November 30, 2014

Matthew 1:23 (KJV)  "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emanuel, which being interpreted is, God is with us." 

Do you feel the excitement?   Can you hear the angels proclaiming the birth of Jesus?   Can you see the brilliant star?   Stop right now!   Stop all that is consuming your time and your mind.    Stop the busyness.    Stop the anger.  Stop the anxiety.    Then, just welcome Jesus!    Come Lord Jesus!  

November 29, 2014

Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)  "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved." 

What a wonderful reason to  be thankful and shout praises to God from the mountain tops!   We all have sinned to one degree or another.   All our "dead in our trespasses."  But Jesus Christ was born and then died to save us from our sinful choices.    Our Savior has promised us eternal salvation if we only ask Him to be Lord of our lives!  What are you waiting for?   Let's meet our Savior in the manger this Christmas! 

November 28, 2014

I Chronicles 29:13  (ESV)  "And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name."     Yesterday we had such a wonderful day!  We shared a Thanksgiving meal with one of our daughters and her family, along with my mom.   Our gathering was small but still wonderful.    I love this holiday because it gives me cause to stop and really inventory how much God has blessed me.   I am so thankful to have a warm home and a wonderful family.   I am grateful for special friends and our mighty church family.   I have a good job and have the physical ability to go to work.  Thank you God!    It is too easy during this busy holiday season to dwell on the negatives like too much to do, too little time and money, not to mention difficult family dynamics.   Let's all try to keep the warm feeling of Thanksgiving in our hearts as we move into advent and focus on how amazing our God is! 

November 27, 2014

Colossians 3:16 (ESV)  "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to  God." 

God bless you friend.    Please take a moment today to thank God for every blessing in your life.   God is good!   

November 26, 2014

Psalm 62:1  (KJV)  "Truly my soul waiteth upon God:  from him cometh my salvation." 

This Psalm of David gives us clear guidance into where we should put all of our trust.   This is one that I need to put on my bathroom mirror because I so often give it all to God, only to pick it back up again as soon as I am off my knees.   Why do we find it so difficult to wait?    Way do we not believe that our God will do what He says He will do?   If we truly believe that God is our salvation, then we should willingly and patiently wait for God to act on our behalf.    He will do that for us, but in His time, not ours.    That is the rub.   We are an impatient people.   We want everything instantly.   I am certain that when we think that God is delaying, it is because He has a better plan.   During advent let's practice waiting for our Savior.     

November 25, 2014

Acts 22:16 (ESV)  "And now why do you wait?  Rise and be baptize and wash away your sins, calling on his name." 

I am very excited about this upcoming weekend as one of my grandson's has decided to ask Jesus to be his personal savior.   Evan will be baptized this Sunday!   Hallelujah!   As grandma I am smiling so big!   Imagine how much bigger Jesus must be smiling.    Scripture tells us that Jesus desires that all His children willingly come to Him.    Jesus wishes to have close, personal relationship with each one of us and baptism is just the beginning of that journey.   This holiday season can you make a decision to come to Jesus, or to renew your commitment to Him, as we stand before the manger?  This is the one gift that we can give back to our Lord; satisfaction guaranteed! 

November 23, 2014

Luke 1:28  (NIV)  "The angel went  to her and said, "Greetings you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you." 

We know this story well.  The virgin Mary accepted her favor with God and chose to trust Him completely.  Clearly the angel saw a young, scared, inexperienced girl but God saw the perfect mother for His son.   How wonderful it is to know that God sees us as perfectly created for the tasks that He has laid out for us as well.   Luke tells us later in this same chapter that "Nothing is impossible with God"  (Luke 1:37)  Friends, lets look to God for our direction today and then move with Him to make things happen! 

November 22, 2014

Matthew 3:3  (ESV)  ""For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord;  make his paths straight."

Are you preparing a path for our Lord?   It is nearly the first Sunday in advent and many of us are busy making shopping lists and dusting off decorations in preparation of the holiday.   What are we doing to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of our Savior?   Can we find time in our busy schedules to make sure that our Lord is present in this holiday?   Can we find time to prepare our souls to meet Jesus at the manger?   Wow.    I need to tear up my list and rethink my priorities.   How about you?   

November 21, 2014

Psalm 147:5-6 (ESV)  "Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.  The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground."

Lord, You gave me this scripture today to remind me that you are all knowing and all powerful.   Lord, You knew that I needed a reminder today that you've got my back!  Thank you for that!  I also give my burden to You, Lord.   I am reminded that You will help those that are afflicted.  You are so amazing and good.   Thank you, Lord.     

November 20, 2014

Acts 4:32 (ESV)  "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common."

God has given me this scripture this evening as I am pondering the amount of benevolence, or lack thereof, that should be highly visible during this holiday season. Our communities have so much need.   We have families that struggle to pay for heat and children who may not get a special Christmas gift.   We have folks that are paying off medical bills and pinching pennies to put gas  in their cars so they can go to work.   Some of us, however, have plenty.   Based on the reading today, those of us who have plenty should be sharing it.  After all, it is only by the grace of God that we are not the ones that are desperately trying to make ends meet.   The next few weeks would be a great time to reach out and help someone.   Look around.   You might be surprised how easy it is to be the light in someone else's life.   

November 19, 2014

Acts 4:30  (NIV)  "Stretch out your hand and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant, Jesus."

These words of Peter and John clearly call all believers to action.  These men were ordinary men with no formal religious education but a very deep belief in the power of Jesus Christ.  They were given the gift to share the love of God by Jesus.   Friends, you and I too have been given that gift to demonstrate our faith by our actions.   Let's get moving! 

November 17, 2014

Matthew 1:21-22  (ESV)  "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."   All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.

This is scripture that we are very familiar with and read frequently during the Christmas season.   The angel was speaking to Joseph in a dream telling him to trust God and to wed Mary so that prophecy could be fulfilled.   I get so excited when I read scripture that connects events in the Bible in very real ways and I so enjoy prophecy.   It is so amazing to follow the thread and see God's plan played out in a way that only He could orchestrate.   Thinking way back to the book of Genesis and the genealogy lessons we labor over, it fascinates me to think about how long God waited.   As we begin to think about advent and the wonderful Christmas season, I wonder what we wait so expectantly for.   My hope is that it is something worthy!    I pray that  all of our eyes are on Jesus Christ!        

November 16, 2014

1 Samuel 17:45 (ESV)  "Then David said to the Philistine, "You come at me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." 

You remember the story of how David defeated the giant using a sling and a stone and his faith in God.  David shows us how to "slay our dragons" by using the armor of God.    When God is our commander, we can always win!    What dragons are you facing today?   Busyness, anger, addiction, financial issues,  relationship struggles.   Whatever it is,  battle the enemy with God!

November 15, 2014

Hebrews 6:10 (TEV)  "God is not unfair.  He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to your fellow Christians." 

This scripture should give us reason to smile as we are promised that God knows and will remember what we are doing on this earth as we serve him.  Hebrews remind us that as we are serving our fellow man we are serving God.   He sees us doing His work and He is pleased with His servants.   What are you doing this holiday season to serve someone else?    Maybe that should be on the top of your "to do" list.    

November 13, 2014

Isaiah 55:10  (God's Word Translation)  "Rain and snow come down from the sky.  They do not go back again until they water the earth.  They make it sprout and grow so that it produces seed for farmers and food for people to eat." 

Out God is so good!   He developed this perfect plan for the cycle of our earth.  In His time, we have rain and snow.   We enjoy the moment when the earth is cleansed by the weather, but then we realize that the purpose for the precipitation goes so much deeper.   God intended for nature to nurture nature.  How simple and how beautiful is that?   Thank you God for the rain and for the snow.   Thank you that You have everything figured out and continue to orchestrate the big picture.    

November 12, 2104

Psalm 62:1-2 (God's Word Translation)  "My soul waits calmly for Elohim alone.  My salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my savior - my stronghold.  I cannot be severely shaken."  Elohim is the Hebrew word for God and indicates that He is the highest of all.   Elohim is the Great Creator.  I can wait on Him with certainty because He created me and knows my needs and desires.   He created me and said that His creation was good, so I must be good too.  Elohim has promised me and you eternal life, and desires that we accept that gift.  What in this world could we ever by anxious about with Elohim on our side?