12-20-10♪♫•*•♫♪ ♪♫•*•♫♪ I’ll be home for Christmas….you can count on me, please have snow, and mistletoe…and presents ‘neath the tree….♪♫•*•♫♪♪♫•*•♫♪
It is great to be ‘home’. It is great to carry on the traditions we have established…to do what we have always done…the way we have always done it.
But as the circle of life grows, some things must necessarily change.
The tradition becomes what you do THIS time. (…I often caution young parents NEVER to do something they don’t want to continue to do from now on!!! Fill a stocking once, you must fill it for years to come!!!…)
We have an enemy whose purpose is to ‘steal, kill, and destroy’. (John 10:10)
We have a Savior Whose purpose is to ‘give life in all its fullness.’ (John 10:10 )
This is a season of celebration. Let us purpose to stand against the enemy assault, for be assured, the enemy will attack at our most vulnerable time.
He is an enemy. There are no rules of engagement, no honor to uphold.
Our enemy is also a liar. “He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
As we find ourselves in new circumstances, distanced from loved ones, separated by time and space, let us not believe lies. Let us not be influenced by the enemy, but let us purpose that we WILL “Above all, love each other deeply…” (1 Peter 4:8)
Love is not bound by time and space. It is not defined by tradition. Traditions are only manifestation OF love.
Love’s power is strong, and is pictured in the very life of Jesus Christ. Deity stepping into a woman’s body, pushed thru a birth canal, living a human life, dying a horrible death.
Because He loved us.
The Eternal, Omniscient One has never been bound by time or space.
And He is Immanuel…. God with us.
Hallelujah.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Presents/Presence....
It's the season of gift giving. Lots and lots of presents. All in pretty gift sacks with tissue spilling out the top, or wrapped in pretty paper with bright shiney ribbons and bows.
Given a choice, which do you prefer?
Presents? Or His Presence?
When you worship, where is your focus?
Your salvation? Or Your Savior?
The gift? Or The Giver?
Given a choice, which do you prefer?
Presents? Or His Presence?
When you worship, where is your focus?
Your salvation? Or Your Savior?
The gift? Or The Giver?
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Big....
..attention college kids!! The best 'big' ever !! Your sorority 'big' sister or brother may be great help and encouragement to you, but they are no match for this Big !!
...He is the ALPHA KAI OMEGA.
The first, and the last. (Rev.22:13)
We celebrate His birth, but that event was not His beginning, only the beginning of the image of the invisible God.
He was present at creation.(Col.1 and John1)
He was born to die. (Isa53)
He is alive forever.(Rev1)
And I'm in...for my eternal lifetime He is my big
...He is the ALPHA KAI OMEGA.
The first, and the last. (Rev.22:13)
We celebrate His birth, but that event was not His beginning, only the beginning of the image of the invisible God.
He was present at creation.(Col.1 and John1)
He was born to die. (Isa53)
He is alive forever.(Rev1)
And I'm in...for my eternal lifetime He is my big
Friday, December 17, 2010
Lord....
♪♫•*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪..'the little lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.'
KYRIOS translates 'lord'.
I wonder about how loosely we use that word.
Does it mean 'owner'? 'master'?..or just 'sir'?
Is He your Lord? The ruling force in your life?
He IS Lord of lords. ("For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes." Dt10)
Every one will know the truth of that. ("...every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.." Phil.2:11)
Simply calling Him 'lord' isn't enough ("Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" Mt7:21)
Be certain that you have chosen Him to reign in your life. Be certain that He is Lord. Be certain that you follow His design for your life.
He left the glory of heaven and went thru the agony of the cross for you.
♪♫•*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪And He will reign forever and ever.♪♫•*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪
Allelujah !!
KYRIOS translates 'lord'.
I wonder about how loosely we use that word.
Does it mean 'owner'? 'master'?..or just 'sir'?
Is He your Lord? The ruling force in your life?
He IS Lord of lords. ("For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes." Dt10)
Every one will know the truth of that. ("...every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.." Phil.2:11)
Simply calling Him 'lord' isn't enough ("Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" Mt7:21)
Be certain that you have chosen Him to reign in your life. Be certain that He is Lord. Be certain that you follow His design for your life.
He left the glory of heaven and went thru the agony of the cross for you.
♪♫•*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪And He will reign forever and ever.♪♫•*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪
Allelujah !!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Peace....
Peace. We sing about it. 'Peace on earth, good will to men.'
We make symbols. (I'm wearing the trendy 'peace sign' for the second go around!)
Lack of conflict.... Jesus has made it possible for us to have that with God, a way to remove the sin barrier.(Col.1:20) We can have a relationship with God that is free of conflict, made free of the curse of death, the consequence of sin. Jesus left glory and became man, perfect and sinless. That first Christmas morning was the arrival of our Savior, the perfect Lamb of God.
Our enemy uses every opportunity to cause conflict. Be aware of his tactics.
He will present offenses, showcase them to us..it's a great bait. He knows how to dangle it just right.
Determine that The Prince of Peace will reign, do not give the enemy opportunity.(Eph.4:27)
That devil has no regard for special occasions he'll cash in on it. Do not allow him to steal the joy and peace of this Christmas time.
It is a choice. Even in righteous offense, even when we have a valid reason to be offended, we can bear it with the help of The One Who suffered the ultimate offense....and He was indeed totally innocent.
We make symbols. (I'm wearing the trendy 'peace sign' for the second go around!)
Lack of conflict.... Jesus has made it possible for us to have that with God, a way to remove the sin barrier.(Col.1:20) We can have a relationship with God that is free of conflict, made free of the curse of death, the consequence of sin. Jesus left glory and became man, perfect and sinless. That first Christmas morning was the arrival of our Savior, the perfect Lamb of God.
Our enemy uses every opportunity to cause conflict. Be aware of his tactics.
He will present offenses, showcase them to us..it's a great bait. He knows how to dangle it just right.
Determine that The Prince of Peace will reign, do not give the enemy opportunity.(Eph.4:27)
That devil has no regard for special occasions he'll cash in on it. Do not allow him to steal the joy and peace of this Christmas time.
It is a choice. Even in righteous offense, even when we have a valid reason to be offended, we can bear it with the help of The One Who suffered the ultimate offense....and He was indeed totally innocent.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Silent...
♪♫•*•♫♪ "Silent night....holy night..... ♪♫•*•♫♪
I'd like to know what was silent about it !!
Luke 2 tells about shepherds and flocks, then a PLETHOS of angels appear praising God.
PLETHOS translates "a bunch"!!
They are not silent...and I doubt those shepherds and flocks were silent after that either!
And chidbirth in a barn....any mother out there think THAT was silent !?!
But it was holy.
Praise God for that night.
Luke 2:17 lets us know for sure the shepherds weren't silent .......they "made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child."
I'd like to know what was silent about it !!
Luke 2 tells about shepherds and flocks, then a PLETHOS of angels appear praising God.
PLETHOS translates "a bunch"!!
They are not silent...and I doubt those shepherds and flocks were silent after that either!
And chidbirth in a barn....any mother out there think THAT was silent !?!
But it was holy.
Praise God for that night.
Luke 2:17 lets us know for sure the shepherds weren't silent .......they "made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child."
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Gifts....
Gifts. There will be so many.
Things we've wished for...things we expect to bring us joy.
But real joy is not a gift, it is a fruit. A result. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith..." (Galatians 5:22)
This joy doesn't get old, the joy doesn't fade away...in fact, this joy grows and multiplies, birthing into our life peace, patience, kindness..... (not like the newest trend or latest toy)
Don't be tricked into expecting joy from inside a giftwrapped box. You will be disappointed time and again.
Joy is a fruit of God's Holy Spirit, comes listed right after love...it is the love expressed to us by the gift, that is the joyful thing.
On the first Christmas, the greatest gift of all time was given. God Himself stepped into the flesh of a naked, helpless infant. God Himself stepped out of perfect glory into the setting of a smelly barn....and lost humanity.
Happy? Oh yes !! And so very blessed.
He has "redeemed us from the curse of the law..." (Galatians 3:13)
"He has visited and redeemed his people..."(Luke 1:68)
"He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness..."(Col. 1:13)
Hallelujah!
Things we've wished for...things we expect to bring us joy.
But real joy is not a gift, it is a fruit. A result. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith..." (Galatians 5:22)
This joy doesn't get old, the joy doesn't fade away...in fact, this joy grows and multiplies, birthing into our life peace, patience, kindness..... (not like the newest trend or latest toy)
Don't be tricked into expecting joy from inside a giftwrapped box. You will be disappointed time and again.
Joy is a fruit of God's Holy Spirit, comes listed right after love...it is the love expressed to us by the gift, that is the joyful thing.
On the first Christmas, the greatest gift of all time was given. God Himself stepped into the flesh of a naked, helpless infant. God Himself stepped out of perfect glory into the setting of a smelly barn....and lost humanity.
Happy? Oh yes !! And so very blessed.
He has "redeemed us from the curse of the law..." (Galatians 3:13)
"He has visited and redeemed his people..."(Luke 1:68)
"He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness..."(Col. 1:13)
Hallelujah!
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