Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Gratituesday

If it is Tuesday that means it is Gratituesday. This was not my brain child but my sweet friend Laura's over at Heavenly Homemakers. Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!
She is a dear sister in Christ.

I suppose everyone who participates will be grateful after the holidays that they got to spend time with family or friends. Sometimes they aren't the same thing!

This year I just wanted my husband to experience a day surrounded by his grandchildren, his siblings and all the nieces and nephews that could come. I prayed he would be healthy enough to enjoy their presence. Hubby was able to come upstairs and enjoy the festivities. When it got too much he went back downstairs to our "apartment" to rest.

What a blessing. Thank you Father.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Jesus is the Star


And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”Luke 2:8-14

My prayer for each of you this season is that you stop amid all the hustle and bustle and reflect on the most important gift you have been given, A Saviour. It is he and he only that makes this holiday special.

Till next week.
In Christ Alone,
Jill


Monday, December 20, 2010

Draw Near

I love the book of Hebrews. I remember years ago when we lived in the Azores I taught a ladies class in our home and this is the book I taught. This wonderful book is all about not giving up or throwing away what we have. Boy is that good advice for today.

Jesus already died for our sins once and for all. He does not want us to go back to our old lives. Instead he wants us to draw near.

When I think of draw near I think about being hugged by my Papa. Do you remember what it is like to be hugged by someone who adores you. There is that warm and fuzzy feeling. For me, when I don't get to see my grandchildren for a long period of times I long to hug them. When I finally get to see them I want to grab them and hug them forever.

Our Papa, our Heavenly Father wants a relationship with us. He wants us to run to him and be held close. Like little children we can long for that comfort that only he can give.

Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:21-25

We serve an awesome God. One who wants to be in communion with his children. To that I can only say, "hold me Papa."

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Words to Live By


Nine Requisites for Contented Living

*Health enough to make work a pleasure.

*Wealth enough to support your needs.

*Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them.

*Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them.

*Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished.

*Charity enough to see some good in your neighbour.

*Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others.

*Faith enough to make real the things of God.

*Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.

------- Goethe (1749 - 1832)

Isn't that interesting. All of these are found in God's word. May God richly bless you today.


In Christ Alone,

Jill

Friday, December 17, 2010

Hiding God's Word in our Hearts


This will be our last week to officially memorize scripture until our 90 day Bible reading challenge is over.

Witnessing Matthew 4:19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matt 4:19

The second scripture is found in Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

Jesus showed us in word and deed that we are called to share God's love to those we come in contact with. For you young mom's the most important people you are called to witness to are your children. They are your fertile ground laying before you.

When we share what God has done for us we are a powerful witness. People need to see God's power in our own lives. I challenge you today to step out of your comfort zone and spread the good news.

In Christ Alone,

Jill

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Real Gifts


Two years ago before my precious husband became so ill, he wrote an article weekly for our congregation. I really like this one at Christmas and wanted to share it with you. For those that know my husband picture him when he was healthy and enjoy.

Next week most of us will experience (or watch someone else experience) the exhilaration of opening brightly covered packages to discover delightful, fun, funny, exiting, meaningful, and downright valuable gifts. There will be shouts of joy, hugs, a whispered “thank you” or two, and maybe even a few tears. As I anticipate this excitement, I wonder about the neglected gifts. They’re the ones that always seem to be opened last, you know, the annual jar of homemade chocolate pickles from Uncle Joe in Tuscaloosa (where these things are a “delicacy”). Well, they fit in at the “White Elephant” party anyway. It’s really a good thing Uncle Joe can’t travel, otherwise he’d be able to see the way his gifts are treated or hear the sighs when we finally do open them. It’s a sad thing to have a gift rejected, even when the rejection is accompanied by the obligatory “thanks” and a hug. And yes, We all know when one of our presents just plain misses the mark – even when we know the recipient will appreciate or need it desperately later. It’s the idea that we have somehow failed – that we just don’t measure up. Our heart was in the right place, wasn’t it?

I wonder if that sad feeling is anything like the feeling God has when one of us see’s his gift of grace and chooses to “save it for last.” I know we all have very busy lives. We live as though God’s grace is just another jar of chocolate pickles or at least a package of underwear (needed, but really not that exciting to open!). “But Rich, I was baptized 73 years ago, I accepted the gift.” Yes, but did you accept it today? It is after all, the only gift that really does “keep on giving.” When you wake up in the morning, it’s by the grace of God. When you narrowly avert a terrible traffic accident, it’s by the grace of God. When your anger flares at the overloaded clerk and your sin fades away before it’s ever recorded in the book of life, it’s by the grace of God. Yes, salvation is by the grace of God and it’s also his gift, but that grace isn’t found at a single point in your life, it’s something we “stand in” – every day. (Rom 5:1-2, see also Eph 2:1-10)

I hope you’ll have a wonderful Christmas morning; that you’ll enjoy opening gifts and watching others open them; that your heart will be warmed by the love those packages represent. I hope all the more, that you will wake up tomorrow and accept anew the greatest gift ever given – God’s grace. Oh, and maybe you could dig through the pile, open up those chocolate pickles, and have someone snap a picture of you while you crunch into a great big one. Uncle Joe’s heart will be warmed for months! ©

May God bless you with his gift of grace and peace in this season of love.

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Sunday, December 12, 2010

Gratituesday December 14, 2010

Months ago my dear hubby called me and said, "honey, if this should be my last Christmas then I really want to go see Mannheim Steamroller in concert."

I have always loved their music. It is so peaceful and brings out the Christmas spirit in me. To see them live is amazing. You get to see every instrument (and there are many) used in the different songs. They all came out in white tuxes and red shoes and shirts. They looked fabulous and their performance was fabulous.

I will never forget that performance. What a blessing to share it with my husband. Thank you God for giving me wonderful memories.

What are you thankful for? Let me know.

In Christ Alone,
Jill

A Sabbath's Rest


We woke up this morning to a wintry wonderland. The last couple of days I have been meditating on a verse in Genesis 2.

The Seventh Day, God Rests

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Gen 2:1-3 (ESV)

I will admit I have always struggled with the Sabbath rest because it seems to me the principle would still apply today. It is the only command that Moses brought down from the mountain that was not specifically brought forward under the new covenant. Does that mean that God took the blessing away and it is no longer holy? If the Master of the Universe can take time to rest then perhaps we should to.

So for today, we are warm and cozy in a home where there is love, shelter and food all by the hand of God. I chose for today to rest in that fact.

Have a blessed filled day.

In Christ Alone,

Jill

"Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the ground each morning Satan says, "Oh crud, she's up"

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Hiding God's Word in our Hearts


True confession time ladies. I have done a poor job of memorizing lately so I will promptly repent and then back up and start again. So here we go.

We are in the 5th week of the topical scriptures for "Live the New Life". Fellowship is our topic this week.


Fellowship
Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." Matthew 18:20

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as yo see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Fellowship is an important topic for Christians. I wonder if we could find other scriptures that pertain to fellowship? I am going to spend some time looking. Let me know what you find.

Happy Memorizing :)

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Ears that Hear


"Son, please listen to me" How many times have we said those very words to our children? "Please listen, don't you understand you are about to go over a cliff!" As a parent it can break our hearts when we watch our children self destruct. We know they are about to go over that cliff and they simply will not listen.

Having parented two sons who came to us very late in their childhoods I can tell you first hand the heartache that comes. The long nights in prayer and the tears that simply will not stop flowing. There is a heartache that just refuses to go away.

This morning in my private time with the LORD he showed me Zechariah chapter 7. In this passage God is frustrated with His people, his sons and daughters who would simply not listen. His heart is being broken again and again because His children are wandering away.


And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” 11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. 12 They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts. 13As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts, 14 “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”

Zech 7:8-14 (ESV)

How many times does God call us and we do not hear? How many times do we break His heart, our Papa when we refuse to obey? As a parent you understand what it is to have a broken heart. Do we really want to do that to our Heavenly Father?

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, 18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. 19 That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you Proverbs 22:17-19

What about you and me? Are we listening? Stop and listen, God is right here.

Till tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Gratituesday

We are not and I repeat not a sports family! When I was looking for just the right hubby I had to pay extra to get a guy that did NOT like sports. I was not going to be a football widow or any other kind of widow in sports. God sure has a sense of humor.

Our youngest son Michael eats, drinks and lives sports. He can rattle off stats of baseball or basketball like the most seasoned commentator. We have discovered the great motivator for Michael, playing basketball. Grades have to be kept up in order to play. That son of ours has a 3.5 GPA right now!

After 5 or 6 weeks of basketball practice every day for two hours he finally got his uniform to play. WOW, and play he did. He had his first game on Friday and I have to say I had so much fun watching my boy play ball.

At a whopping six feet two inches he is a young man to be reckoned with. He plays center and boy is he good. It was a wild game. As each quarter passed his team got stronger and stronger. In the final seconds of the game it was tied so it went into overtime. At the last minute Michael's team lost but we were all overjoyed that it was such a fabulous game.

One of the referees came up to Michael afterwards and said he had never seen such a good JV game in all his years. I was amazed and pumped. That's my boy out there! It reminded me of just how blessed we are to have Michael as a son. He is being not only molded as a good basketball player but as a godly young man. I love the young man he is becoming and for that I am truly grateful.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Follow the Light

The star represented hope for all of eternity. Hope for a people that had strayed so far away from the giver of light.

Light for the utterly lost that could give real hope and direction to their lives. The abused, the downtrodden and the forgotten were all given a reason to keep going.

All those who saw the light couldn't help but follow and worship.


Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12

Matt 2:7-12 (ESV)

Behold the star, it prompts those who see it to recognize it's power.

I Am the Light of the World

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 (ESV)

Friday, December 3, 2010

I'm drowning save Me!

All Peter wanted to do was be with his LORD. The waves were crashing against that little boat. Up ahead he could see his Master coming towards him. Who wouldn’t want to jump out of that boat and run towards him? All the other apostles, that’s who!

They were all thinking Peter was once again being Peter, the impetuous one. There was no way they would risk jumping out of the boat in the middle of the storm. They would rather huddle together begging to be rescued or be drown in the sea. All they could see was the storm and not the Master of the Storm walking towards them.

Hmmm, all they saw was the storm but Peter saw the possibilities. He knew there was only one way to be saved from the crashing waves and that was to reach out to the Son of God.

He knew to get out of the boat and go towards his salvation. What about you? Are you huddled in the boat begging to be rescued or do you get out of the boat and go towards “The Rescuer”?

Think about it.

Jiller

"Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the ground each morning Satan says, "Oh crud, she's up"

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

A Cloud of Witnesses


Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

A cloud of witnesses; that’s what the writer of Hebrews calls Rahab, Noah, Isaac, Jacob and a whole bucketful of others. These men and women are our examples.

Remember as kids we laid down on a warm sunny day looking up at the clouds? We would try to make out shapes and were sure we saw all kinds of things in those clouds. The Hebrew writer says all these people are like clouds up in the sky that we can look up to.

There are so many lessons of faith by all of those witnesses. I am going to pick a few and talk about them in the coming weeks. There are SO many in that cloud of witnesses that you and I can learn from. I look forward to looking up and learning from these great heroes of the faith.

Till then may God richly bless you with faith.

In Christ Alone,

Jill

Jiller

"Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the ground each morning Satan says, "Oh crud, she's up"