never fathom His love, and I do not understand why He love me, but He does.  And as this song says, this is “what I was waiting for / I came alive when I let go / all I had was a broken heart / then He held me in His arms.”  Christ did all of that for me.  Despite life’s troubles, I can wake up each morning knowing that whatever comes—the Lord is right there beside me, and “I can throw my hands up / worries down,” because “I remember when He showed me how.”  Amazingly, Christ proves His love to me on a daily basis—from the blessings He gives to me to the evidence of His presence.

So no matter what you are facing today, please know there is Someone you can know today, and Someone you can run to for help in any situation—big or small.  Because Christ cares about every part of us and every aspect of our lives.  He can handle everything that comes our way.  For me, this knowledge is the only reason I can deal with life’s difficulties.  I cannot imagine living life without Christ by my side and in my heart.  I am so grateful to know He is my Savior, and I want you to know “the God I know.”

I wanted to take a moment to say Happy New Year and to say thank you!  Thank you for taking the time to read the posts Savanna and I write–it means so much to us.  And it has been a joy getting to know you-our amazing readers-and also the lovely authors I have had the honor to interview.

Reading and writing are not just two very important subjects I learned in school, but together they have become a very important part of my life.  So much so that it is always so exciting for me to share a new book I have read with all of you.  And I have already seen some new and wonderful books coming out next year, which I cannot wait to discover!

I pray that each and every one of you have a Happy and Healthy New Year!  God bless and I will see you in 2022!

A couple days ago, I watched The Chosen Christmas special and was so blessed by this song called Gratitude below. I’d never heard it before, but it’s been on repeat in our house ever since. I hope you’ll take a moment to listen and to worship our amazing God for His incredible Gift.

May He awaken our souls this Christmas and in the New Year to lift up more songs in praise to Him.

Merry Christmas! I’m grateful for each of you.

Christmas is literally just around the corner.  Are you prepared yet?  Have you checked off each and everything on your list?  For myself, I tend to be preparing, wrapping, and cooking down to the very last minute.  Yet I could look at this through a better lens.  I take every opportunity and use every spare moment in order to ensure the happiest of holidays for my family.

However you want to look at the long to-do list in your life, there is one thing that always makes me sad this time of year.  December goes by way too quickly, and there is always too much to do.  My days are filled with projects and never-ending work—when do I ever get the time to stop and really enjoy Christmas?  By the time I start to consider the holiday, the day is over and another new year is about to begin.

There are countless films that have been made to celebrate the Christmas season.  Some of my favorites include White Christmas, The Santa Clause, The Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Christmas in Connecticut.  And it is always wonderful when you can take an evening to enjoy some of these classic films, but I find that this favorite family pastime is also becoming even more difficult to achieve.  Why is this?

The hustle and bustle of life continues to dictate our schedules, and we never take the necessary steps to change it.  Perhaps we feel that we cannot modify the tasks that fill our day, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to try?  I heard this song on the radio today by Amy Grant that speaks on this very issue, and I wanted to share the lyrics with you.

I’ve made the same mistake before
Too many malls, too many stores
December traffic, Christmas rush
It breaks me till I push and shove

Children are crying while mothers are trying
To photograph Santa and sleigh
The shopping and buying and standing forever in line
What can I say?

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

December comes then disappears
Faster and faster every year
Did my own mother keep this pace
Or was the world a different place?

Where people stayed home wishing for snow
Watching three channels on their TV
Look at us now rushing around
Trying to buy Christmas peace

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

What was it like back there in Bethlehem
With peace on earth, good will toward men?

Every shepherd’s out in the field
Keeping watch over their flock by night
And the glory of the Lord shone around them
And they were so afraid

And the angels said fear not for behold
I bring you good news of a great joy that shall be for all people
For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord
And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night
To end this crazy day with a silent night

I hope that this Christmas you and your family will consider the idea of not checking off every item on the list.  Instead, take that time you would have spent accomplishing other tasks and use it to consider something much more important—your family and friends.  Don’t let the stress of the season bring you down, because at the end of the day, Christmas is all about love and joy.  The love that Christ demonstrated to us.  He came down to earth to be born as a baby so that He could identify with mankind.  What a miraculous and humbling gift that is.  Each and every night, all I have to do is consider what Christ has done for me–then every part of life goes back to where it needs to be and my good perspective is restored.  Now that is something to celebrate!  I pray that each of you will find this same peace this holiday season.

Have a happy and wonderful Christmas!  And I will talk to all of you again in the new year!

Growing up, I watched the TV special, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving every year. It was one of the many highlights during the Thanksgiving week. As a child, my priority was never the hustle and bustle surrounding the meal. Instead, I was focused on seeing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or watching the once a year holiday movies on television. I also enjoyed spending the day with my family, and even tagging along on the occasional Black Friday shopping trips.

The Thanksgiving gathering seems to change from year to year. You might meet up at a different person’s house, so that various family members can host the meal. In college, I had the pleasure of inviting my family to my apartment to celebrate the holiday.

The attendance list can change too. Family members that came one year may not be able to come the next. In truth, the day never duplicates itself. I suppose that is the meaning behind the word Thanksgiving. We are meant to focus on our blessings this day, while also being reminded to cherish what is in front of us.

I recently covered this topic on my blog–the idea of holding onto every moment. It is important to remember this thought everyday but especially during this time of the year. Never take for granted the time you get to spend with family and friends, because you do not know if or when you might see them again. I know this might sound a bit dismal, and I do not mean it to be. Instead, I want it to be a reminder for everyone to focus on what matters in life–forget the rest.

The holidays bring about fun and laughter for those willing to embrace it. And as I said earlier, I love watching all of the special programming that comes on this time of year. So many artists took advantage of using the holidays and its history in their work. No one can forget Charles Schulz and his loveable characters, such as Snoopy with his iconic red dog house playing a flying ace in World War I. Then there is Charlie Brown and his gullible moments of believing that one day Lucy will let him kick that football, and Lucy’s attempts to help her school friends behind her psychiatric help booth. All of these characters are so memorable and have been a part of so many childhoods. It is incredible that the Peanuts gang has been around since 1950, when they first appeared in the comic section of newspapers across the country.

Jim Davis came along and created the well-beloved orange and black striped cat, Garfield. In 1989, Garfield made his Thanksgiving debut in a Garfield Thanksgiving. The audience gets to watch as Garfield, who loves his breakfast and snacks, has to go on a diet during Thanksgiving–the one time of year where there is an abundance of tasty treats to tempt him constantly. Otis becomes his diet patrol alerting Jon to Garfield’s every disastrous move.

Both of these short cartoons display the love, food, family fun, and tradition that make up this wonderful holiday. Thanksgiving is a time when each of should take a moment to really reflect on all the Lord has given to us. Our blessings really do outweigh our struggles.

So please take a moment this week to consider everything you have, and take an extra special moment to perhaps relive your childhood by watching one of the above programs with someone you love.

“Be still and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10

Do you ever take a moment to pause and pray?  Do you ever stop to thank the Lord for His continual blessings?  I know there are moments in my life where I suddenly become overwhelmed by the goodness of my God.  He has given me so much!

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I Am God.”  This art of “being still” can be very complicated to understand at times.  In life, we are pulled in so many different directions, and whether you have a job, or are a student, or even a stay at home mom, the workload is never done.  When is there ever time to “be still?”

Yet I know the Lord desires–in fact, commands us to “be still.”  He knew that our lives were going to be crazy, and that everyday something else would draw our attention away from Him.  Therefore, He wants us to pause throughout our busy day in order to listen to His still small voice.  He is waiting to talk to us, and the only way He can do that is for us to “be still.”

Personally, Jesus Christ has given me so much.  I can look back over the years, and I see His hand in my life.  I see the moments He walked with me through the storms of life, and I knew He would never leave me.  I also see the wonderful times spent with my family and friends.  He kept His promises throughout the tough times and gave me special moments and memories too—not because I am so wonderful—but because my Heavenly Father loves me.  Knowing and trying to understand His love is such a humbling thought.

Today I took the time to “be still,” because I really wanted to focus my attention on the Lord and His goodness.  God’s love is perfect.  He loves us far more than we could ever love Him, and I cannot even begin to fathom His great love.  Yet, I am so grateful for His grace in my life.  Anything I have ever achieved in my life, any opportunity that has come my way, is only because of His strength and goodness.

So please, take a moment today to consider all of God’s goodness.  And then take the time to “be still,” as you remember what the Lord has done for you, and the grace He has bestowed upon your life.  It is incredible to consider how precious we are in God’s sight; therefore, I want to make time to thank Him for His blessings, while continuing to “be still” in His presence each and every day of my life.