Tuesday, December 10, 2013

December 10, 2013

Good morning-

This week is a very hard but special week for me.  It's the celebration of my wonderful father who passed away two years ago.  It's full of good and bad memories.  He passed away seven days before his 70th birthday and he is so missed.  Thank goodness the memories remain.  I can remember baking with my mom, putting the tree up with  my dad and him patiently teaching me how to trim a tree.  He spent hours coaching me on how to put lights all the way around and then he had to teach me how to connect them so they would all light up.  If you've ever put lights on a tree then you know the patience he had.

I loved my father with all my heart.  I think that's why it was so easy for me to love Jesus.  My dad was a good man.  He was patient and he was kind.  He was everything that Corinthians 13 spells out and he not only taught me those principles but my sons as well.  There isn't anywhere I can go this time of year without thinking about him or my mom.  They made Christmas magical.  Even when they didn't have a lot they would scrape by just to see their kids or grandkids light up.  We call Christmas the Nana Christmas because she brought wonder, joy and happiness.  She spent way to much money but if you ask our kids what they remember, they would say, "When Nana was here Christmas was so meaningful."  It wasn't just the presents, it was the thought, the build up and the love my mom and dad had for all of us.  Their sacrifice was our reward.

I'm sure you've heard me use that phrase before.  I use it all the time to describe what Christ did by coming to earthas a man and giving His life for ours.  My memories are so precious that when I'm putting up lights, baking cookies or listening to children laughing I think of them.  As Christmas approaches, we really need to take the memories out of the Bible and share them with others.  My memories are precious to me.  You might not want to share in them but the intent of sharing is to let people know there is love in this world. Sharing Christ is vital to our society.  Christ is not a religion but a relationship.  Just like mine with my parents, Christ has given something to each one of us.  We need to slow down and remember what the prophets of old spoke about and how they came to fruition in the womb of Mary.

Mary carried the Savior and with her sacrifice He came to life.  Joseph watched God's Son grow and taught Him all he knew but in the end, Christ was the Son of God.  He is One God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  His story is the most precious story and should be told from your family to the world.  The world is no longer that wide or that far.  We can reach each other through the Internet.  Many are coming to my blog from other nations far away and yet, we have a relationship with the same God.  I am always astounded to see who has touched this blog.  God is calling His disciples from every land to join together and hear the good news.  There are so many channels to find Him.  This season amongst the commercialization of Christmas let's spread the word of the greatest gift ever to be given to mankind, Jesus.

He is the true reason for the season.  I love the lights, the Christmas tree and all the things that come with Christmas.  But the most important thing gets shoved behind presents and all the trimmings.  Let's make Him a priority this season and read the story that made this Holiday what it was meant to be.  We know that Jesus would want us to give a gift that keeps on giving.  If you haven't thought about it lately, then do now.  We must present the Gospel and all that it means.

I love being a child of God and am so grateful for the opportunity to proclaim Him.  I hope you are too.  With all that I am, I pray that God will bless you and keep you as you find Him.  Spread the word, write a story or simply pray for a friend.  All of us are in need of a Savior, be the one to share Him today.

Thank you for reading this blog and for encouraging me to get on.  It's been a journey this year and I'm trying to stay faithful.  My heart is full and my days are long but with you in them they are so much easier.  Tell someone today that Jesus loves them and then tell them why.

Psalm 89:27 NIV

     And I will appoint Him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

     For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given adn teh government will be on His shoulders.

Mark 7:26 NIV

     After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

My prayer today:

O, Lord, thank You for granting all of us the opportunity to know you.  As the days come may we spread the gospel and show your love.  We are sinners in need of a Savior and even when we don't think we do, we really do.  I pray for a miracle this year for my sisters.  I pray that they would pray like they never have before and I pray that women would come to see the beauty in you.  There is so much to turn us away and yet, you stand there waiting for us to surrender.  Help us all surrender our feelings and our desires to you.  We want to be grounded, not fleeting with hope, love and obedience raging through our blood.  We proclaim that Jesus is the reason for this season and that He holds the key to our reward.  Again, Lord, we are humbled to be your servants, give us courage, fortitude and a heart for only YOU!  In Jesus Name. AMEN

Until tomorrow...

No comments:

Post a Comment