What’s Up Wednesday – A Post-Christmas Edition

January 6, 2016 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

It’s been a little while since we shared a ‘What’s Up Wednesday’ with y’all…

Partially, that’s because much of our current season of life has been about waiting in prayer. Waiting for Jonah. Waiting to proceed with the adoption process. Waiting on the Lord’s leading. Waiting…

Part of me feels as if at least a portion of our wait is over. We are ready to take on the next journey at our feet! But in the meantime…

My precious husband took me to see The Nutcracker performed by the Atlanta Ballet at The Fabulous Fox Theatre. It was wonderful! I have wanted to see this ballet in person since childhood, so this truly was a dream come true – Craig’s pretty good about making that happen for me! 😉

Right after this, we also had the pleasure of ‘baby’sitting for our fur-nephew, Copper. He’s my brother and his girlfriend’s precious pup, and made fast friends with his fur-cousins, Lucy & Caroline – Especially Lucy. Those two were peas in a pod, for sure!!! Aunt Pier sure was excited that Lucy had someone to play with non-stop, so that she and Caroline could relax and enjoy some good ol’ tv in peace! 🙂

Christmas 2015 was a glorious one, as well. It’s always wonderful to spend time with our families – and our celebration is only halfway over! We enjoyed Christmas Day with our Georgia Family, and travel to Minnesota to see our family there this month!!

Of course the furs enjoyed Christmas, as well! Pardon the blurry picture…but this is an action shot of Lucy Goose playing her favorite game of tug-of-war with one of her favorite Christmas gifts – The Red Snake. When she isn’t tugging her precious little heart out, she is dragging the fluffy rope-snake around in her mouth like a toddler with a ‘blankie’. She is TRULY adorable.

Her sisters, Caroline & Miss Daisy, are not to be outdone, though! They merely consider themselves to be older and wiser than little Lucy, and thoroughly relished in the opportunity the holidays allowed them to spend more time snuggling with Mommy & Daddy.

I can’t say we minded any of it one little bit.

Well, you can cross this off of your list for today. You’re all caught up on our lives. 😉 How were your holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s?

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

The Long-Awaited Promise: Fulfilled

December 24, 2015 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

{This post is dedicated to my precious grandmother, Florence, since she ‘so loves’ reading this blog. Merry Christmas, Grandma!}

I cannot stand waiting. As a matter of fact, I sometimes drive 10+ miles out of the way for the sole purpose of avoiding traffic and stoplights. When it came to ‘waiting’ on a husband, by the time Craig finally showed up when I was 28 years old, I was about to throw in the towel. And the most difficult waiting of all? Jonah.

Still, after more than three years of praying and hoping, we are awaiting the arrival of our child – Jonah Elizabeth. (See the story HERE.) At times, it seems as though God’s promise will never come to fruition. At other times, we both feel that Jonah is closer than ever. But the waiting – well, it never gets any easier.

Three and (almost) a half years is a long time…Or at least it seems that way until you compare it with how long the Jewish people had to wait for their promised Savior:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.” Micah 5:2 NIV

That was prophesied about 700 years before the birth of Jesus! Talk about a long wait!

But it was a long wait that was well worth it. And over and over again, throughout the Old Testament, the Lord reaffirms His coming through the prophets:

2 Samuel 7:16
King David’s throne would be established forever

Daniel 9:24-26
Daniel predicted when an anointed one would be rejected

Deuteronomy 18:15-18
God promised another prophet like Moses

Genesis 22:18
The Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham

Genesis 49:10
The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah

Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah foreshadowed the virgin birth of Jesus

Isaiah 9:6-7
There would be a son called God

Isaiah 11:1-10
Nations would seek the counsel of Jesse’s descendant

Isaiah 35:4-6
He would perform miracles

Isaiah 40:1-5,9
The Messiah would be preceded by a messenger

Isaiah 42:1-9
The Messiah would be a light to Gentiles

Isaiah 49:6
God’s salvation would reach the ends of the earth

Isaiah 50:6
Jesus was spat upon and beaten

Isaiah 53:1-3
The Messiah would be rejected

Isaiah 53:4-6
God’s servant would die for our sins

Isaiah 53:7
God’s servant would be silent before his accusers

Isaiah 53:9
God’s servant would be buried in a rich man’s tomb

Isaiah 53:12
God’s servant would be “numbered with the transgressors”

Isaiah 61:1-2
Isaiah foreshadows the ministry of Jesus

Jeremiah 23:5
The Messiah would be a descendant of King David

And that is merely a smattering of instances of Messianic prophecy from the Old Testament!!

The Lord reaffirmed His promise of a Savior, His Son, for many, many years before that promise was fulfilled…and now, here we sit – more than 2000 years after the birth of Christ, saved.

Just as early Christians used the symbol of the ichthus to show their faith, we can use the traditional colors of the Christmas season as a reminder of the true meaning of this beautiful holiday.

Red – the color of blood; Jesus’ death on the cross to save the world from sin.

Green – the color of life; The eternal life gained for us by our Savior’s death on the cross.

“…When we see the bright colors of winter decorations, we can remind ourselves and each other of the true meaning of Christmas. In this season, …[we] celebrate God so loving the world that He gave His only Son to us in human form (John 3:16-17; 1:14). In that way, Jesus could know and suffer all that we do, yet [doing so]without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He died for all our sins as the perfect sacrifice, reconciling sinners with a holy and just God, so that all who ask for forgiveness of their sin and turn to Him can have eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:4, 18-19; Hebrews 2:17).” -Saved By Grace Bible Study

Whatever it is you might be in a season of waiting for right now, know that all the promises of the Lord are well worth the wait – even if it is more than 700 years. (Please, Lord, don’t make us wait 700 years for Jonah!!!! 😉 )

This Christmas, keep the true celebration in your heart – the long-awaited birth of the Messiah, our precious Savior, who was, and is, well worth the wait.

Have a beautiful and very Merry Christmas, y’all!

My Choice Monday

A Christmas Giveaway!

December 14, 2015 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Happy Monday Folks!

This post is short, but SWEET – It’s a link to our 2015 Christmas Giveaway!! We have partnered with Amazon to bring you a wonderful faith-building Christmas gift, and all you have to do is click the link, watch a really awesome Christmas video and enter to win – That’s it!!! You can enter as many times as you would like between now and Friday, December 18th!!

Nativity_Scenes007 — Click The Nativity Scene To Enter To Win!

(If that doesn’t work, try clicking this link: https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/9c9643d8da481d5c)

Here’s the fine print:

Winner: Every eligible entry has 1 in 452 chance to win, up to 1 winners.

Requirements for participation:
- Resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia
- 18+ years of age (or legal age)
- Watch a YouTube video
The Newlywed Lefebvres has paid for all prizes, sales tax, and shipping. Entry requires an Amazon.com account. Amazon will ship prizes to winners. Winners’ names may be made public.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Every eligible entry has 1 in 452 chance to win, up to 1 winners. This giveaway started December 11,2015 2:44 PM PST and ends the earlier of December 18,2015 11:59 PM PST or when all prizes have been awarded.

So there you have it folks! Click the picture to enter to win a very special Christmas gift of THANKS for being a faithful reader of our blog!!

Until Tomorrow,

What's Up Wednesday

What If…

December 9, 2015December 9, 2015 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Are you a worrier? Do you lie awake at night processing every.single.thing. that could possibly go awry? When you pray, do you omit certain requests because you worry that God might actually say ‘Yes’, or perhaps, that if His Will really is done in your life, things might get uncomfortable?

I’ve been there. I’ve prayed, “God, please let Your Will be done in my life…but…please, let it include this and not that…”

But today, as I was reading Beth Moore on my train ride to work (another story in and of itself), something so simple (and yet so profound) dawned on me:

He always takes care of the details.

You see, my issue is not in saying YES to following Him. My issue is in saying YES and then freaking out over how everything is going to work out. I know that it will work out…it’s just the process in getting from Point A to Point B.

Here’s an excerpt from Beth Moore’s book ‘Jesus’:

“Could a teenager have fathomed that she was to give birth to the Son who was the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being? (Heb. 1:3) Perhaps Mary’s age was on her side. When my two daughters were teenagers, and when they would tell me something, I always had more questions than they had answers. I’d say, ‘Did you ask this question?’ to which they’d invariably say, ‘No ma’am. Never even occurred to me.’ I want to know every detail. They were too young to realize any were missing!

Mary only asked the one question. When all was said and done, her solitary reply was: ‘I am the Lord’s servant…May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38) The Greek word for servant is doule, which is the feminine equivalent to doulos, a male bondservant. In essence, Mary was saying, ‘Lord, I am Your handmaid. Whatever You want, I want.’ Total submission. No other questions.”

Luke 1:45 tells us, in reference to Mary, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” When we are totally sold out to the Lord, we believe wholeheartedly – no details needed. We say YES, resoundingly, because we know Him and we know He takes care of all the details.

Have you ever heard the saying, “If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it”?

It’s true. When you are following His Will, He will supply your every need – not your every want, but your every single need.

One of the most heartwarming portions of Scripture follows below:

“And [Jesus] said to His disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious and troubled [with cares] about your life, as to what you will [have to] eat; or about your body, as to what you will [have to] wear. For life is more than food, and the body [more] than clothes. Observe and consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn; and [yet] God feeds them. Of how much more worth are you than the birds! And which of you by being overly anxious and troubled with cares can add a cubit to his stature or a moment [unit] of time to his age [the length of his life]? If then you are not able to do such a little thing as that, why are you anxious and troubled with cares about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither [wearily] toil nor spin nor weave; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory (his splendor and magnificence) was not arrayed like one of these. [I Kings 10:4-7.] But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you [people] of little faith?

And you, do not seek [by meditating and reasoning to inquire into] what you are to eat and what you are to drink; nor be of anxious (troubled) mind [unsettled, excited, worried, and in suspense]; For all the pagan world is [greedily] seeking these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also.” (Luke 12:22-31 AMP)

I get chills just thinking about it. He has a grand plan for your life and not only that, He supplies everything you need to follow His Will. If He calls you to youth ministry, you don’t have to worry about a job search – He will lead you right to the church doors. If He calls you to be a wife, He will supply the very best husband for the job. If He calls you to share the gospel, He will lead you to an ear that needs to hear. And as long as you are following Him (‘Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also.’ – vs. 31), everything thing you need in between will be supplied.

You see, we don’t serve a God who sits high upon His throne and waves an angry scepter at His servants. We serve the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Who desires a personal relationship with each and every one of His children – a relationship so personal that He not only KNOWS your needs, but provides for them, too.

So there’s no need to lose sleep at night. Your Father in Heaven has you in the palm of His Hand.

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

You Won’t Need The Receipt

December 18, 2014December 18, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

How our world changes in three weeks! At Thanksgiving, as Craig and I celebrated together at the Cape Neddick Inn, we were only praying this week would hurry up and get here. Now, as I sit in our living room, surrounded by boxes, I can almost breathe a sigh of relief.

Tomorrow is the day. We close on our new home in Maine! Finally, we will be able to settle down and nest into the first home we have chosen together, and other than the inordinate packing before my eyes, I can see a bright future ahead! We are so excited!

Here’s a sneak peek:

So, since I already know what Craig and I got each other for Christmas – our new house, I began thinking about other gifts my husband has given me in the past…

Anyone who knew me pre-Craig can attest to the fact that my car was always…well…crowded. In high school, I drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee and at one point, my parents were looking at selling it. A friend of mine remarked on this and said, “Does it come fully loaded?”… and he wasn’t talking about luxury options. He was talking about my STUFF.

Back in the pre-Craig era, I am fairly confident I could have driven into the desert and survived for several weeks just with the junk I was carrying around in my car. Not trash, mind you…but clothes, shoes, CD’s, books, bags, purses…You name it, my car had it!

But, when Craig and I started dating, he took one look at my ‘fully loaded’ car and shook his head. I think the name Lefebvre must translate roughly to “My Car Must Be Sparkling At All Times”. Before I could stop him, Craig set to work cleaning my vehicle – from the inside out. After a few hours of scrubbing and polishing and the filling of several garbage bags, my car looked brand-new. Long gone were the signs of the outfit I wore the month before or the stain where a friend had spilled a Coke along the ride…It looked like a different Pier-mobile…

And that’s what Jesus does for us.

Since He died on the cross, to save us from all of our sins, He became a living sacrifice for the the world. When you allow Him into your heart and let Him be Lord of your life, He will take all the junk, all of your baggage and throw it out. All the stains from your past will be cleaned. No one will ever know they were there. You will be a brand-new, sparkly clean person, inside and out.

Isn’t that amazingly freeing? The other day, I was watching a sermon given by one of my FAVORITE pastors, Robert Morris at Gateway Church, and he told a story about being at the end of a service one evening, and the Holy Spirit pointed out to him a woman sitting in one of the first few rows. The Holy Spirit said to him, “Do you know that woman’s past?”, to which Robert replied, “No, I don’t”…

And the Holy Spirit said to him, “Neither do I.

Wow. How awesome is it that we not only serve a God who forgives us, but a God that blots out our stains, our past. He throws out our baggage and it’s gone. For good.

I don’t know about you, but when I truly realized that He loves us that much, it felt like I was walking on air. All of my junk is GONE. I am a new person, a new creation in Christ.

So let the Lord give you the most beautiful gift imaginable this year: His Son. Trust me, you won’t need to keep the receipt.

What's Up Wednesday

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2014January 2, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

As we make the short drive back from celebrating a belated Christmas & New Year’s Day with my parents, Craig and I wish you and your families a blessed 2014, full of health and happiness!

All Our Love,

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Food For Thought Friday

The Bible In Hollywood??

December 27, 2013December 27, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres11 Comments

When is the last time you went to the movies? With today’s technology, it hardly seems worth it to visit an actual movie theater and fork over a whole week’s pay to watch one movie, eat one scoop of popcorn and have one sip of Diet Coke…It has to be a pretty good movie…

Well, we have a GREAT movie for you! We saw it with Jenna, Craig’s youngest sister, on Christmas Eve – and for a steal – $5 per ticket, $2 off a drink purchase and a free popcorn!!! All 3 of us saw a movie, with a drink and our own popcorn, for a TOTAL of $20! Maybe that kind of a deal would make ANY movie great, but this one is a must-see (provided you’ve seen the movie “Mary Poppins” in the past, anyway):

This is actually based on the true story of the creation of the beloved Disney movie, “Mary Poppins”, and brought tears to my eyes (and Jenna’s) for sure – I can’t say the same for Craig, but I know he really enjoyed it. 😉 Click on the picture for all the information you’ll need on “Saving Mr. Banks”, then go and see it!

Here’s another movie tidbit that might interest you: Biblical Films Are Making A Hollywood Comeback . While this seems like wonderful news, and I am SO excited to see “Noah” in March 2014, as well as “Mary: Mother of Christ”, remember Isaiah 55:8 and don’t just believe everything you SEE and HEAR – especially when it is of this world. Take it all with a grain of salt, and know that Hollywood is in it for the MONEY – not for the Will of God – although, God works in miraculous and mysterious ways, and they may be doing just that, though certainly unintentionally…

For example, Brian Godawa – a Christian who is also a screenwriter in Hollywood, and who also wrote a book I recently purchased about Noah, of all people, and the Nephilim – has seen an early version of the script for the upcoming movie, “Noah”, which reveals the following:

“…It has been suggested that the film shows Noah as an early opponent of climate change. Its director, Darren Aronofsky, has called him the “first environmentalist”.

Brian Godawa, a screenwriter, claimed to have read an early version of the script and said it portrayed a scenario in which the Great Flood was caused by man’s “disrespect” for the environment…” From The Telegraph, “Biblical films’ Hollywood Comeback”, by Nick Allen

Definitely “food for thought” on this Friday…and on that note, we leave you with pictures from our Christmas (thus far – more to come!)…

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Until Monday,

X’s & O’s,

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

Be Near Me, Lord Jesus, I Ask Thee To Stay

December 26, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres2 Comments

Merry Day After Christmas!

We hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas! As we posted yesterday, we spent a wonderful few days in Minnesota with family, and while we are exhausted after our drive back yesterday/early this morning, it was such a blessing to be able to celebrate Christmas with our northern family!

On this Thirsty Thursday, I thought I would share with you an insight from a devotional book I just love – we both do – The One Year Book of Hymns. Today’s entry focuses on the song “Away In A Manger”… Did you know this hymn’s first two verses are somewhat of a mystery? The author is unknown…For many years, it was said to have been written by Martin Luther, as it appeared first in a Lutheran hymnal, but no one really knows for certain. Regardless, it is a beautiful song…Take a minute to really listen to the words:

The final verse’s author is known. It was written by John McFarland, between the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, and its words are profound:

“Be near me, Lord Jesus. I ask thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray.”

Jesus as a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger… and then we read in Isaiah 53:1-6 :

Who has believed what he has heard from us?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,

and like a root out of dry ground;

he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

and no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by men;

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces.

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

Don’t you find it astonishing that we, as Christians, during Advent and Christmas, honor this tiny baby, born in a manger – Emmanuel, God With Us. God’s only Son, sent down from Heaven to save this world from its sin…

And after Christmas, we let our joy and our heavenly peace fall away. We allow the world to creep back in, and we all go astray. We follow society, the media, and all that we know in our hearts to be wrong. We are all guilty of this. Just like sheep – following blindly the wrong shepherd.

This day after Christmas, let’s make it our resolution to keep that joy and that heavenly peace in our hearts, to remember all year long why we celebrate Christmas in the first place, and to let that reason be shepherd of our souls.

All Our Love,

What's Up Wednesday

Merry Christmas from the Newlywed Lefebvres

December 25, 2013December 27, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres2 Comments

We wish you and your families a very merry, joyous, healthy and safe Christmas! God blessed us with a wonderful visit to Minnesota, along with a truly beautiful “white Christmas” of snow and below freezing temperatures!

May your Christmas be just as magical!

All Our Love,

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TTC Tuesday

Talk About A Miracle Baby!

December 24, 2013December 24, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres2 Comments

Merry Christmas Eve Folks!

In our land of the fertility-challenged, we often hear the term “Miracle Baby” – Couples who were told they would never conceive, miraculously do, and that is NOTHING short of a true miracle!

But on this Christmas Eve, we, as Christians, have the most amazing miracle baby of all – Jesus! Not only was Jesus born to a virgin, he was God incarnate!

Just take a moment to THINK about how utterly incredible it is that the God who created Heaven & Earth came down as a human being in the form of a helpless infant, and was born – not in the fanciest of hospitals, as anyone noteworthy would be today – in a manger.

I’ll take it a step further, and think about just how much Craig and I want children of our own…And then I think, God sent His Son to knowingly live a life that would end by suffering death on the cross to save this whole utterly undeserving world from our sins…

The ultimate sacrifice…your own child.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

Matthew 1:21

21 And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins.

Luke 2:7-19

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock. 9 And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. 10 And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: 11 For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will. 15 And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us. 16 And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17 And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child. 18 And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.