Trying to hide who you really are from everyone? Are there things you’re ashamed of in your past either of your own making or “just happened” to you? Are you asking God “Why?”
This short video clip is for those of us who have felt this way or have asked God why.
May you be ministered to through this video.
“How beautiful is the person who comes over the mountains to bring good news, who announces peace and brings good news, who announces salvation and says to Jerusalem, ‘Your God is King.’ ” Isaiah 52:7
Thought:
Have you ever thought about it? Jesus is that person who came across the mountains to bring peace and good news. The one who proclaimed, “Your God is King.”
There was no other way for Him to share this with us other than to come to earth Himself, taking the form of man, and show us the way of salvation.
Have you ever read or heard the story about the Geese in a Snow Storm? It’s about a man who did not believe in the incarnation of Christ – until a flock of geese got stranded in a snow storm. It drives home the point of God needing to become like us for us to understand the way of salvation. I pray you can take a minute and read this short story.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You saw us here on earth, bumping our heads and flapping around each in our own way. You looked at us with compassion and pondered what You could do to bring us to the safety and warmth of Your arms. In Your wisdom,You concluded that the only way we could really understand which direction to follow was for You to become one of us. This You did. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus into this world so full of sin and hate and invading it with Your love. You have us Your Word to show us the directions, and You gave us Your Spirit to comfort our hearts and to give us confidence in our faith. All of this You did not only for the whole world, but You did it for me. All we can say is thank You. In Your Son’s name, Amen.
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“The Lord says, ‘My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like My ways. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8,9
Thought:
Is there anything going on in your life that you find hard to trust God’s hand is in it?
Are there passages of Scripture you find hard to understand?
What about people you may talk to that question the validity of the Scriptures saying that all that “stuff” is just stories, they couldn’t possibly be true, you’ve got your head in the sand.
It boils down to faith and trust. Do you trust God enough to believe He’s got it all under control?
A virgin birth? Preposterous many say. And yet, God’s Word says it. Do you have the faith to believe it and the where with all to study the Scriptures for yourself to see that God does not lie?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I admit that I do not understand all of the reasons why You had to come to show us You were both God and man. But I’m glad You did. I’m thankful that You were human, so You understand all of my weaknesses and fears. You experienced them all. And I’m thankful that You are fully God. You are not just another counselor with human wisdom: You are incarnate wisdom for my life. You are able to come to my aid in the supernatural ways that I need. This is amazing. You are amazing. Bless You, Lord Jesus, for being willing to invade this world to help a human such as me see the light of eternity. In Your name, Amen.
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Jackie at Fresh Oil Today posted this urgent prayer request this morning on her blog. Please let her know you are praying for her daughter.
"Just got a call from EMT in Florida where my daughter Katie lives and they are pulling her out of her jeep.........unconscious and having trouble bring her to..........family friends are on the way to meet ambulance at hospital. Her husband is military and was deployed earlier this week for 7 months.....We are in AZ and awaiting more info..............PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!!!!"
Copy this code if you would like to use the button on your sidebar.
Thanks Edie for making this!
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“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Thought:
“The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.” Ralph W. Sockman, the man who penned this quote, was a Methodist minister the first half of the 20th century.
Another famous Methodist, Charles Wesley, penned the following words we all sing every Christmas.
Hark! The herald angels sing. Glory to the new born King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th’ angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Hark! The herald angels sing. Glory to the new born King!
Prayer:
Father God in heaven, our human ability to uncover all of the ways You are wonderful seems to fall short. We try to understand, sometimes we think we understand, but our efforts at truly grasping why You love us, why You came to earth, why You lived a sinless life and died a criminal’s death…for one like me…perhaps there are no words. But Jesus, in this quiet moment in my heart, our hearts, we just want to say, You’re wonderful! Wonderful in more ways than we can say. You’re wonderful today, and we look forward to all of the tomorrows you give us to discover even more how wonderful You are. In Your name, Amen.
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This guy is just too funny not to share. Sometimes you just have to laugh a little bit.
http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/6599/A-Christmas-Moment
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I need your advice. This is something that
I really struggle with and I’m not sure what to do. I’m very interested in knowing what you do because it’s something we all must deal with as bloggers.
According to bloggy etiquette, (whoever writes these rules anyway!), when someone comments you should comment back or go see them and comment at their blog. I’ve tried to do that, but life gets so busy that I just don’t get it done.
And then there’s the follower button. Oh my! I held out on adding that feature when it first came out, but then gave in because I saw the benefit because I was able to follow people and have it show up on my reader on my dashboard.
I have around 90 followers. Some of you have WAY more than that which does not bother me in the least. I look that your random pictures that come up and I say, “Thank You, Lord for each of them!” But I don’t get to visit. Lands sake, if I tried to visit everyone every day I’d be on the computer all day!
Oh my! I just looked at the blogs I follow…168!!! No granted, some of that is duplicate from the ones that follow me, but I don’t follow everyone that follows me.
I’m truly so humbled and blessed by each of you. HONESTLY, I am amazed you even want to stop by and read ANYTHING I have to say. I want to visit with you. I want to comment on your blogs. But I’m just feeling overwhelmed.
So please tell me, how do you manage your blog and blog visits? I’m wanting to start the new year off right and develop some new habits. But I need help.
It’s time for a bloggy intervention!
Love you dearly.
First I would like to say on this Thankful Thursday that I am thankful the Word…the Living Word that became flesh and dwelt among us so He could pay the penalty for my sin and I could be reconciled to God and be at peace with Him.
I’m also thankful for the written Word of God that I have been given so I can grow into His likeness and righteousness.
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
Thought:
We hear so often the phrase “Jesus died for me” that sometimes we forget the purpose of salvation isn’t just to be glad our souls are safe for eternity: it’s to follow Jesus’s example – give ourselves to others. That’s what Christ did for us.
The truth is, we were saved from something for something.
This Advent season, thank Him for saving you from Hell and ask Him what He would delight in you doing in order to bless the life of others – whom He also loves.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, thank You for being the gift that holds families together, even over time and distance. Is there someone I know who needs the present and the presence of Jesus in their home this Christ? Is there a stranger? Please show me who. I want more than ever to give Your love to those who need it. You gave Yourself for me when I needed it. Help me to do the same. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
This prayer comes from the book “The 25 Days of Christmas” by Greg Johnson.
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“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and tht every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
Thought:
It’s hard to imagine all that Jesus left when he put aside His majestic robes and arrived on this planet as a humble servant. Try and consider for even a moment what it would be like for you and I to leave the comfort of our homes, family, our way of life and familiar places. How tough is this to even imagine for you?
Prayer:
Lord, Jesus, You left heaven and the place beside Your Father to come to earth…to rescue us. That is almost too unbelievable to believe. You did it not to prove some point about how much better You were, but for the love of each individual that was ever born, including me. I thank You today for the example of humility You have given me. Help me never to be proud of my home and possessions that I forget how You invaded our world by choice so that we would have the choice of loving You from the deepest part of our hearts. In His Name, Amen.
This advent prayer comes from the book, “The 25 Days of Christmas” by Greg Johnson
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What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him - I give Him my heart.
~from “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Christina Rossetti
Christmas is upon us. The next 23 days will spin by in a flurry of activity and render us exhausted and 7 pounds heavier. What a bleak, dismal thought. Is that all there is to this holiday season? Yes, if that's what we are out to celebrate...a holiday.
There's more to Christmas.
To fin
ish reading this devotional, visit me over at Laced With Grace.
Each day between now and Christmas as a way of keeping Christmas as our focus, I’ll be sharing an advent verse and prayer with you all.
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
Thought:
Jesus is the message of Christmas. There has never been anyone else like Him. And forgiveness for our sins is the central message of his birth and life on earth, His death on the cross, and especially His resurrection.
Advent Prayer:
Lord, we thank You for being our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. As we enter the Christmas season, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness. As you sent Your messengers, the prophets, to prepare the way of salvation, may we prepare traditions that nurture our spiritual lives and celebrate the dawning of Your everlasting light. In Jesus name, Amen.
This thought and advent prayer come from the book, “The 25 Days of Christmas” by Greg Johnson
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Pardon the mess around here today.
No more jury duty, so now I’m doing some Christmas decorating at home and on my blog.
If you notice my header is gone. One will reappear Wednesday. I’m also working backgrounds and deciding what I want to use. And then there’s the Christmas playlist! I’m working on it behind the scenes with just a couple of songs playing right now as a teaser. There will be a Christmas only playlist by Thursday.
Well, I’d better get back to working on my home so it will look like I did something today when Mike comes home! LOL
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As editor of the Marriage Channel on Exemplify Online, once a month I’m offering a question and answer time.
Today’s question is from a reader who wishes to remain anonymous but gave me permission to answer publicly in hopes it may help someone else.
Question: Since my husband’s mother passed away 7 years ago just days before Christmas, he struggles the whole month of December with depression. It’s like he’s in a deep valley and nothing I try to do can pull him out. He loves the Lord, he just seems to get “lost” this time of year. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer: I can identify with what you are going through. My husband’s mother also passed away just before Christmas many years ago and the holidays are often when depression will raise its ugly head.
You did not mention whether or not he has bouts of depression at other times of year. For my husband, it often reoccurs when he’s feeling stressed at work and not eating and exercising correctly.
There is victory over depression. Some choose medication, others choose to deal with it by using Scripture. My husband has chosen to use Scripture and taking control of his thoughts rather than medication.
The first thing would be to bathe him in prayer even more than you normally do. He needs to be undergirded so he can stand strong.
Talk openly about the upcoming anniversary of his mother’s death. Let him know you acknowledge how special she was to him (and you). Ask him how he would like to commemorate her life (not her death) in your home.
You can read the rest of my answer over at Exemplify Online’s Marriage Channel.
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My son Adam took this picture of Pike’s Peak on his trip to Colorado last week.
What strength, awe, majesty and yes, reverential fear are invoked by scenes like this.
Lord, I’m humbled and undone by Your strength, majesty and holiness. As I seek You, I am undone. Totally powerless and thankful to be in Your hands. I love You.
Your humbly grateful daughter,
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