Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Around the holidays, I tend to make lists and plans for gift buying, baking, hosting, and visiting and on it goes. So much to do and so many plans often take away from the joy that could be mine. So, over the years I've learned to whittle down my list making, simplify my gift buying and baking and learned to say no when I cannot do something. I enjoy Christmas and remembering the birth of Jesus so much more.
Even the simplest plans we make need to be committed to the Lord. This year I prayed about the gifts I wanted to give to individuals and I have a peace in my heart about what we have chosen for each person. In preparing for the Christmas season, lift up all you do to God. Seek his face as you celebrate the season of giving.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The Lord is Good!
Psalm 100:3-5
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
This is one of my favorite scriptures about giving thanks. I love that God is faithful, loving and good and that he cares to share it with me. I am so blessed.
Enjoy a wonderful season of Thanksgiving!
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
This is one of my favorite scriptures about giving thanks. I love that God is faithful, loving and good and that he cares to share it with me. I am so blessed.
Enjoy a wonderful season of Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thanksgiving
1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
This coming week, as a nation, we celebrate Thanksgiving. Families gather together and feast on a bounty of turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes (don’t forget the gravy) and pumpkin pie. We are blessed to freely enjoy the meal, our family and friends, and a day off work.
As much as we enjoy and are thankful for Thanksgiving dinner, the “meal” we serve in our churches with our brothers and sisters in Christ is the most important one we share. Jesus died to redeem us from the pits of Hell. He sacrificed his life for ours and each time we take communion we are reminded of his love for us. When taking communion, the bread that represents his body and the juice that represents his blood, give thanks for the one who gave his life.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
This coming week, as a nation, we celebrate Thanksgiving. Families gather together and feast on a bounty of turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes (don’t forget the gravy) and pumpkin pie. We are blessed to freely enjoy the meal, our family and friends, and a day off work.
As much as we enjoy and are thankful for Thanksgiving dinner, the “meal” we serve in our churches with our brothers and sisters in Christ is the most important one we share. Jesus died to redeem us from the pits of Hell. He sacrificed his life for ours and each time we take communion we are reminded of his love for us. When taking communion, the bread that represents his body and the juice that represents his blood, give thanks for the one who gave his life.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Help with Trouble
Psalm 68:7-8
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
One Sunday morning in September, we woke up to a soppy, mooshy, wet floor in our utility room and on our enclosed porch. After church, some of our children were coming for dinner and to celebrate their birthdays. We didn't want to miss church or tell the kids not to come. Crawling back into bed and pulling the covers over our heads wasn't a good option either, so we prayed and then brain-stormed about what we could do. We discovered that our brother-in-law owned a shop vac that we could pick up after church. As soon as we got home, Tim vacced the porch so we could eat the birthday dinner out there and eventually got the rest of the water sucked up. After a few days, the carpet dried and the mess became a memory.
When you face daily trials and problems, what do you do? Crawl back into bed and hide, ignore what's going on, run as fast as you can. God wants us to talk to him and see how he can help. He knows our troubles and he has a desire for us to turn to him for solutions. Seek his face, cling to him, sing in the shadow of his wings and he will hold you up.
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
One Sunday morning in September, we woke up to a soppy, mooshy, wet floor in our utility room and on our enclosed porch. After church, some of our children were coming for dinner and to celebrate their birthdays. We didn't want to miss church or tell the kids not to come. Crawling back into bed and pulling the covers over our heads wasn't a good option either, so we prayed and then brain-stormed about what we could do. We discovered that our brother-in-law owned a shop vac that we could pick up after church. As soon as we got home, Tim vacced the porch so we could eat the birthday dinner out there and eventually got the rest of the water sucked up. After a few days, the carpet dried and the mess became a memory.
When you face daily trials and problems, what do you do? Crawl back into bed and hide, ignore what's going on, run as fast as you can. God wants us to talk to him and see how he can help. He knows our troubles and he has a desire for us to turn to him for solutions. Seek his face, cling to him, sing in the shadow of his wings and he will hold you up.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Seek to Serve
John 13:6-10, 15
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." 9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.... 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
When New Testament folks traveled to their neighbors for dinner they bathed before they left home and maybe spritzed a little eucalyptus water behind their ears. When they stepped out on their journey, dust and dirt from the beaten paths swirled up and landed on their feet. On their arrival, a servant or the host knelt and washed the dust from their feet. What a humbling experience.
Jesus was not above washing his disciples feet, even though Peter objected. Service and humbleness often walk hand-in-hand. Seek to serve.
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." 9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.... 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
When New Testament folks traveled to their neighbors for dinner they bathed before they left home and maybe spritzed a little eucalyptus water behind their ears. When they stepped out on their journey, dust and dirt from the beaten paths swirled up and landed on their feet. On their arrival, a servant or the host knelt and washed the dust from their feet. What a humbling experience.
Jesus was not above washing his disciples feet, even though Peter objected. Service and humbleness often walk hand-in-hand. Seek to serve.
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