February 25, 2025

CHRISTLife — TwentyThree: United With Christ

February 12, 2014 by

cl united with christUnited with Christ.  A one piece life for Him—that’s how we should live.  Every aspect of our lives should reflect Him.  But…do they?  Are you the same person at your work, or school, or mommy’s group, or bridge group, or Junior League?  Do you wear Jesus everywhere you go?  I know, that’s a lot of questions for a Wednesday but they are important ones.

When you became a believer, a follower of Christ, He came to live inside you.  He and you became one.  You have God’s Son living inside you and you have the same power in you that raised Jesus from the dead!  Can I get an “Amen“?

Let’s look at John 14:20 together and let it sink in.

You will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

Now, let’s do a little exercise together. You will need 3 envelopes: one small, one medium and one large.  You will also need one index card.  On the index card I want you to write ‘Jesus.’  On the large envelope I want you to write ‘God,’ on the medium envelope write ‘Jesus’ and on the small one write your own name.  Now, place the index card in the small envelope that has your name on it.  Next, place the small envelope into the medium envelope and, lastly, place the medium envelope into the large envelope.  What do you see?  I see that anything that comes to you has to come through God, then Jesus, then you—and you have Jesus in you!!!  Pretty cool, huh? See, this demonstrates John 14:20… you have Jesus in you, you are in Jesus, Jesus is in the Father, and we all live together, in peace and joy and harmony. Nothing can separate us from Him, once He is in us.

Do you see things differently now?  He is not only in your life but He is your life. Our lives should be like the garment Jesus wore—one piece.  Oh I used to live a five piece life at least.  I was so busy trying to fit in this world that I forgot that I am to be set apart, made for greater things like eternity and leading others to Jesus.  If this is you, too, it’s so much easier to not try so hard and to just empty yourself of yourself and let Jesus fill you with what He wants for your life.  Yes, it’s that simple.  Every morning when your eyes open, just ask Him,”Empty me and fill me.”  He will direct your paths and guide you in the way you should go.  Every decision will be made by Him and you will live your life just like Jesus would.

His word is our guide as to how we are to live.  Start each day with Scripture.  Let His speak to you and through you.  Here are a few verses I found that go along with this chapter we just read:

Either way, Christ’s love controls us.  Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.   He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves.  Instead, they will live for Christ, Who died and was raised for them.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead.  I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11

 

So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning.  If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.  And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life He has promised us.

1 John 2:24-25

I leave you with this invitation:  “From now on you must grow stronger through union with the Lord and through His mighty power…” (Ephesians 6:10 ).

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Now let us pray: God, we thank You for Your Truth. Your Word is Truth and dwells here among us.  You are our Father and You want so much for us, blessings upon blessings to be poured out over us.  Keep us pure and holy, Lord.  Help us to do only that which is pleasing in Your sight.  Remind us often that You gave us Your Son to live in us, to live through us, and to fill us with joy, peace, strength , courage, and anything that we so desire in His name.  Thank You for so readily forgiving us for the many wrongs we do.  For always being patient and loving toward us, Your children. Empty us of ourselves and fill us fully with only You, and Your Spirit.                                                                                                                                                                               We love You, we thank You. It’s in Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.

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I Come To The Garden Alone

February 7, 2014 by 
psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses

And He walks with me, and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

He speaks and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing
and the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing

I’d stay in the garden with Him though the night around me be falling
but He bids me go…thru’ the voice of woe His voice to me is calling

~~  Penned by C. Austin Miles  ~~

This song is very precious to me.  It reminds me of sitting in church with my grandmother eating half of a stick of gum, hearing her sweet voice singing the hymns. Hymns are such a big part of my childhood and my relationship with my Savior. Music has always moved me to tears and He uses it to break me so He can put me back together as He wants to.

In April of 1912, a man by the name of C. Austin Miles, wrote this beautiful song of  tribute to Jesus. He opened his Bible to the Book of John, chapter 20. He related how he became a part of this story, a silent witness to this dramatic moment in Mary’s life.

He said,
he saw himself standing at the entrance of the garden, looking at the winding path, shaded by olive trees. Mary, dressed in white, walks slowly into the shadows and she comes to the Tomb. She looks in it and hurries away. John, in a flowing robe, appeared looking at the tomb, then Peter enters the tomb followed by John. As they depart, Mary reappears. She’s leaning on the tomb and weeping. And as she turns around, Jesus is standing there. She looks in His face and cries, Rabboni!

Can you even imagine? Walking through the garden, Jesus is there. He takes your hand and walks with you, even stopping and smelling the roses, still wet with dew. He talks with you about whatever is on your mind. All your worries fall off your shoulders at the sound of His sweet voice. His voice audibly heard, not just whispers to the heart. He tells you that you are His, and that He loves you with an everlasting love. He is not in a hurry and just spends time with you. Joy, sweet joy is all you feel. As you sit with Him, you can think of nothing else, and no moment even compares to this.

Friend, you can walk with Him everyday. He waits to spend time with you. The moment your feet hit the floor, He is listening. All you have to do is call His name. Jesus longs to fill you with joy, to take all your worries and cares from you. He died for you! And, yes, the tomb WAS empty and, yes, He went to prepare a place for you in Heaven. In the waiting, before we actually meet Him face to face, we seek Him and we find Him, waiting to walk with us in our own garden.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Let us pray: Dear Precious Lord, You are our Portion, our Strong Tower, a shelter from this hard world. We thank You for Your faithfulness, for being trustworthy, and for interceding on our behalf. Thank You for knowing us, for desiring to spend time with us. Equip us, Lord, for all that You have for us to do. You long to dwell with us in the garden, to stop and smell the roses with us. You long to listen to our every word and You actually care about every detail. And the closer we walk with You, the more we hear Your sweet voice. We love You and we praise You! In Your Son’s name we pray. Amen.

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Sweet, Sweet Spirit

January 30, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjvIt’s December 22, 1990. It’s cold outside—and inside, really.  I’m wearing a green velvet dress and I’m waiting to walk down the aisle.  It’s my sister’s wedding. Not expected really, two daughters marrying in one year. We needed the Holy Spirit now, more than ever. See, my sweet daddy was giving away his baby, his last daughter and it wasn’t supposed to be this soon. She had a sweet blessing on the way and made the decision to get married. She and I both always wanted our dad to sing in our weddings and here we were. He had just sang at mine and that was hard but now he could barely choke out the words. We were “praying and we were praying through.”

A lady by the name of Doris Akers wrote this beautiful song in 1945. One night, as she prayed with her own choir, she felt they weren’t ready for the service and they really needed to pray. Again and again they prayed and they didn’t feel Him. Then she said, “We need to pray and pray through!”  They did and the Holy Spirit came down in a powerful way, just like it did that day in December during my sister’s wedding. The next morning, Doris had this song in her mind, playing over and over. She titled it, “Sweet, Sweet Spirit.”  Here are the lyrics:

There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place,
And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord;
There are sweet expressions on each face,
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.

Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us, filling us with Your love.
And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise;
Without a doubt we’ll know that we have been revived,
When we shall leave this place.

There are blessings you cannot receive
Till you know Him in His fullness and believe;
You’re the one to profit when you say,
“I am going to walk with Jesus all the way.”

If you say He saved you from your sin,
Now you’re weak, you’re bound and cannot enter in,
You can make it right if you will yield,
You’ll enjoy the Holy Spirit that we feel”

Words and Music: Doris Akers / Performed by Gaither Vocal Band & SSQ

  *  ~  *  ~  *  ~  *  ~  *  

When Jesus left earth to go back to His Father, He left us with a task that we could not possibly do on our own. He made it clear that we would need the power of the Holy Spirit.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you
and you will be my witnesses.
Acts 1:8

Have you ever thought about how your life is different because you have the Spirit living inside you? He is your comforter, advisor, encourager, and strength. He guides us in the way we should go!

So as believers, we do feel the “sweet sweet spirit” in this place.  And we know that it’s the Presence of the Lord.  Need Him today? Call on Jesus, ask the Lord for His Holy Spirit to fill you and guide you in every direction and every aspect of your life. And pray and pray and pray through!  What a gift we have been left by Jesus Himself.

And like the song says, “I am going to walk with Jesus all the way!”

Let us pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit to guide us and comfort us and fill us so that we can have the joy and freedom given by being saved.  Help us to empty ourselves of us and receive Your Spirit and all that goes with that.  We love You and we praise You for giving us the strength to resist temptation, to be able to love each other, to spread Your hope and good news to the world.  Thank You for the Spirit to intercede on our behalf when we don’t even know what to say.  Help us to keep our eyes on You.  For it’s in Your Name we pray, amen.

 

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CHRISTLife – Thirteen: Who I Am in the Flesh?

January 29, 2014 by

Christlife graphic wk3_3My name is Kim, I’m a ______. For many years I filled in the blank with a word.  I defined myself by what the world named me until one day God spoke loud and clear. He said, “You are Kim and you are My child.  You are a new creation, the old has gone and you are no longer defined by it!!”  Now that doesn’t mean I no longer sin, it just means that my old flesh is gone and I am no longer separated from God because of it.

How many times have you made up your mind to not give in to those same habits? I imagine that some of you are frustrated right now because you’ve gone back on that resolution you made some 28 days ago.  Good news!  It’s ok, you can start over with Jesus.  Galatians 5:6 says,”So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”  Weary soul, you are fighting your flesh in flesh and victory doesn’t last long, and the battle comes back with force as you try again to fight it. It’s like shoveling snow in a snow storm.  Darkness cannot fight darkness.  Put on His light and see what happens.  The darkness disappears.

I want to introduce you to King Jehu.  He’s one of the bloodiest kings to ever rule Israel.  2 Kings 10:28-31 introduces him to us as the king who singlehandedly destroyed Baal worship in Israel. There’s a  HOWEVER, though:  however, he didn’t turn away from the sins of Jereboam—the worship of the golden calves.  He may have been powerful and successful but he crashed spiritually.  He had a spiritual flaw in that he could run but he couldn’t walk very well.  He craved excitement more than he craved God.  Can you relate?  God gives us direction in what He expects of us in Micah 6:8,”He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” God wants us to walk with Him, in good times and bad. Your excitement should come from a relationship with Jesus. This is where we are transformed.

We all face limitations. But God promises that all these trials and hardships are temporary. Paul tells us that we will all have new bodies and when Jesus returns and the trumpet sounds, we will be transformed immediately. On earth, spiritually we have been transformed. 2 Corinthians 5:4 says,”While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God Himself has prepared us for this and as a guarantee He has given us His Holy Spirit.”  And 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,”This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”  You are brand new inside!  And we have been re-created, not rehabilitated. We don’t just turn over a new leaf but we actually begin a new life with Jesus. So the question is this: Is it noticeable to all who know you that you have changed?  That you have a brand new life? We are made perfect because of His perfect love.

I’m full of hope and I am ready to spread the good news to all who I come in contact with.  Are you?  Then let’s do it!!

Let us pray:  Dear God, we all have sinned and come short of Your glory. But because of Your perfect love, You sent Your perfect Son to die with all our sins on Him. He was separated from You so we are no longer separated from You. The veil was torn and we now can come directly to Your throne.  Thank You for giving us a new life, a new heart, totally recreated and totally filled with Your Spirit.  Help our lives to reflect this always.  And when we are tempted again to take our old, worldly name back, remind us that we are made in Your perfect image and we were bought at a price and we are Yours!!!  We love You and we praise You! In Your Son’s name we pray, amen.

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Just as I Am

January 17, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

~  Listen while you read, please!  ~

Just as I am – without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – though toss’d about with many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – poor, wretched, blind; sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – Thy love unknown has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone – O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – of that free love; the breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above – O Lamb of God, I come!

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

May 15, 1975, in Jackson, Mississippi, at a Billy Graham Crusade, I took my daddy’s hand and walked down flights and flights of stairs to the stage where Mr. Graham was preaching and made my public profession of faith.  The Holy spirit moved in me during this hymn—and my life was forever changed.  As I sit here, with my sweet daddy’s brown Bible open to where he wrote all about that day, I am so grateful. I have Jesus as my Savior and I will never be the same. Never underestimate the power of music, sweet friends!

“Just As I Am” was written by Charlotte Elliot.  Her life was a testimony of patience and endurance in suffering—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. She was ill in her 40’s with pain that was often debilitating.  She felt useless to God until,  one night before a bazaar to benefit a school, she began to question everything.  She started thinking that maybe God was just an illusion of emotions… that maybe that’s what spirituality is.  The next day, she felt her life questions must be met and conquered in the grace of God.  So there, she took a pen and paper and wrote for her own comfort, “the formula of her faith.”  She then had it published in “The Invalid’s Hymn Book.”

For years now, “Just As I Am” has been sung as a hymn of invitation in church gatherings all over the U.S. and beyond.  But to me it is personal—it’s my salvation— and it is where my relationship with my Lord began.  And so I wrote my own words of commitment:

~Just as I am – not having to say or do anything, You died and shed Your blood for me, and that You would have us come to You, – O Lamb of God, yes, we come!

~Just as I am – right now, rid my soul of this darkness and sin, even one. Your blood can cleanse it all – O Lamb of God, yes, we come!

~Just as I am – though I am trudging through mud and trials. I have so many conflicts and sometimes I doubt You. I choose fear over faith sometimes – but You call and I come!

~Just as I am – poor, wretched, blind. Yet You give sight, riches, blessings, and healing, both physically and spiritually and emotionally. Yet, all I need is You, in You I find complete healing, when I seek You, I find You – O Jesus, I come!

~Just as I am – right where I am, You accept me, You receive me with open arms. I am welcomed, pardoned, cleansed and relieved!!! Because all Your promises are true and You always come through – O Lamb of God, I come!

~Just as I am – Your love unknown has broken down every barrier, every one! Now to be Yours, yes Yours alone – O God, I come!

~Just as I am – Your love is free. It stretches to the Heavens and there is no end to it, here for a season, then above – O Lamb of God, I come!!!

We come, on our knees, to Him and He receive us with open arms, always!  Where are you today? God knows and He cares;  and He loves you so much!  Run to Him and rest.  He is waiting.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Let us pray:  Dear God, this hymn in itself is our prayer. Just as we are, without one plea, we thank You for shedding Your blood for us, so that we are free to live with You forever. Thank You for breaking down the barriers for us. Thank You for Your endless love that is freely given. You forgive and forgive again; and You accept each of just as we are. O Lamb of God, we come.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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CHRISTLife – Three: Swan Story

January 15, 2014 by

1513255_414194085379002_1926593591_nI have been the swan and I have been the ugly duckling.  It all depends on the lens that you are looking through.  When I was in my late teens, I battled an eating disorder….  Oh, I knew what God said about me—that my body was a temple and I was to honor Him with it.  But I saw total imperfection.  I went to counseling and ultimately God and I won the victory (but notice I put Him in the equation!)  I remember looking in the mirror and seeing one thing; then closing my eyes and praying to see myself the way God did.  I cried out to the Holy Spirit and asked Him to be my eyes. You know what? When I would open them again, I saw God’s creation—a beautiful young woman on fire for His Kingdom.  Isn’t that what it is all about?

We know how we see ourselves.  We have given ourselves many, many names.  Some not so nice, right?  So I thought I would find proof of what God thinks of us, or how He defines us in His Word.  At the end of the chapter, there are many verses to look up and I would like to read them together, okay?  Then you decide, swan or (ugly) duckling.

But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like cedars of Lebanon.
For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house.
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
Even in old age they will still produce fruit, they will remain vital and green.
They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my Rock! There is no evil in Him!”
Psalms 92:12-15

Palm trees are known for their long life; so to flourish like a palm tree is to stand tall and to live a long time.  The cedars of Lebanon are 120 feet in height and 30 feet in circumference!  So, if we are strong like these, we are solid, unshakable, strong, and immovable!  God sees us as godly ones, His children who are unmoved by winds of circumstance, because we have Him on our side.  Our foundation is a God Who never changes and is not shaken by the struggles of this world.  These struggles only make us more beautiful in His eyes.  You see, we have won the victory through Jesus!!

So all of us who have had the veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.
And the Lord—Who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him
as we are changed into His glorious image.
2 Corinthians 3:18

As believers in Jesus, the veil has been removed and we can be like Him!  How then can you see anything other than beautiful?  As we read about Him and become close with Him, we see the truth about Jesus and it transforms us.  And as we learn more about His life and His sufferings and death on our behalf, our knowledge deepens and the Holy Spirit works in us to change us into Christ-like daughters. And so it is that the more closely we follow, the more like Him we will be!  Now what do you see in that mirror?

Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you,
because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.
2 Thessalonians 1:3

Paul always started his letters out by saying what he appreciated about his readers and the joy he felt because of their faith in God and their love for each other.  He is thanking God for these people!  As a community of Jesus followers, aren’t we better together?  Shouldn’t we be uplifting to each other?  I challenge you to find ways to encourage the women around you.  We can get so caught up in the comparison game and falling short of our neighbor.  But God created you to be you and to be the most amazing you that you can be.  In His image we are created and we are made to love each other like He loves us.  How much better the world would be if everyone felt this love?  We wouldn’t have many insecure women if we followed Paul’s example.

And last is…

Rather you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All glory to Him, both now and forever! Amen.
2 Peter 3:18

This is Peter urging his readers to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus, to get to know Him more and more by walking close to Him.  No matter where you are in your journey with Jesus—whether you are mature in your faith or just a beginner—the world is sinful and it is always a challenge to our faith.  There is always room to grow!  Never be content with where you are.  Always seek and pray and read His Word.  You will grow in the grace and knowledge of Him!  The closer you are to Him, the more strength you have to handle these hard and trying circumstances we will go through. This is beautiful, my friends!

Now, answer the question that is asked in this chapter:

“How confident are you
that you truly can change, grow,
and become more than you now are?”

Let us pray:  Dear Jesus, we praise You for Who You are!  You are never changing, always the same and, in this uncertain world, we cling to You!  You love us and You created us to be Your followers.  In Your image we are made and You are perfect. Forgive us for the critical things we say about ourselves and for the constant comparisons we make to each other and to ourselves.  You never meant for us to be anything other than beautiful, full of grace, always forgiving, loving, God-fearing followers of You.  Help us to stay in Your Word and to always remember who You say we are. We are a swan in Your eyes;  help us to see and believe. You are so patient with us always.  We love You and thank You for always loving us and accepting us. For it is in Your name we pray, amen.

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Looking back and Looking Forward

December 28, 2013 by

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.     Romans 12:2

A verse for the new year, don’t you think? As I look back on 2013, I see God’s hand in all of it. I cannot imagine a day without Him, really, and I don’t want to. This year has been challenging for sure, yet my faith has grown by leaps and bounds. There have been times of scarce resources yet God has provided loaves and fishes. My children have not gone hungry and there has always been a roof over our heads. The Lord is so good.

Kyle started a new job this time last year. He has been on the road for most of 2013 and had a lot of time with His Creator. I have had the privilege of watching God grow and mold him into the husband and father that He intended him to be. The marriage that almost ended has been completely renewed  and restored to an even more magical and Spirit-filled marriage, and love for each other is greater than ever. We found a church home and a group of wonderful godly people who love us for us and accept us just the way we are, but love us too much to let us stay content. How amazing when God puts people in your path that actually speak truth to you and help you grow spiritually.

I’ve watched my children grow spiritually through some pretty hard things. But, isn’t that how God works? It’s through the tests and trials that our faith grows and we realize that with God we can do anything. They have seen God do the impossible, too. As much as I would love for their lives to be easy, without hardships and heartaches, their character and faith and relationship with Him grows out of the dark murky soil. I wouldn’t change anything. God is good and all He gives is good. We cannot see the big picture so we don’t see how all these pieces fit together. But God does—and He puts the tapestry of our lives together. I love that I can look back with a smile knowing that He WAS  in control; I love that I can step into next year knowing that He IS in control. What would I do differently? Nothing!

So what are my hopes for the new year? For starters, I don’t want to take one step that He does not ordain. And what is the best way to hear what He says about our future? We go to His Word. His promises always come true and His word is more valuable than any amount of money.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect,
but I press on to make it my own,
because Christ Jesus has made me His own.
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.
But one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3, verses 12-14

‘Forgetting the past,’  ‘pressing on toward the goal,’  ‘for the prize,’  amazing words! And the prize is the the call on your life—an anointing on your life from your Father.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17

You are a new creation, the old has passed! 2013 has passed, there is nothing that can be done about it now. If wrong has been done, then we repent, ask forgiveness and move forward, right? And that is all that is required. We are forgiven. Grace is ours for free! And there’s more…

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and (spring) rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:18-19

This is actually our family life verse. He does make a way in the desert—He always has and He always will. When there seems to be no way, He makes a way. He is the way. John 14:6 says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Friends, if you don’t know Jesus and you don’t know the way to the Father, please read these Scriptures and pray them back to Him. All you have to do is ask Him to come in to your heart and live forever. Then read His Word and begin the most important and amazing walk of your life.

Last is Isaiah 43:1-28, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name and you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.” (Verses 2-5)

 He has called you by name and you are His!! Praise the Lord, He will walk in to 2014 with you and you will start fresh. You have an empty slate, a fresh start, a do over, if you will. All your steps are ordained and He will go before you and make a way for you! Oh…how He loves you and can’t wait to do life with you this year. So let’s take a deep breath, and take His hand and step on into the new year….

Let us pray: Dear God, our Father, thank You so much for this past year, for our successes and failures, for our victories and for trials, for keeping us safe and for loving us always. You are an amazing God, and even the rocks cry out to You. You are our Abba Father, our Daddy, we can crawl up in Your lap and forget the world. Thank You for going before us and making a way for us in the wilderness. Thank You for the fresh springs in the desert and for giving us the victory before the trial. Lord, as we walk in to this new year, I pray Your hedge of protection be around us and our families. Provide all we need, Dear Jesus, and keep us close to Your heart. I’m excited to see what;s in store for us this year! For it’s in Your name we pray, amen!

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Oh Come to My Heart, Lord Jesus

December 21, 2013 by

gchcarolsbloggraphic

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:

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee 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 choirsshall 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. 


Oh, Come to My Heart, Lord Jesus ~ 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, send 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.

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O Holy Night

December 5, 2013 by

gchcarolsbloggraphic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For over 150 years, “O Holy Night” has been performed all over the world.  The history of this song began in the 1800’s in France, when a priest asked a poet named Placide Cappeau wrote a poem for a Christmas mass. He was an unlikely man to write these lyrics—he was a wine merchant who was known for his poetry (not his church attendance). Later he broke with the church all together and joined a socialist movement in France. In a carriage, on the way to mass, he went over the lyrics and fell in love with God all over again. The words, still today have that effect on all who listen. It begins with this:

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviors birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
The thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn…

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born.
O night, O Holy Night! O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light a star is sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from out of the Orient land,
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our Friend.

He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His Law is love and His Gospel is peace
Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease!
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name!

Christ is The Lord! O, praise His Name forever!
His pow’r and glory ever more proclaim!
His pow’r and glory ever more proclaim!

We see the birth of Jesus, from a heavenly point of view. His birth awakened the world that was dying. “But yonder breaks, a new a glorious morn…” all things new, regardless of what we have done or will do, we have a new morning, a new day with Jesus as our Savior. Hope beyond our wildest imagination was born that day, and a weary world has hope wrapped in swaddling clothes. As Mary embraced Him, we, too, embrace Him, and He comes close to us. Naturally, we fall to our knees as we worship the King. Can you even imagine being there on that night?

“Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His Gospel is peace…” He calls us to love each other as He loves us; a truly impossible task if we aren’t staying in constant contact with Him. And because of this love, “chains He shall break…” and we will be free from any and all afflictions. Addictions, shame, guilt, anything that holds you will shatter at the sound of His Name. “Jesus,” love and freedom and because of the hope we have and freedom He gives, we will forever proclaim to all who will listen. “His power and glory ever more proclaim…” and “With all our hearts we praise His holy name…” and we cannot praise Him enough.

* * * * *

Let this season be about Him and doing for others. His birth changed this dying world and we will never be the same. Merry Christmas and may He forever be praised!

 

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Joy IS Possible…Right Where You Are

November 27, 2013 by

Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it

Genesis 28:16

November 22,2011.  There was a note, and a knock, and some boxes; and our lives were packed in two cars and a U-Haul. It was Thanksgiving Eve and we were in a hotel room overlooking the Pensacola Bay. Not a plush hotel room or a suite, just two double beds and some orange carpet and 1970’s curtains. Musty smells replaced turkey smells and loud noises outside replaced the familiar sound of family. No Charlie Brown Thanksgiving playing on TV or parades…but we still had each other.

We got creative and played games. The kids had a blast as they were so excited to be in a hotel for the first time. They had no idea what was really going on. See, as long as their father (and mother) were there, they felt safe. Thanksgiving came and we broke out the Pringles and gummy worms and had a feast. We thanked God for all we had and for being together and for loving each other. God was still blessing us and loving us. We took walks outside and watched some movies and prayed and fellowshipped. Kyle and I continued to pray for a miracle. We never once wondered where God was in all of this…we knew He had to be up to something.

Just as we were thinking this was the end of a beautiful season of living in a dream place, God was starting something new here. We received a call from a friend and in that call was a huge dose of hope! Shortly thereafter, we loaded the kids back in the car and drove back over the bridge to a precious house on the beach and we have been there ever since. God knew all along and He had a plan. And it was much better than we could have ever imagined.

When you praise Him through it all and thank Him for all you do have, it opens up the heavens for more blessings. God works in mysterious ways and His ways are not always understandable. But He is always trustworthy. If you are wondering why you are where you are today or you are wondering where God is at this moment—He is always with you.  He always loves you.  He always keeps His promises. There is hope today and there is always something to be grateful for. Remembering to give thanks is what causes us to trust and to believe.  Live the prayer of Thanksgiving and you will always live the power of trusting God.  Joy is always possible right where you are.  And just like my children, when we are with our Father, we know we are safe, no matter where we are.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and be a blessing to someone today!!

Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, We thank You for all the blessings You bestow on us daily, hourly, every minute of the day we are blessed by Your grace. Lord, You give so much and we take so much for granted. Help us to remember that this is not all there is. And that we are living for eternity and we are not Home yet. Help us to keep our eyes open and ears open to see and hear of anyone who is in need and may we not hesitate to give until it hurts for it was in someone being obedient to You that saved our family years ago. Comfort those who are hurting today and draw especially close to them during this season. You sustain us and You keep us in perfect peace. We love You and we praise You. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

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