Christmas has a way of marking the years. We think of the season present, and of past seasons with remembrance. Some years, our hearts are filled with happiness. Other years, we are wrought with grief, pain and even strife.
Wherever you find yourself this Christmastide, I pray that your heart will be cloaked with the Love of Christ.
TV~ (Today's Verse)
Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.…
Monday, December 23, 2013
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Cheer Us by Your Drawing Nigh
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Vs. 6 - Encouraging if the holidays seem gloomy....
Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Vs. 7 - Encouraging if there is family conflict...
Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
TV~ (Today's Verse)
Whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own pain, and spreading his hands toward this house, then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men, that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.… [II Chronicles 6:29-31]
Vs. 6 - Encouraging if the holidays seem gloomy....
Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Vs. 7 - Encouraging if there is family conflict...
Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
TV~ (Today's Verse)
Whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own pain, and spreading his hands toward this house, then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men, that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.… [II Chronicles 6:29-31]
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Trusting
Lean not on your own understanding.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Proverbs 3:5b, 5a
Seeing this verse transposed helps me to live it. Trusting is hard because our own eyes don't see how situations can work out for good. Trusting God means that we believe that he is BIG and will work everything together for good.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Proverbs 3:5b, 5a
Seeing this verse transposed helps me to live it. Trusting is hard because our own eyes don't see how situations can work out for good. Trusting God means that we believe that he is BIG and will work everything together for good.
Friday, December 20, 2013
The Power of Love
A friend's Christmas card included this quote by Gandalf, taken from The Hobbit movie:
"Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
These small deeds demonstrate the power of love within a family. They are what make the home a safe haven from the world.
TV~ (Today's Verse)
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. [I Peter 4:8]
"Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
These small deeds demonstrate the power of love within a family. They are what make the home a safe haven from the world.
TV~ (Today's Verse)
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. [I Peter 4:8]
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Acting Right When Your Spouse is Wrong
She was feeling overwhelmed with all she had to do - work responsibilities, family responsibilites, the constant housework. She complained to her husband that he didn't help enough. Instead of being defensive and angry, he said, "Okay, how can I help you?"
She hesitated a minute and then said, "You can do the grocery shopping, cook dinner and do the dishes for the next week."
He did it for her. The menu was hot dogs, frozen chicken nuggets, frozen pizza (twice) and other similar entrees. But he did it and it was a beautiful act of love.
Her book is entitled, How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong, by Leslie Vernick.
TV~ (Today's Verse)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [Romans 12:21]
She hesitated a minute and then said, "You can do the grocery shopping, cook dinner and do the dishes for the next week."
He did it for her. The menu was hot dogs, frozen chicken nuggets, frozen pizza (twice) and other similar entrees. But he did it and it was a beautiful act of love.
Her book is entitled, How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong, by Leslie Vernick.
TV~ (Today's Verse)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [Romans 12:21]
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Thorns
"The ministry of thorns has often been a greater ministry to man than the ministry of thrones. -Streams in the Desert, p. 362
Adversity and persecution are effective means of turning us to God. Prosperity, ease and approval often result in a gradual drifting away from the Lord.
Going through adversity? Your God is BIG, cling to Him. Enjoying prosperity? Ask God to bind you to Him, so you will not wander. "I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead..." (http://www.prayerfoundation.org/st_patricks_breastplate_prayer.htm)
TV~ (Today's Verse)
I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
[Ezekiel 34:16]
Adversity and persecution are effective means of turning us to God. Prosperity, ease and approval often result in a gradual drifting away from the Lord.
Going through adversity? Your God is BIG, cling to Him. Enjoying prosperity? Ask God to bind you to Him, so you will not wander. "I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead..." (http://www.prayerfoundation.org/st_patricks_breastplate_prayer.htm)
TV~ (Today's Verse)
I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
[Ezekiel 34:16]
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Confusion
Tonight, I was involved in a lengthy conversation in which confusion seemed to reign. We were talking in circles with someone who professed to have a relationship with God, yet the conversation was not solid. I felt that we were more on shifting sand than the rock of Christ.
The scripture that kept coming to mind was from James 3:16: For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
TV~ (Today's Verse)
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock... [Matthew 7:24]
The scripture that kept coming to mind was from James 3:16: For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
TV~ (Today's Verse)
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock... [Matthew 7:24]
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