Christmas Ponderings

Merry Christmas everyone! As I have been reading through the Christmas story once again, I was struck by the beauty of the love of Christ all over again. God's love is beyond anything we can even begin to imagine or explain. God sent His One and Only Son, Jesus, to earth to give every person the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven with Him. How incredible is that?

The point that struck me this year is that not only did God send Him, He came willingly. Picture it with me for a moment. Jesus, Son of the Most High God, left heaven for us. Jesus was in the most perfect place. There is no sickness, no death, no unmet needs. The temperature is always perfect, the atmosphere always full of love, there is no sin in heaven. Yet this Jesus, left all of that behind, humbled Himself and grew in the womb of a teenage girl to be born in this sin-stained world, full of anger, hatred, dirt, and sickness, knowing that He would face ridicule, beatings, and death for us.

He had everything and gave it up for us...He gave it up for you. You were worth it. You were on His mind as He was nailed to a cross. See the babe didn't stay in the manger, but grew up and gave up His life to set us free. This is love - "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, " (Romans 5:6-8 NKJV).

Don't leave the babe in the manger. Jesus grew, lived, died, was buried, and is resurrected. He is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father. Pray and accept His promise of eternal life with Him today. May He bless you and keep you this Christmas season.

Blessed Suffering

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy," (1 Peter 4:12-13 NKJV).

At first glance, the title of this post seems wrong. Our humanity looks at the words blessed and suffering and does not see them working together. However, they complement one another quite well in the heavenly realm.

Everyone wants to be blessed We all long to see the pain stop, the cancer or disease to be healed, the relationship to be restored, the wayward child to return home, the money we need to appear, along with many other things, some of which you may be thinking of right now. I don't think we go out looking to embrace suffering, rather we seem to recoil and run from it. However, everyone has or will experience it.

Suffering can be blessed when we choose to embrace it when we experience it. Jesus tells us, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world," (John 16:33b NKJV emphasis mine). It is clear from this passage of Scripture that we will experience suffering but it comes with a promise to remember. Jesus has overcome the world. This is what we hold on to. This is where we can shine for Jesus.

We may be walking through some difficult valleys right now but we can choose how we walk. We can choose to hang our heads, drag our feet, and go through the struggle kicking and screaming, or we can embrace where we are and hold our heads high - looking away to Jesus - , walk on with steadfast assurance, and even skip and sing, praising the Lord for "counting us worthy to suffer for Him."

This may seem impossible but it isn't. I encourage you to memorize this Scripture - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). In Christ we are all overcomers. I also encourage you to listen to Mandisa's song "Overcomer." You can find it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8VoUYtx0kw

There is such hope in this song. The truth is that whether we are healed on this earth or healed in heaven is up to the Lord and He knows what is best for each of us. He loves us beyond anything we can imagine. It is through His will that we are here. Nothing comes to us that He doesn't allow. So you can rest knowing that if you are walking through a valley right now He is either right beside you or carrying you. You are not alone. Choose today to embrace your suffering, giving the burden to the One who understands completely. He will love you and guide you through. One day, you will be able to look back and see God's fingerprints all over your situation.

Heavenly, gracious, and merciful Father,
Thank You for Your promise to never leave nor forsake us. Thank You that we never need to walk through a dark valley alone. Lord, I call on You in Jesus' name to touch each heart who reads this post and seeks You out. Fill them with your blessed assurance that You are with them. May You be their sufficiency and meet their needs, bringing them to a place of healing in Your perfect timing. Grant them Your peace Lord in Jesus' name, Amen.

Spirit-led Work

Do you ever question your calling and purpose? Do you wonder and think there is more that you should be doing? Do you rush around trying to do something so you can look at the accomplishment and somehow feel fulfilled? In studying the early church in the book of Acts, I am convinced that in our society we are so conformed to being productive that we forget to wait for instructions.

How many of you have bought anything, whether a child's toy or a dresser, that needed to be put together, but didn't take the time to read the instructions first? Sometimes you can get away with it and sometimes...it doesn't go so well. The same thing happens when we run ahead of the Lord and try to do His work on our own without spiritual instruction. The early church leaders were focused so much on doing the will of God that they didn't move before seeking Him.

In Acts 1, we see the disciples staying in the Upper Room praying together awaiting the promise. Remember, they didn't know how long they would have to wait. We know it was 10 days, but when they started praying and didn't see anything happen day after day, they continued to trust in the promise that God would send a Helper, but they had to wait for Him (Luke 24:49).

Are you willing to wait 10 days for the Holy Spirit to lead you? What if it takes 10 weeks, 10 months, or 10 years? God's timing isn't the same as ours (2 Peter 3:8). When we look back at the early church, they prayed expectantly and continued steadfastly until something happened. The first time the Holy Spirit came upon them, there were "divided tongues of fire and a mighty rushing wind," (Acts 2:2-3).

The second time they prayed earnestly and steadfastly waiting for empowerment, the "place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit," (Acts 4:31). Isn't this the empowerment you desire to do God's work? It is what I desire, yet the waiting is hard. Trusting Him is demonstrating faith. He is able to overcome all obstacles and sees so much more than we can possibly imagine. Each time the disciples prayed and were filled, miraculous things happened. God poured out His Spirit and did wonderful things.

I want to encourage you today to read Acts - if it seems like too much, start with Chapters 1-4. It is an exciting read. We serve the same God and come to Him through the same Jesus that was present on the day these pages were penned and the days in which these events occurred. God pours out the same Holy Spirit today and the power is available.

Do you believe Him? Do you have faith that He is able? Will you seek Him and His will no matter how long it takes? Will you mobilize yourself the moment He empowers you and do all that He has called you to? He has promised "Never to leave nor forsake you," (Heb. 13:5). Are you ready to pray, pray, and pray some more until He reveals His will for you to you? It's up to you. Take hold and trust in Him. I am praying for you dear one, knowing that God wants to work through each one who has called on His name. He loves you.

Your Freedom, Christ's Gift

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 NIV Freedom, it's a wonderful word and a great concept but are you living in freedom? Are you walking in the inheritance that Jesus died to give you? Have you claimed your birthright after accepting Jesus as Your Lord and Saviour? If so, congratulations and praise Jesus for your freedom. If not, why? Paul wrote the book of Galatians to the church as a handbook for Christian freedom. His desire was to share the freedom we have the right to claim as children of Christ. This first verse in chapter 5 is exciting to me, but also demonstrates that although we can live in freedom, we can quickly revert to the ways of the "old man" and find ourselves back in bondage that Jesus died to set us free from. So how do we walk in freedom: we seek Jesus to be Lord of our lives. We must submit to His will and seek the power of the Holy Spirit to fill us with His wisdom and power. Freedom in Christ does not mean we can do whatever we want. It means we now have within us the power and strength to follow Jesus and do His will. Living in the fullness of Christ is the most freeing, fulfilling life you will ever have, with the mountain tops and valley lows! Dear reader, I encourage you to take some time to prayerfully read Galatians. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and reveal the truths that God has there for you. Seek Him with your whole heart to break the bonds that keep you from walking in the freedom you have inherited as a child of the King. Trust in Jesus. I am praying for you. Natalie

Walk This Way

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2:3-6 NKJV

Walking in Christ's way is not easy. We have to battle the flesh and desires of our own hearts, surrendering them to Him and allowing Him to make uncomfortable changes in us. It hurts. Sometimes it pains so much we wonder if we can do it. But we can. Not in our own strength, but we must surrender to His will and His leading and step out in faith, in darkness sometimes and trust Him even when it doesn't make sense.

Does this sound insane? I understand completely. We live in a world constantly bombarded with people telling us, "Have it your way. You deserve it. You can have it all. You can have it now. Don't wait, just grab and go." These sayings are completely contrary to the way that God's economy works. Sometimes He grants us things instantly, sometimes He desires for us to wait, and sometimes He says no! That is the reality of it all.

Do you trust Jesus? Do you trust the Father? Do you trust the Holy Spirit? Do you believe that He loves you and cherishes you completely? Do you believe that He wants only the best and greatest for your life? Are you willing to submit to His leading and wait on Him? Are you willing to obey His commandments and seek His face even when the world is screaming at you loudly to do contrary to what He is saying?

Being a Christian is sometimes hard. That is the truth. Standing out and living to a standard that is higher than the world's can make it seem impossible. But Christ is greater. If you have given your life to Him, He is dwelling in you by the Holy Spirit and can speak truth and direction in your life if you will seek and obey Him. If you do not know Him but would like to know how go to
http://promisesforall.blogspot.ca/2010/09/greatest-promise.html
and pray giving control of your life to the Lord. He will be with you and guide you in all truth.


May the Lord bless you and keep you. In His service,
Natalie

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of for me," Philippians 3:12 NKJV.

What are you racing for? Everyone is running a race of some kind, trying to achieve this, that, or the other... What are you racing for? Money, position, power...these all seem to be the motivators, yet why? When our last breaths are taken and we close our eyes for the last time, what is going to matter? 

What matters is where your heart is and where you stored your treasures. Did you know Jesus in life? Did you live to serve and tell others about what He did in your life? Did you share the message of hope and salvation that can only be found in Him? 

I have a message of hope for you today if you can't answer affirmatively. Surrender your life to Him. Ask Him to forgive your sins and make you whole. Give your all to The Lord and go tell someone that He loves you and He loves them too. Don't worry about whether they will accept Him or not. He doesn't ask us to save, only to share Him with others. We are not perfect, but anyone who has a personal relationship with Jesus has a perfect Father in heaven who loves and cares more than anyone you will ever find on this earth.

Won't you accept His gift of salvation today so that you will know, without a doubt that one day, you will see Jesus face to face? May The Lord bless you and keep you as you share His grace today.

Jesus is Calling

How ironic that the King of kings and Lord of lords would come to us  and be slain to give us eternal life (John 3:16)! Jesus was born in a humble and lowly stable (Luke 2:7) and lived a life without a house or place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). He walked the dusty trails of this earth seeking out those who would be obedient to His call to follow Him. Simply follow Him in obedience.

That call has not changed in the years since His death, resurrection, and ascension. The Lord we serve is alive and desires for you to give up your life and follow Him in obedience (Luke 9:23). He may ask something difficult  of you, He may give you simple directions whatever it is, Jesus is calling. Are you listening and answering in obedience?

This week I have been drawn to the Lord in awe and wonder at the thought of all He must have endured and I find myself wondering how He could love humanity so much when we fall short in so many ways. However, this is the reality of the One and Only true Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He loves us so much that He spread His arms open wide and accepted a pain, cruel, tortuous death to save sinners from an eternity of torment and suffering. He loves you so much that if He had died just for you, He still would have done it.

Let's not forget the beauty of Jesus' death. The truth is that death could not hold Him and the grave could not keep Him. He rose, defeating death and the grave so that all who come after Him, believing in Him will be granted eternal life in His presence. I am simply a sinner, saved by grace. I don't deserve it, but am so thankful for His saving grace. If you are reading this and don't know Jesus, just ask Him in your life. Pray and ask Him to forgive your sins, believe that He is the One true God, and give your life to Him. Allow Jesus to direct your steps. He alone is worthy, He alone can give you beauty for ashes. He alone has the victory over sin and death. He is a gentleman and will wait for you. All you need to do is take one small step toward Him and He will move heaven and earth to get to you. He loves you dear one, with a love that is overflowing and unending. Won't you trust in Him?

Lenten Fasting

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that you break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

You shall cry, and He will say, 'He I am'." Isaiah 58:6-9 NKJV

 

 

My pastor has recently been promoting the idea of 40 days of prayer and fasting over the Lenten Season this year. He has been sharing the importance of fasting in our Christian walk with the Lord. As I have been praying and studying this again, chapter 58 of Isaiah has once more drawn me closer to the Lord's will and way of fasting and prayer.

 

I want to encourage each one who reads this post to prayerfully read all of chapter 58 and see what God is saying to you. As I have read and prayed and studied this passage of Scripture many things have been revealed to me but I would like to bring out a few important things that this passage shows us. If you have read all of chapter 58, you will notice that the beginning of this chapter gives us some warnings about fasting. Fasting is not a way to manipulate God to get something from Him. Fasting is what we do to draw closer to God and seek His will and way. It is not a spiritual discipline we do just because it is expected of us, but our hearts must be pure and our motives sincere.

 

When we fast with a pure heart and pure motives, He sees us and hears us and is delighted. Then He will answer prayer. Before you decide on what to do for Lent, pray and seek God's will for you. Does He want you to fast one meal a week, one day of meals a week, one item of food, or something else? There are those - for medical reasons - who cannot fast and I want to tell you that God knows and understands that. Maybe, He will direct you to give up a TV show, or coffee, or something else that is taking your focus away from Him. I urge you to seek Him and His direction for you in this. As you pray ask God to reveal anything in your life that is keeping Him from answering your prayers. Pray for courage and strength. Pray for forgiveness for any unconfessed sin in your life and accept His forgiveness.

 

When you are fasting, remember the second part. Prayer. It is no good to fast without praying. That is a diet. We are looking to grow deeper in the knowledge, wisdom and power of our Lord and Savior. We are storming the gates of heaven to break the bonds of sin and Satan in our lives and in this world. Prayer and fasting will overcome anything that is holding you down and captive. Pray in faith knowing that God is able to do "exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think," (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV).

 

May He bless you in this season of Lent and draw you nearer to Him. I am praying for you dear one, and thanking God in advance for all He will do in your life. Praise His name. Natalie



Love With Abandon

 "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind'." Matthew 22:37 NKJV

This commandment is not new. This commandment didn't start with Jesus. This commandment was instituted from the beginning of time. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," Genesis 1:1. When God created the heavens and the earth He also created everything in them. There is nothing here that was not created by God Himself.

When He created Adam and Eve, He told them they could eat from every tree except one. They broke the commandment and disobeyed God. Eve listened to the serpent who asked a simple question and distorted the truth (for further study see Genesis 2-3). Rather than trust her loving Father, she believed the lie and caused all humanity to be born sinful.

Loving God does not mean just being a soldier and following orders to the letter, nor does it mean being a puppet and allowing someone else to pull the strings. Loving God is a choice we all must make for ourselves. Will we choose to love God, or not? Will we choose to obey God, or not? See, God being God, loved us enough to give us a precious gift (though some may call it a curse) called free will. He will not force us to choose Him or to love Him, we must make that a conscious choice for ourselves. Loving God means following His will and His way for us because we know He loves us and so we, in turn, love Him.

Can you choose to follow Him wherever that may mean? Would you choose Him over anyone or anything else? That is the reality of what He is asking. Jesus gave us this commandment first because it is the most important. When we put God first, the rest will come together. It may not seem so at first, but do you trust Him? Do you believe that He knows everything and sees everyone and every situation? Do you believe that He works all things for good, no matter how bad it looks?

Take time today to seek God and love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Pray and seek Him. When we do, He comes close to us. If you don't see it or feel it, keep striving because He is right there. He loves you precious one. He created you and has a plan for you. Put Him first and as Charles Stanley always says, "Obey God and leave the consequences up to Him."

Joy in Trials

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials," James 1:2 NKJV. Is this your reflex action when you encounter trials - to count it all joy? Congratulations to you if so, however, if not, welcome to the club. Now this is not a club I am proud to be a part of nor do I want to remain in it. I long to "count it all joy when I fall into various trials" and one by one slowly will learn to do just that if I consciously make the decision to accept trials with a joyful attitude.

The problem is that we have been deceived into believing that the Christian life is an easy one. We somewhere along the line bought into the idea that once we accept Jesus, everything will be easy and simple. I apologize if this is where you are. There is nothing recorded in the Scriptures that tells us that. Trust me, I have looked long and hard to find it. It's not there. However, Jesus tells us that there will be trials and tribulations but that we will never have to be alone in them (John 16:33, Hebrews 13:5). There is cause for joy!

When you read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and study Jesus' life, there is nothing simple or easy about it. He had one trial right after another. Anyone who calls themselves a Christian is claiming "little-Christ" so we are guaranteed trials. John 16:33 concludes this way, "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Isn't that a wonderful promise? We can choose joy because Jesus has overcome the world. Dear sister and brother, trust in the Lord, count it all joy, and store your treasures in heaven. Jesus loves you so much and one day when you close your eyes for the last time and look in the face of Jesus Christ, it will all be worth it. Whatever valley you are in, whatever mountain you may have to climb, whatever the trial or tribulation you find yourself battling, count it all joy and put your faith in Jesus.