Question asked of me is what ways does Christ want to use me to touch the world?
That is not a question I can answer. I am making it God’s choice in how he wants to use my life. I think of my hopes and what God will reveal what he wants for me.
My thoughts for Advent today are of Mary. I think of how God chose her and how it was all divine. From choosing a virgin mother to the nine months that the baby grew inside of her. I am thinking we are the same being God’s children. When we are in God’s will (womb) He fills us with the Holy Spirit and our faith grows and it shows in our speech, in our actions, and in our decisions.
I watched my daughter at dance tonight. I see myself in her. I see how she moves and how she smiles and how she has a bit of shyness but doesn’t hold back when it comes to her stubbornness. My friends say that they see me when they see her, and they can’t deny that she is my child, even her father can not distinguish the difference in our voices on the phone.
To be like JESUS is a big task. But like my daughter, she has no choice to be so much like me. It is not only her DNA but also in all the years we spent every moment together. I feel that when God takes our lives in his will, we begin to reflect his characteristics. We have forgiveness, compassion, empathy, love, and concern for others, when we are growing in Christ, it’s natural that others start to see the resemblance of God in our lives.
1 Col. 1:27
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Grace and Peace to you from God our father.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Ninety-seven
Jesus lived for thirty-three years on the earth. His days and life all had a time line. As a child in the temple he learned and he taught, as a man He left Nazareth because it was time for Him to spread his message, He died because it was his time to go.
To think of God and Jesus as one and the same, He came to Earth but only had a short lifetime to complete what he had to do.
This morning Pastor Anderson preached about how there is not any time to put off your own salvation. Will you be ready? Will you be in the right place when God calls us home?
Only with the Holy spirit and our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our savior can we be at peace about our eternity.
Job 36:26
“God is …greater than we can understand. No one knows how old he is.”
Peace and Grace to you from God the father.
To think of God and Jesus as one and the same, He came to Earth but only had a short lifetime to complete what he had to do.
This morning Pastor Anderson preached about how there is not any time to put off your own salvation. Will you be ready? Will you be in the right place when God calls us home?
Only with the Holy spirit and our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our savior can we be at peace about our eternity.
Job 36:26
“God is …greater than we can understand. No one knows how old he is.”
Peace and Grace to you from God the father.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
ninety-six
The root word for adventure is advent, which means beginning. And with every beginning there is anxiety.
I am thinking about Jesus’ life and how it began, born to a virgin mother, his parents having to make the journey for the census in her time of labor. Because of the census there was no room at the inn, so they had to find a retreat and Jesus was born in a manger. The three kings sought him by following his star. Herod asked who they were going to see, it angered him that he was not the one they were seeking. To save Jesus life they had to keep it a secret, Herod wanted the kings, on their return journey to tell him where this “King of the Jews” was so he could kill him. The kings were careful not to return in a way that Herod would know. Herod was so mad he ordered death to all male boys in his kingdom of a certain age. They flee to Egypt and then to Nazareth to escape the rule of Herod.
Some of us may be in a time of advent in our own lives.. A new beginning. A new adventure. Some of us are making plans, some of us have no plan. Some of us are having to adjust because the plans we made are falling apart.
Where are you in your ADVENTure?
In my own life I am seeking God, and His guidance. I am trying to be present in every moment. Being present is hard for me, I live inside my head a lot of the time with my thoughts and I am sometimes distracted from what I really need to focus on.
Yesterday was a busy day for me, everything I planned fell apart, and when they did, I allowed whatever to happen happen, I admit I struggled with it. I wanted to do what I had planned, but something else happened. I got a call from my daughter around 8:30 pm I had resigned to the fact that the plans I had made were not going to happen and I had already put on my pj’s and washed my face. My daughter wanted to go out and be social with her friends and she needed a chaperone. I was tired and could have said no, but I jumped at the chance to be mom. I got dressed, we spent some time being social but most importantly, we spent some time together, we laughed, we talked, we had a mini retreat sharing a meal together. Of all the people I had the chance to spend the evening with, I know I spent it with the most important one.
I like hearing her voice, spending time with her and strengthening our relationship. I am glad she tells me about her friends and is concerned for each of them. I am able to just love her during this time and we are rebuilding our relationship. I thank God for this blessing.
I encourage you to look at your own ADVENTure and seek what God has in store for you. Live in the moment, seek God’s direction, go where God wants you to go.
Psalm 18:30
"The ways of God are without fault."
Joy to you from God our father.
I am thinking about Jesus’ life and how it began, born to a virgin mother, his parents having to make the journey for the census in her time of labor. Because of the census there was no room at the inn, so they had to find a retreat and Jesus was born in a manger. The three kings sought him by following his star. Herod asked who they were going to see, it angered him that he was not the one they were seeking. To save Jesus life they had to keep it a secret, Herod wanted the kings, on their return journey to tell him where this “King of the Jews” was so he could kill him. The kings were careful not to return in a way that Herod would know. Herod was so mad he ordered death to all male boys in his kingdom of a certain age. They flee to Egypt and then to Nazareth to escape the rule of Herod.
Some of us may be in a time of advent in our own lives.. A new beginning. A new adventure. Some of us are making plans, some of us have no plan. Some of us are having to adjust because the plans we made are falling apart.
Where are you in your ADVENTure?
In my own life I am seeking God, and His guidance. I am trying to be present in every moment. Being present is hard for me, I live inside my head a lot of the time with my thoughts and I am sometimes distracted from what I really need to focus on.
Yesterday was a busy day for me, everything I planned fell apart, and when they did, I allowed whatever to happen happen, I admit I struggled with it. I wanted to do what I had planned, but something else happened. I got a call from my daughter around 8:30 pm I had resigned to the fact that the plans I had made were not going to happen and I had already put on my pj’s and washed my face. My daughter wanted to go out and be social with her friends and she needed a chaperone. I was tired and could have said no, but I jumped at the chance to be mom. I got dressed, we spent some time being social but most importantly, we spent some time together, we laughed, we talked, we had a mini retreat sharing a meal together. Of all the people I had the chance to spend the evening with, I know I spent it with the most important one.
I like hearing her voice, spending time with her and strengthening our relationship. I am glad she tells me about her friends and is concerned for each of them. I am able to just love her during this time and we are rebuilding our relationship. I thank God for this blessing.
I encourage you to look at your own ADVENTure and seek what God has in store for you. Live in the moment, seek God’s direction, go where God wants you to go.
Psalm 18:30
"The ways of God are without fault."
Joy to you from God our father.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Niney-five
Today I am listening to Christmas music and the thing about Christmas music is – unless you have lived under a rock- most of us know all the words – Away in a manger, Joy to the world, the Christmas shoes, and Silent night, ect. Nothing can lift your spirit like singing along, raising your voice and singing praises (even out of tune)
Today’s verse is an attitude adjustment for those of us feeling anxious about the season and how we are going to get through this tough time and knowing that Christmas this year will be more of what we give of ourselves than what we can give as a physical gift.
Philippians 4:8
“Fix your thoughts on what is good and true and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about it.”
Christmas songs help to focus on Jesus Christ just hearing the words “Do you see what I see… do you hear what I hear…a song a song high above the trees with a voice as big as the sea… do you know what I know… a child a child shivers in the cold let us bring him silver and gold… Listen to what I say… A child a child sleeping in the night will bring us goodness and light!
Praise God for our Savior Jesus Christ.
Joy to you from God our father.
Today’s verse is an attitude adjustment for those of us feeling anxious about the season and how we are going to get through this tough time and knowing that Christmas this year will be more of what we give of ourselves than what we can give as a physical gift.
Philippians 4:8
“Fix your thoughts on what is good and true and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about it.”
Christmas songs help to focus on Jesus Christ just hearing the words “Do you see what I see… do you hear what I hear…a song a song high above the trees with a voice as big as the sea… do you know what I know… a child a child shivers in the cold let us bring him silver and gold… Listen to what I say… A child a child sleeping in the night will bring us goodness and light!
Praise God for our Savior Jesus Christ.
Joy to you from God our father.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Ninety-four
Isaiah 42: 6
"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles.”
God has plan. His plans will be carried out. God had a plan for Jesus Christ to come even at the time of Adam and Eve, and before that.
December has met me face to face with joy and trepidation, a little grief and helplessness. I have to realize that misery is optional. I said this a few days ago and it is a hard thing to do- but we have to cling to Jesus and repeat as needed-“In every circumstance- Choose Joy!”
And if you can’t laugh at least once today, lie on your back eating apples using your naval as a caramel dipping bowl!
Joy to you for we are celebrating the birth of our Lord all month, not just the 25th.
Joy to you from God the father.
"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles.”
God has plan. His plans will be carried out. God had a plan for Jesus Christ to come even at the time of Adam and Eve, and before that.
December has met me face to face with joy and trepidation, a little grief and helplessness. I have to realize that misery is optional. I said this a few days ago and it is a hard thing to do- but we have to cling to Jesus and repeat as needed-“In every circumstance- Choose Joy!”
And if you can’t laugh at least once today, lie on your back eating apples using your naval as a caramel dipping bowl!
Joy to you for we are celebrating the birth of our Lord all month, not just the 25th.
Joy to you from God the father.
Ninety-three
Psalm 40: 4
“Happy is the person who trusts the Lord”
These are words I really needed to hear today. I had a lot on my mind and I feel I need some direction from God on the matter because I don’t have the answer or know how to make something happen. I am putting it to prayer and will see what God can make happen and I will trust in the Lord for His provision in the matter.
I will put my trust in the Lord.
Today is the second day of advent and my thoughts of Jesus today are of hope. I think of his birth and today we are in expectation of his return. To God be the Glory and we worship God almighty,
Lord, may my tomorrow be extraordinary. Thank you for the trials and the rebuilding of my walk with Jesus so that I will know him better.
Keep Christ in Christmas.
Love and blessings from God our father.
“Happy is the person who trusts the Lord”
These are words I really needed to hear today. I had a lot on my mind and I feel I need some direction from God on the matter because I don’t have the answer or know how to make something happen. I am putting it to prayer and will see what God can make happen and I will trust in the Lord for His provision in the matter.
I will put my trust in the Lord.
Today is the second day of advent and my thoughts of Jesus today are of hope. I think of his birth and today we are in expectation of his return. To God be the Glory and we worship God almighty,
Lord, may my tomorrow be extraordinary. Thank you for the trials and the rebuilding of my walk with Jesus so that I will know him better.
Keep Christ in Christmas.
Love and blessings from God our father.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Ninety-two
As I begin December I am thinking of the days that lead up to Jesus’s birth and the days that followed. Jesus lived an extraordinary life.
There is so much to learn about Jesus the boy, and Jesus the man, and Jesus the Messiah. What would it have been like to know Jesus as a boy? What teachings did Mary and Joseph have on his life? In today’s society everybody and their mother is writing a book about their own lives. What if Mary and Joseph had gotten a book deal and wrote what it was like to be the parents of Jesus? In the Bible we are given small glimpses of who they were. Would Mary have listed 10 of Jesus’ favorite foods? Funny things he said? How he interacted with his siblings? What would Joseph have told? Would he tell of how he would take Jesus to work with him? Would he have told about Jesus’ first fishing trip?
I wish there was a photo album of Jesus’ life where we could look and see his baby picture, and a picture for every year after.
The most memorable image of Jesus we have is of him nailed to the cross and seated at the last supper.
I am thinking of the time that we will see him face to face for the first time. It brings me joy to think of that, in the same way that an expectant mother awaits to see her unborn babies face for the first time. Mother’s can hardly wait for that moment, now with technology mothers can see their babies face more clearly in ultrasounds but not even that image replaces looking into the tiny face and having those baby eyes look back.
There isn't a photo album but the Bible tells His story and for us to know Him, we need to read the word and love him; as a baby in a manger, as a boy who taught in the temples, as a man that selected men to be fishers of men, and as the Messiah to be worshiped.
Jesus Christ’s birth was a gift of divine love from God.
Jesus had many gifts we can experience every day; His love, unconditional; His Sovereignty, Lord of Lords; His energy, I can do all things in Christ; His work, in his teachings and he death for our sins and his resurrection so that we don’t have to fear death.
Every day can be Christmas as we experience Christ in our lives. Each day is a gift from God.
Psalm 9:11
“Sing praises to the Lord… Tell the nations what he has done."
May we all know Jesus Christ and one day look into his face and hear his voice for the first time, what a joy that moment will be.
Hoping for Joy to you from God the father.
There is so much to learn about Jesus the boy, and Jesus the man, and Jesus the Messiah. What would it have been like to know Jesus as a boy? What teachings did Mary and Joseph have on his life? In today’s society everybody and their mother is writing a book about their own lives. What if Mary and Joseph had gotten a book deal and wrote what it was like to be the parents of Jesus? In the Bible we are given small glimpses of who they were. Would Mary have listed 10 of Jesus’ favorite foods? Funny things he said? How he interacted with his siblings? What would Joseph have told? Would he tell of how he would take Jesus to work with him? Would he have told about Jesus’ first fishing trip?
I wish there was a photo album of Jesus’ life where we could look and see his baby picture, and a picture for every year after.
The most memorable image of Jesus we have is of him nailed to the cross and seated at the last supper.
I am thinking of the time that we will see him face to face for the first time. It brings me joy to think of that, in the same way that an expectant mother awaits to see her unborn babies face for the first time. Mother’s can hardly wait for that moment, now with technology mothers can see their babies face more clearly in ultrasounds but not even that image replaces looking into the tiny face and having those baby eyes look back.
There isn't a photo album but the Bible tells His story and for us to know Him, we need to read the word and love him; as a baby in a manger, as a boy who taught in the temples, as a man that selected men to be fishers of men, and as the Messiah to be worshiped.
Jesus Christ’s birth was a gift of divine love from God.
Jesus had many gifts we can experience every day; His love, unconditional; His Sovereignty, Lord of Lords; His energy, I can do all things in Christ; His work, in his teachings and he death for our sins and his resurrection so that we don’t have to fear death.
Every day can be Christmas as we experience Christ in our lives. Each day is a gift from God.
Psalm 9:11
“Sing praises to the Lord… Tell the nations what he has done."
May we all know Jesus Christ and one day look into his face and hear his voice for the first time, what a joy that moment will be.
Hoping for Joy to you from God the father.
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