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Merry Christmas {The Best of Faith Spilling Over}

December 22, 2015 by betsydecruz 20 Comments

Advent Christmas Card Blog

Merry Christmas, friends! I hope and pray that you’ll enjoy a blessed holiday season with family and friends. May you find moments to stop, breath deep, and savor the wonder of Christ’s coming. If the holidays bring on loneliness or stress for you, may the presence of the Holy Spirit bring special comfort and joy.

I’ll be taking a blogging break to enjoy family time while my kids have vacation from school. We’re all excited to celebrate with both of my parents, my brothers, and their families for the first time in many years.

Thank you for reading my blog. I so appreciate the friends and community I’ve found in you. I pray that the day to day reality of Emmanuel will become more real to us in 2016.

Love, Betsy

I’ll start regular posting again on January 1st. Until then, here’s some of the best of Faith Spilling Over from 2015:

How to Wake up To the Wonder of the Bible

If you're going through a dry spell when the Bible seems silent, here are 4 ways to wake up to the wonder of God's Word.

When You Want More out of Time with God

more out of time with God

When You Need to Remember Your Glorious Purpose

Glorious Purpose FB

Helping Your Husband Through Hard Times

Helping Your Husband Through Hard Times

4 Keys to a Closer Marriage

closer marriage

How to Zip Your Lip When It’s Out of Control

Rather than beating ourselves up and striving on our own to control our tongues, we need to get to the heart of the matter.

How to Be a More Joyful Wife

How to Be More Joyful Wife

When God Closes a Door

Melika door

How to Thrive in the Face of Challenge

how to thrive in the midst of challenge

My Story: How God Got Hold of This Texas Girl

PicMonkey Collage

 

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Linking up with Holly Barrett’s Testimony Tuesday, Kelly Balarie’s RaRaLinkup, Jennifer Dukes Lee’s Tell His Story,  Holley Gerth’s Coffee for your Heart,  Arabah Joy’s Grace and Truth, and Susan B. Mead’s Dance with Jesus. Check out these communities for more encouragement.

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Filed Under: Real Life Tagged With: Best of Faith Spilling Over, Merry Christmas, Thanks to My Readers

Comments

  1. Sabra Penley says

    December 22, 2015 at 12:26 pm

    Merry Christmas, Betsy, to you and your sweet family. Enjoy your break! Hugs!

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      December 22, 2015 at 12:58 pm

      Thank you, Sabra. Merry Christmas to you too, friend!

      Reply
  2. Mary Geisen says

    December 22, 2015 at 1:40 pm

    Merry Christmas Betsy to you and your family! Enjoy the gift of being together and the time to enjoy the season. Hugs!

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      December 22, 2015 at 1:59 pm

      Mary, thanks so much for stopping by today. Blessings to you during this season, friend.

      Reply
  3. bcb0 says

    December 22, 2015 at 2:41 pm

    Beautiful pictures. 🙂 Merry Christmas, Betsy. ((Hug))

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      December 22, 2015 at 7:53 pm

      Thank you. Hugs right back atcha!

      Reply
  4. Jeannie says

    December 22, 2015 at 2:55 pm

    Have a blessed Christmas with your family, Betsy!

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      December 22, 2015 at 7:54 pm

      You too, Jeannie. I saw a great picture of your kids the other day on Facebook. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Michele Morin says

    December 22, 2015 at 4:07 pm

    Enjoy!
    Looking forward to sharing in the community of blogging and following Jesus in 2016!

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      December 22, 2015 at 7:54 pm

      Thanks, Michele. Blessings to your family. I’m looking forward to more community in 2016 too!

      Reply
  6. Dolly@Soulstops says

    December 22, 2015 at 10:28 pm

    Betsy,

    Thankful our paths crossed. I pray God blesses you and your family with a very joyful Christmas 🙂

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      December 23, 2015 at 2:19 pm

      Thank you Dolly! I’m thankful for you too! Joy to you this Christmas.

      Reply
  7. Dawn Boyer says

    December 23, 2015 at 1:36 am

    Merry Christmas Betsy! I always enjoy the joy that spills out of your heart as you share your thoughts here. Enjoy the break and the visiting. 🙂
    Blessings,
    Dawn

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      December 23, 2015 at 2:19 pm

      Thank you so much, Dawn. May the Lord bless you and your family at Christmas time.

      Reply
  8. Katie says

    December 23, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    Merry Christmas, Betsy! Wishing you a wonderful little break and great memory-making moments with you family. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet says

    December 23, 2015 at 3:44 pm

    Enjoy your break, Betsy! Many blessings to you and your family and Merry Christmas!! XX

    Reply
  10. Bev Duncan @ Walking Well With God says

    December 23, 2015 at 8:28 pm

    Betsy,
    Enjoy this time with your family and the break from blogging. May you have a joyous and blessed Christmas…Enjoy!!
    Blessings.
    Bev xx

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      December 24, 2015 at 3:13 am

      Thank you, Bev. I hope you’ll enjoy a break, time with your family, time to reflect as well!

      Reply
  11. Ifeoma Samuel says

    December 24, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    Merry Christmas Betsy! I have been blessed meeting you this year. I pray the next year would be greater and more fulfilling.
    God Blessings to you, sweet friend.

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      December 28, 2015 at 8:47 pm

      Amen! Thanks for that prayer, Ifeoma.

      Reply

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Hello! I’m Betsy.

I believe overwhelmed women can learn to take small steps to experience more of God's presence and power in their lives. When we hear God's voice through His Word, He calms our fears and frees us to receive His peace and joy. Read More…

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Betsy de Cruz

betsydecruz

Encouraging women to pursue Jesus and live out His purposes. ⬇️I'd love to give you Free Quiet Time Renewal Guide.

Happy Easter! So grateful to celebrate little Leon Happy Easter! So grateful to celebrate little Leon's first Easter with Elijah, Camilla, and the rest of the family ❤️
I'm so grateful God held little Leon in His hands I'm so grateful God held little Leon in His hands and delivered him safely into this world one week ago today!

Camilla and Elijah are doing such a great job as parents already, and we have a cute little cuddlebug to hold and marvel over! Abuelo José is in awe to be able to hold such a little guy! (PSA, last photo is the best!)

I keep marveling over God's faithful care and keep coming back to this verse: "From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you." Psalm 71:6

#grandbaby #baby #grandmother #thanks
1. When you and your daughter are students at the 1. When you and your daughter are students at the same seminary.  2. And your husband is on staff there!❤️
So excited to begin at @dallasseminary this fall! Diving into Systematic Theology as a first step to my Masters in Christian Education 😍🎉
Such a fun evening last night at Convocation.
Feliz Navidad from the Cruz family! ❤️🎄 We Feliz Navidad from the Cruz family! ❤️🎄

We've enjoyed such a fun and memorable Christmas season. So grateful for family,  loved ones, and for the way Advent cheers our spirits and reminds us of the wonder of Jesus' coming to earth.

#feliznavidad #merrychristmas #advent #joy  #family
I'm so grateful for all the ways God showed up at I'm so grateful for all the ways God showed up at our Women's Christmas Lunch with @northwestbiblewomen . ❤️🎄 This was the biggest party I've ever hosted, totally beyond my capacity. I'm giving God thanks for the amazing people who made it possible:
👉
#2 Cindy Douglas, our Women's Christmas Lunch Coordinator. So gifted.

#3 Our Ninja team who did the work to pull everything off.

#4 Our speakers, @rebeccacarrell  and @beca.inke . So talented. Filled with the Holy Spirit.

(Amazing worship team is not pictured! 😭)

#5 Fabulous table hostesses, who decorated the tables and made women feel welcome.

#6 Men who volunteered to serve, including my own José!

#7 Northwest group life team women, who served as table hostesses and supported me in those moments when I thought I'd lose my mind! 😂

(Not pictured are our lovely greeters and my dear daughter Camilla, who was at my side, one of my best friends. ❤️)

#thanks to all of you! What amazing #teamwork ! ❤️🎄

#joy #christmas #northwestbiblewomen gratitude
Best Thanksgiving ever! So grateful for family and Best Thanksgiving ever! So grateful for family and the blessing of getting to celebrate together. 🍁🦃🍁 (Best surprise ever was when @mcruzpeti walked in the door all the way from Michigan! Apparently everyone in the family knew he was coming except for José and I. ❤️)

#thanksgiving #surprise #fun #family
Fortunately, I was not in charge of decorating for Fortunately, I was not in charge of decorating for Sugar and Dice this weekend! Where I would have plunked down autumn leaves and fake pumpkins, my friend Mary had a vision to make our women's social beautiful with these flower arrangments and white pumpkin candleholders.

For me, our event was a fun celebration of women's gifts, and the fact that we are better together!

@kristenains had a great idea, organization, and menu planning skills.
@emileemeeks gave it a cute name and promoted it.
@marystoelzing made it beautiful (and got her husband and his wheelbarrow to bring in all the pumpkins).
@raisinshan led us through the ins and outs of Bunco!
@heyjayes had a willing heart to help with setup.

So grateful to get to serve with such an amazing team of women and for our @northwestbiblewomen community. ♥️

#pumpkins #flowers #northwestbiblewomen #fall #fallfun #bettertogether #community
I'm smiling about the first day of fall even thoug I'm smiling about the first day of fall even though it's 97 degrees outside in Dallas. I love fresh starts and new seasons. 🍁🍂

It's almost 6 months now since I started a new role as women's minister at Northwest Bible Church. I'm so grateful for how God has helped me up to now and for the lovely community of women I get to serve. I've been stretched in new ways, and I'm learning more about desperate dependence on Jesus! He's showing me that the most important thing I can do to serve others well is to cultivate a quiet spirit that waits on God, listens for His voice, and trusts His power instead of running ahead on my own steam! 😅

I'm looking forward to the coming season and continuing to learn how to seek more of God's presence and and trust His power.

Also looking forward to cooler days! What are you looking forward to in this new season? 🍂🍁

#moreofGod #fall #newseason #learning #spiritualgrowth  #rest #autumn
He's the best! So grateful for 28 years with José He's the best! So grateful for 28 years with José. A sense of humor was #3 on the list of qualities I hoped for in a husband, and we're still laughing together. God has been so faithful and good. 

#anniversary #gratitude #joy #laughter
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