Thanking the Lord & Looking Forward

I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. -- Phil 3:12-14 (NLT)

I pray & believe that 2010 will be better for you than 2009 was.

Just Because

I am thanking the Lord today.
Why?
No reason, Just Because !!
I know I have many reasons, but for today - I'm just Thankful.

Praise To Jesus

An Email I received from Steve Phifer at The Worship Renewal Center says it all & is so appropriate, especially for the day after Christmas. (I highly recommend visiting his website at http://www.TheWorshipRenewalCenter.com)
The Image of the Invisible God
Colossians 1:15-20 NIV (Adapted SRP)

You, Lord Jesus, are the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by You all things were created: things in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by You and for You. You are before all things,
and in You all things hold together.

And You are the head of the body, the church; You are the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything You might have the supremacy. For the Father was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in You, and through You to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through Your blood, shed on the cross.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

What a Day !!

What a blessed day as we remembered Jesus' birth!!
All the family was home.

Opened stockings & had fantastic Christmas breakfast/brunch with giving of thanks & reading of the Christmas story.

Exchanged gifts.

Helped with setting table & quick cleanup.

Had delicious & fantastic Christmas dinner with reading of the wise men visiting Jesus & giving their gifts to Him.

Fellow shipped & watched a movie at home.

Now at about 11:30 pm - two in bed & last two soon to be in bed.

Blessed be the Name of our wonderful Lord for not only enriching the lives of Mary & Joseph, but also enriching our lives!!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone !! God has shown His Love !!

Thank you Father that You gave your Son Jesus.

Thank you Jesus that You came and completely fulfilled the Father's will.

Thank you Holy Spirit that You showed me the great love of the Father & the Son and that You daily empower me to appreciate the goodness and blessing of the covenant keeping Almighty God !!

A Baby!!

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. (Luke 2:15-16)

So this is the plan? God became a baby? A baby? Someone who is totally helpless. Someone who can't walk or talk. Someone who cannot feed them self and needs to be changed & needs to be cleaned every day. Someone who needs to be completely cared for.

Not only this, but Jesus will grow to be a man who will completely fulfill the will of His father God & because of His faithful & unswerving obedience to His Father, I have been reconciled to Almighty God !!

With God all things are possible !!

Celerate & Thank God !!

Remember not to let all of the distractions get you down this year.

It's true there is a lot of commercialism at this time of year & some people only seem to care about making money, but this doesn't change the fact that God has given us the greatest gift ever imagined!

Maybe the ACLU will continue to attack some people & communities that want to display the true meaning of Christmas (and even wipe out Christmas altogether), but this doesn't change the fact that Jesus was actually born.

Maybe some people don't want to say Merry Christmas because of a fear of offending those who don't celebrate Christmas, but that doesn't change my desire to bless people & show good will to everyone I meet.

So let's celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ & truly thank & praise the Lord for His unspeakable gift to all of mankind!

Have a wonderfully blessed Christmas &may the Love of God shine through everything you do this year!!

He Did It !!

Some have wondered and even disputed if December 25th was the day Jesus was born. But when everything is said and done, it is not important what day He was born, but the fact that He was born. Think of it, The Word actually became flesh. Think of the love and faith that Almighty God demonstrated. Here is the hope of God's desire that He will be some day reconciled to mankind all wrapped up in a little baby. To me, this is one of the most amazing things that ever happened.

May you have a truly wonderful & blessed Christmas this year. To God be all of the Glory!!

I'm Thankful For God's Will For Me

This is great !! <--> 1 Th 5:16 - 18 Says:
Rejoice always, OK, He wants me to always be rejoicing.
pray without ceasing, considering prayer is communicating with God, this really sounds great! He wants me to be in constant communication with Him.
in everything give thanks; this is very reassuring. No matter what circumstance I find myself in, He wants me to still be thankful. This sounds reasonable since everything is subject to change to the will of God.
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Wow!! This is what my Heavenly Father actually wants for me -> rejoicing, communicating and being thankful!

I thank the Lord for His desires for me!!

What a Promise That Has Come To Pass!!

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of [His] government and peace [There will be] no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isa 9:6 -7)

The Lord Knows When You Believe & Rewards

In the fourth chapter of Hebrews, God says His Word is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Wow! Think about that! Everyone else in the world may think you are crazy to believe what God says, but if you continue to believe His Word, you will see it actually come to pass. Just ask Zacharias, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Joseph, Mary, or Jesus (to name a few) and they will tell you that God's Word will come to pass if you continue to believe what He says, even if it is in opposition to all known information given to you by your friends and/or enemies. I thank and praise the Lord that he knows everything and gives us His Word to believe and rely upon.

I'm Thankful Mary & Joseph Believed God

I'm thankful that Mary and Joseph believed God's word as delivered through the angel.

Think about it - a pregnant teenager who claims not to have had sexual relations.
Her espoused husband supports her word that they have not been intimate.
Not only this, but Joseph also believes she has not been intimate with anyone else.

Not only is there ongoing evidence that Mary is "with child", but now Joseph is traveling with her back to Bethlehem because of taxes.

(I have traveled with a pregnant woman and I'm so glad she wasn't riding a mule!)

At any rate, Joseph & Mary continued to believe God and Jesus was born!!

I'm Thankful for Those Who Pray For Leaders

I'm thankful for all of those who pray for our leaders. I'm thankful that the Lord's will is accomplished. I exalt Almighty God as the King of Kings & Lord of Lords.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Ti 2:1-4)

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, [Like] the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Prov 21.1)

Of Shepherds & Wise Men

Just a thought for today:

It took the wise men (possibly) a couple of years to see Jesus (He was a small child living in a house).
The shepherds saw Jesus the night He was born (He was in swaddling clothes lying in a manger).

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

Imagine

Feeling bored today? Well it's still a great time to praise the Lord.

Imagine you are a shepherd outside of Bethlehem minding your own business, such as it is. You are doing what you have always done. You don't feel very respected by anyone other than some other shepherds (and this is only every so often). You may even be bored with the same old routine that you must endure day after day after day. You must constantly watch your sheep because they always seem to be getting into trouble. Lets face it, when wild animals aren't trying to devour them, the sheep seem to get into trouble all by themselves as they wander off and get distracted by the simplest of things. You ask yourself from time to time if anything out of the ordinary will ever happen to you or if you will ever see anything the is noteworthy.

Well just wait & see....

I Choose to Trust In the Lord

Some [trust] in chariots,
and some in horses;
But we will remember
the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 20:7

Psalm 150

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
raise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!

Thinking of Jesus

As I think of Jesus this year at Christmas, I must proclaim in agreement with Psalm 72:
His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And [men] shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed. Blessed [be] the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! And blessed [be] His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled [with] His glory. Amen and Amen.

Thank Him for His forgiveness

I am so thankful & praise the Lord that, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness". (1 John 1:9)

Starting the Day Praising the Lord

I'm starting the day early praising the Lord! I was just thinking about Is 54:17 --
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.

Blessed be the the Lord who gives us His Word and His Righteousness!!