“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:3-6
One of the traditions in my home during the Christmas season is to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol. At the end of the movie Scrooge sings a song called Thankful Heart, one line in the song especially stood out for me this year - in it Scrooge says he will end and begin each day with a “grateful prayer and a thankful heart.” As this year draws to a close I want say that I pray thanking God for each of you – because in some way throughout this year you have encouraged me through life’s storms and for that I am grateful.
It is the time of year when we look back over all that as occurred – the good and bad, the joy and sadness, and the trials and triumphs that we have faced. For all of it may we be grateful in our prayers for God’s marvelous provisions. May we have thankful hearts as we remember those who have walked this year’s journey with us.
As we look forward to the coming New Year – may we continue to lift one another up in prayer being grateful that we are members of the same royal family and that HE who began HIS work in us will be certain to complete it.
Life’s journey is better when traveled with amazing people like you. Yes as this year end I lift a grateful prayer, motivated by a very thankful heart for each of you. May God bless you greatly in the coming year.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for each person in my life who travels on this road of life along side me. Each one has encouraged me on the way. Thank you Lord that you made us for community and relationship with one another and with You. With a grateful and thankful heart I ask that you would bless each one in a new and amazing way. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Let's Get The Party Started!
“They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”
Psalm 145:6-7
We have taken the time to enter into all that this season has to offer. We have entered into the holiness, the joy, the sights and sounds, the reverence, the faith, the love, the hope, the peace, the salvation and the freedom that the birth of Jesus brings.
We have considered all that we have received when we accepted the Master gift givers Only Son and we concluded the Jesus is truly the gift that keeps on giving right into eternity and beyond.
We have taken our foot off of life’s gas pedal opting to travel at donkey speed so that we might truly enjoy the celebration of God’s light and word coming to our small corner of the universe.
And now it is time to really get the party started. It is time to enjoy our family and friends, the warmth of fellowship. It is time to enjoy with thankful hearts the abundant tables that will be laid before us as only a glimpse of the feast that will be prepared for us when Jesus returns once again to our small corner of the universe and we celebrate his second coming.
As we bask in the glow of all that this season of celebration truly means, may we carry all of it in our hearts every day and ponder it every chance we get.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for the amazing gift of your Son, He is the reason for our celebration. You have blessed us like no other can may we not ever forget it and my we cherish it in our hearts and reflect it in our lives well beyond the current celebration. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Psalm 145:6-7
We have taken the time to enter into all that this season has to offer. We have entered into the holiness, the joy, the sights and sounds, the reverence, the faith, the love, the hope, the peace, the salvation and the freedom that the birth of Jesus brings.
We have considered all that we have received when we accepted the Master gift givers Only Son and we concluded the Jesus is truly the gift that keeps on giving right into eternity and beyond.
We have taken our foot off of life’s gas pedal opting to travel at donkey speed so that we might truly enjoy the celebration of God’s light and word coming to our small corner of the universe.
And now it is time to really get the party started. It is time to enjoy our family and friends, the warmth of fellowship. It is time to enjoy with thankful hearts the abundant tables that will be laid before us as only a glimpse of the feast that will be prepared for us when Jesus returns once again to our small corner of the universe and we celebrate his second coming.
As we bask in the glow of all that this season of celebration truly means, may we carry all of it in our hearts every day and ponder it every chance we get.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for the amazing gift of your Son, He is the reason for our celebration. You have blessed us like no other can may we not ever forget it and my we cherish it in our hearts and reflect it in our lives well beyond the current celebration. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Turn Down the Stress
“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Luke 2:19
Let’s face it the holidays are a stressful time – shopping, traffic, crowds of people, getting Christmas cards done, throwing parties, attending parties, school programs and on and on – makes one tired and stressed just thinking about doesn’t it. How do we turn that stress down? I want to suggest that like Mary we take some time to get still and ponder.
The dictionary defines ponder as: to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate. Yes, meditate that is a good word too. As we race toward our celebrations of Christmas – let’s turn down the stress by pondering the wonder of the nativity, by meditating on the Christmas story as found in the Gospel of Luke.
If we turn down the stress by taking time to really enter into the story that changed the world, we will be better able to enjoy the celebration and we will feel better physically, emotionally and spiritually.
This holiday season are you trying to travel at the speed of light? Trying slowing down to the speed of a camel or better yet the speed of a donkey – a donkey that carried Mary to a Bethlehem manger where she gave birth to the Son of God.
A prayer
Father – We get so caught up in the rush of the season, that it can be hard to really enjoy the true reason for it. Help us this week to slow down, to like Mary treasure up and ponder Your goodness and generosity. Draw us unto Your story – the story of God with us. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Luke 2:19
Let’s face it the holidays are a stressful time – shopping, traffic, crowds of people, getting Christmas cards done, throwing parties, attending parties, school programs and on and on – makes one tired and stressed just thinking about doesn’t it. How do we turn that stress down? I want to suggest that like Mary we take some time to get still and ponder.
The dictionary defines ponder as: to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate. Yes, meditate that is a good word too. As we race toward our celebrations of Christmas – let’s turn down the stress by pondering the wonder of the nativity, by meditating on the Christmas story as found in the Gospel of Luke.
If we turn down the stress by taking time to really enter into the story that changed the world, we will be better able to enjoy the celebration and we will feel better physically, emotionally and spiritually.
This holiday season are you trying to travel at the speed of light? Trying slowing down to the speed of a camel or better yet the speed of a donkey – a donkey that carried Mary to a Bethlehem manger where she gave birth to the Son of God.
A prayer
Father – We get so caught up in the rush of the season, that it can be hard to really enjoy the true reason for it. Help us this week to slow down, to like Mary treasure up and ponder Your goodness and generosity. Draw us unto Your story – the story of God with us. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Monday, December 5, 2011
The GIFT That Truly Keeps on Giving
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God gave the world the most extravagant gift that could ever be given. He gave his Son to pay our debt – a debt we could never pay ourselves. This by itself is reason enough to celebrate but what else do we receive when we accept THE GIFT of the SON?
We get: grace, mercy, joy, generosity, His life (Galatians 2:20), encouragement, all things (Romans 8:32), strength, authority (Matthew 10:1), power (Luke 9:1), wisdom (Acts 7:10), love , peace, comfort, knowledge, the right to be called children of God (John 1:12), purpose, protection, freedom, courage, one another, His kingdom, a new heart, a new mind and a new body… well eventually we get that – it’s something to look forward to.
But the part that makes God’s precious gift the gift that keeps on giving is that for those accept it they get eternal life (1 John 5:11). All of these things and eternity spent in the glorious light of the Master gift giver – who could imagine, ask or want more?
This year embrace the incredible gift you have already been given and then share your abundance with others by sharing the real reason for the season – Jesus the Christ.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for giving us the greatest gift – the gift that truly keeps on giving. Help us to fully embrace all that you have given us in addition to the gift of your Son and may we share that gift with others, not just at this time of year but all year long. In Jesus’ name Amen.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God gave the world the most extravagant gift that could ever be given. He gave his Son to pay our debt – a debt we could never pay ourselves. This by itself is reason enough to celebrate but what else do we receive when we accept THE GIFT of the SON?
We get: grace, mercy, joy, generosity, His life (Galatians 2:20), encouragement, all things (Romans 8:32), strength, authority (Matthew 10:1), power (Luke 9:1), wisdom (Acts 7:10), love , peace, comfort, knowledge, the right to be called children of God (John 1:12), purpose, protection, freedom, courage, one another, His kingdom, a new heart, a new mind and a new body… well eventually we get that – it’s something to look forward to.
But the part that makes God’s precious gift the gift that keeps on giving is that for those accept it they get eternal life (1 John 5:11). All of these things and eternity spent in the glorious light of the Master gift giver – who could imagine, ask or want more?
This year embrace the incredible gift you have already been given and then share your abundance with others by sharing the real reason for the season – Jesus the Christ.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for giving us the greatest gift – the gift that truly keeps on giving. Help us to fully embrace all that you have given us in addition to the gift of your Son and may we share that gift with others, not just at this time of year but all year long. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)