CELEBRATE!

  what comes to mind when you hear the word celebrate, automatically we connect it with party , according to Webster it is a  day of rejoicing, to observe, to praise publicly, to honor

This month of December has been full of celebrating as well well as sorrow,today we  ceelbrate 37 yrs of marraige, wow how close to 40 is that! in just a few days will ring in another New Year, do you have hopes, dreams, plans for the new year, I have seen what's beyond the door & can't wait for God's perfect timming to walk through it, have you thought about those resolutions, how about going into that secret place & making new resolutions to serve him whole heartly with all your might, to draw closer than ever before,to place it in his hands & trust him completly,put on that spiritual warfare & fight for those things God has promised , listen to the song HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING, perhaps this could be your New Years Resolution!

WHEN DEATH COMES UNEXPECTEDLY

As I watch an Aunt cry over her son's casket, as I watch a wife fall to pieces, as I watch sweet grandbabies stand close by, as I watch sisters whisper what to do about Christmas & presents with his name on them, I am assured that through all things we serve a God bigger than all our worries & we must stand in the gap & lift up those who are too weak to stand in this moment, we live this life one breath at a time, don't just invite Christ into your home for Christmas but with every breath give him praise

never knowing what this ole world will dish out it is so important to know in whom we serve, this past week I was surrounded with all my kids & sweet grandbabies for an early Christmas, today I am surrounded with cousins who has lost a brother unexpectedly, tomorrow I will naturally assume I’ll be surrounded  with my parents & sister, nieces etc., we have but one life to live in this walk of life & we must choose to live it to the fullest & the best of our ability with Christ always being in the center of it

there are times I must admit I stay a little too busy & need to sit at his feet more, there are times when all I want to do is drink in his goodness, we have to live in this world but we must always remember to keep Jesus number one in our life, even with everything this world has to offer  just give me Jesus!

as you gather with loved ones this Christmas season, remember who it was that gave you that gift & give him praise!

WHY JESUS IS BETTER THAN SANTA

Santa lives at the North Pole JESUS is everywhere

Santa rides in a sleigh ... JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year ... JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies ... JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited ... JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then
enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa ... JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap ... JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your
name?" ...JESUS knew our name before we were born...Not only does He know our name,
He knows our address too
.He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ...JESUS has a heart full of love

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ...
JESUS offers health, help and hope. Santa says "You better not cry"
...JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys ...
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts,repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but ...JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree....The cross.
Put Christ Back In Christmas..

Jesus Is Still The Reason For The Season!

HE LEADETH ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS, HE RESTORETH MY SOUL

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters, he restoreth my soul, he leadeth me in the paths of righteouss for his name's sake, yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they ...comfort me, thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever(Psalms 23)

"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want", looking back when I was young, I often wondered why would I not want the lord as my shepherd, but as I grew into an adult & began to study God's word I began to realize that it meant because I know him as my shepherd I shall not want for anything,on a scale of 1-10 of how rich I'd say I am I'd have to say 10 not by this worlds standards by any means for we have our share of trials & the ups & downs of everyday humm drum like anyone else but because "He restoreths my soul" even in my darkest hour I can still praise him , for there never was a time that I needed to come to this well of living water that it was empty, when was the last time you came to the well,"He leadeth me beside the still waters, he restoreth my soul" do you fell dry & empty within your soul today, begin to let the holy spirit draw you to this well of living water, partake of the cool living water as it restores your soul, this living water that I speak of is Jesus & no matter what life throws our way , he is always there by the well with cup in hand with cool living water

LUKE IN 26 DAYS

Amy is now hosting Luke in 26 Days Bible study

http://www.momstoolbox.com/blog/2011/12/04/luke-read-through/

finishing up the final week of A Confident Heart ,this has been a wonderful & enriching study

http://melissataylor.org/2011/12/06/dear-jesus-i-need-you/#comments

 

with  so many great devotionals, Bible studies etc out there that there should be no reason not to be able for any of us to not  grow deeper in the word,whether  it be  a scripture at a time, a chapter at a time, a page from a good inspirational book,& just start reading

as you began to digest the word you’ll be refreshed & satisfied in your soul

WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM

.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Lamentations 3:25 The LORD [is] good unto them that wait for him, to the soul [that] seeketh him.

Luke 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

The arrival of the first card of the Christmas season  came yesterday, a beautiful red with wise men on camels &  beautiful scripted wording in gold

Wise Men Still Seek Him

The first wise men gave Christ treasures from their kingdoms, today's wise men give Christ the treasures of their hearts

as I read the card & pondered over wise men still seek him , the word seek seemed to stand out so lets focus on that word “seek” are you seeking him today for a need in your life, are you seeking him for  a deeper walk, do you know in whom you seek after, to seek after the things of this world are temporary but to seek after the things of God are everlasting

PROVERBS IN 31 DAYS

Day 31 is here! When I think of Proverbs  I usually think of the virtuous woman but when you go through & really absorb the word & use  Amy’s soap application  you see proverbs in a different light

S…scripture, which scripture do you feel God is speaking to you

O… observation , what might he be telling you in that scripture

A…application , how can you apply the scripture to your life

P…prayer, what is your prayer to ask God in helping you make that application

did you know that there are over 10 chapters that talk about the mouth?

there is life & death in the tongue & we need to be careful what we say & how we say it (18:21)

have you enjoyed going through proverbs in 31 days, did you learn something you didn’t know before , do you have a favorite chapter?

THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN

proverbs 31

the virtuous woman takes care of her household, she rises up early to prepare for her day, she gardens, she sews,  she does the shopping,  ,she makes her husband proud, he knows he can trust her, she ministers to the poor , wisdom & kindness comes out of her mouth, she tends to household chores & is not idle, her lifestyle is know by the fruit she bears & praised in the gates