5 Days to Reclaim Christmas

This year I promised myself I would not get bogged down in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  I vowed I would make this holiday more about memories instead of stress and gift giving.  I started off pretty good.  As a family we participated in Operation Christmas Child which was a huge hit with the kids.  Then my husband and I ordered most of our children's gifts online to avoid spending too much in the store or impulse buying.  However, then something changed.  Perhaps it was the start of Christmas parties, and get togethers.  I found myself questioning if I was doing enough with the kids.  We did not do an Advent calendar, haven't gone to see a live nativity, or gone on the Christmas light tour.  I have yet to put money in the Salvation Army red kettle, we have missed the big holiday parade, and sadly to say I still have not got my husband's, mom's, God-daughter's, aunt's, and some more presents.  I started the season with high hopes and now I am starting to feel dread.  Then as I was reading this morning I read the following scripture:

⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ⁹ and become one with him. - Philippians 3:8-9 NLT

I realized what have I done this season to lead my family and I in our pursuit of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.  Everything else is worthless.  The advent calender, the drive to the live nativity, even the church Christmas party.  It's all worthless unless it leads us to a deeper relationship with God and love for his people.  So now we are 5 days out till Christmas and I am reclaiming it for my family and I.  I am taking this verse as our family verse for the next 5 days to keep us focused on what life (not just this season) is all about.  I ask for your prayers in doing so.  Be blessed.

Happy Birthday to Me and the Book of Ecclesiastes

Recently I celebrated my 30 something birthday.  During my morning quiet time I was really asking God to speak to me as I was doing some serious self evaluation.  What have I really done that mattered over these past couple of years?  Am I on track with where God wants me to be or have I been side tracked by life's busyness and distractions?  Am I ok?  Am I a good wife, parent, friend?  Did I make the right decision staying home with my children and even going the extra step to homeschool?   What about the Master's Degree I once thought I would get.  Was getting my BS degree a mistake or a waste?  Am I taking care of myself? 


As a child we look at birthdays with so much excitement as we think about what we are going to get and fantasize about eating a huge piece of cake with some ice cream.  Today however, I found my mind filled with questions.  I really did not have a plan of what I wanted to read but as I flipped through my bible my eyes gazed upon some verses I had underlined in Ecclesiastes.  I will never forget when I first really read Ecclesiastes.  I thought wow that is depressing.  However, as time has gone on the book has almost served as a compass to help me get back on track to what really matters in life.  As always God in his wonderful compassion knew I needed his compass this morning.  I wanted to share with you some of my underlined verses all from Ecclesiastes:

Everything that happens has happened before; nothing is new, nothing under the sun. 1:9
God has got everything under control.  Things that have happened to me are not unique.  God has seen them before and the same way he has helped his children in the past he will help me now.

No one who lived in the past is remembered anymore, and everyone yet to be born will be forgotten too. 1:11
Only a life lived for God makes an impact in the future.  Yes I may be forgotten but the ripple effect on others from my attempts to live a Godly life will impact my children, their children, and so on.

The best thing we can do is to enjoy eating, drinking, and working. 2:24
Joy is found in the simple things.  I don't have to take an expensive vacation, shop till I drop, or do so many other things the world tells us we need to do in order to find joy.  God's prescription is easy.  Enjoy the simple things I have given you.

Walk During the Day - Reflections on John 11:9-10 and the Words of Jesus Christ

John 11:9-10 - Jesus answered "Aren't there twelve hours in each day?  If you walk during the day, you will have light from the sun, and you won't stumble.  But if you walk during the night, you will stumble, because you don't have any light." ESV

This week during my daughter's bible readings we read John 11:1-16, which is the beginning of the story of Lazarus. Normally after she finishes reading I ask her to tell me what the passage was about.  However, this time I found myself asking her specifically why Jesus said those words in verses 9-10.  To be honest I didn't feel like they really fit in at this point in the story of the death of Lazarus.  However, there they were stuck right in between the talk of Lazarus sickness and Jesus plainly telling his disciples Lazarus was dead.  I admitted to my daughter I did not understand the verses.  She looked at me with a perplexed look and said "well when you walk and you can see you won't fall but when you try to walk in darkness you will."  Now I know this may be stating the obvious but not until the next morning did it strike a cord with me.  During my morning devotions this is what I wrote in my journal:

Better to Obey God than Serve a Foreign King - Bible Study

Below are my reflections as I studied 2 Chronicles Chapter 12.  I hope you will be blessed.

The theme in this chapter is repeated time and time again in human history.  And again and again God’s mercy shines through as repentance takes place.  It is amazing to me how often when we feel secure or have achieved all of our aspirations we stop obeying God.  We lose sight of him and allow our relationship to deteriorate.  We stop leaning on him as our source of life and fall into pride, self-reliance, and true deception.  King Rehoboam “had control of his kingdom, he and everyone in Judah stopped obeying the Lord (2 Chronicles 12:1).”  It’s funny how it says everyone in Judah.  People will follow there leaders.  Isn’t it ironic how we look at others to justify our falling away?  This is especially true of our leaders.  We say “he’s doing it so why not me.  After all he is the king and look at how safe the king has made us.  God must be ok with what he is doing.  So we will do it to.  After all we are safe now.  God is on our side.”  Then comes the deception, disillusionment, and ultimately sin brings forth death in some form.

Sabbath Day Rest for Children - Teaching our Children the Commandment to Rest

Last week at my church's moms meeting we did a bible study entitled "Rest for Those He Loves."  This is a wonderful women's study found in series entitled "A Mom's Ordinary Day Bible Study Series - Managing Your Time."  The ladies and I had a wonderful time discussing things in our lives that prevents us from taking a regular Sabbath rest.  In addition, we discussed the benefits and consequences of adhering to or neglecting a Sabbath rest.  You can find this series at amazon.com at:

Managing Your Time

Also, while we were doing our bible study the children also had a study to work on.  I want to offer this study for you to do with your children.  You can download it here:

Free Printable - Teaching Children About the Sabbath

This is an excellent way to teach our children the principle of the Sabbath.  Our society is very driven.  The Sabbath belongs to God and we must teach our children to follow Godly principles.  The world will teach them that they must keep going and going to be on top, to achieve success, to get ahead.  God teaches us that we must rest and honor him and our families and he will make our six days more productive and peaceful than our 7 days could ever be.

Positive Christian Music For Our Children

I am always looking for music for my daughter to listen to.  She loves to dance around the house and make dance routines with her sister and brother.  I love to see her uninhibited creativity it is truly God inspired.  Since she loves music so much it is often a challenge finding music that has an upbeat, contemporary, feel she likes.  Then I came across Jaime Grace.  I absolutely love her and would recommend her music to any person with young girls.  Her music is upbeat, positive, and reflects her intense love for Jesus Christ.  Below is a link to her website:

http://www.jamiegrace.com/

Here is a clip of her on YouTube:

Once again I want to encourage you to visit my sister's website. It is awesome and she really has a heart to see people saved and set free. Below you will find one of her recent blog posts. If you like what you see visit her at www.lovedandforgiven.com and tell a friend.

www.lovedandforgiven.com

Are You Among the Faithful Few?

While reading in Revelation chapter three today, something really stood out to me. It's as if although I've read it many times, it just leaped off of the page (don't you love it when that happens)! In verses 7-13, the Lord is speaking to the church in Philadelphia. In the margin of my bible I have written, "the faithful church."

Agnus Dei From Jotta A. - You Have Got to See This!

"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" - Matthew 21:16

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger - Psalm 8:2

The video speaks for itself!

My Thoughts on Halloween

If you think this is going to be a blog posts about all of the horrible things about Halloween well it's not.  There is much debate amongst Christians about should you celebrate Halloween or not.  Personally, we have decided as a family not to participate in Halloween.  We have in the past allowed the children to go to Harvest Festivals at local churches.  What I want to offer today is just some scripture for you to think about.  Not just on Halloween but really for other topics that we (I mean the church) may disagree on (that are not foundational scripture - I do believe in many areas there is no black and white).  It comes from the book of Romans (as you read this please keep in mind if you do celebrate the holiday I am not assuming you are "weak"  I am always asking God what category of a Christian I fall into):

Romans 14:1-12 (CEV)
Welcome all the Lord's followers, even those whose faith is weak.  Don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours.  Some think it is all right to eat anything, while those whose faith is weak will eat only vegetables.  But you should not criticize others for eating or for not eating.  After all, God welcomes everyone.  "What right do you have to criticize someone else's servants?  Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right, and the Lord will make sure that they do right.  

Some of the Lord's followers think one day is more important than another.  Others think all days are the same.  But each of you should make up your own mind.  Any followers who count one day more important than another day do it to honor their Lord.  And any followers who eat meat give thanks to God, just like the ones who don't eat meat.  

Whether we live or die, it must be for God, rather than for ourselves.  Whether we live or die, it must be for the Lord.  Alive or dead, we still belong to the Lord.  This is because Christ died and rose to life, so that he would be the Lord of the dead and of the living.   Why do you criticize other followers of the Lord?  Why do you look down on them?  The day is coming when God will judge all of us.  In the Scriptures God says,

"I swear by my very life that everyone will kneel down and praise my name!"

And so, each of us must give an account to God for what we do.

If you like this post check out:
The Church at Laodicea

Sometimes We Need to Be Reminded Who This Life Is Really About ...

My sister recently posted the following video on YouTube.  It is very inspirational.  If you have time check out her website http://www.lovedandforgiven.com/ . It is awesome. 

If you like this post check out:

The Church at Laodicea

Where Are You Lord in the Midst of My Pain - A Study of the Story of Lazarus

I cannot tell you how many times in life I have cried out to the Lord “Father where are you?”  Even though we do not always tangibly sense his presence he truly never abandons us.  In our minds he is delayed or seemingly too late to help us.  However, God’s sense of timing is in light of his eternal perspective something we are unable to grasp.  While reading through the story of Lazarus I was reminded about God’s perfect timing, how we often feel he has abandoned us, and how in the midst of our suffering he has compassion on us.

John 11:1-4        

Now a man named Lazarus was sick.  He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.   This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.  So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”  When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.

In life we are not always exempted from going through the process.  In Lazarus case the process was sickness that would ultimately lead to death.  Nothing seems more final than death but God always has the last say in any situation.  “This sickness will not end in death …” Christ saw and knew the outcome of Lazarus’s situation however, he still allowed it to happen. 

Welcome to the Church at Laodicea?

I would like to introduce an awesome writer, my sister.  Below is an article she wrote on her website www.graceandstrength.com about the Church of Laodicea and the American Church today.  This was such a revealing article I asked her if I could post it on my blog.  Enjoy! 


Welcome to the Church at Laodicea?
I love reading the book of Revelation. In fact, throughout the entire bible, I enjoy reading any scripture that is in reference to God’s plan for His children in the last days before His Son returns.


14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 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. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."While I truly believe that the American church actually falls under more than one of the churches described in Revelation 2 and 3, unfortunately in many ways, the American church most closely resembles the church in Laodicea.

Our Lord accused the Laodiceans of being “lukewarm,” that is, neither hot nor cold. Out of the seven churches described, did you know that the church in Laodicea was the only church which had nothing positive said about them by our Lord? In fact, this church was such a bitter taste in our Lord’s mouth that He threatened to spit them out if they did not change!  I shutter to think of just how unpleasing this behavior is to our Lord.