November 21, 2024

Good Morning

June 26, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Wave away my yesterday
‘Cause I’m leaving it behind me
Hello sunshine, come what may
I feel something new inside me

I hear the birds singing
Now my alarms ringing
Get up, get up
Hey

It’s a good morning
Wake up to a brand new day
This morning,
I’m stepping,
Stepping on my way
Good morning,
You give me strength
You give me just what I need
And I can feel the hope that’s rising in me
It’s a good morning

Slow down, breathe in
Don’t move ahead
I’m just living in this moment

I got my arms raised, un-phased
Jump out of bed
Gotta get this party going

I went to bed dreaming
You woke me up singing
Get up, get up
Hey

Now I’m smiling, and I’m kissing all my worries goodbye
Got the feeling, if I spread my wings I might even fly
You are my truth, my way
Give me the strength to say
Get up, get up, get up
‘Cause it’s a good morning

Hey, top of the morning to you ‘disa
You smoothie, me ice cold pizza
Cafe au lait, latte dah
You do the zumba, but I do not

Give me like half a marathon
I’ll give you the Gospel of St. John
Hits me like a wake-up bomb
Cuz’ we both know that His mercy flows
In the morning

Mandisa and TobyMac
Songwriters: James Moore, Aaron Rice, Cary Barlowe, Mandisa Hundley, Toby McKeehan

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

  • We got a new puppy.
  • A puppy is like a baby.
  • My baby will be 7 this week.

So our daughter did very well in school this past year and she asked if she could get her own dog. We have 2 large dogs, but she has been desiring a teacup dog of her own. We agreed that she could have a puppy if she earned the money and purchased it on her own. Well she did…and this week Miss Zailey arrived at our home.  A puppy is like a baby…cute as can be, but needing much attention. I have been awake at least three times each night since our new addition has arrived. Our daughter is doing a great job, but I know she needs more sleep than I do so I’ve been helping with the early morning care. This morning at 2:12, I can assure you that “Good Morning” was not on my lips, I was not ready to start my new day, and I was not jumping out of bed with my arms raised. Our youngest son will be 7 next week and I am not used to this…at all… This morning at 5:10, a frustrated 12 year old woke me, she wasn’t feeling well, and the puppy wanted to play. So we played. As I sat in the living room I looked at this little alarm clock and thought about my plans for the day. So much to do, and now it will be done on less than 4 hours of sleep.

At that moment I had a choice; how I approach my day is my choice. And I chose to approach it with joy. God woke me up. Albeit tired, but I’m awake nonetheless. Today my worry was lack of sleep due to a puppy. Yesterday it may have been different, but despite what my worry is, this morning is a good morning. It’s a brand new day, a brand new morning, how are you going to approach today?

Despite what you may be facing
God has given you the gift of life on this day.
He will give you strength…
He will give you just what you need.

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Let’s pray: Father God, thank You for mornings, for new beginnings, and for fresh starts.  You said You are our strength, and today we may need that strength more than ever.  We stand strong on Your promises, and I pray that each and every woman here sees beauty in today.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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

(Patsy’s Lullaby) Cradle Me

May 6, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Cradle me in midnight mercies
Fill me with Your day starlight
Adorn me with thanksgiving
Strengthen me with might
Guide me with Your holy kindness
Into yet another day
Lead me on to glory, Jesus
In Your everlasting way

Through valleys, through darkest night
You guard me, speed my enemy to flight
Be the lifter of my head in sorrow
Mend my broken heart today
and heal up my tomorrow

Pillow me with Your Presence
Comfort me in Your holy rest
Surround me with your angels’ songs
Sleep safe in Your shelter of my Father’s arms

 Mandisa
written along with Patsy Clairmont and Ron Rawls

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Have you listened to this beautiful lullaby yet?  If not, please do.  Go right ahead…we’ll be waiting right here for you.

So beautiful…so calming…just as a lullaby should do!  A lullaby, by definition, is a song which quiets; and in particular, quiets babies.  This song does just that for me!  And why?  For one, the tune—the melody—is written in such a way that it evokes peaceful feelings.  And the instruments that were chosen to play this peaceful tune…the cello, the piano, violins…all communicate to our sense of hearing in a gentle way.  Along with the instrument of Mandisa’s beautiful voice!  All of a God-inspired design. But mostly I think it is the words that are sung that communicate Truth that calms and settles our minds and hearts.  These are encouraging words, for sure, but not in a compelling or powerful manner.  Rather, they encourage in a comforting way that causes one to feel safe and sheltered.

These words bring reminders to me of some of the phrases about sleep and peace that are written in the Book of Psalms.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord,
alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.
Psalm 4:8

By day the Lord commands His steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8

In the Scriptures we are told, time after time, of the ways in which God guards and protects and blesses us. I love the promises given to us in Psalm 91.  Here are just three of them:

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place
—the Most High, who is my Refuge—no evil
shall be allowed to befall you {#1},
no plague come near your tent {#2}.
For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways {#3}.
Psalms 91:9-11

God’s heart is to care for us now…while we still live in this ever-changing world, on this earth that is diminishing and daily being destroyed by the ways of man.  And He accomplishes this in ways that show us how perfectly He will care for us throughout eternity!  He wants us to be assured that He can be trusted to provide all we need…and that we, ourselves, cannot do this successfully on our own.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
for He gives to His beloved <blessings> even in his sleep.
Psalm 127:2

So learn of His promises, fill your heart and mind with the Truth , and meditate on God and His faithfulness to provide. Praise Him and thank Him and bless Him!

Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.
So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips
When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches.
For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.
Psalms 63:3-7

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Perhaps tonight when you lay your head down, you will remember the words of this beautiful song, and will sing “pillow me with Your Presence…comfort me in Your holy rest.”  May you “sleep safe in the shelter of your Father’s arms.”

God bless you and keep you…and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-25).

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

Mary’s Little Boy Child

December 5, 2014 by

phssChristmasgraphic2014

Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy Bible say
Mary’s boy child Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas day

Hark now–hear the angels sing
A new king born today
And man will live forevermore
Because of Christmas day
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen what they say
That man will live forevermore
Because of Christmas day

While shepherds watch their flock by night
They see a bright new shining star
Then hear a choir sing
The music seemed to come from afar

Now Joseph and his wife Mary
Come to Bethlehem that night
Then find no place to born the Child
Not a single room was in sight

By and by they find a little nook
In a stable all forlorn
And in a manger cold and dark
Mary’s little Boy was born

 Songwriter: Jester Hairston ~ Singer: Mandisa

*   ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

This song really makes me think about things from Mary’s perspective.  How she must have felt the night the angel told her should would become pregnant with Jesus.

Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: Good morning!
You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out! God be with you.
She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that.
But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear.
God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant
and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.
He will be great, be called ‘Son of the Highest.’
The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob’s house forever—no end, ever, to His kingdom.”
Luke 1:28-33 MSG

I wonder if she was afraid of what people would think…. Or if she thought, ‘Why me, Lord?’ Yet honored and overwhelmed that God had chosen her to be the one. Those are some of the things I wonder; and yet Mary received the task before her and trusted God in it.

He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
She gave birth to a son, her firstborn.
She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room in the hostel.
Luke 2:5-7 MSG

What an honor it is when God chooses us for Kingdom work to be used for His glory to shine through us! The unthinkable becomes possible when we receive the task before us and allow Him to work through us.

Jesus looked at them intently and said,
“Humanly speaking, it is impossible.
But with God everything is possible.”
Matthew 19:26 NLT

*   ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

Heavenly Father, what an honor it is when you choose us for the unthinkable, unimaginable tasks. May we receive the task before us without question and boldly trust in You as we allow You to work through us. To You be the Glory!! In Jesus’ Name!! AMEN!!!

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

(Never Gonna) Steal My Joy

August 27, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

 

I look at my life and I still can’t believe it
How could I make it to where I stand now?
You don’t understand, I was up against the whole world
And all I could feel was it breaking me down
But out of a hopeless situation
There came a song of redemption

Life may push my heart to the limit
But I won’t let go of the joy in my soul
‘Cause everything can change in a minute
And the world may try
But they’re never gonna steal my joy
No, they’re never, no, they’re never

So get up, stand up and rise above it
If every plan that you made go so wrong
You don’t have to give into the struggle
You may be down but don’t stay there for long
In every hopeless situation
There is a song of redemption

The world may say you’re never gonna make it
The world may say you’re not strong enough to take it
But I don’t care ’cause of the joy of the Lord is real
And they’re never gonna steal my joy,
Never, no, never 

 Songwriters: Sam Mizzell and Matthew West / Performed by Mandisa

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

‘Get up, stand up, and rise above it’!!!  We were never meant to live a defeated life. Not when we have Jesus on our side.  ‘The world may try but they’re never gonna steal my joy’!!  Our joy can only be stolen if we ALLOW it to be….

Joy is not dependent upon our circumstances.

For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me;
at His sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.
Psalms 27:5-7 NIV

Joy is possible when we feel secure in the Lord.

Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of Your face shine on us.
Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalms 4:6-8

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the fullness of joy that can only be found in You…for Your faithfulness in all circumstances…and for the strength to conquer whatever life brings.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!

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

Born For This

July 1, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Feels like I’ve been holding my breath, trying to still my restless heart
Everything hangs on my next step, finding my nerve, playing my part
I found shelter underneath His crown, found favor inside His eyes
Rock this boat, and I just might drown, honesty seems to come with a price
There’s a time to hold your tongue, time to keep your head down
There’s a time but it’s not now

Sometimes you gotta go, uninvited
Sometimes you gotta speak when you don’t have the floor
Sometimes you gotta move, when everybody else says you should stay
No way, no, not today
You gotta ask, if you want an answer
Sometimes you gotta stand apart from the crowd
Long before your heart could run the risk
You were born for this
You were born for this

I’m leaning on the ones before me, my father’s father’s dreams
I’m standing on the top of their shoulders calling the One delivering me
There’s a time to hold your tongue, time to keep your head down
There’s a time but it’s not now

One step, one move
Born to trust You
Made to lay my life before You

Songwriters: Nicole Nordeman, Bernie Herms
Performed by: Mandisa

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Ladies, we were born for such a time as this!!  We have been equipped for everything we need to live a life of victory.  We just need to tap into it!!!  We each have an important role in the Kingdom and it’s different for each of us.  God planned it that way, so that we all may function in unity together as sisters in Christ.  The question we need to be asking God is “What’s my role ?”  And, once you know, then do it well to honor and glorify your Daddy in Heaven.

We can learn SO MUCH from Queen Esther and her God-given boldness at just the right time.  It wasn’t the popular thing to do and she most certainly could have lost her life for her boldness.  She stood alone and yet she trusted God in it.  And because of it her people were saved.

  • Are we listening to what God is telling us to do?
  • Are we trusting Him in it?
  • Are we willing to step out in that holy boldness and be obedient?

Amazing things are awaiting when we choose to step out!
Obedience = Abundant Blessing

I love this excerpt from Dr. ChandraKumar Manickam:
“Some people watch history, while some people make history. A true hero recognizes a crisis and moves to meet it. What makes a hero? Someone would say, “Be just in the right place at the right time.” People become heroes, because they take quick action at the “right time,” while others stand watching in horror. This kind of courage made Esther a brave heroine in the history of Israel.
Though queen Esther did not have a specific title of ministry, she was instrumental in saving the entire Jewish nation. She was steadfastly committed to living according to godly principles. This allowed God to use her for His purpose and glory.”

click here for entire teaching

Ladies, let us not be just watchers but instead step out in faith and let God use us right now for His purposes—orchestrated by Him for His glory!!!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Heavenly Father, I thank You that we were born for such a time as this and that each of us women have a very IMPORTANT role in the Kingdom.  May we choose to operate in the different roles that you have appointed specifically for each one of us…so that we may live in unity with each other.  I pray that each woman would step out in holy boldness at just the right moment orchestrated by You for Your glory and Yours alone…in Jesus’ name!!!  Amen.

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

Cradle Me (Patsy’s Lullaby)

March 23, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Cradle me in midnight mercies
Fill me with Your day starlight
Adorn me with thanksgiving
Strengthen me with might
Guide me with Your holy kindness
Into yet another day
Lead me on to glory, Jesus
In Your everlasting way

Through valleys, through darkest night
You guard me, speed my enemy to flight
Be the lifter of my head in sorrow
Mend my broken heart today
and heal up my tomorrow

Pillow me with Your Presence
Comfort me in Your holy rest
Surround me with your angels’ songs
Sleep safe in Your shelter of my Father’s arms

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

~Lyrics by Patsy Clairmont / Melody and Arrangement by Mandisa and Ron Rawls~

Have you listened to this beautiful lullaby yet?  If not…please do; go ahead…we’ll wait right here for you.

So beautiful…so calming…just as a lullaby should do!  A lullaby, by definition, is a song which quiets; and in particular, quiets babies.  This song does just that for me!  And why?  For one, the tune—the melody—is written in such a way that it evokes peaceful feelings.  And the instruments that were chosen to play this peaceful tune…the cello, the piano, violins…all communicate to our sense of hearing in a gentle way.  Along with the instrument of Mandisa’s beautiful voice!  All of a God-inspired design. But mostly I think it is the words that are sung that communicate Truth that calms and settles our minds and hearts.  These are encouraging words, for sure, but not in a compelling or powerful manner. Rather, they encourage in a comforting way that causes one to feel safe and sheltered.

These words bring reminders to me of some of the phrases about sleep and peace that are written in the Book of Psalms.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone
make me dwell in safety and confident trust.
Psalm 4:8

By day the Lord commands His steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8

In the Scriptures, we are told time after time, of the ways in which God guards and protects and blesses us. I love the promises given to us in Psalm 91.  Here are just three of them:

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my Refuge—
No evil shall be allowed to befall you (1), no plague come near your tent (2).
For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways (3).
Psalms 91:9-11

God’s heart is to care for us now…while we still live in this ever-changing world, on this earth that is diminishing and daily being destroyed by the ways of man.  And He accomplishes this in ways that show us how perfectly He will care for us throughout eternity!  He wants us to be assured that He can be trusted to provide all we need…and that we, ourselves, cannot do this successfully on our own.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
for He gives to His beloved <blessings> even in his sleep.
Psalm 127:2

So learn of His promises, fill your heart and mind with the Truth , and meditate on God and His faithfulness to provide. Praise Him and thank Him and bless Him!

Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.
So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips
When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches.
For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.
Psalms 63:3-7

Perhaps tonight when you lay your head down, you will remember the words of this beautiful song, and will sing “Pillow me with Your Presence…comfort me in Your holy rest.”  May you “Sleep safe in the shelter of your Father’s arms.”  God bless you and keep you…and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-25).

 

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

Freedom Song

March 11, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Freedom Song
Performed by Mandisa

Praise to the Lord, our chains are gone
Can’t help but sing our freedom song
Praise to the Lord, our chains are gone
Can’t help but sing our freedom….

I am a child from a broken home
Where true love was torn apart
But then I met a Heavenly Father
Who made a home inside my heart

I am a man with the chains of addiction
Dragging me down for way too long
But I came face to face with redemption
And now those chains are gone

Can anybody hear me?
Does anybody know what I’m talking about?
When you’ve been delivered like that
You’ve got to shout it out

Lift your hands up in the air; shout Hallelujah
Lift your hands up in the air…I have been set free

I am a sixteen year old daughter
Lost in the mirror, no self esteem
But God made me in His image
And that makes me a beauty queen

I am a wife and the mother of three
Trading my dreams for a busy life
Searching for my lost identity
And I’m happy to announce that I found it in Christ

Praise to the Lord, my chains are gone
Can’t help but sing our freedom song
Praise to the Lord, my chains are gone
Can’t help but sing our freedom song

 ~  Listen while you read, please!  ~

What does it mean to walk in freedom?  The definition of freedom is: ‘the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.’  Another definition is ‘the quality or state of being free.’

Because of Jesus work on the Cross we can now walk in freedom without hinderance or restraint…because of Jesus my chains are gone; praise God!!!

Because of Jesus you have been set of free of the bondage of your past that ensnared you…what an AWE-inspiring Truth and something for which I am thankful each and every day.  If God never did another thing for me, the fact that I have been saved from a dark past and that I won’t be going be going to Hell is enough for me….  I will never begin to understand the love of the Father and the sacrifice that He made for Me and for YOU!

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed

Galations 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

I Love Ephesians 3:12 In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Because of Jesus we can approach God with freedom and confidence… Hallelujah!!!!)

Psalm 118:5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and He answered by setting me free.

Sisters, will you receive the freedom that you have available to you this day?  And choose to walk in the freedom and confidence of who you are in Him?

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Heavenly Father, I can never begin to understand the sacrifice, pain, and suffering that Jesus went through so that I may walk in freedom today.  A simple ‘Thank You’ can never begin to express my thankfulness!  Without Jesus there would be no hope for someone like me.  Thank You that in my anguish I cried out to You and You have set me free!!!  In Jesus name, AMEN!!!

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

Overcomer

January 15, 2014 by


psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

~  Listen while you read, please!  ~

Staring at a stop sign, watching people drive by, T Mac on the radio
Got so much on your mind, nothing’s really going right, looking for a ray of hope
Whatever it is you may be going through
I know he’s not gonna let it get the best of you

You’re an overcomer
Stay in the fight ’til the final round
You’re not going under
‘Cause God is holding you right now
You might be down for a moment
Feeling like it’s hopeless
That’s when He reminds you
That you’re an overcomer
You’re an overcomer

Everybody’s been down, hit the bottom, hit the ground. Ooh, you’re not alone
Just take a breath, don’t forget, hang on to His promises, He wants you to know

The same man, the great I am, the One Who overcame death is living inside of you
So just hold tight, fix your eyes on the One Who holds your life
There’s nothing He can’t do…He’s telling you

~  Performed by Mandisa; Written by Christopher Stevens and David Garcia  ~

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

“I am an Overcomer!”  Let’s think about that and say that together….

I AM AN OVERCOMER!!!!!

This is who God says I am! We all can get weighed down by the pressures in life. I know there are days when I feel like I am in the boxing ring and things (aka—life) is coming at me and how quickly I forget who I am when I get weary!!! It’s in those moments that God so sweetly reminds me just exactly who I am.

In Romans 8:37, He says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” I am more than a conqueror because Jesus lives in me and because of Him I have the Victory!!!  He also tells us in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

There is peace and there is hope in ALL things and in EVERY situation if we so choose to take our eyes off our circumstances and get our eyes back on Him. The only way to be defeated is to give up. Make a choice this day to look the giant in the face, get back up, and walk in the confidence that your Father is working in that situation and is using it for good.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting,
God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along.
If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter.
He does our praying in and for us,
making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.
He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition,
and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure
that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Romans 8:28 (MSG)

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Heavenly Father, I thank You for these truths and I pray for each and every person who is reading this, and for myself included, that when things around us are swirling out of control that we would choose to take our eyes off the circumstances and CHOOSE to get our eyes back on You, walking in the peace and confidence of knowing that You are faithful in ALL things and in EVERY circumstance! In Jesus’ name. Amen!!!

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

Mary’s Little Boy Child

December 2, 2013 by

gchcarolsbloggraphic

Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
And man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day.
Long time ago in Bethlehem—so the Holy Bible says—
Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
Hark, now hear the angels sing ‘a King was born today!’
And man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day.
Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
While shepherds watch their flocks by night,
They see a bright new shining star,
They hear a choir sing a song, the music seemed to come from afar.
Hark, now hear the angels sing, ‘a King was born today!’
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Now Joseph and his wife, Mary, came to Bethlehem that night,
They found no place to bear her child, not a single room was in sight.
And then they found a little nook in a stable all forlorn,
And in a manger cold and dark, Mary’s little boy was born.
Hark, now hear the angels sing, ‘a King was born today!’
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.

Mary’s Little Boy Child ~ Mandisa

Aren’t we just so thankful for those words: “…and man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day….”?  I remember when I first heard this song, and the thankfulness I felt in my heart because of Jesus’ birth as a Savior…a Savior for you and for me. A baby born in the humblest of circumstances. Humble in a sense that He was born in a stable full of animals and yet His birth radiated Glory!  It was revealed to shepherds in a field by angels.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men
Luke 2:14

From the manger to the Cross… Oh, how thankful I am for that (and I bet you are too…)!
As we enter this Christmas season, may we keep our eyes focused on The One Who came in the humblest of circumstances to then endure the Cross to save you and me.

 

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Hark, now hear the angels sing ‘a King was born today!’
And man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day.
Merry Christmas!

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Esther – Chapter 7:5-8

October 16, 2013 by

Haman’s story is coming full circle here, in verses 5-8 of chapter 7 in Esther.  We’ve talked about Haman quite a bit, haven’t we?  In chapter 6, we discussed that, while we rejoice in knowing that God will avenge any evil done to us, we should try to look at all people (even Haman) as God sees them.  But in chapter 3 we see that just like Haman was a deadly adversary to Mordecai, the Jews, and Esther, so the devil is our adversary.  We saw that Haman was the accuser, just like Satan.  And in verses 5-8 of chapter 7, I am again reminded of the similarities between the two (Haman and Satan), and how, like Haman, Satan is going down! Let’s revisit a scripture I introduced from chapter 3’s discussion:

Wk7_Caddell_Esther

Darlene reminds us of an excellent point – one we should not forget – “Because of redemption through Jesus Christ, we are overcomers in this life” (page80).   OVERCOMERS!!  Hallelujah!  Did you see a similar word mentioned in the verses above?  Look again.  “They (the brothers, but sisters are included!) overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony….”

Did you know that through Jesus you have the power to overcome Satan in your life?   You do!  When you belong to Christ, the Holy Spirit resides in you (Acts 2:38).  In other words, you are covered by the blood of the Lamb. But what else was used to overcome Satan?  The word of their testimony.  That’s your part.  Share your testimony.   This is where some of us get a little discouraged or confused, like we don’t have a powerful testimony to share.  WRONG!  I don’t even know you, but I know your testimony is powerful.  Your testimony is your story…your life.  How God has changed you/shaped you/intervened on your behalf.  This is how you “defeat” Satan:  You know those reminders that he throws in your face of your past failures? You look him right in the eye and say, “That’s right, I did those things. But that’s who I WAS. Jesus washed all that garbage away and has forgiven me!  I am clean!  And now I’m going to tell others how God can turn their lives around, too.”  I’ve seen this quote many times and I love it – ‘your mess becomes your message; your test becomes your testimony’!  Can I say “Hallelujah!” again??  Hallelujah!

Let’s get real.  Will we experience trials?  Yes.  Difficulties and obstacles?   Absolutely.  Will that burden look too heavy to bear?  Quite possibly.  But you are not alone…Almighty God is on your side.  He is greater!  John is addressing a church about spiritual warfare, false prophets, and the spirit of the antichrist when he reminds them in 1 John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”  Do you see that, sisters?  The one who is in YOU is greater than the one who is in the world.  Through the blood of Jesus, Satan has no claim on you, no hold on you, and no power over you!   You are NOT hopeless!  You are NOT powerless!  You ARE a daughter of the King!  YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER!!

Today, what “Haman” in your life is threatening you?  What trial are you going through?  What in your life has set itself against you—the daughter of the King?  TODAY, resolve to throw those things at the foot of the Cross and ask God to fight for you!  TODAY, change your mindset and claim the victory!  God will deliver you – say it out loud – I AM AN OVERCOMER!!!

 
Let’s Pray:

Holy God, THANK YOU for the POWER of the blood of Your Son, Jesus, that was shed on my behalf!  Thank You for my salvation.  Thank You that I don’t have to be threatened by my past mistakes, but that You can use my life as an example of Your abundant love and saving grace! Today, Lord, I throw at Your feet everything that is burdening me and ask You to intervene on my behalf.  Help me, Lord, to see Your deliverance in my life.  Give me a revelation of You that gives me the confidence, boldness and joy to claim victory in my life and overcome all obstacles! Give me the courage to share my story with others who need to know the unrelenting, merciful love and grace that is ours in Christ Jesus!  In the power of Your Son’s name we pray.

Amen.

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