LizChatter

You probably already know the history of the word "Noel"  but just in case,  here you go :) English speakers borrowed the word  noel  from the French. The word can be traced further back to the Latin word  natalis,  which is used like "birthday" as a noun or "of or relating to birth" as an adjective. (The English adjective  natal  has the same meaning and is also an offspring of  natalis. ). I recently learned that Noels are also musical announcements/greetings.  Noels were being sung in Latin or French for centuries before the word found its way into our language in the 1800s. The earliest known musical use of  noel  occurred in the text of a Christmas  motet  called "Nova vobis gaudia," which was written in the 1400s.  Wow!  For me, this connects nicely to the use of music & poetry that invites us all to celebrate the birth of our Messiah.  Happy Christmas and Merry Noels! ...

Happy Thanksgiving 2018

This song resonates with my spirit so deeply; as does the old hymn "What 'Er My God Ordains Is Right" . Have you ever heard it? " Was Gott tut, das ist wohl­ge­tan" (original German language) was  written in 1676 by Samuel Rodigast for his friend Gastorius who'd become seriously ill;  Gastorius later recovered and wrote the melody to put his dear friend's penned words to music.  To this day, I desire a friend like that... you know... the kind that writes for you :)  I suppose there are a couple of reasons these songs feel so right, so real to my soul. It seems a bit deep to put into words but if you have a minute, stick around for my attempt at explaining.  Firstly, I've seen that so many in the Christian world believe only good/fun/exciting things happen to the ones God loves. It's like they believe that everything encountered is light, fun, and easy. Do you know anyone that seems to live under that falsehood? Maybe it's you; tha...

Today I sat with three gentleman with varied experiences and motled past(s). We laughed, made jokes and each celebrated our growth journey in the new life that Christ has provided to each of us. There were abundant smiles and levity of chatter filling our meeting time.  What grace! What peace! What HOPE!!  There is nothing quite like the realization that Holy Spirit is simultaneously working seamlessly in & through multiple individuals in a single moment of time. He's always doing that, but I'm not always in tune enough to catch it... today I was though and the realization hit me so intensly that I forgot to breathe there for a moment.  In this case I feel it is a most appropriate use of the word "Awesome" .

Sisters,  Do not assume any role in "catching" your man or "settling" for some half interested fella. Too many of my sisters are living frustrated about their guy's flaws, his passive nature or wandering eye. It's heart-breaking and all too real for me.  The checking off of that "relationship" box on your life list is not worth the turmoil of a dysfunctional relationship. You can trust the truth of that statement! I literally know what I'm talking about.  So you feel the fire of passion and hormonal chemistry? You're not the first one to deal with that... afterall we're all here aren't we. J ust look at your feelings as biological science.  "That doesn't help", you say?  Okay then, here's an old phrase we learned in elementary school to help us learn how and remember how to put out a fire.  STOP! DROP! ROLL! Remember that one?   STOP! Let God work in you and in your future spouse to bring out your fla...

The devil catches blame for a lot of stuff. I mean, A LOT of stuff. Blame is a very interesting human phenomenon that, to the best of my knowledge, started with Eve in the Garden of Eden. Since Lucifer committed the original transgression (you know, pride , the thing that got him kicked out of Heaven) there's some merit to why he is assigned so much blame.  Anyhoo, we've followed Eve's example of finger-pointing for several thousand human generations.  Shifting the blame off my own shoulders has seemed at times like an involuntary reflex to trouble; I suppose that's because shifting the blame is sometimes easier than admitting the truth... oddly enough that seems to also stem from pride (back to that original transgression). Our own pride of wanting to be seen in a good light, but yet desiring (at times) to have that which is not ours is at the core of most transgression committed by humanity. As I was contemplating all of this I couldn't help but identify a bit...

___________________________ Be the kind of person  who sees past the game face.

This is to all my people who are looking at making changes in 2016; those who've decided to be truly happy not just comfortable, those who've decided that they will BE good - not just look good, those who have decided to proclaim Christ in a lost and self-centered generation. God in you has this on lock! Keep on keeping on peeps. Love you, Liz 

I'm tickled pink over the cool weather that has settled in Tucson over the last few days. I especially love desert nights this time of year. The air is chilled just enough to warrant pulling out your favorite down comforter, your thinnest cable knit sweater and mixing up home baked goods.  The coolness of evening partnered with hot cocoa & freshly baked banana or zucchini bread...  YUM! Apparently my most recent culinary creations are so delightful that they incite violence. My dear friend warned, " this banana bread is so good it'll make ya' wanna slap yo mamma! " My resp onse was along the lines of what comedian Tim Hawkins said, " well then, I guess I'll pass, 'cause that would be awkward, being that Mom is sitting right next to me. .."  I love to bake & yes my creations do tend toward the delectable; although I would despair to imagine someone's mom being slapped over the tasty niblets that are created in my kitche...