Saturday, December 31, 2016

December 31

Tonight, a lot of us will stay up later than usual, but others of us will go right to bed at the same time only to be wakened by the fireworks ushering in the New Year. By today, most people have set New Year's resolutions or are at least thinking about making changes in their life. I have found that resolutions don't work for me. But, what does work for me is making a commitment to God. I mean, I am going to try my best not to renege on my promise to Him. Without it, I'm more lenient on myself and more likely to release myself from it than I am if God is the one keeping me in check! Besides, when you have the Holy Spirit helping you, it's just easier. So this is my challenge to you: make a commitment to God to read your bible daily and spend some time in prayer talking to Him. I guarantee you that He will help you find the time. So what do you say, won't you join me and take on this challenge?

It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. Deuteronomy 6:13

Friday, December 30, 2016

December 30

Very soon the cleanup will begin as we start to transition from Christmas to New Years. The Christmas tree will become a bomb on the burn pile and singe your hair if you stand too close when it's lit. The trash that's out by the road is full of boxes and gift wrap and the burglars are scoping out the next home to rob. All those Christmas lights must come down at some point and the chances of someone falling off the roof are quite good. And let's not forget to mention all of those credit card bills! It's really ashamed that we must be concerned with every little detail of our life in order to remain protected. Can you ever imagine what it will be like to never worry about those things again? God has a plan for that, and its salvation through Jesus His Son! Rest easy my friends, the life that we now live will be just a shadow in our memory once Jesus comes back to meet us in the sky and all our worry will be over!

And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:5

Thursday, December 29, 2016

December 29

When I was in elementary school, I was supposed to go home with my friend Tammy to spend the night. I was very young and didn't understand how the school bus system worked because I walked home from school. So I just got on any bus, but my friend wasn't on it. I have no idea what was going on behind the scenes, but I ended up being the last one on and the bus driver brought me back to school. I'm sure it must have caused an uproar. The principal of my school took me home. I had been lost and alone, I'm sure I was crying; I cried over everything! But God was watching over me and kept me safe until I was reunited with my mom and dad. God is still watching over me. If you feel lost and alone, cry out to the Father. He will draw you close and bring you comfort like no one else can. He's our protector and defender and will rush to your side when you call out to Him. Trust Him. 

When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. Psalms 91:15

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

December 28

When my kids were little they liked to play in the lake. I never worried about them because they all knew how to swim and they kept tabs on one another, plus I did a head count every few minutes. They would get so filthy digging in the mud and clay! The clothes they played in would never come clean from all the mud and grime. It was one day during the summer and they had been playing in that lake all day; when I called them in to hose them off before coming into my house they came with a nice little surprise, it was a clay sculpture! They had fashioned it to look like a girl's head with pine straw for hair. It had been drying in the sun all day and they presented it to me as a gift. They are all grown, some with their own kids, and I still have it today. The memories that I share with them are incredible. God gives us children to further His kingdom and I am very thankful that they have decided to follow Him. 

but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

December 27

We are all a part of this great battle between good and evil. We are the ambassadors to this world to fight for the treasure that God has given us in Jesus. This is not an easy battle because the forces of evil would like nothing more than to take every ounce of good we have in us, dispose of it and fill up the emptiness with every demonic force available. It seems as though the enemy has forgotten who side we are on and the warrior that dwells within us. This time of year seems to be the perfect time for the enemy to strike. As we gather with our families to celebrate our Savior's birth, the enemy would like nothing more than to tear it apart. He pulls out all the stops by orchestrating tragedy, causing deaths, bringing on sickness, all to try and bring you down. Don't be discouraged. God will redeem your tragedy and you will pull through it victoriously! You may suffer a little while, but the glory of God will shine through!

"I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. Isaiah 45:2-3

Monday, December 26, 2016

December 26

I was just going about my day when some words to a Bible verse popped into my head. It wasn't a verse that I had memorized or even one that I had recently heard or read. It wasn't the whole verse but just a few words from it, which of course made me stop and think "what is the rest of this verse?". I looked it up as soon as I could. It brings tears to my eyes to think that the Holy Spirit would take time to speak to me and encourage me by giving me words and a verse that are specific to what He is doing in my life right now. I want to encourage you to start focusing on your perception and stop writing them off as random thoughts or songs; especially if you hear it more than once. He speaks to us in many ways but when He uses His own words from the Bible you can be pretty sure that you heard from Him! These are the words I heard: I am doing a new thing, don't you perceive it?

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

Sunday, December 25, 2016

December 25

Today is the day that we all gather with our families and friends to celebrate, for one reason and one reason only, the birth of our Savior! If it's anything different to you, you may need to reassess your commitment to Jesus. It's not about Santa, gifts, or decorations, it's about Jesus. He is the reason for our being. He's the reason we have hope for an eternity. It's not very likely that Jesus was born on this very day, but none the less this is the day that was chosen for us to celebrate. It wasn't called Christmas, it was a census and there wasn't anything joyful about that. The joy came when the angels announce His birth. They weren't sent to the chief priest or anyone that was exalted by men but to the poor shepherds. The news was presented to those He could trust to spread the word of His birth without it being contaminated or twisted. Much to our joy, Jesus our King has become our Shepherd. 

And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11