Saturday, December 19, 2009

Let Your Light Shine This Christmas and Throughout the New Year








If we place all our hope in material things and fairy tale visions of a perfect Christmas without Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we will be disappointed.
Luke's Gospel story has light in it. "The glory of the Lord shone around them," he writes, and we can only picture glory through light. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest."

This is the true meaning of Christmas--"Do not be afraid, for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people, to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is the Messiah, the Lord."
Think for a minute about the multitude of the heavenly host. How does it appear to you today?

Christ's birth is a mystery but God became a human being – He took on human flesh that night so He would live as one of us, be crucified and rise from the dead to save us from our sins.

Christ is the Light of the World! Is He your Light? Do you reflect His light and love in your life?

This is the true meaning of Christmas--that Christ came into the world for you and me! Pray for faith today. Pray that the Christ Child may come into your heart, transform it and give you a new life in Him. Pray for His Light to fill you with peace. Pray for His Light to have you reconcile yourself with estranged relatives, friends and neighbors.

Pray for this light to heal whatever ails you. Pray for His grace and strength to do whatever He has called you to do. Pray this week that you may bring Christ's light and love into other peoples' lives, that you may reconcile with those you have had differences, that you may help someone through a difficult period in their lives or that you may be a "non anxious" presence for those who worry constantly or are distressed.

Whatever your Christmas is like, Jesus understands it and you fill it with His presence. There is no joy so great that Christ cannot raise it to greater heights, there is no disappointment so bitter or sorry so profound that He cannot come into it with His love right now and the true hope He offers of eternal life and joy beyond all description. We are approaching Christmas Day, the celebration of the birth of hope and joy in the Savior who is come and no one and nothing can stop. We are seeing and experiencing a great light upon this Season--let it shine in your heart and free your passion to be a Christian in a very broken world.
Merry or not at Christmas we always get a present: Christ's presence where we really are, and our hope of being where He is.

There is hope and we can make a difference in our own lives as well as in others lives if we will just allow God to “fill” us with His presence so that we can become the light that shines in a world of darkness. God bless you today and this Christmas Season and throughout the New Year, I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

To Be Taken, Blessed & Broken - To Bear Fruit

Prayer Blog for Friday - December 18, 2009

"The Life of the Beloved" – Precious In God’s Eyes

“You are the beloved and on you my favor rests”.

Jesus heard that voice. He heard that voice when He came out of the Jordan River. We need to hear that voice, too. It is a very important voice that says, "You are my beloved son; you are my beloved daughter. I love you with an everlasting love. I have molded you together in the depths of the earth. I have knitted you in your mother's womb. I've written your name in the palm of my hand and I hold you safe in the shade of my embrace. I hold you. You belong to Me and I belong to you. You are safe where I am. Don't be afraid. Trust that you are the beloved. That is who you truly are."

We need to hear that voice. It is not a very loud voice because it is an intimate voice. It comes from a very deep place. It is soft and gentle. We need to gradually hear that voice. We need to hear that voice and to claim for ourselves that - that voice speaks the truth, our truth. It tells us who we are. That is where the spiritual life starts -- by claiming the voice that calls us the beloved.
There are four words that are used in the story of the multiplication of bread, words that are used at the Last Supper, words that are used at Emmaus and words that are used constantly when the community of faith comes together. Those words are: He took, He blessed, He broke, and He gave.

To be taken, to be blessed, to be broken and to be given is the synopsis of the life of Jesus who was taken, who was blessed by God, broken on the cross, and given to the world. It is also the summary of our life because just as Jesus, we are the beloved.

First, we are taken, or a better word would be chosen. We are chosen by God. That means we are seen by God in our preciousness, in our individuality. We are seen as precious in God's eyes.

In our world, when one is chosen it means for the others, "Too bad for us, we are not chosen." In God's mystery, being chosen doesn't mean excluding anyone. In fact, the more we know we are chosen, that we are seen in our preciousness, the more we will realize that our friends and all people are seen in their preciousness. The life of the beloved starts by trusting that we are chosen in our uniqueness, that we are unique in God's eyes, precious.

The second aspect of the quality of the life of the beloved is that we are blessed. It is so important we understand that we are blessed. The word benediction means blessing. Literally, bene means good and diction means saying. To bless someone means to say good things about them. "You are good." We need to know that good things are being said of us. We have to trust that, otherwise we cannot bless other people. So many people don't feel blessed.

It is very important that when we are in touch with our blessedness that we can then bless other people. People need our blessing; people need to know that their father, mother, brothers and sisters bless them.

Then we are broken. We are broken people. Much of our brokenness has to do with relationships. If you ask me what it is that makes us suffer, it is often because someone couldn't hold onto us or someone hurt us. Each of us can point to brokenness in our relationships with our husband, with our wife, with our father, our mother, with our children, with our friends, and with others. Wherever there is love, there is also pain. Wherever there are people who really care for us, there is also the pain of sometimes not caring for or being cared for enough. That is enormous.
What do we do with our brokenness? As the beloved of God we have to dare to embrace it, to befriend our own brokenness, not to say, "That should not be in my life. Let's just get away from it. Let's get back on track."

No. We should dare to embrace our brokenness, to befriend it and to really look at it. "Yes, I am hurting. Yes, I am wounded. Yes, it's painful."

We don't have to be afraid. We can look at our pain because in a very mysterious way our wounds are often a window on the reality of our lives. If we dare to embrace them, then we can put them under the blessing. That is the great challenge.
Often we want to solve people's problems and tell them to do this or to do that - that we will help them out and let's get over it. The main task we have is to put our brokenness and the brokenness of the people with whom we live under the blessing. If you live your brokenness under the curse, even a little brokenness can destroy your life. It is like an affirmation that you are no good and suddenly you say, "You see what has happened? I lost my job. This friend didn't speak to me. He rejected me." We can hold on to it and see it proven that we are no good. We always thought so.

The great call is to put our brokenness under the blessing, to live it as people of whom good things are being said.

If we live our life as people who are taken, blessed and broken, then we can give ourselves. We are taken, blessed and broken to be given. Mankind’s greatest human desire is to give of ourselves. Quite often we say that we want to have a lot for ourselves then we will give a little bit to others. The greatest fulfillment of our heart is in the giving, to give ourselves. It is letting go. The mystery is that as we let go for others our lives start bearing fruit. That is a great mystery.
Jesus says, "It is good for you that I die because when I die I can give you my spirit and you will bear much fruit in your life." I really believe that is the final call, to give ourselves.

When we are people who are chosen by God -- blessed, broken -- we can give ourselves to others. Our life can bear immense fruit. Those who live as the beloved, continue to bear fruit generations after they have died. When we think about certain great people in history, they still give us life. They still give us hope because their lives became fruitful, fruitful in the giving.

The story of the multiplication of bread reminds us of a little boy that others said that he was not worth anything. He had five loaves and five fishes. This little boy was received by Jesus and He took these five loaves and five fishes. He broke the bread after having blessed it, and He gave it, and in giving it multiplied and it was enough for everyone to eat.

That story says something about our lives. We are little people, but if we believe that we are chosen, that we are blessed, that we are broken, to be given, then we can trust that our life will bear fruit. It will multiply, not only in this life, but beyond it. Others will find strength by knowing that they are being given new life by those who lived as the beloved and they can become the beloved themselves.

Beloved

1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 (New International Version) 18 But Samuel was ministering before the LORD -a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the LORD give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the LORD." Then they would go home.

Colossians 3:12-17 (New International Version) 12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I really like old movies. Especiall, the black and white ones from the ‘30’s and 40’s. Most every Christmas, and this year is no exception, I want to watch one of those movies by the name of The Bishop’s Wife. It first came out in 1947 and stars Loretta Young, David Niven, Cary Grant and Monty Wooly – just a bit of trivia for those of you who relate to this kind of thing or even know who these folks were.
The film is about an Episcopal bishop, his wife and an angel. It’s about how muddled life can become when we get off track. Specifically, the film is about this bishop named Henry who rose from a poor parish to become bishop, but somewhere along the way lost track of what’s important. He lost his compassion, his joy and his love for both the church and for his family. Henry became obsessed with the plans for a grand, new cathedral in the diocese, plans, which aren’t going that well as the movie begins.

The film opens with a stressed and frustrated Henry turning to God for guidance. You know the phrase – be careful what you pray for. Guidance, for Harry, came in the form of a good-natured, yet meddling angel played by Cary Grant. The angel does his work, and, as with most movies of this era, the ending is happy. Priorities are set straight, joy and compassion are restored and relationships are mended.
In the final scene, the bishop begins a Christmas Eve sermon at his former parish – a sermon penned by the angel:

“Tonight I want to tell you a story about an empty stocking. Once upon a midnight clear there was a child's cry. A blazing star hung over a stable and wise men came with birthday gifts. We haven't forgotten that night down the centuries. We celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees and the cry of bells and gifts - but especially with gifts. You give me a book. I give you a tie. Aunt Martha always wanted an orange squeezer and Uncle Henry could do with a new pipe. Oh, we forget nobody, adult or child. All the stockings are filled. All that is, except one. We have even forgotten to hang it up, a stocking for the child born in a manger. It's his birthday we're celebrating. Don’t let us ever forget that. Let's ask ourselves what He would wish for most. And then let each put in his or her share - loving kindness - warm hearts - and the stretched out hand of tolerance - all the shining gifts that make peace on earth”. (Excerpt from The Bishop's Wife Movie)

It is a good movie that encourages us to ask a good question. What would He, the child born in a manger, wish for most? What does Jesus want from us? This is a good question to ask and a good question just days before the wise men follow the star to present their gifts to this child. It’s a good question for us to ask ourselves as individuals, an essential question for us to ask ourselves as His church not just now, but at other times and often throughout the year.

What is it that Jesus would wish for most? The first part of the answer is the most important part of the answer. Jesus wants most for us to know that we are "God’s chosen, holy and beloved." Jesus wants most for us to know that we are God’s own and that God values and loves us. In essence, the first thing that Jesus wants most is to give us the gift of God’s love.

What a gift! The creator of the sun and the moon and all the stars, the creator of heaven and earth, loves us. We are God’s chosen, God’s holy and beloved. We need to be clear that being chosen, being holy and beloved in no way means that we are better than anyone else or that we’re more righteous than anyone else or that God’s love is reserved only for us. To put this in scriptural context, the first chapter of Colossians reminds us that in Christ "all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven . . . (Col. 1:19)."

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, [we are to] clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. [We are to] bear with one another . . . forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven us, so you also we must forgive. Above all, [we are to] clothe ourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony (3:12-14).

Nice words, wonderful ideals – compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness and love – a stocking for the Christ child filled with loving kindness, warm hearts, out-stretched hands. Yet, are these just the ideals for sentimental movies? You can imagine, of course, that my answer is "no." These are ideals, yes, yet they are the very real promises of the hope and joy that come because we have done what Jesus wants most – to accept God’s enormous, life changing love that was given to us through that baby in a manger. That love can and does change our lives so that we become the human beings that God wants us to be.

We don’t, however grow into the se wonderful ideals, these clothes of compassion, kindness, etc. overnight and we don’t do it by ourselves. Remember, the boy Samuel. Imagine, again, like I did with the children. Imagine those robes hanging side by side getting a little bigger each year. Just like Samuel, we don’t grow into the clothes Jesus wants us to wear overnight. And, like Samuel, we don’t do it on our own.

We don’t experience the life changing love God shows us in Christ on our own. We learn about this love together. We begin to believe it together. We mature into its meaning for our lives together. And, we call that togetherness the church. It is together that we learn, "[l] let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly." It is together that we "teach and admonish one another in [God’s] wisdom." It is together, "with gratitude in [our] hearts, that we "sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God" (Col 3:26). And, finally, it is only together that we have a prayer of being able "in word or deed, [to] do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

We can commit ourselves, together, as God’s holy and beloved, as Christ’s church and a nation, to staying on track. We can commit to asking ourselves “what would Jesus want most?”

An empty stocking to be filled with loving kindness, warm hearts, tolerance – a new life in Christ clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Will we be the same people, the same church, the same world when Christmas 2009 or the next or the next Christmas rolls by?

I think that Jesus wants the answer to be no and wants to hear the answer loud and clear in a thankful chorus from his chosen, his holy and beloved. Christ’s church and our nation can answer no – things won’t be the same because we commit to being the place where, above all else, the love of God unites our togetherness, where the love of Jesus dwells deeply in us and where the word of love is taught in everything, in all we say and do. God came as that little baby in the manager so that we, as God’s holy and beloved people, could lead the way showing the world that it can change, that it is possible to live from love and not fear. We can lead the way to becoming the human beings God wants most for us to be. We can lead the way when together we begin to take very seriously the fact that we are holy and beloved, that God values and loves us more than we can imagine, and when we begin to let that love dwell richly in us influencing everything we do.

All glory and thanks be to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit now and forevermore I pray this day in Jesus’ name. Amen

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Holy Exaggeration

Luke 2:14 (New King James Version)
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men”.

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant”.

The word glorify is accurate, but magnify offers some refreshment to the imagination. There are two kinds of magnification: the kind that makes the small seem big as in a microscope; and the kind that shows what seems small to actually be big as in a telescope. The world’s glories are of the microscopic variety, what is really tiny is made to look big. God’s glory is of the telescopic variety. As with the pinpoints of light in the sky, so with the embryo in Mary’s womb, what seems small is discovered to be gigantic – when seen through the lens of faith.

My prayer: Open my mouth to praise you, God of wonders! You are worthy of all praise. Teach me to exaggerate what the world neglects to maximize what sin minimizes.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as had been told. (Luke 2:20)

Song Lyrics: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,

Monday, December 14, 2009

Christmas Bells


















Christmas Bells by:

Longfellow Henry Wadsworth

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The Carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;
‘For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Jeremiah 18:6-10(NASU)

"At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it.”

God brought His own Son into the world that great Christmas night to save us from our sins so that "who soever" will not perish, but "will have everlasting life" with Him eternally". Let's not let Him down and turn our back on Him. Lets turn away from evil, obey Him and listen to His voice. In this I pray dear Lord Jesus this day, Amen.

Sincerely with humility - it is not about me. - For it is about decreasing me, adding more of You, and what is Your will for my life, Bonnie

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Keeping Christmas - Henry Van Dyke

Henry Van Dyke's non-fiction: A Short Christmas Sermon: Keeping Christmas

ROMANS, xiv, 6:” He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord”.
“It is a good thing to observe Christmas day. The mere marking of times and seasons, when men agree to stop work and make merry together, is a wise and wholesome custom. It helps one to feel the supremacy of the common life over the individual life. It reminds a man to set his own little watch, now and then, by the great clock of humanity which runs on sun time. But there is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas. Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground; to see that your fellow-men are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness--are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas. Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children; to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open--are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas. Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world--stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death--and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas”.

“And if you keep it for a day, why not always?

But you can never keep it alone”.


[The end]

Friday, December 11, 2009

A Christmas Wish

Message for Saturday, December 12, 2009

I want to tell you a story about a boy named Tiglath. Now, Tiglath said to his friends at school, "I know what Christmas is about." "That's nothing," said one of his friends. "Everybody knows that." "No," said Tiglath. "I know what Christmas is really about. My Sunday School teacher told me. It's about Jesus coming." "No it's not," said another friend. "It's about Santa Claus coming." "You don't know," said Tiglath. "I know nobody sings, 'Here comes Jesus. Here comes Jesus...'" said the friend. Then everyone started laughing and shoving and the bell rang to go back in from the playground.

That night when Tiglath and his father were getting ready to say prayers, Tiglath asked, "Is Christmas about Santa Claus coming or about Jesus coming?" "Where did you get that question?" asked his father. "My Sunday School teacher said it was about Jesus, but the kids at school say it's about Santa Claus," said Tiglath. "Oh, I see," said his father. "Do you remember when your brother was born?" "Yes," said Tiglath. "Do you remember Grandma and Grandpa coming to see the new baby?" "Yes." "Do you remember that they brought you a present when they came?" "Yes," said Tiglath. "It was a remote control car." "So, what was that day about? Was it about your baby brother or about your new toy? Which is more important, your brother or the toy?" Tiglath had to think about that.
"Well, which one changed your life more, your bother or the toy?" "My brother," said Tiglath. "Exactly. So, if we say Christmas is about Jesus coming, we're talking about the baby Jesus being born. If we say Christmas is about Santa Claus coming, we're talking about getting toys. Which do you think is more important?" "Jesus coming is more important," said Tiglath.

And they said a prayer like this: “Dear God, we thank you for toys at Christmas, but most of all we thank you for the baby Jesus. Amen.”


These are some of the responses I received when I asked some of my dearest friends “if they could have anything this year, what would they want for Christmas?”

What Christmas means to me? Christmas to me is a time for friends and family to come together and celebrate the birth and life of Christ. It is a time for all to love and care for one another.
What would I like for Christmas if I could have it? I would like my sister back. If not forever at least for the day of Christmas.

Folsom, LA

WOW! If I could have ANYTHING in the WHOLE wide world for Christmas, (this I don’t even have to think about, My answer is very quick). It would be to have ALL three of my children running after God with all their hearts AND operating in whatever the call is that God has for their lives. I wish so deeply that I could impress upon them (NOW, at this age) that there is NOTHING and NO PLACE like knowing that we are RIGHT in the CENTER of Gods will; doing EXACTLY what He would have us do! God is SO awesome, He is SO precious, and I am SO very thankful that He chose me, but also that I asked Him to come into my life and that I am able to know Him so intimately. So this, would be my one wish for Christmas. To know the ones I love most………could have that same experience.

Concord, NC


Wow....not as easy as I might have thought now that I am being called upon to answer those questions.

Christmas has always meant a time for joy, togetherness, family, sharing, and remembering the reason we celebrate the season......the birth of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is always easy for younger people to forget the real reason for Christmas, as one can get caught up in the "what do I get" atmosphere of gift giving and receiving. But, as time passes and we realize the experiences of life and what is truly important, we learn that it is not what we get or give, but it is what we celebrate.

This time around, I too fall into that category of financial stress that touches my whole family. I think that in times like this, it is even more important to remember Jesus and ask him to for his blessings for my family. It is a test of character and an opportunity to share with family that we must work and pray together to get thru the difficult times.

My wish this Christmas is that Jesus will show all of us the way, give us direction, and bless all of us and our families with a little good fortune, so that we are able to find our way back to the joy and togetherness of family....so that we will reach out to others in need and offer assistance and encouragement....so that we stand with conviction to keep Christ in our schools and communities, and be able to yell out "Merry Christmas" and hear others yell it back to us. My wish if for Christmas to be the way is used to be.

Baton Rouge, LA


Jesus came to give, He was gift that keeps on giving and we are to imitate Him and be blessed to keep on blessing...amen...

Kenner, LA

My Prayer: Heavenly Father God Almighty please send Your Holy Spirit into the hearts of each person that reads this message so that they will be able to feel your love, mercy, kindness, and presence this Christmas season. May each and every one of us rejoice in the celebration of Jesus' birth this Christmas day. In this I pray in Your name Jesus, Amen.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Mary Did You Know?

Blog Message for Friday - December 11, 2009

Song Lyrics to Mary Did You Know

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know,
that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered,
will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know
your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know,
that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby,
you've kissed the face of God.

The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know,
that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding, is the great I AM.

Happy Birthday Jesus

Sincerely,
Bonnie

Forgive Me Dearest Father

A Note From GranGran:

Nancy, the mother, relates: We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi there." He pounded his fat baby hands on the high-chair tray. His eyes were wide with excitement and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin. He wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man with a tattered rag of a coat; dirty, greasy and worn. His pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. "Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster." The man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?" Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi, hi there." Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.

Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya know patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo."

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot.

The old man sat poised between me and the door. "Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to side-step him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's. Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love relationship. Erik in an act of total trust, love and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder.

The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain and hard labor - gently, so gently, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck.

The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms for a moment, and then his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest-unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift." I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.

With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My God, My God, forgive me."

I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking: "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?" -- when He shared His for all eternity.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, God Almighty please forgive me when I am prideful or judgmental and do not look at others the way that You do dear Lord. Please help me to listen to Your voice and to be humble as I walk daily with You. Being a intercessor dear Lord You are aware that I receive many prayer requests and emails concerning those who have lost loved ones, financial struggles, depression, loneliness, sickness, loss of employment as well as some things that are not even imaginable. Please give me Your wisdom dear Lord in my petitions and prayers when I come to You Father God regarding these concerns. Please show me how to be still in Your presence and don’t allow anything to come out of my mouth that is me and not You. Please allow Your love and compassion to flow into my soul as You Father God place these things on my heart. There are so many hurting people in the world this Christmas dear God. Please forgive me Father God for causing them great pain. Please don’t allow me to hinder their walk or cause them to slip away from You. Please shine Your light on them so they have hope and feel Your love, Your kindness, Your mercy, Your compassion and Your grace today and this Christmas season. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Merry Christmas to All!

Luke 10:38-42 “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she helps me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her”.

We are approaching one of the most hectic times of the year. “Christmas”. The commercialization doesn't really bother me too much because whether they like to admit it or not, every light that is lit every bell that rings and every ribbon that is tied onto a package reminds me and the world that Jesus was born. But I want to take you to a simpler time when the confusion and stress of Christmas was non-existent.

Let’s imagine for a few moments one of the important things at Christmas and one that will leave us with a sense and satisfaction that will bring joy to us and our families all year long. Let’s focus on a “Mary Christmas”. That's right, a “M-A-R-Y Christmas”. The Mary I am talking about is found in the bible. Let’s look at three ways we all can have a “Mary Christmas”. It is not going to be easy. Something good is seldom easy to imagine especially when there is so much that is driving us in a different direction. People, family, friends and the world all try to have a "Merry" X-mas but that is not what we need.

We can have a 'Mary' Christmas - By sitting at Jesus' feet - Mary's position in this passage indicates two important aspects of how we should spend the Christmas season.

In His Presence - Hearing His Word - In and Out of church

“There was once a girl, or as so the story goes, who though blind loved the Word of God. Despite her blindness she learned to read by touch and spent endless hours engrossed in the Bible. One day she was badly burned in her hands and when the bandages were removed, she no longer had the sensitivity of touch enough to distinguish the characters. Devastated she wept over her loss until she heard about another blind girl who did not have a Bible. On her way over to give her precious book to the girl, with a tear in her eye, she opened it one last time and with great tenderness kissed the pages that she had loved so much. To her surprise, she carefully read "The Gospel according to St. Mark".

I have found that when I read with the mind only, I get nothing compared with what I receive when I put my heart up against it. I can feel the throbbing of the heart of the infinite God. Have you learned it.? I think this is what Mary felt that day and disciples after his resurrection when they said, "... did our heart not burn within us when he spoke with us ..."

Where will you be spending your time this holiday season? At the feet of Jesus? Hearing His word preached and read?

You can have a 'Mary' Christmas - By sitting at Jesus' feet - By settling at Jesus' feet.

John 11:19-35 - How we come to Jesus - compares & contrasts Martha and Mary
Martha was dealing with the temporal and unless I misjudge her response it was in doubtful, accusatory way based on the response of Jesus.

Though the sisters of Lazarus may have had sufficient to make it on their own, often it was the support of family and friends that would sustain the household.

Like many people who try to find comfort from the ache of the flesh in someone or somebody instead of the God of comfort, Martha too was seeking comfort in the temporal.

People lay blame on individuals and circumstances, when the real explanation of their fault-finding and abusive speech is a morally diseased inward condition! God has a large family who are well, but He has some children who are unwell. They think others are wrong when the trouble is with their own aching tooth.

What we say and how we say it - compares & contrasts Martha and Mary

Mary came to Jesus and says the exact same thing to Jesus but this time a different approach is made and she falls at Jesus' feet. Hers was recognition of the power of Jesus not only to have healed her brother but comfort her in her grief. We are touched here with the compassion of Jesus for the grief of Mary and Martha.

Where will the consolation and where can our troubles, sorrows and grief be laid at this time of the year? Some of us will spend Christmas without a loved one? Where will you go to find the peace of Christmas? We can settle our souls at Jesus' feet.
By sitting at Jesus' feet - By settling at Jesus' feet - By surrendering at Jesus' feet.

John 12:1-8 Spikenard was an imported fragrant liquid ointment that comes from the aromatic root and stem of the Nardostachys plant grown in the Himalayan Mountains. It was imported from India in carefully sealed alabaster jars to preserve the fragrance from dissipating. Reserved for only very special guests for the wealthy, one of more modest means would save a lifetime to buy a pound of the ointment and then only use it at their burial. It could cost anywhere from one month to one year's salary. 300 pence was a year’s salary at that time. It is not clear if the Nard was reserved for future support or if in extreme appreciation for Jesus raising Lazarus Mary chose such an expensive and precious gift. We do know that Mary understood that Jesus was going to die for us and that she wanted to express her love for him before it was too late to do so. Mary learned two things from her experience with Jesus in the time she knew him.

Time is never wasted if spent with Jesus - No gift has too great a price for God.

You can have a 'Mary' Christmas - By sitting at Jesus' feet - By settling at Jesus' feet - By surrendering at Jesus' feet

Where will you be spending your time this holiday season? At the feet of Jesus? Hearing His word preached and read?

Where will the consolation and where can our troubles, sorrows and grief be laid at this time of the year? Some of us will spend our first Christmas without a loved one? Where will you go to find the peace of Christmas? We can settle our souls at Jesus' feet.

What gift will you surrender to Jesus on His birthday? Will it be time, one of the most precious gifts we have to give? Is any gift really to large for Jesus?
Years ago a secular poem was written about the coming of Santa Claus that I would like to share with you. Consider it carefully as we look to each having Mary Christmas. It is not about the fabricated coming of a generous fat man in a red suit but the Son of God who could come back before we celebrate His birth another time.

Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were laid on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be The Day!
The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all.

My Prayer: Let's sit a Jesus' feet and bask in His presence as we celebrate this Christmas with Him. He is the reason for the season! Merry Christmas to all!

Monday, December 7, 2009

"The Cradle, The Cross, The Crown"

Prayer Blog Message for Tuesday - December 8, 2009


Matthew 1:18-2:21
It goes without saying that the date for Christ's birth remains a mystery and that December 25th was in ancient times a Roman holiday to celebrate the passing of winter (December 21st is the shortest day of the year.) and the lengthening of days which would lead to spring and summer. In 325 A.D. in Rome, professing Christians settled on this date for commemorating the coming of Christ Jesus into the world. The popularity of this date stems from the 12th century. The world is reminded annually of the great gift God made in the person of His Son who came to be the Savior; to come and live a sinless life and die a vicarious death for our sins.

THE CRADLE -The beginning of Christmas

The angels
There have been many unusual birth announcements:
IT'S A BOY! SIGN IN THE YARD, BALLOONS ON A MAILBOX, BULK MAIL WITH PHOTOGRAPHS, NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS, PHONE CALLS to friends and relatives, handing out BUBBLE GUM CIGARS

The shepherds
1. Luke 2:9 they were afraid
2. They believed the angels!

Luke 2:16 “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger”.

The Wise men - Matthew 2:1-6
Matthew 2:2 “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him”.

Matthew 2:9 – ‘When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was’.

The wise men had come from the East. Possibly they had read and studied in Babylon the ancient Book of Daniel with its Messianic prophecies. There was a huge colony of Jews living in Babylon with synagogues and vast areas of houses. These wise men were educated in all the wisdom of the Babylonians and Persians of earlier times. But, somehow they understood that God was leading them in a special way.

1. They had seen a star

Matthew 2:2 “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him”.

2. They came to worship
John 4:24 “God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [Him] in spirit and in truth”.
3. They presented gifts

In God's providence, these gifts financed the needs of this poor family. They would flee to Egypt and spend some time there before returning to Nazareth. “God supplies”.
4. They departed "another way"

While the text means "a different route" in order to escape Herod's forces, we learn that people do go "another way" after they find Jesus as the way....Prophecy was fulfilled in their journey to Egypt.

Micah 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting”.

THE CROSS -The ultimate goal of Christmas

Luke 9:22 “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day”.

I Timothy 1:15 “This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief”.

THE CROWN -The glorious climax of Christmas

No wicked hand touched Him after His crucifixion!
No evil eye saw Him after His resurrection!

Acts 1:3 “To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God”

I Corinthians 15:3 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep”.

Hebrews 2:7 “Thou made Him a little lower than the angels; thou crowned Him with glory and honor and didn’t set Him over the works of thy hands.”

Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man”.

“Peter was a fisher boy helping with the haul
Pilate was a soldier leading troops in Gaul
Judas was as innocent as a little child can be
The wood that made the cross was still a growing tree
Unminted was the silver that made the traitor's pay
And none had yet commercialized the day
But what changes would be wrought by this tiny king?
It began with a grand and glorious message angels sing
Soon the shepherds became filled with wonder, faith and awe
It was a tiny mangered baby, that's what they saw
Later wise men came to see the King of the Jews
Wise men always know that He is the one to choose”.

WISE MEN: Matthew 2:10 “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy”.

“JOY should not depend upon circumstances. The late Dr. Millard A. Jenkins, who served at First Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas told a story about the singing evangelist, Homer Rodeheaver's encounter with an invalid. The young man asked Dr. Rodeheaver to sing a special song. "What song do you wish me to sing?" Rodeheaver asked. The young man replied, "I want you to sing that one about the sunshine. I have a lot of songs to play on my victrola, but I have so much sunshine in my life, I want to hear the song about the sunshine." When Dr. Rodeheaver asked how he could talk about having so much sunshine in his life when he was an invalid, the young man replied, "I'm sorry for well folks sometimes; because they have so much to do they haven't time to get acquainted with Jesus!"

My Prayer: Heavenly Father God Almighty, help us to stay focused with our eyes on You so that well will always see the sunshine in our life. This I pray in Jesus' name this day. Amen.

"Searching for the 'Perfect Christmas Gift'"

Do you have all your shopping done yet?

There are some people that are hard to shop for, you have no idea what they need or want, you don't know what size or color, as they are just plain picky people.
Our Heavenly Father God Almighty knows exactly what we need. He gives us good and perfect gifts. To keep our spiritual focus in these last days leading up to Christmas God brought to mind some of His wonderful gifts that He gives to us.
The gift of the Savior- Luke 2:11 "Unto YOU"

If there ever was a gift where "everyone needs one, "one size fits all", or "you can't do without it", the “gift of the Savior” is it.

It was a promised gift- Genesis 3:15 (New International Version)
15 “And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel."

It is a perfectly timed gift- Galatians 4:4 (New International Version)
4”But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law”

The gift of salvation - A personal relationship with the living God
John 3:16 John 3:16 (New International Version)
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (New International Version)
8”For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast”.

Rom. 6:23 Romans 6:23 (New International Version)
23”For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

The gift of the Holy Spirit- John 14:16-18, 26
16”And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you”

John 14:26 (New International Version)
26”But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you”.

An indwelling Person, an empowering Person, an educating Person

The gifts of grace - Giving- 2 Corinthians 8:19 (New International Version)
19”What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help”.

Serving - Ephesians 3:7-8 (New International Version)
7”I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. 8Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”,

What do we do with a gift?

Many parents have had the experience of searching for some special gift for their child and then after all the effort in selecting the gift, watching our child spend more time playing with the box the gift came in than the gift itself. The feeling we experienced at that time is somewhat the feeling God must have about some of us as Hiss children with our attitude towards His gifts to us.

Thank God for it - II Cor. 9:15 (New International Version)
15’Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift’!

Use it- 1 Timothy 4:14 (New International Version)
14”Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you”

Share it - II Timothy 1:6-7 (New International Version)
6”For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline”.


Add to it - 2 Peter 1:2-8 (New International Version)
2”Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”. 3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Recently while I was shopping for a gift for someone I experienced that parking spaces were hard to come by, there were long lines, crowded stores, rude people, and grossly inflated prices. In one long checkout line, I heard a grumpy man say, "They should kill the guy who started Christmas." A wise and godly woman in the line behind him responded, "His name is Jesus and they did kill Him when they hung Him on the cross."

My Prayer: Heavenly Father God Almighty, I pray that we are mindful this Christmas Season that as we prepare to celebrate Christmas day we are reminded that it is not a day about us dearest Lord but a day to celebrate Your birthday dear God and to be thankful for all of the wonderful gifts You have given to us. The greatest gift dear Jesus, is the sacrifice that you made because You love us dear Lord. It is because of You dear Jesus that we have the freedom to chose if we want to live with You eternally in heaven when we go to our final resting place. Thank You dear Jesus for preparing the way for us. This I pray in Your name this day, Amen.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Abba, Father






















GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN LUKE 2:14



Romans 8:15

15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Many times we treat people the way we were treated. It is a leaned response.

My prayer today: Dearest Lord, God Almighty, teach us so we will learn with a new response. Guide us to know how to be a good person who treats others nicely, as well as to understand what it means to be “in the beloved”. God’s love for His chosen people is based on respect, which is a benevolent regard for others and not an emotion. The term “beloved” portrays God’s tender love for His people and His infinite affection for Jesus. We are Father God’s beloved children because of His choice. This is an act of His will which is not based on emotion, performance, circumstances or our behavior. We are His beloved children based on His grace and mercy.

God Our Father Almighty made an irrevocable covenant with us. Because Jesus Christ was willing to place our needs before His own desire, He was crucified on the cross for our sins. When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior we became a beloved child of God based on Father God’s covenant with Abraham. This covenant is based on Father God’s desire to love us as His children totally apart from our merit or performance. It is not based on our talents or personality. We are simply adopted into the family of God simply as His beloved children and nothing we can say or do will ever change that fact. God will not change His mind and His desire is based completely on His grace and mercy toward us.

As God’s beloved child we have the right to climb up into His lap and put our head against His chest with His loving arms wrapped around us. This is the most wonderful, safest, secure and loving place that we will ever experience. If we are too weak to climb up, He will pick us up and draw us near to Him. He loves us and we are His precious child.

Friday, December 4, 2009

What If Christ Had Not Come That First Christmas?

Prayer Blog Message for Saturday - December 5, 2009

What if Christ Had Not Come That First Christmas?

If Christ hadn’t come we’d have never understood the preciousness of ne soul – the preciousness of you, our friend – in the sight of God.

In Matthew 13, He called us a treasure.

In Luke 15, He compared us to sheep and promised that the Good Shepherd would go through anything to find even one of us that gets lost!

When Christ was born on Christmas morn,
A dream was born of infinite care
That you and I would find a cross –
And meet Him there.

When Christ was born on Christmas morn,
A dream was born of glorious worth,
That wolves and lambs would dwell in peace
And latter rains make crops increase
On all the earth.

When Christ was born on Christmas morn,
A dream was born – God’s own great scheme
That sin and death would soon be past
And kingdom peace emerge at last.

Oh friend, be glad!
Look up! Hold fast
The
Christmas
Dream!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Glory to God in the Highest





















Over 2000 years ago a great King came among the people – and His coming was quiet, humble and vulnerable.

Here is how Luke 2 describes it:

“While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, it happened that the days were completed for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a manger – because there was no room for them at the inn.”

Hebrews 10:5-7 describes it in a larger perspective:

“As He was coming into the world, He said…You prepared a baby for me…I have come… to do your will, O, God!”

Titus 3:4-5 steps back still further, picturing Christ’s coming in maybe the most awesome way of all, “When the goodness and love for man appeared from God our Savior, He saved us.”

Christ arrived, saying, “My children, it is your Savior.

What a coming!

Come…

Christ has come to you.
Now you come to Him.
Come humbly, as the shepherds did.
Come bringing gifts as the wise men did.
But come!
O come, dear friend,
To the Christmas Child,
To a Baby soft with His
Head lay down.
Oh, kneel at His crib.
When you lift your eyes,
A Man from a cross
Will have cleft the skies,
And His head will shine
With a dazzling crown!

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, God Almighty we come to You today as we offer our prayers of thanksgiving in celebration of Jesus’ birth on Christmas morn. All glory and honor is Yours today and always we pray in Jesus’ name this day. Amen.


Song Lyrics to Hark the Herald Angels Sing:

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

The Indescribable Gift







2 Corinthians 9:15 (New International Version)

15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Jesus is Hope because every promise of God is fulfilled in Him…
Jesus is Joy because in Him dwells all of God’s fullness…
Jesus is Peace because all authority has been given to Him…
Jesus is Love because He gave Himself without reservation.

Joy! Try to catch the scope of the angel’s song:

Those in the highest places in heaven eternally enjoy His glory.
Those on earth – through all ages of human history – can enjoy His peace.
All heaven and earth are deeply affected with joy by the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ came to bear it all for mankind upon His cross, so Christmas joy is deep, good, everlasting and strong! Consider how His star shone down, revealing cradle, cross, and crown. Let’s look up and sing a Christmas song in His honor today!

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, God Almighty please help us to not forget that true joy comes from you. It does not come from our financial status, the clothes we wear, or in what we think we should do to please others. True joy is everlasting and radiates from You dear Lord as it penetrates our very soul. Help us to experience true joy that only You can give as we celebrate Your birth dear Lord, Jesus this Christmas Season. You dear Father are the provider of our hope, joy, peace and love. Let us be reminded in the faces that we encounter that You dear Lord are the one we call upon as the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ Our Lord, the Holy Messiah and Immanuel. You are the indescribable gift! In this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen

Song Lyrics to: Away In A Manger

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Worship Him

Blog Message - Wednesday - December 2, 2009

Worship Him

As you move through the Christmas lights and beauty, worship Him.
As you write your cards, worship Him.
As you trim your tree, worship Him.
As you spend your time, spend your time in worshipping Him.
As you serve others, serve Him.
Let your heart keep welling up with “glory to God in the highest!”

Luke 2:14 (King James Version)

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

Drink in, cherish in, and rejoice! Pray that someone who lives in the dark all year long will find the Light of the world in the lights of Christmas.

During this Christmas season, worship Him. Between your ears, within your heart, where on one sees but God alone – worship Him. Confess your sins to Him. Think on His characteristics. As much as you are able, keep a running conversation with God Our Heavenly Father. He will love it!

Song Lyrics – Come All Ye Faithful
O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

O Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.