Leaning on Him

"He gives strength to the weary and increses the power of the weak" (Isaiah 40:29 NIV). Do you ever have times that you are just plain tired? I go through that scenario every so often and looking to the Word of God helps me fill up again. Today, I would like to share some Scripture verses with you praying that you will be refreshed and renewed in His presence. "Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand" (Psalm 37:24 NIV). "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble" (Psalm 9:9 NIV). "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14 NIV). "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV). "This is love:not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10 NIV). May God bless you and be near you. I pray that He will speak to you and that you may hear His call. Lean on the Lord and He will uphold you. In Him, Natalie

Giving it All to God

Have you ever dreamed of living a life without stress that zaps you? Do you want to be free from fear and anxiety? Is it possible in this world we live in? When your burdens become heavy and your stress too much, where do you turn? Is there anywhere, does anyone care? Have any of these questions plagued you? Are you seeking deeper meaning and wanting more peace, joy and rest in your life? If you are, look to the Lord. Admit to Jesus Christ that you are a sinner , believe that He gave His life for you, and commit your life to Him. (For more details, see my post "The Greatest Promise".)He will satisfy all your needs, over and above anything you can imagine. Just look at the Scriptures that promises you these things. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved," John 3:16-17 (NKJV). (Jesus is speaking)"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly," John 10:10 (NKJV). "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourself; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast," Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV). "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," Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV). This is just a small taste of what promises are contained within the pages of the Bible. We do not need to carry burdens, worries, fear or frustration. Take some time even now and pray that Jesus Christ will free you from the bondage of these negative emotions, give it all to Him and live life in freedom. With blessings, Natalie

Jesus is Our Refuge

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS," (Matthew 11:28-29 NASB) The last month has been a very busy time for me. I'm sure that you know what I mean. When I get busy, it becomes eay to "let things slide" that I would normally do. Maybe the floor won't get swept as often. The laundry room may get piled up more than normal or maybe the dishes get left until sometime later. What about time with the Lord? Well, I don't like to admit it, but I will be the first to raise both hands and claim, guilty! I have allowed "life" to get between me and my time with the Lord. When that happens things spiral out of control. I become short-tempered, frustrated, and irritable with a tendency to become overwhelmed and depressed. Reading this verses remind me to look to Jesus. He does not want or expect me to carry heavy burdens. However, it is my responsibility to seek Him out, bring the burdens to Him, unload it all, and leave my worries, fears, and cares in His hands. Are you heavy-laden? Are you burdened? Are you ready to unload it all? Is there something you can do about it? The answer is YES!! Spend time in His presence: read the Bible, pray, pray , pray, and wait on the Lord. Give Him time to reveal His will to your heart. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you and wash over you, cleansing and healing all the way. Giving it all to Him and He will bring you rest.

Live Your Dreams

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 NKJV Are you living up to your God-given potential? Are you excited each day about your life and what you will be doing? God has created each person for a specific purpose. When we are living out that purpose, there is peace. When we aren't, there is turmoil within our souls. This does not mean that everything will be perfect all the time but our general sense of wellness will be peace-filled. Each one of us has a dream. There is something down deep inside that we want more than aanything. Maybe you have forgotten it. Maybe you have been disappointed over and over and you've buried it somewhere deep within. Maybe you've given up on it. What is it? Take some time right now in this moment and say outloud whatever it is. Write it down and look at it in black-and-white. Do you realize that God creates dreams within us? Do you realize that He has created you for a purpose? Are you ready to claim that purpose and lay down your life, allowing Him to take control and lead you in that purpose? If you have been struggling with your purpose, take some time to get alone with God and seek His will for your life. Pray without ceasing for clarity and direction then do whatever He leads you to do. Living in your purpose is a wonderful way to begin a new year. Trust in Him for guidance and strength. Lean on Him and allow Him to fill you with joy and peace. Walk in the fullness of life that Jesus promised each of His followers in John 10:10. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Happy New Year. May the Lord bless you and be near you in 2011. Natalie

Christmas Giving

CHRISTMAS: it has been dubbed as, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," yet for many it is quite the opposite. Christmas can be a time of stress and dread. It can be a time of frustration, heartache, anger or even pain.

There are many families, orphans, widows and widowers who will not celebrate a Merry Christmas this year. The reasons are as different as the people themselves. Some may not have the monetary resources to have a big celebration. Some may be dealing with loss. Some may have lived through Christmases with huge disappointments that time has failed to heal. Some may have family members who will not be with them this year, for one reason or another.

What can we possibly do to help?

The first and most important thing Christians can do to help is to pray. Pray that God will bless those in need in a very special way this Christmas. Pray that God will send help to those in need. Pray that their hearts would be open to receive the gift God has for them. Pray for God to heal and bind up the wounds of those who are hurting.

Next, you can put action to your prayers. If you know of a need and are able to fill it, go ahead and do so. Do not wait for someone else. God may have laid them on your heart for a purpose-not just to pray, but to bring them some joy.

To accomplish this may mean giving of your time, money or other resources. It may seem trivial or just too hard, but it could bring about big changes to the landscape of eternity.

If you are wondering what you could possibly do, I have a few suggestions if you will allow me.

1. Gather some friends and go carolling through town.

2. Go carolling at your local senior's centre.

3. Give to the Salvation Army, Food Bank or Soup Kitchen or other group that helps the needy of your money and/or time.

4. Give to a local family in need: provide them with a Christmas feast and gifts.

5. Go to the hospital and sit with, read to or talk with someone who is lonely.

6. If you are blessed with money this season that you were not expecting, donate it to a family in need or an organization that helps those in need.

7. If you want to do something that is on-going, sponsor a child.

These are but a few things we can do to make an impact. Be prayerful and ask Jesus to show you what you can do. What better way to spend Christmas than to help a neighbour in need? What better gift could you give Jesus this year?

"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to Me."

Matthew 25:35-36

Each time we help someone, we are showing the love of Jesus and shining His light. May your light shine this Christmas season and all year long, lighting the path for those in need.

What's in a Name?

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 NASB How do you think about Jesus this time of year? Is He a baby in a manger? Is He simply another decoration in your home? Or does His name stir something deep-down within your heart and soul? The names of Jesus in this passage of Scripture gives us a picture of the Lord we serve. He is not just a baby, born of a virgin in a stable so many years ago. He is our Wonderful Counselor. Jesus lives within each one of us, abiding in us through the Holy Spirit He sent to dwell within believers. We have access to be counselled by the best if we would listen and wait for His wisdom. Jesus is our Mighty God. Who else could heal the blind, lame and sick? Who else has the power to raise the dead? He is also our Mighty God. Mighty are the things that He does. "Nothing is impossible with God," Matthew 19:26 (paraphrased). Who else is that mighty? Jesus is our Eternal Father. He was there when the foundations of the earth were put together. He is here now and He will be here when the earth passes away. He is the One who is, who was and who is to come. He will be there always in all ways. That is a Promise you can count on. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He came into this world to give us peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). If you do not have His perfect peace, take the time to claim it for your own. It is there for the asking. All we must do is ask and in faith believe and receive. What a wonderful gift this Christmas to accept. The love and peace that only Christ can give us. Dear Lord, Thank you for the many blessings of my life. Father I pray in the name of Jesus that You would reveal Your truths to me in simple and clear terms. Father, I release my will and my ways and accept Your will and Your ways. Cover me with Your peace and joy You alone can give. Fill me with the fruits of the Spirit that I may be complete in You. Father, let me look past the baby in the manger and see the Man, Jesus who is here with me now, who always has been and always will be. Thank You for all You are. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Blessed Endurance

“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and see the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful,” James 5:11 (NKJV). The Christian life is not all peaches and cream. There are some blemishes and pits. Christians walk through trials and fires, just as anyone does. However, we have a secret weapon: faith. Where God is, there is hope. Sometimes, hope is all we have to cling to. Do you know the song that goes, “for the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley…”? Going through the valleys of our lives is where we grow. Stop for a minute and think of the valley. In the valley is where the lush green grass, fruit trees and flowers take root, burst forth from the ground, grow, blossom and bear fruit. This is the place where it all happens for us too. We long for mountaintop experiences, yet our growth of faith and endurance come from being tested in the valleys of our lives. When you have reached a mountaintop experience, take the time to enjoy it. Take it all in and bask in the glory that is God’s alone. But don’t tarry there too long. Pray, believing God’s promise to “never leave you nor forsake you,” (Hebrews 13:5), and head wherever He takes you—even if another valley is what awaits you. It is often difficult to explain to someone who is struggling with physical, emotional or spiritual battles that they are being blessed, but it is true. Take Job for instance: He had it all, he lost it all, and through it all he never lost his faith in God. In the end, he regained it all with more added to it. God blesses those who endure. Will you take the time to praise the Lord for being with you, whether in a mountaintop or valley experience? Will you allow Him to lead you into the valley and follow, without hesitation? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths,”(Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).