I realize this is supposed to be the most joyous time of the year. I have been doing an Advent study to prepare my heart for the coming of Christ with us, Emmanuel. I’ve gotten everything done ahead of time and I’ve just been enjoying the season – until yesterday that is. So many things hit me at once. One of our friend’s 30 year old son drowned while fishing. We have friends with cancer and other illnesses. There is…..
Most of the time when we think of darkness it is an ominous thought. Bad things can happen in the dark. You never know what is lurking around the corner. Jesus’ birth brought light to the world starting with the star that guided The Three Kings to Jerusalem. Jesus is the light of the world. Genesis 1 tells us that there was darkness until God said, “Let there be light.” Can you imagine living in constant darkness? I don’t know…..
I hope you have heard Lauren Daigle, who has the most beautiful, almost haunting voice sing her new song for Christmas, Noel. It has a line that I love. She sings, “Noel, Noel. Come and see what God had done.” You can listen to it on YouTube here if you haven’t heard it. It is just the most wonderful, Spirit-filled Christmas song I’ve ever heard. When I first heard it, I realized I didn’t know what Noel means. Maybe you…..
CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS I love this time of year. I love all the baking, planning, decorating and getting together with friends and loved ones. It is a magical time of year. It is filled with joy and peace. It makes me want to sing Christmas Carols, even though I can’t sing at all, but that doesn’t stop me. It is just a special time. Jesus, God’s Ultimate Gift It also makes me so thankful for all our blessings. We are so…..
Well, we have made it through Thanksgiving. You know what that means, Christmas is around the corner. Christmas, as the song says, is the most wonderful time of the year. I totally agree. Christmas is about the birth of our Savior and children and family. Let’s pray that there be Peace on Earth. What is more joyous than that? I have made a vow this year to enjoy every minute of the Christmas Season. We don’t have to let the commercialism…..
REALLY? With all I had to do to get things ready for Thanksgiving and then before I can blink it will be Christmas, you want me to give thanks with a joyful heart? I don’t even have time to think straight. I don’t have the time or energy to pray and give thanks. Unfortunately, we can let ourselves fall into this syndrome. The world has made everything so materialistic and frantic. Everything has to be perfect and bigger and better…..
Each day seems to bring a new set or problems. There is always something that causes us to be stressed. You can be rocking along and everything is just fine, and then, boom! out of nowhere, the bombshell explodes. But, do not fear. We have our lives all planned out but it doesn’t always work out that way. In fact, it very rarely does. You know, “The best laid plans of mice and men, etc.” Most of the time there…..
Some days it seems that everything I do is uphill. Nothing is happening as it should. Projects that I need to complete are not getting done. I feel like I am carrying a load that I shouldn’t have to carry. When that happens I turn it over to God. Life can be filled with battles. Some are much more serious than getting a project finished on time. We have battles with our spouse; our children; our neighbors and so on. …..
Unfortunately we live in a day when someone knocks on your door our first thought is concern. Is it someone selling something or could it be a thief? We are usually very cautious going to the door. Revelation 3:20 tell us that Jesus is knocking at our door. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” This…..
It sounds so easy to just be still but most of the time I find it really hard. When things are crazy around me, I think I have to fix them. I am just that kind of person. In Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” When we try to fix things on our own, we are actually trying to be…..