Are you Prepared?

Wishing you and your loved ones a very blessed Christmas season – 

filled with the love, joy and peace that Jesus came to bring ! 

At this time of year, we are repeatedly  asked the same  question....

 "Are you prepared? Are you ready ?"   

We began weeks ago - planning, making lists, shopping, baking, cleaning - 

all in preparation for the holiday season. 

I think back to the first 'preparation' for Christmas ... 

when John the Baptist cried out that the time Isaiah had spoken about had come -

 the time to prepare was NOW. 

 "For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: 'PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD; MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.' " 

Matthew 3:3 

Is this command, "Prepare the way of the Lord", still for us today? 

How do we 'prepare' for the Lord? 

 In our preparations to celebrate His coming, do we make straight paths for Him, 

or does He have to meander around our plans and step over our 'stuff' ?

 Are we only concerned with nostalgically remembering an event that happened a long time ago?

Or do we consider how we might focus on preparing our hearts for Him today?

Do we use this time of 'preparation' to remind ourselves that He is coming back? 

He is coming again!  

We are called to prepare so that we will be ready! 

 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Mat_24:44 

Are we prepared for Him to return?  Are we abiding in Him and He is us. 

Are we obedient to His every word...  our hearts full of love for Him and for others? 

Are we eagerly watching for Him to appear?

We all look forward to Christmas dinner .. a feast with all the trimmings! 

but Jesus Himself is preparing a feast for us when He comes back ...  

a banquet of heavenly proportions! 

The invitations have gone out - 

 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

 Rev. 19:7

will you be ready? All preparations completed?   

   

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Christmas is All About the Gifts !!

Christmas is all about the Gifts !! 
Okay, have I shocked you ?  Just when you got the message 'its NOT about the gifts' ?   
Hear me out and I think you will agree... Christmas IS about the gifts!  
The problem is not our focus on 'gifts' at Christmas time, it is focusing on the WRONG kind of gifts. 
Christmas gift giving is sometimes reduced to giving and receiving out of duty or  expectation, although much gift giving at this season of celebration is focused on giving to those who are needy, and giving to those we love in expectation of their appreciative and happy response!  

It is a special delight to watch someone open a gift you have chosen with thoughtful care and see their expression of surprise and happiness!   
Speaking as a grandmother,  I look forward all year to giving my grand girls those gifts that will cause them the greatest joy!  
It would be a great sorrow to me if my grand girls would either reject my gifts or not even bother to open them !   I cannot even imagine !   
And yet .. the very best gifts, the ones that Christmas IS all about, ARE often rejected or left unopened.  
That must leave the Gift Giver heart broken !   
   
I wrote a little acrostic, using the word Christmas to list the gifts that have been gift wrapped in Jesus and inscribed with our name.  
Eph 4:8  Therefore He says: "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." 
  

C -   Charity  - the greatest gift of Christmas is LOVE .. Not just the feelings of love, but an expression of love in action. The very 'giving' of God's only Son to come show us the way.  The Greek word for 'charity'  carries a meaning of 'love feast' and that is God's invitation -- to come to His love feast -  the invitation delivered in person by His Son! (John 3:16)

H -  Healing -  Jesus brought 'healing in His wings' --  our healing, spiritual, emotional, and physical.  (Acts 4:30)

R -  Righteousness -   Jesus gave to us His righteousness - to clothe us so we can come acceptable to God,  entering into His presence,  clean and holy !  (Rom. 5:17)

I -  Image  -  even as Jesus came in the image of God - so He gave us the gift of  His Spirit to change us, little by little to also be formed in the image of God -- to look like and walk even as Jesus did !  (II Cor. 3:18)

S - Salvation  -  Oh.. we long to be free - and Christmas brought us that freedom - Accepting this gift of Christmas saves us from our sin , from darkness, from the enemy and  eternal condemnation! (Acts 4:12)

T - Truth  -  what a gift this is !  To have, to hear, to know the TRUTH .. Jesus is the Truth and in Him is all Truth.  We have but to listen to His Words and accept them.
(John 8:32)

M - Mercy  -  what a beautiful gift this is.  When we are guilty or bowed down with care or sin,  instead of rebuking words we are gifted with mercy.  The gift of comfort, understanding, forgiveness and encouragement to walk worthy of Him.  (Heb. 4:16)

A -  Armour - The 'armour of God'  -  what a practical gift this is!  Providing the  protection, the enabling we need so we can live a victorious life in the midst of darkness and chaos and threat of the enemy!   (Eph. 6:11)

S - Supply - a gift that just keeps on giving.   God has gifted us with a supply for all our needs - everyday for the rest of our life!   The supply that never runs out, because it comes from God's personal heavenly riches !  (Phil. 4:19)

A beautiful aspect of Jesus' gifts to us are that they are meant to be shared, as scripture says.... "Freely you have received, freely give !"  (Matt. 10:8)

I wish you all a wonderfully blessed Christmas , and a New Year 'without lack' - 
May you enjoy every God-given gift and rejoice in sharing them with others !!   

Blessed Christmas

Wishing each of you my readers, followers, and yes .. my lurkers !

a VERY Blessed Christmas and holiday season ...

May the joy and peace the Christchild came to bring to hearts and lives

follow you every day of the new year!

I have appreciated so much all of your comments...

and I love you all !!

Thank you !!

Fourth Advent -- Love

(photo - morning view of the fog-covered valley from my patio)

For God so loved ..... LOVE is the reason for the season. Because God so loved you and me He sent His only begotton Son that we might have eternal life!

I am reminded of the year my granddaughter was a four years old in pre-school. In her class was a little girl who could only be described as a bully. My granddaughter had determined that she must have a broken spirit and needed a friend. She would be that friend.

She tried and tried ..... sharing her lunch treats, inviting her to play with her, drawing her special pictures. My granddaughter even asked her Mom to take her shopping so she could buy her a very special gift that would certainly convince this girl of her love.

Nothing ever changed. While my granddaughter readily acknowledged that this little girl "was mean", she never referred to her meaness in a personal way - always it was with sadness that this girl did not know how to be nice.

So many times my little granddaughter asked me to pray for this girl, that her spirit would not be broken any more.

I wondered at the little girl that she could for a whole school year resist such persistent love and sincere offer of friendship.

While my heart ached to see my granddaughter's love so rejected, I thought of how it is a picture of us and God. We were hardly 'lovely' that God should have reason to love us ! It was "while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us !" Rom 5:8

And yet. even though we rejected His sacrifice, resisted His offering of Love and turned away from His incredible gift ... He loved us still.

Patiently He wooed us until we turned and recognizing His love let it melt our hard hearts.

Then we could say with the apostle John....
"We love him, because he first loved us." 1Jn 4:19

"Lord, when we see how great your love for us is , our hearts are filled with thanksgiving. As we celebrate this Christmas season with family and friends, may we remember that it is because of Your self-less gift that we are so blessed. May hope, peace, joy and love reign in our hearts and homes. Amen"

Third Advent - Joy

Joy ... What is Joy ?

A dictionary defines it this way ... "The emotion evoked by well-being, success or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires -- delight"

I think that definition falls short of true joy!

I would like to define Joy as inspired by the little chipmunk in my photo !

* Joy comes from above.
* Joy is a gift that this world cannot offer. It offers fleeting moments of bliss, happiness, elation, delight -- but not lasting Joy !
* Joy must be received. God has offered us joy -- life in Him -- but we must reach out to take it!
* Joy is a focus. Not much can detract from real Joy. When Joy is the anchor of our life, we overcome our fears and distractions fade !

When I was looking through my photos to find a picture that depicted joy, I was not thinking about chipmunks but when I looked at the above photo I realized again how often God tucks a 'sermon' into His creation.

God wants us to filled with joy ! -- to live our lives out of a joy rooted deep into our hearts. A joy that is undisturbed, undistracted by the sorrows, difficulties, disappointments and frustrations of this world. Not that we don't feel those things -- but always we can be aware of the foundation of joy our hearts are grounded in.
Jesus said ... "These things I have spoken to you , that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full!" (John 15:11)

The little chipmunk in my object lesson knew very quickly where the 'joy peanuts' were coming from and ran to me for more!
When we recognize that our Joy comes from God - from Jesus the Saviour of this world, how easy is it to run to Him continually for all that we need. It is His Presence in us that fills us with Joy and the knowledge that in Him we can abide in Joy.

The angels proclaimed .. "Joy to the World!" That is God wish for us -- to be filled with Joy -- and how much reason we have to be joyful.... especially this Christmas season as we remember the great gift that came down from heaven to reconcile us to our heavenly Father -- if only we put our trust in Him.

May Joy fill your heart today and always !!
"Rejoice, and again I say Rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4)
**

Second Advent - Peace

When the angels came to proclaim Jesus' birth , they sang. "Glory to God in the highest and on earth PEACE, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14 NKJV)
*

Peace on earth ? After 2,000 years, I don't see it , do you ?

*

We turn on the TV news every morning to hear about the lack of peace encircling our globe. We have computers and internet that link every part of the world with every other part - there is no place to hide! Wars and rumours of war so commonplace they barely raise an eyebrow. Violence is the repetative ingredient in TV shows, movies, video games.

Even our streets are not safe -- our homes , our vehicles , our possessions need to be guarded. Thieves lurk. We go for a walk in our local park... our lives are at risk. We watch over our children - it is not safe for them to walk home alone from school. Even school is not safe for them - we have bullies and school shootings.

Our families are shattered - divorce leaves children hurt and vulnerable. Suicides are at all time high.

*

So where is this peace that was promised ?

*

Is the desire for peace not the longing of every heart ? I believe that it is... but man has forgotten how to find it.

Peace will never be found in the world around us. It can only be found where Jesus promised it. In HIS Kingdom.

*

And where is His kingdom ?

It is a kingdom of hearts. Jesus came not to bring a superficial peace that the world looks for but a peace that permeates the hearts of His followers and flows out through them. It is a peace that cannot be touched by the turbulent events of a world tossed to and fro. It is a peace that fills our hearts birthed of trust in a God who is in control. We have a God whose promises are true - a God whose Word stills every storm and quiets every heart.

*

Real Peace comes from knowing God ( I Peter 1:2)

Jesus is our King of peace. Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts - a deep peace that man cannot steal or destroy.

How often did Jesus say to His disciples, "Peace to unto you... "

The same words He still speaks to your heart and to mine!

That is why Jesus came - to bring us peace. Listen to the words of Zacharias prophecy about the Messiah in Luke 1:79.

*

"Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

*

In a dark and troubled world may our feet be guided in the way of peace -- in our own hearts -- and may the Light of Peace shine through us.

*

"Dear Father, I pray this morning, that you would speak 'Peace' to every person whose eyes fall upon these words. May their hearts be stilled knowing that you are God - the same yesterday , today and forever.

May we all hide in you, and be blessed in your kingdom where Peace rules! Amen"

First Advent

I stepped out on our kitchen patio one morning this week to take the above photo.

The valley was blanketed under a thick fog but the snow capped mountains rose up above it glistening in the morning sun.

As I stood gazing at the view I thought about a scripture in Col. 3:2 "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

How easy it is to become 'blanketed' by the cares of this earthly life - to allow the disappointments, the worries, the endless duties to completely hide from our heart-view the glory of the things above.

*

The people of the valley had no idea of the beauty above them that awed my heart.

Where I saw blue sky and snow capped peaks, they saw only fogged shadows.

Where I saw the promise of the rising sun, they sat in shrouded uncertainty.

Where I saw the heavens , they saw only the earth beneath them.

*

Hope - the theme of the First Advent. No matter how deep our dispair, no matter how heavy our burdens or our doubt.. there is always HOPE.

Hope that is real ! Hope that will not disappoint any one who puts their faith in Jesus.. the promised Messiah.

Jesus, the Light shining into a dark world, melting the fog of doubt and fear!

Whatever earthly thing weighs you down, shine God's hope upon it and view it from above!

*

"Now may the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in HOPE! " Rom. 15:13
**

Wishing YOU a Blessed Christmas!

I learned something this year that I had not heard before....
Always in my mind the shepherds to whom the angel appeared with the Good News were men. But someone explaining the customs of that time said that the shepherds were always the old or the feeble , women and children, or the youngest boy in the family - shepherding was a lowly job.
I don't know who the shepherds were, since we are not told in scripture, but is it not like God to give more to those who are thought less of in their society?

How exciting it must have been to those shepherds, in the midst of another endless night of watching sheep to suddenly have the heavens open to them with the most glorious display!
It always moves me when I think of God purposely choosing the poor, the weak, the ordinary to display His glory to or give His special gifts !
There truly is no respecter of persons with God -- unless it is in favor of those the world rejects.
Isn't it reassuring to know that we need never fear that we are not 'good enough' to approach God ?
In sending His Son ... He sent an open invitation to you and me - no matter who we are - to come into His Presence!
Read the words of that beautiful story of the shepherds ... again ... and imagine YOU are one of them.. Imagine what it must have been like that glorious night !

Luk 2:8-20 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."
And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

I wish you a very blessed, glorious Christmas season. May you with the shepherds of old rejoice over the good news that is still the best news man has ever heard !!!

What is Love?

Art Linkletter once asked a four year old boy the question, "What is love?"

He answered with a child's insightfulness.

"When someone loves you they say your name differently.

Your name is safe in their mouth."

**

This is the Christmas season, when love is expressed in many ways. Love is shown in our gifts, our family reunions, our cards, our generosity to those less fortunate than ourselves.

Though we sing the old Christmas Carols that speak of that first Christmas so long ago,

and though we wish one another a 'Merry Christmas',

it seems that most people celebrating Christmas have forgotten

that Jesus is the reason for the season.

The world has forgotten that His reason for coming was LOVE.

He came to dwell among us so we could see God's love toward mankind.

Did you ever stop to think that His love for you is such that your name is safe in His mouth ?

Isa 43:1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you,... And He who formed you...."Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.

but.....

is His name safe in your mouth?

Is his name at times a swear word in your mouth,

or do you speak reverently when His name is on your tongue?

Do you speak His name in love,

or do you speak carelessly about Him, not careful to give Him the honor due His name?

John, at the end of his gospel tells us that the reason

why the wonderful things about Jesus were written down.

John 20:31 "but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

It is in the beautiful name of Jesus that we have been given 'eternal life' ,

the "right to be called the children of God"

**

Let us remember, not just this Christmas season, but every day

how majestic is the name of Jesus.

May His name always be 'safe' in our mouths.

**

Christmas Day Morning Walk

I'm happy you stopped by !
I left an invitation for you to join Vic and me on our Christmas Day morning walk through our 'snow-covered' back yard!

I love the little snow caps on our fence posts.

This is looking out from my front door, and up at Thom Mt.

It snowed again early this morning, but by the time we started on our walk the blue sky was breaking through.

The mountains in the distance were beautiful.

The deer have been making their rounds to the houses in our complex where they can count on apple handouts.

Just checking out the reindeer ornaments, 'wanna take my picture' ?

"How do I look?"

A little stream still running.

The snow capped shrubs soo pretty with the sun shining on them.

Good thing Vic took his shovel... so that he could shovel off the 101 steps !

The snow laden branches against the blue sky are stunning.

So quiet...except for the crunch of the snow under our feet ! The mountain trail so beautiful .

Me in the knee deep snow with a final wave!! "Thanks for joining me !!"

Wishing YOU a Blessed Christmas!

"I wish each and every one of you, my dear friends, the most blessed and joyous Christmas. As you celebrate , each in your own traditions, may the love of family and friends fill your hearts and overflow to the One who is the Reason we celebrate!"

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:14)

The Joy of Wrapping Paper

It was a Sunday close to Christmas Day and our pastor asked people to share their favourite memories of childhood Christmases.
A friend of mine, Jeannie, stood up and went to the mike.

Her eyes sparkling and her voice animated, she told of her childhood joy at Christmas.

Jeannie grew up in a poor family, that lived gypsy-style. Her father did not believe in education and refused to send his children to school so the family moved often to keep the authorities from catching up with them. My friend never set foot into a schoolroom until she walked through a classroom door with her own child by the hand.

Her home was not a Christian home and she had few of the things most children take for granted.
There were no Christmas traditions .... no special dinner .... no extended family....no friends.... and there were no gifts waiting for her or her siblings on Christmas mornings.

But…. she found her own Christmas joy.


Every year, Jeannie, would eagerly wait until after Christmas when everyone put out their garbage including the wrapping paper all their gifts had been wrapped in. Then my friend would sneak unnoticed out to the garbage cans and collect all the discarded Christmas paper and sometimes even pretty ribbon!

The beautiful designs and finishes … the colours , the shine, the gold and silver accents…delighted her and she would spend hours smoothing out the paper, cutting and folding making little shapes and cut outs and paper designs… teaching her creative ideas to her siblings.

I had the bitter/sweet feeling that the throw-away paper brought her more joy than the gifts brought to the ones who thoughtlessly tore off the paper wrapping them.

Those who have an abundance often miss out on the joy that simple things can bring.
This Christmas….. will you have time to notice and enjoy the simple things?
A single ornament.... loved ones around the table.... the wide-eyed joy of a child.... a favourite carol….. a walk in the snow…..the voice of a loved one..... a Christmas card....a nativity scene …..stars in the night sky ..... the familiar words of the Christmas story....


"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy." (Mat 2:10)

A Picture Tag

Marg tagged me for a picture game. Here are the rules…..

1.Open the 4th picture folder on your computer
2. Open the 4th picture and post it on your blog.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag 4 people to do the same!

Having an addictive amount of curiosity.... smile... I HAD to know what my photo would turn out to be...

I found that it was a school photo of me in first grade. I am in the first row second from the right. The year? 1953.

Time passes sooo quickly, doesn't it ? I can't believe how many years, how many memories have crowded into my life since the day that picture was taken.
How little I knew then about what my life would bring... what I would do ... who I would become.
We are once again celebrating the Christmas season..... How many Christmases have come and gone since that night the shepherds gazed upon the new babe born in Bethlehem!

The people alive at that time, lived that 'special' day as ordinarily as they had the day before.. little guessing that the world would never be the same again.

History has recorded the changes.

We all love to look back on the past... we try to preserve our memories , capturing them through the written word or imprisoning them in a photo.

This festive season, even as we enjoy the traditions that have become important to each of us...may we not forget the WHY this time of year is a time of celebrating ... It is a time we look back over the last 2000 years and see that God's love has never ceased. Once more this Christmas season we have an opportunity to remind the world that the God-given invitation to accept the baby boy child we now worship as God - is still open to anyone who prepares room in their heart to receive Him.

May you be blessed this holy-day season ! and may His joy and peace flood your soul as you reflect on the Greatest Gift ever given to mankind !

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Now I must tag four - I choose ....
Tammie
Sara
Lovella
Jill