Friday, December 21, 2012

What's it all about?

Luke 2


10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.



Christmas is all about Jesus.
Our Savior

Peace and good will from God to man.
The Promise fulfilled.

It is not the presents
but His Presence

It's not about little children waiting for Santa Claus
It is about one child
Born in a manger

God in the flesh
Emanuel

It is not about warm fuzzy feelings
and magical movies of 'human angels'

The angels that announced to the shepherds were magnificent and fearsome
But brought good tidings of joy and peace to mankind.

Be wise in this season
Like the wise men of old
Seek Him

The truth about Christmas

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Perspective

Acts 9:15

15 ... Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, ...



Talking with one of my Visiting Angels, Pat, who helps caring for  my Father-in-law, 
she made a statement that got me to thinking.

She said how a child is chosen to care for their parents. 
My husband was chosen to care for his father.

What a brilliant way to look at it.
Much better than the worldly way of thinking you're stuck with them.

My Father in law is a blessing to us
He is a dear sweet man
and although my house has been overrun and often feels
like grand central station, I am blessed
because my husband was chosen to care for his father.

Check your perspective and heart
Seek God's Will

and rejoice that you are chosen.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

How do you keep that lovin' feeling?

These things I command you, that ye love one another.


Love 
A simple four letter we toss about like candy, not careful for what it means or should mean.
And like so many things, it is easier said than done.

What if someone you live  or work with irritates you?
Can you see past the irritation to love them?
Do you find it easier to 'love' people you don't know rather than the ones you do?

For me, the love I have for others is a direct correlation to how close I am to the Lord.
If I am easily irritated, that means I need some Jesus time.

Only in Him can I keep the flow of His love in my heart.
Without Jesus, I am nothing. A noisy gong as it says in Corinthians.

Check your love barometer
Is it indicating more time with the Lord?
Less of you more of Him?

Mine does.

Headed to that Secret Place now.
I need to replenish that lovin' feeling.


Monday, December 17, 2012

The Promise

Matthew 6


After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.



Our lives in Christ transcend this world.
For we are of a kingdom greater than any of this earth.
The Goodness and love of God enfolds believers in eternal life.

The Promise
Given from the beginning.
Realized That Christmas morning
Two thousand years ago,

Jesus
In the beginning was the Word
Born of a virgin
Son of God
Seed of the woman

Our Savior
King of Kings
Whose kingdom never ends

Friday, December 14, 2012

Look out, Look UP, Be ready


Matthew 24

King James Version (KJV)
24 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

A Child is Born

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Christmas is about a Child being born.
Not any child
But the Son of God.

God coming in the flesh of man
To bring peace on earth
between Man and God

The Gift of God

Jesus is the reason for the season.


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

How's your Grace Gauge?

... but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.


Grace - God's gift.

Lately, I have struggled with the care of my 91 yr-old Father-in-law who lives with us. Don't get me wrong, we are blessed to  have him, blessed to have care takers who come into our home to care for him. BUT I  noticed that my patience is gone.

Then one of the Visiting Angels said to me this morning that as she dealt with my FIL
she would tell him that he needs to be grateful that there are those who want to 
care for him.

Then it hit me. It's not my patience that is lacking (although maybe some : )
But more importantly my GRACE tank is low.
I am running on empty and in and of myself - I don't have what it takes
to be gracious and loving.

But what a relief. It's not me. It's Christ in  me. He is Grace.
Our gift from our loving Father in Heaven
Sent to us- the gift from heaven - that we  might be saved.
For no one - None - Nada - can make it without God.

Just as the trees in this picture can do nothing to get the light to shine on them.
It is purely the grace of the Son that lights our lives.

So I turn to my Lord, Grateful that He loves me even when I am unworthy
For there is nothing in me that earns His love
It is a gift. His gift to any who reach out to accept Him.

Reaching out for His Grace
I am now at peace. Joyful even
For it's not about me

It's all about Him
His Gift
His Grace!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Glory to the Lord

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled
with the glory of the LORD.


From the flowers upraised in praise with color
to the birds in song to the great Creator 
to the trees reaching upward
to honor God All of 
Creation knows
And points
to the 
One

God is real
He is to be believed
Be assured that He lives
And is worthy of all praise
by heaven and earth and all that
are wise will Praise His Holy Name


Friday, December 7, 2012

The Story of (the) Fall

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” 


This tree is kissed with Fall's chill. The leaves blush and then fall.
The rhythm of life and death. 
With the promise of life renewed in the spring.

So too was mankind's story. 
In paradise, they sinned, felt sin's blush, and were banished to die.
But GOD in His goodness didn't leave them there.

He gave the promise of a Savior
Who would come, take the sin of the world upon Him,
And Die

And Rise again. Resurrected, though dead He lives.

Ponder the now leafless trees.
A testimony of death.

And Remember this season.
The Son of God come to earth,
Jesus born in a manger.

And know that though He were dead
He now lives
And all who believe in Him.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

When Heaven Kissed the Earth


Christmas!

Jesus, God come to earth as a baby,
to grow and become our 
Savior.

Joy to the World!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Stand in Awe


Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world
 stand in awe of him.

God is Awesome!

We have said the word awesome so much that it has lost its effect.
But think about Him. 
The Creator of all you see and don't see.
The Master designer who knows all
and you.

He is Ever-present, 
All knowing,
All powerful!

He is God
In every sense of the word

More than we can understand
Bigger than us
bigger than our problems
Yet tender enough
to know our deepest fears and needs.

God is Awesome
Take some time to ponder
His greatness.