November 23, 2024

Start A Fire

January 4, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

This world can be cold and bitter
Feels like we’re in the dead of winter
Waiting on something better
But am I really gonna hide forever

Over and over again
I hear Your voice in my head
Let Your light shine, let Your light shine for all to see

Start a fire in my soul
Fan the flame and make it grow
So there’s no doubt or denying
Let it burn so brightly
That everyone around can see
That it’s You, that it’s You that we need
Start a fire in me

You only need a spark to start a whole blaze
It only takes a little faith
Let it start right here in this city
So these old walls will never be the same

Over and over again
I hear Your voice in my head
They need to know
I need to go
Spirit won’t You fall on my heart now

You are the Light on the darkest day
We have the hope, we bear Your name
We carry the news that You have come to save
Only You can save

Writer(s): Jon Lowry / Chad Mattson / Seth Mosley

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I’m not a New Year’s resolution-type of person, due to the fact that I forget the next day.  So instead, I make lists of how good my God is and all that He has done for me. And in return, I want to tell all the world of His goodness and mercy and grace.  I want to be the light that shines for Him, so that when people see me, they see all that God has redeemed and restored.  Oh, I’m not perfect nor am I always the Jesus-follower I should be, but I keep following.

In the same way, let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Father in Heaven.
Matthew 5:16

I don’t think it means that we are to do all this good all for the world to see—just to shine the light on ourselves.  It means that all we do and say should reflect the One Who created us and glorify Him—Jesus!!!—so that all will want what we have.  And what a perfect time to ask for a fresh start…a rekindled fire…so that there is no doubt that it is God that we need.

As the song says, He is the Light on the darkest day and we cannot keep this hope to ourselves!  It’s just too good to keep in.  We live in such a dark, hurting world that is full of so much pain.  There are so many sad people that truly need a Savior and we need to share what we have with all the world!  Love, love His people by reaching out to them.  Not just people you don’t know but also those you work with, go to church with, live with…shine no matter where you are.

The place that seems to be the hardest is home, anyone agree?  We tend to let our light fizzle a bit here.  We think, “they know us, they know we love Jesus,” so we lose patience with the ones closest to us and we forget that they, too, need to see the light of Jesus in us.  And moms…our children will imitate us and talk like us to each other.  I know that is something to really think about and pray about.  So before your feet hit the floor, ask Jesus to fill you up  each day so that His light spills over to those you come in contact with!  Let’s pray for each other, shall we?  And look up those verses in His Word today that give hope and write them on cards and put them to memory.  Teach them to your children and watch your world get a little brighter…and carry that light with you wherever you go.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14

And the light shines in darkness, and the darkness cannot comprehend it.
John 1:5

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7

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Let us pray: Dear God, thank You for walking with us into this new year of 2015.  You are our light in this dark world, our hope that we hold onto when all is falling apart, and our song that we sing when the world is so loud.  Thank You for Your grace and mercy and love.  I pray that we can be that light to all Your children, ones that are walking in darkness and need You so much.  Nothing is wasted, Lord; You make good out of everything. and the way we handle the hard will glorify You if we keep You at the center.  Help us to keep shining for You and to not keep this awesome joy and this peace (that only You can give) to ourselves.  Start a fire in us and keep it burning until You come again.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Nehemiah And The Wall of Jerusalem

January 2, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

That pen is sitting there in front of you and the paper is calling you to try one more time…. And what resolution did you totally not do last year?  Then we make mental lists of why we CAN’T do anything and before you know it—we have failed before we ever started.  Have you been there?

The enemy, the deceiver, the father of  lies will do anything and everything to steal your joy and take your focus off of what is really important…and his main reason?  To keep you from doing God’s work and to discourage you along the way with your own words of failure.  Here’s an example in God’s Word:

Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.  And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?”  Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”  

Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.  Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked You to anger in the presence of the builders.  So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

Nehemiah 4:1-6

God has elected Nehemiah to lead His people in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Oh how well they were doing!  They had all the tools they needed to be successful and everyone was working so hard.  Then comes the critics…how they ridiculed these children of God.  All of the sudden, these people who once had so much confidence were now questioning their ability to do anything.  They were feeling stupid and wanted to quit.  See, the enemy had come in and attacked right where they were vulnerable.

Have you ever had this happen to you?  God had spoken pretty clear about something He wanted you to do, or maybe He wanted you to lead.  Then someone mentions a fear of yours or puts one doubt in your head…and all that excitement and courage goes out the window.  Now you’re questioning if it even was God’s idea.  You’re about to give up, BUT GOD.  {His voice is louder than yours.}

(Back to Nehemiah….) Nehemiah was wise and He loved the Lord.  He knew how to handle people who would criticize him.  He went to God and had a discussion about all of them.  In Nehemiah 4:4 he says to God,”Turn their insults back on their own heads.” (We as kids may have said similar things, right? “I know you are but what am I?”)   Unlike us, he didn’t talk to his critics or try to defend himself.  He let God handle it.  He shared all of his feelings with his Heavenly Father, His Creator, Who knew him better than he knew himself.  What happened next?

“So we built the wall.
And all the wall was joined together for half its height,
for the people worked with all their heart.”

In other words, satan was defeated at his own game.  What he dished out didn’t take their focus off of what was important; it made them turn hard to God.  Their focus was on the work of their Lord and no one could destroy them.

So this New Year, instead of making impossible lists of goals and setting yourself up to feel like a failure…make another kind of list.  Like one that lists all the ways God loves you and wants desperately to be your Guide and so much more.  And when that doubt is thrown at you, you have His Word to lean on and encourage you.  His own words to guide and direct you in any task that He is asking of you.  You are ready and you are able to do it—you just have to be willing.  I’m going to leave you with some verses of encouragement and I urge you to write them down, post them on your mirror or wherever they are most visible.  And if you aren’t sure if you have Jesus in your heart, I urge you to pray the prayer below with me and take these verses to your heart that are posted below. Please let us know in the comment section so we can celebrate this special day with you.

 

For God did not give you a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 16:8

Cast all your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22

My comfort is my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Psalm 119:50

The Lord is my Strength and my Song: He has become my Salvation.
Psalm 118:14

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Dear Heavenly Father, I know I am a sinner. I need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus is Your Son and He is the Savior. I ask that You come into my heart and stay. Be my Lord and Savior. I need You to guide me and give me that joy You promise. I’m tired of going this alone. Thank You for the Holy Spirit that I now have to guide me. I love You, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: encouragement Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Come As You Are (Redux)

December 28, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

❦

Redux means to revisit, bring back, re-release.  This last week of 2014, we —the bloggers here at Girlfriends Coffee Hour—are each ‘revisiting’ a blog we wrote earlier this year.

We would love to share with you just a bit about how very good God has been to us!  He has given us all so much grace and mercy, blessings and provision, protection and guidance!  He has led us and taught us through His Holy Spirit so many incredible things!  He has molded, and chastised, and encouraged us to be daughters with humble hearts who are dependent upon Him.  And He has helped us to be strong, committed, and faithful women  who love Him and desire to bring Him much honor and glory and majesty.

We pray that our words would encourage you also…and draw You deeper into relationship with the One Who loves you so!  Here are my friend Kim Spring’s words.

❦

After Christmas, and now the new year is on the way…I look back on some of the songs that really touched my life.  This one Come As You Are still brings me to my knees. The fact that He accepts me just as I am, loves me, and forgives my every sin is totally humbling!  And one of the hardest things for me to do is to rest at His feet. {I am working on this.}

“Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can’t heal”; I am claiming this, accepting this, that there is nothing too big or small, old or new problem, whether it is my own pit I have jumped in or whether it is  a pit I’ve been pushed into.  God can heal and redeem and renew!  Will you claim this with me and believe too that all is okay  and you can bring anything to the Cross. And most of all, you  CAN come as you are. You WILL find grace and mercy. You WILL find rest and you will find love unconditional.  Can I invite you to come along with me?  We can be just as we are!

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Come out of sadness from wherever you’ve been
Come broken hearted let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner, come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That Heaven can’t heal

Lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer, come home
You’re not too far
So, lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There’s hope for the hopeless
And all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That Heaven can’t cure

Come as you are
Fall in His arms
Come as you are
There’s joy for the morning
Oh sinner, be still
Earth has no sorrow
That Heaven can’t heal

Songwriters: David Crowder, Ben Glover, Matt Maher
Performed by David Crowder and the Passion Band

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

How awesome is it that we can come into the Presence of the Creator of the universe, the King of Kings, and we can just be who we are…?  We don’t have to get good enough or perfect enough—we can come as we are.  He knows us better than we know ourselves and He loves us in spite of us.

“You’re not too far” -You can never go too far that His arms can’t reach you!  And He meets you there.  Give all your cares and hurts to Him.  He is able and willing to carry it all for you.  Matthew 11:28 says,”Come to Me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”  A rest that lasts a lifetime.  He never gets tired of rescuing us.

“Come sit at the table, come taste the grace” — His grace is free.  Where would we be without it?  2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  See?  There is rest for you at His feet.

“There’s joy for the morning” Psalm 30: 5b,”Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.”  Yes, this means that hard times won’t last forever and we will rejoice and be full of joy in the midst of the hard and know it’s a short time.  He never leaves us in that place for long.  And He is hope! For He has a beautiful life planned for you. Trust Him!

And the end of the song? “Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can’t cure.”  So true!  Heaven can heal any sorrow on earth!  So today, we praise Him because we are His and He receives us… just as we are.

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Let us pray: Dear Lord, how amazing You are that You accept us and love us for who we are.  You know our faults and You give us mercy and grace when we stray.  You never give up on us, Lord.  You know our hearts, and You welcome us and meet us where we are in life.  Thank You for the joy that comes after the sorrow and for the rest You give us when life gets hard.  We love You, Lord!  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Forever Gift

December 26, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

Peace I leave you, My peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27

Boxes and paper, bows and bags…now empty and gifts put away. Stockings no longer hang over the fireplace…they too have been emptied. Is that sometimes how you feel  when this excitement is over—empty?  We stress and shop, make list after list, and bake and wrap; all while playing our favorite Christmas carols. Now it’s over, but does it have to be?

The magic of Christmas is always ours if we love Jesus and seek Him.  He is our Gift of salvation and forgiveness and grace.  He, Who was held on that holy day, holds us today. He walked this earth, healing the sick , feeding the poor and loving the least of these. He went through it all so that we could have a perfect example of how to live and how to love. To forgive always and love everyone. We become the gift to others that He came to be to us.

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

See?  He left us peace in the midst of this hard, dark world.  He left us joy in the midst of turmoil. And oh! how He loves you and me!  The world gave Him such a hard time, and it doesn’t leave us untouched either. But what will we do with it? After all Jesus went through, we owe Him so much. All He asks is that we let Him be Lord of our lives. And to spread hope to this dying world. And because we have His Spirit, we can do His work.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,
but one of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

And if you put Him before everything, your life will be so much more than you can ever imagine. Every decision you make will be guided by Him and all your days will be ordained by Him. His favor will be all over your life and the joy you will experience will overwhelm you. When your feet hit the floor, hit your knees and ask Him to empty you of yourself and to fill you up with all of Him.

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And the most wonderful gift of all?  We will forever live with Him after this life!  God’s Son, born to die, to save us, His children. Can you wrap your mind around that?  That someone loves you that much? Well, God does!

Do you know Him? If the answer is no, then I urge you to pause today and still your mind and heart and pray this prayer with me:

Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I need forgiveness. I believe that You are God and Jesus is Your Son. You sent Him to die in my place so that my sins will be forgiven. Thank You for loving me in spite of myself. And thank You for grace. Come into my heart today and be my Lord, to walk with me through it all. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: encouragement Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Oh, Come To My Heart, Lord Jesus (Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne)

December 21, 2014 by

phssChristmasgraphic2014

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home there was found no room
For Thy Holy Nativity:

Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee;
Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus, come,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth cam’st Thou, Lord, on earth,
And in great humility:

The foxes found rest, and the birds had their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee

You came, Oh Lord, with the Living Word
That should set Your people free!
But with mocking scorn, and a crown of thorns,
They sent You to Calvary.

Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
Thy cross is my only plea;
Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus, come,
Thy cross is my only plea.

When heaven’s arches shall ring, and her choirs shall sing
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me up, saying, “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee!”

And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus!
When Thou comest and callest for me;
And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus!
When Thou comest and callest for me.

Lyrics by Emily Eliott; Score by Timothy Matthews

 *    ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

Oh the memories this song brings to mind;  really, all my childhood Christmases are wrapped up into it. Every Christmas, our church put on a Christmas musical called “Carols by Candlelight” and my sweet precious daddy sang this song and my sweet little sister sang in the children’s chorus behind him. My sweet precious mom and I sat side-by-side in the pew, along with my dad’s parents.  We were all dressed up in our Christmas best and I remember how much I loved sitting right beside my mom. I remember how I loved holding her hand and how safe I felt. How she knew my every need before I asked, and how she knew I would want that piece of gum she had in her purse. Oh, how she loved me and how she took such good care of me.

Isn’t that a picture of how our Father in Heaven loves us?
And takes care of our every need before we even realize we need it?

The hymn was sung a little differently than the lyrics above. It started like this:

“Welcome, we’ve gathered today to praise the Christ of Christmas.  Let’s invite Him in today!” And then these beautiful words: “Lord, You left Your throne and Your kingly crown, when You came to this earth that day.  But in Bethlehem’s home there was found no room for your Holy Nativity.  Oh! Come to my heart, Lord Jesus!  There is room in my heart for You.”

Our God, our Creator sent His only Son to this earth as a baby. He entrusted Him to a carpenter and his wife, Mary. He came into this world in a filthy stable where He was and is still most comfortable—among the dirty. He was laid in a manger, made of wood, and He was to be the Savior. He would later die on a cross, made of wood, so that we, the dirty, could be clean. Do you realize what a miracle this was?

“You came, Oh Lord, with the Living Word that should set Your people free! But with mocking scorn, and a crown of thorns, they sent You to Calvary. Oh come to my heart, Lord Jesus, Your Cross is my only plea. Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus. “ And the final verse, that’s full of hope, sends chills and brings a smile I can’t contain. “Let Thy voice call me up saying ‘Yes there is room,there is room at My side for you!’” Isn’t that what we long to hear one day? I know I’m living for that day!

So today, if you haven’t given your life to Him or made room in your heart for your Savior, He is waiting. All you have to do is ask. I can’t imagine a better birthday gift for Jesus than to have another of His children ask Him to be in their heart. Can you? Doesn’t matter how dirty you are or how you live or where you live, He meets you where you are and He can’t wait to walk with you through this life. Once He comes into your heart, you will never be the same and He will never leave you or forsake you!

Where are you this Christmas? He knows and He cares and He wants to sit beside you and hold your hand and make you feel safe. Will you ask Him to come into your heart today?

   *    ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for the gift of Your Son! He came to earth and paid the ultimate price so that we don’t have to. You know where we are right now and You meet us and You love us! Help us to remember and to celebrate You this season and to not get tangled up in the material aspect of it. Help us to keep You in the center of Christmas and the center of our lives. We love You and praise You. Give those who don’t know You the courage to try life with You. Give us Your Holy Spirit to guide and direct us until that awesome day when face-to-face we will see You!  In Your Son’s name we pray. Amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , ,

What Would You Have Given Him?

December 19, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

They entered the house and saw the child with His mother, Mary,
and they bowed down and worshipped Him.
Then they opened their treasure chests
and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11

In manger scenes, either on coffeetables or mantles, there is Mary and Joseph, the baby Jesus, a few animals, the shepherds, and the wise men.  As we know, though, Jesus was around one or two when the wise men found Him.  Herod was king then and he had called a meeting with his religious leaders.  He wanted to know where Jesus was to be born.  “In Bethlehem of Judea” they told him.  “For it is written by the prophet: for from you shall come a Ruler…Who will shepherd My people.”  Herod was threatened.  He told them to go and search for the child, and come back and tell him so he could worship Him.

And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.
Matthew 2:6

The wise men went on their way, guided by a star in the east, and they were filled with joy.  The wise men brought gifts and worshipped Jesus for Who He was.  These gifts were extremely valuable and each one stood for something:

  • Gold – a gift of royalty
  • Frankincense – a gift for deity
  • Myrrh – a spice used to anoint a body for burial

The wise men were so excited to meet the Christ-child that they were willing to part with these gifts, out of love and respect and just joy.   They were honoring Jesus for Who He is and they worshipped Him because He was and is perfect.

There is much more to this story and I encourage you to finish reading the whole story of Herod and the wise men. (Read the whole account here.)  But for now, let’s search our own hearts.

What would you have been willing to give Him?

What is most precious to you and would you have  been willing to lay it at the foot of the manger on that cold night in Bethlehem? I would like to think that I would. And what about today?

Sometimes the things that we hold onto aren’t really so precious yet we have a hard time giving them to Jesus.  Sometimes our own ideas of how our life should go are hard to give over to God, and to wholly trust Him with it.  Even though we know in our heart of hearts it is the best thing for us and that God is our Sustainer and He does know what is best for us.  Yet we hold onto it.  Some days we lay them at His feet, only to pick them up not too long after.  We may not have a star to follow like they did, but we have the Spirit of God guiding us and directing us.  We owe Him so much…we can never ever repay the debt.  But on that night, so long ago, the wise men didn’t have a debt to pay. They just wanted to give all they had to the Baby Jesus.

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Oh, friends, we too have so much to give Him!  It may not be gold, frankincense, and myrrh but we have our praise and we can honor Him with our lives every day.  Do you know this Jesus?  I really want you to.  He is so in love with you already, even if you aren’t yet.  But you will be once you get to know Him.  Why not start today?

Pray this simple prayer with me:

Dear Lord, I know I am a sinner and I need a Savior. I need forgiveness for my sins. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, Who was born and lived here on earth and died to save me from my sin. He rose again and is preparing a place for me.  I ask You to come into my heart and be Lord of my life.  Guide and direct me.  In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Filed Under: encouragement Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Strange Way To Save The World

December 14, 2014 by

phssChristmasgraphic2014
I’m sure he must have been surprised
At where this road had taken him
‘Cause never in a million lives
Would he have dreamed of Bethlehem
And standing at the manger
He saw with his own eyes
The message from the angel
Come to life, and Joseph said

Why me, I’m just a simple man of trade
Why Him, with all the rulers of the world
Why here, inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she’s just an ordinary girl
Now I’m not one to second guess
What angels have to say
This is such a strange way to save the world

To think of how it could have been
If Jesus had come as He deserved
There would have been no Bethlehem
No lowly shepherds at His birth
But Joseph knew the reason
Love had to reach so far
And as he held the Savior in his arms
He must have thought

Why me, I’m just a simple man of trade
Why You, with all the rulers of the world
Why here, inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she’s just an ordinary girl
Now I’m not one to second guess
What angels have to say
This is such a strange way to save the world

 Songwriters:  David Clarke, Mark Harris, Don Koche ~ Performed by 4Him

*    ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

He was just a young man, just  a carpenter.  A perfect example of the ordinary becoming extraordinary!  He coulfn’t believe his ears, and how in the world woulf he ever tell his family? Yes, they were engaged to be married and oh, he loved her with all his heart.  But a baby?  He knew it couldn’t  be his.  Then, in a dream, an angel came to him and explained everything. Yes…he was convinced, but sure that no one else would be. Why me, he said…I’m no one special.

The Savior, God’s Son, could have come to earth any way He wanted.  He could have come with trumpets or on a chariot or already a grown man or never having to go through anything, really.  But He didn’t.  He chose to come as small as He could—a baby born to common people, in a stable, in a manger.  He was wrapped in strips of cloth, instead of the latest trend in the expensive boutiques.  He came for one purpose alone…and that was (and is) to save us.

She was just a teenage girl engaged to a carpenter.  She was planning a wedding, getting ready to move in with her fiancé’s family, as tradition would tell her to do.  And then, on an ordinary night, an Angel of the Lord appeared to her and told her,

“Don’t be afraid, Mary…for you have found favor with God.
You will conceive and give birth to Son, and you will name Him Jesus.
He will be very great and will be called the Son of The Most High.
The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David,
And He will reign over Israel forever, His Kingdom will never end.”
Mary asked the angel,”But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
The angel replied,”The Holy Spirit will come upon you
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
So the baby to be born will be holy and He will be called the Son of God.”
Luke 1:30-35

So they, Mary and Joseph, traveled to Bethlehem and found room in a stable.  And there the Christ-child was born.  And now we celebrate His birth every Christmas.  His coming to earth to save the world ultimately saved us from ourselves.  We will live forever, all because of that night in Bethlehem.

And, yes, it WAS a strange and
wonderful, awesome, amazing, loving way to save the world.

*    ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

Let us pray: Dear God, You are amazing and awesome and loving.  You give and give…and You gave the greatest gift of all, Your Son.  He came as a baby, a sweet baby boy, grew to be a man and the ultimate Sacrifice for us.  Thank You for all You have done for us; for loving us so much and giving so much grace that we don’t deserve.  The way You saved the world was perfect.  In His name we pray, amen.

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Don’t Leave Him In The Manger

December 12, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
And you will recognize Him by this sign:
You will find a baby wrapped snuggly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.
Luke 2:11

Our first vision of Jesus is a baby lying in a manger, with shepherds and animals and Mary and Joseph all gazing at this beautiful baby.  It’s the Christmas scene, a beautiful one that we see on greeting cards and church programs.  But don’t leave Him in the manger.

Tiny, sweet, delicate and small, this helpless baby grew and lived an amazing life…
witnessed to many,
fed the five thousand,
healed the sick,
gave sight to the blind,
gave life to the dead,
and ultimately carried His own Cross and died for us.
Then He rose again after three days,
ascended into Heaven,
leaving us the gift of the Holy Spirit,
and He will come back to earth as King of Kings.

Out of that manger came a Savior Who came to earth to become a man, to walk the streets as we do, and to experience life before us…so that we could live by His example.  He was despised and rejected and hated by many.  And He was followed by crowds of people, longing to be healed.  He was loved by His Father, yet  sacrificed for us, God’s children.

Do you ever wonder what kind of follower you would’ve been?  Would you have believed that HE was who He said He was?  Would you have had the faith to touch His garment knowing you would be healed?  What is so amazing is that even today, your faith can move mountains.  Your faith in Jesus can still heal sickness.  Your faith in Him can bring plenty of provision to your family and your belief inHim can save your life.

Yes, He came as a baby and we still picture Him in the stable in the manger on that first Christmas night with the bright star leading the shepherds to Him.  But we can’t leave Him in the manger. We must bring Him into our lives, into our hearts and let Him lead us and guide us into being all that God has created us to be.  There is so much good that He wants for us, if only we will have the faith and the courage and endurance to walk with Him through the hard and sometimes the impossible.  And without Him, life is impossible.

He is for you and He is waiting with His nail pierced hands open to accept you into His Kingdom.

Do you want Him to be Lord of your life?

I pray, today, that you ask Jesus to come into your heart and to be Lord of your life.  If you made this decision today, I ask you to pray this prayer.

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I need forgiveness.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son and He came to earth as a baby and grew to be Son of Man.  He sacrificed His life on the cross for our sins so that we can live a life of freedom.  I want this for my life.  Walk with me now. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

*   ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our sins;
the punishment that brought us peace was on Him,
and by His wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 NIV

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This Is Christmas

December 7, 2014 by

phssChristmasgraphic2014

Do you find it hard to sleep tonight
Resting by the Christmas lights
Could there be something you forgot

Beyond the bows and mistletoe
The tree with presents wrapped below
There’s more to this than you had ever thought
Have we lost the reason that we celebrate each year

What is Christmas
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger
What is Christmas without Christ

Remember how the story goes
God’s Gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes
Beneath the star, one great and holy night

The shepherds heard the angels sing
The wise man brought an offering
Peace on earth began in Bethlehem
Have we lost the reason that we celebrate each year

What is Christmas
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger
If the angels never sang
Glory to the newborn King
What is Christmas without Christ

There’d be no Gloria in excelsis deo
Gloria in excelsis deo

What is Christmas
(Joy to the world)
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger
(Joy to the world)
What is Christmas without Christ

This is Christmas
It’s all about the Savior wrapped in a manger
(Joy to the world)
This is Christmas because of Jesus Christ

(Gloria)
This is Christmas
(In excelsis deo)
Because of Christ
(In excelsis deo)
Because of Christ

written by Jon Micah Sumrall and Dave Lubben ~ performed by Kutless

*   ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

‘mas,’ …that’s what Christmas is without CHRIST.

In reality, I would say ‘mess,’ really.  Yes, there are gorgeous trees…decorated in colorful ornaments…and gifts, too.  Cookies and treats would still be made,and turkey and trimmings still would be served.  But what would it all mean?  And when all was taken down and put back into boxes, and the food all stored away and life went back to the way it was, how empty it would be.  Of course you would still have the presents and such, but that thrill only lasts for a short while.  We need THE Gift that fulfills forever….

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord.
This will be a sign unto you: you will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the Heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying,”Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”
Luke 2:11-14

THE Gift.  He came the same way that you and I did.  His precious mom and dad beamed with pride and joy.  I’m sure they held Him and sang to Him and kissed His sweet head.  They didn’t need anything else that night.  And today…we don’t either.  As we decorate our houses and light the tree, we remember the reason for it all—Jesus. He came wrapped in a manger, for you and I.  And He became a man and experienced all that we have.

Let us not forget.  For without Christ, there really wouldn’t be any glory.  There wouldn’t be any joy to the world or angels singing for all to hear.  But because He is the Savior, we will still be filled with Him, even when Christmas is over. Even when we take it all down, we look up to Him Who loves us and will come back for us to live with Him forever.  Isn’t that really the only gift we ever need?

And, thanks to God the Father, there will never be a Christmas without Jesus.  It is all about a Savior, it is all about Him wrapped in a manger, and it always will be!

*   ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

Let us pray: Oh Heavenly Father, You are so amazing and awesome and always giving. You love and love and give grace and forgiveness for free.  You have so much patience with us, I am amazed.  Lord, thank You for sending the ultimate Gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes, placed in the manger to save us from certain death.  That is the whole reason we celebrate Christmas. I pray for those who have moved away from You.  May they be reminded this season about the Baby that came to save the world. We can never thank You enough so we pray to live our thanks to You by spreading hope to this hurting world and by blessing because we have been blessed!  We pray all these things in Jesus’ name, amen!

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He Will Always Provide

December 5, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

When Abraham took Isaac up on that mountain, I can only imagine the heartbreak he must have felt.  That only son of his…talking to his father like he did most every day. He probably talked about his day, asked some questions, maybe he even hummed on the way up. The one thing we KNOW he did ask was, “Where is the lamb for the offering?”  Abraham’s response: “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”

“When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from Heaven,”Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am”, he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham looked up and there in the thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the place The Lord Will Provide.”

Genesis 22: 8-14

What if we named all that we have provision? Isn’t that really what it is? The food that is in your pantry…the clothes that you put on daily…the warm bed… the table where you share laughs—all provision from Him. And all He really asks of us is to walk with Him, to love Him, to trust Him, and to accept His only Son Whom He really did sacrifice for us.

Yes, it is the season of tinsel and lit trees with beautiful ornaments. It is filled with baking and wrapping and giving and togetherness, but it can be hard. Instead of visions of sugar plums, you have visions of not having enough. You may be feeling like you are the only one who God forgot this season. You just knew that this one would be better than the last one, it just had to be! You want to turn on the Christmas music and smell the apple cinnamon candles and feel the joy that you felt once before.

Well, my friend, hang on—because God does see you. He knows when you are sleeping and He knows when  you’re awake!  He knows when you’re sad and He knows, too, exactly what you need. He loves you so much that He wants to give you blessings upon blessings.  And the very first one of those blessings was Jesus.

His Son did climb with a cross on His back and because of that, you are going to be okay.  Can you put your trust in Him today?  Let all worry and stress fall away, and let His grace rain on you. He is everywhere, and His provision is everywhere and so is His love.  God can always find a ram!

“Now I know.  Now I know.  Since You did not spare Your only Son, how will You not also graciously give us—even me—all things You know I need?  (Romans 8:32)” *

*The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas;  by Ann Voskamp

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Do you know Him?  Do you know that He really did die for you?  If you need hope this season, Jesus is waiting to give you all you need.  If you do, then I encourage you to pray this prayer with me.

♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I need forgiveness. I believe that You loved me enough to send Jesus, Your Son, to die in my place. I accept You, Jesus, today as my Lord and Savior. Walk with me and be my Lord. In  Jesus’ name. Amen.

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