Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion... Philippians 2:1-4
Jesus...through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:2-6, 21 BOOKS)
I bought this ornament in Disney on December 10th, two weeks before my dad passed away. I always buy an ornament or magnet to represent a vacation. This was to celebrate my daughter's senior year and soon to come graduation. But as I look at it, I know that Just like so many things this year, God was giving me more than I knew. December 26th was dad's Graduation Day!
For me and all of us who believe in Jesus who still remain ...
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14 BOOKS)
One day soon all pain and suffering, all surprise devastations and sigh filled moments will be replaced by Him completely, for now we take moment by moment and invite His Presence and His Kingdom to overwhelm us.
You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears. Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans.” (James 4:14, 15 GW)
For many years my daddy saw this angle of his boat. Many years he took great joy carting around the family while they sang hymns on the lake at sunset. Many years pulling boogie boards and skis. Many years of trolling for fish sometimes or just dragging family very slowly in floats behind the boat. Seems like yesterday, but also seems so far away. I do not understand, but I trust.
I have been signing my blog with James 4:14 since I began. It seems fitting to change today since the verse is seared in my heart with pain, but mostly with hope.
My dad lived his time carrying out the Lord's plan in his life, ministering to others and praying. I am the first hand recipient of The Lord working on my daddy's behalf. This mist I have left I want to be sowing peace and reconciliation. First, pleading with all who will listen, just like my daddy... Be reconciled to God and second, as evidenced by those my daddy touched be reconciled to each other. This was the cry of my daddy's heart, but more importantly this cry began in the heart of my Heavenly Father.
Lord, may I help you bring in the harvest and reconcile the family.
I went to my daddy's house. He spent 14 years building his home ar the lake.This home is where he hung his hats, all of them. Above is the hat stand where some of them were hung. I think back to all of the hats he wore depending on where he was going and what he was doing. Each hat had a purpose and he certainly had his favorites.
As I looked back in my mind, I drifted to the pain in my heart as I missed him with many sighs, but my mind keeps drifting to the hats or rather crowns he has now. The Word of God names 5 different kinds of crowns for God's faithful children.
1. Incorruptible Crown (1 Corinthians 9:25)
2. Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
3. Crown of Life (Revelation 2:10)
4. Crown of Joy (Philippians 4:1)
5. Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4)
If you knew my dad, you would know that his crown stand in heaven is just as full. Eventually he will cast those crowns down at the feet of Jesus. Until that day, O Lord, may I live my life in a manner worthy of Your Name, Jesus, and my daddy's legacy.
Understanding my sign off in a deeper way tonight...James 4:14,
In Colossians 2:3, Paul tells us, "God has hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ."
When I read that verse, I have this searching and researching urge and want come up in me at first, but in light of the life of Christ...the relationship that Jesus coming in human flesh makes possible, I remember that wisdom and knowledge and anything else needed for life and godliness is found is resting in this loving relationship that He offers to me. The greatest gift ever given and regiven and regifted and regifted. The gift that is regifted to every open heart that will allow Him room. And the gift never decreases with multiplication, instead the Kingdom of God increases exponentially with each heart filled. This is the economy of heaven...love and light. May I open my heart wide.
"As far as the Lord is concerned, he [John] will be a great man." Luke 1:15
The angel Gabriel described John in Luke 1:17. "He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents' attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God's approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord."
I understand the concept of preparing people for their Lord. People have to understand themselves as sinners before they see the need for a Savior. But the question I have been contemplating is how will he change parents' attitudes toward their children?
Later on in Luke 1 when John is born, verse 66 reads, "Everyone who heard about it seriously thought it over and asked, 'What does the future hold for this child?'
As I was mulling this over in my mind I realized that the Jewish people took being God's people for granted. With their sense of ownership there is also a lack of hope because of the loss of need.
But now that John arrives on the scene preaching repentance, the sinking realization of sin in our lives and in the lives of our children sets us up for the Light of the World, the Hope of Salvation, the Prince of Peace.
Lord, may my realization of my great need increase all the more so that I can live my life repeating John 3:30, "You must increase and I must decrease." Fill my need and the need of my family today, O Great Savior of the World. Amen.
I just got back from vacation. A wonderful and awe-filled trip to Walt Disney World. This included much needed time with family, a trip to all parks, a parade or two in passing, the reading of the Christmas story by the Allstate guy (President Palmer from 24) a 150 member choir singing Christmas carols that helped tell the story, and behind the scenes tour, some amazing rides, more amazing sights and most amazing firework displays.
Now I am back to celebrate Christmas, a holiday that has wonderful memories and some not so wonderful memories. My only child is a senior in high school so we have wonderful memories in the past, but there is part of me that looks at this time much like this vacation, great memories, but they are over. All of the wonder gone. Just memories of times gone by. Times of laughter and promise cut short by NOW circumstances and seasons.
This morning I got in the car with my husband to head to church and I made sure their was my favorite Christmas songs playing. My heart plummeted with despair of loss...then this song came into my heart... In remembering how wonderful "the greatest place on earth" Walt Disney World was and how I was not there, I forgot where I was...
You usually hear this in a slower version, but I like the spunk in this one.
So leaving for church this morning, there was a sunrise eventually seen by all the world today that far exceeded the wonder of a few firecrackers in Orlando. There was a V shaped geese family flying over head that were more amazing than the animations used on the Jungle Cruise. So from Walt Disney World to My Father's World, Christ was and is glorified. He Reigns... just read what Colossians 1:15-23 says about Jesus...go ahead, read it out loud...
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 He created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. Whether they are kings or lords, rulers or powers— everything has been created through him and for him. 17 He existed before everything and holds everything together. 18 He is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, the first to come back to life so that he would have first place in everything.
19 God was pleased to have all of himself live in Christ. 20 God
was also pleased to bring everything on earth and in heaven back to
himself through Christ. He did this by making peace through Christ’s
blood sacrificed on the cross.
21 Once you were separated from God. The evil things you did showed your hostile attitude. 22 But
now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body.
He did this so that you could come into God’s presence without sin,
fault, or blame. 23 This
is on the condition that you continue in faith without being moved from
the solid foundation of the hope that the Good News contains. You’ve
heard this Good News of which I, Paul, became a servant. It has been
spread throughout all creation under heaven.
For me other than the actual age I am approaching, this week has been full of anticipations. Last night I drove home knowing that we are in the darkest time of the year and I was so encouraged by the Christmas lights. I do not think they have inspired me to tears like that since I was a child. With Christmas approaching, my family is going on a much needed vacation to one of my favorite vacation spots and it is my birthday. I have so many "things" to be thankful for. On top of this I found out my mom was going to be able to come for Christmas this year. So as you can imagine my heart is swelling and I am giddy about the next few weeks. Then...
I meet with a lady who is in her darkest moments of life. Her reality is very different on this day, this month, this year even. Her relationships are failing because well people are people. Miscommunication is almost insurmountable and she is not even good at that when it is good. She says she is done trying. The only thing that she wants is for people to leave her alone to her own remedy. But she knows Him. She knows Jesus. She may have lost sight of His truth amidst a sea of confusion, but she loves Him.
It got me thinking about how we say "Happy" Thanksgiving, but we say "Merry" Christmas. Happy is for me always denotes circumstances. We can come up with all things if we search for them to be thankful for, but Christmas is different...it is not about our circumstances even a little bit. While Thanksgiving is about who we are grateful to and for and for what, Christmas is about Joy. Merry Christmas is not something you look for in outward circumstances, but rather in the midst of the circumstances, He is the light that shines.
So even though according to my friends I have rehashed all that I am excited about somewhat sarcastically and playfully this week. These circumstances are not Christmas. And even though my sister in Christ is experiencing more than she thinks she can, the conclusion that emerged in our conversation is the Merry "Joy" of Christmas...
HE CAME...that so that His sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need.John 10:10
"Come close to God, and God will come close to you." James 4:8
I love how the Word of God allows us to peak into the lives of those who are His children as God speaks to us along our journey drawing us closer to Himself.
Beginning in Jeremiah 32 Baruch, son of Neriah is mentioned 22 times. God used him to bring the prophecies of Jeremiah to the king and also to write down the words of the prophecies of Jeremiah. Later as Baruch was writing things down, a word came directly to him. The shortest chapter in Jeremiah...
This is
the message that the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch, son of Neriah.
Baruch wrote these things on a scroll as Jeremiah dictated them during
the fourth year that Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah.
Jeremiah said, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says to you, Baruch: You said, ‘I’m so miserable! The Lord has added grief to my pain. I’m worn out from groaning. I can’t find any rest.’ “Say this to Baruch, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will tear down what I have built. I will uproot what I have planted throughout the earth. Are
you looking for great things for yourself? Don’t look for them, because
I’m going to bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord. But wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’” Jeremiah 45
Baruch was worried because of all that was happening during his day. He was intimately aware of the prophecies. The Lord heard his whining and responded. The plans or great things that Baruch was looking for himself were drowning in this reality of seeming hopelessness. The reminder of life given and preserved by God changed things. We do not know the whole story of Baruch, but after that reminder things got worse, but Baruch now knew...
"Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them." Matthew 25:16
