The Christmas List

                                    

                Give a gift of laughter,

                give a gift of song,

                 Give a gift of sympathy

                        to last a whole life long,

                    Give a cheerful message,

                 give a helping hand.

                  Tell your sorry neighbor

                 that you understand,

                  Wash the supper dishes,

                    help to dust the room;

              Give a smile to leaven

                         someone's hour of gloom!

              Give a gift of sharing,

                   sweeten dreary days

                For the lost and lonely,

                         give youself  ALWAYS!!

                                           By Cathedral Press, Inc.

GOD'S SON the reason for the season:

                                         

                                           

                                          

                                          

                                           On the very first Christmas, Jesus was a tiny baby

                                          wrapped in rags and lying in a cow stall. 

                                          But from the beginning,

                                         He was Lord of life and King of all creation.

                                         Jesus' birth is reason to rejoice.  But so is His death,

                                         for when He rose again He conquered sin and its grip on

                                         our lives.  If we believe, we are free.

                                         Jesus is in heaven, seated at God's right hand.  He's

                                         with every believer on earth, too, through the

                                         of the Holy Spirit.  And He promised to be with

                                         with us always.

  Jesus birth is reason to rejoice.  In the story Turea kept Christmas.  Her journey took her back to the babe of Bethlehem to stand alone with Jesus.  Will we stand alone with Christ?  He was rejected of men before He was ever born.  Joseph saw Mary was with child and wanted to divorce her.  He didn't want to be associated with a baby not his own.  Mary came to Bethlehem and there was no room for Him to be born in.  No room for Jesus.  He came as a grown man.  God's special Son,  and they rejected Him.  He went to Gethsemane and prayed alone.  The disciples slept.  He stood being judged alone.  God forsook Him on the cross.  The question He still ask today.  Will, you take up your cross and stand alone with me?  Will, we really keep Christmas?

Go to u-tube Turea kept Christmas .

The Shepherds Are Coming

The angels appeared to the shepherds.  Why the Shepherds?  The Shepherds were faithful to fulfill their jobs, no matter what the conditions were.  When the Shepherd called his sheep by name, if one was missing, he hedged in the other sheep, and left to find the lost sheep.  He went out through the snow, rain, cold, and heat.  The shepherd had walked, watched, and protected the sheep all day.  Now, worn out from the stress of the day, he goes out into the night to find his sheep.  He will lay down his life if necessary to help his sheep.  No wonder God appeared to these faithful shepherds to tell them His Son was to be born.
                          
                               O HOLY NIGHT

These were shepherds that sold their sheep to the people      

that would  bring their sacrifice to the Temple.

  When they found the babe, they went everywhere telling

The good news, the Messiah is born.  Every time they sold their sheep, the

Shepherds would retell the story.  The Priest, Scribes, and Pharisees were

steeped in their tradition.  Their focus would be on keeping the law and getting the

Ceremonies correct.  The Shepherds were interesting in people knowing the King of Kings.

Which people are we like, the Scribes, Pharisees, or the lowly shepherds?

Luke 2:  There were shepherds in the fields watching over their flocks by night.  The angel of the Lord showed up in the Heavens above them, doing marvelous things.  The shepherds were so afraid.  The angel said to them fear not for behold I give you tidings of great joy.  This joy was to all the people. This day is born in Bethlehem a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  Immediately the shepherds left their sheep, and went to worship.  The wolves, lions, bears, and thieves were out there, but they trusted their Savior to take care of them.  He is able to protect us too. (Scripture paraphrased)

                     Falling Leaves

   As I see the falling leaves all around us.  It reminds me of the manna falling around the Israelites.  Fresh manna everyday.  God's blessings surrounds us each day.  His mercy and love is new everyday great is His faithfulness to us. 
  
   The leaves on the tree exist for the benefit of others.  It provides nourishment for the tree.  Birds and other animals build nest in the tree and the leaves provide cover for their protection.  Leaves provide shade for animals as well as humans.  Leaves exist for the benefit of others.  When, they fall to the ground they provide nourishment for the tree. 

   God's plan for us is to benefit others.  Are we living up to what God designed us to do?

Happy Thanksgiving

The Best Thanksgiving Day

    By A. B. Simpson

As we gather 'round our fireside                         While we love to"count our blessings,"

On this new Thanksgiving Day,                           Grateful for the year that's gone,

Time would fail to count the blessings                  Faith would sweep a wider wision,

That have followed all our way;                           Hope would gaze yet further on.

                                                                      

Grace sufficient, help and healing,                        For the signals all around us

Prayer oft answered at our call;                           Seem with one accord to say,

And the best of all our blessings,                          "Christ is coming soon to bring us

Christ Himself, our all and all.                               Earth's last, best Thanksgiving Day"!

The Sunflower

The amazing sunflower is Unique.  It's head follows or tracks the sun each day.   Which way the sun is at that is where the sunflower points to.  It's stem is strong and very tall.  It may be the tallest flower of them all.  Something about it reminds us of a smiley face.  The bees, butterflies, and many birds gets nourishment from it.  It thrives on energy from the sun.  If the sunflower can't find the sun it will look for another source of light.  If it can't find light, it will die.  We will die spiritually or dry up, if we don't follow the Son.   It grows flowers and seeds.  They are all separate.  There can be as much as two thousand different seeds.  That is a lot of nourishment for others. 

      The Light of the world is Jesus.  The world was dark with sin.  Jesus shattered the darkness of sin in the world to bring salvation.  We are to follow Him every day.  Like the sunflower, we should follow where ever He leads us.  The size of the sunflower depends on the soil and the amount of sun it gets.  Our hearts are like soil the quality of the soil and the amount of God's Word in us determines how big, we will grow.  How bright can we shine if we follow the Son?      " Cultivate my heart, Lord, so I may catch each word that falls from Heaven every syllable of encouragement, every sentence of rebuke, every paragraph of instruction, every page of warning.  Help me to catch these words as the ablaze from your glory.  From your holy altar- come down fall on us.  Make us ablaze soft, fertile soil that catches seeds."

From Windows of the Soul by Ken Gire.

     The sunflower produces all that it was designed to do and then it bows its head and dies.  God grant us the wisdom you put into the sunflower to accomplish all we can for you before we die.  Flowers can teach us a lesson about God.  Their heads turn to receive from the sun.  Let's turn our heads and hearts toward the Son.   Our prayer should be Lord consume us until we are one with you.

 

God's North Side

God’s North Side

     Do we see God in the true light of Scripture?  True discipline is hard to find.  We have seen the South side of God so long that we have forgotten the mysterious side of God.  The Puritans talked about the stormy side of God.  In the Book of Solomon the Shulamite called for the cold North wind and the soft south wind to blow upon her garden that its spices may flow out in abundance for you in whom my soul delights.  She knew it took both the good and the bad, the soft and the hard to make the spices to flow out to bless others. 

     The Israelites saw both sides of God as He led them out of Egypt with His mighty power.  His wonders caused the Egyptians cause them to let them go and gave up their wealth.  They saw the wonders kill the Egyptians, the north side and the soft side that saved the Israelites.  The south side saved Israel as the waters stood up and they passed on dry land.  The north side brought the walls of water down upon their enemies.

     We see the north side turn against Israel as they tried to go into the Promise Land after God said no.  Their unbelief caused them to wonder in the wilderness   forty years and die there.  Jeremiah saw it as God mended some vessels and others he broke others to piece.  God spoke to Hosea to tell the people you are mine Hosea 2:1-3.  You have been pitied and have obtained mercy, but if you won't turn away from your harlotry and your adulteries then He would turn on the his north side and make you as the day you were born naked.  You will become like a wilderness, a parched land, and I will slay you with thirst.  He will send terrible enemies against you, if you don’t repent.  Doesn’t this sound like America and what is happening to us.

     Isn’t God sounding the alarm for America to wake up and turn back to God?  He had blessed America so much, but we have turned away from Him and gone our own way.  Our preachers preach and teach a one sided God of blessing, but have failed to teach the whole counsel of God.  To be complete in Christ to grow to full statue in Him, we must be strong, disciplined, and ready to stand up for God and the right.  We have seen the South side of God, but now we are seeing the judgment side of Him.     

     Sodom and Gomorrah turned to their own way and God buried them under the ashes, unless we wake up God can do the same to us.  He is full of mercy, let’s call out to Him personally, and as a nation to turn back and seek His face.  11Peter 3:9 God is long suffering not willing that any should perish, but all come to repentance.

LOVE FOR GOD

TO LOVE YOU MORE

     Learning to love the Lord is one of the most challenging things in life.

We don’t think of God needing anything, and He does not, but He is alive and has

desires like we do.  God is love and how sad His heart must be as He sees His creation disobeying Him.  His planned salvation from the foundation of the earth is to bring men back to Him.  He sent Jesus, His beloved Son to die and suffer more than we will ever be able to comprehend. To see a person reject all of His love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness and still go to hell  is the greatest tragedy of all. 

Love never stops loving and wanting to give. 

     We know we bless God by giving to others, sharing the good news, praying, and being thankful.  We are all made differently.  Why, not ask our loving Father how we can bless Him in our own unique way. 

     Let’s for awhile forget about asking the Lord to give or help us, but rather ask the Lord  to show us how we can bless Him.

Let’s wrap a heart of love around our Wonderful Father, Lord and Savior. Without Him we can do nothing.  Open the eyes of our understanding, so we can see how we can love you better.

America

     A nation built on prayer and the Bible, we must return to the God of our Father's.  He holds nations and people in His hands.

    Consider the many unusual aspects in the settling of America's thirteen colonies, the enduring and winning of the seven years War for Independence, and the establishing of the first Christian Constitution the world has ever known.  All these " human events" required  "a peculiar people zealous of good works. (Titus2:14;    1Peter 2:9).
     For one hundred and fifty years,  God gathered and allowed representatives from all parts of Europe and Africa to come to America until 1775.  There were almost three million people settled upon our eastern seaboard.  Such a diversity of races, colors, and creeds had not been able to live peaceably with one another in their respective homelands, yet in America they were able to unite voluntarily, and, without a strong central government, defeat England, the greatest military power of the time.   It was fairly easy for them to transition from a confederation to a federation-the world's first Christian republic.

Builders of Freedom

     It was the common man who built upon the philosophy of freedom that produced a nation which offered hope and liberty to the people of the world who were shrouded in the darkness of despotism. (tyrany)

"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" ( Ps.11:3)

A MOTION FOR PRAYER

     "In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had our daily prayers in this room for the divine protection.  Our prayers, Sir, were heard...and they were graciously answered...

     "I have lived, Sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs the affairs of men.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?  We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writing that 'except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. 'I firmly believe this; and I also believe that, without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel. . . "I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service."

  Taken from Foundations of Liberty

Father's

Father's

God made them out of the dirt to be the foundation in which the family is made on.  The stability of the home is placed on the Father's shoulders.  He was made to be the gate keeper to keep evil out and good in, to establish a safe environment in which each member can thrive and become all they were meant to be.

God bless Father's that step up to the plate and be first the person they should be.  "A godly Father is worth his weight in gold."

It takes time for a craftsman to build a wall.  He makes sure the space is exact, the mixture correct, and the bricks in the right order.  Do, we take time to put the right ingredients in a child, to make him a child that will follow God and His plan? If you know how to, be sure to mentor others.  Raising children is almost a lost art.  If you have a good Father be sure and tell him so.

My Father was absent.  He left when I was three and a half.  If you didn't have a Father to love and teach you who God made you?  Then, look to your Heavenly Father.  He can give you what your earthly Father can't.  If your Father doesn't know how to father a child, he can't give you what he doesn't have.  Instead of hating and blaming him realize it was not your fault.  Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.  The lost child, lost affection, lost dreams of having a good Father.  Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost.  He came to redeem that lost part of you.  Jesus will come in take away your sins and give you hope for the future.  Ask Him to come into your heart and take over.  Give Him all your heartache and sorrow, after all that is why He came to earth.  He is waiting.

 Psalms 27: 10 If your Father or Mother forsake you the Lord will take me up.

Be still and know that I am God

The last part of Isaiah says, their strength is to sit still.  In the midst of great trials, turmoil, and suffering, the best thing to do is to do nothing.  We must hear God speak before making any move.

In the natural, things looked bleak for Daniel. He had been thrown in the lion’s den for praying to his God.  He looked like a light healthy snack for the hungry lions. But God had a plan to turn Satan’s plan upside down.  He simply sent an angel to shut the lion’s mouth.  Daniel could have used one of them as a pillar and went to sleep. Daniel could sleep, but the King couldn’t.  Angels put one to sleep, and keep the other one awake.  The next day Daniel was found to be in better shape than the King.

The King had made a huge statue of himself and commanded everyone to bow to it.  The three Hebrew children won’t bow.  The King got so angry-he had not taken courses in anger control, he heated the furnace so-o hot the men that threw them in went to ashes to ashes immediately.  Jesus shows up and proves the fire had no power over him.  The only thing that burned was the cords that bound the three Hebrew children.  The King by this time demands that no one pray to any other God, but the God of Daniel’s. God used these four obedient men to show a nation that He is Almighty God.

The King ask Daniel was the God you serve able to deliver you? The world will be soon be asking us this question.

Psalm 46;10 “Be still and know that I am.” God speaks to the hushed soul. We can only hear, when all the other voices are quiet.  It was when Beethoven became deaf that he heard the sweetest music and produce his greatest masterpiece.

Mother's Day

A Mother's Love

     A Mother's love is something that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain.  It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may for nothing can destroy that love away...
it is patient and forgiving when the world around condemns, and it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems...
it is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation, and it still remains a secret like a          mysterious of creation.  A many splendored miracle 
man cannot understand and another wondrous evidence of God's tender guiding hand.
                                                                                                -    Helen Steiner Rice.

    A Mother prepares a shadowbox of memories that will last a lifetime.  It will link yesturday, today, and will hold some keys for tomorrow.  She makes tracts in the sand that will turn into concrete and remain.
     She painted pictures on the canvas of our hearts and minds.  We can recall them anytime they are needed on this journey called life.
        She is like a candle that gives light along the way to guide us, and her scent lingers far after she is gone.



"Strength and honour are her clothing."  Proverbs 31:25.


  

Resurrection

Spurgeon says,  "'Every morning is a resurrection.'  At night we lay down to sleep stripped of our outer garments.  As our souls will be of their bodily array when we come to die. But the morning wakes us.   One day we will lay aside all soiled clothes and put on glorious robe that will never be soiled again. 

We await that great getting up morning when the trumpet sounds and every fiber of our being in us is fully awake.  All praise to thee who kept and hath refreshed us while we slept. .. Let the thoughts of His loving kindness to you tuck you in at night.   Tell of His loving kindness and know He has sustained us, in spite of our pains, grief's, and sorrows."

  Let's open our mornings with praise to Him, and let it flow all the day long.

Autumn

"First fruits Oh, it is best to give our all at the beginning of life.  Mellow and sweet the fruit mellowed by trials, the autumn full of colors.  First Fruits are like a babies breathe;  pure, sweet, and lovely.  Some of us have had many dark days more than days of joy.  Days of sorrow much more than joy.  We can praise Him for His faithfulness, loving kindness.   He causes goodness to come.   Loving-kindness came down wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manager.  Hallelujah! Christ arose, now let us arise and tell others that He lives and they can live also."

I have seen the empty tomb;

I've stood amazed and hushed

In the holy presence of Him

Who conquers death and hell and gloom.

He is not here! O symphony of victory!

He is not here! Forevermore He lives !

My heart is thrilled with the peace,

The joy, the glory that only Jesus gives

                 (Nathanael Olson)

Stay Here and Watch With Me

     My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow and darkness.   Demons were bearing down on Him putting unbelievable pressure and pain upon Him.  It would get so bad his sweat would turn to blood.   He bought His closest companions to be with Him, Peter, James, and John  He needed their compassion and prayers.  It was midnight by the clock and in their souls.   If anyone needed a friend it was Jesus during these terrible hours.  The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.  These men of God had given out all day and still going at midnight.  It was a very busy time with no time to rest.  For them to sit down at midnight with demons, so near to help put them to sleep was too much for their already worn out bodies. 

     Are we weary in these last hours?  It is time to pray like we have never before.   Satan is hindering on every hand, darkness is closing in all around us.  We should be bombarding Heaven like never before.   Satan will advance and take ground in every area, if the body of Christ lets him.  In our family, our community, and in the world.   Demons and hell is crouching to surround so many people to snare them.  Satan is attacking God’s people left and right.  Let’s wake up to pray more fervently for as many people as we can.  I’m sure everyday Peter, James, and John were reminded I should have prayed and watched. Let’s pray while we can lest Satan lures us to sleep. 

     Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom, he can devour.    Look around you this world is not your friend.  If it is, then you are not a friend of God.  We are in enemy territory and we can expect to be attacked at any time.  

     Ps.46:1" God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in the time of trouble. "  Jesus words to the disciples watch and pray.  Awake thou that sleeps and God will give you light.

Eve -Devotional

Eve

    Eve the last to complete God's Creation.  She was the completer for Adam.  His help-mate and soul mate. Nothing in the garden was complete, until woman came. God planned for them to live together in the garden and never die.  Eve listened to the voice of another, and did what Satan told her to do.  She ate the forbidden fruit, and gave it to Adam to eat. This was sin and it separated them from God.  God is speaking to us all through the day.  We may hear His voice through a song, a verse from the Bible, someone talking to us.  We look up and see the sky God is making pictures and changing His canvas all day long.  Do, we stop and say look that is God trying to speak to us.  Our taste buds tells us God made food for us to enjoy.  The Bible says, " taste and see the Lord is good."  As we go through our day don't forget God loves you with an everlasting love, and He is trying to speak to you and draw you closer to Him.    

Satan is always trying to put thoughts in your mind.  He wants you to do what Eve did and turn from God to hear his voice.  We were born in sin, but God speaks to us and if we turn to Him.  He makes us a new creation in Him, old things become new. " Come unto me, I will show you great and mighty things you do not know."

 John 3:16  " For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life"

 

      ..."Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:21
       
"The beauty of the sunbeam lies partly in the face that God does not keep it; He gives it away to us all."  
                                                             God's Celebrating Grace Nov. 10

                                  

                                  

The Shepherds are Coming



1.      The Shepherds bowed and worshipped.

2.      Joseph humbly obeyed, worked, and watched.

3.      Mary wondered and pondered.

4.      Angels brought good tidings of great joy.

5.      Wise men came later to give and adore

6.      All these teach us what we are to do. 

    “We must be about our Father’s business.”

    Jesus is saying to us Son-Daughter go work in my vineyard.

Matthew 21:28.

Herod hated and tried to kill Him.  We will either bow down to worship Him, or we will rise up against the truth.

The innkeeper was so occupied with the physical that he didn’t perceive who Jesus was.

    Are we so preoccupied with the our lives that we miss seeing God's miraculous hand in our lives?