So many of us are entering the busy time of year as the world presents it to us. We have to rush to get that perfect gift for everyone on the "list". I know I have minimized my list in a huge way after becoming a Mom. It is so much easier to focus on making this time of year magical and special for my young son. I must also find ways to teach him about Christ's birthday and still let him have Santa to. There are also so many pressures on us to do things just the right way so everything will be perfect for everyone around us (who makes it perfect for us?). This triples should we have family coming in from out of town or state. There are so many time saving recipes and devices to "enable" us to "relax" and also get so much done in such a short time...ok, so here is where I say...it is 16 days until Christmas...16! Now that I have done my bit to add to the anxiety...
Everyone is telling us not to forget Christ. There is no Christ-mas without Christ...and the list goes on. Everyone is arguing over Happy Holidays versus Merry Christmas. What does any of this really have to do with the real reason for Christmas?
We need to set aside time (yes I said the T word) and really reflect upon the love our Father showed us that very moment when His Son took that first breathe of air. When he was still icky from the reality of childbirth. When Jesus took His very first steps (figuratively) as a human baby. Can you feel the way Mary's heart just overflowed with love as she started to nurse Him? Remember that moment as a new mother how you felt so protective and in awe of this squirming bundle? Mary had all of the feelings of a new mother but those had to be magnified hundredfold as she also realized she was holding her Lord. God had chosen and trusted her so much to hand over His only Child to her for safekeeping. How wonderful that must have been!! If only we were all so close to God right now that He would have no problem giving us His Son as He did Mary and Joseph.
Guess what? He did.
God loves us so much. I don't think our hearts are strong enough to really hold all the love God feels for us....us....the people who get angry when we shouldn't and talk about each other...and sometimes are just plain mean. I am so thankful God loves me as much as He does. I know I will always stumble, but His Hands are big enough. I know I will always cry to Him, but His Ears are always open. I know I will always need His Love, but I already have it.
During this time of year, let's all make a pact with Jesus, for Jesus. Let's all promise to spend time with Him. I know we probably all have our prayer times and worship or meditation times, but I am talking about extra time just us and Him. Just telling Him how special He is and how wonderful it is we are able to celebrate His birthday with him. How thankful we are...just for Him.
Happy Birthday my wonderful Savior! I hope all your birthday wishes come true!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Abounding
Exodus 34:6
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth."
Psalm 103:8
The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethern, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
When I was first studying to write this, the main word which kept playing in my mind was Abundance. I was looking up words and scripture which dealt with Abundance and suddenly in front of me was such a pattern I knew God was pointing me in another direction...Abounding.
I know when you first think about it, there doesn't seem to be much difference between the two. In thinking about abundance, my mind naturally goes to the things physically around me. My home, cars, finances, even books or food. It isn't that I am a materialistic person, only thinking in what I can surround myself with, that part of our person, however small, is in each of us. It is normal when thinking about something being abundunt, to think of the tangible, what is right in front of our face which we see, feel, taste, and use everyday.
Abound is even listed by Websters Dictionary as "to be present in large numbers or in great quantity". But when I think abound, or actually, abounding...my mind seems to think more of my Father, God. The thing which comes to my mind first is abounding in me. Whether it be the Holy Spirit abounding in me, or the teachings of God abounding in my heart, or His peace abounding around me.
"Abounding in goodness and truth, abounding in mercy, abounding in the work of the Lord"
How wonderful we are, as His beloved children, to have so much! I have God, Himself, in my very being. I live because of His breath in my body, His Spirit in my soul!
When we are full of the Father and all He is, let us be as the cup runneth over. Let us spill His mercy and goodness onto others. When we are abounding in Him with every part of our lives, we in turn come back to abundance. We are so full of God, we have some to give. Just the example we show in our everyday behavior may be the only "God" others see in their lives. That small word to which we don't give a second thought, could be the very thing to make someone's day or the very last straw which breaks that same person down. We need to be the abundance in someone else's life. As God gives Himself to us, let us share our Wonderful Father with others.
I am by no mean's a Pastor or even a Teacher, I am but a simple person learning her own worth in the eyes of my Holy Father and searching to find Him in every part of my being. I am learning how to measure myself by my Jesus; trying to be the child I can to make my Father proud. I want to be the person another can meet one time and realize, "there is something different about her".
That's right, there is something different!! I am abounding in my Precious Creator, the Lord God...and that is more wonderful than any material possessions made by any man on earth!
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth."
Psalm 103:8
The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethern, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
When I was first studying to write this, the main word which kept playing in my mind was Abundance. I was looking up words and scripture which dealt with Abundance and suddenly in front of me was such a pattern I knew God was pointing me in another direction...Abounding.
I know when you first think about it, there doesn't seem to be much difference between the two. In thinking about abundance, my mind naturally goes to the things physically around me. My home, cars, finances, even books or food. It isn't that I am a materialistic person, only thinking in what I can surround myself with, that part of our person, however small, is in each of us. It is normal when thinking about something being abundunt, to think of the tangible, what is right in front of our face which we see, feel, taste, and use everyday.
Abound is even listed by Websters Dictionary as "to be present in large numbers or in great quantity". But when I think abound, or actually, abounding...my mind seems to think more of my Father, God. The thing which comes to my mind first is abounding in me. Whether it be the Holy Spirit abounding in me, or the teachings of God abounding in my heart, or His peace abounding around me.
"Abounding in goodness and truth, abounding in mercy, abounding in the work of the Lord"
How wonderful we are, as His beloved children, to have so much! I have God, Himself, in my very being. I live because of His breath in my body, His Spirit in my soul!
When we are full of the Father and all He is, let us be as the cup runneth over. Let us spill His mercy and goodness onto others. When we are abounding in Him with every part of our lives, we in turn come back to abundance. We are so full of God, we have some to give. Just the example we show in our everyday behavior may be the only "God" others see in their lives. That small word to which we don't give a second thought, could be the very thing to make someone's day or the very last straw which breaks that same person down. We need to be the abundance in someone else's life. As God gives Himself to us, let us share our Wonderful Father with others.
I am by no mean's a Pastor or even a Teacher, I am but a simple person learning her own worth in the eyes of my Holy Father and searching to find Him in every part of my being. I am learning how to measure myself by my Jesus; trying to be the child I can to make my Father proud. I want to be the person another can meet one time and realize, "there is something different about her".
That's right, there is something different!! I am abounding in my Precious Creator, the Lord God...and that is more wonderful than any material possessions made by any man on earth!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Forgiveness
Mark 11:25
"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."
I keep hearing the word forgiveness going through my head.
We know as children of God, one of the main things we need to do is ask our Father to please forgive us for the things we do to sin. We often focus on making sure we are "covered". Sometimes I wonder if we give in too often to sin since we know we can ask for forgiveness and then be forgiven. I am not referring to obvious sins such as theft, murder and things such as that. I am referring to small, daily sins we often commit and don't even realize they are there. Judging others in word or thought, gossiping about people and situations we know nothing about, and even something so simple as not helping another in need.
We are not able to help everyone and there are times alot of people have alot more than we do, but what about the kind word, the smile, and the inquiry as to how someone's day is going? Often times those things make such a difference in another's day and life and there are times others really need someone to ask how they are. If we see someone and feel the need inside to speak to them, God may know they need that kind word and we should heed His voice guiding us.
Is there someone who has done something to you? Have you forgiven them? I mean really forgiven them? There have been situations in my life, I have thought I have forgiven the people involved, but found I really had not. It is easy to say, I forgive you, but really hard to mean it in your heart and to truly give that hurt over to God. When I have not given it over to God, I find a situation comes up again and guess what, the prior hurts rear their ugly heads. Suddenly adding to the pain, anger, etc. which I am presently going through are the pains, anger, etc. I thought I had let go of. Hmmm. Looks like it didn't get forgiven.
I have found when I really forgive another, God takes the pain which was caused and all the bad feelings and He erases them. I know, a magic eraser?? Really, if you give all to Him, the next time they come to mind or you try to think about that period, time, experience, and so on, you will notice the hurt isn't as sharp. The anger isn't as strong. God is taking it away.
We are human. Yes, really we are. God knows this. He understands us so much better than we could ever understand ourselves. He made us. He knows how hard it is sometimes to give up and give over. It is ok...He is there for us. I'll make an agreement with you, I will try very hard to forgive others and myself and ask God to please help me....if you will.
Lean on Him to help us forgive others, forgive ourselves and by His Love be forgiven.
"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."
I keep hearing the word forgiveness going through my head.
We know as children of God, one of the main things we need to do is ask our Father to please forgive us for the things we do to sin. We often focus on making sure we are "covered". Sometimes I wonder if we give in too often to sin since we know we can ask for forgiveness and then be forgiven. I am not referring to obvious sins such as theft, murder and things such as that. I am referring to small, daily sins we often commit and don't even realize they are there. Judging others in word or thought, gossiping about people and situations we know nothing about, and even something so simple as not helping another in need.
We are not able to help everyone and there are times alot of people have alot more than we do, but what about the kind word, the smile, and the inquiry as to how someone's day is going? Often times those things make such a difference in another's day and life and there are times others really need someone to ask how they are. If we see someone and feel the need inside to speak to them, God may know they need that kind word and we should heed His voice guiding us.
Is there someone who has done something to you? Have you forgiven them? I mean really forgiven them? There have been situations in my life, I have thought I have forgiven the people involved, but found I really had not. It is easy to say, I forgive you, but really hard to mean it in your heart and to truly give that hurt over to God. When I have not given it over to God, I find a situation comes up again and guess what, the prior hurts rear their ugly heads. Suddenly adding to the pain, anger, etc. which I am presently going through are the pains, anger, etc. I thought I had let go of. Hmmm. Looks like it didn't get forgiven.
I have found when I really forgive another, God takes the pain which was caused and all the bad feelings and He erases them. I know, a magic eraser?? Really, if you give all to Him, the next time they come to mind or you try to think about that period, time, experience, and so on, you will notice the hurt isn't as sharp. The anger isn't as strong. God is taking it away.
We are human. Yes, really we are. God knows this. He understands us so much better than we could ever understand ourselves. He made us. He knows how hard it is sometimes to give up and give over. It is ok...He is there for us. I'll make an agreement with you, I will try very hard to forgive others and myself and ask God to please help me....if you will.
Lean on Him to help us forgive others, forgive ourselves and by His Love be forgiven.
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