Be Still and Know

I have come that they may have life and life abundantly. John 10:10

I love Christmas! In fact, I’m sure most everyone loves Christmas. I love everything about Christmas, but I especially love giving special gifts to those in my life. It doesn’t have to be big or expensive or flashy, but just a simple token of my love and appreciation for them.

Lately, however, I am seeing many people straying away from gift giving. They are opting for trips and experiences. I understand and appreciate their Christmas different, but to me there is a simple reason for this gift giving season.

All of us, whether we realize it or not, were given the greatest gift of all, by the greatest giver of all. God gave His son Jesus so that we could receive the most precious gift of all. This gift given was born in a manger, seen by shepherds and visited by great wise men. This gift lived life as a man, a perfect man and was crucified on a cross as the final sacrifice for each one of us so that we could have life and life abundantly.

Christmas is about this gift of life given to us. And because Christmas reminds me of what He has given, I want to give. To me, Christmas is all about love and giving – giving selflessly and giving in love. No, I can never out give what was given to me, but I can let others know of His great gift and how much He means to me.

So Merry Christmas my friends and happy giving! May the One who gave it all bring you and your family blessings upon blessings this Holy Season!

For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given and the government will be upon His shoulders. Isaiah 9:6

During one of the darkest times in the history of Israel, a prophecy was given by the prophet Isaiah. He foretells of a coming Messiah. This prophecy was to bring hope and encouragement to the people. It was a hope that said, God is with us – do not be discouraged with what you now see and hear.

This prophecy let them know that the Messiah would be among them as a man – a man who wore flesh and blood, but yet was the Son of God. Yes, He was God – God among them!

This Word was one they could carry with them. They could share it with their children and neighbors. And they would continue to share this prophecy throughout the coming years. For they trusted this word from Isaiah and knew that Israel would continue. Israel would have a champion – God Himself would come and defeat their enemies. Enemies of war, enemies of hunger and poverty and all enemies of defeat!

And the government will be upon His shoulders! That’s all they needed to hear. Many words were spoken by this prophet and others. But this word – a word of encouragement and hope was to bring them victory – yes, victory in all things!

Today, even today for us, we still have this encouragement and hope. For Unto us a child was born. Unto us a son was given – our God, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

He, today, is there for each one of us – if we reach out and receive this word – for as the gospel of John shares, He IS the Word made flesh – for you, for me – for the World!

Hebrews 10:24,25 And let us consider how we may stir one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I have been using Facebook for several years now.  Most people on Facebook check their accounts several times a day, and this tells me Facebook has done the job they set out to do. Yes, Facebook has done their job which was to get us hook line and sinker!  But it also tells me something else.

 

Facebook shows me that most people are starved for relationships.  They have a story to tell and want others to respond.  And most people need affirmation and encouragement. Above all, most people need to be loved.

 

Is it easier to connect with others on a computer site than in person?  We’ve been led to think so.  While relationships can be hard and take work, I think it has taken and brought many one on one, person to person connections to almost a complete halt!

 

Yes, it is easier to hide those insecurities and things about ourselves we are afraid to share.  And we can be almost anyone we want with the tap of a key and maybe a picture or two.

 

But God has created each one of us unique!  He has given us gifts to share with others and has fashioned us to use these  gifts!  We can minister and share and love when someone is close enough to touch, to hug and laugh with!

 

So, shut that computer and turn off that phone even for just a few hours a day.  Invite someone to coffee, to lunch or just to share a walk around the park. Hug and laugh and create a moment in time that is unforgettable! 

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. 2 Corinthians 2:14

 

Lately, I have seen several posts on Facebook and Instagram and even Twitter about stores that advertise “Black Friday Sales”. They were saying how ironic it is that we had just celebrated Thanksgiving and then the very next day people are out shopping for all those things they think they need!

 

While I understand their point, I see another day being celebrated in December, mainly Christmas.  To me, Christmas is a time to celebrate the great things about Jesus.  He is kind, gentle and always giving.

 

During this season, I have witnessed many and most people being more kind and having giving hearts.  I am a Black Friday shopper and, I take my little list with me so I can remember all those I love with special gifts.  I see and hear others out shopping with their lists also.  Actually, I have yet to see greed and thoughtlessness arise during the Christmas season.

 

So, to me, as a wife, mom, grandma, aunt and friend, Christmas only intensifies the spirit of thankfulness and leads me to bless others.

 

Christmas is a time to let others know that Jesus is the reason our hearts can continue to be thankful.  We thank Him for what we have yes, for what He has done for us and for the people He has graced our lives with.

 

So Merry Christmas Season!  Enjoy Jesus and the what he has done for you.  Enjoy the love and joy He gives and the people He has placed in your life.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12,13

The Word of God tells us we are to expect trials in our lives. We should not be surprised at their coming and know that God is still here and has not forsaken us. However, what does seem to surprise us is that we are to rejoice! How can we rejoice in some fiery trial we say? It’s not the fiery trial itself we rejoice in. It’s what the trial itself will accomplice in us.

There is a story I was told years ago about a man who carved and whittled for a living. One day he was carving a small piece of wood when, all of a sudden, the wood started complaining. “You are destroying me with your knife!” The man never said a word and just kept carving away even with that little piece of wood screaming at him. At last he had finished, and put the piece of wood to his mouth and began to play. He had carved a beautiful melodious flute to make music for all to hear! Ahh, how good that felt to that little piece of wood, who then realized how special he had now become!

So the next time we hear music we can remember that little flute. We can thank our Heavenly Father for the trials we have gone through and will go through which will bring beautiful music to our lives!

Through the trials in our lives, God is carving us to make us a blessing. Trials are never fun I know, but how beautiful the outcome. (And I know that God has given us each other to remind us that in His hands we can become instruments for His purpose!).

I wonder what is going through the minds of the men and women who sign a paper that could possibly mean they would never come home alive to their loved ones? I can see them hugging their children or mate not knowing if this would be their last.
I am talking about faith – great faith in the one who called them to use their lives for the service of their family and country. What does this great faith produce?
It produces humility – to know you are serving others besides yourself. This takes great humility.
It produces love – great love instilled in their hearts by the One who loves them first and called them to such a task.
And it produces belief – belief in knowing that Jesus and the Holy Spirit will walk beside them every step of the way.
When I think of what these men and women have gone through, what they have sacrificed and what they have given up for all of us – for my family – it brings me to my knees in gratitude and thankfulness.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Jesus Himself said these words. He tells us this is great love! And this is the greatest way to show love to all – to lay down your life. These men and women who serve and have served our country have shown this kind of love!

Let us this Monday and every day show them our love and appreciation! Happy Veterans Day to all who have and are serving!

For godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

What is godly grief? It appears to be a keen sense of sorrow for sin in a person’s life that brings him to his knees. It’s a sorrow that grabs the heart and cries out in great regret!

With the Christian, it’s the knowledge that we have offended God by our actions. Jesus paid a huge price for us – broken, beaten, pierced and crucified for the sin we carry. This godly grief, helps each one of us to let go – let go of the sin and continue in a life of repentance. It moves us to walk in the Spirit and let go of the flesh.

Godly grief helps us to move forward with a life that pleases God. We remember who we used to be and who and Whose we are now. We realize the flesh will only bring about sorrow but walking in the Spirit of God brings life and life abundantly.

When we kept silent, our bones ached and life wasted away. Depression was close at hand and joy was fading away faster and faster, never lasting.

But through godly grief we have learned to repent and see sin for what it really is. We finally have learned to take responsibility for our sin, repent and trust in God’s great gift of grace!

It doesn’t sound simple I know, but with God’s great grace and help, with His love and peace surrounding us, we can even move mountains! So hang on to Him my friends – that’s the “we can make it” way!