Be Still...

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV): "Be still and know that I am God."

Advent season is here - we are looking to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We spend countless hours preparing for Christmas. Cooking, cleaning, cooking, shopping, cooking, wrapping, preparing, cooking... We want everything to be just right.

During the Advent season, will we focus on the Who of Christmas this year rather than the what - for instance, what am I going to eat, what am I going to wear, what am I going to get? Are we willing to take as much time to prepare our hearts (Christ's home) as we do our homes, the food, and all the trimmings? What if we took time to prepare our hearts as well as all the other stuff? What would happen if we took time to get alone before God and confess our need to control the season and all the "stuff" we feel is so urgent and ask God to lead us and allow Him to heal us and let Him take the lead?

Are you willing to  sacrifice something you want to do, to do something He wants you to do? Are you spending time alone in prayer and keeping your heart open to hear from Him? Are you praying for strength to be obedient to Him in all things this season?

Jesus holds all of us - and this whole world - in the palm of His hand. So what if the mince pies don't get made? So what if every ornament is not in place? Are those things really as important as spending time in His presence, preparing your heart for His coming?

Jesus came to this earth the first time as a baby. The next time He comes, He's coming for us. We must be ready. No amount of shopping, cooking, or cleaning will matter on the day the trumpet sounds. I encourage you to take time each day to get before the Lord - just you and Him. Find a spot that is quiet where you can spend time in His presence and ask Him to help you to "be still and know that He is God". Let go of the endless lists of to do's and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. "Jesus is the reason for the season" - let's give Him the welcome He deserves.

May the peace and the love of Christ be with you. In Jesus' joy,
Natalie 

Blessed Giving

"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35 NKJV

It is at this time of year that I begin to think about what Christmas really means. Every store I go in - whether to pick up laundry detergent, ink for the printer, or milk - is clothed in sparkles, decorations, garlands, gift ideas, and Santa. I often wonder, "How did we get here? How have we as the human race (and especially Christians) gotten so far from the truth of what Christmas is about?" These thoughts challenge me to think about Jesus and His purpose and mission while He walked the dirt pathways of this earth and the mission He left all His followers with.

Jesus did not take, He gave. He was not a recipient, but a server. He left His home in heaven and became one of us that He might know the trials and temptations we all face. He ran with sinners and lowly people whom the religious people of the day didn't have time for. He didn't even have a place to lay His own head.

Christmas means different things to different people. What does it mean to you? The disaster in the Philippines makes me wonder if it is truly in our best interests to spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on ourselves. What if we each took even a percentage of that money and gave it to them? Would it make a difference? What if we all did it in the name of Jesus, a gift for Him this Christmas? What if we opened our eyes to those around us and saw those in need around us and gave of ourselves this year to make a difference in someone else's life? Would that please Jesus?

Need some ideas - volunteer for a food bank, homeless shelter, or soup kitchen; give of your time and resources in your community to help the organizations that are there to fill the needs of those who are less fortunate (examples: Red Cross, Salvation Army, YMCA, Teen Challenge, pregnancy clinics, volunteer at the hospital or nursing home, rehab. centers, reach out to a family in need and provide Christmas for them...). There are many ways we can give of our time, money, and other resources.

I challenge you to begin praying about what you can give Jesus for Christmas this year. It is His birthday we are celebrating. Listen carefully for His still, small voice and give to the One who gave everything for you. May He bless you abundantly as you step out in faith and obedience.

Blessings,
Natalie

Hungry? Thirsty? Get More of Jesus!

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV

I wonder if you are like me and have read this particular verse a number of time but didn't really see the promise contained in it. Take a few minutes and read it over and over, then really meditate on it. Drink in the truth of the Scripture. God has given us His Word to feed hungry souls, to quench the thirst of our parched cravings. He has given us the answer - Himself!

Lots of times we pray for stuff: healing for our family and friends, money to take care of our needs, answers to our prayers of all shapes and sizes and such things. Have we ever slowed down long enough to think about how many times we've prayed for more of Jesus? This is truly what we need. Please don't get me wrong, Jesus told us to bring our needs to Him and we should, but in the midst of that, we need to be praying for Jesus to come and fill us will His Spirit and invade our lives powerfully. We need His empowerment to go out into this corrupt and broken world to be effective for Him. There is so much hurt and pain, yet the Lord is sufficient for all the needs out there. If we would look beyond the physical needs and pray to be used by God in His plan for our world then we would see amazing things happen for Him. He sees beyond what we see. He knows far more than we could ever begin to imagine. He sees the heart and penetrates the darkness in ways unknown to humanity. What an exciting experience to be part of!! Will you join with me in praying for more of Jesus? Will you partner with Him to do those things He calls you to do? Will you trust Him to keep His promise to do "exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think?"

I'm praying for you. In Jesus' joy,
Natalie

Verdict: NOT GUILTY

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1-4 NIV

How much would a prisoner living on death row desire for the warden to come and declare him not guilty? This is how we all live apart from Jesus Christ. We are separated from God bound to live a life without hope for eternity. There is a heaven and a hell and anyone who does not choose Jesus to lead their life and dwell within them is as condemned as a prisoner on death row. For those who think they have time to wait...you may want to think again. NO choice is a choice. You either choose Jesus or not. Choosing Jesus means that God grants you pardon from your life of sin and brings you into the life that Jesus died to give you. Like verse 1 in the Scripture above says, "There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (emphasis mine). Jesus died to break the power of sin and death over His people and has accomplished it. He has done it.

The only thing left to do is to accept it. Are you willing to accept the grace and forgiveness that God has provided through the work Jesus did on the cross as He died, in the grave as He broke the bonds of death and arose, and in the resurrection as He ascended to be seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede on our behalf? Are you willing to cry out to Jesus so He may claim you as His own and declare you NOT GUILTY before God the Father? He will be coming back one day for His children. Is your name in the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5)? Does He know that you belong to Him? Be assured and comforted that if anyone calls on the name of the Lord, he (or she) will be saved (Acts 4:12). There is hope because we have a Savior who has paid the price for our redemption (John 19:30). Won't you call out to Him today?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Today begins a brand-new year. A time to look back and see from where you've come and a time to look ahead and see where you want to be. This is the perfect time of year to determine how you want to live your life. Have you been satisfied with your life: joyful, content, peaceful, patient, filled with kindness for others and that type of thing? Or are you lacking joy, contentment, peacefulness, and filled with resentment and anger toward others?

 

 

I encourage you to take time today and reflect on these things. This assessment begs the question: what are you going to do about it if you are sliding toward the negative side of things? Taking time on a daily basis to study God's Word is the prescription I would recommend for whatever is ailing you. Take time to sit down for 15 minutes a day and read from His Word. Pray and allow the Words to soak in and change you. Ask for His Holy Spirit to assist you in this endeavour. Do not try to do this alone. He is right there with you. Allow Him to be your sufficiency and to cover you with His grace and mercy.

 

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray for each precious one who reads this post and takes it to task. Lord, strengthen them as they take on the challenge of reading and soaking in Your Word each and every day. Father, give them the discipline needed to get the job done. I pray Your Spirit would fill them - each one - and reveal the truths of the Scriptures You have chosen for them to read each day. May You work in their lives daily to shape them into the likeness of Jesus Christ Your One and Only Son. In His precious and Holy name I pray, Amen