A Cool Thought

Read the following verses and watch the video:

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that had been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.


Colossians 1:15-17
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation; because by Him everything was created, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.

A Cool Thought

Revelation 21:5-8
Then the One seated on the throne said, "Look! I am making everything new." He also said, "Write, because these words are faithful and true." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give to the thirsty from the spring of living water as a gift. The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all the liars - their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."


It breaks my heart for so many....
Isaiah 6:9-10 "And He replied: 'Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. Dull the minds of these people; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back and be healed.'"

My New Year's Resolution Is To Not Make One

Happy 2010!
Can you believe we have come this far?


I love and hate new year's resolutions. Being a person who thrives on goals, resolutions are a nice way to start out the new year. However, being human, I seldom - very seldom - keep them, and that always gets frustrating. So this year the Lord brought a Scripture to mind:


Matthew 5:33-37
Again, you have heard it said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. But I tell you, don't take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God's throne; or by earth, because it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. But let your "yes" be "yes", and your "no" be "no". Anything more than this is from the evil one.


When we make a new year resolution, we tend to rely on our own strength and will power. That's why I'm always failing them. So this year, daily prayer and guidance will have to suffice as a resolution. I will rely on His strength and the power of His will to get me through and to do right in habits, health, and heart. Then I know they will be accomplished because He is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11).

Looking Back

Since today is the last day of 2009, I'd like you to think on either the lesson you've best learned from God this year, or perhaps one defining thing that has happened in your walk with God.

Mine? This blog! I can't believe how much a part of my life this has become. I've felt for years that God wanted me to write, I just never knew how or had the courage to follow through. This blog has taught me so much. Everything it contains are things I am learning. After all we retain information better when teaching it rather than just reading it. So I'm learning a lot! The verse that spoke the loudest to me on this matter was 1 Timothy 1:12. It is my banner flag for this year:


"I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry."


How would you define 2009 in your life?

Just Me And God

I am at peace right now.


Actually being at peace is something that doesn't come along very often. Don't get me wrong: I have peace all the time which is very evident in my life. I know it's there and working in and through me. It just doesn't seem like there are many times where I relax enough with few goals or plans to enjoy being at peace for long, but this week I am.


This is the week that my whole family is together and is just enjoying being that way. My two older boys are with us and all we are doing is eating, playing games, and watching movies. I love it. I'm doing just enough housework to keep everything from getting bad, but not so much as to be stressing over it. It's really nice.


As I've talked to God about this - actually, apologizing for not writing as much and spending enough time with Him - He's let me know that it's OK. That has greatly added to my peace. This week is a Sabbath for me. During the year I don't take time off to just enjoy the blessings that He has given me. Oh, I thank Him often, but I am always wondering what I should be saying, learning, or doing for Him next. That's what He's called me to do. However, for this week, He's let me relax. I'm taking the time to just thank Him throughout the day for the many blessings He's given me, and you know what the best part is? It's just between me and God. I get to revel in Him personally and intimately for a whole week. 


I am so very blessed.

What About You?

I'd like to hear from you today:

What was your favorite Christmas gift this year?

It may be something that was under the tree, or that blessed you in some way. But whether long or short, I want to hear something from you!

Prayer Request

Today is a great day!! My two older boys are flying in to be with us for a week. Honestly, this is the only present I truly want. We are looking forward to a week of nothing but fun, food, and games.

However, they are also flying and changing planes by themselves with a lay over in Chicago. PLEASE pray for a safe trip, no delays, and excellent weather.

Enjoy all your leftovers today!

Merry Christmas!!!

Today we celebrate the birth of God's proven grace and love: The birth of Jesus the Christ!

Thank you Father for caring enough to go through all this for us. Thank you for all the intimate plans and details You created to point us to the birth of Jesus before He was ever born. You, who laid the foundation of the earth as the morning stars sang (Job 38:6-7), also laid the foundation of salvation in our hearts through the Words you gave the prophets. 


Thank you Jesus for your love and willingness to suffer as one of us for our own sake amidst scorn and contempt. You showed us not only the Truth, but how to love one another; for we were child-like and clueless! You came in the most humble of circumstances to show us how to have little, though You are so very much (Philippians 4:12-13). 


Thank you Spirit for showing us how to have confident power in all humility. You, who are so close to us, have guided me so lovingly - even knowing who I am. You give me the words the Father has to encourage, strengthen, chastise, and confirm me.


Praise to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit on the celebration of the birth of our hope in salvation!!!

That's What We Get

I think the blatant black hole of over commercialization and mad pre-Christmas rush, is a little bit of God's way to get back at us for making it that way.

Tis' the season to learn patience,
Fa-la-la-la-la, La-la-la-la!

Come To Bethlehem And See...

Have you come to Bethlehem?

The deeper meaning of this question has been plaguing me for several days now. Christ came into the world at Bethlehem, but it wasn't just the city- or hamlet. Christ came to us first in the cave of some beasts of burden. Stinking, dumb animals. It was not sanitary. It wasn't even very acceptable back then. So, why did He come there?

Because we need to come to Him first in our stinking, dumb, unsanitary/unworthy, dark humanity. When we come to Him in this manner - acknowledging who we really are - He makes the seemingly impossible possible. Then we can live victoriously through Him. But not until then. Then, in our newborn state, He is our King! He became a newborn so that we could become a newborn again.

Come adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord the newborn King!
Gloria!!!

Slacking

I'll be very honest with you all- I'm slacking. Bad. 

Yes, I've read my Bible when looking up something; and yes, the Lord has been speaking to me and blessing me. But I haven't taken the time much in the last few days to really listen to God, and to really read my Bible, so I'm not going to pretend like I have. Don't worry- I feel awful about it.

These are the times when it does not seem like the most wonderful time of the year. I get so busy with the Christmas season that I spend less time with the reason for the season. Part of me has come to realize that I am a creature of schedules. When I'm thrown off my schedule for too long, I let things go - like reading my Bible - too easily. But that's no excuse, really.

Thank you Lord for Zechariah 1:3!

"So tell the people: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: Return to Me" - this is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts - "and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts."

Here I Am To Worship

You know what? 

Yesterday was a really good day of worship. 

Fellowshipping

Singing

Preaching

Serving

Greeting: AM & PM (Yea, God tested me out quick. Remember that one?)

How did you worship?

*Hint- It's not just where you go, or what you say to God, but how you honor Him.

Just Not What I Thought

Yesterday my youngest children watched Old Yeller for the first time, and I was a little apprehensive because Lauren is an animal lover, and Elijah can be very sensitive at times. As a child I remember being devastated when they had to shoot poor Old Yeller -and after he saved them! I almost didn't let them see it because of the aftermath of questions and nightmares I was sure would follow. Yet it didn't quite turn out that way. Instead, about an hour after the movie, there was quite the commotion coming out of the living room: They were pretending they were rabid animals and were attacking each other.

Wasn't I acting like we do sometimes when it comes to sharing the Gospel? We are just so sure we will be turned down, made fun of, and rejected, that we talk ourselves out of telling everyone around us about the Truth. We don't need to concern ourselves about those things because first, it may turn out that the rejection is all in our heads like the kids pity for the dog was in mine. Second, and most important to remember, is that it doesn't matter if we are turned away. They are not rejecting us, but God, as1 Thessalonians 4:8 says: Therefore, the person who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who also gives you His Holy Spirit. In fact, they are not really listening to us at all! Luke 10:16 Whoever listens to you listens to Me. Whoever rejects you rejects Me. And whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.

Why do we fret so over what the Lord has under control? Our job is just to tell (Acts 1:8) and the rest is up to Him. (1 Corinthians 2:10)

Honest Prayer

After needing a secondary detox yesterday in two weeks along with a few other tonics, I totally second my sons prayer last night:
Thank you God for stuffed animals to cuddle with - even though we don't really need them.


Honest prayer and gratitude for every good things is a difficult discipline to master. So, what are you grateful for today?

Julie & Julia.... & Me?

After being told by several people that I needed to see it, I watched the movie Julie & Julia. I think I really liked it!

OK, first positive point is that it didn't have a fairy-tale ending. I was really afraid that the two would meet and become the best of friends till Julia's death. (Which, by the way, I had no idea if she was even still alive. But Hollywood has a way of making the impossible happen, even in an otherwise true story.) Yet, that was not the case. I like that. It's more real.

Negative point number one: Food. God's sense of humor just never ceases.
After watching the movie and staring longingly at my pantry, I just about pulled out every single thing and place it either in the "I can eat" or the "I can eat and die" pile. Grrr. Perhaps I can start a supplementary food contest blog where I give you aspiring cooks a list/picture of the very limited things I can eat and have you figure out a recipe for me.

OK. I've steamed my lobster. Next.

That's the other thing I really enjoyed. Julie just looses it sometimes, and as sadistic as it sounds, we all need to know that. I believe that's why the Bible is filled with so many people who fail. We need the encouragement that if they can make it, we can make it. The funny thing is that as I watched the movie, I related so well with Julie's different milestones: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Why? Because Christian or not, male or female, we are all still human, and God created us to learn and relate to one another. So look around and learn!

Over all, Julie & Julia inspired me. (I'll have to make it part of my library for when serving a pity party.)
1.  Just because you feel you have nothing to say doesn't mean you have nothing to say.
2.  Even if she never meets Julia and I impact only one person's walk with Christ, it's worth it.
3.  All the time she spent cooking made me feel better about all the time I spend writing and researching.
Perhaps that's the key. Passion.

I just wish the Bread of Life came with a little Brie...

My And Mary's Magnificat

I have been overwhelmed by the lavish blessings of my LORD. When He gives beyond what is anticipated, I always want to make sure it is honored as best as possible. But always first - and then continuously - is to praise Him!

Perhaps the season guided my mind along with the Spirit as my heart was reminded of these verses today. I pray you will be as blessed by them as I have been. Please take the time to read them as worship to Yahweh.

Luke 1:45-55
"She who had believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!"


And Mary said:

My soul proclaims

the greatness of hte Lord,

and my spirit has rejoiced

in God my Savior,

because He has looked

with favor

on the humble condition

of His slave.

Surely, from now on

all generations

will call me blessed,

because the Mighty One

has done great things

for me,

and His name is holy.

His mercy is from generation

to generation

on those who fear Him.

He has done a mighty deed

with His arm;

He has scattered the proud

because of the thoughts

of their hearts;

He has toppled the mighty

from their thrones

and exalted the lowly.

He has satisfied the hungry

with good things

and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped 

His servant Israel,

mindful of His mercy,

just as He spoke

to our ancestors,

to Abraham and his

descendants forever."

Amen and Amen! Come soon, again, Lord Jesus!

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